"MAKE IT STOP (SEPTEMBER'S CHILDREN)"
BY RISE AGAINST
This song touches a close spot to my heart for many reasons. When I was in 7th grade we had to do a Health Outreach Project so I created a slide show based on this song and the It Gets Better Project, and here are the slides:
The very first time I heard "Make It Stop," it sent chills down my spine and filled my eyes with tears; it still does.
The lyrics to "Make It Stop"*:
Woah, woah.
Bang, bang go the coffin nails, like a breath exhaled,
Then gone forever.
It seems like just yesterday, how did I miss the red flags raised?
Think back to the days we laughed.
We braved these bitter storms together.
Brought to his knees he cried,
But on his feet he died.
What God would damn a heart?
And what God drove us apart?
What God could?
Make it stop.
Let this end.
Eighteen years pushed to the ledge.
It's come to this,
A weightless step.
On the way down singing,
Woah, woah.
Bang, bang from the closet walls,
The schoolhouse halls,
The shotgun's loaded.
Push me and I'll push back.
I'm done asking, I demand.
From a nation under God,
I feel its love like a cattle prod.
Born free, but still they hate.
Born me, no I can't change.
It's always darkest just before the dawn.
So stay awake with me, let's prove them wrong.
Make it stop.
Let this end,
Eighteen years pushed to the ledge.
It's come to this,
A weightless step.
On the way down singing,
Woah, woah.
The cold river washed him away,
But how could we forget?
The gatherings hold candles, but not their tongues.
And too much blood has flown from the wrists,
Of the children shamed for those they chose to kiss.
Who will rise to stop the blood?
We're calling for,
Insisting on, a different beat, yeah.
A brand new song.
Whoa, whoa [x3]
(Tyler Clementi, age 18.
Billy Lucas, age 15.
Harrison Chase Brown, age 15
Cody J. Barker, age 17
Seth Walsh, age 13.)
Make it stop,
Let this end.
This life chose me, I'm not lost in sin.
But proud I stand of who I am,
I plan to go on living.
Make it stop,
Let this end,
All these years pushed to the ledge,
But proud I stand, of who I am,
I plan to go on living
The lyrics to "Make It Stop"*:
Woah, woah.
Bang, bang go the coffin nails, like a breath exhaled,
Then gone forever.
It seems like just yesterday, how did I miss the red flags raised?
Think back to the days we laughed.
We braved these bitter storms together.
Brought to his knees he cried,
But on his feet he died.
What God would damn a heart?
And what God drove us apart?
What God could?
Make it stop.
Let this end.
Eighteen years pushed to the ledge.
It's come to this,
A weightless step.
On the way down singing,
Woah, woah.
Bang, bang from the closet walls,
The schoolhouse halls,
The shotgun's loaded.
Push me and I'll push back.
I'm done asking, I demand.
From a nation under God,
I feel its love like a cattle prod.
Born free, but still they hate.
Born me, no I can't change.
It's always darkest just before the dawn.
So stay awake with me, let's prove them wrong.
Make it stop.
Let this end,
Eighteen years pushed to the ledge.
It's come to this,
A weightless step.
On the way down singing,
Woah, woah.
The cold river washed him away,
But how could we forget?
The gatherings hold candles, but not their tongues.
And too much blood has flown from the wrists,
Of the children shamed for those they chose to kiss.
Who will rise to stop the blood?
We're calling for,
Insisting on, a different beat, yeah.
A brand new song.
Whoa, whoa [x3]
(Tyler Clementi, age 18.
Billy Lucas, age 15.
Harrison Chase Brown, age 15
Cody J. Barker, age 17
Seth Walsh, age 13.)
Make it stop,
Let this end.
This life chose me, I'm not lost in sin.
But proud I stand of who I am,
I plan to go on living.
Make it stop,
Let this end,
All these years pushed to the ledge,
But proud I stand, of who I am,
I plan to go on living
The Meaning of "Make It Stop":
This song is about the 5 boys who all committed suicide in September of 2010. It protests the bullying that LGBTQ kids undergo day by day, and aims to inspire bullied teens to keep trying because life gets better. There is so much to say about how this song can make one feel, but just watching the video or hearing the song or reading the lyrics says it all, and I don't want to bring shame to this song.
This song is about the 5 boys who all committed suicide in September of 2010. It protests the bullying that LGBTQ kids undergo day by day, and aims to inspire bullied teens to keep trying because life gets better. There is so much to say about how this song can make one feel, but just watching the video or hearing the song or reading the lyrics says it all, and I don't want to bring shame to this song.
A huge part of this song is part of the It Gets Better Project, a project started by Dan Savage and Terry Miller, who are trying to show teens who are struggling just how much better life will become if you just stick through it.
This is their original It Gets Better video:
This is their original It Gets Better video:
Make sure to go and check out the It Gets Better Project Website.
This song seriously changed my life and woke me up to the horrors that so many kids go through. I suggest you go listen to this song. It's amazing.
This song seriously changed my life and woke me up to the horrors that so many kids go through. I suggest you go listen to this song. It's amazing.
We will not forget you.
*Lyrics courtesy of AZLyrics
 | Zoe Adler is a music journalist from Long Beach, California. Besides her website, which is her pride and joy, she works with the GRAMMY Foundation and the Long Beach Independent. Additionally, Ms. Adler is a musician, spending half of her time playing the flute, piccolo, trombone, and marching baritone. She has been with TeenView Music since the very start and hopes to make something of it in the future. |
RSS Feed
