Jim Flannery - What is Torture?

What have I done, you may ask first
You don't ask them, that's what hurts the worst
What have I done, you may ask first
You don't ask them, that's what hurts the worst
Delusion and confusion are two separate things
Like with state-sanctioned torture of its own citizens
I'm not talking about my history for glory
What I've experienced in our mental hospitals is not just a story
Since I mentioned the word torture
You may want some evidence
You can focus on needles and restraints
Without ever understanding what was done to my head
You think I'm crazy? Does that make it ok?
If I'm insane, psychotic, nuts or mentally ill?
The truth is I'm probably human… if you can't already tell
If you didn't notice we never asked who or what you are
Is this torture punitive or treatment, do you even care at all?
I care that you're gonna take these pills or I'm gonna shove 'em down your throat
But Doc, this is America, in case you didn't know
Hate to break it to you this but in this house its me who's in control
And if I ever let you out of here, you'll be glad, now say, it's so
What have I done, you may ask first
You don't ask them, that's what hurts the worst
What have I done, you may ask first
You don't ask them, that's what hurts the worst
Don't we have time, can't I ask questions
There's no time to talk, I'm saying your emotions are like an infection
But when you give me an injection, you don't know where your drugs are heading
We don't mind collateral damage, but don't you worry
This one's just a salt, it's like it's a natural part of your physiology
If it's not working don't despair
We've got a treasure trove of options we can force upon you here
But Doc that's not fair you're treating something without evidence that its even fucking there
Not a problem, I have the power to declare you're mentally ill
And for the rest of your life, you're gonna take these pills
You're not listening, I'm telling you, there's nothing to repair
I know you believe I'm imbalanced and genetically unfit
But believing isn't knowing, you're not being scientific
Sorry you had to learn about power this way
But we wrote the DSM so your identity is defined by the diagnosis we made
UP, you made this shit up, you sat in a circle pretending to be scientific and came up with these names to call people so you could brand them as subhuman so the state would let you torture them, I haven't forgot
What have I done, you may ask first
You don't ask them, that's what hurts the worst
What have I done, you may ask first
You don't ask them, that's what hurts the worst
Seclusion and restraint are two separate things
I don't need a United Nations Rapporteur on Torture to tell me it stings
Forced treatment is torture, it's the worst way to help
If I believed its real, I'd say it's the quickest way to hell
Thanks for the feedback, but we're not here to believe you
Now that you're leaving, how do you feel
Like the only place I belong is a mental institute or jail
How the fuck are you a doctor, when you've so clearly failed
It's obviously not me, it's you, cause I own science
That's why we keep you here forever or until you buy it
So does that mean I should tell an employer about the bang-up job you've done?
No problem, we've labelled your existence a stigma, so you cannot go wrong
Thanks for that, Doc, but how do I talk to my family
Cause no one will believe the shit you've done when it's not shown on TV
You destroyed my ability to connect
And convinced me I'm broken
You've tortured me and lied
While my family believes every word you've spoken
Complain all you want, it's not my job to listen
I'm too busy helping people, not excluding children
If you call what you do help, then that's just fine and dandy
And if my words ruin your life, then I'll just call it branding
What have I done, you may ask first
You don't ask them, that's what hurts the worst
What have I done, you may ask first
You don't ask them, that's what hurts the worst
I don't wish that you tortured me in public
But don't force it on me to expose what you wanted
Cause my speaking about this may only make people afraid
But it's your power I'm coming after, so I don't think I need to explain

Written by:
Jim Flannery

Publisher:
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