As I’ve noted before (though it hardly needs mentioning), songs about drugs are nothing new. Marijuana, heroin, cocaine, and LSD have all appeared and influenced classic song lyrics, but what about antidepressants or other modern pharmeceuticals? Are there (m)any great lyrics about Prozac?
Lithium’s made at least two notable appearances in contemporary music. Nirvana scored a hit with “Lithium” off of Nevermind. It’s a good song, and quite something live. I wonder whether it was a substance with which Kurt Cobain had some experience given his battles with depression.
“Lithium” is also the latest single from Evanesence. Like Cobain, Amy Lee is a powerful performer and songwriter. (Has she suffered similar emotional troubles?) Lee possesses an amazingly affecting voice of the sort rarely heard in pop music (particularly live). (See, e.g., “My Immortal.”) “Lithium,” off of The Open Door, features a characteristicly powerful vocal performance from Lee and quite melancholy lyrics. Here’s a taste:
Lithium – don’t want to lock me up inside
Lithium – don’t want to forget how it feels without
Lithium- I want to stay in love with my sorrowDon’t want to let it lay me down this time
Drown my will to fly
Here in the darkness I know myself
Can’t break free until I let it go
Let me goDarling, I forgive you after all
Anything is better than to be alone
And in the end I guess I had to fall
Always find my place among the ashesI can’t hold on to me
Wonder what’s wrong with me