Moaning Lisa

"Moaning Lisa" is the sixth episode of The Simpsons. The episode deals with Lisa's depression and her attempts to sublimate it by playing her saxophone.

Plot
Lisa awakens one morning with a potent case of the blues. In school, her musical stylings are stifled by the music teacher Mr. Largo, and she refuses to play dodgeball, claiming to be too sad. Her teacher notices her sadness and sends a note home to her parents. Homer and Bart, meanwhile, are playing a video boxing game. Undefeated with forty-eight wins, Bart takes only one round to knock off the head of Homer's boxer. While Homer is down for the count, Marge gives him the note from Lisa's teacher. Nothing her parents say can bring Lisa out of her depression.

Hearing distant music, Lisa sneaks out of her room to follow it. She finds a soulful saxophone player, Bleeding Gums Murphy, playing some hard blues. Murphy teaches Lisa how to express her sadness on the sax.

Afterwards, Marge drops off Lisa at school and tells her to smile no matter what she feels inside. She later sees Lisa hiding her true feelings and classmates taking advantage of her and tells Lisa that it is best to be herself. When Lisa hears this, she feels happy again.

Meanwhile, Homer takes lessons from a local video game wizard for a rematch with his son. Just as he starts to win, Marge unplugs the TV to announce Lisa's recovery. Seizing the opportunity to maintain his undefeated status as boxing champ, Bart gleefully announces retirement from the ring. Afterwards, the Simpsons visit a jazz club to hear Bleeding Gums Murphy sing a blues number written by Lisa.

Trivia

 * Lisa brushes her teeth with Glum Toothpaste.
 * Lisa's school band is practicing the song My Country, 'Tis of Thee, however it should be noted that it is also God Save the Queen which is the British National Anthem.
 * Lisa finds Bleeding Gums Murphy on the same bridge Homer was going to jump off of in order to commit suicide.
 * Prank Call number 2: Bart calls Moe's Tavern and asks for Jacque, last name Strap. Moe's response: When I find you I am going to gut you like a fish and drink your blood. Moe's hair is now gray.
 * At the Noise Land Video Arcade, the games include Eat My Shorts, PAC-RAT II, Itchy vs. Scratchy, Escape from Grandma's House, and Robert Goulet Destroyer.

Cultural references

 * The episode title is a play on Leonardo da Vinci's painting the Mona Lisa.
 * "The Jazz Hole" may be a reference to New York City jazz club "Birdland" which is in a basement, named for saxophonist Charlie Parker. It may also be a play on words; the archaic spelling for "jazz' is "jass" ("The Jass Hole").
 * The background noise of the arcade is the music from the Tetris arcade machine.
 * Lisa's school band is practicing "My Country, 'Tis of Thee", the patriotic American song, based on the melody of the British national anthem "God Save the Queen". Mr. Largo says to Lisa, "There's no room for crazy bebop in My Country, 'Tis of Thee."
 * The controllers being used on Bart's video game system resemble Atari 2600 joysticks, but the graphics on the TV would suggest a newer model console. Also the game being played, Slugfest, is quite similar to the Nintendo game Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!.

Episode Quotes

 * Bart: I didn't do it. No one saw me do it. No one can prove anything.


 * Mr. Largo: Lisa, there's no room for crazy bebop in "My Country 'tis Of Thee!"
 * Lisa: But, Mr. Largo, that's what "My Country" is all about.
 * Mr. Largo: What?
 * Lisa: I'm wailing out for the homeless family living out of its car. The Iowa farmer, whose land has been taken away by unfeeling bureaucrats. The West Virginia coal miner, coughing up his...
 * Mr. Largo: Well, that's all fine and good, but Lisa, none of these unpleasant people are going to be at the recital next week.


 * Marge: It doesn't matter how you feel inside, you know. It's what shows up on the surface that counts. Take all your bad feelings and push them down, all the way down, past your knees, until you're almost walking on them. And then you'll fit in, and you'll be invited to parties, and boys will like you... and happiness will follow.


 * Bart: In the red trunks, with the record of 48 wins and no losses, the undisputed champ of this house, battling Bart Simpson! Whoopee! Woo-woo-woo! And, in the lavender trunks, with a record of zero wins and 48 defeats, oh, correction: humiliating defeats - all of them by knockout...
 * Homer: Must you do this every time?
 * Bart: Homer "The Human Punching Bag" Simpson.


 * Bart: Is Jock there?
 * Moe: Who?
 * Bart: Jock, last name Strap.
 * Moe: Hold on. [calling out] Jock Strap! Hey, guys, I'm looking for a Jock Strap!


 * Bleeding Gums Murphy: My friends call me "Bleeding Gums."
 * Lisa: Eugh! How'd you get a name like that?
 * Bleeding Gums Murphy: Well, let me put it this way. You ever been to the dentist?
 * Lisa: Yeah.
 * Bleeding Gums Murphy: Not me. I suppose I should go to one, but I got enough pain in my life as it is.


 * Bleeding Gums Murphy: The blues isn't about making yourself feeling better, it's about making other people feel worse.


 * Bleeding Gums Murphy: You know you play pretty well for someone with no real problems.


 * Marge: Lisa, get away from that jazzman! [to Bleeding Gums] Nothing personal. I just fear the unfamiliar.


 * [Lisa is singing a blues song she wrote]
 * I got a bratty brother
 * He bugs me every day
 * And this morning my own mother
 * She gave my last cupcake away
 * My dad acts like he belongs
 * He belongs in the zoo
 * I'm the saddest kid in grade number two


 * Bart: Sorry Dad, women and children first [slams door]
 * Homer: What?! [keeps pounding door as Bart laughs]

Vehicles

 * Orange Station Wagon

products

 * Glum Toothpaste (First Appearance)