He

Per Jars of Clay...

He: (Child abuse, A child's cry)

Ps. 56:3-4, 8-13, Ps. 103:13, Isa. 40:27-31, Matt. 18:5-14, Eph. 6:4, Rev. 7-17

What is the song "He" about?

From the October 1995 issue of CCM Magazine:

"He", from the group's debut album, is based on the book "Death by Child Abuse: the Story of Ursula Sunshine", and a portion of the proceeds from the EP will be donated to The Child Abuse Prevention Center/Exchange Club Family Center of Middle Tennessee. Says lead singer/songwriter Dan Haseltine, "The book really opened my eyes to the shocking reality of child abuse, but in the song we didn't just want to stop there. We wanted to show the hope and healing of Christ."

this song is about child abuse...and the struggle to feel cared about during hard times. and how God is always there for you no matter what, even when things seem hopeless

i love the end:

"A teardrop falls from up in the heavens Drowning the sorrow of angels on high For the least of the helpless, the hopeless, the loveless My Jesus, His children, He holds in His eyes"

because it talks about how God is hurting with the child, because he has to watch his children being tortured. And how he still loves them more than ever and is always there to give comfort and hope.

the very end, which was left out in the lyrics above goes:

"he loves you, he sees you, he knows you, protects you, he needs you, he holds you, he loves you, he sees you, he knows you, protects you, he needs you, he holds you, he loves you, he sees you, he knows you, protects you, he needs you, he holds you, he loves you, he sees you, he knows you, protects you, he needs you, he holds you, he loves you, he sees you, he knows you, protects you..."

this is an awesome part because it shows how much Jesus loves us and how well he knows us and wants us in his arms. Then the song just fades out as these words are still being sung, because his love for us is everlasting and unconditional and he continues to love us forever, so to just stop saying it would be saying that his love ends, which it doesn't. (but obviously we can't sing it forever because we have to have a life, but to God we ARE his life and he never stops thinking about us!! amazing)

Though this song embodies a child abuse theme, it is also reflective of the abuse we feel as children of God. We often get frustrated with the expectations God holds up to us: "Well I try to make you proud, but for crying out loud - just give me a chance to hide away." Sometimes we just want to escape the all-seeing eye, as just or necessary it all seems.

That is a possible interpretation, but in the rest of the song, when they start talking to someone, "daddy dont you love me? well why do you hurt me?" i'm pretty sure they're speaking for a child who is being abused, and not for us as christians talking to God.

Good views so far, this song is very powerful as well as musically brilliant...does anyone know if any of the members of Jars of Clay are singng about a personal experience in this song? There is a good song called "Getting Through To Her" by 311 that is like a secular version of this song about child sexual abuse except the viewpoint is from someone else and not the child...both songs are beautiful yet sad at the same time.

This song has some significance for me, but I do not intend to dwell on the dark side of life. I really love how he turns a negative into a positive by calling on Jesus and having faith in God. Great song!

This is the best song on the album! It is pure and inspired...and beautiful It is about child abuse

another child abuse song that comes to mind: My name is Luka, from the eighties. By Suzanne Vega