Pat Benatar - Hell is for Children (REACTION) with my wife

[@markmurphy558]

No one wants to hear about this subject, but artists who explore their world and feel something strongly will speak up because that is what they do. Child Abuse was not spoken of back when this song was written, and Pat and geraldo were trying to raise awareness. In many ways, it was a heroic act on their part.

[@tektoniks_architects]

Whether you love it or don't, I'd say this is Pat Benatar's most important song.

[@jimmycranier3668]

Tears on my face. The guitar solo demonstrates the anger for mistreating children.

[@davidfischer1138]

Love your emotions. Your not alone.😮😢

[@robertglonek3320]

Child abuse was NEVER talked about openly when I was growing up in the ‘60’s/‘70’s. This song was definitely a first and still one of her best. Thx for posting. Luv all ur reactions.

[@kennethcelorio4937]

Agree 100%. There was no one to turn to in those days.

[@jessicaleblanc-nh1yl]

This song was created to have this exact effect on those who listened. This is a real topic & there are many children, as you stated, that do live in their own hell. Bat Benatar was/is amazing, coupled with her husband & the rest of their band members. She was one of the queens of rock & roll. Thank you so much for sharing this.

[@richardrodriguez2120]

Growing up in that type of environment this song when it came out it was almost like an anthem for us kids She understood and put it out there

[@Quallneigge]

It's so lovely to see a couple that represents humanity as it should be

[@markmurphy558]

@@Quallneigge 👍

[@MikeOstrowski-iq8wf]

Pat made you feel and that is the point ❤️

[@darrylmitchell7619]

It’s a hard subject to discuss, but that’s what great art is about. Pushing you outside your comfort zone to look at things in a new way. Can’t commend Pat and Neil enough for having the guts to address such a sensitive subject head on.

[@redbum321]

Great reaction. As a victim of child abuse when I was younger, this song resonated with so much. Always loved Pat Benatar and god bless her for tackling this subject during a time when nobody would address it. To this day, all proceeds from this song are donated to help child abuse. Pat Benatar is simply amazing.

[@KrazyKatLadyx2]

I remember when this hit the radio and how impactful it was. Nobody talked about this stuff, but it was starting to come out into the public consciousness.

[@SondraMays-f1f]

BIG hugs to you both ♥

[@kelleychilton2524]

When this was released back in the day, various church organizations tried to get this song banned from the radio. Child abuse was not talked about back then unless a parent put their child in the hospital. It was just not discussed, a different time.

[@billolsen4360]

I don't know who those various church organizations were, but the people in them probably hadn't even listened to the song yet. Similar to an outcry against the song "Tears in Heaven" a few years ago. People hadn't heard the song yet.

[@briangar12]

This is one of the most powerful songs ever written. Pat tackled such real topics, this is the song that made me fall in love with her.

[@willlong8942]

The song helped to bring a taboo evil into the light at a particular time to a particular audience where child abuse wasn't previously talked about.

[@kurtsaxton823]

One of Her greatest songs people aren't even mentioning. We Belong is one of the best songs from Pat Benatar.

[@joshgrant-ti4xk]

This is why i appreciate music from this era....they sang about real shit.

[@susannahfox7188]

You can see this same topic being referred to in another of her songs "Love is a Battlefield." Especially in the official video for the song. And I always feel kind of uncomfortable when I hear her song "Hit Me With Your Best Shot," because of the obvious reference to abusive behavior. I just wonder if she went through that herself. A lot of her songs are about her coming off as very tough, which can be used as a facade for protection due to previous abuse.

[@shawnwagner7662]

Great reaction to a powerful song. Paying this much attention to the lyrics is awesome but what gets lost is the amazing instrumentation behind it.

[@sandydennis8380]

I bought this album for my best friend ( who didn’t know what I was going through at the time) but her religious guardians immediately broke it in half when they saw the song’s title. I went and bought a new one and took it to them and explained to listen to it. They cried and went out and bought her album for themselves. I’m pretty sure they understood something was going on in my household, but unfortunately my situation went on for another couple years before I got strong enough to tell someone and was “saved”… I say it that way, because it still affects me to this day, but this song did get me through and saved my young life. I will always be great for Pat, Neil & this Song!!

