July 14, 2000

Suicide Lyrics in Rock Songs

To the Editor:

While Kevin J. H. Dettmar's essay "Ironic Literacy: Grasping the Dark Images of Rock" (Opinion, June 2) was very accurate regarding lyrics, bands, and history, I could draw only one conclusion: Mr. Dettmar apparently has never been depressed enough to contemplate suicide. Of course Kurt Cobain knew the meaning of Neil Young's "My My, Hey Hey (Out of the Blue)." But when you are hopeless and ready to commit suicide, and especially when you are as