Metaphoric lyrics as a bridge to the adolescent's world

This paper discusses the use of rock music lyrics to help hard-to-reach adolescents communicate feelings about their roles in society and their own development. The rationale underlying the method is that if adolescents can feel accepted and be engaged through means that are familiar and pleasureful, they can learn to trust and ventilate feelings. Through guided discussion about familiar lyrics and the issues they evoke, adolescents begin to offer their opinions, listen to others' ideas, and learn to disagree without being aggressive. They begin to discuss ways to gain control over their lives and learn the advantages of becoming disciplined participants in society. They begin to consider and learn alternatives for coping with daily pressures rather than falling victim to a rock idol's solution, which is frequently withdrawal from society or aggression toward it. They begin to communicate.