The Curious Case of Phineas Gage and His Brain
Phineas Gage was a demolition foreman for the Rutland and Burlington Railroad in the year 1847.
His job was to blow things up—specifically, that which was in the way of building a pair of railroad tracks. This could be all sorts of things. Mountainside, Felsenmeer, Stone, Boulders, and so forth.
But in those days, when you wanted to blow things up, you didn't have dynamite, because it hadn't been invented yet.
Nitroglycerine, which led to dynamite, was still about 25 years away.
So, when you needed to get rid of what was in front of you, one would drill enormously deep holes in the above mentioned, fill it with gunpowder, run a fuse, pack the remainder of the hole with sand to buffer the charge, light the fuse, and then run like hell.
This was Phineas' job... that is, until one day, he forgot to do one of these ingredients—and that's where this song comes in.
This is called The Curious Case of Phineas Gage and His Brain. Most medical students are familiar with this story. However, since I never studied medicine or psychology in college, I have Conan O'Brien and Bill Hader to thank for this story. Thank you both. I had a great time writing this.
The Curious Case of Phineas Gage and his Brain
words and music by Michael Patrick Vitale
Phineas Gage cleared the felsenmeer and stone to level the ground
He was a detonation foreman for the
Rutland and Burlington Railway, westbound
He drilled holes deep into mounds of boulders and stone and rocky terrain
Before he filled them up with gun powder, fuse, and sand to buffer the charge and keep it contained
And in all those years of such a dangerous profession
I wonder if it ever crossed his mind to exercise discretion
he’d just tamp down the goods with a rod, ingredients primed
But he forgot to buffer the charge with sand this time
Phineas
Oh Phineas
Oh what have you done?
That one meter iron rod
Shot out like a gun
And Lord knows you ducked your head
To get out of its way
But almost only counts
In horseshoes and hand grenades
Phineas
Oh Phineas
How are you still standing?
You’re a miracle of science
You defy understanding
Because Phineas my friend
You’ve got a great big hole in your head
Phineas looks around with a “what’s a matter” wrinkled brow
As his eyes dart around in his head
And his growing audience responds that the brain matter from your head
Is strewn about and I don’t know: you’re not dead
Workers and foreman shout for a physician
And while it seems unique for Phineas to be in such a position
It’s recommended that he take the rest of the day off on account
That his insides are outside and that alone seems like a lot to surmount
Phineas
Oh Phineas
Oh what have you done?
That one meter iron rod
Shot out like a gun
And Lord knows you ducked your head
To get out of its way
But almost only counts
In horseshoes and hand grenades
Oh Phineas
Oh Phineas
How are you still standing?
You’re a miracle of science
You defy understanding
Because Phineas my friend
You’ve got a great big hole in your head
WHO IS MIKE VITALE?
I am a storyteller, songwriter, singer, music producer, traveling musician, Jungian dream analyst, all-around curious fellow (Spiritual, Mathematical Historical, Scientific), Taoist, and much much more, based out of Los Angeles, California. I’m constantly releasing new music, in all sorts of different genres. You can listen to me below, on Spotify: