SUICIDE
Bobby Gaylor Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Animals don't have a choice.
If they're not happy with their place in the world... too bad.
They have to live the life they've been given.
Humans, on the other hand, don't have to.
We have a choice.
If you don't like your place in the world, you can get off anytime you want.
Suicide. That's right.
You don't like the way your life's going,
you don't like the way you are in the world,
anything around you, you can check out anytime you like.
Animals aren't allowed that thought
and believe me, if they were, they would use it.
There'd be a lot of dogs and cats, owned by assholes
that live in high-rises, diving out the windows.
Zebras... if they even had remotely that thought
would take a look at themselves and go, "What the F*#K!"
Black & white in a green & brown world... this blows.
I'm just gonna jump in the river....
I don't have a thumb to work a gun or hold a knife
or even open a jar of pills.
I'm just gonna dive into the next lion's mouth.
Why even bother?"
Now, monkeys have the opposable thumb
so they could kinda do it the exact same way we do.
Now, there's a bunch of people that say,
"Oh, it's against the law".
Well, it's only against the law if you do a crappy job and get caught.
Other people say, "Oh, we should save them".
Yeah, well you know what?
Not everybody wants to be saved.
Not everybody should be saved.
And who are we to force our will upon them?
I mean, isn't that one of the joys about being a human?
Freedom of choice?
Now, it's not all bad.
Now, I'm not saying "Kill yourself".
But if you're gonna be an idiot and do it anyway,
it's no sweat off of my back.
There's a lot of good that could come from it.
A little bit of bad thrown in.

Some of the things:
A job will open...
An apartment will become available...
There'll be more air for me...
They say there's two girls for every guy - if you're a man, there'll be four chicks for me...
There'll be more Ketel One vodka for me...
There'll be one less idiot in line at the bank who gets up to the window without their F*#King slips filled out...
I won't ever have to go to the store to buy my favorite Salt & Vinegar Chips
and have the clerk point at you and say, "They bought the last bag"....
You won't help change the McDonald's sign to a Hundred Billion Served...
You'll never get AIDS...
You won't have to worry about calories ever...
No more, "Hey, does this make me look fat?"...
There'll be one less polluting human...
You won't have to recycle... There'll be one less car on the road...
There'll be more Ring Dings for me...
Fifty or so chickens' lives will be spared...
Your fingers won't ever get red from eating pistachios...
You won't be forced to visit your Grandparents on Sundays anymore...
No more church...
You'll be saying, "Hey, World - Kiss My Ass!"...
No more wet dreams about Supermodels...
No more Barry Manilow... Not for a few years anyway...
Wondering "Am I a loser?" will be a thing of the past...
Say good-bye to crappy Xmas presents from Aunts and Uncles...
You won't have to suffer through a Motley Crue reunion...
F*#K flossing and brushing...
You'll never lose sleep over a pregnancy scare...
Adios, Acne...
Worrying whether you fit in or not won't be on your brain...
See ya later, homework...
You'll never have to sit through another movie brought to you by the creators of South Park...
School's out forever....
No more paying bills...
You won't have to do chores...

You won't be able to run over toads with the lawnmower though...
You'll also miss McDonald's French Fries...
Bugs Bunny...
The amazing electrifying feeling that surges through your body when you kiss someone for the first time...
You won't be able to watch the letterbox director's cut of Jaws...
Candy...
Living above ground...
Pudding crust...
You'll miss the rush of getting your first apartment...
Getting to the point in your life where you can tell your parents to
"F*#K Off! I gotta make my own mistakes, you did"...
You'll miss sex - you'll miss thinking about it, looking for it,
sex by yourself, sex with a partner, sex with multiple partners...
No more summer nights that seem to go on forever... Roller coasters....
Naming your kid the name you always wanted...
Making a difference in the world...
You'll miss the experience and pleasure of Hallucinogenics...
Watching your neighbor's wife change clothes with her blinds open...
A lifetime of masturbating...
Watching your favorite team sweep the series...
Music, you will definitely miss music...
Trying to sneak into your house drunk - three hours past your curfew...
You'll miss the blaze and glory of the 4th of July fireworks...
The taste of Captain Crunch...
If you're a boy, you'll miss the feeling the first time you reach up a girl's shirt...
If you're a girl, the feeling the first time you reach down a boy's pants...
You'll miss your favorite coat...
Waffles with whipped cream and strawberries...
Beating your friends at video games...
You won't be around to see what shape and color the new marshmallow in Lucky Charms will be...
You'll miss the feeling you get when reminiscing about your first love - thirty years after the fact...
The joy of giving and receiving at Christmas...
Skinny dipping...
Getting stoned, reading Green Eggs & Ham, and eating like a horse that got loose in the grain bin...
Flying cars...





