10000 Maniacs: What's the Matter Here? Meaning

Song Released: 1988

What's the Matter Here? Lyrics

That young boy without a name I’d know his face.
In this city the kid’s my favorite.
I’ve seen him. I see him every day.
Seen him run outside looking for a place to hide from his father,
The kid half naked and said to myself o, what’s the...

1. kooljohn176

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   Feb 3rd 2016 !⃝

   What's The Matter Here? is a great song sung by the talented NATALIE MERCHANT playing with the ''10000 MANIACS'' out of ''IN MY TRIBE'' album about ''HOLDING BACK OUR ANGER'' to the awareness and sometimes witnessing child abuse, with painful feelings in the way some fathers and mothers use their parenting roles on their children that seems very abusive and neglectful. Where some parents and people may believe is ''tough love'' or ''don't spare the rod and belt attitude'' of upbringing. But when it crosses the line by our understanding about how to love and discipline our children, could unfortunately in the long run leave to many mental and emotional scars on the child phyche and ours if we ever realize to take responsibility for our actions done.
2. anonymous

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   May 28th 2011 !⃝

   It's about a woman who knows that a child is being abused by his parents. She wants to confront them and stop the abuse but she doesn't feel that she is powerful enough to make a difference. She feels helpless because the child is theirs and most other people wouldn't support her efforts. They hide behind excuses and this becomes an excuse for her not to do anything. You can infer that the message is that if one person makes a stand, this will lead to more people doing the same, but if everyone waits for everyone else then the situation never changes.
3. anonymous

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   Jul 2nd 2006 !⃝

   It's about a woman who knows her neighbors are abusing their small son but although she is disgusted by it and does not approve, still she won't step in and get involved.
4. username

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   Sep 4th 2005 !⃝

   This song is about a woman who notices her next door neighbor's son was being abused "seen him run outside, looking for a place to hide from his father...the kid half naked said to myself... what's the matter here?" at first she just says "he's their kid I stay out of it..." but as the song builds she gets more involved and at the end sort of confronts the boy's parents.

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