Hell Is For Children by Pat Benatar

Album: Crimes Of Passion (1980)

License This Song

lyrics

artistfacts

Songfacts®:

Benatar wrote this song with her guitarist (and future husband) Neil Giraldo, and her bass player Roger Capps. The song is about child abuse. When we spoke with Giraldo, he explained: "That song was inspired by an article that Patricia read in the New York Times about child abuse. That started the lyric off, and the lyric went from her to Roger. Roger added a few lines to that. And then some form of the melody started being constructed. I got a hold of it and I finished writing the melody and I worked on the chorus, and I did the outro section to build it up, because I wanted the whole song to be very sad as the beginning. I wanted to make it intense so you could really feel the pain of what the song was about. So by the time it ended, you've got to be exhausted. And that was the point. 'Hell is for hell,' like a very powerful moment." (Here's our full interview with Neil Giraldo.)
In an interview with Portfolio Weekly, Benatar explained: "I was living in New York when we wrote it and the New York Times did a series of articles about child abuse in America. I came from a really small town on Long Island and I had no idea that this existed, not in the little gingerbread place I came from. I was stunned. It affected me so much. I was moved by the articles. Whenever that would happen I would write. I said to Neil, 'I want you to do something to the music that it sounds like pain. I want the intense pain that's happening to these children in the notes,' and so he did and it turned out just great. It became an anthem. I always wonder if other people have lofty intentions. I didn't.

We started a foundation for abused children. Then we had all these grownups writing letters saying no one had addressed this in this way before and that it was so great having someone in rock-n-roll doing this. It turned into this other thing that I don't think any of us foresaw. The anguish is there. Every time I sing it I really remember the afternoon when we talked about it."
Many listeners thought Benatar was singing about her own experience with child abuse, but that was far from true. Neil Giraldo told us: "Everybody thought that it was real. They thought that Patricia was abused as a child, which wasn't the case. She had a great upbringing. You couldn't get more Happy Days-like than her. She had the perfect Happy Days life. There was other abuse happening in my family, but it was a different type of thing, more verbal, but not physical like the song depicts.

I'm glad it turned out the way it did. It's one of my favorite songs that we wrote, and it really has a very powerful effect on people. And it's great to play, it's great to sing, great to hear, great to feel."
On the Crimes Of Passion album, this follows "Hit Me With Your Best Shot," a song whose writer, Eddie Schwartz, told us is about empowerment, not masochism or abuse.

