"Scar" is a pop song written by Australian singer Missy Higgins and Kevin Griffin of American band Better Than Ezra. Released on 2 August 2004 on Eleven: A Music Company, it was released as the first single from Higgins' debut album, The Sound of White (2004). "Scar" entered the Australian ARIA Singles Chart at number one and received a quadruple-platinum sales certification. It also charted in New Zealand, where it peaked at number 20 in January 2005. The song was mixed by 12-time Grammy winner Jay Newland. In 2025 the song was voted fourth on the Triple J Hottest 100 of Australian Songs.
Background Following the song's fourth-place finish on the Triple J Hottest 100 of Australian Songs, Higgins shared that the song was written as a response to negative experiences she had had with collaborators in the music industry.
It was the song I wrote when I was 19 about some bad experiences I had with different people I was collaborating with, who were trying to make my music into something else. And trying to make me sound a certain way and appear a certain way, and just people in the industry that I'd come across that were, you know, trying to squeeze a triangle through a circle or whatever it is I say. So, you know, it's a song about staying true to who you are and not letting anyone else, you know, pretend that they know what's best for you.
Awards and nominations
Awards 2004 ARIA Awards, Best Pop Release 2005 APRA Awards, Song of the Year 2005 APRA Awards, Breakthrough Award
Nominations 2004 ARIA Awards, Single of the Year 2004 ARIA Awards, Best Female Artist 2004 ARIA Awards, Breakthrough Artist — Single 2004 ARIA Awards, Best Video
Track listing Australian CD single "Scar" – 3:34 "Casualty" – 4:12 "Dancing Dirt into the Snow" – 3:26 "The Cactus That Found the Beat" – 2:02
Personnel Personnel are lifted from the Australian CD single liner notes.
Missy Higgins – lyrics, music, vocals Kevin Griffin – music John Porter – production Rik Pekkonen – engineering Jay Newland – mixing Don Bartley – mastering Cathie Glassby – artwork design Adrienne Overall – photography
Charts
Weekly charts Chart (2004–2006)Peakposition
Year-end charts Chart (2004)PositionAustralia (ARIA)22
Certifications
Release history RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)Australia2 August 2004CDElevenUnited States6 June 2005Triple A radioReprise13 February 2006Hot adult contemporary radio
References