Jimmy Cream was keen
His brain was always winnin'
I can't keep tabs on mine
It's really quite a joke
I see him down the road
I ask if he'd be willing
To lend me 15P
I'm dying for a smoke

Don't arrange to have me sent to no asylum
I'm just as sane as anyone
It's a just a game
I play for fun, for fun

I told 'em
"Look!, I said I'm not the way you're thinkin'
Just when I'm down, I'll be the clown
I'll play the fool"

Don't arrange to have me sent to no asylum
I'm just as sane as anyone
It's a just a game
I play for fun, for fun

Will he take a sailboat ride?
Well he is very likely to
Will he feel good inside?
Well he ain't very likely to
Will he tell you he's alive?
Yeah he is always trying to, yeah
But nothin', no, no nothin'
Does he say, oh no
In the morning when the day's begun
Hello Good morning, how are you?
And in the evening or the noonday sun
What a lovely afternoon
Well I've been living next to you

Bluesy Monday
Is the one day that they come here
Yeah when they haunt me
And they taunt me in my cage
I mock 'em all
They're feelin' small, yeah they got no answer
Yeah they're playin' dumb
But I'm just laughing as they rage

Don't arrange to have me sent to no asylum
Well it's only a game
I'm playing for fun
Yeah I've been trying to fool everyone

(No that's too heavy)

Will he take a sailboat ride?
Well he is very likely to
Will he feel good inside?
Yeah he ain't ever likely to
Will he tell you he's alive?
Well he is always trying to, yeah
But nothin', no, no nothin'
Does he every say, yeah
In the morning when the day's begun
Do you think it looks like rain?
And in the evening or the noonday sun
You know I nearly missed my train
Well I've been living next to you my friend
But what kind of friend are you?
Oh, is it the beginning or the sorry end?
Will I ever see it through?
No I've never been insane
Oh what's the game?
I believe I'm dying, oh!

He's mad, mad, mad, mad, mad, mad, mad, mad, mad
Not quite right (not quite right)


Lyrics submitted by hardcor_toonz

Asylum Lyrics as written by Roger Hodgson Richard Davies

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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Asylum song meanings
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10 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    Note the cuckoo sound at the end referencing to the novel ( not the movie since it came out a year later ).

    Ex Abruptoon February 19, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    hmm, it seems to me he has a split personality. like when roger sings, maybe thats the voice in his head,... also: "Well I've been living next to you my friend" "no nothin' does he ever say" "But what kind of friend are you?"

    makes sence to me

    sdrawkcab88on April 04, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I love the ending. "He's mad, mad, mad, mad, mad, mad, ....NOT QUITE RIGHT!

    Haha, i've just noticed that 'Not quite right' is a contrast to 'Bloody Well Right's : "Right? Quite Right!"

    zephyr26on September 10, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    what the... when I submitted this song it got turned down.

    Anyway, great song, music reflects the atmosphere very well. lyrics very poignant.

    welshbard482on March 01, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    and why hasn't anyone commented yet?

    welshbard482on March 01, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    The character is going mad. It's difficult to say what brings on the state, but the previous song on the album gives some pretty strong clues.

    Stingfanon November 16, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Many of the elements of the song can be explained as references to One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.

    "Will he take a sailboat ride?"

    The principle character takes the ward on a deep sea fishing trip in one part.

    Astounderon October 21, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Will he take a sailboat ride..... will he pop off and go crazy???

    He's gone "sailing", lol very imaginative lyrics.

    degree7on October 25, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    It's like I wrote this song too.

    pirate87on February 02, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I have come to realize that this song is in reference to the most obvious and sophisticated pleasure involving getting it up the rump for fun.

    Please don't send me to no asylum It's just a game I play for fun

    williamkston September 02, 2021   Link

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