Fear of Hope
This process of writing was the first of its kind within the R.E.A.L. Music Program. The story and song were created by the R.E.A.L. students for the intended purpose of addressing deep seated emotional issues that cause us to make negative decisions.
The Mental Health Supervisor at Avenal spoke to the R.E.A.L. class and delivered an intense speech about cause and effect. One of his topics regarded the concept of decisions.
His comment that effected the class the most was, "it takes three seconds to make a bad decision that can effect the rest of your life and your family and friends lives as well."
The Mental Health Supervisor at Avenal spoke to the R.E.A.L. class and delivered an intense speech about cause and effect. One of his topics regarded the concept of decisions.
His comment that effected the class the most was, "it takes three seconds to make a bad decision that can effect the rest of your life and your family and friends lives as well."
This comment really hit home with all the individuals in the R.E.A.L. class and they decided to create a story that reflected that thought.
The class threw around ideas of what could be an impact on the listening audience. They arrived at a story of a family of three who was having trouble making ends meet.
The father was especially stressed as his house was about to be repossessed by the bank and his family would be facing homelessness. He was not a criminal but had resorted to stealing a car to pay his bills. Someone reported the theft and the police caught up to him and a chase ensued. He almost got away but an innocent bystander drove into his path and a fiery crash was the result.
The R.E.A.L. class had decided that the injured victim of the crash would be someone who impacted his own family. The school teacher of his daughter "Hope" was the plan. The teachers injuries would keep her out of work for a couple weeks and Hope's studies would suffer. The Twist: After two weeks of the R.E.A.L. class writing the story and lyrics, the facilitator threw a wrench in the story. He decided to deepen the story's meaning by having Hope (the daughter) be the driver of the car that got hit and her injuries would be serious. This idea was met with significant discomfort and disagreement by the class.
After living with the story for a couple of weeks the class became connected to the characters and felt that they were the fathers to Hope. So her being hurt was bad enough but the fact that the father (themselves) was responsible for her severe injuries was unbearable.
The facilitator of R.E.A.L. thought this was good therapy (After all, deep emotions were now present in the songwriting process). The Mental Health Supervisor did not share this sentiment and suggested careful actions moving forward with this type of personal connection to creating the story. His views were that more trauma could be caused with the writers if careful steps weren't taken.
This was a tremendous lesson and a deep emotional challenge for the real class. Our Supervisor’s knowledge and influence was greatly appreciated.
Thank you to our Mental Health Supervisor at Avenal.
The class threw around ideas of what could be an impact on the listening audience. They arrived at a story of a family of three who was having trouble making ends meet.
The father was especially stressed as his house was about to be repossessed by the bank and his family would be facing homelessness. He was not a criminal but had resorted to stealing a car to pay his bills. Someone reported the theft and the police caught up to him and a chase ensued. He almost got away but an innocent bystander drove into his path and a fiery crash was the result.
The R.E.A.L. class had decided that the injured victim of the crash would be someone who impacted his own family. The school teacher of his daughter "Hope" was the plan. The teachers injuries would keep her out of work for a couple weeks and Hope's studies would suffer. The Twist: After two weeks of the R.E.A.L. class writing the story and lyrics, the facilitator threw a wrench in the story. He decided to deepen the story's meaning by having Hope (the daughter) be the driver of the car that got hit and her injuries would be serious. This idea was met with significant discomfort and disagreement by the class.
After living with the story for a couple of weeks the class became connected to the characters and felt that they were the fathers to Hope. So her being hurt was bad enough but the fact that the father (themselves) was responsible for her severe injuries was unbearable.
The facilitator of R.E.A.L. thought this was good therapy (After all, deep emotions were now present in the songwriting process). The Mental Health Supervisor did not share this sentiment and suggested careful actions moving forward with this type of personal connection to creating the story. His views were that more trauma could be caused with the writers if careful steps weren't taken.
This was a tremendous lesson and a deep emotional challenge for the real class. Our Supervisor’s knowledge and influence was greatly appreciated.
Thank you to our Mental Health Supervisor at Avenal.
Fear of Hope. By: the R.E.A.L. Music Program class, 2024.
Verse 1I was outta hope and dyin, consumed by my own past.All my choices led to failure, my hope was fading fast.Don't know what to do, got bills that I can't pay.Gonna steal a car, gotta find a way.
Verse 2In my review mirror, I see the flashing lights.My heart is full of fear, I'm racing through the night.Tearing through those city streets, I couldn't stop the car in time.Glass, blood and broken bones, I fled the scene of my crime.
ChorusNo matter how loud the thunderThe storm never lasts. (Its OK to be broken)Don't be afraid of hopeYou are not your past. (Don't ever stop hoping)No matter how loud the thunderThe storm never lasts. (Its OK to be broken)Don't be afraid of hopeYou are not your past.
BridgeI walk in the door and my wife's on the floorCrying into her phone.Where have you been we've gotta go!Hope's in a coma, she was hit coming home.
Sitting by her bedside when she opens her eyes.I could see the shock fear and surprise, she said:"Daddy I saw you from above the car - you ran away!Don't you love me anymore?"
Verse 3Later that year I was talkin with my cell mate.In the depths of despair, I was going through hell.The one thing I wanted, that scared me the most.The truth of his words cut through my soul.
Verse 4For all the regrets, that's caused me so much pain.Its on this day, I'll be free from my shame.Then came that day, when she walked in.My sweet little "Hope" embraced me again.
ChorusNo matter how loud the thunderThe Storm never lasts. (Its OK to be broken)Don't be afraid of hopeYou are more than your past. (Don't ever stop hoping)No matter how loud the thunderThe storm never lasts. (Its OK to be broken)
Verse 1I was outta hope and dyin, consumed by my own past.All my choices led to failure, my hope was fading fast.Don't know what to do, got bills that I can't pay.Gonna steal a car, gotta find a way.
Verse 2In my review mirror, I see the flashing lights.My heart is full of fear, I'm racing through the night.Tearing through those city streets, I couldn't stop the car in time.Glass, blood and broken bones, I fled the scene of my crime.
ChorusNo matter how loud the thunderThe storm never lasts. (Its OK to be broken)Don't be afraid of hopeYou are not your past. (Don't ever stop hoping)No matter how loud the thunderThe storm never lasts. (Its OK to be broken)Don't be afraid of hopeYou are not your past.
BridgeI walk in the door and my wife's on the floorCrying into her phone.Where have you been we've gotta go!Hope's in a coma, she was hit coming home.
Sitting by her bedside when she opens her eyes.I could see the shock fear and surprise, she said:"Daddy I saw you from above the car - you ran away!Don't you love me anymore?"
Verse 3Later that year I was talkin with my cell mate.In the depths of despair, I was going through hell.The one thing I wanted, that scared me the most.The truth of his words cut through my soul.
Verse 4For all the regrets, that's caused me so much pain.Its on this day, I'll be free from my shame.Then came that day, when she walked in.My sweet little "Hope" embraced me again.
ChorusNo matter how loud the thunderThe Storm never lasts. (Its OK to be broken)Don't be afraid of hopeYou are more than your past. (Don't ever stop hoping)No matter how loud the thunderThe storm never lasts. (Its OK to be broken)