You Think You Know Somebody

This is a sad song about someone whose friend was abused and then they ended up killing thier own kid years later. I think this song is very pertinent. I knew this guy a while ago, and I heard through his girlfriend that he was abused by his family and then years later he did end up shooting someone. He wasn't a bad guy, from what I knew of him, but what I heard that was done to him was very bad. So, I think that songs like this are true. This artist is very good, I think but what does it all really mean, this idea of violence and music, I think it is more than this, it is more than singing about a violent society. It is more than songs that talk about violence creating violence, and more than a violent image combined with violent lyrics that create these circumstances.
Perhaps there is such a thing as a violent song, or maybe not so much a song but a sound within a song. There is something to music that makes it powerful. Why is it the people that have alzheimers can't remember thier daughter's name but can sing a long to you are my sunshine? There is something in music that it stays with you long after other things are gone.
But where is guitar's role in this? I think the guitar is such a popular instrument for rock bands, the whole, lighting it on fire and smashing it on stage, that it is the usual suspect by default. Those kids and thier rock & roll, and really, it is probably the #1 instrument associated with drugs as well, from the stoner, hippy who is hanging out playing acoustic to all of the super great artists that were addicted to heroine, and drugs are very much realted to violence.

YouTube - Todd Snider - You Think You Know Somebody