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The short reading passages in this section are intended to provide opportunities for practicing reading skills, including fluency and comprehension, while addressing important issues with students in a fun and meaningful way. As you will notice, all of these passages are songs, thus differing from the types of reading selections students typically encounter in the classroom. Using songs in the classroom piques student interest in the activity, stimulates student expression and interpretation, and accommodates audio learners.
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The lyrics of popular songs make interesting language texts for use in the classroom. They can be treated as texts for comprehension, for linguistic analysis, or for literary analysis. As texts, songs are interesting because most do not follow the structural patterns of normal writing. Often their structure is closer to speech. They are great for practicing pronunciation as well.
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The chart below provides suggestions for song activities dealing with the topic of gun violence. Click on the highlighted song titles to access a link to a classroom activity.
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For more information on using Songs in the Classroom, check out resources and articles available from
Musicians United for Songs in the Classroom, Inc.
Song Title |
Artists |
Themes |
Notes and Cautions |
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| Little Weapon | Lupe Fiasco |
Youth violence Access to weapons Video game violence Local-Global Connections |
Use introductory stanzas and chorus specifically, possible use in film, 2 swear words | |||||||||
| Something is Wrong | David Banner et al. |
Derrion Albert violence Hip Hop/rap influence |
Chorus specifically, possible use in film, mentions rape, “hell” | |||||||||
| Jeremy | Pearl Jam | Bullies School Shootings Root causes: family |
Swearing: F-word once in middle of song | |||||||||
| Happiness is a Warm Gun | The Beatles (covers by The Breeders, Tori Amos, Across the Universe soundtrack) |
Motivations: Power and Respect | Can be interpreted sexually and as a reference to drugs | |||||||||
| I Don’t Like Mondays | Boomtown Rats | School Shootings Root causes: Raises questions—Senseless nature |
Long, repetitive choruses | |||||||||
| I’m Gonna Get Me a | Cat Stevens | Bullying | short song | |||||||||
| Janie’s Got a Gun | Aerosmith | Root causes | Difficult material: parent-child sexual abuse | |||||||||
| Love is a Good Thing | Sheryl Crow | Access to weapons Taking a stand: Voice |
“I’ve got a message” can be used as cue to talk about Student Voices Contest | |||||||||
| Saturday Night Special | Lynyrd Skynyrd | Access to weapons Senseless killings |
References to nudity, alcohol, gambling | |||||||||
| So Long | Everlast | Access to weapons Parental involvement Root causes Bullying School Shootings Youth Violence |
Violent language and imagery | |||||||||
| Youth of the Nation | P.O.D. | Bullying School shootings Root causes Sense and Blame Youth Violence Suicide Consequences: Victims |
long song | |||||||||
| 18 and Life | Skid Row | Root causes Consequences: perpetrators |
Short song | |||||||||
| Keep ‘em Separated | The Offspring | Access to weapons Youth Violence Consequences Root Causes |
Reference to gangs | |||||||||
| Gun Control | Ian Hunter | Satirical Critique of Gun Rights, NRA 2nd Amendment |
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| Guns-R-Us | Accept | Access to weapons 2nd Amendment Gun Industry |
Uses the phrase “son of a bitch” near end of song so may want to stop early | |||||||||
| I Don’t Like Mondays |
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| I’m Gonna Get Me a |
