Walk Me Home

Main Point: The rainbow can be a sign of hope in the darkness, but God created the rainbow to point to Jesus, the only one who can bring the grace and truth we need.

Vital Info Before You Get Started: Spending the night with another may provide temporary satisfaction, but God’s plan for intimacy lasts a lifetime.

• 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, Spotify, 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.
• Given the topic of this discussion, you may want to check out Sex Matters. This is great book by Jonathan McKee that is designed for teenagers who want to better understand God’s design for sex.
• Alecia Beth Moore, otherwise known as Pink, was born in Pennsylvania in 1979. Adapting her name from Steve Buscemi’s character in Reservoir Dogs, Pink was an experienced vocalist and dancer by the time she was 14 years old.
• Walking through adversity that included a near drug overdose and dropping out of high school, Pink was noticed by record executives in her late teens before recording her first solo album in 2000.
• To date, Pink has released seven studio albums with her most recent album Hurts 2B Human making its debut in late April 2019.
• Pink married professional motocross racer Carey Hart in 2006, and they have two children together.
• In 2018 Pink was named as the ninth highest paid female celebrity with earnings totaling $52 million during that year.

Introducing the Song – Say Something Like This: The lead single from Hurts 2B Human, Pink’s newest album, Walk Me Home is a relationship focused song that goes in a clearly sexual direction. In the song Pink is carrying some burdens, and looking for a person to spend the night with seemingly is a distraction from the world. Her inner and outward struggles provoke discussion on whether or not the one night stand is going to help her find what she is looking for.

The Music Video: The music video can be viewed for free at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1OsKJW51HY

Song Lyrics – Walk Me Home

There’s something in the way you roll your eyes
Takes me back to a better time
When I saw everything is good
But now you’re the only thing that’s good

Trying to stand up on my own two feet
This conversation ain’t coming easily
And darling I know it’s getting late
So what do you say we leave this place

Walk me home in the dead of night
I can’t be alone with all that’s on my mind, mhm
So say you’ll stay with me tonight
Cause there is so much wrong going on outside

There’s something in the way I wanna cry
That makes me think we’ll make it out alive
So come on and show me how we’re good
I think that we could do some good, mhm

Walk me home in the dead of night
I can’t be alone with all that’s on my mind, mhm
So say you’ll stay with me tonight
‘Cause there is so much wrong going on outside

Ooh…

Walk me home in the dead of night
‘Cause I can’t be alone with all that’s on my mind
Say you’ll stay with me tonight
‘Cause there is so much wrong going on

Walk me home in the dead of night
I can’t be alone with all that’s on my mind, mhm
So say you’ll stay with me tonight
‘Cause there is so much wrong
There is so much wrong
There is so much wrong going on outside

Three Questions to Ask in the Car (with thoughts to dive deeper with your kids):

Q: Why do you think Pink feels as though she can’t be alone with all that is on her mind?
A: Could open the door to a conversation about anxiety, or how your teenager processes hardship. Either way, their answer could be insightful.

Q: Why do you think Pink wants to find someone to spend the night with her?
A: Start a conversation about meeting needs the wrong way, sexual promiscuity, hooking up versus biblical relationship, or wherever the conversation might go.

Q: What do you think Jesus would say to Pink after listening to this song?
A: This is an opportunity to help them see through Jesus’ eyes and consider what He might say to Pink. It forces biblical thinking and perspective.

Where to Take It from Here: Wherever it feels natural. If these questions lead to a longer discussion on the topic, wonderful!  (There is 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.

Transition Statement – Say Something Like This: We are all going to carry burdens in our lives. There will be times when the things going on both inward and outward are going to feel incredibly heavy. In this song, Pink is seeking a companion to spend the night with to help distract her from her racing mind and outward concerns. Will this bring her what she is looking for? Is this the best approach to take when you are feeling the weight of the world? Let’s take some time and talk about these things.

Discussion Questions:

1. ASK A FEW FAMILY MEMBERS: If you were going to name yourself after a color, what would it be and why?
2. ASK A FEW FAMILY MEMBERS: In the opening lines of the song, Pink sings, “There’s something in the way you roll your eyes. Takes me back to a better time, when I saw everything is good, but now you’re the only thing that’s good.” What do you think she means in these lines?
3. ASK A FEW FAMILY MEMBERS: Why do you think Pink feels as though she can’t be alone with all that’s on her mind?

