The song's about Jeremy Delle, who shot himself in front of his classmates. Certainly traumatic. A different kind of tragedy than what we think of today.

sir pball

(4,741 posts)

4. I think any kind of violence in front of your peers was unthinkable back then. nt

Reply to WhiskeyGrinder (Reply #2)

Fri Nov 30, 2018, 10:44 PM

Nov 2018

WhiskeyGrinder

(22,325 posts)

7. The violent crime rate in the U.S. peaked in the early 1990s and has decreased since then.

Reply to sir pball (Reply #4)

Fri Nov 30, 2018, 10:54 PM

Nov 2018

One of my high-school classmates -- high school class of 1989 -- was a murderer. Fights were common. Domestic and dating abuse was rampant. I went to an upper-class public high school in a midwestern city. Don't get me wrong, it's a hell of a video. But we've always had pain and trauma and inflicted it on each other; it just looks a little different throughout the years.

herding cats

(19,559 posts)

5. Yes, it's about teen bulling and suicide.

Reply to WhiskeyGrinder (Reply #2)

Fri Nov 30, 2018, 10:49 PM

Nov 2018

It's a deep, disturbing and sadly, still topical issue.

sir pball

(4,741 posts)

9. And about ignored children

Reply to herding cats (Reply #5)

Fri Nov 30, 2018, 11:22 PM

Nov 2018

"Daddy didn't give attention
Oh, to the fact that mommy didn't care
King Jeremy the wicked
Oh, ruled his world"

I maintain it's one of the most powerful songs about fucking up our kids that there is.

herding cats

(19,559 posts)

10. Symptoms of teen suicide are more often than not ignored by family.

Reply to sir pball (Reply #9)

Fri Nov 30, 2018, 11:57 PM

Nov 2018

You're deemed, moody, hormonal or just "going through a phase." Youth are just supposed to "toughen up" or "snap out of it." It's not as common now as back then for people to ignore it, but it still happens way too often. Back then, resources were more scant and public awareness much lower on the issue, but it's still something many families try and bluster through while they keep up appearances. Today teens are still dying due to depression. You'd think we'd learn, but apparently that's asking too much.

I agree, it was, and is still a powerful song. It resonated with me Way back then and it still makes me reflect to this day.

Response to herding cats (Reply #10)

sir pball This message was self-deleted by its author.

sir pball

(4,741 posts)

13. Frame-by-frame of the words

Reply to herding cats (Reply #10)

Sat Dec 1, 2018, 01:40 AM

Dec 2018

bored...black...numb...disturb...problem...wicked...90210...child...problem

That makes me shiver.

greyl

(22,990 posts)

11. I agree, the emotion Vedder expresses is penetrating. Like Sinead's Troy.

Reply to sir pball (Reply #9)

Sat Dec 1, 2018, 12:18 AM

Dec 2018

Three years later in '94, on a funkier note, with an ending trying to be happy:

"Papa"

There was one September day that Papa worked too hard
First he crucified every dandelion out in the yard
Then he screamed at baby twice for throwin' rocks at passin' cars
Baby didn't listen, so like a priceless work of art
He got snatched by his Papa who then opened up the closet door
And pushed the four-year-old down, onto the closet floor
Baby cried "I'm sorry, I won't do it no more"
Papa said "Yeah, I know, that's what this here's for"

Smack!
Ooh Papa...
Smack! Smack!
Ooh Papa...Papa...
Smack!
Ooh Papa...
Smack! Smack!
Ooh Papa...Papa...

As the door closes, baby starts to cry
"Please don't lock me up again, without a reason why"
Papa just went outside and pointed a shotgun up in the sky
He said "How come I don't love my woman?"
Then he took aim and died

Boom!
Papa...
Boom! Boom!
Papa...Papa
Boom!
Papa...
Boom! Boom!
Papa...Papa...

Don't abuse children, or else they turn out like me

Fair to partly crazy, deep down we're all the same
Every single one of us knows some kind of pain
In the middle of all that's crazy, this one fact still remains:
If you love somebody, your life won't be in vain
And there's always a rainbow, at the end of every rain