Comments: 18

Steel from Nw OhioMy mom used to sing/scream this song at me as a child, it never felt hateful because I knew I was a handful!! So after having children I used to think of this song and play it occasionally. Never knew the true meaning of the song until now and I still prefer to think that hell truly is for children, because they are a pain in the butt!!!
Shelly from 47904All growing up and now I'm in my early 50s, I always thought you meant that literally hell was for children and so I refused to listen to this song. Well, I finally decided to look up what this song meant and boy was I surprised!! I never got that message from this song. Sorry Pat and fellow writers. I must be a slooow listener to some lyrics. Again, I'm very sorry about the mix up. Love your music though.
Gary Samuel Besner from Casa Grande, ArizonaI was a just becoming a teenager when Crimes of Passion was released and I was obsessed with this song; I would literally play over and over - so much so that I am surprised that my mother didn't throw my stereo out the window. I wasn't ever abused, and didn't know anyone who was, but every time that I heard the lyrics " Be a good little boy, and you'll get a new toy - tell Grandma you feel off the swing", it had an incredible emotional effect on me, and the lyrics are so strong and visually descriptive, that even at 15 years old, I was able to feel a profound and deep emotional sorrow and sadness of the thought of any child being abused, probably have been exposed to the subject matter on television shows and after school movies I would often watch. And today as an adult, I think I remember a public service ad also on television where the song was used to expose the sadistic horrors that our animal companions often endure - even now the images of starving and beaten dogs and cats are flashing through my mind. In my opinion "Hell is For Children", like Elton John's song "Indian Sunset" document and bring to light tragic truths about our world's horrible violence, often inexcusable dismissal and neglect of the undeniable fact that crime, hatred, disease, mental illness, abuse, waste, insanity, and pointless and foolish wars are blatant indications that our governments, systems, priorities, values, greed. and juvenile and often senseless ambitions are decaying the planet, our balance and wellness and the future of tomorrows generations. To anyone in the future reading this and in my opinion watching us undetected, you may look back and even be confused by the fact that many of these very serious, prophetic and important songs thrill and excite us as listeners, possibly thinking that we are cold heartless monsters, and that the artists who wrote them were profiting on issues that should have been handled with extreme sensitivity, but nothing is further from the truth - songwriters like Pat Benatar often choose controversial, violent and grotesque human issues, and marry them to their powerful voices and music with the hope that thier life's works will reach the very depths of the hearts, minds and souls of their listeners - whom in turn may be choose purposes that inspire great change, and use their love, compassion and understanding to repair the wrongs of yesterday, and bring love, peace, security and freedom from everyone and everything that has been poisoned, murdered and raped by these pointless abuses. I often skipped classes in high school and should have read all of the classic books to enlighten and educate me on my journey of becoming a writer, but I didn't; however, I was raised on record albums and always made sure to not only listen to the music, but to read the liner notes and the lyrics, making Rock & Roll, Alternative, New Wave, Progressive Rock, Film Scores and Soundtracks my greatest teachers. "Hell is for Children" was one of those teachers, and songs that would send chills up and down my soul, and the tragic truth and pain of it's subject matter, I am certain was part of my hearts foundation, and taught me never to be afraid to hurt, and cry. If god/g-d exists, I often sense and feel something in our music, and so many talented artist works that exceeds explanation, and touches on our deepest and most beautiful pains. Thank you Pat Benatar, and your band for a song that I am sure has educated and elevated millions of young open minds. If you find what I wrote verbal diareah, bloated and too wordy - I implore you to listen to the song, and watch the Public Service announcements with abused children, adults, animals, people's, countries destroyed by war&violence, oceans, landscapes, etc., and I am hoping, that if you are a human being, or some form of intelligent life that your perspective and understanding will be forever changed. I am honestly only trying to share my deepest feelings, and the beautiful and innocent undertanding and feeling I, and most of have as children that somehow fades and diminishes as life, at least in my case, abuses us. GarySamuelBesner
Soal from CalifI dont believe her
Geoff from Brighton New Zealand Awesome song more people need to stand up
Mattshizzle from MattgoWhen I was little I thought she was evil saying hell was for kids to be in, but later knew what she meant.
Lilly from DelawareI lived this hell and this song for me at 61 years old continues to be an outlet for my pain.
Courtney from MichiganI believe and hope that Pat doesn't sing this song to be mean, It's just that she was against child abuse, right?
Sandy from Oxnard, CaThis song is like a great song. Oh and Joshua I 2nd your comment.
Dusty from St. Louis, MoLiquid Len does have a point. They do have similar ranges. But I don't think this sounds like a Rush song. Rush songs sound fuller. This song sounds like it has something missing. And another reason is that Rush are better musicians.
Pat from St. Paul, MnI find it ironic that after "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" was a big hit for Pat Benatar, her next hit was this song. Somehow the two songs have opposing messages, even if "Hit Me" was not meant literally.
Cyberpope from Richmond, CanadaThis song, with "Cat's in the Cradle" defined my constant-in-childhood feelings of emptiness and fear
James from Riverside, CaThe band Thrash Band Viking did a cover of this
Anne from Dodge City, KsYou are awesome in Boulder!! I am crying I am laughing so hard!!
Liquid Len from Ottawa, CanadaLike Rush? Um, no. But now that I think about it, Pat Benetar and Geddy Lee have similar ranges and styles. Imagine Pat singing 'Spirit of Radio' or Geddy singing 'Hit Me With Your Best Shot'. I kind of think Pat Benetar has a better voice (not as yelpy!), but Rush have the edge on songs.
I'm Awesome from Boulder, Cothis song got scary after i once saw my mom singing along to this....
Jim from Dayton, OhNo disrespect, but I have a real hard time drawing a correlation between "Hell Is For Children" and ANYTHING on "Permenant Waves" other than there were guitars, bass and drums used.
Joshua from Twin Cities, MnThis sounds almost like a Rush song. Except for the lyrics, it sounds like it would have been right at home on Rush's "Permanent Waves" album which came out the same year.

see more comments

More Songfacts:

This LoveMaroon 5

Adam Levine of Maroon 5 made it obvious who their song "This Love" was about when he named the album "Songs About Jane."

TemptedSqueeze

The Squeeze song "Tempted" is one of their few with lead vocals by Paul Carrack, who sang the Ace song "How Long" and was in Mike + The Mechanics.

We Are The WorldUSA for Africa

The actor Dan Aykroyd sang on "We Are The World." LaToya Jackson did too, so we know they weren't all that picky.

AnticipationCarly Simon

Carly Simon wrote "Anticipation" when Cat Stevens was late for their first date. She was "anticipating" his arrival and set down with her guitar to calm her nerves.