I don't mean to belittle, or make-light of the decision that some make to take their own life. Quite the opposite, I view this action as an important decision, not to be taken lightly (and only to be joked about if you're completely fucking around). That's why I have to call out Papa Roach for this song which lyrically represents a pretty tragic under-contemplation of the (pro?)tagonist who is considering ending his own life. If this were the Jerkey Boys or Tom Green or Stephen Lynch, I wouldn't care. But the tone of this song is somber and serious yet seems to portray a screeming idiot who simply yells loudly about suicide. And even though it's probably 10 years old now, kids today are still into this as some sort of wierd anthem of the mis-understood, non-emo-friendly mentality. The literal message is that the Roach is pissed enough to seriously consider killing himself. The meta-message is that, seriously engaging the idea of suicide simply because you're really pissed off is incredibly bad-ass. I say "pissed" instead of "sad" because even though we get "nothing's alright", there's nothing about this song that portrays a tone of genuine despair, just a raging temper tantrum.
I know it's none of my business to publicly belittle anyone's expression of grief (if that's what this is). But, because so many intellectually valuable people have actually gone ahead with suicide, I have a certain amount of begrudged reverence for people who decide (after thinking about it long and hard) that it is the epistemologically correct decision for them. It's true that I have no insight as to whether or not Mr. Roach was really on that edge at any point, and whether or not this song is an honest attempt to work through it. If it is, then congrats--you've turned an emotional experience into something that lots of people relate to. If not, then please make this the last time you turn a few phrases over a Budwieser into a popular pseudo-legitamizer of suicide for those with a below-average I.Q. [Just because we need to stop over-population does mean that the unproductive should be messing up a their family's lives by living to 17 and then killing themselves. Rather, they should simply parlay their non-productiveness into the bedroom].
Here's an exerpt from Last Resort by Papa Roach:
I know it's none of my business to publicly belittle anyone's expression of grief (if that's what this is). But, because so many intellectually valuable people have actually gone ahead with suicide, I have a certain amount of begrudged reverence for people who decide (after thinking about it long and hard) that it is the epistemologically correct decision for them. It's true that I have no insight as to whether or not Mr. Roach was really on that edge at any point, and whether or not this song is an honest attempt to work through it. If it is, then congrats--you've turned an emotional experience into something that lots of people relate to. If not, then please make this the last time you turn a few phrases over a Budwieser into a popular pseudo-legitamizer of suicide for those with a below-average I.Q. [Just because we need to stop over-population does mean that the unproductive should be messing up a their family's lives by living to 17 and then killing themselves. Rather, they should simply parlay their non-productiveness into the bedroom].
Here's an exerpt from Last Resort by Papa Roach:
Cut my life into pieces
This is my last resort
Suffocation
No breathing
Don't give a fuck if I cut my arm bleeding
This is my last resort
Cut my life into pieces
I've reached my last resort
Suffocation
No breathing
Don't give a fuck if I cut my arm bleeding
Do you even care if I die bleeding
Would it be wrong
Would it be right
If I took my life tonight
Chances are that I might
Mutilation outta sight
And I'm contemplating suicide
'Cause I'm losing my sight
Losing my mind
Wish somebody would tell me in fine
Losing my sight
Losing my mind
Wish somebody would tell me I'm fine
Nothing's alright
Nothing is fine
I'm running and I'm crying
I'm crying
I'm crying
I'm crying
I'm crying
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