Ryan plays guitar, piano, harmonica, and sings. At the young age of 14, in 2007, Ryan began to gig across Long Island. After 2.5 years he had played over 200 performances and completed a Florida tour, as well as two New England tours, titled "The Love Around the World Tour." Cassata performed at the world's biggest gay music festival, Pridefest Milwaukee, with other great musicians like Salt N' Pepa, Chris Crocker & LeAnne Rimes.
Ryan Cassata is the founder of Artemendous Records, LLC. and Artemendous Radio Station as he conducts broadcasts worldwide to help the local music scene grow stronger.
Ryan Cassata is the composer of the soundtrack for Loop Planes, an award-winning independent film that screened in the South by Southwest (SXSW) Film & Music Festival (2010), the Tribeca Film Festival (2010), the International Israel Women's Film Festival (with The Runaways) (2010), and 15 other film festivals.
Ryan Cassata appeared on The Larry King Live Show (2009) and the Tyra Banks Show (2010) for being transgender himself. Aside from being a musician, Cassata is a strong advocate for the transgender community. He travels the states speaking at high schools, colleges, and conferences, sharing his story with a mission to stop ignorance and bring peace to the world. Cassata appeared in Hamptons Bay Magazine (2008), Go Magazine (2008), and Closer Magazine (2011) for his hard work and advocacy. He also appeared in Bay Shore High School's "Maroon Echo" three times for his advocacy along with his musical achievements. In 2011, Ryan Cassata won the first Harvey Milk Memorial Award for the new path of equality he had created at his high school.
Ryan Cassata writes very passionate lyrics. His words are positive and inspirational to today's generation. Cassata hopes to spread this positivity across the country and around the world in hopes to make people smile and catch on to kindness.
Ryan Cassata is doing much more than the average teen. He demands change, he demands revolution, and...he demands PEACE.
Recently, Ryan Cassata was selected to be one of the keynote speakers for the biggest transgender conference in the United States, the Philadelphia Trans-Health conference. Ryan is the youngest speaker the conference has ever had.
Hands of Hate
Ryan Cassata Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He was filled with glory until hates gun
And he cried at that fence
Like a scarecrow, afraid
As those boys beat him dry
With the hands of hate
And Lawrence King never saw 9th grade
By a bully, a madman
A classmate of rage
Just at 15, young Larry
Was sent to his grave
And we join together in the arms of faith
Can we join together and learn not to hate?
And we join together in the arms of faith
Can we join together and be one human race
Our friend Tyler was forced off of a bridge
After his roommates filmed and outed him
Making love to another
The same sex as him
And the only sin that God saw
Was the roommates killing him
Poor old Jamey always smiled and thrived
But as the slurs went on, he couldn’t stay alive
And he took his own life
On a cold september night
And the bullies admitted
That they wanted him to die
And we join together in the arms of faith
Can we join together and learn not to hate?
And we join together in the arms of faith
Can we join together and be one human race
Did you think about how his mama would cry?
When she was forced with goodbye?
Did you think about his papa when he died?
How will they survive?
And we join together in the arms of faith
Can we join together and learn not to hate?
And we join together in the arms of faith
Can we join together and be one human race
In "Hands of Hate," Ryan Cassata addresses the issue of hate crimes and the consequences of prejudice and bigotry. The song references several real-life cases of hate crimes against LGBTQ+ individuals. The first verse refers to the murder of Matthew Shepard, a gay college student who was brutally beaten and left to die in a rural area in Wyoming in 1998. Lawrence King, a 15-year-old openly gay student, was shot and killed by a classmate in 2008 in California. Tyler Clementi, a college student, committed suicide by jumping off the George Washington Bridge after he was outed by his roommates in 2010. Jamey Rodemeyer, a 14-year-old bisexual student, also committed suicide in 2011 after years of bullying and online harassment.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the importance of coming together to combat hate and discrimination. Cassata calls for unity and encourages listeners to reject hate and prejudice in order to create a world where everyone can coexist peacefully, regardless of their differences. The lyrics are emotional and powerful, as Cassata captures the pain and grief felt by the victims and their loved ones.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, Misses Shepard I heard about your son
The singer is addressing Mrs. Shepard, and letting her know that they are aware of the tragic loss of her son.
He was filled with glory until hates gun
The son was a respected and successful individual until he was killed due to hatred and discrimination.
And he cried at that fence
The son experienced fear and helplessness before his attackers, and was emotionally impacted by the incident.
Like a scarecrow, afraid
The son was terrified and felt overwhelmed, like a helpless scarecrow in a field of danger.
As those boys beat him dry
The attackers used violence and aggression until the son was seriously injured and helpless.
With the hands of hate
The attackers acted out of hatred and bigotry, using their physical strength to hurt and injure the victim.
And Lawrence King never saw 9th grade
Lawrence King was a young student who never got to experience high school due to a hate crime that claimed his life.
Before that bullet was forced into his brain
Lawrence's life was ended suddenly and tragically due to the hateful act of another individual.
