The Song: Fight Song by Rachel Platten
Main Point: Whether or not we can overcome struggles in life greatly depends upon where we draw our strength. We’ll do much better if we rely on God instead of relying on ourselves.
Vital Info Before You Get Started: The following info should help you contextualize this very popular song so you can have a great discussion about it with your kids.
- IMPORTANT NOTE TO PARENTS: We at The Source for Youth Ministry believe that certain elements in our youth culture can serve as good discussion jump starters with students. At the same time, we would never hope to introduce teens to a negative influence that they haven’t already encountered. This balance is a delicate one. In our experience most teens, churched and unchurched, keep pretty current with music and music videos like this one. Thanks to YouTube, MTV.com, and iTunes, the most popular music videos and songs are free to access only a click away. If you decide to use this, do so by catering it to fit your family’s needs.
- Rachel Platten is an American singer and song writer. The incredibly talented and attractive artist is in her mid 30s and has been working on her voice and music since she was 5 years old. Though she’s been performing since 2003, she’s best known for her latest single Fight Song, which was released in mid 2015.
- Fight Song is about Platten’s uphill battle to make it as a recording artist. In fact, the music video shows her friendless and wandering, playing vacant gigs, and worrying about her future. But she claims that she has a “lot of fight” left in her and that she will be OK in the end. True enough, by the end of the video, she seems to have undergone a complete transformation: successful, popular, happy, confident, etc.
- This song, and its accompanying music video, will give your family the perfect opportunity to discuss the difference between relying on ourselves and relying on God.
- Don’t appear as if you have a “canned” discussion in your head and rattle off questions like a teacher giving a pop quiz—your kids get enough of that in school. This is a guide, primarily—not a verbatim script. Just familiarize yourself with the content here and start a conversation in the most natural, unforced way you know how.
Introducing the Song:
You guys have probably heard Fight Song by Rachel Platten…even if you don’t know who she is. She’s not as iconic as Katy Perry or Taylor Swift, but this pop star has an interesting tune being played on radio stations, TV channels like Disney and Nick, and in gyms all over the place. It’s an uplifting song about facing struggles and finding strength. But I want us to compare the source of her strength (according to the song) to the source of our strength (according to the Bible). But first, let’s watch her music video.
The Video Clip:
The music video can be found at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xo1VInw-SKc
Song Lyric:
Like a small boat
On the ocean
Sending big waves
Into motion
Like how a single word
Can make a heart open
I might only have one match
But I can make an explosion
And all those things I didn’t say
Wrecking balls inside my brain
I will scream them loud tonight
Can you hear my voice this time?
This is my fight song
Take back my life song
Prove I’m alright song
My power’s turned on
Starting right now I’ll be strong
I’ll play my fight song
And I don’t really care if nobody else believes
‘Cause I’ve still got a lot of fight left in me
Losing friends and I’m chasing sleep
Everybody’s worried about me
In too deep
Say I’m in too deep (in too deep)
And it’s been two years
I miss my home
But there’s a fire burning in my bones
Still believe
Yeah, I still believe
And all those things I didn’t say
Wrecking balls inside my brain
I will scream them loud tonight
Can you hear my voice this time?
This is my fight song
Take back my life song
Prove I’m alright song
My power’s turned on
Starting right now I’ll be strong
I’ll play my fight song
And I don’t really care if nobody else believes
‘Cause I’ve still got a lot of fight left in me
A lot of fight left in me
Like a small boat
On the ocean
Sending big waves
Into motion
Like how a single word
Can make a heart open
I might only have one match
But I can make an explosion
This is my fight song (Hey!)
Take back my life song (Hey!)
Prove I’m alright song (Hey!)
My power’s turned on
Starting right now I’ll be strong (I’ll be strong)
I’ll play my fight song
And I don’t really care if nobody else believes
‘Cause I’ve still got a lot of fight left in me
No I’ve still got a lot of fight left in me
Three Simple Questions (with Answers You May Be Looking for):
Q: According to the video and lyrics, where was Rachel drawing her strength from? How do you know?
A: She was definitely drawing upon her own strength. She talked about having fight left in her and taking her life back and showing everyone that she was alright.
Q: In the song, Rachel sings about small things making a big impact, for example, a boat making waves or a match starting an explosion. Do you really think it’s possible for one person to make a big difference?
A: Absolutely! A huge ship is steered by a tiny rudder. A huge plane is controlled by small lifters built into the wings. So, yes, even though we may be one person – even a small, or young, or unpopular person – we can still make big changes that are positive.
Q: Rachel’ song was all about overcoming struggles in life. What role does God play…if He plays a role at all?