4. ASK A FEW FAMILY MEMBERS: What do you suppose she means when she says there is so much wrong going on outside?

5. ASK ALL FAMILY MEMBERS: Why do you think she wants to find someone to spend the night with her?

6. ASK A FEW FAMILY MEMBERS: What do you think is appealing about a one night stand or hookup? What are the risks of taking such action?
7. ASK A FEW FAMILY MEMBERS: At one point in the song she sings, “I think that we could do some good.” What do you think she means by that, and do you agree with her?
8. ASK A FEW FAMILY MEMBERS: What would you say to Pink if you had the opportunity to speak into the situation she describes in this song?

Read the following passages:

Genesis 2:24
Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

9. ASK A FEW FAMILY MEMBERS: Read Genesis 2:18-25. Let’s have several people share what they observe from this passage.

10. ASK A FEW FAMILY MEMBERS: What do you think it means to “leave your father and mother.” Why do you suppose this is important in a marriage relationship?

11. ASK A FEW FAMILY MEMBERS: Share what you think it means for a husband (or wife) to hold fast to their wife (or husband). Why do you think this is important for a marriage?

12. ASK A FEW FAMILY MEMBERS: What do you think God means when he says, “one flesh.” How does understanding this help you to understand God’s design for marriage?

13. ASK A FEW FAMILY MEMBERS: How does understanding God’s design for marriage impact how a person should view dating or hooking up with the opposite sex?

14. ASK A FEW FAMILY MEMBERS: Do you think people don’t understand God’s design for intimate relationships, or do you think people just choose not to do things His way? Explain why you think the way you do.

15. ASK A FEW FAMILY MEMBERS: Why do you think it might be easier to hook up (one night stand) than to have a long term relationship? What are some reasons people might have for choosing one over the other?

16. ASK A FEW FAMILY MEMBERS: Why do you think God calls us to invest in one person for life? Why do so many people choose to not do things this way?

17. ASK A FEW FAMILY MEMBERS: In Mark 10 Jesus says, “for this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” Do you think sexual activity joins people to become one flesh? Talk about why you think the way you do, and why God might think it’s so important for what is joined to never be separated.

18. ASK ALL FAMILY MEMBERS: What do you think Jesus would say to Pink after listening to this song?

Wrap Up – Say Something Like This: When asked what this song means, Pink replied saying, “This adulting thing is a lot. And it’s better shared with a loved one.” While many people would agree, her song implies that if she finds someone to spend the night with, it will provide what she needs. We’ve taken time to talk about whether or not you agree with that, and why God has designed things differently. The question now falls to you – do you believe that God’s design for intimate relationships is best? It comes down to whether or not you truly believe God loves you, and believe He is good. Take a moment with Him now and talk to Him about this. Ask Him to increase your faith, and tell Him how you feel about His love and goodness – and admit your struggles in believing His ways are best. 

(Pause and give them a quiet moment to pray silently.) 

There are appeals to hooking up or having a one night stand. You can avoid some of the challenges of a long term relationship, and find immediate satisfaction. The problem comes when it’s over – because you leave a part of you behind – because that’s how God designed it. He intends for us to share ourselves with one person for life, and when we choose to do otherwise, we miss out on the lifetime of intimacy He desires. When we choose to go our own way over His, we become “one flesh” with people we will never fully share all of ourselves with. Maybe you’ve made some choices in the past that you regret. Know that God offers the opportunity to be forgiven and start again. Maybe you’ve just never taken the time to reflect on these things with God. Take a few moments now and talk to God about what is on your heart, knowing He will meet you right now and give you the grace and strength you need. 

(Pause and give them a few moments to pray silently.) 

God’s plan for intimacy lasts a lifetime. He wants what is best for all of us, and we only need to choose to obey Him – to embrace His ways as the loving gifts they are. He loves us more than we can imagine, and gives us these directions so we can experience intimacy to the fullest extent. His plan is one man with one woman for life – and what He joins together, no man should separate. Let us be people who are honest with God about the struggles, but who choose to live His way, even when it’s hard, because we truly believe it is best. Let us be people who refuse to let the world cheapen God’s awesome plan and instead hold up this awesome thing God has made for us to enjoy.

CLOSE IN PRAYER