The fact that these were _children_ pushed to the edge over something that shouldn't be such a big deal in a better world... yeah, you can understand my anger with the way things are.
same, i thought they regular song would be without it and it was just the music video, i respect that they have it in the song too, but i cant listen to any version without crying
The last line he says "and proud I stand of who I am I plan to go on living" the line that saved me from depression and being bullied not for being LGBT but just for being who I am
IM HAPPY FOR YOU! As someone who lives in a household that is extremely homophobic and non-supportive of gay people, it’s scary. I feel what you’re saying.
The lyric "18 years pushed to the ledge" is a reference to Tyler Clementi. Tyler Clementi (December 19, 1991 - September 22, 2010) was an American student at Rutgers University-New Brunswick who jumped to his death from the George Washington Bridge over the Hudson River at the age of 18, on September 22, 2010. On September 19, 2010, Clementi's roommate, Dharun Ravi, used a webcam on his dorm room computer and his hallmate Molly Wei's computer to view, without Clementi's knowledge, Clementi kissing another man. This is more apparent with the lyric: "The cold river washed him away, but how could we forget..." Tyler jumped from the GW Bridge into the Hudson River.
There were a total of 9 young men in the LGBTQ community who committed suicide in September of 2010 after facing harassment or bulllying, 5 of which were said in the bridge. The last four names: Felix Sacco, age 17; Asher Brown, age 13; Caleb Nolt, age 14; and Raymond Chase, age 19, are read aloud over the course of the next two verses but are overshadowed by the main lyrics The band really takes mental health seriously and even went on tours at high schools promoting mental health advocacy and met lots of students, listened to their stories and used that to write more songs to make sure they get the point across that you're not alone and that it gets better
i actually researched this during the time out of curiosity, I realized i was lucky to not have suffered for being who I was. I was bullied by many reasons but my loved ones supported me as who I was Bisexual and also autostic and my mother stuck by me. I was made more grateful, I immediately after discovering this fact I hoped that their souls may rest in peace for all the pain they endured
I believe all of those kids' names that were read out were not only the names of suicide victims, but all of them occurred in or around the month of September of a single year, and that's why the song is Make It Stop (September's Children)
They made this as a tribute to the mass suicides in the early 2010's after a mother found her son had hung himself from the tree in the backyard mentioned in the video (Seth Walsh age 13) and even more ensued there after due to bullying. He brought one of the greatest lines I've ever heard that made me change course and be outspoken for something wrong when in plain sight "gatherings of candles but not their tounges"once someone commits the act then people mourn and cheer for the character said person had in life but yet they never spoke up for or about the person while they were alive. I've loved rise against since I was 11 and still now at 28 they've helped mold my character and the type of person I am today.
Actually I think you're kind of close on it, but the lyric is: "The gatherings hold candles, but not their tongues" and I take it as they held candles (candle light vigil) but still continued to bash the person for a lifestyle that was beyond their control (thus not holding their tongues).
@@john_thorpe that’s my interpretation of it too. „The gatherings hold candles“ they mourn for the person who committed suicide and say all that crap „Why did he do it?“ etc. „but not their tongues“ but they still continue to bash (in this case) LQBTG people, for being different from the norm. It sickens me
The lyrics are: 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 Then 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 I'm born free, but still they hate I'm 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 A brand new song Make it stop Let this end This life chose me, I'm not lost in sin And 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
Oh this was a random reaction but one I’m so happy about. I’m so happy you did this one man! It’s absolutely needed even now. Not to mention you’re always respectful and completely accepting of everyone so it’s a great safe place for people to watch ya know? I remember when Seth Walsh passed away and it was kind of this huge thing in the internet. It was crazy and so many people were spreading the “it gets better” message and it was kind of the peak of the online bullying awareness era.
The bridge talks about 5 teenagers who took there own life, as a result of being bullied. All these incidents happened in the second half of September 2010. These 5 teenagers were all being bullied, and in all cases it had something to do with their sexual orientation.
Met these guys when they came to Adelaide for the Big Day Out in 2005, they played the table over from me at Empire Pool lounge, sweetest guys and funny as hell, I didn't know who they were till I watched BDO live on channel V and go, Hey that's them! Hey that's the song from NFS underground
My ex girlfriend, who was and will always be my first love took her own life because she didn't find acceptance as a trans woman. I myself experienced a time in my life where there was constant struggle and hate and bullying, (even though I'm "only" gay) when I really wanted to end it all. And I am glad I didn't, because it got so much better. Yes, I do still have those scars from the past and yes, every now and then they do hurt but I am now at a point where I can truthfully say that I am making progress in healing. This song and video mean so much to me because to me personally it was a milestone in fighting back against my bullies. About 4 years ago I showed this video during a presentation in my music class. I just wanted them to know what they were doing to me and for the first time in years, while and after this was playing nobody laughed at me or made a mean/degrading commet. This will always be the reason why this song is so special today.
In my country there's a 11 years old who got bullied so bad, he commited suicide last July. The worse thing is, the parents are not pressing charges because they're poor and the government only use that tragedy as a moment to make appearance on public and increasing their voting rates for the next election next year. I'm still angry about it to this day.
