Hot social issues are not lacking in the inspiration that musicians have.
Rock music in particular, is full of such songs, many of which are “punch in the stomach” of society.
However, the videos that accompany such songs are few!
And even less is what contributes (in some way) to reduce a social issue.
Soul Asylum belongs to the second category.
The video that accompanies their song “Runaway Train” highlights one of the most important social issues.
The creation of the band’s lead singer Dave Pirner is on their fourth album, “Grave Dancers Union” (1993).
The song, as well as the album, is by far their most successful creation.
Runaway Train
The song talks about children and teenagers, running away from home and then they disappear.
A phenomenon with huge dimensions, mainly in the USA.
But what launched it to the top is the video that accompanies the song, directed by Tony Kaye (American History X).
It highlights child abuse, the main cause of young people fleeing the family home.
Photos of missing children are displayed during the video, as well as ways to contact the relevant services.
Photos as well as communication methods varied by region, as did the statistics.
Although the promotion and success of the song helped many children to return to their families, there were many who did not have a happy ending.
A girl was forced to return to her troubled family environment.
When she even met guitarist Dan Murphy, she told him that he “ruined her life“.
Another girl did not disappear, she just hid in the garden of her house to escape the abuse.
In 2006, two children pictured in the English version of the video were found dead.
However, the positive aspects were much more.
Today, when we celebrate Universal Children’s Day, we must not forget that the innocent souls of children are destroyed by our own choices …
Children are the future and the future is us!
Do not destroy the innocent souls of our children…