[@OldTrucker958]

One of her best songs ever and as usual stellar guitar from Neil Geraldo! And yes I agree with Dominica I could think of many cruel punishments for child abusers. Enjoy your insights and peace to you both

[@marybreiner5]

For those of us who connected with this song, it was an anthem.

[@donfite9269]

Thanks for going through that.

[@wadehines9971]

Part of the crime that you're having trouble expressing is the theft of innocence itself.

[@denismansfield8876]

Child abuse awareness exists.thanks to this song and another big hit by Suzanne Vega. That song was titled "Luka." It's an accoustic song that's very powerful ... along with the video. There are other songs, too.

[@edwardcrews2952]

She became a national advocate for the prevention of child abuse. Kudos to her for using her music to bring attention to this disaster.

[@AW11-e4h]

Family isn’t always a safe place 🙏

[@MerchantOfAlba]

Sadly 😔

[@LilRocker2005]

This is a song that ever since the age of 7, has kept me going! As a survivor of CSA at the hands of a neighbor, this song made me feel like there was someone out there who understood the hell that I was going through. Today I'm happily married to a loving partner who knows what I've been through and has helped me get through the tough times.

[@jagernavet4468]

This was done as an anti-child abuse song. In America, before the 1980's, child abuse was looked at as, "Discipline" and the whipping, beating, and even punching of kids was ignored with most law enforcement looking the other way. Pat Benatar did this song to bring it into the light to help protect abused kids! And, as someone that was horribly abused, growing up in the 60's, I thank her every day for having the courage to do so!

[@patrigilligan2112]

Just think of how many children's lives were made better because of this song reaching the abusive parents, or even reaching people before they became parents and changed their mindset and PREVENTED them from being abusive parents! This is such an important song!!!

[@bobashley7533]

Tough listen, especially since I have a grandchild… That said, I’m glad she wrote & performed it… subject matter distracts from musicianship… thank you for reaction

[@Headtube]

Sorry this one hurt to listen to but as a survivor child abuse I absolutely LOVE this song!

[@SharilynBratton]

It’s just so powerful and her anger always made me feel somehow supported in working through my own childhood traumas. I wasn’t physically abused in a violent way but sexually abused; my first stepfather molested me from the time I was 6 until I turned 14 and finally fought back and gave him a black eye. I told him if he ever touched me again I would put a knife in his heart while he slept and he knew I meant it. He never touched me again, but sad it took me 8 years to stop fearing him. At some point my mom knew but she refused to hear anything about it and in that era you just didn’t tell anyone outside the home.

[@Headtube]

@@SharilynBratton I'm so sorry that happened to you. It is my understanding that sexual abuse IS violent abuse....and I'm guessing it's just as impactful to you as my physical abuse is to me. I hope you have support for that. I'm vintage '55 and so yes, it was never talked about and us boys were supposed to grow into John Wayne.

[@SharilynBratton]

@@Headtube Yeah I’m 62 now and my childhood really impacted my life for decades in various ways. My real dad died in a car accident in 1966 when I was just 4, he was only 35 when he died, and my mom ended up being married 3 more times, that’s why I said first stepdad ha. My second stepdad came when I was 17 and he was a lovely good man, I grew to see him as the first real father figure I had known but tragically he got cancer and died after only 3 years. By the time Mom married for her 4th time I was 25 and married and pregnant with my 2nd child so I never lived at home with him, but he and Mom were married over 25 years and he was grandpa to all our kids. He and Mom both have passed now.

[@Headtube]

@@SharilynBratton There are some similarities in our stories and I appreciate your sharing. My mother was the violent one and was married four times, having 3 boys each by a different father. When she passed 'grief' wasn't a big part of my response.

[@SharilynBratton]

@@Headtube I get that believe me, I still loved Mom but we always had a basically superficial relationship the rest of my life. I have 2 siblings from our real dad, a half brother from Mom’s second marriage and assorted step siblings over the years.

