Room 4A.6 Playlist

1.    Bad Reputation – Joan Jett

An' I don't really care if you think I'm strange

I ain't gonna change

An' I'm never gonna care 'bout my bad reputation

This song is a great representation of Patti Smith in Just Kids. Joan Jett and Patti Smith, both independent women, share no need to fall under society norms. Patti Smith throughout discovering herself as an artist remains true to herself, which is what this song is all about.

2.    Temporary Home –Carrie Underwood

This is my temporary home, it's not where I belong

Windows and rooms that I'm passing through

This is just a stop on the way to where I'm going

I'm not afraid because I know

This is my temporary home

Baby, in Lullabies for Little Criminals, moves from one apartment to another all throughout the book. This song brings common hope that there will one day be a place to permanently call home. Hopefully for Baby Riviere du Loup with her father’s cousin is the home she never had.

3.    Take Your Mam – Scissor Sisters

This song was written by one of the band members, who is gay, and highlights the struggles of living in a conservative environment and coming clean about their sexuality to their mom. Robert in Just Kids has identical struggles with his sexual orientation. 

4.    Ugly – Sugababes

People are all the same


And we only get judged by what we do


Personality reflects name


And if I’m ugly then


So are you

The lyrics bring a good message across that we are all equal no matter how we look and to except people for what’s on the inside and not on the outside. This is a common message that Emma Watson brings in her UN speech.

5.    Field of Innocence – Evanscence

I still remember the world

From the eyes of a child

Slowly those feelings

Were clouded by what I know now

Where has my heart gone

An uneven trade for the real world

Oh I... I want to go back to

Believing in everything and knowing nothing at all

There comes a time in Lullabies for Little Criminals where Baby’s perception of the world changes from a child-like innocent one to a more darker cruel one. She envies her past, a time before the drugs, sex and abuse. “Field of Innocence” captures those frustrations and desires in the lyrics.

6.    Lean on Me – Bill Withers

Lean on me when you're not strong

And I'll be your friend, I'll help you carry on

For it won't be long

'Til I'm gonna need somebody to lean on

Throughout Just Kids, the importance of friendship is indisputable. Patti and Robert have a special bond like no other and rely on each other for support while discovering who they are. As this song depicts, it goes a long way being there for someone, no matter the distance or time.

7.    I Hope you dance – Lee Ann Womack

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance,

Never settle for the path of least resistance

Livin' might mean takin' chances but they're worth takin',

Lovin' might be a mistake but it's worth makin',

Don't let some hell bent heart leave you bitter,

When you come close to sellin' out reconsider,

Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance,

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.

I hope you dance

This song is a great representation of Roberts influence on Patti throughout Just Kids. He always encouraged her to step out of her boundaries in order to pursue her passions. Without his cheers for her to reach for “those mountains in the distance,” would she be the artist she became?

8.    In the Year 2525 – Zager and Evans

In the year 5555

Your arms hangin' limp at your sides

Your legs got nothin' to do

Some machine's doin' that for you

Now it's been ten thousand years, man has cried a billion tears

For what, he never knew, now man's reign is through

But through eternal night, the twinkling of starlight

So very far away, maybe it's only yesterday

Chris Ware’s illustration Halloween points out the empowerment of technology in our lives. While the world is happening, we are too busy looking at our screens. This song sees the influence of technology and puts into question what more influence will these machines have on us hundreds and thousands of years from now.

9.    You don’t own me – Lesley Goe

I don't tell you what to say

Oh-h-h-h don't tell you what to do

So just let me be myself

That's all I ask of you

In “The Husband’s Prologue to a domestic instruction manual” a 15 year old girl goes through the coming of age process at the pace of her much older husband’s wants. We never really hear the girl’s perspective of the relationship but one wonders if her thoughts are like those in the lyrics.

10. You’ve Got to Stand Up For Something – Aaron Tippin

He never was a hero, or this county's shinin' light

But you could always find him standing up

For what he thought was right

He'd say you've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything

You've got to be your own man not a puppet on a string

Never compromise what's right and uphold your family name

You've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything

Sammy in “A&P” quits his job all in the act of standing up for what he believes is right. This is the type of act this song praises. Both the story and song bring a different definition of what it means to be a man.