I was physically and mentally abused/neglected as a child. "Love and pain become one and the same in the eyes of a wounded child"- for me, my parents would beat me and then tell me they loved me so you start to think hitting is a part of love. It's normal, if you will..... "You shouldn't have to pay for your love with your bones and your flesh"... Same idea. My parents use to say, I "discipline" you because I love you. When this album came out in 1980, I was 9 years old. It felt like this was for me. Someone finally got it.😔It saved my life because up until that time, I wanted to die. She lit the fighting spirit in my heart. Every song on this album was so important to me. Pat Benetar holds a very special place in my soul.
God bless you and your strength and courage, Sutherngirrl! You really should reach out to Pat Benetar and tell her what an impact she had on you during that time. I'm sure she would love to hear your story of redemption! Much love, light and big hugs to you!
I was removed from my home and put into foster care, due to physical abuse. My Connection song is Hush by HELLYEAH. Its Lead singer Chad Grey (HELLYEAH and Mudvane) Talking about his experiences growing up in a physically abusive home.
Pat Benatar has one of the most technically perfect voices to exist in Rock. This song is one of the best messages to speak out about child abuse ever.
That was a tough feet to accomplish and to be considered a rocker. As many rock lovers still don't like technically pitch perfect vocals for their icons. Having that raspy grit is the exception for a great vocally trained singer who can feel it. I also thought Linda Ronstadt was another one who had a great voice and could rock it. But she could sing every genre and do it the right way.
@@bertpainter8385 Absolutely! Linda Pat and Karen stand as my three vocalists who all had unmatchable tones. Different styles, but the talent was unmistakeable in all three.
She has such control because she started off singing opera. That's where she was "discovered" and it took a lot of convincing to get her to even consider changing genres. Glad she did though
I've always loved this song, our children need a voice every single day!! I've heard, watched many videos, and seen so much suffering children endure by the hands of not only their own parents, but by close trusted family members, by lifelong trusted friends, by babysitters, by teachers, but mostly by those in position that were suppose to protect our innocent, defenseless children!! It angers me to no end, when abused children are returned back to their abusers, and when something horrible goes wrong, they have the nerve to act like: "What went wrong??" Get outta here you dumbass creeps!! 😠 You continued to allow these children to go right back to the ones who continued to molest, rape, and tortured them... 😭😭😭 "Hell truly is for children that end up succumbing to their injury's!!" 😭
My mother and her sisters back in the day would blast that song on the stereo in the basement AS KIDS (pre-teen kinda rebelion shit)... making my Granparents annoyed... HAHA.. "HELL... HELL IS FOR CHILDREN!!"
This song is about child abuse, Pat and her husband became very strong advocates to this day they are out there fighting and making the awareness of the atrocities with innocent children
Pat Benatar wrote this after reading an article on child abuse. All proceeds for this song go to child abuse charities. Continuing to this day. But, you can't not help like the rock song that it is. Live it is amazing too. It just is a great piece of music. It is supposed to make you angry hyped.
@@glassontherocks Yeah, that concerns me more than the film & TV celebs... I was always more into music than TV & movies... I wonder how long til I find one of my favorite music artists was involved in that shit... I keep hoping that with a lot of the stigma that surrounded heavy metal back in the day (they were not as "popular" as the mainstream MTV stuff), most of the bands I liked probably didn't get too deep into it, if at all (though I am probably kidding myself). At any rate, I'm braced for it, and I let it run through my mind the idea of "so-and-so" being outed as one of the adrenochrome perverts (so I am not ambushed if that news ever does come out), but it's still going to be a huge disappointment.
Musically, it's an outright Banger. Lyrically, it's about child abuse. Together, it's meant to get the awareness message out there, by Benatar's platform at the time, which was Huge! Heartbreaker by her should be done to change gears and off this topic, so Brad can heal from this. It obviously just messed him up!
@@chestrockwell8328 I remember when it came out. Its purpose was to make you 1. Aware, & 2. Angry enough to act. The topic was, at the time, never ever discussed. There was zero social awareness. A movie at that time entitled "Sybill" with Sally Field, did me damage on this topic. Saw it only once, I was 12yrs old, remember to this day. Will NEVER watch again, but ... it was shocking "true story". Much awareness was needed. Still not enough, 50 yrs later!
Those of us that went through hell on earth as children, loves this song because we see that other's understand what we're going through cuz we really don't want to tell people bcuz it's shameful! She's bringing it out to say hey, you're not the only one, it's not ok & get help if you need it. When the rest of the world is saying shhh..We don't want to talk about that. Don't think about it or deal with it. Leave the children to suffer & turn a blind eye to it!!
@@warrenelkins1861 Either do I, but a lot of people do. But as a child, most of the time they don't believe you etc..All I know is if someone did something like that to my grandkids, they better pray the law finds em b4 I do!!!!