I'm not one to immediately get emotional and I can't personally relate to such a situation, but nevertheless, this one always tears me up, especially at the end with the name being listed and seeing how the three characters go on living
Great analysis of the lyrics - first making comparisons to school shootings but correctly noticing it’s about LGBTQ bullying. Powerful lyrics & a great song - especially on runs
These days that fun happy distraction vibe is the only think that gets played. Bands like this that usually want to have an important message in their music have to make whatever will be heard in these times.
Hi.. I like,, Rise Against,,... So try some German stuff:Die toten Hosen-pushed again/NullPositiv - wo Rauch ist, ist auch Feuer /Aligatoah - willst du (trsl. Do you want take drugs with me...) all critical lyrics,,, but enjoy🎸👍
I bet it was that you didnt want to ENJOY a song about kids "giving up"(youtube censoring myself). That enjoying this song means enjoying what happened to those kids. But this song is an attempted solution, a call to action to "Make It Stop". You can enjoy this song by considering it "people are finally getting some help, where they had none before". Because if we go back to ignoring the problem, itll just get worse.
I was literally one of those kids. In my time in school gay people were more accepted but still taboo in my small home town but being a trans person in school in the 2010s was misunderstood. I was outed and bullied, being broken down and insulted by my own mother. People can think of the song as cliche but as a trans teen at one time I was drinking heavily and made an attempt on my life at my job. I can't say my life has gotten terribly better because of all the anti trans hysteria in recent times and I have lived so many years in paranoia. I'm also living with cptsd from some of my experiences but transitioning and being around more accepting people has at least taken away the suicidal impulses
I'm not sure about anti-trans because every time I turn around, mainstream media, corporations, and Hollywood are bending over backwards to make trans people feel "represented". Personally I think that kind of pandering for profit is absolutely disgusting and it doesn't truly "accept" trans people when society is always trying to make you feel special because you're different. True acceptance is not treating you any differently, but I see WAY too often the pressure to "affirm" people's decision to become trans. That's where you lose me as a straight white male, it's not my responsibility to affirm your decisions about your own life. I refuse to treat trans people as special because you're just a person like me at the end of the day, but to internet weirdos on Twitter/Facebook, etc. I guess that makes me a bigot. Hope you understand the intent behind my honesty, not tryin to minimize your personal experiences, but it just differs greatly from what I see in everyday reality. Just know you're not alone in having suicidal impulses, I had thoughts of suicide as well if that brings any comfort.
My nephew is transgender. He faces bullying and harassment at the same high school that I went to when I was his age. He not only hates himself but also developed social anxiety and suicidal tendencies. I try to be the best support system that he needs, but it definitely gets quite scary sometimes when he comes home in tears. Fuck bullying. Fuck bigotry. And fuck those assholes who think it's alright to hurt others for being different.
While this song does seem to cater to LGBT folks, it should be stated that this song is also for anyone, regardless of your sexuality who was bullied into wanting to commit suicide (I was one of them), I really appreciate this song. Luckily I found my love of alternative/metal music which really touched my soul and felt like there were people in this world who understood. You keep fighting until you find a reason to keep on living.
Music should be heavy. Our gen Z lacks it as they become emotionless robots falling in line with broken views and lack of ability to handle hardship and stress. They aren't able to handle something tragic like someone dying. In terms we are spiralling downwards because people don't manage to correct it deal with it or relate to it. Hence music with tragedy is medicine. This isn't a new song. It was made a over a decade ago and before this it was time where a lot of people came together to fight for rights like gay marriages and women's rights something that since has been pushed back again and reversed again recently as people push far right views and violence. In terms gay gets termed as insult instead of their sexuality again. In terms I've heard stories of straight guys going to gay bars in Halifax back in the day to sleep with gay men so the gay men would catch a disease. in terms I know that because my ex was bisexual and attended a lot of the LGBTQ stuff that happened. Attacks were often happening against the bar back in the day. People are hateful and there is way too many hateful people. In terms though the video is about bullying people to commit suicide. Much of which many kids who didn't fit the norms like being gay have. This song has gotten me to come back for a long time now because my ex girlfriend committed suicide at 17 back in 2008 from bullying. As far as I'm concerned bullying deserves expatiation in schools. It can essentially be a catalyst to murder as they drive a person to commit acts of suicide to escape. Those heartless bastards have no real remorse because they feel no consequence for the action or they don't get a good enough consequence.
This mostly has me think we need to stop glorifying public schooling. It is socially accepted to send children away to learn as soon as they reach the age to walk and talk. And made worse is how nonchalant we make the idea of sending children to learn from a stranger who may have never gone to college, who doesn't care about children's education, or worse. Not to mention that most of those children are learning how to act by watching other children, the popular kids likely being the ones with the worst personalities, planting the idea of acting down right horrid towards others.
I didn't see anyone mention this but one of the many reasons Rise Against made this song for was for their LGBT+ fans. This genre is well known for not being queer accepting and they found a trend that their queer fans were almost scared of meeting them in case Rise Against turned out to be a bunch of bigots. They wanted to make sure that we knew that they stood with us and that they care. This song is not their best song but it's their song that means the most to me.
It was nice of the band to want to do that, but it should not be implied that unless the band goes out of their way to show support for LGBT fans that they need to be worried about being considered bigots. Metal is about community and love for the genre regardless of your LGBT+ status. Bullying in general is an ENORMOUS problem in this country and there's still very few resources for students that go through it especially in K-12, I should know I went through it too. Young people can be unimaginably cruel to anyone who's different, it's disgusting.
