"Alyssa Lies" and the many other cases that go unreported

Sarah High

Professor Thomas

SEGL 101

November 2, 2012

“”Alyssa Lies” and the Many Other Cases That Go Unreported”

            In the year 2006, when nationwide child abuse was on the rise, country artist Jason Michael Carroll wrote a very heart touching song, “Alyssa Lies.”  Jason struggled for over a year to get this song completed.  He battled whether he should write it or not.  His friend had written a poem on child abuse which triggered his first response to write this song.  The following day he saw a news report of a case on child abuse ending in death. (Tucker) In his heart, he knew that God was telling him this song needed to be written, but his mind just couldn’t grasp the words that needed to be on the paper. 

            As the narrator, Jason Michael Carroll uses strong storytelling and very touching language to unfold a secret that his daughter’s friend Alyssa is keeping.  By repeating the verse, “she lies to cover every bruise” listeners of this song know that Alyssa was abused at home.  Not only does he do this with the words he chose but also by the tone in his voice.  He puts an abundant amount of emotion within the song.  When you listen to the song you can hear his hurt, almost like you are living his life with him.  When he first sings, “I had the worst night of sleep in years as I tried to find a way to calm her fears,” you can understand his pain for not only his daughter’s feelings but for Alyssa.    

            The song begins with his daughter meeting a new friend at school on the playground.  He makes it evident that his daughter is upset with the verse, “But she came home with tear-filled eyes, and she said to me ‘Daddy, Alyssa lies.’” (Azlyrics)  The father doesn’t think much about the situation, but his daughter continues saying “Alyssa lies to the classroom, Alyssa lies every day at school, Alyssa lies to the teachers, as she tries to cover every bruise.” (Azlyrics) Jason Michael Carroll continues in the song with him hearing his daughter praying for him, her mother and Alyssa.  His daughter prays to God about Alyssa, “I know she needs you bad.”  The father loses sleep that night because all he could think about was his daughter’s friend.  He knew that he had to do something to help.  Come Monday morning when he brought his daughter to school everyone was upset, and she kept asking him why.  He goes on to tell his daughter, “Alyssa wouldn't be at school today, cause she doesn't lie in the classroom, she doesn't lie anymore at school, Alyssa lies with Jesus, because there's nothin' anyone would do.”  (Azlyrics) Although Jason Michael Carroll doesn’t come right out and say it, he uses powerful and heartbreaking alludes to the fact that Alyssa was abused and beaten to death. 

            He constructed this song to not directly say it, but uses strong descriptions for the audience to believe it so this would be a more powerful song.  He wants his listeners to understand how heartbreaking child abuse is without giving details of this little girl’s life at home.  e waThroughout the song he repeats the verse, “Alyssa Lies” for it to literally mean that she lies to cover up her situation.  But towards the end of the song the exact words change their definition.  They change to, “Alyssa lies with Jesus because there is nothing anyone would do.”  He uses allusions to show that Alyssa dies.  When he changes the meaning of those words, he paints a clear picture as to how big of a problem child abuse is.  So many cases are just like Alyssa’s and go unnoticed until it is too late. 

            I have found that there have been many cases just like Alyssa’s that could have been prevented.   The year “Alyssa Lies” was recorded there were 1,530 reported fatal child abuse cases.  Many times the Child Protective Services were not contacted by the schools or neighbors, or the protective services only minimally looked into the situation just to leave the child in the home.  Out of 20 million cases reported to authorities yearly, about one-third of these cases were reported as abuse.  Most of the cases that weren’t standing during the first report wound up getting reported back to authorities. (“Every Child Matters”)     

             Each state has individual laws for child abuse.  Because of this many children like Alyssa have been left in their abusive homes.  But according to the Federal Government on the website “Every Child Matters,”

                        “Fatal child abuse may involve repeated abuse over a period of time (e.g.,                                    battered child syndrome), or it may involve a single, impulsive incident(e.g., drowning, suffocating, or shaking a baby).  In cases of fatal neglect, the child’s death results not from anything the caregiver does, but from a caregiver’s failure to act.  The neglect may be chronic (e.g., extended malnourishment) or acute (e.g., an infant who drowns after being left unsupervised in the bathtub).”

Although we don’t know the kind of life that Alyssa had to live on a daily basis, we can only imagine the horrible things she went through.  She had bruises on her that she worked so hard to cover up, which Jason Michael Carroll clearly states.  She obviously suffered from child battered syndrome.  If only Alyssa’s new friend would have come along a little sooner, maybe her life would have been saved.