Pat is Amazing! I saw her in a small movie theatre where little old men with flashlights 🔦 still walked u to your seats (so Sweet)…She says she will sing this song at every concert until Child Abuse Ends! When I saw her She looked like she doesn’t age & has so much energy, like she’s still 18. Great Night! I was able to go down to the stage & I sat on the stage with her & she gave me her guitar 🎸 pick! She Just an unbelievable human being. She’s also been married to her guitar 🎸 player forever! Take care guys ✌🏻🦋
I've often liked to think that it's possible that a few abusers would have heard this song right in their guilt-phase after their abuse, and actually made efforts to change after they thought about the literal hell they were leaving their children in. They so often get caught up in their own pain that they forget they are building their kid's sense of reality.
Lex gets it. The message is important, the song is the vehicle for it. If it made people think twice about the harm they could be doing to their children it worked. She might have saved some childs life with a song. That's truly inspiring to me.
One of the best concert's I've ever attended was when Pat Benatar and her band came to Columbia, SC, around '82/'83. The drummer Myron Grombacher was the most animated and energized drummer I'd seen at that point. To see that cat drumming standing up practically the whole show was mind blowing.
The way I remember it, things were different back then. Early 80’s, people saw abuse but were just learning to really speak out it. It helped folks to not be afraid to not mind their own business,
She used to be a supporter of Have a Heart foundation I used to have a bunch of their pins and few shirts . All my guitar straps at one time had a pin on it. Children Of Bodem did a great cover.
Pat Benatar Hell is for Children off the Crimes of passion album. That was a great follow up album to in the Heat of the Night. Pat Benatar just rocks. She’s operatic trained & belting out rock songs!!
i loved all Pat's songs, she did one on a later album called( 1998 * Wide Awake in Dreamland")," Suffer the Little Children" with a similar flavor, but from a more mature Pat Benatar, it is a better song
Thanks guys! This is a BANGER! Music is often cathartic for people that feel AND hear the message. One of the reasons bands like Linkin Park became so successful is so many people felt the message that Chester was communicating about depression AND HIS VOICE gave meaning to the feelings they couldn't express. We can find solace or kinship in the music when we can't connect verbally. We find others that feel something similar in that expression. Fans of certain bands have an unspoken bond that transcends other barriers. When victims of abuse hear a message in a song, they find a freedom of expression they may not have had in their isolation. The deepest hell is that of isolation. One of the reasons to abolish solitary confinement as punishment or "discipline". Serves no useful purpose. But I digress...HELL IS FOR CHILDREN is not an anthem or a ballad but simply stating an awareness that children suffer for no valid reason at the hands of unprepared parents. Whether that is emotionally, intellectually or spiritually parents that abuse children are creating a self-fulfilling cycle of abuse. Abused children often become abusive parents.
I think it's a topic that absolutely deserves this treatment. It makes perfect sense. The first part kind of expresses the unfolding realization and the sense of dread and helplessness and then when it kicks off, it's like getting that feeling of anger up in response. Anger isn't the ideal response but so often it's the only thing that can get someone propelled out of that situation to do something. I love the combination of extreme English and at the same time really strong anger in her voice. It's so well done and it will stick in your mind if you hear it a time or two. This was on the radio a lot and also I bought a couple of her albums and so I heard it a lot.
Being a DJ, I listened to the words of most songs. My opinions changed on this song when I became a mother three years into my career. How could anyone abuse a child? Thank You to Pat and her husband for bringing this to the forefront and making people listen!
I'll never forget the chills it sent straight down my spine the first time I heard her take it up about 10 notches and shriek HELL!!! HELL IS FOR HELL!!! HELL IS FOR CHILDREN!!!
An even more popular song about child abuse is "Luka" by Suzanne Vega. Different genre (folk/rock), but very similar, and important message. As I was finishing typing this, just recalled that "Don't Talk" by 10,000 Maniacs also covered the topic around the same time as Luka. I think child abuse really only started getting regular public attention in the 1980s.
Disturbed has a tradition of doing one cover song on each album. David Draiman was asked if he would do a Pat Benatar cover. After he thought for a minute he said he could do this one
Did you notice the great solid guitar work of her husband, who never gets enough credit.. He made Pat benetar what she is today,, Neil you deserve praise!! very underrated guitarist! great song and message.
This is to this day one of my favorite songs. I am an adult survivor of child abuse I never want to say victim because that means my abuser has won. No, I’m not a victim I’m a survivor and I’m stronger for what I went through. I’ve come to terms with what happened to me, but every time I hear this song I can’t help but cry and rage scream/sing “HELL IS FOR HELL!” At the top of my lungs just to get that pent up rage and emotion out. Pat is my hero for writing a banger that I can totally relate to and wholeheartedly sing to just because I survived. Yes i was abused but my identity is not the abuse I went through. Lex, bop to this song as much as you want girl, I don’t mind, and I’m not offended. Pat made it catchy for everyone and relatable for anyone who survived that hell.
I love Neil's guitar playing on this song...Pat has said when she and her bass player finished writing the lyrics they gave them to Neil and he made his guitar cry and scream and feel all the pain they had written in those words...I can't believe people didn't know what this song was about. or thought it was about sending children to hell..I was 11 years old when this came out and knew what it was about...all you have to do is listen to the lyrics
I saw Pat Benatar in concert describe why she created this song. When she sings: "Be a good little boy and you'll get a new toy, tell Gandma you fell off the swing," she's talking about straight up child abuse. It was her goal to bring this issue to everyone's attention so that it can be stopped.
