I was lecturing on the history of disability today in my "What is Normal" class and we got up through the Middle Ages and to the beginning of institutionalization. After I got home from my daughter's soccer game tonight I was doing the dishes and listening to an old Townes Van Zandt CD. All of a sudden Townes' classic song "The Sanitarium Blues" came on and I was immediately struck by how well he captured the modern predicament of individuals institutionalized for mental illness. Townes' ragged voice and experienced tone only made the song more poignant as I thought back to a lot of the images I'd been showing in class from Christmas in Purgatory (click the link to see some of the images). It was a moment that required me to shut off the water, put down the dish towel and just listen to Townes' poetry.
Townes was in and out of rehab and institutions for much of his life as a result of his addictions, so he definitely knew what he was talking about. It still amazes me that we do this to people in the U.S. and that families choose to do this to their family members. It seems to me that with all the money we're spending on wars and financial bailouts that we could find a little cash to support rehabilitation programs and community based mental health supports for individuals and families. Sometimes I have to wonder what is wrong with this country....then I get depressed thinking about all the people we're failing in the U.S. But, this isn't the place for a post on the things that depress me. I just wanted to share Townes' great song; a song that is borne on Townes' own painful experience. Perhaps that's why the song is so powerful. So, in the interest of sharing, I thought I'd post the lyrics here for your consideration:
The Sanitarium Blues by Townes Van Zandt
(follow this link to hear the song)
The folks, they just can't take no more
Throw you in the back seat, slam the door
No stoppin' as down the road you go
Got no time to lose
Gigantic one way gate ahead
You're thinkin' man I'd as soon be dead
They decided to give you life instead
The sanitarium blues
Big ole nurse all dressed in white
Slaps you on a table in the middle of the night
Then he straps you down real tight
You're wonderin', what'd I do?
They hose you down, make sure you're clean
Wrap you up in hospital green
Shoot you full of Thorazine
The sanitarium blues
Could be TB or maybe a tumor
Eavesdropping on the doctors, listening to the rumors
Can't see your friends, hear the hum of the wheels
Hey my man, you know how it feels
Like the sanitarium blues
Then upon some sunlit day
They figure there's no need for you to stay
They're pretty sure you can't be cured
So they send you on your merry way
You hit the pavement, hang around
Nobody's on the outside to be found
You're just tryin' to stay above the ground
You start to thinkin', what's the use?
The sanitarium blues
Wow, very powerful poetry! I am glad that I followed the link, and will continue to check in to your blog Matt. Very compelling stuff. I have often thought many of the same thoughts the last few years living in a VERY rural community that has a few special needs youth that the community loves, but are unwilling to give them time or rights or a voice. I have often tried to imagine exactly in a pointed way what really needs to happen? What could really make a difference?
ReplyDeleteThanks Aaron, unfortunately I didn't write it. The inimitable Townes Van Zandt gets all the credit. But it's still very relevant if you are familiar with mental health policy in this country...
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading. I hope you come back...