Papa Roach, “Scars," Music Review. CYS.

 

OVERVIEW

Papa Roach is a contemporary genre bending band from Northern California.  Their sound includes a blend of hip-hop, funk and metal.  The band grew up together in Vacaville, CA.  They spent most of their early years playing any venue that they could book. When it comes to image the band would likely that they aren’t concerned with their image.  In reality the band wears dark clothing and the T-shirts sold on their website are black in color and feature graphics that are somewhat morbid: skulls, bleeding hearts, and the word “Murder” in bright red letters.

 

           
The group seems to challenge their listeners to not settle for the situation that they are in.  According to MTV.com Papa Roach’s lyrics “reflect they want people to think about the world around them, question it, and make actions toward change.”  The band seems to reject authority and uses their music to encourage others to do the same.  Lead singer Jacoby Shaddix says their message to their fans “is to shut your self off from anyone who wants to run the show and run it yourself.”

 

           
Many of the groups song titles are violent. The albums are dominated by titles like: “Blood,” “Revenge,” “Life as a Bullet,” and “Getting away with Murder.”  Other songs seem to deal with the hardships and heartaches that life presents to everyone.  The group seems to be fed up with what the world is giving them and looking for a way to gain control of their lives.

 

 

Scars Sample Lyrics

I tear my heart open, I sew myself shut
My weakness is that I care too much
And our scars remind me that the past is real
I tear my heart open just to feel

Drunk and I'm feeling down
And I just wanna be alone
I'm pissed cause you came around
Why don't you just go home
Cause you channel all your pain
And I can't help you fix yourself
You're making me insane
All I can say is

[Chorus:]
I tear my heart open, I sew myself shut
My weakness is that I care too much
And our scars remind us that the past is real
I tear my heart open just to feel

 

EXEGESIS

Interestingly, though the band claims the purpose of their music is reclaiming control of one’s life, songs like scars seem to admit a complete lack of control. The song resonates with an odd paradox between trying to escape from feelings of numbness even if that means opening oneself to pain and at the same time trying to retreat even further into numbness. Pain and heartache seep through the angry, violent tone of the song, as the lyrics express the all too common despair of loneliness and feeling out of control; of wanting to help the people in one’s life who are “drowning” but not being able.

             
Perhaps, though, the line which gives one the most insight into the real question of this song comes when they say, “Compassions in my nature.” The song seems to be asking three major questions: ‘How do I show compassion when it leaves me open to pain?’ ‘How do I deal with wanting to help people I love, but being powerless to do anything?’ and ‘How do I protect myself against these feelings of pain and powerlessness without becoming numb?’    

These are the desperate cries of a generation starved for hope; a generation wrestling to reconcile the image of God within them, this heart of compassion, with a worldview which tells them they are in control of their own life while their experience shows them they are powerless to change anyone around them. The result of such a tension is almost reminiscent of stoicism: All you have control over is yourself, so close yourself off and become numb. Yet there is also a deep longing to feel, to experience, to embrace compassion even if it means letting in the pain.

The lyrics resonate with a generation of youth who have known nothing but broken relationships. One can’t help but imagine a teenage boy singing this song to his alcoholic mother.  “Why can’t you fix yourself?” This generation has been given broken homes and as a result they have taken on adult responsibilities at a young age. Many kids have had to carry the burdens of friends and family members.

 

USE IN MINISTRY

This song really could be used very effectively either with youth or with youth leaders. Perhaps its best use, though, would be in rallying the troops. It could be incredibly powerful if played at a youth leaders retreat or night to instill a passion to reach out to youth. It sheds light on the questions, the tensions, and the lack of hope this generation deals with daily. Any Christian listening to this song can’t help but have their heart break in compassion towards anyone experiencing what is expressed. It hopefully makes one want to develop relationships with youth that reach the point where they are able to express these kind of feelings and to be able to offer an alternative; to say ‘There’s another way. You don’t have to become numb. Even if you feel powerless, there is someone in control.’ The song helps youth workers understand what can often come across as indifference on the part of the youth and realize that this indifference is not a closed door to the gospel, but, rather, a heart aching for it.

 

 

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION AND DISCUSSION

 

1.      What type of mood does this song put you in?

2.      Do you ever feel numb? Would you choose to feel numb if you could?

3.      Does this song remind you of any relationships you have?

4.      Are you capable of fixing someone else?  If not, Why do we try?

5.      Whose burdens do you carry?

6.      Who carries your burdens?

 

 

 

IMPLICATIONS

 

 

a.      Papa Roach asks the questions of many kids hearts the answers to which Christianity holds. It is important, though, to get kids asking the questions and youth leaders understanding what the questions are before they try to answer them. The music of Papa Roach could be a wonderful way to open the door to both of these things.

 

b.      Their music also allows kids to embrace and vent some of their pain, anger and frustration, something not often found in Christian music. “Take Me,” another song on their latest CD, contains the chorus “Don't shut me out. Does anyone around me feel the same. Put your fist up and vent your pain.”  They break into kids worlds, and attempt to break them out of the numbness described in “Scars,” and perhaps we need to learn in ministry how to do a better job breaking hurting kids out of their numbness.

 

c.       The emotion expressed even just in the sound and feel of this music is something not often found in Christian music and certainly not worship music. Worship music allows kids to express praise, adoration and gratitude to God, but perhaps kids also need to be able to release their hurt, anger, fear, and frustration in positive ways.

 

d.      Youth leaders would value greatly from exploring why youth listen to this kind of music. Could it be that in a world where youth feel that their words fall on deaf ears, this music allows them scream into the seeming void that they are hurting and angry; that they want to feel; that they want someone to hear their pain and confusion?

e.      One word of caution, though, would be that youth leaders should be careful using and endorsing the music with their youth. While many of the issues this music addresses are of extreme importance, it also encourages and endorses violence, aggression, and hate as remedies to these issues. 

 

Jennifer Daley, David Peterson, Copyright 2005. CYS.