Forsyth brought his skills as a stellar live performer to help found and make infamous nationwide the theatrical acoustic group The Asylum Street Spankers. He gave Wammo his first washboard and Christina Marrs her first guitar and ukelele. His time with the Spankers touring and recording 5 albums added to a wealth of earlier unique experiences in his life – working as a stuntman in renaissance shows, busking on the streets of New Orleans and playing on a mountain top in Nepal – which provided him musical fodder to be refined in the songs of Forsyth’s numerous solo albums. The release of his latest, Calico Girl, which features new songs as well as re-recordings of some of Guy’s most popular songs from 1999's Can You Live Without, marks the fourth album for the record label he started in 2002, Small and Nimble Records.
Guy is known today as a musician with gripping, powerful vocals as well as a master of numerous instruments. He started his musical development first with singing, and began playing harmonica at 16. Shortly thereafter he heard a very distinct and overwhelming sound on Kansas City radio that changed his life; it was Robert Johnson. After that, he borrowed a guitar, fell in love and learned to tune it with his feet from a friend who had lost both his arms in an accident. In college, he lasted a single semester at the University of Kansas, and then he found the music he had been seeking – gritty, organic folk and blues, “from a practical hands-on, gears, joints and joists level.” And he struck out to learn it.
Since then, he’s been awarded an Austin Music Award for Best Male Vocalist in 2005, as well as numerous other AMA’s over the years in categories such as Blues and Best Miscellaneous Instrument Player (singing saw), among others. Last year’s 2-disc live record, Unrepentant Schizophrenic Americana, was received very well by critics and fans alike.
In the past year, Forsyth has stepped up his touring significantly to reach fans in the Southwest, Southeast, East Coast, and Midwest United States, as well as continuing to play in Europe several times each year. Guy has been featured in a number of large festivals recently, including the Austin City Limits Music Fest in 2005 and 2007 (Austin), High Sierra Music Festival (Northern California), Los Alamos Festival (New Mexico), BBQ & Blues Festival (New York), Tonder Festival (Denmark), and Rhythm ‘n’ Blues Festival (Belgium). He will continue broadening his tour base throughout 2008, taking his live show to new cities and festivals. His confirmed appearances upcoming this year include Chicago’s American Music Festival, the Ottowa Blues Fest, Kerrville Folk Festival and Rochester’s Bricktown Festival. Forsyth has opened for and shared the stage with musicians such as BB King, Ray Charles, Lucinda Williams, Jimmy Vaughn, Dr. John, Robert Cray, among many others.
Patient's Blues
Guy Forsyth Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is it ok to feed it
One little taste and it follows me home
Doc will it save my soul
Band-aid on a bullet hole
Real life with no parole, no time left to roam
How much more of this medication
Till you get your paid vacation
Doc how about your life, do you give it to your wife
Something to study the knife (?) when you're under the gun, having fun
And I can't stop thinking you're holding back
I can't stop thinking you're holding back
I can't stop thinking you're holding back
Doc will this do me right, will I sleep through the night
Do you think I might not wake up at all
It's such a bitter pill
I guess it's sweeter still, even though the bottom there's a long way to fall
Doc how about a chaser for your prescribed eraser
Don't you think the truth is too much for my will
I got my eyes wide open, my throat is choking
And both my hands are broken trying to get my fill, sweeter still
And I can't stop thinking you're holding back
I can't stop thinking you're holding back
I can't stop thinking you're holding back
Come on, I can take it
Cause I've been looking forward
And I can't see a reason to wait another day
Come on give it to me straight
Have I got long to wait
How much longer till it carries me away
Doc will this cloud my eyes, stifle my cries
I hope you realize it all comes down to this
If I don't get my turn, it's gonna make me burn
And I'm not going to walk away without my goodnight kiss, remember this,
And I can't stop thinking you're holding back
I can't stop thinking you're holding back
I can't stop thinking you're holding back
You're holding back, stop holding back
You're holding back, stop holding back
Repeat
Come on doc, who's side are you on
The lyrics of Guy Forsyth's song Patient's Blues depict the struggle of a patient who is seeking medication from his doctor, but also feeling doubtful and suspicious of the doctor's intentions. The patient is questioning whether the medication prescribed by his doctor will truly benefit him and save his soul, or if it will instead be detrimental to his health. In addition to this, the patient also wonders if the doctor is holding back information from him, causing a sense of mistrust between them.
Throughout the song, the patient is pleading with his doctor to be honest and transparent with him. He wants to know the truth about his condition and the possible outcomes of taking the medication. The patient fears that the medication may either come with harmful side effects or even cause him to not wake up at all. Despite this, the patient is determined to get the medication, even if it means accepting a bitter pill, as it is ultimately better than living a real life with no parole.
