Careful What You Wish For (the doctor said to)

Jack Harris's song "Careful What You Wish For (the doctor said to)" delves into the complex emotions surrounding the use of medication to manage mental health. The lyrics express a longing for the intensity of past feelings, even if they were painful, suggesting that the numbness induced by medication has left the narrator feeling disconnected from their emotional life. The song grapples with the trade-off between suffering and feeling alive versus the relief of numbness that comes at the cost of emotional depth.

The chorus of the song, where the doctor advises taking a pill to feel better, encapsulates the central theme: the consequences of seeking an easy solution to emotional pain. The medication is described as severing the brain, numbing the patient, and leaving them with a constant, unchanging demeanor. This metaphorical language highlights the potential loss of emotional range and the danger of becoming detached from one's own humanity. The repeated line "Be careful what you wish for" serves as a cautionary reminder that the desire to escape pain can lead to unintended and possibly regrettable outcomes.

The song also touches on the broader issue of the medicalization of mental health and the ethical considerations of prescribing medication. It questions the motives behind such prescriptions and the impact they have on a person's life. The lyrics suggest a skepticism towards the pharmaceutical approach to mental health, implying that it might strip away essential parts of one's identity and experience.