Hey, you were born, finish what you started!

Overall Meaning

The song "Suicide" by Bobby Gaylor is a dark commentary on the nature of human freedom, and the simplistic nature of animal life. Gaylor posits the idea that animals do not have the same level of freedom as humans, as they cannot choose their place in the world. On the other hand, human freedom allows us to choose where we want to be in the world, and if we are unhappy with our place in life, we have the "choice" to end it all with suicide. The song argues that animals, if given the chance, would use suicide to escape oppressive conditions, and that animals are ultimately better off without this freedom, as they lack the mental capacity to understand the implications of their actions. The lyrics are biting and cynical, with controversial lines such as "Not everybody wants to be saved. Not everybody should be saved. And who are we to force our will upon them?"


The song's message is a commentary on the dark side of human freedom - the fact that it allows us to take our own lives if we so choose. The song argues that the freedom to end one's life is a double-edged sword, as it allows people to escape suffering, but also removes any hope for a better future. The song's sarcastic list of "good things" that come from suicide shows that these benefits are meaningless, as they only apply to those left alive, and do not address the suffering of the deceased. Gaylor's message is a solemn reminder that freedom comes at a cost, and that humans must be responsible with the choices they make.


Line by Line Meaning

Animals don't have a choice.
Animals are stuck in their circumstances and cannot choose their own fate.


If they're not happy with their place in the world... too bad.
Animals have no control over their environment and must accept it as it is.


They have to live the life they've been given.
Animals are bound to live the life predetermined for them.


Humans, on the other hand, don't have to.
Unlike animals, humans have the freedom to make choices about their lives.


We have a choice.
Human beings have the ability to decide their own destiny.


If you don't like your place in the world, you can get off anytime you want.
If a person is unhappy with their circumstances, they have the option to end their life.


Suicide. That's right.
Taking one's own life is known as suicide.


You don't like the way your life's going, you don't like the way you are in the world, anything around you, you can check out anytime you like.
If someone is dissatisfied with their life, their existence, or their surroundings, they have the choice to end it.


Animals aren't allowed that thought and believe me, if they were, they would use it.
If animals had the capacity to consider suicide, they would likely utilize it given their lack of control over their circumstances.


There'd be a lot of dogs and cats, owned by assholes that live in high-rises, diving out the windows.
If animals had the ability to contemplate suicide, many pets kept by cruel individuals in high-rise buildings would jump out the windows in protest.


Zebras... if they even had remotely that thought would take a look at themselves and go, "What the F*#K!" Black & white in a green & brown world... this blows.
If zebras were capable of suicidal thoughts, they would question their mismatched appearance in a natural environment dominated by shades of green and brown.


I'm just gonna jump in the river.... I don't have a thumb to work a gun or hold a knife or even open a jar of pills. I'm just gonna dive into the next lion's mouth. Why even bother?"
As a non-human entity, the artist expresses their desire to end their life by jumping into a river or into a lion's mouth, as they lack the physical capabilities to use more common methods like firearms or medication.


Now, monkeys have the opposable thumb so they could kinda do it the exact same way we do.
Monkeys, possessing opposable thumbs like humans, have the capability to end their lives in a similar manner.


Now, there's a bunch of people that say, "Oh, it's against the law".
Some individuals argue that suicide is prohibited by legal statutes.


Well, it's only against the law if you do a crappy job and get caught.
Suicide is only considered illegal if it is attempted unsuccessfully or leads to legal consequences.


