{"id":5453,"date":"2015-10-12T22:39:35","date_gmt":"2015-10-13T03:39:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sites.dwrl.utexas.edu\/countrymusic\/?page_id=5453"},"modified":"2015-10-12T22:39:35","modified_gmt":"2015-10-13T03:39:35","slug":"what-country-music-can-teach-you-about-suicide","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sites.dwrl.utexas.edu\/countrymusic\/the-history\/what-country-music-can-teach-you-about-suicide\/","title":{"rendered":"What Country Music Can Teach You About Suicide"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>It\u2019s taboo. It\u2019s scary. But it\u2019s very, very real. Just like any physical ailment, disease, or disorder, mental illness can happen to anyone\u2014often without reason or warning. It remains one of the most misunderstood and under-discussed topics in the world today, especially because it is estimated that\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thekimfoundation.org\/html\/about_mental_ill\/statistics.html\">1 in 4 Americans suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>And although topics regarding mental health are often difficult to talk about in 2015, the situation has only improved in recent years. Through looking at the progression of country music since the late 1950\u2019s, some of these changes regarding society\u2019s view on mental health\u2014specifically suicide\u2014are quite shocking. The 7 songs in this list demonstrate society\u2019s increasing acceptance of suicide as a legitimate issue, while also proving that there is still an incredible amount of progress to be made<\/p>\n<p>1.\u00a0<strong>\u201cI Think I\u2019m Gonna Kill Myself\u201d (1958)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Performer: Buddy Knox<\/p>\n<p>Writer: Buddy Knox<\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=QFPQDdbjDOo<\/p>\n<p>This rockabilly hit combines singing \u201cbop ba ba ba\u201d and \u201cI think I\u2019m gonna kill myself\u201d into one song. Yes, it\u2019s just as disturbing as it sounds.\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.rockabillyhall.com\/whatisrockabilly.html\">Rockabilly music<\/a>\u00a0is a collection of blues, country, gospel, and pop sounds, and is in no way suited for a song about committing suicide. The cheerful mood conveyed in this song is not appropriate for the lyrics involved, and is so ridiculous that I am inclined to think that it\u2019s satirical. Purposefully comical or not, the way this song is presented demonstrates the lack of sensitivity people at this time may have felt for those who were potentially suicidal.<\/p>\n<p>2.\u00a0<strong>\u201cSuicide Blues\u201d (1962)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Performer: David \u201cStringbean\u201d Akeman<\/p>\n<p>Writer: Unknown<\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"Stringbean - Suicide Blues\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/oNIXtxZRGYM?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Upon first listening to this song, all I could feel was total anger and disgust. I can\u2019t think of anything funny whatsoever about suicide, and the mood conveyed in this song is happy-go-lucky and carefree. It\u2019s played on a banjo!!! That\u2019s literally the happiest instrument I can think of. Yet, it\u2019s discussing something as serious as wanting to take one\u2019s own life, and poking fun at it. This song is the perfect example of how joking around about committing suicide was perfectly acceptable at this time in the early 1960\u2019s\u2014and suggests that many people didn\u2019t take the issue very seriously.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/sites.dwrl.utexas.edu\/countrymusic\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2015\/10\/giphy3.gif\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-5457 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/sites.dwrl.utexas.edu\/countrymusic\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2015\/10\/giphy3-300x113.gif\" alt=\"giphy\" width=\"401\" height=\"151\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>3.\u00a0<strong>\u201cOde to Billie Joe\u201d (1967)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Performer: Bobbie Gentry<\/p>\n<p>Writer: Bobbie Gentry<\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"Bobbie Gentry - Ode To Billie Joe\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/CZt5Q-u4crc?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>This song tells the story of a young man who commits suicide by jumping off a bridge in the Deep South. There is\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.jjmccullough.com\/billyjoe.htm\">a lot of controversy over the exact meaning of this song<\/a>, but it is evident that Billie Joe\u2019s suicide affects the narrator more than everyone else surrounding her. The narrator\u2019s dad lacks sympathy for the boy, claiming he \u201cnever had a lick of sense\u201d; this is completely disrespectful to the boy, and minimizes his pain by blaming his suicide on his supposed lack of intelligence. In reality, the mental battle people face when deciding whether or not to take their own life is incredibly complex. However, the song in general is a step in the right direction as it exposes the tragic issue and showcases how many different people a suicide effects (that one may not even realize)<\/p>\n<p>4.