The lyrics present a haunting portrayal of the fear and uncertainty that can come with seeking medical treatment. The constant questioning of the doctor highlights the lack of trust that the patient has in the medical system. The lyrics are also made more intense by the repetitive chorus of “I can't stop thinking you're holding back” which hints towards the doctor holding something back from the patient.
Line by Line Meaning
Doc do I really need it
The patient is questioning whether the medication prescribed by the doctor is really necessary.
Is it ok to feed it
The patient is asking if it is safe to take the medication.
One little taste and it follows me home
The medication has addictive qualities and the patient worries about the potential consequences of taking it.
Doc will it save my soul
The patient is questioning if the medication will provide him with relief from his ailment and bring him peace of mind.
Band-aid on a bullet hole
The patient feels as though the medication is only a temporary fix for a larger problem.
Real life with no parole, no time left to roam
The patient feels trapped in his own life due to his illness and the medication prescribed to him.
How much more of this medication
The patient is questioning how much of the medication he needs to take before he sees an improvement in his condition.
Till you get your paid vacation
The patient feels as though the doctor is only interested in getting paid and looks forward to going on vacation with the money he earns.
Your clean get away, you place under the sun
The patient imagines the doctor escaping to a sunny location to enjoy his hard-earned money while the patient continues to suffer.
Doc how about your life, do you give it to your wife
The patient questions the doctor's motives and wonders if he is prescribing medication for monetary gain or to please his own personal life.
Something to study the knife (?) when you're under the gun, having fun
The patient suggests that the doctor is studying the knife (prescribing medication) even when he is under pressure to help his patients.
And I can't stop thinking you're holding back
The patient feels as though the doctor is keeping something from him and not being completely truthful.
Doc will this do me right, will I sleep through the night
The patient is worried that the medication will not work properly and that he will not be able to sleep through the night.
Do you think I might not wake up at all
The patient fears that the medication is dangerous and could potentially cause him to not wake up again.
It's such a bitter pill
The patient finds the medication difficult to take, primarily due to its side effects and the potential negative consequences it could bring.
I guess it's sweeter still, even though the bottom there's a long way to fall
Despite the difficulties associated with taking the medication, the patient believes that it is worth it in the long run as it may provide him with some relief.
Doc how about a chaser for your prescribed eraser
The patient inquires about a soothing remedy to help counteract the negative effects of the medication.
Don't you think the truth is too much for my will
The patient implies that he is not strong enough to handle the truth about his illness and that he may require a more gentle approach to the situation.
I got my eyes wide open, my throat is choking
The patient is apprehensive and fearful of taking the medication, which is causing him physical discomfort.
And both my hands are broken trying to get my fill, sweeter still
The patient is struggling to cope with his illness and is willing to do whatever it takes to feel better, even if it means taking medication with unpleasant side effects.
Come on, I can take it
The patient is trying to convince the doctor that he is strong enough to handle the truth about his illness.
Cause I've been looking forward
The patient has been hoping for relief from his illness and has been eagerly anticipating a cure.
And I can't see a reason to wait another day
The patient is impatient and desires immediate relief from his symptoms.
Come on give it to me straight
The patient wants the doctor to provide him with an honest diagnosis and treatment plan.
Have I got long to wait
The patient is asking if he needs to wait much longer before starting to feel better.
How much longer till it carries me away
The patient is questioning how long he has until his illness eventually overcomes him.
Doc will this cloud my eyes, stifle my cries
The patient is worried that the medication may have negative side effects that could compromise his sight, impair his ability to communicate, or hinder his crying.
I hope you realize it all comes down to this
The patient is emphasizing the seriousness of his condition and the vital nature of his treatment.
If I don't get my turn, it's gonna make me burn
The patient is anxious to receive the necessary treatment and feels as though the doctor is preventing him from getting better.
And I'm not going to walk away without my goodnight kiss, remember this
The patient is determined to get better and will not give up until he achieves his desired outcome.
You're holding back, stop holding back
The patient feels as though the doctor is withholding information or not providing him with proper care, and is urging the doctor to do better.
Contributed by Landon C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@carlosangulo3
@witzoinfo Interesting. It says right at the end that I didn't think this out very well.
@mintgumdropz1
@carlosangulo3 Yes, I agree, you did not. To call these people "loser" upset me alot. The pressures of Hollywood are those you do not understand. I am not making excuses for them, but to lable them as "loser" pissed me off. I do not use drugs and don't approve of those who do, but you should at least respect the dead, no matter how they died. Other than that, I liked this, just did not like your description you gave. Some foresight would have been nice.
@carlosangulo3
You have got to be kidding me. It actually upset you...alot? Wow. The "pressures of Hollywood?" You've gotta be kidding me. That's not pressure. A guy (not me) with 4 kids, a wife and a mortgage and maybe a shaky job has pressure. How often does that upset you? To have one iota of sympathy for these idiots who have life by the balls but are too stupid to handle it...is just ridiculous.In life there are people who take responsibility and people who don't. Doesn't matter if you're famous or not.