My Gen X Playlist: Brain Stew – Green Day

I’m scheduled to have my routine MRI this morning. For those who are new to my blog and don’t know, I had a benign brain tumor removed about six years ago. I’m still blown away I had brain surgery. Since then, I go for a periodic MRI and thankfully, they’ve all come up clean.

I remember chatting with a colleague while I was recovering from my surgery. I was describing how they shaved a section of my head and the long line of stitches across my head were a sight to see. Until then, most people expressed concern or wished me a speedy recovery. She took a different approach.

Look on the bright side. Halloween is a couple of weeks away and you don’t need to buy a Halloween costume.

That gave me a good guttural laugh! Just what I needed. Thank you, my friend!

Back to my MRI. I’m not a fan of being in the tube. I get a little claustrophobic in there. I just close my eyes tight, take deep breaths and continue to count over and over. I wonder if I’ll ever get used to it. My guess is no. I keep looking on the bright side. If this is a trade off for a successful surgery, I really can’t complain. I’m still thanking my lucky stars.

Green Day released Brain Stew in 1995. It’s about Billie Joe Armstrong’s coping with sleepless nights after the birth of his son.

Green Day lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong became a father on February 28, 1995, when his wife Adrienne gave birth to their son Joey (named after Joey Ramone). Armstrong was already stretched thin, and now he wasn’t getting any sleep because the baby would keep him up. His thoughts were scrambled into a “brain stew,” which is what this song is about.

Songfacts

After my surgery I asked the surgeon to describe my dear departed tumor. I was surprised by the answer. I knew it was the size of a golf ball. I just assumed it was soft tissue. Nope. It resembled a golf ball both in size and density. What the hell? Good thing they took that sucker out. Having that thing rattling around my skull would definitely give me my own brain stew. Good riddance, my benign friend. Wish me luck in the tube.

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For a complete playlist, please click here.

For the Spotify playlist, please click here.

I'm having trouble trying to sleep
I'm counting sheep but running out
As time ticks by
And still I try
No rest for cross-tops in my mind

On my own, here we go

My eyes feel like they're gonna bleed
Dried up and bulging out my skull
My mouth is dry
My face is numb
Fucked up and spun out in my room

On my own, here we go

My mind is set on overdrive
The clock is laughing in my face
A crooked spine
My senses dulled
Passed the point of delirium

On my own, here we go

My eyes feel like they're gonna bleed
Dried up and bulging out my skull
My mouth is dry
My face is numb
Fucked up and spun out in my room

On my own, here we go