"Me and a Gun", one of the most intimate songs written by Tori Amos. This amazing performance was given at the RAINN benefit concert, Madison Square Garden, New York, 1997. The song was inspired by what happened to Tori when she was 21. After she performed at a bar, a patron asked her if he could have a ride home. She obliged, and was raped at knifepoint. Fortunately, she escaped. Years later, in London, Amos saw the film Thelma and Louise and was stirred. On the way to a show, she wrote the song in her head. That night, she performed the song a cappella.

Tori's Letters To Survivors (2003-07-02 12:58:20)

"Dear Friends,

For the past two years, I've sung "Me and a Gun" at every concert as a way of healing the place inside myself that has been hurt, enraged, and numbed by violence. For many years, I shut down that place inside myself that needed to rage, cry, ask questions, and basically just express herself. I made a conscious choice when I put "Me and a Gun" on the record not to stay a victim anymore.You see, I was still a victim in my own mind from an experience that had happened a long time ago: I was torturing myself. Passion, joy, and love were not things I felt I could have or deserved anymore. I've been encouraged by wise ones, who taught me how to develop inner tools where I can understand these scared places in my being.

It took me many years to make the decision to deal with this, but a bitter woman was what I was becoming and when I was young I always saw myself as a passionate woman. I would say, "Well, she's dead." and the wise ones said, "It's your choice, Tori,if you want to bring her back to life, you can. She's only been sleeping - alone, in a very dark corner. It's your choice and there is help out there."

I received a letter from a 13-year-old girl in Paris whose stepfather has been molesting her for years. She wrote: "If I had known a phone number which would have been able to help me, I certainly would have dialed it." So we can't go on being blind and dumb: You don't have to put the message with the help phone number out now. Maybe you'll never do it, because of different reasons. You won't be to blame for it. But, I want you to never forget that every day someone loses their dignity.

Healing takes courage and we all have courage, even if we have to dig a little to find it!

Love and support,

TORI AMOS"