Songs (Maybe) About Child Abuse

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I see they lock threads around here, so that may well be my fate on this one, but my motives are pure (or as pure as anyone's can be in this grimy early 21st Century world within which we find ourselves) in their genuine curiosity.

Songs that are (or may cryptically be) about child abuse.

Here's a start:

"Lullaby" The Cure
"Sliver" Nirvana
"How To Disappear Completely" Radiohead
"Names" Cat Power

They don't have to be obvious, necessarily, although two out of my four certainly are (guess which two, heh).

― David A. (Davant), Tuesday, 1 April 2003 07:25 (twenty-two years ago)

"Luka" Suzanne Vega

― Melissa W (Melissa W), Tuesday, 1 April 2003 07:31 (twenty-two years ago)

(and v. offbase about the Radiohead one)

― Melissa W (Melissa W), Tuesday, 1 April 2003 07:31 (twenty-two years ago)

"Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da" - the Beatles

― James Blount (James Blount), Tuesday, 1 April 2003 07:32 (twenty-two years ago)

Melissa, I wasn't necessarily talking about what Radiohead meant, just what I (or you, or whoever) might hear.

For me, it's the line "I'm not here / This isn't happening".

― David A. (Davant), Tuesday, 1 April 2003 07:35 (twenty-two years ago)

There's a lot of Shangri-Las tunes that are very "Huh? What's that about then?" the most obvious being Past, Present and Future. Very chilling, no matter what it's about.

― kate, Tuesday, 1 April 2003 07:36 (twenty-two years ago)

kate, yes. This line: "The past is filled with silent joys and broken toys".

― David A. (Davant), Tuesday, 1 April 2003 07:52 (twenty-two years ago)

'I Like Drugs And Child Abuse' by Anal Cunt

― DJ Mencap (DJ Mencap), Tuesday, 1 April 2003 07:53 (twenty-two years ago)

"Janie's Got A Gun" Aerosmith

― David A. (Davant), Tuesday, 1 April 2003 08:07 (twenty-two years ago)

"Mr E's Beautiful Blues" Eels

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Tuesday, 1 April 2003 08:21 (twenty-two years ago)

James Brown, "Papa Don't Take no Mess" ("He didn't fuss, he didn't cuss, he just beat the hell out of us! Oow, hit me!")

― dave q, Tuesday, 1 April 2003 08:23 (twenty-two years ago)

Run Away From The Man With The Candy --The Frogs

― Ryan McKay (Ryan McKay), Tuesday, 1 April 2003 08:35 (twenty-two years ago)

Many other wonderful Frogs songs besides.

"Goin' Blind", by Kiss -- "I'm ninety-three, you're sixteen..."

The awful "Dear Mr. Jesus" by Richard Klendor, that was actually something of a hit. "Dear Mr. Jesus, please tell me what to do/ and please don't tell my daddy/ but my mommy hits me too."

― Colin Meeder (Mert), Tuesday, 1 April 2003 08:49 (twenty-two years ago)

Britney Spears - "Baby One More Time"

― Evan (Evan), Tuesday, 1 April 2003 08:55 (twenty-two years ago)

What about Sinead O'Connor's "Prayer for England" on the last Massive Attack. What is it about exactly? Child murder, child abuse, any specific cases she alludes to? I find that it is the crappiest most pathetic song on any Massive Attack album. The lyrics seem so general and empty to me. Especially this "Jah" bit is extremely annoying.

― alex in mainhattan (alex63), Tuesday, 1 April 2003 08:58 (twenty-two years ago)

Michael Jackson: "Little Susie"

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Tuesday, 1 April 2003 09:32 (twenty-two years ago)

persuasion, throbbing gristle

― gaz (gaz), Tuesday, 1 April 2003 09:35 (twenty-two years ago)

something by whitehouse, probably

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Tuesday, 1 April 2003 09:42 (twenty-two years ago)

everything by whitehouse, probably

― gaz (gaz), Tuesday, 1 April 2003 09:43 (twenty-two years ago)

some are about adults. i think.

