Album: Suicidal Tendencies (1983)

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• Sometimes I try to do things
  And it just doesn't work out the way I want it to
  And I get real frustrated
  And like, I try hard to do it
  And I like, take my time, but it just doesn't work out the way I want it to
  It's like I concentrate on it real hard
  But it just doesn't work out
  And 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?
  You should maybe 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'm just working on myself"
  They go, "Well you know, if you wanna 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?"
  I go, "No I don't want to, I'm okay, I'll figure it out myself"
  But they just keep bugging me
  They just keep bugging me 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 (institutionalized)
  You're the one that's crazy (institutionalized)
  You're driving me crazy (institutionalized)
  They stick 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 walls 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 hear her
  And then she started screaming, "Mike, Mike"
  And I go, "What? What's the matter?"
  She goes, "What's the matter with you?"
  I go, "There's nothing wrong, mom"
  She goes, "Don't tell me that, you're on drugs"
  I go, "No mom, I'm not on drugs, I'm okay, I'm just thinking, you know? Why don't you get me a Pepsi?"
  She goes, "No, you're on drugs"
  I go, "Mom, I'm okay, I'm just thinking"
  And she goes, "No, you're not thinking, you're on drugs
  Normal people don't act that way"
  I go, "Mom, just get me a Pepsi, please? All I want's 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 (institutionalized)
  You're the one that's crazy (institutionalized)
  You're driving me crazy (institutionalized)
  They stick 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'm 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, we've been noticing lately you've been having a lot of problems
  And you've been going off for no reason
  And we're afraid you're gonna hurt somebody
  And 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 are you talking about?
  We decided? My best interest?
  How do you know what 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 (institutionalized)
  You're the one that's crazy (institutionalized)
  You're driving me crazy (institutionalized)
  They stick 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 Writer/s: Louis Mayorga, Mike Muir
  Publisher: BMG Rights Management, TuneCore Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 9

• Mike Adams "the Health Ranger" from Outskirt Of Austin TexasSomeone get this guy a Pepsi that was made in 1983!! The Sweetener High Fructose has been slowly causing people to become "institutionalized" in clinics
  See the movie Idiocracy ?(2005)by Beavis and Butthead creator for some very revealing truths.
• Dzo from AtlantaStuck in my house
  Nowhere to go
  Time now it seems
  Moves so slow
  The world now sick
  And so afraid
  These walls of our kingdoms
  Will become our cage
  If we don't stand
  And we don't rage
  Against this virus
  Well then our days
  They are marked
  And we are doomed
  The death of mankind
  Life consumed
  The rain the wind
  The sun and moon
  The silence of all
  It may come soon
  We hold our destiny
  In our hands
  We are all the same now
  Of all the lands
  Of humankind
  Is where we stand
  Of sisters and brothers
  And we must band.
  Last one. Promise. Dzo.
  Thank you Songfacts.
  
• Vegan Solarman from VeniceI have a friend who has a severe problem with bipolar it’s, he is a great rapper who could use some help! would you be interested in helping me to help him? may God bless you...
• Zeny from Bucks, PaCOMMENT CORRECTIONS:
  
  *Jim from NZ - the actress who plays the mom in the "Institutionalize" video was NOT in Bananarama!
  
  Mary Woronov really became a cult actress after working with Andy Warhol. She was a fan of Punk. She also did "Possessed To Skate" video. Twas after the Ramones full length music video movie "Rock 'n' Roll High School". Then part 2. Also was great in "Night of the Comet", "Chopping Mall", "Dick Tracy" and much more.
  
  *Tyler From MD, you are totally wrong! It is more like the parents listen to others more than their own kid. Mike, as named in the song is a normal kid just trying to work things out. Because he likes to sit in his room and listen to music the parents feel that it is not normal behavior.
  
  Drugs were becoming more of a prevalent force. Many rehab facilities were opening up and pushing many to believe that "if your kid sits alone and listen to music, they must be on drugs" and or crazy so to speak. So when the parents push Mike with all the dumb questions that are not relevant to him he gets upset. Which makes the parents think more that he MUST be on drugs and crazy.
  
  It upsets Mike because he is not. He does want help. Just not that kind of help. That kind of parenting can make one crazy. He wants them to listen to him and not the dumb TV and people. Even though Mike is the main character of the song, it is not autobiographical for him at least. He wrote it based off of what so many others were going through at the time.
  
  Mike was very lucky to have a father that truly cared and there for him. I think that made him more open to the atrocities that others were going through. He had a lot of things going on his head as most kids with growing brains do. His dad was able to explain things the best he could. That kind of communication it's precious to a relationship and development.
  
  No surprise Mike can really talk, and write when you get him going. There are so many amazing interviews full of great stories. Over 40 years and I still feel that Mike is one of the best lyricists ever. Definitely one of the greatest guys I've ever known. Truly helped me get through some of the hardest times of my life. Really with music we are never "Alone". (Look that one up)
  
  
  People really need to do a bit of research before they take anything to hear on the internet to be fact. False information continues to be spread so it appear in multiple places. So try to go to credible sources and always keep in mind not to jump the gun.
• Jim from Christchurch, New ZealandThe mother on the video is from Bananarama
• David from Portland, OrThis song is genius. Talk about encapsulating all the angst and anxiety kids go through.
• Xavier from Schenectady, NyWow i think so many teenagers can relate to this song
• Cardio Toxin from El Paso, Txthis song is impossible to mis-intrepret. and this is an awesomem song, good luck trying to keep up with these guys live singing this song; it is nearly impossible.
• Tyler from Aberdeen , MdIts Actually About a kid whos Parents Think Hes crazy and they harass him and try to help him but he doesn't want help at all

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