Just at 15, young Larry
Lawrence King was only 15 years old when he was killed, making his loss all the more tragic.
Was sent to his grave
The young student's life was ended prematurely, and he was buried in the earth before ever getting the chance to live a full one.
And we join together in the arms of faith
The singer is calling for people to come together and find solace and support through their shared faith.
Can we join together and learn not to hate?
The singer is asking people to rise above their hatred and bigotry, and find ways to coexist with those who are different from themselves.
Our friend Tyler was forced off of a bridge
Tyler Clementi was pushed to the brink by his homophobic roommates who violated his privacy and outed him, eventually leading to his tragic end.
After his roommates filmed and outed him
Tyler's roommates invaded his privacy, and used his private life against him as a tool for public humiliation.
Making love to another
The singer is pointing out that love is love, and Tyler's love for another person is no different than anyone else's love for their partner.
The same sex as him
Tyler's love for another man was not a valid reason to see him suffer, and he should not have been targeted for being gay.
And the only sin that God saw
The only sin in Tyler's story was the sin of his roommates, who exploited his identity and used it to harm him.
Was the roommates killing him
The singer is reflecting on the injustice of Tyler's death, and the responsibility that lies with his oppressors.
Poor old Jamey always smiled and thrived
Jamey Rodemeyer was a bright and upbeat young person who always brought joy to those around him.
But as the slurs went on, he couldn’t stay alive
Jamey experienced constant bullying and insults, eventually leading to a state of emotional turmoil that made him feel hopeless and unable to cope.
And he took his own life
The pain and torment that Jamey experienced was so overwhelming that he felt the need to take his own life to escape it.
On a cold september night
Jamey's tragic end occurred on a bleak and lonely night in September, marking the end of his young life.
And the bullies admitted
Jamey's bullies acknowledged that they were responsible for his torment, but it was too little, too late to change the outcome.
That they wanted him to die
The admission by Jamey's bullies shows that they had no remorse for their actions and were ultimately responsible for his tragic and untimely end.
Did you think about how his mama would cry?
The singer is reminding people that the loss of a loved one has a ripple effect, and is asking them to consider the pain and suffering caused by hateful and violent acts.
When she was forced with goodbye?
The singer is reflecting on the finality of death, and the way it forces those who are left behind to say goodbye to their loved ones forever.
Did you think about his papa when he died?
The singer is asking people to consider the impact that loss has on surviving family members, and to think about the parents who are left behind to mourn their child.
How will they survive?
The loss of a child is a devastating experience that can leave parents feeling broken and alone, and the singer is asking people to think about the pain and suffering this can cause.
Can we join together and be one human race
The singer is calling for unity and solidarity, and is seeking an end to division and hatred in all its forms.
Contributed by Jason A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Bang Der
Oh, Sra. Shepard escuché de su hijo
estaba lleno de Gloria hasta odiar las armas,
y lloró en aquel cerco, como un espantapájaros, temeroso de aquellos chicos que lo golpearon hasta matarlo con las manos llenas de odio.
y Lawrence King nunca llegó a 9° grado
antes una bala se instaló en su cerebro
por un abusivo, un loco.
Un compañero de clase furioso
justo a los 15 años, pobre Larry
fue enviado a la tumba.
Estribillo
Y nos unimos en las armas de la fé
podemos unirnos y aprender a no odiar
y nos unimos en las amas de la fé
podemos unirnos y ser una única raza humana.
Nuestro amigo Tyler fue forzado a tirarse de un Puente
luego de que sus compañeros de cuarto lo filmaran y lo echaran
por hacer el amor con alguien, de su mismo sexo
y el único pecado a los ojos de Dios fue el de sus compañeros de cuarto matándolo.
El pobrecito Jamey siempre sonriente y comenzando a prosperar
a medida que las calumnias crecieron, no pudo vivir más
y se quitó la vida una fria noche de septiembre
y los abusivos admitieron que querían verlo muerto.
Estrlbillo
pensaste como lo lloraría su mama cuándo fue forzada a decirle adios?
pensaste en su padre cuándo murió?
cómo sobrevivirán?
Estribillo
Sasha Ray
He came to talk at my school and sang this for us! I loved it even though it's so sad it's very powerful
Jinx cospay
@Sasha Ray oh it’s ok
Sasha Ray
@Jinx cospay sorry dude :(
Jinx cospay
If only he came to my district but since I’m homeschooled i couldn’t see him plus my town is rlly homophobic
ErenLee
I wish he could sing at my school. My best friend, Kai, would really need this being that he lives in a Christian household and his dad doesn't support that he's trans. He also have bad depression.
zebra
LUCKYY
Ward West
This gave me chills..
R.I.P. Boys. And. Girls. Who died at the hands of hate.
Sadie Kate
the entire world needs to hear this.
DJ
Then let’s stop discussing and start spreading it
•Stone •
Exactly, if people know what happens, then they will see what happens, and maybe there will be more after precautions added