[@robertwalker1803]

The anger is the voice and the hard guitar solo. Sometimes it needs to be said out loud. I know it hurts to think about,but you two show here that you have big hearts. I cannot tell you the emotions I had when I first heard this…got to me,too. She was reading that magazine on a plane I heard and started writing it then…

[@Tampahop]

I am so thankful for my parents. They did discipline me. At times, I was spanked, but I knew I deserved it. As time went on, that happened less and less. At some point, it just became "the look." Knowing I had disappointed my parents hurt me more than anything else they might have done.

[@merlepedigo3994]

True heart felt reaction ♥️

[@Smittay-Sr.]

Your heading is funny! 😂 "Hell is for children, with my wife!" Love is a Battlefield, or Heartbreaker.

[@MerchantOfAlba]

😲

[@iancitizen6489]

Thanks for showcasing ‘difficult’ material. Pat is great

[@billolsen4360]

You're very kind-hearted people.

[@robertgarcia3031]

Benatar has quite a few hits, my favorite is "Fire And Ice."

[@cynergy4]

Sadly, it's a circle of abuse. The abusive parent was usually abused themselves, and that parent was likely abused as well. It won't end until the circle is broken

[@lancebeaudry4706]

I broke that circle!!! My children have only known love. No excuse for laying a hand on a child. People are responsible for their own actions.

[@jimmyjameson8705]

Neil Geraldo wrote the music. Incredible

[@GregoryFernicola]

Thank you merchants of alba for your awsome reactions to pat benatar hell is for children. We are all Gods children. Some never grow up. Peace be with you.

[@dalemcmillan7231]

Powerful Song. I love it❤

[@williamosborne6866]

This topic was perfectly covered decades ago by 15-year old Janis Ian with "Janey's Blues": kzbin.info/www/bejne/gYqvhmmAftaKqsk Janey's down, can't get off the ground Too low to fall, she can't come up at all Hey, Janey's just an accident Fatal mistake on the day after Lent And her parents always say "We don't need you today And we expect just the same" She's got a bluesy feeling in her eye And it's making her sigh Cry, cry for Janey Well her mother plays on the golf course every day And her daddy, he sits at home and plays with the maid They've found the perfect alibi Stay together for the sake of the child You know divorce don't fit And they're too young to split Think they're martyrs but they're killing the kid She's got a bluesy feeling in her eye And it's making her sigh Cry... cry for Janey (long outro)

[@jimtatro6550]

In a career filled with excellent songs, this one is my favorite from Pat Benatar❤

[@StevesFunhouse]

I love you two and just want to give you both hugs. Yeah, I'd say Pat and Neil got their point across. A lot of people thought the opposite of this song, thinking they were celebrating the practice, but people who actually listened were awakened to the reality of a sickness that had, until that point, had pretty much gone unmentioned. We all knew it happened, and we could see that families like the ones they spoke about would turn out kids who would repeat their crimes, because they had been TAUGHT that this kind of behavior was apparently RIGHT !!! Thank God that Pat and Neil (and others) brought this issue to the surface and made us pay attention. It's taken 40+ years but a lot of change has been realized and a lot of good has come out of it.

[@EchoesDaBear]

Great reaction! Thanks for tackling this excellent, important but VERY difficult song! For each and every abused child, they are in a hell! And yes, that hell continues in to adulthood - repressed memories, trouble having or maintaining relationships, self-harm, and for some, the final escape...suicide! Pat Benetar took on this often stigmatized, hushed over, taboo subject head on - and while dealing with a supremely difficult subject matter, made it into an absolute banger of a song! I can't understand it either - how someone could hurt a child. I'm with you Dominika, I'm a pacifist, but I can't say I wouldn't harm a child predator (abuser physically or sexually) if locked in a room with them!!

[@larrywright6214]

Collin Raye has a song called "The 11th Commandment", which covers this subject. I've always loved this song by Pat Benatar, especially the live version....

[@ronniecarter2645]

Another great reaction. It's unfortunate that this even exists in our society. I thank God that we have artists like Pat B. to bring this awareness to this awful situation. HELL IS FOR HELL. period. Children give you unconditional love. It's our God given nature to love and protect them. They are a gift never to experience sadness or pain during that time. We all have to face this kind of tragedy from time to time as adults, but as children, they don't understand why the people who are supposed to care for them, are so angry and abusive. Love your children. Very powerful. Thank you.

