Scarecrow (song)

"Scarecrow" is a song by American singer-songwriter Melissa Etheridge from her sixth studio album Breakdown (1999). It was released as a single from the album in 1999, by Island Records. Etheridge is credited as the sole writer of the song, while production was helmed by Etheridge and John Shanks. The song is dedicated in memory of Matthew Shepard.

"Scarecrow"
Single by Melissa Etheridge
from the album Breakdown
Released1999 (1999)
StudioSunset Sound (Hollywood)
GenreRock
Length5:21
LabelIsland
Songwriter(s)Melissa Etheridge
Producer(s)
Melissa Etheridge singles chronology
"Angels Would Fall"
(1999)		 "Scarecrow"
(1999)		 "Enough of Me"
(2000)

Content

This ballad tells the story of the kidnapping, torture, and homicide of 21-year-old University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard, motivated by anti-gay sentiment.[1][2] The image of a scarecrow was chosen because the bicyclist who found Matthew Shepard, tied to a fence, first thought that he was a scarecrow. The song criticizes hypocritical and deprecatory attitudes towards gay people in media and society.

Composition

According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by Alfred Publishing, the song is written in the key of C major[3] and is set in time signature of common time with a tempo of 88 beats per minute.[3] Etheridge's vocal range spans one octave, from G4 to A5.[3]

Background

Etheridge was actually supposed to write a theme song for the US women's soccer team when the news about Matthew Shepard reached the headlines. In her autobiography The Truth Is... she tells that it was "Like somebody just dropped a huge brick in her kitchen" as she realized that being a big gay rock star did not help her changing the world. This led her to supporting some of her friends including Ellen DeGeneres who organized a trip to the Denver hospital. Etheridge also states that Shepherd's death made her especially sad since he looked like a gay friend of hers in high school which made her "cry uncontrollably".

Credits and personnel

Credits and personnel are adapted from the Breakdown album liner notes.[4]

Literature
  • Melissa Etheridge and Laura Morton: The truth is...', Random House 2002

References
  1. ABC News-New Details Emerge in Matthew Shepard Murder
  2. Lewis, Randy (9 December 1999). "Etheridge Battles the Monsters of Society". The Los Angeles Times. p. 233. Retrieved April 30, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. Etheridge, Melissa. "Scarecrow". Musicnotes.com. Retrieved December 14, 2022.
  4. Breakdown (Vinyl liner notes). Melissa Etheridge. Island Records. 1999. 314-546 591-0.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
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