O que que tá acontecendo aqui? ::: Violência contra a Criança

Numa pequena lista que ora faço com músicas que tematizam violência contra crianças, "What's the matter here?", do 10,000 Maniacs (aqui) tem que ocupar posição de destaque. Não estou interessado em competição, é só uma maneira de elogiar, de dizer o quanto amo a Natalie Merchant aqui.

Já toquei em sala da aula. A mesma atividade que faço com "Luka", da Suzanne Vega: ponho a moçada pra ouvir e escrever palavras soltas sobre sentimentos que a música proporciona. Não se trata de tentar adivinhar o conteúdo da letra, muitíssimo pelo contrário. Aí aparecem  coisas como freedom, love, joy, happiness, dance. Depois eu dou a letra e toco de novo e ficamos todos impactados.

Porque a música (não somente a letra) não é 'apenas' sobre um menino espancado em casa. É sobre um menino espancado em casa e a nossa conivência.

(E olha que a lista incluía "Cousin Kevin" (The Who), "Daughter" (Pearl Jam) e "Barbarism begins at home" (The Smiths).)

That young boy without a name
Anywhere I'd know his face
In this city the kid's my favorite
I've seen him, I've seen a
I see him every day

Seen him run outside
Looking for a place to hide
From his father
The kid half naked
And said to myself
"Oh, what's the matter here?

I'm tired of the excuses
Everybody uses
He's your kid
Do as you see fit
But who gave you the right
To do this?

We live on Morgan Street
Just ten feet between
And his mother, I never see her
But her screams and cussing
Well I hear them every day

Threats like
If you don't mind
I will beat on your behind
Slap you, slap you silly
Made me say
"Oh, what's the matter here?

I'm tired of the excuses
Everybody uses
He's your kid
Just do as you see fit
But get this through
That I don't approve
Of what you did
To your own flesh and blood

Oh I have heard the excuses
Everybody uses
He's your kid
Just do as you see fit
But get this through
That I don't approve

Of what you did
To your own flesh and blood

Well if you don't sit
In your chair straight
I'll take this belt
From around my waist
And don't you think
That I won't use it

Answer me and take your time
What could be the awful crime
He could do at so young an age?
If I'm the only witness to your madness
Offer me some words to balance
Out what I see and what I hear

All these cold and rude
Things that you do
I suppose you do
Because he belongs to you
And instead of love
And the feel of warmth
You've given him these cuts
And sores that don't heal with time or his age

And I want to say, "Hi"
Want to say
"What's the matter here?"
But I don't dare say
"What's the matter here?"
But I don't dare say