I was 12 when this came out and was so upset at the grown ups who were clueless to the meaning of this song. I was a kid and understood the meaning all too well. Great tribute.
This is an amazing song about child abuse. I love Pat Benatar for bringing this song so long ago when so much was going on about it. The song rocked but the topic is serious. Thank you for sharing. I love you for it. ❤
This song was the band's signature song for a brief period.. Performing this on Saturday Night Live brought a lot of attention and it was her heaviest Rocker at the time.. "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" and "Heartbreaker" were 2 of her first hits, but "Hell is For Children" created quite an impact in the Rock world for a few months in 1980..
The song Never Fails stirs up emotions. Constantly fighting back tears in the beginning. The second half of the song becomes a fight song. I'm sure it was intended to motivate us to do something about it. I love how sensitive Brad is. He almost comes off as innocent.
The poetry tells the story, the music directs the emotion. The opening instrumentals of this song are dark, open and brooding. The musical tone is charged yet restrained as if suppressing a secret, which it is. The melody is intriguing, and Benatar's voice (as always) is pure seduction. The poetry of the opening lyrics is captivating, teasing and inviting us into the story. Then, abruptly, it all turns harsh and sinister. Power chords. Angry voice. Hell. We feel shock and surprise, sympathy for the victims, anger, and betrayal (not just the moral betrayal of an abusive parent, but also artistic betrayal - how could this angelic voice turn to such a horrifying story?). The driving musical force in the second section is rage - the violent rage of the abuser, the suppressed rage of the victim, the outrage of the audience. Tension builds through the blistering guitar solo, and by the end Benatar is no longer singing, she is screaming. It's visceral and angry and raw and it makes you listen - makes you feel. Great energy, tight driving instrumentals, gripping emotionally evocative lyrics, brilliant vocals and a powerful poignant message. This song is a skillfully crafted piece of art.
I have a clear memory of hearing this song as a child when my brother would play this album on an 8-track cassette. It terrified me because I thought she was saying children go to Hell. Looking back now that I know what it’s about, it chills me even more, especially when I remember what those years were like in my home. Good for her for putting out a song like this at a time when no one talked about it.
Songs like this are to bring awareness to Child Abuse and so many children are living in Hell from abuse. We have a system that fails so many of these abused children. Great song so very true.
You got it right, Lex. Some of the best songs ever were written during a point of pain. The best bangers address a lot of stuff people don't want to discuss during their daily lives, but can come home to, listen, and feel like they are not alone. That's why music is the universal language of mankind.
“I shouldn’t be enjoying this”…think of it this way…a ten year old girl who suffers abuse..no one says a thing..the girl cries at night begging god why. Then one day, the girl hears this song, just ten years old, every line she sings, releases the girl’s unspoken pain. Someone finally, finally said this was wrong and you shouldn’t have to pay for love with your bones and your flesh. Thanks to this song, the girl became stronger, learned to love, and told others too. There were so many of us little children suffering back in the day. The cultural ideology was “keep you mouth shut” and “tough shit”. For the first and only time in our little lives, someone was singing it out into the heavens. It was quite liberating and we LOVED her for singing this song.
My mother and her sisters back in the day would blast that song on the stereo in the basement AS KIDS (pre-teen kinda rebelion shit)... making my Granparents annoyed... HAHA.. "HELL... HELL IS FOR CHILDREN!!" Invincible, Love is a battlefield, Heartbreaker, Hit me with your best shot, We belong. LITERALLY 5 of the greatest songs OF ALL-TIME!! Pat Benatar, Ann Wilson, and Steve Nicks are my favs of all-time. Pat was also a 5 octav singer I believe. Her Classical training paid off huge in R&R. Fun fact: the song "You Better Run " WAS THE 2ND SONG PLAYED ON MTV... FIRST WITH A GUITAR!! "Video killed the Radio Star" was the 1st song. YOU BETTER RUN WAS 2ND EVER!!
I've been desensitized to this song since hearing when it came out. First time I laughed watching Brad's reaction or lack of then his face as Lex replies 🤣
People didn’t talk about this stuff back when this song came out. This song saved my sanity and gave me an outlet for all the screaming I needed to do. Amazing song.
Pat Benatar is a fantastic vocalist and writer. She said in a interview, that Kate Bush was a huge influence on her. So much, Pat did a cover of Kates song “ Weathering Heights “. Kate Bush is one of a kind, please review the song “ Running up that hill “.
this is her best song, very strong, so much pain in the world for children, my childhood made me a violent teenager, who solved his problems with violence, but now im a pacifist and i never get angry with my kids or hit them, even when they break something or do daft things,
Everyone already explained the lyrics below. Now, I recommend the following songs by them -- total BANGERS! Promises in the Dark Fire & Ice You Better Run
The genius of the sound is that it shines light on a very dark and disturbing topic by sneaking up on you and making you pay attention because of its curious title, killer licks and in your face serious lyrics
Suzanne Vega's "Luka" is also worth checking out on a similar theme. My personal favourite Pat Benatar song is "My Clone Sleeps Alone" :) PS That story about the girl who was given up for adoption was horrific!