[@DocGliss]

Beautiful reaction, as always. I felt the same way when this song first came out, and watching you brought it all back. If you ever choose to watch the official music video for Martina McBride's "Concrete Angel", brace yourselves. Get a box of tissues and maybe a glass of wine if you are so inclined. But brace yourselves. Love you both.

[@allengray5748]

Ok I'm 62 (in a couple weeks) and heard this song a lot and know the words but first time I soaked it in and some how reading the Lyrics made it that much more real and I actually teared up and of course watching you two struggle was another hit! A comment below mentioned the song WE BELONG!!! Beautiful ❤️ song, a must experience!! Good Job Albamites (?) Peace 🕊️☮️♾️😎

[@willfromyadkinville]

abuse is a horrible thing! i have been through it! i love this song!

[@tilemonkee5510]

You guys are quickly becoming my favorite Reactionistas! ❤❤I figured you would have something to say about this song.....really pulls at the heartstrings,eh?

[@bonkousmcnaughty4604]

First I would like to say you are a beautiful couple and love your reactions. Second - Pat Benetar is an amazing artist and you need to check out her catalogue. Thirdly, this song is so depressing but so real. Your views are spot on. It’s good to hear people like you talking sense and gives me hope for the world

[@2Cambourne]

Your husband is right. Children who are going through the abuse by their own parents are living (Hell) every day in their own homes. This is a worldwide problem that does not get enough attention even today. Thanks for commenting on a very disturbing and important topic. Luv you guys, Florida USA.

[@Ou81gi812]

🎉 You deserve a “feel good” song from 1975…Earth, Wind, and Fire’s “That’s the Way of the World.” It’ll soothe you and your feelings…I KNOW you will love it. Love you and your reactions!

[@gerib4234]

💯☝🏻

[@Rikkykins57]

This is such a difficult listen even though I know the song very well. Even at the age of 67 I vividly remember when growing up, a family in my street where the mother used to severely beat her son regularly. The cries of that poor boy haunt me to this day.

[@annheckenbach9396]

My father was a much loved Elementary School Principal. He beat the clothes off of me, and psychologically damaged my brother. Everybody knew, pretty much. He was ultimately sent to the other end of the county for his job, and life went on for those around us. So often, people know, but will not intervene.

[@mjtribby6328]

It is a hard song to hear. The truth is painful. It is shocking to know that this song is about a reality that should not exist. It is hard to put this tragedy into words.

[@paulhadfield7909]

this song means alot ot me, my childhood was full of violence,im ok now, ifd never hit a child, it really messes with your mind, yes the asking for forgiveness annoyed me the most, alot comes from alcoholism, i wasnt sad when my dad died,

[@blackwolf6082]

She sings it with such feeling that it is very piercing

[@therealcyber5]

It was a HUGE HIT in USA

[@Great-Documentaries]

I am so glad you two did this one. If you haven't done Luka by Suzanne Vega, please do. It is another take on this and quite different. 🧒♥

[@mrsnookdeb]

I think what the title of the song means is that children feel the pain that evil( hell) causes more than anyone else

[@Deborahtunes]

As a survivor of child abuse myself, trust me, it happens more often than people want to acknowledge. And yes, I had the black eye, bloody mouth, even knocked out teeth from my mother. Who till this day, won't admit what she did, much less apologize for. If not for family members, I wouldn't have survived what she did to me. Not to mention the "other" abuses I also went through. I have long forgiven her. But I will never trust her. Our relationship will always be jaded because of what she did...

[@kwirishman]

The guitar sounded angry!

[@stevepas1]

❤

[@Andres64B]

I love you guys, it's so obvious that you are good caring people! If you feel in the mood for another depressing but highly relevant and important song, You should check out: Runaway Train by Soul Asylum I remember when this song came out I was in high school. I was listening into it one day and my mom psed that it sounded like she was singing about child abuse. When I told her that she was, my mom seemed a bit surprised that a rock song cover something so deep. Pat received a lot of pushback for doing this song.

