“I Felt A Funeral In My Brain” is a poem written by Emily Dickinson in the 19th century. The poem was later adapted into a song by The Microphones, an indie rock band from the early 2000s. The song is a haunting and introspective exploration of the human mind and the experience of mental breakdowns.
Emily Dickinson’s Poem
The original poem by Emily Dickinson is a short, four-stanza piece that describes the experience of a funeral taking place within the speaker’s own mind. The poem is often interpreted as a metaphor for the breakdown of the human psyche, with the funeral representing the final descent into madness.
The first stanza begins with the line “I felt a Funeral, in my Brain,” and sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The imagery of a funeral taking place inside the speaker’s head is unsettling, and sets up the idea that something is not quite right.
The second stanza builds on this idea, with the speaker describing the mourners as “beating – beating – ” and “treading – treading -.” The repetition of these words creates a sense of urgency and chaos, as if the mourners are frantically trying to escape something.
The third stanza is perhaps the most evocative, with the speaker describing the sound of a drum “kept beating – beating – till I thought/My Mind was going numb -.” The idea of the mind going numb is a powerful one, and suggests that the speaker is on the brink of losing their grip on reality.
The final stanza ends with the line “And then I heard them lift a Box/And creak across my Soul/.” The use of capital letters in “Box” and “Soul” highlights the importance of these words, and suggests that the funeral is not just a physical event, but a spiritual one as well.
The Microphones’ Song
The Microphones’ song “I Felt A Funeral In My Brain” takes Dickinson’s poem and expands on it, turning it into a six-minute exploration of mental breakdowns and existential crises.
The song begins with a slow, mournful piano melody, before gradually building into a chaotic, distorted climax. The lyrics are sparse and repetitive, with the opening line “The mind is a funeral” setting the tone for the rest of the song.
The song is divided into three distinct sections, with each section representing a different stage of the breakdown. The first section is slow and melancholic, with the speaker describing their descent into madness. The second section is more chaotic, with the speaker screaming “I’m losing my mind!” over and over again. The final section is cathartic, with the speaker finally accepting their mental state and finding a sense of peace.
Conclusion
“I Felt A Funeral In My Brain” is a powerful exploration of the human mind and the experience of mental breakdowns. Emily Dickinson’s original poem is a haunting piece of literature, while The Microphones’ song is a visceral and cathartic experience. Both versions of the work offer a unique perspective on the human experience, and will continue to resonate with audiences for years to come.