\u00a0<strong>\u201cHurt\u201d (2002)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Performer: Johnny Cash<\/p>\n<p>Writer: Trent Reznor<\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=vt1Pwfnh5pc<\/p>\n<p>This song possibly delves into the dark and devastating topic of self-harm. Self-harm and mental illness are sadly very often correlated\u2014whether that be due to someone\u2019s desire to feel something (even if it\u2019s pain), a deep hatred for oneself,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/star.txstate.edu\/node\/1872\">the media\u2019s tendency to romanticize self-harm<\/a>, or another reason. Cash sings that he hurts himself to \u201csee if [he] still feels\u201d and will leave his \u201cempire of dirt\u201d (his belongings) to his wife when he dies. Cash\u2019s ability to convey his raw emotions and pain through his music helps the audience get into the head of someone who might be contemplating suicide. \u201cHurt\u201d was a big step for the country music world in terms of discussing suicide; Johnny Cash wasn\u2019t afraid to be authentic\u2014a trait that is desperately necessary in preventing and treating mental illnesses.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/sites.dwrl.utexas.edu\/countrymusic\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2015\/10\/giphy-1-2.gif\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-5447 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/sites.dwrl.utexas.edu\/countrymusic\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2015\/10\/giphy-1-2-300x168.gif\" alt=\"giphy (1) 2\" width=\"300\" height=\"168\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>5.\u00a0<strong>\u201cWhiskey Lullaby\u201d (2003)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Performer: Brad Paisley, Alison Krauss<\/p>\n<p>Writers: Bill Anderson, Jon Randall<\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"Brad Paisley - Whiskey Lullaby (Full Version - Official Video) ft. Alison Krauss\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/IZbN_nmxAGk?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s no doubt that this Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss hit is quite the tear-jerker. Despite its success at bringing attention to the devastating issue of suicide, it does more harm than good in the mental health world. The lyrics tell a Romeo and Juliet type scenario where the man commits suicide because a girl broke his heart, causing the girl to feel an immense amount of guilt that eventually drives her to commit suicide as well. This song conveys the idea that having one\u2019s heart broken is a legitimate reason that people commit suicide. It is possible that this plays a role in certain cases, but the depth of the pain one experiences in order to finally come to the conclusion that death is the only option is much more complex. It also romanticizes suicide as people could view it as a tragic love story where the pair feels as though they must die together. This potentially undermines the pain that those who are suicidal experience, and demonstrates a misrepresentation of mental illness.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/sites.dwrl.utexas.edu\/countrymusic\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2015\/10\/whiskey-lullaby.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-5449 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/sites.dwrl.utexas.edu\/countrymusic\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2015\/10\/whiskey-lullaby-300x269.jpg\" alt=\"whiskey-lullaby\" width=\"300\" height=\"269\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.dwrl.utexas.edu\/countrymusic\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2015\/10\/whiskey-lullaby-300x269.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sites.dwrl.utexas.edu\/countrymusic\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/19\/2015\/10\/whiskey-lullaby.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>6.\u00a0<strong>\u201cHow Do you Get that Lonely\u201d (2004)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Performer: Blaine Larsen<\/p>\n<p>Writers: Rory Lee Feek, Jamie Teachenor<\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"Blaine Larsen - How Do You Get That Lonely\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ZdSaI080VXc?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>This song tells the story of a boy who killed himself at the age of eighteen. The lyrics contemplate the reasoning behind how and why the boy could have made this decision. Was it because his parents didn\u2019t tell them they loved him? Or because his girlfriend broke up with him? Similar to songs previously listed, the artist cannot fully understand the depth of the emotional pain that caused this boy\u2019s suicidal tendencies. However, this song is a step forward because the singer desires to understand. He desperately wants to get inside this boy\u2019s head and gain more knowledge about his reasoning behind his decision to commit suicide. This curiosity is refreshing and is crucial to ultimately lowering the stigma surrounding mental illnesses. This song is clearly very serious in contrast to many of the songs earlier in this list. Its slow pace and gloomy mood is appropriate for the lyrics and respectful of the topic. Furthermore, the song helps to convey the idea that a person\u2019s choice to commit suicide affects more than just themself; an entire community is negatively impacted by this decision.<\/p>\n<p>7.<strong> \u201cThe Call\u201d (2010)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Performer: Matt Kennon<\/p>\n<p>Writer: Matt Kennon<\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"Matt Kennon, &quot;The Call&quot; - OFFICIAL VIDEO\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/YK3zs7EV6Tk?