Other people say, "Oh, we should save them".
Some people advocate for saving individuals who may be contemplating suicide.


Yeah, well you know what? Not everybody wants to be saved. Not everybody should be saved. And who are we to force our will upon them? I mean, isn't that one of the joys about being a human? Freedom of choice?
However, not everyone desires to be rescued, and not everyone should be rescued against their will. It is not our place to impose our own desires onto others, as the freedom to choose is a fundamental aspect of being human.


Now, it's not all bad. Now, I'm not saying "Kill yourself". But if you're gonna be an idiot and do it anyway, it's no sweat off of my back.
Though there are positive aspects to life, the singer clarifies that they are not promoting suicide. However, if someone chooses to take their own life despite advice to the contrary, the singer acknowledges that it does not personally affect them.


There's a lot of good that could come from it. A little bit of bad thrown in.
The singer highlights that while there may be certain advantages to suicide, there would also be some negative consequences.


Some of the things:
The following lines enumerate several specific outcomes:


A job will open...
When someone ends their life, their job position will become available for others to apply for.


An apartment will become available...
Similarly, someone's apartment or living space will become vacant and accessible to others.


There'll be more air for me...
The atmosphere will have slightly less demand, resulting in relatively more air for the singer.


They say there's two girls for every guy - if you're a man, there'll be four chicks for me...
According to a saying, there are typically more women than men. If a man ends his life, there will be more women available for the artist.


There'll be more Ketel One vodka for me...
A specific brand of vodka, Ketel One, will be more abundant for the singer to enjoy.


There'll be one less idiot in line at the bank who gets up to the window without their F*#King slips filled out...
With one less person in line, the singer will no longer have to encounter the frustration of someone who fails to come prepared when visiting the bank.


I won't ever have to go to the store to buy my favorite Salt & Vinegar Chips and have the clerk point at you and say, "They bought the last bag"....
By ending their life, the singer will no longer experience the disappointment of going to the store and finding that someone else has purchased the last bag of their favorite Salt & Vinegar Chips.


You won't help change the McDonald's sign to a Hundred Billion Served...
The listener will not be able to witness the milestone of McDonald's reaching one hundred billion served customers.


You'll never get AIDS...
One of the potential positive outcomes of suicide is avoiding the risk of contracting AIDS.


You won't have to worry about calories ever...
Another advantage of suicide is not having to concern oneself with calorie intake or weight-related issues.


No more, "Hey, does this make me look fat?"...
With suicide, there will no longer be a need to seek reassurance about one's appearance or worry about looking overweight.


There'll be one less polluting human...
By ending their life, the listener will contribute to reducing the environmental impact caused by human pollution.


You won't have to recycle... There'll be one less car on the road...
One less person means not having to participate in recycling efforts, and it also results in fewer cars congesting the roads.


There'll be more Ring Dings for me...
The artist will have access to a greater quantity of Ring Dings, a type of snack cake.


Fifty or so chickens' lives will be spared...
Ending one's life implies that approximately fifty chickens will not be slaughtered for food consumption.


Your fingers won't ever get red from eating pistachios...
By not being alive, the listener will avoid the experience of having red-stained fingers from eating pistachios.


You won't be forced to visit your Grandparents on Sundays anymore...
A benefit of suicide is no longer being obligated to visit one's grandparents on a regular basis, specifically on Sundays.


No more church...
Suicide would result in the cessation of attending religious services or being associated with a church.


You'll be saying, "Hey, World - Kiss My Ass!"...
By ending their life, the listener would be expressing their defiance and indifference towards the world.


No more wet dreams about Supermodels...
Another consequence of suicide would be the absence of erotic dreams involving supermodels.


No more Barry Manilow... Not for a few years anyway...
Suicide would result in the permanent absence of listening to Barry Manilow's music, except for the limited period before his eventual demise.


Wondering "Am I a loser?" will be a thing of the past...
By choosing suicide, the listener will no longer have to question their own worth and self-image.


Say good-bye to crappy Xmas presents from Aunts and Uncles...
Suicide would eliminate the receipt of undesirable Christmas gifts from extended family members.


