“Skin (Sarabeth)”
Single by Rascal Flatts from the album Feels Like Today
Released	2005
Format	CD single
Recorded	2004
Genre	Country
Length	4:26
Label	Lyric Street Records
Writer(s)	Doug Johnson, Joe Henry
Producer	Mark Bright, Marty Williams
Rascal Flatts singles chronology
"Fast Cars and Freedom" (2005) "Skin (Sarabeth)" (2005) "What Hurts the Most" (2005)

"Skin (Sarabeth)" (listed on the album as just "Skin") is a 2004 song performed by the country music group Rascal Flatts. The song was originally a hidden track on the first shipment of their album, Feels Like Today, and charted in mid-2005 as an album cut (just called "Skin" at the time) while the single "Fast Cars and Freedom" was climbing the charts. "Skin" became a single in 2005, peaking at #2 on US country charts, and #42 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Synopsis

A girl (presumably teen-aged) named Sarabeth falls ill, and while ill, she notices a bruise that won't go away. After being taken to a hospital, she is informed that she has a form of cancer and must go under chemotherapy. She is afraid of the effects it may have on her (most notably, hair loss), and holds onto the dream of dancing with her boyfriend at her high school prom.

When she wakes the morning before the dance, she notices that she is virtually hairless, and cries while being embraced by her mother. Sarabeth thinks it would be a mistake for her boyfriend to take her to the prom in this condition.

Close to the prom, her boyfriend arrives, wearing a baseball cap. When he removes it, all are surprised to see that he shaved his head to show sympathy, and is willing to accompany Sarabeth to the dance. She realizes her dream has come true when they go to prom and they dance. As the song says, "Her very first true love is holding her close... And for a moment, she isn't scared."

The video was filmed in Orlando, Florida, and features a cast of Florida talent. South Florida actor Doug Williford appears as Sarabeth's father. Child actor Johnny Maio appears in the final scene as Sarabeth's little brother.

Original Story

This song was modeled after the story of Sara Elizabeth Kennedy^{citation needed}, who, despite a long battle with Rhabdomyosarcoma, was elected Homecoming Queen of her local high school.

Chart performance

References

This article does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed. (July 2008)