Inspired by a patient (or 2 or 10 or 600) at OSH- poorly performed, sadly pathetic production values, my voice doesn’t work, the words are after- here it is:
My name is Robert
I live in Oregon State Hospital in building 35
I can’t say much about my live before this place
I’ve been locked up 40 years, don’t know if I’ll get out alive
You may think worse of me to know I hear spirits in the night
As they walk the narrow halls I hear them cry
Nameless Men and Women who lived out their days in here
Maybe I will join them by and by
—
Chorus:
Me, I get up early every single day
Look out on the ward and wish that I was far away
But if my life has been wasted you don’t need to see
The only one who knows I’m here is me
—
When I was young my life here was a nightmare
I was raped by other patients and tied down by MHTs
[Mental Health Technicians- the bottom rung of ward staff]
Then left in the seclusion room while staff would sit outside
Catching up on their reading, just as distant as you please
It’s not so bad here for me now it’s just an awful boring place
We go to groups, the same day after day
And if staff don’t give a damn they mostly leave us all alone
Sometimes we get good ones, they won’t stay
—
Chorus
—
I don’t just sit around all day
I’d go crazy if I did, I’ve seen it happen to a few
I used to work on grounds but now we’re locked down pretty tight
It seems as though there never is enough for me to do
My IDT gave me my Treatment Plan last week
[Interdisciplinary Treatment Team- the primary instruments of Ward Rule]
All my goals right there for me to read
It always just amazes me they know me so damn well
Without ever asking what I need
—
Chorus
*
I’ll put this on the music page later- after I do a better recording of it.
moon soup 