Finally got to See Pat and Neil in 2019. Hearing this song live was awesome! Great reaction. Also, if you haven’t already, check out “Invincible” which was in the movie “Legend of Billie Jean”. Heard that song and was instantly a fan of Pat Benatar as a 12 year old in 1985.
I'm a survivor. Started age 5 for many yrs by many men. This song was my anthem, I was still living with it. My Mom broke the album in half. Guess it reminded her of what she was allowing to happen to me. God bless all
Just wanted to tell you guys how much I appreciate you. Definitely a daily highlight. On a side note, Brad, sorry about your Bucs, but what a weekend for NFL playoff games!
Sorry for everyones pain and thank u for sharing. Life is too short! Fact This is real, please tell everyone how great they are and u love them and hug ur kids.Rock On!
"Tell Grandma you fell of the swing" is one of the most brutal lines ever; the abusive parent is not merely demanding silence, but COACHING their victim on how to lie to cover up the crime. God damn it. I somewhat wish there was a third verse, rather than just having Neil Giraldo (Pat's guitarist/co-writer/husband) cut loose, but perhaps the point has already been made. Unforgettable either way.
Songs like this give power to the powerless, if you can look at them that way, they become some of the most powerful music ever created. She was damn near cut out of the industry for this song and she played it louder.
It's about child abuse and raising awareness when Benatar had a huge influence. Kudos to her raising a very sensitive subject in a song at the time. It's all about context.
Hey Brad, just a heads up...kids like us who have been beat, our feet whipped with switches till they bleed, our hands beat with inch thick paddles till our fingers splinter and bear scars all over our bodies... These are the songs that make us snap out of that nightmare and ROCK THE FU@K OUT. You guys are awesome...
I just heard that story too on Christina Randall's channel. It's a really effed up true crime. Pat Benatar really shows her heartache and anger for these kids in her voice. So much from the heart. Love you guys!!😉💓
I was physically and mentally abused/neglected as a child. "Love and pain become one and the same in the eyes of a wounded child"- for me, my parents would beat me and then tell me they loved me so you start to think hitting is a part of love. It's normal, if you will..... "You shouldn't have to pay for your love with your bones and your flesh"... Same idea. My parents use to say, I "discipline" you because I love you. When this album came out in 1980, I was 9 years old. It felt like this was for me. Someone finally got it.😔It saved my life because up until that time, I wanted to die. She lit the fighting spirit in my heart. Every song on this album was so important to me. Pat Benetar holds a very special place in my soul.
My heart goes out to you and all survivors. I glad you found your voice. 😢
😭😢❤️❤️❤️
God bless you and your strength and courage, Sutherngirrl!
You really should reach out to Pat Benetar and tell her what an impact she had on you during that time. I'm sure she would love to hear your story of redemption!
Much love, light and big hugs to you!
I was removed from my home and put into foster care, due to physical abuse. My Connection song is Hush by HELLYEAH. Its Lead singer Chad Grey (HELLYEAH and Mudvane) Talking about his experiences growing up in a physically abusive home.
God bless you been there too!
Pat Benatar has one of the most technically perfect voices to exist in Rock.
This song is one of the best messages to speak out about child abuse ever.
That was a tough feet to accomplish and to be considered a rocker. As many rock lovers still don't like technically pitch perfect vocals for their icons. Having that raspy grit is the exception for a great vocally trained singer who can feel it. I also thought Linda Ronstadt was another one who had a great voice and could rock it. But she could sing every genre and do it the right way.
@@bertpainter8385 Absolutely! Linda Pat and Karen stand as my three vocalists who all had unmatchable tones.
Different styles, but the talent was unmistakeable in all three.
She has such control because she started off singing opera. That's where she was "discovered" and it took a lot of convincing to get her to even consider changing genres. Glad she did though
I so loved Pat Benatar, she had to fight to get this on the record, but the kids needed an anthem!!
I've always loved this song, our children need a voice every single day!! I've heard, watched many videos, and seen so much suffering children endure by the hands of not only their own parents, but by close trusted family members, by lifelong trusted friends, by babysitters, by teachers, but mostly by those in position that were suppose to protect our innocent, defenseless children!! It angers me to no end, when abused children are returned back to their abusers, and when something horrible goes wrong, they have the nerve to act like: "What went wrong??" Get outta here you dumbass creeps!! 😠 You continued to allow these children to go right back to the ones who continued to molest, rape, and tortured them... 😭😭😭
"Hell truly is for children that end up succumbing to their injury's!!" 😭
My mother and her sisters back in the day would blast that song on the stereo in the basement AS KIDS (pre-teen kinda rebelion shit)... making my Granparents annoyed... HAHA.. "HELL... HELL IS FOR CHILDREN!!"
I was one them kids😊
@@rhondamcbath6279
😊
This song is about child abuse, Pat and her husband became very strong advocates to this day they are out there fighting and making the awareness of the atrocities with innocent children
Truth! Not only that, they purposely play this in every, single show they ever do! God Bless them!
