Tea and Thorazine
Andrew Bird Lyrics
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You've spent some time in a mental institution
What a dream, life would seem if only
They let you keep your etch-a-sketch
Eh, you laugh like a banshee, gesticulate your delirium
They treat you like a corpse, keep you full of candy lithium
What a dream life would seem if only you could see
The world from inside an etch-a-sketch
I can tell by the way you reach your conclusions
You're the director of a mental institution
What a dream, life would seem if only
It hadn't been for Doctor be
Animate yourself an alternate reality
Consummate a self pleasing artificiality
You can have yourself a tea
I can tell by the way you take your infusion
You've spent some time in a mental institution
Oh, what a dream life would seem if only you could see
The world from inside an etch-a-sketch
In Andrew Bird's song Tea and Thorazine, the lyrics describe a person who has spent some time in a mental institution, likely due to their deliberate or involuntary consumption of a drug infusion. The song is somewhat of a critique of the way the mental health system treats those who are suffering from mental illness. The line "What a dream life would seem if only they let you keep your etch-a-sketch" suggests that the patient feels as though their experiences have been erased, much like an etch-a-sketch drawing, and that they are not allowed to express themselves fully or have control over their own thoughts and actions.
The lines "They treat you like a corpse, keep you full of candy lithium" further illustrate the idea that mental health treatment often involves controlling individuals through medications, thus robbing them of their vitality and individuality. The song also touches on themes of self-delusion and alternate realities, as the lyrics suggest that the patient may be creating a world within their mind that is different from the one they are living in.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, I can tell by the way you take your infusion
I can sense from the way you drink your tea that you have a history of being in a mental institution.
You've spent some time in a mental institution
You have been admitted and stayed in a mental hospital.
What a dream, life would seem if only
They let you keep your etch-a-sketch
If only you could keep your etch-a-sketch, life would be a dream for you.
Eh, you laugh like a banshee, gesticulate your delirium
You laugh uncontrollably and gesture in a wild manner, revealing your state of delirium.
They treat you like a corpse, keep you full of candy lithium
You are treated like a lifeless body and they keep you sedated with candy lithium.
What a dream life would seem if only you could see
The world from inside an etch-a-sketch
Life would be mesmerizing for you if you could see the world from within an etch-a-sketch.
I can tell by the way you reach your conclusions
The way you come to your conclusions indicates that you are accustomed to directing a mental institution.
You're the director of a mental institution
You hold the position of a director in a mental hospital.
What a dream, life would seem if only
It hadn't been for Doctor be
Life would have been much better if not for the influence of Doctor B.
Animate yourself an alternate reality
Create an alternative reality and become fully immersed in it.
Consummate a self pleasing artificiality
Fully indulge in self-satisfying artificiality.
You can have yourself a tea
You can have a cup of tea and relax.
Oh, what a dream life would seem if only you could see
The world from inside an etch-a-sketch
It would be a great dream for you to see the world from inside an etch-a-sketch.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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