Kingseat from Red Earth by Kendall Elise

The grounds of Kingseat Hospital was a place I spent a bit of time at growing up – when I was at primary school it had closed down, and I had a friend who lived on the edge of the grounds so we would go roaming at dusk. Later as a teen I had another friend who lived nearby, and a group of us would go visit and scare the living daylights out of each other by finding unlocked doors and wandering down to the morgue. Most people have heard stories regarding the controversial treatment of the inpatients of Kingseat, people going missing and abuse of the patients – As well as the staff suffering from injuries at the hand of patients too. It was hard not to see the site as a dark and haunted place. However I remember speaking to a friend who’s grandfather had stayed there and received EST for his depression – And he swore by it as a treatment. For me it signifies that there is a long and dark history regarding the way mental health has been treated, and that although we have come a long way since Kingseat closed down in the 1990’s, there’s still an extremely long way to come in reducing the stigma of mental health.

Tracklist

7.	Kingseat	4:48

Lyrics

I’ve seen blood and I’ve seen pain
I relive it in my head again and again
But they tell me they can get rid of what ails me
With a little electricity

I awake in the night
My face wet with tears
Soaked in sweat smelling of fear
But they say they can re-write my memory
With a little electricity

I lost my life and I lost my smile
My light hung around for a little while
But they say they can ignite a spark in me
With a little electricity

Credits

from Red Earth, released May 3, 2019
Words and music by Kendall Elise

Kendall Elise - Vocals, backing vocals, percussion
John Segovia - Electric guitar
Rob Scott - Bass
Chris Kemp - Drums

Produced by Kendall Elise Chris Kemp and Alan Meharry
Recorded at Roundhead Studios
Engineered by Patrick Hill
Mixed by Scott Seabright
Mastered by Chris Chetland from KOG

License