Institutionalized

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 OK, you know
I'll figure it out, just leave me alone, I'll figure it out, you know
I'll just work it out 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 OK
I'll figure it out myself"
And 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 who's crazy (institutionalized)
You're driving me crazy (institutionalized)
They stick me in an institution
Said it was the only solution
To give me 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 notice 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 OK, 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 OK, 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 get 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 (institutionalized)
You're the one who's crazy (institutionalized)
You're driving me crazy (institutionalized)
They stick me in an institution
Said it was the only solution
To give me 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, 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 who's crazy (institutionalized)
You're driving me crazy (institutionalized)
They stick me in an institution
Said it was the only solution
To give me needed professional help
To protect me from the enemy, myself

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