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Tuesday, 1 April 2003 09:43 (twenty-two years ago)

molesting adults. yes, sorry, you're right.

― gaz (gaz), Tuesday, 1 April 2003 09:47 (twenty-two years ago)

"Everyone's Gone to the Movies" (Steely Dan)

― Joe (Joe), Tuesday, 1 April 2003 10:15 (twenty-two years ago)

The Mission "Amelia"

Motorhead "Don't let daddy kiss me"

― DV (dirtyvicar), Tuesday, 1 April 2003 10:27 (twenty-two years ago)

Uncle Ernie - The Who
Hell is for Children - 'Benetar

― dave225 (Dave225), Tuesday, 1 April 2003 10:27 (twenty-two years ago)

Pearl Jam "Jeremy" (possibly)

― Brandon Gentry (Brandon Gentry), Tuesday, 1 April 2003 11:15 (twenty-two years ago)

Beat on the Brat

― girl scout heroin (iamamonkey), Tuesday, 1 April 2003 11:41 (twenty-two years ago)

Bobbie Gentry "Ode to Billie Joe" (they throw a baby off a bridge, abusively)

― Brandon Gentry (Brandon Gentry), Tuesday, 1 April 2003 11:55 (twenty-two years ago)

Big Black, "Jordan, Minnesota"

― hstencil, Tuesday, 1 April 2003 12:22 (twenty-two years ago)

"Candy Man" by David Ackles - an ingenious song about a Viet Vet who loses a limb in the war and takes his revenge on American society by opening up a candy store and slipping pornographic pictures into the candy he sell to the kids.

― Dadaismus, Tuesday, 1 April 2003 12:46 (twenty-two years ago)

Isn't Bjork's 'Play Dead' supposed to be about child abuse?

And the Dead Kennedies' "I kill Children", but that's probably anout the wrong sort of abuse.

― mei (mei), Tuesday, 1 April 2003 12:55 (twenty-two years ago)

reel around the fountain, smiths. "you can pin and mount me like a butterfly."

― matthew james (matthew james), Tuesday, 1 April 2003 13:42 (twenty-two years ago)

This one goes out to Dan- "No Son Of Mine" - Genesis.

― Carey (Carey), Tuesday, 1 April 2003 13:49 (twenty-two years ago)

John Denver "Daddy Don't Get Drunk This Christmas"

― dave q, Tuesday, 1 April 2003 14:29 (twenty-two years ago)

how about careers that were themselves a form of child abuse: the jacksons, the shaggs, the beach boys?

― Fritz Wollner (Fritz), Tuesday, 1 April 2003 14:34 (twenty-two years ago)

Death or Glory, Clash -- hands that slap his kids around 'cause they don't understand...

― Jesse Fox (Jesse Fox), Tuesday, 1 April 2003 14:35 (twenty-two years ago)

Tool's Prison Sex kinda hits it right on the head, eh?

...and if you're talking about a reverse perspective, it don't get much sorrier than that Lou Reed-tune (i forget the name) that goes... "...they're taking her children away, because they said she was not a good mother..."

― christoff (christoff), Tuesday, 1 April 2003 14:38 (twenty-two years ago)

The Bats - "You Know We Shouldn't"

― Poppy (poppy), Tuesday, 1 April 2003 14:40 (twenty-two years ago)

and "(hey daddio, I don't wanna go) down to the basement" is a far creepier ramones song than "beat on the brat"

― Fritz Wollner (Fritz), Tuesday, 1 April 2003 14:42 (twenty-two years ago)

Beach Boys, "I'm Bugged at My Old Man". Well maybe it's in the 'subtext'

― dave q, Tuesday, 1 April 2003 14:44 (twenty-two years ago)

i love that song.

― Fritz Wollner (Fritz), Tuesday, 1 April 2003 14:44 (twenty-two years ago)

Argh, I get a Genesis song dedicated to me and it's one that makes me hate humanity.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 1 April 2003 14:48 (twenty-two years ago)

Alice Donut - "Lisa's Father (Waka Baby)" - overt and gripping, one of their best songs.

