{{Short description|Theme song of M*A*S*H film & TV series}} {{Use mdy dates|date=November 2017}} {{about|the ''M*A*S*H'' theme song|the ''Grey's Anatomy'' episode|Suicide is Painless (Grey's Anatomy) {{!}} Suicide is Painless (''Grey's Anatomy'')}} {{Infobox song | name = Suicide Is Painless | cover = The Mash Suicide Is Painless single cover.jpg | caption = European picture sleeve | border = yes | type = single | artist = The Mash | album = M*A*S*H (Original Soundtrack Recording) | B-side = The M*A*S*H March | released = 1970 | recorded = 1969 | studio = | venue = | genre = | length = 2:53 | label = [[Columbia Records|Columbia/CBS]] | composer = [[Johnny Mandel]] | lyricist = Mike Altman | producer = [[Thomas Z. Shepard]] | misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|p0xy-LoDi94|"Suicide Is Painless" (audio)}}}} }}
"'''Suicide Is Painless'''" (also known as "'''Theme from ''M*A*S*H'''''" or "'''Song from ''M*A*S*H'''''") is a song written by [[Johnny Mandel]] (music) and Michael Altman ([[lyrics]]) for the 1970 film ''[[M*A*S*H (film)|M*A*S*H]]''. In addition to being performed by characters in the film, it plays during the [[title sequence]] as sung by [[The Ron Hicklin Singers]]. An instrumental version was used as the [[theme music]] for the [[M*A*S*H (TV series)|TV series based on the film]], playing over the opening and closing credits.
== Background == The song was written for Ken Prymus, the actor playing Private Seidman, to sing during the [[Faked_death|faux-suicide]] of Walter "Painless Pole" Waldowski ([[John Schuck]]) in the film's "Last Supper" scene.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jazzwax.com/2008/10/interview-joh-5.html|title=Interview with Johnny Mandel|date=October 24, 2008|publisher=JazzWax.com|quote=Bob said to me, 'You know, I need a song for the film. It's that Last Supper scene, after the guy says he'd going to do himself with a pill because his life is over, because couldn't get it up with the WAC the night before.'|ref=jazzwax}}</ref> Director [[Robert Altman]] had two stipulations about the song for composer Johnny Mandel: it had to be called "Suicide Is Painless" and it had to be the "stupidest song ever written".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jazzwax.com/2008/10/interview-joh-5.html|title=Interview with Johnny Mandel|date=October 24, 2008|publisher=JazzWax.com|quote=Bob also said the song had to be called 'Suicide Is Painless'. 'Since [Capt.] Painless commits suicide with a pill, that would be a good title,' he said. Then he said, 'It's got to be the stupidest song ever written.'}}</ref> Altman attempted to write the lyrics himself, but, upon finding it too difficult for his "45-year-old brain" to write something "stupid" enough,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jazzwax.com/2008/10/interview-joh-5.html|title=Interview with Johnny Mandel|date=October 24, 2008|publisher=JazzWax.com|quote=Bob was going to take a shot at the lyrics. But he came back two days later and said, 'I'm sorry but there's just too much stuff in this 45-year-old brain. I can't write anything nearly as stupid as what we need.'}}</ref> he gave the task to his 15-year-old-son Michael, who reportedly wrote the lyrics in five minutes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jazzwax.com/2008/10/interview-joh-5.html|title=Interview with Johnny Mandel|date=October 24, 2008|publisher=JazzWax.com|quote=Bob said, "All is not lost. I've got a 15-year-old kid who's a total idiot." So Michael Altman, at age 15, wrote the lyrics, and then I wrote the music to them.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.neatorama.com/2015/07/28/MASH-Notes-The-Story-Behind-Suicide-is-Painless/|title=MASH Notes: The Story Behind "Suicide is Painless|author=Francis D. McKinley|date=July 28, 2015 |publisher=Neatorama}}</ref>
Altman later decided that the song worked so well he would use it as the film's main theme. This more choral version was sung by uncredited session singers [[John Bahler]], [[Tom Bahler]], [[Ron Hicklin]], and [[Ian Freebairn-Smith]], and was released as a single attributed to "The Mash". Altman said that, while he made only $70,000 for directing the movie, his son had earned more than $1 million for co-writing the song.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Stamberg|first=Susan|date=March 25, 2010|title=More Than 'M*A*S*H': Songwriter Johnny Mandel|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=125020948|access-date=2020-10-02|website=NPR.org|language=en}}</ref>
Several [[instrumental]] versions of the song were used as the theme for the TV series, but the lyrics were never used in the show.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Music of M*A*S*H|url=https://www.mash4077tv.com/music/|access-date=2021-10-28|website=MASH4077TV.com|language=en-US}}</ref> The vocal version from the film's opening credits became a number-one hit in the [[UK Singles Chart]] in May 1980.<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">{{cite book|title=[[British Hit Singles & Albums]]|last=Roberts|first=David|publisher=Guinness World Records Limited|year=2006|isbn=1-904994-10-5|edition=19th|location=London|page=381}}</ref> The song was ranked No. 66 on [[AFI's 100 Years...100 Songs]].
