Kathy's on the Roof
Screeching Weasel Lyrics


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She's got a place to go when she gets sad
She opens her window and sits on the roof whenever she is feeling bad
She's sick of these rules
And she's sick of this world
And she's totally sick of her life
She says the mundane fries like eggs on her brain
And now we all think she's lost her mind
Kathy's on the roof again

She's going down

Eating too little and sleeping too much
She was manic and now she's depressed
She ought to be with her peer group
Indeed she just needs to get things off her chest
They prod and they probe they sedate and they shock
They can't seem to get through to that girl
She only speaks about once every week
And then all she'll say is fuck the world
Kathy's on the roof again

She's going down

Her mother says she's crazy
And her sister says she's not
But everybody thinks she's flaky
We've gotta figure out just what's wrong with her
It's time to look into the cabinet
And make sure Kathy is taking her meds
It's time to prop Kathy in front of the TV
And wipe the drool off her dress
The sound of the Mexicans cutting the lawn
Again was buzzing throughout the whole house




We couldn't find her so we looked outside
And saw Kathy all over the ground

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Screeching Weasel's song Kathy's on the Roof describe a troubled girl named Kathy who uses her rooftop as an escape from her unhappy life. The song portrays the frustration felt by those who care about Kathy but cannot seem to help her. She is described as sick of the rules and mundanity of life and is struggling with mental illness, swinging from mania to depression. Despite efforts to get through to her, Kathy retreats into herself, only speaking once a week to say "fuck the world." As the song progresses, it becomes apparent that Kathy is not getting the help she needs, and her family and friends try to force medication on her and control her behavior.


The song is a commentary on mental illness and the difficulties faced by those who suffer from it. It also highlights the struggle faced by loved ones who want to help but are often unable to do so. The lyrics are powerful and emotive, with a sense of urgency and desperation that conveys the seriousness of the situation.


Overall, Kathy's on the Roof is a poignant and insightful look at the challenges faced by those living with mental illness, as well as the difficulties faced by those who care about them.


Line by Line Meaning

She's got a place to go when she gets sad
Kathy has found a refuge in a certain place whenever she is feeling down.


She opens her window and sits on the roof whenever she is feeling bad
Kathy goes to the rooftop whenever she is feeling down and looks out the window to feel a bit better.


She's sick of these rules
Kathy is tired of following the rules and conforming to society's expectations.


And she's sick of this world
Kathy is fed up with the way the world works and wishes that things could be different.


And she's totally sick of her life
Kathy finds her life very unfulfilling and wishes that she could lead a better one.


She says the mundane fries like eggs on her brain
Kathy finds the everyday routine too boring and mundane, which makes her feel like her brain is being fried.


And now we all think she's lost her mind
Kathy's behavior has caused her friends and family to worry about her mental state.


She's going down
Kathy's mental health is deteriorating and she needs help.


Eating too little and sleeping too much
Kathy's eating and sleeping habits have changed, which is a sign of her struggling with her mental health.


She was manic and now she's depressed
Kathy has experienced both manic and depressive states, which are both symptoms of a mental illness.


She ought to be with her peer group
Kathy should be with people her own age and going through similar experiences to feel less isolated.


Indeed she just needs to get things off her chest
Kathy needs to talk about her problems and feelings to someone who can listen and offer support.


They prod and they probe they sedate and they shock
Kathy has been subjected to different types of treatment and medication to try and cure her mental illness.


They can't seem to get through to that girl
Kathy's mental illness is resistant to treatment and is difficult to cure.


She only speaks about once every week
Kathy does not talk much, which could be a symptom of her mental illness or a sign that she is not comfortable communicating with others.


And then all she'll say is fuck the world
Kathy's negative and cynical attitude towards the world is evident through her limited speech.


Her mother says she's crazy
Kathy's mother believes that she is mentally ill and needs help.


And her sister says she's not
Kathy's sister believes that she is not mentally ill and is worried about her wellbeing.


But everybody thinks she's flaky
Despite the differing opinions, everyone believes that Kathy's behavior is strange and unpredictable.


We've gotta figure out just what's wrong with her
Kathy's friends and family are concerned about her mental health and want to find out what is causing her behavior.


It's time to look into the cabinet
Kathy's medication needs to be checked and monitored to make sure that she is taking it regularly.


And make sure Kathy is taking her meds
Kathy needs to take her medication regularly to control her mental illness and prevent it from worsening.


It's time to prop Kathy in front of the TV
Kathy needs to be monitored and kept distracted from her negative thoughts and feelings.


And wipe the drool off her dress
Kathy might be experiencing side effects from her medication, which cause her to drool and need assistance with cleaning.


The sound of the Mexicans cutting the lawn
The noise of people outside is disturbing and distracts from the task of finding Kathy.


Again was buzzing throughout the whole house
The noise is loud and can be heard throughout the entire house.


We couldn't find her so we looked outside
Kathy is missing and cannot be found inside the house, which causes her friends and family to worry.


And saw Kathy all over the ground
Kathy has either fallen or jumped off the rooftop and has injured herself, which is a sign of her serious mental illness.




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