Pat Benatar wrote this after reading an article on child abuse. All proceeds for this song go to child abuse charities. Continuing to this day. But, you can't not help like the rock song that it is. Live it is amazing too. It just is a great piece of music. It is supposed to make you angry hyped.
The music industry is a huge part of this problem just like Hollywood.
@@johngillespie3409 Nope. The opposite. She was shocked that kids were being abused.
It's also featured in nightmare on Elm Street 3
Unfortunately listening to this reminded me of Sylvia Likens' case.
@@glassontherocks
Yeah, that concerns me more than the film & TV celebs... I was always more into music than TV & movies... I wonder how long til I find one of my favorite music artists was involved in that shit... I keep hoping that with a lot of the stigma that surrounded heavy metal back in the day (they were not as "popular" as the mainstream MTV stuff), most of the bands I liked probably didn't get too deep into it, if at all (though I am probably kidding myself). At any rate, I'm braced for it, and I let it run through my mind the idea of "so-and-so" being outed as one of the adrenochrome perverts (so I am not ambushed if that news ever does come out), but it's still going to be a huge disappointment.
I'm glad somebody finally reacted to this great classic Pat Benatar song.
This is such a deep and emotional song. Pat Benatar's vocals give it ALL the emotion...and she doesn't shy away from such a sensitive subject.
Top tier musicians. That's how you get a banger out of such a dark topic.
One of the best vocalist of all time. Try - promises in the dark
Musically, it's an outright Banger. Lyrically, it's about child abuse. Together, it's meant to get the awareness message out there, by Benatar's platform at the time, which was Huge! Heartbreaker by her should be done to change gears and off this topic, so Brad can heal from this. It obviously just messed him up!
Another thematically similar song from the 80's is "Luka" by Suzanne Vega. Also a good song.
Right, it's f-ing hard to listen to this song when you really get the lyrics and message. Makes me angry as F----.
@@chestrockwell8328 I remember when it came out. Its purpose was to make you 1. Aware, & 2. Angry enough to act. The topic was, at the time, never ever discussed. There was zero social awareness. A movie at that time entitled "Sybill" with Sally Field, did me damage on this topic. Saw it only once, I was 12yrs old, remember to this day. Will NEVER watch again, but ... it was shocking "true story". Much awareness was needed. Still not enough, 50 yrs later!
Those of us that went through hell on earth as children, loves this song because we see that other's understand what we're going through cuz we really don't want to tell people bcuz it's shameful! She's bringing it out to say hey, you're not the only one, it's not ok & get help if you need it. When the rest of the world is saying shhh..We don't want to talk about that. Don't think about it or deal with it. Leave the children to suffer & turn a blind eye to it!!
I no longer have a problem talking about it but I agree .
@@warrenelkins1861 Either do I, but a lot of people do. But as a child, most of the time they don't believe you etc..All I know is if someone did something like that to my grandkids, they better pray the law finds em b4 I do!!!!
When this came out this was a taboo subject that no one talked about. So mad props to Pat.
She freed us.
Man, I didn't realize how heavy these lyrics were when I listened in the 80s, I was a young teen, I just heard the rock, and looked at Pat .
You're not the only one
To me the quiet parts of the song are about pain and sadness. The "banger" parts of the song are about anger. My heart goes out to all the survivors.
Yes, you can hear the anger in both Pat's voice and Neil's guitar solo.
Pat is Amazing! I saw her in a small movie theatre where little old men with flashlights 🔦 still walked u to your seats (so Sweet)…She says she will sing this song at every concert until Child Abuse Ends! When I saw her She looked like she doesn’t age & has so much energy, like she’s still 18. Great Night! I was able to go down to the stage & I sat on the stage with her & she gave me her guitar 🎸 pick! She Just an unbelievable human being. She’s also been married to her guitar 🎸 player forever! Take care guys ✌🏻🦋
Pat Benetar was an advocate for the victims of child abuse so she fought to get this song on her album to raise awareness and money for the cause
I've often liked to think that it's possible that a few abusers would have heard this song right in their guilt-phase after their abuse, and actually made efforts to change after they thought about the literal hell they were leaving their children in. They so often get caught up in their own pain that they forget they are building their kid's sense of reality.
Lex gets it. The message is important, the song is the vehicle for it. If it made people think twice about the harm they could be doing to their children it worked. She might have saved some childs life with a song. That's truly inspiring to me.
No she completely goes off topic its about Child abuse not drugs or anything else she tries to bring up .
@@Lizardboy68 go be negative somewhere else.
@@jonnyyen7169 I'm not being negative its a fact that this song is about child abuse and nothing else . I think Lex is adorable .
One of the best concert's I've ever attended was when Pat Benatar and her band came to Columbia, SC, around '82/'83. The drummer Myron Grombacher was the most animated and energized drummer I'd seen at that point. To see that cat drumming standing up practically the whole show was mind blowing.
@@marlew6629 I agree. We saw them twice a few years back and they still put on a great show.
I saw her around this time. Billy Squire opened up. Myron Grombacher is awesome.
I read back when the song came out that Myron was an abused child and that he wrote the song.
Pat Benetar NEEDS to be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame!!! It's a crime she isn't yet..