== Track listing == '''7″ vinyl''' * West Germany: CBS / 5009 *UK: CBS / S CBS 8536 *US: Columbia / 4M-45130 [mono promo only] *US: Columbia / 4S-45130 [original stereo stock release] {{Track listing | headline = A-side | extra_column = Artist | title1 = Theme from M*A*S*H Suicide Is Painless | writer1 = [[Johnny Mandel]], Mike Altman | extra1 = The Mash | length1 = 2:53 }} {{Track listing | headline = B-side | extra_column = Artist | title1 = The M*A*S*H March | writer1 = Mandel | extra1 = Johnny Mandel | length1 = 1:19 }}
== Charts == {|class="wikitable" |- !Chart (1970) ! style="text-align:center;"|Peak<br />position |- |Dutch [[GfK]] chart<ref>{{cite web |url=http://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=M*A*S*H&titel=Suicide+Is+Painless+%28Theme+From+M*A*S*H%29&cat=s |title=dutchcharts.nl – M*A*S*H – Suicide Is Painless (Theme from M*A*S*H)|access-date=July 27, 2009|language=nl}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|3 |- |[[Dutch Top 40]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.top40.nl/index.aspx?week=39&jaar=1970 |title=De Nederlandse Top 40: week 39, 1970 |access-date=July 27, 2009|language=nl}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|4 |- !Chart (1980) ! style="text-align:center;"|Peak<br />position |- |Australia ([[Kent Music Report]])<ref name=aus>{{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|edition=illustrated|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St Ives, N.S.W.|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6|page=194}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|52 |- |[[UK Singles Chart]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/theme-from-m*a*s*h-(suicide-is-painless)/ |title=The Official Charts Company – MASH – Theme from 'M*A*S*H' (Suicide Is Painless) |website=[[Official Charts Company|Official Charts]] |access-date=July 27, 2009}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|1 |- |[[Irish Singles Chart]] | style="text-align:center;"|1 |}
==Manic Street Preachers version== {{Infobox song | name = Theme from M.A.S.H. (Suicide Is Painless) | cover = Manic Street Preachers Suicide Is Painless single cover.jpg | alt = | type = single | artist = [[Manic Street Preachers]] | album = [[Ruby Trax]] | A-side = "[[(Everything I Do) I Do It for You]]" (by [[the Fatima Mansions]]) | B-side = * "Sleeping with the NME" * "Spectators of Suicide" * "Star Lover" * "Never Want Again" * "Dead Yankee Drawl" * "Ain't Goin' Down" | released = {{release date|1992|9|7}} | recorded = | studio = | venue = | genre = * [[Alternative rock]] * [[soft rock]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2012/oct/25/old-music-manic-street-preachers-mash-theme | title=Old music: Manic Street Preachers – Theme from M*A*S*H (Suicide Is Painless) | work=[[The Guardian]] | date=October 25, 2012 | access-date=December 29, 2015 | author=Burrows, Marc}}</ref> | length = 3:43 | label = [[Columbia Records|Columbia]] | composer = [[Johnny Mandel]] | lyricist = Mike Altman | producer = Manic Street Preachers | prev_title = [[Motorcycle Emptiness]] | prev_year = 1992 | next_title = [[Little Baby Nothing]] | next_year = 1992 }} [[Wales|Welsh]] [[alternative rock]] band [[Manic Street Preachers]] released a cover version of "Suicide Is Painless" on September 7, 1992, as "Theme from M.A.S.H. (Suicide Is Painless)". In the UK, it was a [[double A-side]] [[charity single]] to help [[Scope (charity)|The Spastics Society]], with [[the Fatima Mansions]]' take on [[Bryan Adams]]' "[[(Everything I Do) I Do It for You]]" as the other A-side. The 12-inch and CD versions of the UK single included "Sleeping with the NME" – an excerpt from a radio documentary recorded in the offices of the ''[[NME]]'' capturing staff's reaction to photographs of guitarist [[Richey Edwards]]' infamous self-mutilation. The single peaked at number seven on the [[UK Singles Chart]]<ref name="MSPUK"/> spending three weeks in the top 10.
