Life's Too Short to Even Care at All

Life's too Short to Even Care at All Did you know that depression affects 120 million people worldwide? How about that it also causes over 850,000 deaths a year? A lot of people don't see depression as a serious health issue, but it really is. The television show Glee often overlooks this issue along with most of society. But in one particular episode, one of the main character's speaks out against it by singing the song “Cough Syrup” by Young The Giant. Blaine Anderson, played by actor Darren Criss, sings this song while, unknown by the rest of the characters in the show, David Karofsky attempts to take his own life. It was a powerful and moving episode with a great message. Because of the context in which it was used in Glee, a lot of people believe this song is about contemplating suicide, but I think it's about a person coping with depression and the way he feels about it. Right in the beginning of the song, Anderson is telling us that life is short and that he doesn't feel in control of himself, or in this case, his emotions. He repeats this throughout the song, putting a lot of emphasis on losing control. He sings “the fishes in the sea, they're staring at me” which makes me think that he feels like he's not normal and gets stares from people constantly because of his depression. The fish represent the people who are always in groups, making him feel inferior because he is not included. Following this he sings “a wet world aches for a beat of a drum,” meaning that he's just wanting, or aching, for a normal life like the other “fish.” All he really wants is to be included. He is saying that people won't accept him unless he is normal. In the second verse, he starts to tell us how he feels with and without his medication. He explains that he is “coming up now out of the blue.” Here he means that when he takes his pills, he starts to become happier. If you have ever heard the term “feeling