Scarecrow
Melissa Etheridge
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Showers of your crimson blood Seep into a nation calling up a flood Of narrow minds who legislate Thinly veiled intolerance Bigotry and hate But they tortured and burned you They beat you and they tied you They left you cold and breathing For love they crucified you I can't forget hard as I try This silhouette against the sky Scarecrow crying Waiting to die wondering why Scarecrow trying Angels will hold carry your soul away This was our brother This was our son This shepherd young and mild This unassuming one We all gasp this can't happen here We're all much too civilized Where can these monsters hide But they are knocking on our front door They're rocking in our cradles They're preaching in our churches And eating at our tables I search my soul My heart and in my mind To try and find forgiveness This is someone child With pain unreconciled Filled up with father's hate Mother's neglect I can forgive But I will not forget Scarecrow crying Waiting to die wondering why Scarecrow trying Rising above all in the name of love
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Written by: MELISSA ETHERIDGE
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
10 facts about this song
Album Release"Scarecrow" is a song included in Melissa Etheridge's album "Breakdown" which was released on October 5, 1999.
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Theme and InspirationThe song is a tribute to Matthew Shepard, a 21-year-old student at the University of Wyoming who was brutally murdered in a homophobic hate crime in 1998.
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Song TitleThe title “Scarecrow” was chosen as a metaphor for the circumstances surrounding Matthew Shepard's death, as he was found tied to a fence like a scarecrow.
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AwardsAlthough “Scarecrow” didn't win, the album "Breakdown" was nominated for two Grammy Awards in 2000.
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Musical Genre"Scarecrow", like Etheridge's other songs, falls under the rock genre, specifically heartland rock and roots rock.
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Social ImpactThe song helped bring greater public attention to hate crimes and the plight of the LGBTQ+ community, particularly in the late 1990s.
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Music VideoThe music video of "Scarecrow" is heart touching with the lyrics and visuals making a strong stance against hate crimes.
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Personal ConnectionEtheridge, being an openly gay artist herself, had a strong personal connection to the issue and Matthew Shepard's tragic death – which is palpable in the emotive lyrics and passionate delivery of “Scarecrow”.
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Critical AcclamationCritics praised Etheridge's emotional rawness in "Scarecrow" and her willingness to use her platform to spotlight social issues.
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Legacy"Scarecrow" continues to serve as a poignant reminder about the harmful impacts of homophobia and hate crimes, more than 20 years after its release.
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Citation
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"Scarecrow Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 26 Apr. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/3053079/Melissa+Etheridge/Scarecrow>.
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