Skin by Rascal Flatts

Album: Feels Like Today (2004)

Charted: 42

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Songfacts®:

This song tells the story of a teenage girl who is diagnosed with cancer. The treatment causes her hair to fall out, which devastates her - she doesn't want to be bald for the prom. When her date shows up, he takes off his hat to reveal that he has shaved his head; she touches the skin on his head and for the first time isn't scared.

The song was inspired by a true story, which unfortunately didn't have a happy ending. The song's co-writer, Joe Henry, was good friends with a family whose 5-year-old daughter died from a rare form of cancer. Henry came up with this song as a testament to her light and courage, envisioning what would have happened if she was diagnosed as a teenager and survived the ordeal. Speaking about the song in the Aspen Times, he said the intention was "to try to be a force for bringing people together."
The 5-year-old girl who inspired the song was named Colette, but in the song her name is Sarabeth. The song's writers, Joe Henry and Doug Johnson, first tried Marybeth, but then Henry had a chance encounter at a checkout line with an old friend named Sarabeth, and decided that should be her name.
Doug Johnson and Joe Henry started writing the song when they got together for a session in Nashville. Johnson's co-writes include "Three Wooden Crosses" by Randy Travis and "I Still Believe" by Lee Greenwood. Joe Henry (not to be confused with the songwriter/producer Joe Henry known for his work with with Madonna) also worked on the tracks "Almost Home" for Vince Gill and "Higher Ground" for John Denver.

It was Rascal Flatts producer Mark Bright who discovered the song and brought it to the band.
"Skin" barely made the Feels Like Today album, and when it did, it was relegated to a hidden track, heard on CD only after the last listed track, "Oklahoma-Texas Line" finishes and fades into a break of silence. The band knew it was a great song, but the subject matter is pretty heavy and they didn't think it fit in with the album, so including it as a hidden track was the compromise.

The song came out of hiding after fans discovered it and called radio stations to request it. It started getting airplay, prompting the band's label, Lyrics Street Records, to issue the song as a single with the title amended to "Skin (Sarabeth)." It rose to #2 on the Country chart and helped the album sell a whopping 5 million copies. On later pressings, the song was no longer hidden and listed as Track 12.
When Rascal Flatts played Nashville on September 24, 2005 on their Here's To You tour, they donated proceeds to the children's hospital at Vanderbilt University in honor of this song and those affected by cancer. Their label chipped in another $250,000.
The tear-jerker video plays out the story of the song along with footage of the band playing in front of aerial silk performers. It won for Best Group/Duo Video at the CMT Awards.

