Hell Is For Children
Pat Benatar Lyrics

They cry in the dark
Children cry in the dark to avoid being seen, but they're still in pain.

So you can't see their tears
They don't want to be seen as vulnerable, they don't want to be judged, that's why they hide their tears.

They hide in the light
Children sometimes hide their pain and fears because they don't want to be a burden or inconvenience to others.

So you can't see their fears
They also hide their fears out of shame, trying to maintain an idealized image of themselves.

Forgive and forget
People often want you to forget about the bad thing that happened to you so you can forgive the person who wronged you.

All the while
While this is happening,

Love and pain become one and the same
The love that a child should feel towards their caretaker is twisted and entangled with the pain and abuse they receive from them, this can lead to confusion and a distorted view of love.

In the eyes of a wounded child
The child can perceive the abuse and the abuser differently from how an adult would, they're more vulnerable and impressionable.

Because hell, hell is for children
Children don't deserve to be abused, they don't deserve to suffer, yet they do, because it's easier for an abuser to target someone vulnerable and innocent.

And you know that their little lives can become such a mess
The effects of abuse can be long-lasting and pervasive, it can affect a child's self-esteem, development, and future endeavors.

You shouldn't have to pay for your love
Love should be freely given and received, it should not come with conditions, even if they are your relatives.

With your bones and your flesh
The price of the love that some children are forced to pay is too high, it can cause physical, emotional, and psychological damage.

It's all so confusing this brutal abusing
Abuse can be confusing for children, they can become desensitized to it, they can believe that it's normal, or they can think that they deserve it.

They blacken your eyes and then apologize
Abusers use gifts, praise, or remorse as a way to manipulate and control their victims, they create an unhealthy cycle of abuse and reconcilement.

Be daddy's good girl, and don't tell mommy a thing
Children can be forced to keep secrets, to comply with their abusers, or to not trust their loved ones. This can create internal conflicts and can lessen the chances of finding help or support.

Be a good little boy, and you'll get a new toy
Children can also be bribed, rewarded or threatened as a means of controlling them, this can further their confusion and their sense of worthlessness.

Tell grandma you fell from the swing
Children may have to lie or to keep up a facade to protect themselves or their abuser.

Hell, hell is for hell
This repetition of hell emphasizes the intensity and severity of the situation, it makes it clear that children should not have to go through this.

Hell is for children
Again, this reinforces the idea that this kind of abuse is intolerable and inhumane, it's a way to call attention to this issue and to raise awareness.