You two kids are so smart and I love you both! Great job that you do!
I had such the hots for Pat Benatar when I was a wee lad. Always told my mom and dad that she was my future lady.
The way I remember it, things were different back then. Early 80’s, people saw abuse but were just learning to really speak out it. It helped folks to not be afraid to not mind their own business,
This song still brings chills.
She used to be a supporter of Have a Heart foundation I used to have a bunch of their pins and few shirts . All my guitar straps at one time had a pin on it. Children Of Bodem did a great cover.
When I was young, this song was cool. But now at 62, it brings tears to my eyes. My, what growing up does to your perspective on things and life!
Not too many songs out there that have hit harder than this one. Kudos for doing it.
Broken Home gets me every time
Pat is amazing. She always performs this song and gives all the proceeds to fight child abuse.
Lex is right on point with her analysis here. Many abused adults and abusive adults were abused/neglected as children. This song is very poignant
Pat Benatar Hell is for Children off the Crimes of passion album. That was a great follow up album to in the Heat of the Night. Pat Benatar just rocks. She’s operatic trained & belting out rock songs!!
i loved all Pat's songs, she did one on a later album called( 1998 * Wide Awake in Dreamland")," Suffer the Little Children" with a similar flavor, but from a more mature Pat Benatar, it is a better song
Thanks guys!
This is a BANGER!
Music is often cathartic for people that feel AND hear the message.
One of the reasons bands like Linkin Park became so successful is so many people felt the message that Chester was communicating about depression AND HIS VOICE gave meaning to the feelings they couldn't express.
We can find solace or kinship in the music when we can't connect verbally.
We find others that feel something similar in that expression. Fans of certain bands have an unspoken bond that transcends other barriers.
When victims of abuse hear a message in a song, they find a freedom of expression they may not have had in their isolation.
The deepest hell is that of isolation. One of the reasons to abolish solitary confinement as punishment or "discipline". Serves no useful purpose.
But I digress...HELL IS FOR CHILDREN is not an anthem or a ballad but simply stating an awareness that children suffer for no valid reason at the hands of unprepared parents. Whether that is emotionally, intellectually or spiritually parents that abuse children are creating a self-fulfilling cycle of abuse.
Abused children often become abusive parents.
I think it's a topic that absolutely deserves this treatment. It makes perfect sense. The first part kind of expresses the unfolding realization and the sense of dread and helplessness and then when it kicks off, it's like getting that feeling of anger up in response. Anger isn't the ideal response but so often it's the only thing that can get someone propelled out of that situation to do something. I love the combination of extreme English and at the same time really strong anger in her voice. It's so well done and it will stick in your mind if you hear it a time or two. This was on the radio a lot and also I bought a couple of her albums and so I heard it a lot.
The difference in your reactions is exactly what makes this a great song
This song brings me to tears every time I hear it.
Being a DJ, I listened to the words of most songs. My opinions changed on this song when I became a mother three years into my career. How could anyone abuse a child? Thank You to Pat and her husband for bringing this to the forefront and making people listen!
Love the song, message and reaction. I think the Hell is for those who harm children. Kept the reactions coming Brad & Lex 💜
No decent person thinks hell is justified, for anything, Think about it.
I'll never forget the chills it sent straight down my spine the first time I heard her take it up about 10 notches and shriek HELL!!! HELL IS FOR HELL!!! HELL IS FOR CHILDREN!!!
An even more popular song about child abuse is "Luka" by Suzanne Vega. Different genre (folk/rock), but very similar, and important message. As I was finishing typing this, just recalled that "Don't Talk" by 10,000 Maniacs also covered the topic around the same time as Luka. I think child abuse really only started getting regular public attention in the 1980s.
Disturbed has a tradition of doing one cover song on each album. David Draiman was asked if he would do a Pat Benatar cover. After he thought for a minute he said he could do this one
Did you notice the great solid guitar work of her husband, who never gets enough credit.. He made Pat benetar what she is today,, Neil you deserve praise!! very underrated guitarist! great song and message.
This is to this day one of my favorite songs. I am an adult survivor of child abuse I never want to say victim because that means my abuser has won. No, I’m not a victim I’m a survivor and I’m stronger for what I went through. I’ve come to terms with what happened to me, but every time I hear this song I can’t help but cry and rage scream/sing “HELL IS FOR HELL!” At the top of my lungs just to get that pent up rage and emotion out. Pat is my hero for writing a banger that I can totally relate to and wholeheartedly sing to just because I survived. Yes i was abused but my identity is not the abuse I went through. Lex, bop to this song as much as you want girl, I don’t mind, and I’m not offended. Pat made it catchy for everyone and relatable for anyone who survived that hell.
I love Neil's guitar playing on this song...Pat has said when she and her bass player finished writing the lyrics they gave them to Neil and he made his guitar cry and scream and feel all the pain they had written in those words...I can't believe people didn't know what this song was about. or thought it was about sending children to hell..I was 11 years old when this came out and knew what it was about...all you have to do is listen to the lyrics
This was edgy when it came out, early 80s, i believe. Excellent song, thanks guys!