You won't have to suffer through a Motley Crue reunion...
By ending their life, the listener will be spared from enduring a reunion performance by the band Motley Crue.


F*#K flossing and brushing...
Oral hygiene practices like flossing and brushing will no longer require the listener's attention if they choose suicide.


You'll never lose sleep over a pregnancy scare...
The listener will no longer experience anxiety or sleepless nights due to concerns about a potential pregnancy scare.


Adios, Acne...
Suicide would lead to the permanent disappearance of acne-related skin issues.


Worrying whether you fit in or not won't be on your brain...
Ending one's life would eliminate the need to worry about fitting in or being accepted by others.


See ya later, homework...
By choosing suicide, the listener would be permanently relieved from the burden of completing assignments and homework.


You'll never have to sit through another movie brought to you by the creators of South Park...
Suicide would ensure the listener's avoidance of watching any future movies produced by the creators of South Park.


School's out forever....
Ending one's life would result in an everlasting departure from educational institutions and the associated responsibilities.


No more paying bills...
By choosing suicide, the listener would no longer be obliged to make regular bill payments.


You won't have to do chores...
Suicide would free the listener from having to perform household chores or tasks.


You won't be able to run over toads with the lawnmower though...
One of the drawbacks of suicide is losing the ability to run over toads using a lawnmower.


You'll also miss McDonald's French Fries...
In the event of suicide, the listener would not be able to continue enjoying McDonald's French fries.


Bugs Bunny...
Suicide would result in the permanent absence of the character Bugs Bunny from the listener's life.


The amazing electrifying feeling that surges through your body when you kiss someone for the first time...
By choosing suicide, the listener would never again experience the exhilarating sensation of kissing another person for the very first time.


You won't be able to watch the letterbox director's cut of Jaws...
Ending one's life would entail missing out on the opportunity to watch a special version of the movie Jaws in a letterbox format.


Candy...
Suicide would result in the permanent absence of the enjoyment of various types of candy.


Living above ground...
By choosing suicide, the listener would no longer have the experience of living on the planet's surface.


Pudding crust...
Suicide would eliminate the possibility of ever eating the crispy crust formed on the top layer of pudding.


You'll miss the rush of getting your first apartment...
By not being alive, the listener would not have the opportunity to experience the excitement of obtaining their first apartment.


Getting to the point in your life where you can tell your parents to "F*#K Off! I gotta make my own mistakes, you did"...
Suicide would prevent the listener from reaching a stage in life where they can assert their independence from their parents and make their own decisions.


You'll miss sex - you'll miss thinking about it, looking for it, sex by yourself, sex with a partner, sex with multiple partners...
Ending one's life means not being able to experience sexual activities, both solitary and shared, or indulge in the anticipation and pursuit of sexual encounters.


No more summer nights that seem to go on forever... Roller coasters....
By choosing suicide, the listener would no longer be able to enjoy long summer evenings that create a sense of timelessness or have the opportunity to ride roller coasters.


Naming your kid the name you always wanted...
Suicide would prevent the listener from fulfilling their desire to give their child the name they had always dreamed of using.


Making a difference in the world...
By ending their life, the listener would be foregoing the chance to have a positive impact on the world and effect meaningful change.


You'll miss the experience and pleasure of Hallucinogenics...
Suicide would result in never again having the opportunity to partake in hallucinogenic substances and the associated experiences and pleasures.


Watching your neighbor's wife change clothes with her blinds open...
By choosing suicide, the listener would no longer be able to observe their neighbor's wife changing clothes with her blinds inadvertently left open.


A lifetime of masturbating...
One of the consequences of suicide would be missing out on a lifetime of engaging in self-pleasure through masturbation.


Watching your favorite team sweep the series...
Suicide would prevent the listener from witnessing their favorite sports team achieve a clean sweep victory in a series of games.


Music, you will definitely miss music...
By not being alive, the listener would be deprived of the experience and enjoyment of listening to music.


Trying to sneak into your house drunk - three hours past your curfew...
If the listener chooses suicide, they will never have the opportunity to engage in the thrill of attempting to sneak into their home while intoxicated and significantly late past their curfew.