A: God’s Word tells us that He is our strength. He is the source of our strength, not ourselves. God’s Word also tells us that there are problems in life – for example, our sin – that no amount of our strength will be able to overcome. We have to trust in His strength to face the obstacles in life.
Where to Take It from Here:
Wherever it feels natural. If these questions lead to a longer discussion on the topic, wonderful! (There’s a guide just after this paragraph that helps you do just that.) If your kids are barely uttering grunts, don’t get discouraged—the next time it feels right, try out another song. Keep engaging them.
For Deeper Discussion:
(If your kids seem into diving in deeper and looking at what the Bible has to say on the subject, the following discussion guide can help take you there.)
Want help getting your teenager engaged in conversation? CLICK HERE for a helpful article from our “Parenting Help” page providing you with 3 Essentials to Talking with Today’s Teens.
Transitional Statement:
I like this song for a couple of reasons. First, it’s got a catchy sound, which explains why Rachel’s song has been so popular. But it’s also a totally clean song that happens to contain a positive message. Basically, she sings about her desire to overcome the struggles in life. If we’re honest, we think about that on a regular basis. There are plenty of setbacks and uphill battles in life. Like Rachel, we want to be able to say, “I’ve still got a lot of fight left in me.” But the truth is, whether or not we can face the struggles of life greatly depends upon the source of our strength. We’ll do much better if we rely on God instead of relying on ourselves. Let’s crack open God’s Word and look at what He has to say about our strength.
Discussion Questions:
- HAVE ALL YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS ANSWER: As we get started, let’s all take a second to share our favorite song at the moment.
- ASK A FEW FAMILY MEMBERS: How did Rachel’s life seem to change during the music video (from the beginning to the end)?
- ASK A FEW FAMILY MEMBERS: Who is the strongest person you know? Why? Where do you think they got their strength from?
- ASK A FEW FAMILY MEMBERS: Rachel sang about “taking back her life.” How do you “take back” your life when things get out of control?
Read the following passage:
-
-
- Psalm 46:1-11 (NIV)
-
- God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, 3 though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. Selah 4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. 5 God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. 6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. 7 The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah 8 Come and see the works of the LORD, the desolations he has brought on the earth. 9 He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear, he burns the shields with fire. 10 “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” 11 The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
- ASK A FAMILY MEMBER: Where does the psalmist say his strength comes from?
- ASK A FEW FAMILY MEMBERS: Besides “our strength,” what are some other things that the writer calls God in this passage? Why are those descriptions/titles important?
- ASK A FEW FAMILY MEMBERS: What’s something in life that’s really draining the strength from you right now? How are you handling it?
- ASK A FEW FAMILY MEMBERS: Rachel sang about finding strength within herself. The psalmist wrote about finding strength in God. Which is better, and why?
- ASK A FEW FAMILY MEMBERS: Based on this passage, what would God counsel you to do? How can you invite God’s strength into your situation?
- HAVE ALL YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS ANSWER: All of us have problems, struggles, and obstacles in life. Most of us have at least one we’re facing right now. Because of our discussion together, what’s one step you can take this week to overcome your struggles?
Wrap Up:
Fight Song is such a great tune. It’s really catchy. It’s clean. It has a positive message. There’s a lot to love about this hit single by Rachel Platten, but, as we’ve learned during our family discussion, it’s always better to find our strength in God, not ourselves.
Don’t get me wrong, we definitely need to believe in ourselves. We certainly need to have confidence in our abilities and our efforts, but none of that can compare to all that God has to offer us.
As we looked at God’s Word, what we discovered was that God claimed to BE our strength. He didn’t say He was going to give us strength or that He would train us how to be strong or that He would tell us all we need to know about being strong. No. He said He IS our strength! That’s a big deal!
God is our strength! That’s tremendous news! Because God is the source of our strength, we’ll never run out of strength if we continually invite Him into our situations. Look, you can either face your problems with the might of your own abilities…or you can face your situations with the power of God.
Your call.
But let me give you just a couple of reasons why you should turn to God for strength. I’ll take it right from Isaiah 40:28-31.
-
- Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. 29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
That’s what I want! I hope you do, as well.
We’re going to close in prayer, and I want to invite you to speak to God about what you’re facing in life right now. Ask Him to be God and your strength in those situations. Ask God to give you faith to trust in Him and His power.
Close in Prayer
David R. Smith
David R. Smith is the author of several books including Christianity... It's Like This and speaks to parents and leaders across the U.S. David is a 15-year youth ministry veteran, now a senior pastor, who specializes in sharing the gospel, and equipping others do the same. David provides free resources to anyone who works with teenagers on his website, DavidRSmith.org David resides with his wife and son in Tampa, Florida.
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