Brain Waves

TMON-96: The Myth of Normal, Chapter 29, Song 1
Alex Hickey ©2025
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This song is based on information in Chapter 29 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:
Chorus:
Delta, Alpha, Beta, Theta
Delta, Delta, Alpha, Beta, Theta (2x)

These are 4 types of brain waves
We’ve observed in humans
In different developmental contexts
They have different functions

Chorus

Delta waves are the infant’s waves
Our brains’ lowest frequency
Doing the tasks that are needed
Just to be a baby

Chorus

Theta waves are basically
A hypnotic state: age 2-6
That’s how kids absorb the info
That they need as building bricks

The trouble lies in all the things
That we absorb along the way
If we don’t feel valued
That belief can sink in
and can stay!

When alpha and beta come along
That’s when cognition really starts
Then we can choose th meanings
We assign to our experience

Chorus

But our beliefs are mostly set
Before we can think critically
That’s why we need to look again
With compassionate inquiry.