Comments: 26

Jori Bowers from EurekaMy 2 year old daughter has ampl lukima so has meaning to my husband and I
Kimberly Wommack from Troy MoThis song has always touched my heart, even more so now that my sister is fighting her second bout with cancer and subsequently lost her hair twice. I know the hair loss is a very difficult and painful part of this terrible disease
Ais from Somewherethis is my solo song its so sad but so uplifting
Claire from UkSuch loving and moving song lyrics.
Deb from Madison, WiThis song touches my heart like you can't imagine. My 16 year old daughter is attending her Junior Prom next week. She is Mistress of Ceremonies, and is being escorted by a wonderful guy. And YES, she is bald, due to cancer and chemotherapy. She is strong, beautiful and courageous! I love you Holly.
Kelli from Iowa, IaMy brother had just got done with having brain cancer. He is 13 and this song reminds me of how hard he fought to be a "normal" teenager. He always made jokes and made the best out of the worst. He was truly an inspiration to many in our community. I love this song.
Nikki from Toronto, OnThis song as a very special place in my heart. I use to think it was just a "sad" song. That was until we found out that my 7 year old cousin has leukemia just like the girl in the song. It was a shock for everyone. She didn't deserve it. Even though it's hard, she puts a smile on her face everyday and finds a way to laugh and joke around. She has adapted to her new life but with some very small struggles and changes. She is truely an inspiration. And the sad part is she is 4 months into chemo but it's only the start to her treatment...a bone marrow transplant is being planned. She loves life and everyone around her. Her smile inspires me. Thank you rascal flatts for this song...it's been there for me whenever I need it.
Aless from Houston, TxI love this song. I watched the music video to listen to it the first time and I just started crying when the boyfriend came in and took off his cap. It's so beautiful.
Katie from Orange County, CaI myself was recently diagnosed with skin cancer and this song was my consolation throughout the whole ordeal. i no longer have it but this song still sits in my memory and makes me cry whenever i hear it. thank you rascal flatts.
Brianna from Naples, FlThis song is amazing! My boyfriend just died of cancer about 10 months ago so I can definitely relate in a way.
Crystal from Chatsworth, Georgiathis song is really nice and sad
Landon from Winchester, OhIt's really sad. Does anyone know that Sara is a real person, and really died of cancer?
Slally from Seattle, WyI love this song for like five years i did not know the title so i couldnt get it but now im so happy, sad
its really moving because both of my grandpas and dad died of cancer
Sammy from Ct, United Statesthis is a really sad song, but the ending is kind of nice.
Katie-lynn from Timmins, MtI LOVE THIS SONG!!!
this one time,, was i grade 4, my grandfather was diying of cancer! and he was going to be fine and was getting out of the hospital a few days later, so the doctors claim!,, well it turns out a few days we later we got a phone call, that my grandfater died! I wish he was here today seeing me grow up! I LOVE HIM AND MISS HIM!! this song reminds me of him!! i want him back!
Margaret from Chicago, IlI love this song. Its sad, but true. Having cancer is scary. Its very moving. I hope rascal flatts create more songs like this one. Realistic songs and amazingly beautiful music videos. And clear lyrics so you can vualizes the scene/music
Margaret from Chicago, IlTHIS REALLY HIT HOME FOR ME.
MY FAMILY IS KNOW FOR HAVING CANCER
THIS SAD IS SAD BUT IS BASED ON REAL LIFE
ITS VERY VERY MOVING THANKS ALOT RASCAL FLATTS
Amanda from Bloomer, WiWhen I first heard this song,it made me think about what I have. One of my friends had cancer. I am doing this song as a report in school. Thanks Rascel Flatts!
Rachel from Atlanta, Gathis song makes me think of my brother and so many of my friends i met through him. He had cancer (childhood lymphoma) when i was 7, he was 10. He's okay now, thankfully, but i met so many more people from spending so much time at the hospital with him, and it just really means a lot to me
also, my friends mother just dies a few weeks ago from cancer
it's a great song, and always makes me cry
Claudia from San Francisco, CaThis is the best song on the world there is nothing better to do than to listen to this song.
Angelica from Centralia , MoThis song is so good...It made me cry when I first heard it because at the time my grandma was in the hospital with cancer.....
-Angelica,Centralia,MO
Whitney from Little Rock, ArThis video did make me cry- n i dont cry-like at all.
Allan from Vanderhoof, CanadaThis is one of the few songs I can think of right away where I heard the song, imagined what a video for it might look like, and then saw the video matching almost exactly what I had pictured.
Usually, the videos that you create in your mind when you hear the song don't come anywhere close to what the artist ends up with.
Best off-the-top-of-my-head example is another country song: The Thunder Rolls, by Garth Brooks. A good video about domestic violence, a subject you can't find anywhere in the song - unless you picture the wife taking a piece out of the husband when his cheating is confirmed.
Janetta from Davenport, Iai love this song it has so much meaning and it made me cry
Chris from Swan River, CanadaThis song is very moving. It's very sad. I saw the video, and I was crying it's just sad. But it talks about how a young woman finds out she has cancer, and how she wishes to live a normal life even though she has a life threatning diesease.
Bryce from Rugby, NdThe video almost made me cry.

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