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Senator GORE. So the choice the parent has, then, is to sit down
and listen to every song on the album; right?
Mr. SNIDER. Or read the lyrics if they are on the record.
Senator GORE. I think that is pretty general agreement that if
the lyrics are printed that is one possible solution for this.
Let us suppose the lyrics are not printed. Then what choice does
a parent have? To sit down and listen to every song on the album?
Mr. SNIDER. Well, if they are really concerned about it I think
that they have to.
Senator GORE. Do you think it is reasonable to expect parents to
do that?
Mr. SNIDER. Being a parent is not a reasonable thing. It is a very
hard thing. I am a parent and I know. OK. I am a new parent. I
only have one child, maybe. But I am learning that there is a lot to
being a parent that you did not expect. It is not just always a cute
baby. There is a lot of labor, a lot of time, and a lot of effort that
goes into it. It is not totally pleasurable.
Senator GORE. And you will find when they get a little bit older
that when they are exposed to the kinds of themes that we were
presented with earlier, if you love your child you are going to be
concerned about that. And if you want to protect that child from
unnecessary exposure to inappropriate material, you sometimes
need a little help, the kind of guidance that is presented in the
movie industry.
It is totally unreasonable in my view to expect parents to sit
down and listen to every single song in the albums that their children
buy in order to fulfill their responsibilities as parents.
Now, the only thing in your statement that I felt at all comfortable
about was when you said you shared some of the concerns of
the PMRC. I would simply conclude by expressing the hope that
artists and the record companies will find a way to manifest that
mutual concern in some self-restraint, and show a responsibility
and give parents a break.
You are right: It is tough being a parent. It is even tougher being
a kid. And if both are going to be able to deal with the kind of
material that is coming out in popular music, it seems to me the
industry has a responsibility to give them a little help.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
The CHAIRMAN. Senator Rockefeller.
Senator ROCKEFELLER. Mr. Snider, do you feel that you have a
responsibility as an artist to those who would hear those words that
you write?
Mr. SNIDER. I feel a tremendous responsibility. And as I said, I do
not put anything down on a record that I cannot stand behind 100
percent. I do not sing about drugs, sex, alcohol. I do not advocate
sexism, the use of drugs and drinking, and so I do not write about
those things. I only write about things I believe in.
Senator ROCKEFELLER. And that is the way you define what your
responsibility
Mr. SNIDER. Yes; I would say to write about things that you can
stand behind. I feel myself to be a moral person and I think that I
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