I wonder if this is the song that Susanne (skw) had in mind when she mentioned “Pills” on 28 Jun 02. She said it was by Adam McNaughtan, but this one seems to be written by Leon Rosselson.


PILLS
As recorded by Leon Rosselson on “Temporary Loss of Vision,” 1983.

It was on a Monday morning; I was tired, my head was turning,
And I couldn’t face the thought of going back to work and so,
I paid a visit to the doctor and he gave me the once over,
Said: “Don’t worry; we’ll soon have you on the go.

CHORUS: “You need pills, pills, pills and pills, pills to take the pain away.
Just swallow two three times a day; you’ll be as good as new,
And we’ve got pills to make you happy, pills to pep you up and calm you down,
It’s magic what a pill can do.”

So I took the dose as ordered and my energy was restored,
But I was twitching, I was itching, couldn’t keep my body still,
So I twitched right back to see the quack. “Ah, yes,” he said, “we’ll soon cure that.
I’ll just prescribe another little pill.” CHORUS

Well, the twitching soon subsided, then I couldn’t [raise?] my eyelids.
I was dozy, droopy, drowsy; I asked the doctor why.
He just took a little look at his new multi-colored book,
And then he shook me from my slumber with a cry. CHORUS

Now my cupboard’s overflowing with the pills that keep me going.
I’ve got yellow, pink and orange ones; I can’t think what they’re for,
But they look so reassuring, I suppose they must be curing me.
I wonder how I ever coped before. CHORUS: Without pills….

Now the drug firms are delighted and they say I should be knighted
’Cause I keep their profits healthy and they’ve got a super plan
To launch a major operation to present me to the nation
As a fully working model of a well-adjusted man. CHORUS

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This song is also on Rosselson’s “Guess What They’re Selling at the Happiness Counter,” 1992. It was also recorded by The McCalmans on "Festival Lights," 1995.