===Track listings=== '''7-inch vinyl''' * UK: Columbia / 658382 7
{{Track listing | headline = Side A | extra_column = Artist | title1 = Theme from M.A.S.H. (Suicide Is Painless) | writer1 = [[Johnny Mandel]], Mike Altman | extra1 = Manic Street Preachers | length1 = 3:40 }} {{Track listing | headline = Side B | extra_column = Artist | title1 = [[(Everything I Do) I Do It for You]] | writer1 = [[Bryan Adams]], [[Michael Kamen]], [[Robert John "Mutt" Lange]] | extra1 = [[The Fatima Mansions]] | length1 = 6:26 }}
* Netherlands: Columbia / COL 658385 7
{{Track listing | headline = Side A | title1 = Theme from M.A.S.H. (Suicide Is Painless) | writer1 = Mandel, Altman | length1 = }} {{Track listing | headline = Side B | title1 = Spectators of Suicide | writer1 = [[James Dean Bradfield]], [[Nicky Wire]], [[Sean Moore (musician)|Sean Moore]], [[Richey James Edwards]] | length1 = }}
'''12-inch vinyl''' * UK: Columbia / 658382 6
{{Track listing | headline = Side A | extra_column = Artist | title1 = Theme from M.A.S.H. (Suicide Is Painless) | writer1 = Mandel, Altman | extra1 = Manic Street Preachers | length1 = }} {{Track listing | headline = Side B | extra_column = Artist | title1 = (Everything I Do) I Do It for You | writer1 = Adams, Kamen, Lange | extra1 = The Fatima Mansions | length1 = | title2 = Sleeping with the N.M.E. | extra2 = Manic Street Preachers | length2 = }}
'''CD''' * UK: Columbia / 658382 2
{{Track listing | extra_column = Artist | title1 = Theme from M.A.S.H. (Suicide Is Painless) | writer1 = Mandel, Altman | extra1 = Manic Street Preachers | length1 = | title2 = (Everything I Do) I Do It for You | writer2 = Adams, Kamen, Lange | extra2 = The Fatima Mansions | length2 = | title3 = Sleeping with the N.M.E. | writer3 = | extra3 = Manic Street Preachers | length3 = }}
* Europe: Columbia / 658385 2
{{Track listing | title1 = Theme from M.A.S.H. (Suicide Is Painless) | writer1 = Mandel, Altman | length1 = | title2 = Spectators of Suicide | writer2 = Bradfield, Wire, Moore, Edwards | length2 = | title3 = Star Lover | writer3 = Bradfield, Wire, Moore, Edwards | length3 = }}
* Japan: Epic/Sony / ESCA 5668
{{Track listing | title1 = Theme from M.A.S.H. (Suicide Is Painless) | writer1 = Mandel, Altman | length1 = 3:43 | title2 = Never Want Again | writer2 = | length2 = 3:39 | title3 = Dead Yankee Drawl | writer3 = | length3 = 3:46 | title4 = Ain't Goin' Down | writer4 = | length4 = 3:08 }}
===Charts=== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}}
====Weekly charts==== {|class="wikitable sortable" !Chart (1992) !Peak<br />position |- |Europe ([[European Hot 100 Singles|Eurochart Hot 100]])<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles|magazine=[[Music & Media]]|volume=9|issue=41|page=39|date=October 10, 1992}}</ref> |align="center"|26 |- {{single chart|Ireland2|12|song=Theme from M.A.S.H.|access-date=September 25, 2022|refname="MSPIRE"}} |- {{single chart|New Zealand|40|artist=Manic Street Preachers|song=Suicide Is Painless (Theme from M.A.S.H.)|access-date=September 25, 2022|refname="MSPNZ"}} |- {{single chart|Sweden|21|artist=Manic Street Preachers|song=Suicide Is Painless (Theme from M.A.S.H.)|access-date=September 25, 2022|refname="MSPSWE"}} |- {{single chart|UK|7|date=19920925|access-date=September 25, 2022|refname="MSPUK"}} |- |UK Airplay (''[[Music Week]]'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1992/MW-1992-10-10.pdf|title=Top 50 Airplay Chart|magazine=[[Music Week]]|date=October 10, 1992|page=18|access-date=November 11, 2025}}</ref> |align="center"|17 |} {{col-2}}
