Today, I’m working on a piece for a short story collection I’m doing with “Living Just to Watch it All Go By” and listening to music. Somehow, I got sucked into listening to various country songs, when I began to notice a pattern emerging. In the matter of a few minutes I managed to find a cornucopia of songs themed around child-trauma/child-abuse/child-murder and Jesus. This is literally just what I was able to find off the top of my head, if you can find another one please mention it in the comments.
I have compiled the songs below for your pleasure.
The Christmas Shoes, by Newsong:
In this song a boy’s mother is dying of cancer, and he must brave the snows to buy her a pair of shoes he can’t afford on Christmas Eve so she can look beautiful when she kicks the bucket (on Christmas, presumably) and meets Christ.
Angels Among Us, by Alabama:
In this song, two children get lost in the woods, and are helped by an old man… but don’t worry! The old man is really an angel.Some advice: I have instructed my little brother and sister, in the event they ever get lost, to try not to take the chance that someone is an angel. I figure they’re better off finding a lady with kids, a sassy black woman who tells it the way it is, or a Mormon in a pressed white shirt and black slacks.
Concrete Angel, Martina McBride:
A little girl gets the shit kicked out of her everyday and nobody gives a damn until she dies.
Independence Day, Martina McBride:
A little girl lives in an abusive home, and goes to a parade oblivious to the fact that while she is gone her mother is killing her father and burning the house down.
Fancy, Reba McEntire:
A mother forces her daughter to become a prostitute.
The Little Girl, John Michael Montgomery:
A little girl’s parents enjoy a spirited bout of murder/suicide as she hangs out behind the couch with Jesus.
Alyssa Lies, Jason Michael Carroll:
A little girl lies about how her parents beat the crap out of her until she dies and gets to hang out with Jesus.
Me and Emily, Rachel Proctor:
A woman whose husband beats the crap out her leaves in the middle of the night with her small child before her husband can start on the kid.
Well, that’s just a little slice of awesome right there, isn’t it?
Also, my hatred of “Christmas Shoes” is well-documented. For the record, once again, I think the kid’s whole deal is a scam. “Momma” is waiting in the rusty pickup in the parking lot, and will be returning the shoes forthwith for booze money. Thank you for bringing this terrible song to light.
You should be careful who you associate with. That ‘living just to watch it all go by’ person will drag you so far into the dark you may never be able to find your way back!
; )
Merry Christmas!
http://www.last.fm/music/Violent+Femmes/_/Country+Death+Song
I don\’t know if this fits your criteria…take a listen. It\’s a little country ditty about a poor and desparate man who kills his family.
Living To Watch It All Go By introduced me to it a few years ago.
MOM!! you took my SONG! *runs off to sulk*
well whatever, i’m posting it too. btw, he only kills his youngest daughter and hangs himself.
you know your papa loves you, good children go to heaven..
handsome family has a bunch about killing your beloved (“my beautiful bride”, “arlene”, “down in the valley of hollow logs”), one about killing your brother (“up falling rock hill”), and a lovely traditional about a little girl dying of the flu and going off to heaven (“i hear a sweet voice calling”), but no child murder. i’ll keep a-ponderin’ on it, i’m sure i’ll come up with something.
How about When the thunder rolls? Not the song but the video. Little girl sees pedo beard daddy Garth Brooks beat drunk mommy, and then get shot by drunk mommy.
You forgot “Dear Mister Jesus” which can be heard in all it’s sickening glory here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wO_kJwehmWA
@Frank
Yes! I remember thinking it was a scam too, I just thought I was the only person who ever thought that. It made me feel horrible.
@Rob
And a Happy New Year!
@Eileen
You stole your daughter from me the other night when we had very important work to do about crazy people. For shame, Eileen!
@Erin
I like how this is the second time you’ve recommended that song to me.
@Eric
I considered it. But it didn’t have enough child abuse in it to make the list.
