The song “Society’s Child” was composed by Janis Ian and recorded in the year 1965. Janis was living in a community full of black Americans. She started composing the song when she was 13 years and finished it when she was 14. She composed the song following the decision by a white couple to prevent their daughter from dating a black man.
The main theme of the song is the issue of interracial romance. It is about a girl who witnesses the humiliation her boyfriend receives from her mother. The girl’s mother does not call the man by his name; instead, she calls him “boy” (Oldielyrics.com). The mother rejects the man because he was a black American and the daughter was from a white family. The pressure from the society made the mother advice the daughter to end the relationship because the parents would not endure it. Even the teachers, who were mainly regarded as the preachers of equality, would also interfere with that relationship as they saw it as something that was against the society. The persona in the song says that it will come a time when she will stop listening to the voice of the people.
The reason for protesting against the issue of the racism was the effects it had on the society (Mitchell 143). The parents of white daughters and sons were worried that their children would date people of a different color. Although the white children and black children went to the same schools, they were not allowed to date each other. White parents that allowed their daughters to date the black Americans faced a lot of discrimination, especially from the other white parents.
The second line “Face is clean and shining black as night” is an indication that the man talked about in the song was a black American (Oldielyrics.com). The statement, “But honey, he’s not our kind” (Oldielyrics.com) depicts the voice of a mother who does not want the girl to date a man that is not their kind. That is an indication that the white people did not allow black people in their homes because of the racial differences. The next line that states, “Why don’t you stick to your own kind” (Oldielyrics.com). It portrays that the pressure from the society, which facilitated racism in a great way. The society did not allow a white daughter to date a black man; instead, it expected everyone to date from their race. The song also indicates that some people were annoyed by the way the society was, and they were hoping that there would be change in one day. The composer says, “One of these days I’m gonna stop my listening” (Oldielyrics.com). That is an indication that the composer was willing to see a change in the society. He hoped that there would be no discrimination based on the racial differences (Oldielyrics.com).
The song is effective in delivering its message. The composer has indicated the humiliation and discrimination that the man felt because of his race. The 1960’s was a period that was characterized by a lot of discrimination. It was during this period that civil rights movements came up in a bid to fight all forms of discrimination that were prevailing in the society.
In conclusion, the song “Society’s Child” outlines the image of the society at that time. Young men and women were expected to date partners from their races. It was a taboo for a white girl to date a black man. White parents did not to allow their daughters to date black men. Teachers in school also promoted the racism in the society, as they encouraged the students to date from their own races. However, the composer of the song had the feeling that the society would change one day, though she was not certain when that would happen.
Works Cited
Mitchell, Gillian. The North American Folk Music Revival: Nation and Identity in the United
States and Canada, 1945-1980. Aldershot, England: Ashgate, 2007. Internet resource.143
Oldielyrics.com. "JANIS IAN Lyrics - Society's Child". Oldielyrics.com. N.p., 2016. Web. 6
Apr. 2016.
