An amazingly brilliant 14 year old writes the lyrics to the 1970 song, Suicide is Painless
A 1970 movie came out directed by Robert Altman, in the US called MASH, about a medical unit during the Korean War from 1950-1953.
The song written for the film was called Suicide is Painless. A little melancholy. But a 14-year old actually wrote the lyrics in 5 minutes. Here’s a little history:
Suicide Is Painless is a song written by Johnny Mandel (music) and Michael Altman (lyrics). It was the theme song for both the movie and TV series M*A*S*H. Mike Altman was 14 years old when he wrote the song’s lyrics.
The song was written specifically for Ken Prymus, the actor playing Private Seidman, who sang it during the faux-suicide of Walter "Painless Pole" Waldowski (John Schuck) in the film's "Last Supper" scene.[1][2] Director Robert Altman had two stipulations about the song for Mandel: it had to be called "Suicide Is Painless" and it had to be the "stupidest song ever written".[3] Altman attempted to write the lyrics himself, but upon finding it too difficult for his 45-year-old brain to write "stupid enough,"[4] he gave the task to his 14-year-old-son Michael, who wrote the lyrics in five minutes.[5][6][7]
- "Suicide Is Painless"Single by The Mashfrom the album M*A*S*H (Original Soundtrack Recording)B-side"The M*A*S*H March"Released1970Format7" vinylRecorded1969GenreFolksoft rock
Amazingly, this 14-year old came up with these eerie and beautiful lyrics:
Suicide Is Painless (Main Title)
John Bahler, Tom Bahler, ...
Through early morning fog I see
Visions of the things to be
The pains that are withheld for me
I realize and I can see
That suicide is painless
It brings on many changes
And I can take or leave it if I please
The game of life is hard to play
I'm gonna lose it anyway
The losing card I'll someday lay
So this is all I have to say
Suicide is painless (suicide)
It brings on many changes (changes)
And I can take or leave it if I please
The sword of time will pierce our skins
It doesn't hurt when it begins
But as it works its way on in
The pain grows stronger
Watch it grin
Suicide is painless
It brings on many changes
And I can… take or leave it if I please.
It‘s amazing how brilliant young minds can be.
ÜBERSETZEN IN: DEUTSCH
