In one of the most  disturbing scenes of the movie, the character Richie (Luke Wilson), attempts suicide with a razor-blade while the song “Needle In The Hay” by Elliott Smith is played. I discovered the album this track appears on shortly before Smith did the soundtrack for Good Will Hunting and has always been one of my favorites. The beautifully sung, but yet desperate lyrics of someone in the throes of drug dependency, made for a poignant contrast and also made the song a fan favorite.  Unfortunately, fact can often follow fiction, and Elliott Smith, after a long battle with drug addiction and depression committed suicide in 2003.

This post may seem like a downer, especially on the 2nd day of December, with us all flying straight for the sun of the Holiday Season… but it left me with a reminder that Christmas is the most likely time of year for depression. 2009 has been especially tough on many. The idyllic storybook family pictures we witness on television are usually anything but the norm, and for anyone who has experienced loss, it is often a time of reflection. So if you are finding yourself anything but joyous, remember that you are not alone… and please go easy on yourself and others. No one is a Needle in the Hay.

and if all of that is a little bit heavy, at least check out the great song!!

Needle In The Hay -  Elliott Smith

Your hand on his arm
Haystack charm around your neck
Strung out and thin
Calling some friend, trying to cash some check
He’s acting dumb
That’s what you’ve come to expect
Needle in the hay
Needle in the hay
Needle in the hay
Needle in the hay
He’s wearing your clothes
Head down to toes, a reaction to you
You say you know what he did
But you idiot kid, you don’t have a clue
Sometimes they just get caught in the eye, you’re pulling him through
Needle in the hay
Needle in the hay
Needle in the hay
Needle in the hay
Now on the bus
Nearly touching this dirty retreat
Falling out 6th and Powell, a dead sweat in my teeth
Gonna walk walk walk
Four more blocks, plus the one in my brain
Down downstairs to the man, he’s gonna make it all okay
I can’t be myself
I can’t be myself
And I don’t want to talk
I’m taking the cure
So I can be quiet whenever I want
So leave me alone
You ought to be proud that I’m getting good marks
Needle in the hay
Needle in the hay
Needle in the hay
Needle in the hay

Also… on a hypocritical and lighter note, check out the video below from Sad Kermit, if you have not yet checked out this website, it is truly demented….