Barenaked Ladies are not a group that's known for profound lyrics, but when I went to see them in Boston in March 2004, they sang a song from their latest album called "War On Drugs" that was about the most serious one I've ever heard them do.

They said it was inspired by a bridge over a highway viaduct, near where they live in Toronto. This bridge has the unfortunate distinction of being the place with the second highest suicide rate of any bridge in North America, after the Golden Gate. Because of this, the highway authorities put up anti-suicide netting on this bridge.

So ya know what happened? The jumpers moved one bridge down on the highway. As they sing, "When nature calls / You go."

The verse that gets to me in the song is this one --

In the dream I refuse to have
She falls asleep in a lukewarm bath
We're left to deal with the aftermath again

And that's just it. Suicides are really cruel to the people you leave behind. I think one of the most motivating anti-suicide realizations one can have is that when you go out that way, you leave a lot of people behind who never quite recover.

No doubt you feel terrible, and I'm really sorry for you. I can't imagine what your friend's 8 year old brother is going through, and what his life will be. The only thing that I can suggest anyone to remember is that it wasn't the 8 year old's or your decision, and so you can't take responsibility for it. Sucks to have to be reminded of that, I know, but it's the only way I can imagine being able to get over something like this, eventually.

If you'd like to read all the lyrics, they're at
http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/baren...arondrugs.html

And this verse ...

From the very fear that makes you want to die
Is just the same as what keeps you alive
It's way more trouble than some suicide is worth

... is something that I've actually thought of on my own -- that in a way, suicide is just too much fucking trouble, and in its own way, just boring. There's an upside to being depressed sometimes, especially when you look back and see what you've gone thorough, and you realize you're better and happier for having gone through it. You miss that if you kill yourself -- and you put a whole lot of shit on people who care about you.

I hope you'll feel better soon. Good luck.