I saw Pat Benatar in concert describe why she created this song. When she sings: "Be a good little boy and you'll get a new toy, tell Gandma you fell off the swing," she's talking about straight up child abuse. It was her goal to bring this issue to everyone's attention so that it can be stopped.
I love Pat. "Fire and Ice", "Love Is a Battlefield", "Invincible".
I was 12 when this came out and was so upset at the grown ups who were clueless to the meaning of this song. I was a kid and understood the meaning all too well. Great tribute.
These days I think the kids are smarter than us adults....
Hell is for hell. Hell is not for children. Thanks for the memories of this powerful song
This is an amazing song about child abuse. I love Pat Benatar for bringing this song so long ago when so much was going on about it. The song rocked but the topic is serious. Thank you for sharing. I love you for it. ❤
This song was the band's signature song for a brief period.. Performing this on Saturday Night Live brought a lot of attention and it was her heaviest Rocker at the time.. "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" and "Heartbreaker" were 2 of her first hits, but "Hell is For Children" created quite an impact in the Rock world for a few months in 1980..
I thought she was never on snl ??
@@MKMMiami Maybe it was on the show Fridays.. you could be right.
Fire and Ice is anothet Pat B banger without a dark (yet important) lyrical message.
My favorite song by her. Her vocals in that song are amazing.
Some Days you need the music,
other days you need the lyrics.
Some days you need them together.
Rock On!
I was not expecting such a story as that what came out of Lex. That was a lot. :)
In what state is it legal for a biological father and daughter to marry?
Everything can't be Zip-a-dee-doo-dah. Artistic value is measured by the degree of emotion, not the type.
The song Never Fails stirs up emotions. Constantly fighting back tears in the beginning. The second half of the song becomes a fight song. I'm sure it was intended to motivate us to do something about it. I love how sensitive Brad is. He almost comes off as innocent.
Great message of awareness, awesome guitar riff, beautiful drum beats, and, amazing bass! This song is a certified, and, underrated hit for Pat! ❤️🤘
The poetry tells the story, the music directs the emotion.
The opening instrumentals of this song are dark, open and brooding. The musical tone is charged yet restrained as if suppressing a secret, which it is. The melody is intriguing, and Benatar's voice (as always) is pure seduction. The poetry of the opening lyrics is captivating, teasing and inviting us into the story. Then, abruptly, it all turns harsh and sinister. Power chords. Angry voice. Hell. We feel shock and surprise, sympathy for the victims, anger, and betrayal (not just the moral betrayal of an abusive parent, but also artistic betrayal - how could this angelic voice turn to such a horrifying story?).
The driving musical force in the second section is rage - the violent rage of the abuser, the suppressed rage of the victim, the outrage of the audience. Tension builds through the blistering guitar solo, and by the end Benatar is no longer singing, she is screaming. It's visceral and angry and raw and it makes you listen - makes you feel.
Great energy, tight driving instrumentals, gripping emotionally evocative lyrics, brilliant vocals and a powerful poignant message.
This song is a skillfully crafted piece of art.
there is a 2015 live version of this i believe, where she talks about this song and how much it means to the band, That version is real good.
This was my favorite song from her back in the day. Vocals, lyrics, and playing are all fabulous on this one!
She still does this song in every public concert
Been shedding tears over this song for over 40 years.
Her best song... Promises in the Dark!
I have a clear memory of hearing this song as a child when my brother would play this album on an 8-track cassette. It terrified me because I thought she was saying children go to Hell. Looking back now that I know what it’s about, it chills me even more, especially when I remember what those years were like in my home. Good for her for putting out a song like this at a time when no one talked about it.
This song brings a tear to my eyes, I have known some, much power behind the message
Songs like this are to bring awareness to Child Abuse and so many children are living in Hell from abuse. We have a system that fails so many of these abused children. Great song so very true.
You got it right, Lex. Some of the best songs ever were written during a point of pain. The best bangers address a lot of stuff people don't want to discuss during their daily lives, but can come home to, listen, and feel like they are not alone. That's why music is the universal language of mankind.
“I shouldn’t be enjoying this”…think of it this way…a ten year old girl who suffers abuse..no one says a thing..the girl cries at night begging god why. Then one day, the girl hears this song, just ten years old, every line she sings, releases the girl’s unspoken pain. Someone finally, finally said this was wrong and you shouldn’t have to pay for love with your bones and your flesh. Thanks to this song, the girl became stronger, learned to love, and told others too. There were so many of us little children suffering back in the day. The cultural ideology was “keep you mouth shut” and “tough shit”. For the first and only time in our little lives, someone was singing it out into the heavens. It was quite liberating and we LOVED her for singing this song.
Such a powerful song and message, brings the issue to greater awareness and hopefully breaks generational cycles
I love this song! Very strong message, very strong vocals! Love the Queen of Rock! The guitar solo is like the children crying out
My mother and her sisters back in the day would blast that song on the stereo in the basement AS KIDS (pre-teen kinda rebelion shit)... making my Granparents annoyed... HAHA.. "HELL... HELL IS FOR CHILDREN!!"
Invincible, Love is a battlefield, Heartbreaker, Hit me with your best shot, We belong. LITERALLY 5 of the greatest songs OF ALL-TIME!!
