Abuse Song annotation

1. Song: Love the Way you Lie

Artist: Eminem Feat. Rihanna Commented [H1]: Rihanna stated in 2010 It is something that
we have both experienced on different sides, different ends of the
Just gonna stand there table He pretty much just broke down the cycle of domestic
violence, its something people do not have insight on She said this
And watch me burn about her and Eminems experience with abuse.
But that's alright
Because I like
The way it hurts
Just gonna stand there
And hear me cry
But that's alright
Because I love
The way you lie
I love the way you lie Commented [H2]: Rihanna sings this chorus throughout the
song, which depicts a familiar side to abuse. The never ending cycle
and the fear of getting out.
I can't tell you what it really is
I can only tell you what it feels like
And right now it's a steel knife
In my windpipe
I can't breathe
But I still fight
While I can fight
As long as the wrong feels right
It's like I'm in flight
High off of love
Drunk from my hate
It's like I'm huffing paint
And I love it the more that I suffer
I suffocate
And right before I'm about to drown
She resuscitates me
She f***ing hates me
And I love it
Wait
Where you going
I'm leaving you
No you ain't
Come back
We're running right back
Here we go again Commented [H3]: Eminem raps here about the cycle as well. It
It's so insane is something men and women experience when they are victims of
Cause when it's going good abuse.
It's going great
I'm Superman
With the wind at his back
She's Lois Lane
But when it's bad
It's awful
I feel so ashamed
I snapped
Who's that dude
I don't even know his name
 I laid hands on her
I'll never stoop so low again
I guess I don't know my own strength Commented [H4]: Eminem gets very real while rapping about
how he has laid hands on a woman, and how he will never stoop
that low again. It is very interesting to hear his perspective as well
2. Song: A Broken Wing as hers.
Artist: Martina Mcbride

She loved him like he was

The last man on Earth
Gave him everything she ever had
He'd break her spirit down Commented [H5]: This is a common theme with emotional and
Then come lovin' up on her domestic abuse. The victim will give themselves completely to the
abuser, to gain some sort of approval, and they end up broken and
Give a little, then take it back
damaged.

She'd tell him about her dreams
He'd just shoot 'em down
Lord he loved to make her cry
You're crazy for believin'
You'll ever leave the ground
He said, Only angels know how to fly
Commented [H6]: This is also a common theme amongst
abusive relationships. The abuser will give the victim some form of
love or affection and then go right back to the abusing.
Commented [H7]: This is a major sign of emotional abuse.
Putting someone down, discouraging their thoughts and dreams.

And with a broken wing

She still sings
She keeps an eye on the sky
With a broken wing
She carries her dreams
Man you ought to see her fly Commented [H8]: The chorus is talking about how even though
the woman is abused and beat down, she still soars and is able to
rise above.
One Sunday morning
She didn't go to church
He wondered why she didn't leave
He went up to the bedroom
Found a note by the window
With the curtains blowin' in the breeze Commented [H9]: We are unsure here if the woman has
committed suicide or if she has left the abuser, finally. It is up to the
audiences interpretation of the song.
And with a broken wing
She still sings
She keeps an eye on the sky
With a broken wing
She carries her dreams
Man you ought to see her fly

With a broken wing

She carries her dreams
Man you ought to see her fly

3. Song: Warrior
Artist: Demi Lovato
This is a story that I have never told
I gotta get this off my chest to let it go
I need to take back the light inside you stole
Commented [H10]: This song reflects on a relationship that left
Demi broken and bruised.
Commented [H11]: Demi Lovato has spoken openly about her
experience with emotional abuse, she wrote this song for that
reason.
You're a criminal
And you steal like you're a pro

All the pain and the truth

I wear like a battle wound
So ashamed, so confused
I was broken and bruised Commented [H12]: I think this verse is pertinent and relatable
to the listener, if they have experienced abuse. Being ashamed and
confused are very common feelings for a victim.
Now I'm a warrior
Now I've got thicker skin
I'm a warrior
I'm stronger than I've ever been
And my armor, is made of steel, you can't get in
I'm a warrior
And you can never hurt me again Commented [H13]: The chorus is to build up those victims
listening. She wants them to know she made it through the
experience and she wont be hurt ever again. She is a warrior.
Out of the ashes, I'm burning like a fire
You can save your apologies, you're nothing but a liar
I've got shame, I've got scars
That I will never show
I'm a survivor
In more ways than you know
Commented [H14]: This verse is intense and creates a sense of
'Cause all the pain and the truth Pathos in this song. It makes the listener feel emotions, and relate
to her.
I wear like a battle wound
So ashamed, so confused
I'm not broken or bruised

'Cause now I'm a warrior

Now I've got thicker skin
I'm a warrior
I'm stronger than I've ever been
And my armor, is made of steel, you can't get in
I'm a warrior
And you can never hurt me

There's a part of me I can't get back

A little girl grew up too fast
All it took was once, I'll never be the same
Now I'm taking back my life today
Nothing left that you can say
'Cause you are never gonna take the blame anyway

Now I'm a warrior

I've got thicker skin
I'm a warrior
I'm stronger than I've ever been
And my armor, is made of steel, you can't get in
I'm a warrior
And you can never hurt me again

