Nothing to Lose (song)
Encyclopedia
"Nothing to Lose" is a single by Canadian band Billy Talent
's debut self-titled album
. The song was not released for special digital download
or as a CD single
or vinyl record. The song is about a suicidal teenager. The unnamed character suffers rejection from peers and depression, although the character's parents overlook this-Teacher said it's just a phase/When I grow up my children will probably do the same." At the end of the song, it can be inferred that the character committed suicide.
) to the Canadian organization Kids Help Phone
. Kids Help Phone is a toll-free phone counselling service for children, which suits the song as Kids Help Phone receives many calls from distressed and suicidal teens.
in Toronto
, Ontario
and directed by Sean Michael Turrell
. It is in black and white and features a teen in a black hooded sweater which hides his face (the suicidal teen). The video alternates between the band playing in the basement of the protagonist's high school and the teen in classes and halls. Throughout the video the teen is writing in a notebook in which fragments of the song's lyrics and drawings in it. Later, he gets picked on in the hallway by a group of kids who snatch his notebook, and is forced to run away. At the end of the video the character enters the school's garage, attaches one end of a long tube to the exhaust pipe of a car, and brings the other end to the driver's seat with him. Then he starts the car, causing the gas to surround and suffocate him. The last lyrics sung say "There's nothing to gain/And I just died today", showing that the protagonist may have suffocated himself successfully.The line "Who'd know it put me underground at seventeen" also meant that he was 17 when the kids who teased him made him kill himself (underground representing him being buried). Also near the end the character's notebook is open to a page where a drawing can be seen illustrating the suicide. On the same page there is a suicide note that reads: I will do it, I will show you, you will know who I am, you will read this and know who I am, my death will heal this pain, theres nothing to lose and I can't fight this pain anymore. Part of the lyrics are
"There's nothing to gain / My notebook will explain"
Text also appears at the end of the video:
It was #28 on MuchMusic
's 50 most controversial videos for the idea of a high school student taking his life before he graduates.
The poem deals with a wide variety of related topics, such as loneliness, bullying, and suicide. Some of the experiences happened personally to the author, others by victims of bullying.
The poem was largely inspired by a classroom discussion on bullying. Christopher had mentioned that he was in no way a bully, and the teacher had responded that his children would probably become bullies.
The underlined message of the song is that even when you have nothing to lose by suicide, you still have nothing to gain by it.
Although never credited or compensated by the band or the recording label, the original author is pleased that his work became a hit song.
Billy Talent
Billy Talent is a Canadian post-hardcore band from Streetsville, Ontario. They formed in 1993 with Ben Kowalewicz as the lead vocalist, Ian D'Sa on lead guitar, bassist Jon Gallant and drummer Aaron Solowoniuk ....
's debut self-titled album
Billy Talent (album)
- Chart positions :- Personnel :* Benjamin Kowalewicz - Lead vocals* Ian D'Sa - Guitar, vocals, art direction, package design* Jonathan Gallant - Bass guitar, vocals* Aaron Solowoniuk - Drums- Appearances :...
. The song was not released for special digital download
Music download
A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment...
or as a CD single
CD single
A CD single is a music single in the form of a standard size Compact Disc, not to be confused with the 3-inch CD single, which uses a smaller form factor. The format was introduced in the mid-1980s, but did not gain its place in the market until the early 1990s...
or vinyl record. The song is about a suicidal teenager. The unnamed character suffers rejection from peers and depression, although the character's parents overlook this-Teacher said it's just a phase/When I grow up my children will probably do the same." At the end of the song, it can be inferred that the character committed suicide.
Kids help phone
For every time the song was played on certain Canadian radio stations, Billy Talent donated $1.00 (CADCanadian dollar
The Canadian dollar is the currency of Canada. As of 2007, the Canadian dollar is the 7th most traded currency in the world. It is abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or C$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies...
) to the Canadian organization Kids Help Phone
Kids Help Phone
Kids Help Phone , Is a Canadian anonymous phone and online counselling, referral and information service for children and youth. The service provides counselling to youth who seek it by calling a toll-free number or posting anonymously on their website.As a charity Kids Help Phone receives no core...
. Kids Help Phone is a toll-free phone counselling service for children, which suits the song as Kids Help Phone receives many calls from distressed and suicidal teens.
Video
The video was filmed at Central Technical SchoolCentral Technical School
Central Technical School is a composite high school located at 725 Bathurst Street at Harbord Street in Toronto, Canada.C.T.S. offers a wide range of programs, including all core academic courses, as well as concentration and specialization in visual arts and technical studies. C.T.S...
in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
and directed by Sean Michael Turrell
Sean Michael Turrell
Sean Michael Turrell is a director of music videos. He has directed videos for Canadian bands such as Billy Talent, Protest the Hero, Hedley, Pilot Speed, Crash Parallel, Magneta Lane and Sum 41. He has also directed videos for Hawksley Workman, David Usher, Lindsay Robins, Tegan and Sara and Good...
. It is in black and white and features a teen in a black hooded sweater which hides his face (the suicidal teen). The video alternates between the band playing in the basement of the protagonist's high school and the teen in classes and halls. Throughout the video the teen is writing in a notebook in which fragments of the song's lyrics and drawings in it. Later, he gets picked on in the hallway by a group of kids who snatch his notebook, and is forced to run away. At the end of the video the character enters the school's garage, attaches one end of a long tube to the exhaust pipe of a car, and brings the other end to the driver's seat with him. Then he starts the car, causing the gas to surround and suffocate him. The last lyrics sung say "There's nothing to gain/And I just died today", showing that the protagonist may have suffocated himself successfully.The line "Who'd know it put me underground at seventeen" also meant that he was 17 when the kids who teased him made him kill himself (underground representing him being buried). Also near the end the character's notebook is open to a page where a drawing can be seen illustrating the suicide. On the same page there is a suicide note that reads: I will do it, I will show you, you will know who I am, you will read this and know who I am, my death will heal this pain, theres nothing to lose and I can't fight this pain anymore. Part of the lyrics are
"There's nothing to gain / My notebook will explain"
Text also appears at the end of the video:
- THERE'S LIFE BEYOND THESE WALLS
- KIDS HELP PHONE
- JEUNESSE, J'ÉCOUTE
- 1 800 668 6868
- www.kidshelpphone.ca
It was #28 on MuchMusic
MuchMusic
MuchMusic is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel owned by Bell Media. MuchMusic is dedicated to music-related programs, pop and youth culture.-History:...
's 50 most controversial videos for the idea of a high school student taking his life before he graduates.
Original Author
This was originally written by Christopher A. Tremblay as a poem in (approximately) 1992. The poem along with the described sketch were in a school notebook, and left as a phony anonymous suicide note near John Barsby Secondary School, Nanaimo.The poem deals with a wide variety of related topics, such as loneliness, bullying, and suicide. Some of the experiences happened personally to the author, others by victims of bullying.
The poem was largely inspired by a classroom discussion on bullying. Christopher had mentioned that he was in no way a bully, and the teacher had responded that his children would probably become bullies.
The underlined message of the song is that even when you have nothing to lose by suicide, you still have nothing to gain by it.
Although never credited or compensated by the band or the recording label, the original author is pleased that his work became a hit song.