Pat Benatar, Ann Wilson, and Steve Nicks are my favs of all-time. Pat was also a 5 octav singer I believe. Her Classical training paid off huge in R&R. Fun fact: the song "You Better Run " WAS THE 2ND SONG PLAYED ON MTV... FIRST WITH A GUITAR!! "Video killed the Radio Star" was the 1st song. YOU BETTER RUN WAS 2ND EVER!!
I've been desensitized to this song since hearing when it came out. First time I laughed watching Brad's reaction or lack of then his face as Lex replies 🤣
People didn’t talk about this stuff back when this song came out. This song saved my sanity and gave me an outlet for all the screaming I needed to do. Amazing song.
Pat Benatar is a fantastic vocalist and writer. She said in a interview, that Kate Bush was a huge influence on her. So much, Pat did a cover of Kates song “ Weathering Heights “. Kate Bush is one of a kind, please review the song “ Running up that hill “.
this is her best song, very strong, so much pain in the world for children, my childhood made me a violent teenager, who solved his problems with violence, but now im a pacifist and i never get angry with my kids or hit them, even when they break something or do daft things,
These stories need to be told. Silence is the enemy; no harm in enjoying the song and respecting the message.
This song is so dear to me. Had a friend that killed herself because her father was abusing her and noone believed her! Thank you for playing this!✌️
Neil Giraldo (who is Pat Benatar's husband as well) is one of the most under rated guitarists of his generation.
Perhaps because he's not very extroverted, no antics or even facial expression. He just plays.
Everyone already explained the lyrics below. Now, I recommend the following songs by them -- total BANGERS!
Promises in the Dark
Fire & Ice
You Better Run
“Tell grandma you fell off the swing.” Gets me everytime😢
One of the strongest songs ever written. Lyrically it is as hard as it gets.
The genius of the sound is that it shines light on a very dark and disturbing topic by sneaking up on you and making you pay attention because of its curious title, killer licks and in your face serious lyrics
Her "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" and "Love Is A Battlefield" are bangers and are much less dark.
Don't forget the banger "all fired up"
Suzanne Vega's "Luka" is also worth checking out on a similar theme.
My personal favourite Pat Benatar song is "My Clone Sleeps Alone" :)
PS That story about the girl who was given up for adoption was horrific!
Brad's on point. It's a great song because so many relate.💯
Good job. She was my favorite female rock singer in the 70's, 80's.
It’s a banger because you get out your aggressions through it... you feel the rage at these atrocities and angrily bang your head
Finally got to See Pat and Neil in 2019. Hearing this song live was awesome! Great reaction. Also, if you haven’t already, check out “Invincible” which was in the movie “Legend of Billie Jean”. Heard that song and was instantly a fan of Pat Benatar as a 12 year old in 1985.
Saw her on that tour as well. Great show, she still has it.
I'm a survivor. Started age 5 for many yrs by many men. This song was my anthem, I was still living with it. My Mom broke the album in half. Guess it reminded her of what she was allowing to happen to me. God bless all
That is so sad. And it makes me mad that your mother took it out on the record album, and not on the men she brought into your life.
This is one of many 80s hits worth blasting in the stereo driving
Just wanted to tell you guys how much I appreciate you. Definitely a daily highlight. On a side note, Brad, sorry about your Bucs, but what a weekend for NFL playoff games!
Pain and anger can be cathartic...that's what this song is going for, and I think a lot of people really get a lot out of this.
LOVE!!! Pat Benatar ..... youth today is missing out...
I praise her for bringing this horrific abuse to light. People need to listen and listen and listen again! 😢
Sorry for everyones pain and thank u for sharing. Life is too short! Fact This is real, please tell everyone how great they are and u love them and hug ur kids.Rock On!
"Tell Grandma you fell of the swing" is one of the most brutal lines ever; the abusive parent is not merely demanding silence, but COACHING their victim on how to lie to cover up the crime. God damn it.
I somewhat wish there was a third verse, rather than just having Neil Giraldo (Pat's guitarist/co-writer/husband) cut loose, but perhaps the point has already been made. Unforgettable either way.
That line turns on the waterworks EVERY TIME!!😢
Songs like this give power to the powerless, if you can look at them that way, they become some of the most powerful music ever created. She was damn near cut out of the industry for this song and she played it louder.
It's about child abuse and raising awareness when Benatar had a huge influence. Kudos to her raising a very sensitive subject in a song at the time. It's all about context.
"Bless the beasts and the children" is another great soundtrack tune.
Hey Brad, just a heads up...kids like us who have been beat, our feet whipped with switches till they bleed, our hands beat with inch thick paddles till our fingers splinter and bear scars all over our bodies...
These are the songs that make us snap out of that nightmare and ROCK THE FU@K OUT.
You guys are awesome...
I just heard that story too on Christina Randall's channel. It's a really effed up true crime.
Pat Benatar really shows her heartache and anger for these kids in her voice. So much from the heart.
Love you guys!!😉💓
I still get chills every time I hear this one.
classic. Love everything about Pat
This is the only song that Pat includes in EVERY concert . . . . .