[@JoeHicks-ow4rm]

The biggest share of your reactions brings back happy memories for me but this really hits home for me as I came from a family where my father was an alcoholic and I wasn't physically abused but the things he did to my mother was terrible. Plus I had a sister who's husband was physically abusive to her and their children. Dominique I totally understand your anger because even though I was young when he was abusing them. It made me mad and sad that I was too young to help them. As you said I'm not into violence and I can't say here what I would like to do to people who abuse their children. All I will say I got some comfort in knowing that in the end my brother in law got what was coming to him and got what he deserved.

[@MerchantOfAlba]

Thank you for sharing. Much love to you 💚

[@JoeHicks-ow4rm]

@@MerchantOfAlba Thank you that means a lot to me.

[@fantasycamp4000]

People who don't know the song can come to the wrong conclusion. Hell as hell on earth is hell because your an innocent and ones that are supposed to only love you cause you harm.

[@sirmister4411]

These abused children are living in hell ! Great song and was misunderstood when it first came out. But she opened people’s eyes to the hidden hell for children

[@Echris21]

Hey, just wanted to say, there's a pretty egregious lyrical error at around 2:48. The lyric in the video is written as, "And you know that their little LIVES.." The correct lyric is, "And you know that their little lies can become such a mess." Much more powerful. Cheers, love you guys! EDIT: Their 2001 live performance of this track is better than the studio version! Check it out. kzbin.info/www/bejne/j3bJYWN9eJalorM

[@loriloucks3738]

😢

[@michaelmaguire9119]

Growing up in that kind of environment is a living Hell is what she is referring to

[@keithcarper8809]

Thank you for your reactions. ☮❤‍🩹🎶

[@Lisa-u7g8y]

The abuse ruined my life this song as well as pat benatar saved my life so

[@WooBino.]

Thanks guys. Walt

[@juliejohnston3431]

Korn has a song called "daddy". Very powerful and again shows that many children are victims.

[@markmurphy558]

If you really want to be upset about child abuse, listen to CONCRETE ANGEL by Martina McBride. It is not so angry as just plain sad, with maybe a little hope. I am warning you, it is brutal.

[@antoniocarlin5026]

They react to the song in the past.

[@juliejohnston3431]

@@antoniocarlin5026 thank you, hadn't seen it.

[@MerchantOfAlba]

We did react to Korn's song...very hard listen 😢

[@tonyperez3920]

I have absolutely no problem with the title of the song because I am one of the children

[@kirkhall2099]

Please do Ambrosia Holding on to yesterday

[@jamesvomsaal]

The shame is the abused become the abusers. Because that’s all they know about parenting and that cycle needs to be broken

[@michaelmaguire9119]

It's nice that she used her platform to be a voice and bring awareness of the mental and physical abuse that has shattered alot of children s lives . When a child has been around disfunction so long they think it's normal . It's not until they get older that they see it wasn't normal. Pat is definitely an ambassador for bringing this topic to light . Hopefully there will be tougher and stricter laws in the future to protect children from this kind of up bringing.

[@xJRx77]

I’m 65 years old and was raised in the 1960s, my mother was the one doing the hitting and my father doing the punishing as far as grounding. It was common back then and raising children. I didn’t transfer that onto my children I never laid a hand on either of them. But then again I raised good kids and didn’t have to

[@GS-xt8fu]

Pat made,so many great songs. There are many more. Try…Shadows of the night…play the video…wonderful

[@allisonlopez5089]

Another tough one to hear is Concrete Angel, Martina Mcbride. Have the tissues ready.

[@billpimentel-vm6cu]

Unfortunately this happens every day all over the world. God help them.

[@WILCIN8917]

love and pain become one in the same in the eyes of a wounded child. that is all they know. how to survive today. Pitiful way parents treat their children. When parents are supposed to make it better for their children. Like you two said. So sad.

[@Lisa-u7g8y]

I was as well redbum n it mwant so nuch to me

[@brucedillinger9448]

Bless you both for tackling this abhorrent topic.