You'll miss the blaze and glory of the 4th of July fireworks...
By ending one's life, the listener would not be able to witness and appreciate the spectacular display of fireworks on the 4th of July.


The taste of Captain Crunch...
Suicide would result in the permanent loss of experiencing the taste of Captain Crunch cereal.


If you're a boy, you'll miss the feeling the first time you reach up a girl's shirt...
By choosing suicide, if the listener is male, they will never have the opportunity to feel the sensation of reaching up a girl's shirt for the first time.


If you're a girl, the feeling the first time you reach down a boy's pants...
For female listeners, suicide would mean never being able to experience the sensation of reaching down a boy's pants for the first time.


You'll miss your favorite coat...
By ending your life, you will no longer have the chance to wear and enjoy your favorite coat.


Waffles with whipped cream and strawberries...
Suicide would prevent the listener from indulging in the pleasure of consuming waffles topped with whipped cream and strawberries.


Beating your friends at video games...
Ending one's life would result in the inability to experience the thrill of defeating friends in video games.


You won't be around to see what shape and color the new marshmallow in Lucky Charms will be...
By choosing suicide, the listener will never know the future shape and color of the marshmallow included in the cereal brand Lucky Charms.


You'll miss the feeling you get when reminiscing about your first love - thirty years after the fact...
Suicide would prevent the listener from experiencing the nostalgic feeling that arises when reminiscing about their first love, even after a span of thirty years.


The joy of giving and receiving at Christmas...
By ending one's life, the listener will not have the opportunity to experience the joy of both giving and receiving gifts during the Christmas holiday season.


Skinny dipping...
Suicide would deprive the listener of engaging in the recreational activity of swimming naked.


Getting stoned, reading Green Eggs & Ham, and eating like a horse that got loose in the grain bin...
By choosing suicide, the listener would never be able to enjoy the combination of being under the influence of drugs, reading the book Green Eggs & Ham, and indulging in excessive eating.


Flying cars...
One of the things the listener will miss by committing suicide is witnessing the potential future development and availability of flying cars.


Hey, you were born, finish what you started!
The singer encourages the listener to recognize that they were born into this world and should continue their journey and fulfill their purpose in life.




Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: CHRISTIAN A. SCOTT

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Todd Bennett

To everyone out there who has been influenced by this; I'M PROUD OF ALL OF YOU.

ItsNotYouItsMia

My father introduced me to this song one day. He said it was important to him that I listened to it. At the end of the song I asked him why it was so important to him. His only words were "because it saved me."
So thank you Bobby Gaylor. This is a truely inspirational piece that I will continue to share with everyone I meet.

Michael Walker

It saved me too,... sounds like your pops was a good man.

Deb Jones

..this is such an uplifting piece. The first time I heard it, about 8 or 9 years ago, I wanted everyone to listen to it. That bridge where the tone of his voice changes and the beat increases is just such a rush of feeling. I told everyone to listen to it by themselves...its not a song/spong to share a moment with anyone. And...Bobby was the only artist I ever wrote to with a need to express appreciation...and he emailed me back a few times. True artist.

Martin Olson

He's a true artist.

bruhe

Never once has this failed to bring tears to my eyes. One of the single greatest and hope-filled songs in our time.

ddebenedictis

The whole Fuzzatonic Scream album is great (although there is one track that is too painful for me to listen to). Some are really thought provoking, some are simple stories from his childhood, some grab and shake you like this one especially.
Listening to that album gave me new perspectives on guns, the circus, coming of age, and of course suicide.

Gregory Shouldice

@ddebenedictis which one is painful?

ddebenedictis

@Gregory Shouldice
Tommy the Frog Killer
It's a well done track for sure, but it upsets me so much I have to skip it. 😒

Rudi du Toit

holy shit, i was about to pull the trigger when my friend walked into my room, he did not say a word, he walked over to my hifi put a tape in, i was staring at him with tears running down my cheek, high school sucked, my brother was dying what can i say life felt like it was not worth living, this song started playing... i have been looking for this song for years, wish i could play it to a couple of people who are not around anymore anyway thanks Bobby, thanks a lot.

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