Uncovering Jennifer Love Hewitt's "Barenaked"
When was the last time you felt vulnerable or exposed? Jennifer Love Hewitt's new hit "Barenaked" has more meaning to it than a provocative cover and a great sound - It speaks to real life issues like recovering from a bad day and being able to speak your mind.
The other day I was listening to the radio and heard a song by Jennifer Love Hewitt, who is new to the Pop Charts with her first hit, Barenaked. Upon hearing it, I was very impressed with the lyrics and not just its catchy sound. The words are very clear, so it is easy to understand the message. The lyrics speak of real life issues and concerns. This song definitely caught my interest!
Caught "Naked"
There are some days when life is just not what you had planned. I know I have had days when I couldn't do or say anything right. Barenaked seems to describe some of my worst days. It is as if some of my innermost thoughts and feelings exist within the song.
The expression "caught naked" is commonly used, and it isn't referring to anything sexual. Rather, it refers to being fully exposed. Exposed in the sense of your thoughts and feelings - and all of your weaknesses - being made public for the world to see.
Did you ever feel so deep that you speak your mind?
You put others straight to sleep
You wonder if anybody cares
One
of the ways in which we make ourselves vulnerable is when we express our
thoughts and feeling to other people. Expressing our opinion can put us
in an uncomfortable situation, and there are days when our opinion is
not received very well. How does it feel when you are serious about something,
but others don't take you seriously? 
I Should've Stayed In Bed
You ever go downstairs to start your day
But your car's not there
Yeah, the joke's on you
While many of us haven't had our cars stolen, we can still understand how it must feel. Perhaps there is something you valued that was lost, stolen, or destroyed. It certainly isn't funny to you. You feel violated and vulnerable. When something like this happens, it takes quite a while to get over it.
It's all a state of mind
But I don't mind trying to find a way
To keep my head above the mess I make
Or what the world creates
Often our lives are a place of struggle. This is caused by the decisions we make or the decisions that other people make that affect us. Sometimes life can be so difficult that simply surviving is the most we can do.
Not being able to deal with suffering can truly harm us. If we don't
learn how to cope with suffering it will catch up with us one day. The
truth is we can't always hide from the reality of our bad days. Let's
face it - life is not perfect.
Where Can I Hide?
And I know it's hard to hold it inside
It's days like these I run and hide
Where is it that we run and hide? That is the big question in this song. Jennifer doesn't provide an answer, though - she leaves it up to the listener.
Jesus, on the other hand, was very specific about how Christians are to answer this question. How did Jesus say we should hide away from the difficulties of life?
"Come to me, all of you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light." (Matthew 11: 28-30)
The truth is that we have never been promised life without suffering.
What we have been promised is that, for those of us who believe,
there will be something waiting for us after the suffering. The
promise is that it will change. That at some point things will get better
- either in this life or the next.
The Church On Suffering
The Catholic Church teaches that these three experiences - suffering, death (the end of suffering), and new life (Resurrection) - are all part of one process. The Church calls it the Paschal Mystery. This cycle of suffering, death, and resurrection flows and moves throughout the various parts of our lives.
Suffering in this world is something we cannot escape. It is our faith that helps us to get over the obstacle of suffering. It is our faith that leads us beyond suffering to something better - to Resurrection.
Perhaps Jennifer should add a verse to Barenaked - something that
speaks about the fact that the suffering will eventually end, making way
for something new. After all, that's one of the things that Jesus promised.
Life Applications:
When was a time that you felt vulnerable, exposed, or "caught naked"?
Think of a day when you probably should've stayed in bed. How did you
deal with it?
How do you hide from problems? What should you do differently?
By Dcn. Jim Corder
About FAITHteen
| FAITH Magazine
| Links and Resources
| Sign up for FAITHteen
| In the Know with
Fr. Joe
The Real Word
| Personality
Quiz | Spiritual
Fitness | What's
Up with That? | Bethany
House |
Priesthood
& Vocations | Saint
of the Month | Welcome
Message from Bishop Mengeling | Contact
Us
Diocese of Lansing
| ParishWebmaster.com