@Belle
That is horrible. Who is the composer that decided that they needed an orchestral lift right as the little girl says “Please don’t tell Daddy, but my mommy hits me too!”
Awful.
Bleh!!! I still cannot get myself to click on ANY of the clips, it’s all so so dreadfully DEPRESSING! Yuck!
So I just go back to read more of your awesomer stuff like flying off a swing in front of desperate single thirty something moms or your brother’s crazy tangerine response…
Love all your stories, B.C.
Is it just me or is the fact that they’re spelling it “wight” dove in the Independence Day video some secret undead awesomeness?
don’t remember recommending that song to ya, but that should just serve to emphasize how truly necessary it is that you LISTEN TO THAT SONG.
also, listened to “i hear a sweet voice calling” again, i think it’ll fit even better with the compilation than “country death song”. no domestic violence, but the handsome family injects everything they do with such an overdose of sweet sorrow, it’s really more heart-rending to hear them sing about a girl dying of natural causes than it is to hear john micheal montgomery or jason micheal carroll tell a story that would make the whole ministry of children and families quit on the spot.
btw, call me monday, i should have something creative to contribute by then. maybe probably….i’ll try really hard.
Erin, may I just say, I’m so extremely envious of you, your attitude and your writing.
You rock
(posting a comment for you here ’cause i can’t comment anonymously on your blog =)
Eagerly anticipating what you and B.C. come up with together. Can’t wait!
@Rosie
It does imply secret undead awesomeness. Have you ever read the Dragonlance books? I used to be terrified of Shadow Wights.
@Erin
I shall call you on Monday
@Anonymous
Yes, I am very mysterious and hard to reach.
B.C. my comment #12 was directed at “living just to watch it all go by”, I’m saying I can’t post anonymously on HER live journal…
Sorry to use your blog for the adoration of another writer… I’ll stop…
=)
to anonymous: 0_0 really? no sarcasm? thanks! i’ll have to allow for anonymous posting, but just for reading my stuff i want your name and address so i can send you a Xmas card.
To Erin:
No, no sarcasm at all. I mean it. You are an amazing writer.
I don’t do Xmas so no card is necessary =)
You have no idea how some of these songs have helped me over the years. Both my parents were abusers. And if it wasn\’t for the grace of God I would have never been able to overcome what they have done to me. These songs help me remember how blessed I am and that I am not alone. That god is here with me and he always has been. I can remember when I was about 6 years old and my dad had just beaten my mom so badly that he broke her nose. Later that night after the police had came and we were done at the hospital. I was in my room looking out of the window thinking why didn\’t my mom tell the truth. I looked up at the stars and prayed to God to please come and help me. To keep me safe and to help me not become like my mommy and daddy. At that moment I felt God there with me holding me and I knew he would keep me safe. He did. I am nothing like them todayand my two beautiful little girls have never been hurt in anyway. My husband is a good man who love me more than I can even understand. I don\’t know why you put this web page together but thank you and God bless you because there may be another little girl other there that see this and gets help. I pray that no one has to ever for 1 second endure what happened to me.
So all of you people would rather not hear songs about this sad topic. That makes you as sick as the people that commit the crimes. The abused children of the world apologize for being beaten, raped, and murdered and bringing down your sunny mood. These songs are out there so decent people (of which I see none here) don’t forget the plight of the innocent children. If all of you want to keep blinders on while children are being abused that’s fine, you will pay for the suffering you caused by inactivity after you leave your posh lives on earth. Have a blessed day.
@John Doe
Thank you for that comment John Doe. Your self-righteous indignation is like delicious cotton candy.
You do realize you’re commenting on the site of someone who was abused as a child, right?
Oh wait, I’m sorry. You believe in Jesus. That means you’re a DECENT person. I thought I was writing about the strangeness of generating a commercial product based upon a horrible crime against humanity, but I should have known I was advocating child sex abuse and beatings.
Forgive me.