Aftershocks

Your heart is in your chest again, not hanging from your sleeve
They've driven out the demons and they've earned you this reprieve
The memories are gone. The aftershocks live on

These are lyrics from the song aftershocks from the musical Next to Normal, a fabulous musical. I've never seen it on Broadway, but I've seen snippets of it from YouTube. It's one of the most original musicals to ever be created however, I'm sure of that. The musical score is more rock then most songs to hit Broadway.

Basic plot: Diana, a suburban mother suddenly goes crazy one night while waiting with her husband Dan and daughter Natalie for her son Gabe to come home. In the ensuing weeks, Diana goes to see her doctor. He gives her some medicine, but once Diana sees Natalie falling in love, she realizes that after being numb from the medicine, she misses feeling the highs and the lows. With Gabe's encouragement, she flushes her meds.

However, Gabe is not actually alive, he died before Natalie was born and is now a ghost which only Diana can see. Diana goes to another doctor, who suggests getting to the root of the problem. Gabe decides to invite her to come live with him, and Diana attempts suicide. Dr. Madden suggests electroconvulsive therapy which Diana does, although unwillingly. She loses her memory and remembers nothing, but still sees Gabe. She gives up treatment after having a fight with Dan, wondering why he stays with her through it all. Diana leaves Dan, knowing he can't always be there to pick her up. Dan goes to see Dr. Madden, hoping for news on Diana and also to talk about his problems. Natalie and Henry, the man she's fallen in love with, are together and Gabe watches over them all.

Anyway, to the point of this post. I love the song Aftershocks from this musical. I have no idea why. Maybe it's because through the words, I can see the hidden meaning underneath the words.

They've managed to get rid of me, returned me to the grave
ECT, electric chair, we shock who we can't save
They've cleared you of my memory and many more as well
You may have wanted some of them but who can ever tell
Your brainwaves are more regular, the chemistry more pure
The headaches and the nausea will pass and you'll endure
You son is gone forever though, of that the doctor's sure
The memories will wane, the aftershocks remain
You wonder which is worse, the symptom or the cure

They've managed to get rid of me. I'm gone without a trace
But sear the soul and leave scar no treatment can erase
They've cut away the cancer but forgot to fill the hole
They moved me from your memory, I'm still there in your soul
Your life goes back to normal now, or so they all believe
Your heart is in your chest again, not hanging from your sleeve
They've driven out the demons and they've earned you this reprieve
The memories are gone. The aftershocks live on
But with nothing to remember, is there nothing left to grieve?

And finally, I'll leave you with the song from the musical: here