====Year-end charts==== {|class="wikitable" !Chart (1992) !Position |- |UK Singles (OCC)<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Year End Charts: Top Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=8|date=January 16, 1993}}</ref> |align="center"|98 |} {{col-end}}
===Release history=== {|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" !scope="col"|Region !scope="col"|Version !scope="col"|Date !scope="col"|Format(s) !scope="col"|Label(s) !scope="col"|{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |- !scope="row"|United Kingdom |with "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" |September 7, 1992 |{{hlist|7-inch vinyl|12-inch vinyl|CD|cassette}} |rowspan="2"|[[Columbia Records|Columbia]] |<ref>{{cite magazine|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=[[Music Week]]|page=21|date=September 5, 1992}}</ref> |- !scope="row"|Australia |rowspan="2"|Solo |October 19, 1992 |{{hlist|CD|cassette}} |<ref>{{cite magazine|title=New Release Summary – Product Available from : 19/10/92: Singles|magazine=[[The ARIA Report]]|issue=142|page=20|date=October 18, 1992}}</ref> |- !scope="row"|Japan |October 21, 1992 |CD |[[Epic Records|Epic]] |<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/162994/products/104693/1/|title=マニック・ストリート・プリーチャーズ {{!}} スイサイド・イズ・ペインレス|trans-title=Manic Street Preachers {{!}} Suicide Is Painless|publisher=[[Oricon]]|language=ja|access-date=September 26, 2025}}</ref> |}
== Cover versions == *[[Al De Lory]] recorded "Song from M*A*S*H", an [[instrumental]] jazz piano version for his 1970 album ''Al De Lory Plays Song from M*A*S*H''. This version peaked at No. 7 on the [[Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks|adult contemporary]] chart during the summer of 1970.<ref>[http://www.billboard.com/charts/1970-07-04/adult-contemporary Adult Contemporary : July 04, 1970 | Billboard Chart Archive]. Billboard.com (1970-07-04). Retrieved on 2014-03-29.</ref> *Swedish group [[Small Town Singers]] released a version under the title "Song from M*A*S*H" in 1975.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://smdb.kb.se/catalog/id/001881262|title=Suicide Is Painless|publisher=Svensk mediedatabas|language=sv|year=1975|access-date=November 25, 2013}}</ref> The single peaked at 17th position in Sweden,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://swedishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Small+Town+Singers&titel=M%2AA%2AS%2AH+%28Suicide+Is+Painless%29&cat=s|title=Suicide Is Painless|publisher=Hitparad|language=sv|year=1975|access-date=November 25, 2013}}</ref> Top 100 chart in Australia.
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
{{Mash}} {{Manic Street Preachers}} {{Authority control}}
[[Category:1970 singles]] [[Category:1970 songs]] [[Category:1980 singles]] [[Category:American folk songs]] [[Category:American soft rock songs]] [[Category:British soft rock songs]] [[Category:CBS Records singles]] [[Category:Charity singles]] [[Category:Columbia Records singles]] [[Category:Comedy television theme songs]] [[Category:Epic Records singles]] [[Category:Irish Singles Chart number-one singles]] [[Category:M*A*S*H]] [[Category:Manic Street Preachers songs]] [[Category:Marilyn Manson (band) songs]] [[Category:Songs about suicide]] [[Category:Songs about the military]] [[Category:Songs with music by Johnny Mandel]] [[Category:Songs written for films]] [[Category:UK singles chart number-one singles]]