No oh, yeah, yeah

 You can never hurt me again

4. Song: Hot and Cold

Artist: Katy Perry

You change your mind

Like a girl changes clothes.
Yeah, you, PMS
Like a bitch
I would know
And you over think
Always speak
Cryptically Commented [H15]: Katy Perry uses some humor in her song to
make the song more relatable to listeners.
I should know
That you're no good for me
Commented [H16]: This is another example of the theme in
[Chorus:] these songs, of the victim knowing they should leave but feel they
are unable to. It is honestly disturbing how common this is.
'Cause you're hot then you're cold
You're yes then you're no
You're in then you're out
You're up then you're down
You're wrong when it's right
It's black and it's white
We fight, we break up
We kiss, we make up
(You) You don't really wanna stay, no
(You) But you don't really wanna go-o
You're hot then you're cold
You're yes then you're no
You're in then you're out
You're up then you're down Commented [H17]: This is a humorous, relatable depiction of a
common relationship now. I know when I heard this song I could
relate at the time.
We used to be
Just like twins
So in sync
The same energy
Now's a dead battery
Used to laugh 'bout nothing
Now you're plain boring

I should know that

You're not gonna change Commented [H18]: This is something victims are forced to
realize, that the abuser will never change their ways.
[Chorus]

Someone call the doctor

Got a case of a love bipolar
Stuck on a roller coaster
And I can't get off this ride

You change your mind

 Like a girl changes clothes

'Cause you're hot then you're cold

You're yes then you're no
You're in then you're out
You're up then you're down
You're wrong when it's right
It's black and it's white
We fight, we break up
We kiss, we make up

You're hot then you're cold

You're yes then you're no
You're in then you're out
You're up then you're down
You're wrong when it's right
It's black and it's white
We fight, we break up
We kiss, we make up
(You) You don't really wanna stay, no
(You) But you don't really wanna go-o
You're hot then you're cold
You're yes then you're no
You're in then you're out
You're up then you're down, down...

5. Song: Church Bells Commented [H19]: Carrie Underwood is known for her
Artist: Carrie Underwood emotional songs on domestic and emotional abuse.

Jenny grew up wild, like a blackfoot daisy

Out in the shack with a blue tick hound
Broke as hell, but blessed with beauty
The kind that a rich man can't turn down
She caught the eye of an oil man dancing
One summer night in a dime store dress
She had the looks, he had the mansion
And you can figure out the rest Commented [H20]: She starts talking about a woman who
grew up poor, and thought she was living a fairytale life by marrying
a rich man.
It was all roses, dripping in diamonds
Sipping on champagne
She was all uptown, wearing that white gown
Taking his last name

She could hear those church bells ringing, ringing

And up in the loft, that whole choir singing, singing
Fold your hands and close your eyes
Yeah, it's all gonna be alright
And just listen to the church bells ringing, ringing
Yeah, they're ringing

Jenny was hosting Junior League parties

And having dinner at the country club
Everyone thought they were Ken and Barbie Commented [H21]:
 But Ken was always getting way too drunk Commented [H22]: This is a good depiction of how people see
Saturday night, after a few too many most abusive relationshipsas perfect. With no flaws. But behind
closed doors it is far from it.
He came home ready to fight
And all his money could never save Jenny
From the devil living in his eyes

It was all bruises, covered in makeup

Dark sunglasses
And that next morning, sitting in the back pew
Praying with the baptist Commented [H23]: She uses this verse to blatantly show that
Jenny has been abused, and she is in church praying for it to stop.
She could hear those church bells ringing, ringing
And up in the loft, that whole choir singing, singing
Fold your hands and close your eyes
Yeah, it's all gonna be alright
You just listen to the church bells ringing, ringing
Yeah, they're ringing

Jenny slipped something in his Tennessee whiskey

No law man was ever gonna find
And how he died is still a mystery
But he hit a woman for the very last time
Commented [H24]: This verse tells the listener that Jenny got
She could hear those church bells ringing, ringing up the courage to slip something in his drink, thus killing him. It is
interesting how many songs start with an abused woman and end
Standing there in a black dress singing, singing with her killing the abuser. Should this be startling to our society?
Fold your hands and close your eyes
Yeah, it's all gonna be alright
And just listen to the church bells ringing, ringing
Yeah, they're ringing

6. Song: Face Down
Artist: Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
Hey, girl, you know you drive me crazy
One look puts the rhythm in my hand.
Still I'll never understand why you hang around
I see what's going down.
Cover up with make-up in the mirror
Tell yourself, it's never gonna happen again
You cry alone and then he swears he loves you.
Do you feel like a man when you push her around?
Do you feel better now as she falls to the ground?
Well, I'll tell you, my friend, one day this world's gonna end
As your lies crumble down, a new life she has found.
A pebble in the water makes a ripple effect
Every action in this world will bear a consequence
If you wade around forever, you will surely drown
I see what's going down.
Commented [H25]: This song raised an uproar when it was
released, due to its blunt, and almost graphic lyrics.
Commented [H26]: They take a different approach, it is a male
friend speaking to his female friends abuser.
Commented [H27]: They are saying they do not understand
why she continues to see this person. Why cant she leave?
Commented [H28]: They talk about how she is covering
bruises, and is being abused. It is interesting that they talk about
the victim swearing that he loves her. A common theme amongst
the abused.
Commented [H29]: This is some honest confrontation to the
man that is abusing the woman in this song, asking him if he feels
like a man when he beats her. Also a message to the abuser stating
that one day he will get what he deserves, as she has found a new
life.

I see the way you go and say you're right again,

Say you're right again
Heed my lecture.

Do you feel like a man when you push her around?

Do you feel better now as she falls to the ground?
Well, I'll tell you, my friend, one day this world's gonna end
As your lies crumble down, a new life she has found

[2x]
Face down in the dirt,
She said, "This doesn't hurt."
She said, "I finally had enough."

One day she will tell you that she has had enough
[Album version:] It's coming round again.
[Music video version:] He's coming round again.

[2x]
Do you feel like a man when you push her around?
Do you feel better now as she falls to the ground?
Well, I'll tell you, my friend, one day this world's gonna end
As your lies crumble down, a new life she has found

[2x]
Face down in the dirt,
She said, "This doesn't hurt."
She said, "I finally had enough."