cAUGHT IN THE CROWD BY kATE MILLER-HEIDKE
There was a guy at my school when I was in high school
We'd ride side by side in the morning on our bicycles Never even spoken or faced each other But on the last hill we'd race each other When we reached the racks we'd each go our own way I wasn't in his classes, I didn't know his name When we finally got to speak he just stared at his feet And mumbled a sentence that ended with 'James' I was young and caught in the crowd I didn't know then what I know now I was dumb, and I was proud And I'm sorry If I could go back do it again I'd be someone you could call friend Please, please believe that I'm sorry Well he was quite a big guy, kinda shy and quiet When the kids called him weird he didn't try to deny it Every lunchtime he'd spend walking by himself Round the boundary of the grounds til he heard the bell Well one day I found him, joined him on his walk We were silent for a while until we started to talk I told him my family were fighting in court He said his step-dad and him always fought We talked about music, he was into punk Told me all the bands that I liked were junk I said I'd never heard the songs the sex pistols sang I laughed back at him and then the bell rang I was young and caught in the crowd I didn't know then what I know now I was dumb, and I was proud And I'm sorry If I could go back do it again I'd be someone you could call friend Please, please believe that I'm sorry It was after school in the afternoon The corridors were crowded as we came out of the rooms Three guys I knew pushed him into the cement Threw away his bag and said he had no friends He yelled that he did and he looked around Tried getting up but they pushed him on down That's when he saw me, called out my name And I turned my back, and just walked away Yeah I turned my back, and just walked away I was young and caught in the crowd I didn't know then what I know now I was dumb, and I was proud And I'm sorry If I could go back do it again I'd be someone you could call friend Please, please believe that I'm sorry Please, please believe that I'm sorry BACKGROUND:
The composer of this poem is an Australian born singer called Kate Miller-Heidke. The poem is written based on the perspective of a passerby. Kate herself was bullied since pre-school. EXPLANATION/OPINION: The poem is about friendship, bullying, regret and not wanting to stand out in the crowd. The main character felt deep regret for betraying her friend, when he needed her the most. The writer was 'caught in the crowd' as suggested by the title. She wanted to be accepted by following the norm. The poem reflects on the events before the act of regret was committed. It mentions that the events in high school. As the composer reflected on the events in the chorus, she admitted that she was ignorant and 'proud' because she wanted to stay a part of the crowd. An apology is placed at the end of the chorus to portray how sorry the writer felt about what had happened. The writer stated 'three guys I knew pushed him down", this can be identified as the actions of cowards because it is not fair to have three people against one. The phrase following the statement also portrays the act of physical intimidation. I think the poem is interesting and unique because it is in the view of a passerby rather than the actual victim. The poems is also very descriptive and provides very clear imagery of the passerby's surroundings. THEMES: Bullying Acceptance Youth POETIC TECHNIQUES: Repetition Imagery Rhyme Scheme |
POETRY ANALYSISThere was a guy at my school when I was in high school
high school is years 7 through to 12. We'd ride side by side in the morning on our bicycles Sign of friendship or compatibility Never even spoken or faced each other Timid, embarrassed, anti-social and shy. But on the last hill we'd race each other Positive tone, connection and intuition. When we reached the racks we'd each go our own way Separation in school. I wasn't in his classes, I didn't know his name Friendship is not strong, mutual. When we finally got to speak he just stared at his feet Shyness, embarrassment and lack of confidence And mumbled a sentence that ended with 'James' I was young and caught in the crowd Finding identity, friendship is especially important for youth. I didn't know then what I know now I was dumb, and I was proud Silly, ignorant and being part of the crowd. And I'm sorry If I could go back do it again Regret. I'd be someone you could call friend Please, please believe that I'm sorry Apology. (Repetition) Well he was quite a big guy, kinda shy and quiet Descriptive language. When the kids called him weird he didn't try to deny it Acceptance. Every lunchtime he'd spend walking by himself Sign of loneliness. Round the boundary of the grounds til he heard the bell Well one day I found him, joined him on his walk Bonding. We were silent for a while until we started to talk Friendship grows. I told him my family were fighting in court Personal information, sign of trust. He said his step-dad and him always fought Personal information, sign of trust. We talked about music, he was into punk Searching for common interest. Told me all the bands that I liked were junk Junk meaning mainstream music. I said I'd never heard the songs the sex pistols sang I laughed back at him and then the bell rang Laughter is a sign of friendship. I was young and caught in the crowd I didn't know then what I know now I was dumb, and I was proud And I'm sorry If I could go back do it again I'd be someone you could call friend Please, please believe that I'm sorry (Repetition) It was after school in the afternoon The corridors were crowded as we came out of the rooms Three guys I knew pushed him into the cement Cowardly and unfair form for bullying. Threw away his bag and said he had no friends Physical bullying and intimidation. He yelled that he did and he looked around yelled he had friends and tried looking for maybe his only friend. Tried getting up but they pushed him on down He tried to get up but the bullies didn't let him. That's when he saw me, called out my name And I turned my back, and just walked away Leaving him and betraying him. (Repetition) Yeah I turned my back, and just walked away Ignoring his call for help (Repetition) I was young and caught in the crowd I didn't know then what I know now Standing up to bully. I was dumb, and I was proud And I'm sorry If I could go back do it again I'd be someone you could call friend Please, please believe that I'm sorry(Repetition) Please, please believe that I'm sorry(Repetition) |