Institutionalized Lyrics

Sometimes I try to do things and it just doesn’t work out the way I wanted to
I get real frustrated and I try hard to do it and I take my time and it doesn’t work out the way I wanted to
It’s like I concentrate real hard and it doesn’t work out, everything I do and everything I try, it never turns out
It’s like I need time to figure these things out but there’s always someone there going

Hey Mike:
“You know we’ve been noticing you’ve been having a lot of problems lately, you know!”
“Maybe you should get away and, like, maybe you should talk about it, you’ll feel a lot better!”

And I go:
“No, it’s okay, you know! I’ll figure it out!”
“Just leave me alone! I’ll figure it out!”
“You know I’ll just work by myself!”

And they go:
“Well, you know, if you want to talk about it”
“I’ll be here, you know, and you’ll probably feel a lot better if you talk about it!”
“So why don’t you talk about it?”

And I go:
“No, I don’t want to, I’m okay!”
“I’ll figure it out myself!”
And they just keep bugging me
And they just keep bugging me
And it builds up inside and it builds up inside

So you’re gonna be institutionalized
You’ll come out brainwashed with bloodshot eyes
You won’t have any say
They’ll brainwash you until you see their way

I’m not crazy (in an institution!)
You’re the one who’s crazy (in an institution!)
You’re driving me crazy (in an institution!)

They stuck me in an institution
Said it was the only solution
To give me the needed professional help
To protect me from the enemy, myself

I was in my room and I was just like staring at the wall thinking about everything
But then again I was thinking about nothing
And then my mom came in and I didn’t even know she was there she called my name
And I didn’t even hear it and then she started screaming: “Mike! Mike!”

And I go:
“What? What’s the matter?”

And she goes:
“What’s the matter with you?”

I go:
“There’s nothing wrong, mom!”

And she goes:
“Don’t tell me that!”
“You’re on drugs!”

And I go:
“No, mom! I’m not on drugs! I’m okay!”
“I was just thinking you know”
“Why don’t you get me a Pepsi?”

And she goes:
“No! You’re on drugs!”

I go:
“Mom, I’m okay! I’m just thinking!”

She goes:
“No! You’re not thinking! You’re on drugs!”
“Normal people don’t act that way!”

I go:
“Mom, just give me a Pepsi, please!”
All I want is a Pepsi and she wouldn’t give it to me
All I wanted was a Pepsi, just one Pepsi
And she wouldn’t give it to me
Just a Pepsi!

They give you a white shirt with long sleeves
Tied around your back, you’re treated like thieves
Drug you up because they’re lazy
It’s too much work to help a crazy

I’m not crazy (in an institution!)
You’re the one who’s crazy (in an institution!)
You’re driving me crazy (in an institution!)

They stuck me in an institution
Said it was the only solution
To give me the needed professional help
To protect me from the enemy, myself

I was sitting in my room and my mom and my dad came in
They pulled up a chair and they sat down

They go:
“Mike, we need to talk to you!”

And I go:
“Okay! What’s the matter?!”

They go:
“Me and your mom have been noticing lately that you’ve been having a lot of problems”
“You’ve been going off for no reason and we’re afraid you’re gonna hurt somebody”
“We’re afraid you’re gonna hurt yourself”
“So we decided that it would be in your best interest if we put you somewhere”
“Where you could get the help that you need”

And I go:
“Wait! What do you mean?
“What are you talking about! We decided?!”
“My best interest?!”
“How can you know what’s my best interest is?”
“How can you say what my best interest is?
“What are you trying to say? I’m crazy?”
“When I went to your schools”
“I went to your churches”
“I went to your institutional learning facilities?!”
“So how can you say I’m crazy?!”

They say they’re gonna fix my brain
Alleviate my suffering and my pain
But by the time they fix my head
Mentally I’ll be dead

I’m not crazy (in an institution!)
You’re the one who’s crazy (in an institution!)
You’re driving me crazy (in an institution!)

They stuck me in an institution
Said it was the only solution
To give me the needed professional help
To protect me from the enemy, myself

It doesn’t matter
I’ll probably get hit by a car anyway