Anger

TMON-90: The Myth of Normal, Chapter 26, Song 3
Alex Hickey ©2025
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This song is based on information in Chapter 26 of The Myth of Normal, a book written by Dr. Gabor Maté with Daniel Maté. You can find more information about this book on Dr. Maté's website: https://drgabormate.com/book/the-myth-of-n...

I am writing a series of songs in response to the ideas in this book, sometimes in combination with ideas from other books by Dr. Maté and some of his colleagues.

These are my interpretations of these ideas. I acknowledge that I can make mistakes, misunderstand and/or take poetic license when transforming these ideas into songs. I welcome questions in the comments section and refer you to the book itself as the final authority about what it is saying.

Lyrics:
I took my anger and packed it away
No one wanted to know how I felt
I slapped on a smile; I had nothing to say
I dealt with the cards I was dealt
And the anger that tries to say “No”
Has no place to go

Anger is meant to act as a sign
It speaks the truth that we know down below
It says “I don’t want this”; “You’re crossing a line”
And once you say “No”, it will instantly go
When Anger serves its purpose
It is fluid.

When anger’s healthy, it lasts for a moment
Arising to help define boundaries
Don’t make it a beast, confined in a basement
Something to fear and to loathe chronically
Self-righteousness and shame
Will only feed it.

When anger isn’t expressed it will fester
It becomes toxic; depresses your soul
No matter how hard you try to sequester
It will break through; take over control.
Anger is a good servant
And a terrible master.

Anger’s not something that we can perform
Rehearsing our outrage, we’re caught in a trap
Anger is something that’s meant to inform
Accept it and it will show you a map
Down a path, to integrate
All of your feelings.

So don’t take your anger and stuff it away
Even though it might seem no one cares how you feel
If you can get calm and invite it to stay
You can hear what it says; you can learn what is real
Anger’s tryin’ to set you free;
Give it a place to be.

It’s meant to maintain equilibrium
And integrity

#gabormate #anger #boundaries #healthyanger