這是一個14歲的小孩的無病呻吟。我能說他是無病呻吟嗎？很難想像一個還未
熟成的軀殼能包匿多大的苦痛，但是當他的父親是最具原創性的國際級導演
Robert Altman時呢？渾身洋溢著藝術家憂鬱、自溺與天份的細胞，沒有這樣血
統的人很難去揣測他不可思議的思路與歷程，但是這樣的歌曲自然讓我們聯想到
一位自縊的年輕藝術家—Ian Curtis。
就像，有人會提醒我們，沒有做好準備前，不要貿然嘗試這樣的歌曲—Joy Division
－但是禁不起誘惑的心，當「離經叛道」已經被道德給明確分類後，就像有人捧
著迷幻藥到你手上，告訴你這是毒藥，不要輕易嘗試。於是。我們都有了第一次。
我們還會想到那幾個有著類似命運的脆弱靈魂—Jeff Buckley、Nick Drake、Jim
Morrison、Kurt Coban…－尤其是當我聽到Manic Street Preachers詮釋這首
Suicide is painless時，尤其具有說服力。我又怎能不想到Richey James？
這樣「離經叛道」的歌曲在當初一定嚇死了一票「衛道人士」，沒有被禁唱已經
實屬難事了，但是它為什麼會不斷地被翻唱、詮釋與聆聽呢？顯然，它觸及了我
們一般心靈知覺的某個陰暗區塊。那麼，當我們極度哀傷的時候，音樂是要帶給
我們轉換心情的功能？還是符合當下情緒的氛圍，自溺於另一個世界裡的冥想
呢？如果產生了不當的影響，我們能把音樂當作代罪羊嗎？
Through early morning fog I see
The visions of the things to be
Their pains that are withheld from me
I realize, and I can see
That suicide is painless
It brings on many changes
And I can take it or leave it
If I please
The game of life is hard to play
Im gonna lose it anyway
The losing card i'll some day lay
So this is all I have to say
That Suicide is painless
It brings on many changes
And I can take it or leave it
If I please
The sword of time will pierce our skin
It doesnt matter where it begins
But as it works its way on in
The pain grows stronger, watch it brim
Suicide is painless
It brings on many changes
And I can take it or leave it
If I please
A brave man once requested me
To answer questions that are key
Is it to be, or not to be?
And I replied,oh why ask me?
Suicide is painless
It brings on many changes
And I can take it or leave it
If I please
And you can do the same thing
If you please
(This song written by Johnny Mandel (music) and Mike Altman (lyrics),
which is best known for being featured in both the movie and TV series M*A*S*H)
