Cover, original by Johnny Mandel.

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...

[REFRAIN]:

that suicide is painless
It brings on many changes
and I can take or leave it if I please.
I try to find a way to make

all our little joys relate
without that ever-present hate
but now I know that it's too late, and...

[REFRAIN]

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.

[REFRAIN]

The only way to win is cheat
And lay it down before I'm beat
and to another give my seat
for that's the only painless feat.

[REFRAIN]

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, but...

[REFRAIN]

A brave man once requested me
to answer questions that are key
is it to be or not to be
and I replied 'oh why ask me?'


'Cause suicide is painless
it brings on many changes
and I can take or leave it if I please.
...and you can do the same thing if you please.



Lyrics submitted by The great destroyer

Suicide Is Painless song meanings
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6 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    Nick Drake never covered this song...he covered many songs in his lifetime, but this wasn't one of 'em. LimeWire, by the way, has this available, and it's attributed to Nick. But it ain't him.

    lunaharpuaon August 11, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Great song, even if it isn't by Nick Drake (though I wouldn't have known had I not looked it up, I'm not a great Drake expert, only just getting into his stuff..)

    Love singing the chorus at random times

    different_13on July 31, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    thanks for pointing out that this is not nick drake. i had it listed as him in my itunes, but ive changed it now.

    great song. is it the MAS*H jingle??? it sounds like it...

    maniacleon October 20, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Exactly - it is the MAS*H jingle because it came from the movie where they saved a suicidal young man by making a suicide "party" for him. Of course they didn't let him kill himself but the song helped him really sink into his depression, but his friends' love saved him from the suicide.

    gsokolowon November 01, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Painful to read. And thank God Nick would never write a corny melodramatic song like this.

    epiwooshon February 22, 2020   Link
  • -1
    General Comment

    ya i saw this on limewire, i hate when they do this, its johnny mandel... wikipedia.org ftw

    awesome awesome song btw!

    primiuson April 01, 2007   Link

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