            There are many factors in a person’s life that may lead up to abusing a child.  This song really makes you think about Alyssa’s situation.  Was she living in major poverty?  Or did her mother or father suffer from severe depression?  Maybe Alyssa was abused because her parents didn’t know how else to parent because that is the way they were raised.   A parent might start abusing the child because of frustration, overly disciplining, lack of bond, or because that’s the way they think life is supposed to go. (Marika) 

            Alyssa was showing signs that abuse had taken place at home.  The biggest thing she had was repeated unexplainable bruising that she hid from everyone around her.  Children may also become withdrawn from people around them, start wetting the bed, become angry towards others, school performance may decrease, and may find excuses to stay as long as possible at school. (Phillip)  When Jason Michael Carroll sings the first verse, “My little girl met a new friend just the other day, on the playground at school between the tires and the swings,” (Azlyrics) makes Alyssa seem like she was being withdrawn from her classmates, like she was sitting between the two watching the others play.  So many red flags were there, but just like many other children Alyssa’s abuse went unnoticed.

            I found a very heart touching case that happened In March of 2007.  A four year old girl Summer was brought into the hospital by her father and pronounced dead.  The little girl was subjected to severe child abuse after moving in with her father and his girlfriend.  She was punished with a shock collar, severe beatings, and her head would be dunked under water for not obeying.  When she arrived at the hospital almost 100% of her body was covered in bruises.  An autopsy was done and showed that her cause of death was Pneumonia and internal bleeding. (KXLY) 

            On August 21, 2002 a twelve year old boy from North Carolina was found dead on his bedroom floor.  Investigation shows that his father, who is a registered sex offender, and his step mother tortured him for the four months he was living with them.  The boy had lost over thirty-five pounds because he was kept from eating.  The step-mother kept a written journal of the boy’s behavior for the father.  He would punish the boy according to what the step-mother said he did.  The boy was beaten with a belt and whips, hit with a golf club, and chained to his bed at night.  A neighbor had heard the boy, but failed to give detailed information to the authorities.  Because the proper steps to protect this child were not taken, he died from several wounds including a bleeding brain and a torn kidney. (Coronado)

            Both of these children were a real life “Alyssa” and there are many more subjected to fatal abuse that can be prevented.  The father took time to think about what he should do just like any other person would, but the harsh reality is not every child has extra time for you to think.  But because of Jason Michael Carroll writing this song many children heard it in time and came forward to their teachers at school about abuse happening at home.  Because of his powerful writing skills and strong emotional vocals he touched many hearts and saved lives.  If child protection was a priority, there would be fewer children like “Alyssa” in the song, “Alyssa Lies.”  Children wouldn’t have to lie to their classmates and teachers, or try to cover every bruise.  Less would end up lying with Jesus, because there was nothing anyone would do.  

 

             

             

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                  

 

 

Works Cited

Azlyrics. “Alyssa Lies" lyrics." JASON MICHAEL CARROLL LYRICS. 01 Nov. 2012

Coronado, Ramon. "Man Found Guilty of Beating Son to Death." Weblog post. Chris Cejas         Memorial. 25 Mar. 2007. 21 Oct. 2012

Every Child Matters. Rep. no. 2nd Edition. Every Child Matters Fund, Sept. 2010. Web. 19 Oct.             2012.

Marika, Kauppi.  Anne, Leena. Vanamo, Tuija. Karkola, Kari. Merikanto, Juhani.  “Fatal Child     Abuse: a study of 13 cases of continuous abuse.”  Mental Illness 2036-7457 (2012):  Vol.       4. Issue1.  p5-9.  Academic Search Complete. Web. 17 Oct. 2012

KXLY. "Prosecution Reveals New Evidence in Child Abuse Case." You Tube. 04 Nov. 2008.      Web. 21 Oct. 2012.

Phillips, Noelle. "Advocates, Politicians Renew Stand against Child Abuse in SC." South Carolina Network of Children's Advocacy Centers. "The State", 24 May 2012. Web. 20   Oct. 2012.

Tucker, Ken.  “Country Style Touches Tear Ducts.” Billboard 00062510 (2/3/2007). Vol. 119.      Issue 5. Academic Search Complete.  Web. 15 Oct. 2012