Classic love story true to his western tx roots. One of my favorites as a story, but I think there are alot of songs that are amazing not even listed on this site. I guess I should figure out how to add them, because I have about 8 REK cd's.
They cry in the dark
So you can't see their tears
They hide in the light
So you can't see their fears
Forgive and forget
All the while
Love and pain become one and the same
In the eyes of a wounded child
Because hell, hell is for children
And you know that their little lives can become such a mess
Hell, hell is for children
And you shouldn't have to pay for your love
With your bones and your flesh
It's all so confusing this brutal abusing
They blacken your eyes and then apologize
Be daddy's good girl, and don't tell mommy a thing
Be a good little boy, and you'll get a new toy
Tell grandma you fell from the swing
Because hell, hell is for children
And you know that their little lives can become such a mess
Hell, hell is for children
And you shouldn't have to pay for your love
With your bones and your flesh
No, hell is for children
Hell, hell is for hell
Hell is for hell
Hell is for children
Hell, hell is for hell
Hell is for hell
Hell is for children
Hell, hell is for hell
Hell is for hell
Hell is for children
Hell is for children
Hell is for children
So you can't see their tears
They hide in the light
So you can't see their fears
Forgive and forget
All the while
Love and pain become one and the same
In the eyes of a wounded child
Because hell, hell is for children
And you know that their little lives can become such a mess
Hell, hell is for children
And you shouldn't have to pay for your love
With your bones and your flesh
It's all so confusing this brutal abusing
They blacken your eyes and then apologize
Be daddy's good girl, and don't tell mommy a thing
Be a good little boy, and you'll get a new toy
Tell grandma you fell from the swing
Because hell, hell is for children
And you know that their little lives can become such a mess
Hell, hell is for children
And you shouldn't have to pay for your love
With your bones and your flesh
No, hell is for children
Hell, hell is for hell
Hell is for hell
Hell is for children
Hell, hell is for hell
Hell is for hell
Hell is for children
Hell, hell is for hell
Hell is for hell
Hell is for children
Hell is for children
Hell is for children
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The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
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This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
this song. wow. the first time i heard it, i was so moved. child abuse is sadly all too common. i love that a star that big was willing to take a lot of crap for singing about it.
It's about child abuse.
It's a powerful, meaning song. It's about child abuse, and it's one hell of a song.
from an interview she did... Hell Is for Children" came from an article that…I was living in New York when we wrote it and the New York Times did a series of articles about child abuse in America. I came from a really small town on Long Island and I had no idea that this existed, not in the little gingerbread place I came from. I was stunned. It affected me so much. I was moved by the articles. When ever that would happen I would write. I said to Neil [Giraldo, guitarist], ‘I want you to do something to the music that it sounds like pain. I want the intense pain that’s happening to these children in the notes,’ and so he did and it turned out just great. It became an anthem. I always wonder if other people have lofty intentions. I didn’t.
This song was groundbreaking. I admire Pat Benatar for having the courage to publish such a song. It shed ilght upon the topic of child abuse, which was NEVER talked about. Sure, people saw it happen, but they felt that "it wasn't their place to get into the affairs of others."
My thanks to you, Pat.
This song is so powerful. Many people think that this song is messed up because they think that the song is saying that children should go to hell, but it is not like that at all. It is a description of what children who are abused go through.
Yes, I thought the same thing when it first came out. I was about 10 at the time, though, and didn't really pay attention to the lyrics. I only noticed the part about telling grandma you fell off the swing, thinking it was complaining about whiny children.
@onelove10 <br /> Many people are stupid. The lyrics are pretty self explanatory.
For it to be allowed for a child to be born and be abused, we must be on some level of hell here.
I just watched Ralph Bakshi's film "American Pop" which featured this wicked track and it brought me here. This song sounds so powerful and has such an important meaning. Though this song speaks about abuse of minors, youth so often is HELL...kids have to put up with a real lack of privileges, constant ridicule and patronizing, way too many rules, school, parents, teachers, dickhead peers, the list goes on.
Kids really do deserve more freedom as growing up isn't usually as happy and innocent as it's made out to be
WTF?
What I don't get is how people know child abuse goes on and then don't think Hell exists. To quote Ben Stone from Law and Order, "I hope there’s an afterlife, the penal code is insufficient for some crimes."
@darklordkhaos Sorry there's no hell. No Santa Clause either.