Tiny Little Houses Return With A Devastating Revival of Richard Cory

Content Warning: Suicide, depression and self-harm.

Richard Cory by Edwin Arlington Robinson has shot a relatable tale of humanity, hidden mental health issues and tragedy across pages, songs and screens for over a century now. From Simon and Garfunkel to The Menzingers. A single piece of art that has been grabbed, held close and metamorphosised by countless creatives across the last 127 years.

Yet, here it sits once more, in perhaps its most poignant, beautiful and powerful reimagining to date from Melbourne’s Tiny Little Houses.

Richard Cory is a story that swings a heavy emotional hammer. Of class, success and suicide. Richard Cory, a shining example of the community unexpectedly taking their own life despite their successes, despite their money, charm and seeming visage of everything one could desire.

Mental illness is a demon without deviation. Baring its teeth in any direction and clawing into our individual lives indiscriminately, often discreetly and always with devastation. Be that to the sufferer or the loved ones they surround themselves with.

I often find myself staring into the pits of my own depression and wondering why it has chosen me. I am a burning example of everything I ever wanted to be. I excelled at school, clocked two university degrees, landed a great job, found a fiancée that I adore and two dogs that adore me. Externally I project the success I always wanted, yet every day I front the thoughts that drag me down. It’s in these thoughts I know I could fall and only through hard work, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and a mental health care plan I claw my way out.

I see myself in the story of Richard Cory.

I think most of us who face mental health issues can see some reflection of self in the ageless story.

Though through Tiny Little Houses’ reimagining of Richard Cory we see the devastation of the actions of Richard Cory.

In Tiny Little Houses’ Richard Cory the gunshot that ends Richard’s life explodes into a crescendo of storming drums, stabbing guitars and pained vocals. A detailing of a funeral and the two most potent moments of the song in the lyrics:

‘God I wish you would have stayed’

and

‘When Richard Cory left this world, our lives stopped making sense at all’

When the person who has it all, takes their own life, how do we make sense of life at all? It isn’t a question answered in the song. It isn’t a question that can be answered at all. It is however a moment of raw emotion delivered with an electricity that shoots the universality of mental health through its listener.

This is a modern reinvention of a classic and timeless piece of poetry. Richard Cory pays tribute to the original artwork and elevates it to new heights. Devastating in its delivery and long lingering after first listen.

Richard Cory marks Tiny Little Houses first release in over three years. A welcome return from one of Australia’s finest.

If this article has brought up any issues for you personally, here are some places you can go to get help:

Lifeline: https://www.lifeline.org.au/

Beyond Blue:https://www.beyondblue.org.au/

Qlife: https://qlife.org.au/

Minus18:https://minus18.org.au.