Because Jeremy did A bunch of us kids didn't
die Now 30 odd years ago
The outcry was fierce Trying to pull this video
Which in turn ensured Every kid saw it
Heard about it, Knew about Vedder
Some of us were told it was evil
But can't think of any kid my age of 11
Who didn't know about Jeremy
And I think it probably saved quite a few kids
From grabbing the gun and losing their own life
Their future and every good thing
ever said about them
I know it helped save mine

In my opinion talking about support
Empathy and compassion for everyone
Including white boys is particularly important
Cause we knew back in 1991
white boys Shoot it up
Kill selves and others
Back then we talked about the Jeremys

Now it's a political war between state employees
And parents with kids caught consistent in crossfire
Now it's football for politics

Now my kid is a Jeremy, he gets made fun of
He gets stomped on and we had to work
Real hard on his reflexes
So he stopped getting kicked in the balls
Over and over beat down in school
That'll do something terrible to a kid
So I try and keep everything at home safe
We only talk about surviving things
Never about getting even
I tell him, leave that to God
As He's got a special place
And it isn't in heaven with Him

And while we are on this earth
Getting mocked taunted and bullied
I keep remembering all the Jeremys
And just how terrible people can be
And how early that starts for kids
with funny names and weird haircuts

These kids are speaking but
No one is listening and helping
Instead of informing police what they need to know they formalize cover ups and keep jobs
Seems they'd like you to believe a kid named Crumbley was supported in killing by his parents
Who look pretty terrible too
Meanwhile if no one asks?
Did this kid get made fun of? Was he a Jeremy? When did that facet of this sadness get entirely lost?

It's almost like they want us
All against each other always
Never seeing how much money they make
on dead kids same week we get more names
I mourn those beautiful children
and I worry for my own

I want to see something different
I pray you consider what it means
30 years after Jeremy
To still regularly discuss school shootings
Perhaps, just a thought?
We might start talking about the Jeremys

Per usual I insist we can do more than 1 thing
We can grieve, and leave God His Vengeance
While we enact firm rules for bullying
And reports of all violence at school
And stop leaving life altering decisions
In the hands of teachers and admins who
definitely don't get paid enough for that too

Mental Health Intervention
Pastoral Support
Community engagement
Give parents help and support
So maybe they know if their kid is a concern
In part because all these dead athletes
Made jokes under their breath
Never knowing that was a last straw

And they say, you can't know
Meanwhile studies show bullying as critical
Easier to pinpoint and target but you know
Since shorties and weirdos don't matter
That's who's been bringing knives/guns to school
That's who is losing their futures
And taking them from kids too

Again seems pretty simple
You work the problem
or the problem is you And your kids school
I know at mine? I filed all the complaints
And tagged local media before Informing
The school of my intent to Call the police
if my child was Once again harmed
I asked my son, did you know it's against the law
to hit someone? And he said, no!

Almost like we need law enforcement in classes
As teachers and instructors
Keeping our kids safer from violence
And teaching them daily, bit different than
Just a resource officer, I'm recommending
An update to Arnold's Kindergarten Cop
But for all ages and like maybe
We'll bring some things together
Out here in this country called America
Just one vision but I felt called to share it
Listening to Jeremy and thinking about
all These Jeremys

My kid knows I was a Jeremy once
I think it helps knowing I got kicked
Spit on, or that bullies broke 3 different bones
It helps knowing that no one ever hits me now
Because he knows thats what he deserves
Even if he and too many other kids don't
Always get such safety in school

He knows that I take my pain
And I write it down and sometimes
Sing it aloud, and that my words have
Taken me from stage to stage
He knows some day this life will be different for him

If only we worked harder
to give every kid The same hope
Might be many less Jeremys

And just one more line
For my old friend Jeremy
Who saw me teased and
Wasn’t having that happen to him
Brought himself a whole rifle
To Middle school
And no one got hurt by Gods grace
And Jeremy still lives I hope and pray
Let there be no more reasons
Kids feel they need guns
And poof what do you know
No more shootings in school

Up to you tho
Keep only talking about guns
And maybe it’s your kid or someone
You once knew who ends up a Jeremy

#songsinthekeyofx