[@Snakebite351]

Great reaction and yes, very tough subject. We hear horrifying stories all the time. Just terrible. There are also many kids going through a form of emotional abuse where they are being raised by parents that just don’t want anything to do with them. Please react to the song ‘For You’ by the band Staind (Vevo music video is the best). The lead singer wrote this from personal experience and I fear there are many kids/teens in this same situation. Thanks in advance.

[@Diecastclassicist]

Good one.

[@nathan.brazil780]

If you have trouble understanding how someone could abuse a child or their partner then that is a sign of a good person. People that have good moral character cannot truly understand how that can occur. Your confusion as to how they can do that is understandable as I have never been able to understand how someone can say they love someone and then harm them?

[@marcsailers534]

Powerful song. You should listen to Kaz Hawkins "Lipstick and Cocaine" another Powerful song

[@JohnBullard]

Shout out for the Rape Crisis Center therapists and counselors who hear these stories every day.

[@kylekerwin4993]

This song is dark matter filled with the harsh ugly truth of unfortunate reality of the innocence of helpless children. I would have a hard time within myself if I were to ever witness abuse in this situation. Composure goes out the window and I become unglued by this kind of unacceptable behavior. I stand for those who are unable to defend against such atrocities with no regrets.

[@jbjacobs9514]

To me, anyone who willfully hurts children, animals, older people - like what's wrong with that person and there is no punishment great enough. But then I am not someone who has a need to actually physically (or otherwise) hurt ANYONE unless in self-defense or in the defense of another. I am just not wired to understand this.

[@MerchantOfAlba]

The same here 😞

[@petersalerno4298]

Especially in today's world all over.

[@jimspears5423]

And because you need something much lighter after that - this is a Jan and Dean song, but this is a live version by the Beach Boys, with an extra verse. The Little Old Lady from Pasadena. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eam7d3iqZcyliNE

[@jimspears5423]

Since it doesn't have closed captioning, here are the lyrics. And a couple of explanations. 426 is cubic inches of the engine. That would be a 6.98 liter engine. And "she'll give 'em a length" means she lets them get a car length lead before she blows past them. It’s the little old lady from Pasadena It’s the little old lady from Pasadena (go granny, go granny, go granny go) Got a pretty little flower bed of white gardenias (go granny, go granny, go granny go) But parked in her rickety old garage Is a brand new shiny red super stock Dodge And everybody’s saying there’s nobody meaner Than the little old lady from Pasadena She drives real fast and she drives real hard She’s the terror of Colorado Boulevard It’s the little old lady from Pasadena You can see her on the street just getting’ her kicks now (go granny, go granny, go granny go) With her 4 speed stick and her 426 now (go granny, go granny, go granny go) She’s gonna get a ticket now sooner or later ‘Cause she can’t keep her foot off the accelerator And everybody’s saying there’s nobody meaner Than the little old lady from Pasadena She drives real fast and she drives real hard She’s the terror of Colorado Boulevard It’s the little old lady from Pasadena And everybody’s saying there’s nobody meaner Than the little old lady from Pasadena She drives real fast and she drives real hard She’s the terror of Colorado Boulevard It’s the little old lady from Pasadena If you see her on the street don’t try to choose her (go granny, go granny, go granny go) You may have a goer but you’ll never lose her (go granny, go granny, go granny go) The guys come to race her from miles around But she’ll give ‘em a length, then she’ll shut ‘em down And everybody’s saying there’s nobody meaner Than the little old lady from Pasadena She drives real fast and she drives real hard She’s the terror of Colorado Boulevard It’s the little old lady from Pasadena (go granny, go granny, go granny go) Granny go (go granny, go granny, go granny go) Granny go (go granny, go granny, go granny go) Granny go (go granny, go granny, go granny go) Granny go

[@markferrett700]

🥺😢

[@susannahfox7188]

Hurt people hurt people. Those that have suffered abuse and have not healed from their wounds will most likely pass it on to their children. Even the other parent who is aware, but says and does nothing is just as abusive as the parent that is acting out physically. This passive role (enabler) is also passed down from generation to generation.