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Matt Kennon is sure to bring a tear to your eye as he sings about calling his friend right before he was about to \u201cpull the trigger\u201d. It is the most progressive in terms of mental health awareness because it shows someone being supportive of his or her friend during a time of desperation. Research shows that\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/secure.cihi.ca\/free_products\/AiB_ReducingPsychological%20DistressEN-web.pdf\">people who feel like they have social support are less likely to suffer from mental illnesses<\/a>. This is a crucial concept that ultimately shows people how they can take action in fighting for a healthier society. It begins immediately with being supportive of those around you. Additionally, in this song, the boy has no idea his friend is struggling with suicidal thoughts. It demonstrates how those who deal with these hardships often feel alone and keep to themselves. This is often due to the stigma surrounding mental illness that those who deal with these issues are \u201ccrazy\u201d or \u201cweak\u201d. This song ultimately expresses the importance of supporting those around you and paying attention when you think someone may be struggling.<\/p>\n<p><strong>To conclude&#8230;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>As you can see, there is a shocking progression from the way mental health was discussed in country music in the 1950\u2019s and 60\u2019s to how it is in the 21<sup>st<\/sup>\u00a0century. Suicide was often sung about in a joking fashion, because mental illness was even more taboo back then than it is today. With songs like \u201cHow Do You Get that Lonely\u201d and \u201cThe Call\u201d, it is clear that people have gained a deeper understanding of the seriousness of mental illness.<\/p>\n<p>It is important to note that the songs in this list mainly refer to depression and suicidal tendencies specifically. Songs about other mental illnesses like personality and eating disorders do not seem to be very common within the country music genre. Despite the progress thus far, it would be beneficial to have a more diverse range of mental health issues represented.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s impossible to listen to this list without shedding a tear (or 100), which I think perfectly demonstrates the power music has to make an impact. The progression country music has made in its discussion of mental health and suicide is impressive, though it still has a long way to go.<\/p>\n<p>Part of what makes suicide so tragic is that it\u2019s completely preventable; there is no reason that someone should be suffering so deeply that death is his or her only option. If more musicians begin to sing about suicide in a respectful and understanding fashion, more people will gain knowledge about the effects suicide has on an entire community of people, as well as how to spot the warning signs for those who may be suicidal. Understanding these key ideas is essential in ultimately lowering suicide\u2019s 10<sup>th<\/sup>\u00a0place spot on\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.afsp.org\/understanding-suicide\/facts-and-figures\">the list of leading causes of death for Americans<\/a>. Music\u2014and especially a storytelling-focused genre like country\u2014holds enormous power to promote change, and in this case, save lives. Country music can work to prevent someone from pulling the trigger, jumping off the balcony, or swallowing the pills\u2014and to me, that is something worth fighting for.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It\u2019s taboo. It\u2019s scary. But it\u2019s very, very real. Just like any physical ailment, disease, or disorder, mental illness can happen to anyone\u2014often without reason or warning. It remains one of the most misunderstood and under-discussed topics in the world &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/sites.dwrl.utexas.edu\/countrymusic\/the-history\/what-country-music-can-teach-you-about-suicide\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":100,"featured_media":0,"parent":6,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-5453","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.dwrl.utexas.edu\/countrymusic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5453","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.dwrl.utexas.edu\/countrymusic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.dwrl.utexas.edu\/countrymusic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.dwrl.utexas.edu\/countrymusic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/100"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.dwrl.utexas.edu\/countrymusic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5453"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/sites.dwrl.utexas.edu\/countrymusic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5453\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5524,"href":"https:\/\/sites.dwrl.utexas.edu\/countrymusic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5453\/revisions\/5524"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.dwrl.utexas.edu\/countrymusic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.dwrl.utexas.edu\/countrymusic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5453"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}