Pain Teens - "Lisa Knew" - about Lisa Steinberg

Happy Flowers sang their songs from the child's point of view, though most of the time it was perceived abuse (ie "they won't let me watch tv") and not actual abuse. Still, "Get Me Off The Broiler Pan" is a very good candidate.

― zaxxon25 (zaxxon25), Tuesday, 1 April 2003 14:50 (twenty-two years ago)

Is the Butthole Surfers' "22 Going On 23" about child abuse? Whatever it's about, it's pretty fucking scary!

― Dadaismus, Tuesday, 1 April 2003 14:53 (twenty-two years ago)

Do nu-metal songs count? Cuz most of the time the singers sound like they deserved it

― dave q, Tuesday, 1 April 2003 15:06 (twenty-two years ago)

Cuz most of the time the singers sound like they deserved it.

---You sicken me.

― christoff (christoff), Tuesday, 1 April 2003 15:10 (twenty-two years ago)

Fishbone's "Slick Nick, You Devil You" a Christmas-time classic. Sample verse:

"Cussin' and coppin' and playin' punk-rock
And every once in a while you'd just scratch your jock
Hey! Slick Nick, where are my toys?
You went drinking with the boys
You put Mad Dog in my sock
I wanted candy
I WANTED CANDY
I WANTED CANDY!!!
I thought you were my buddy and chum
But you're just a downtown bum
Instead of putting presents in front of my eyes
You just told me a bunch of lies..."

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Tuesday, 1 April 2003 15:16 (twenty-two years ago)

ever since pete townshead got busted, Who lyrics have taken on a whole new meaning.

― kephm, Tuesday, 1 April 2003 15:26 (twenty-two years ago)

What about that Radiohead one that goes "daddy hurts me"? On the Airbag EP.

― Cozen (Cozen), Tuesday, 1 April 2003 15:30 (twenty-two years ago)

"What's the Matter Here?" by 10,000 Maniacs

― Jeanne Fury (Jeanne Fury), Tuesday, 1 April 2003 15:33 (twenty-two years ago)

Is "Troy" by Sinead Oconnor one?

― dave225 (Dave225), Tuesday, 1 April 2003 15:50 (twenty-two years ago)

Good call on The Who. I was just listening to Tommy the other day and "Fiddle About" sounded really creepy if you tried hard enough to interpret it "that" way. Who knew a song about playing the violin could have such a dark subtext?

― Sterling Clover (s_clover), Tuesday, 1 April 2003 15:52 (twenty-two years ago)

"Troy" is about the demise of a relationship.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 1 April 2003 15:58 (twenty-two years ago)

I, er, ahem, own this thread.

― Momus (Momus), Tuesday, 1 April 2003 16:04 (twenty-two years ago)

RE: Fiddle About ... "Down with your bedclothes, Up with your nightshirt" != subtext. ?

― dave225 (Dave225), Tuesday, 1 April 2003 16:08 (twenty-two years ago)

John wrote that one.

― Charles McCain (Charles McCain), Tuesday, 1 April 2003 16:31 (twenty-two years ago)

Right, so clearly subtext then.

― Sterling Clover (s_clover), Tuesday, 1 April 2003 16:43 (twenty-two years ago)

I think "No More Sorry" by My Bloody Valentine is about incest.

― Orange, Tuesday, 1 April 2003 17:27 (twenty-two years ago)

everything off of the Come to Daddy EP

― Curt1s St3ph3ns, Tuesday, 1 April 2003 18:45 (twenty-two years ago)

Another Fishbone song sorta..."Housework" compares childhood to slavery, and against all odds it works.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Tuesday, 1 April 2003 18:47 (twenty-two years ago)

How about "Save Your Kisses For Me" and "Clair"? ;->

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Wednesday, 2 April 2003 10:29 (twenty-two years ago)

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