Music can be comforting, especially when they resonate with our pain and suffering. Countless singers and songwriters have written songs reminding us that we are not alone, even in the darkness.
Here are 10 songs speaking about the thoughts and feelings of suicide, and 10 others to keep us going.
10 Songs about Suicide
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Masking our emotional pain, and the feeling like we’re pressure cookers about to explode, this is a song that expresses those feelings of pretending to be “fine” when we’re not.
If "F" is for feeling overwhelmed
And "I" is for "I'm not alright"
Yeah I'm fine
If "N" is for not being able to sleep
"E" for every night
Yeah I'm fine -
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A duet that pulls at your heartstrings, this is a plea for comfort, love, and safety.
Just wrap me in your arms, in your arms
I don't wanna be nowhere else
Take me from the dark, from the dark
I ain't gonna make it myself
Put your arms around me
Put your arms around me
Let your love surround me
I am lost
I am lost -
When we all fall asleep, where do we go?
The singer questions what happens after death. In this song, she talks to her inner monster which gives her thoughts of suicide. In an interview, Billie Eilish explains the realisation that she is also her own monster – that she’s “[her] own worst enemy”.
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10 Songs to Keep Us Going
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The title of this song is the phone number for the American National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
At the beginning of the song, the lyrics relate to feelings of hopelessness, through the voice of someone who wants to kill themselves. The second part of the song takes the view of the lifeline’s receiver. They remind the caller of hope.
Eventually, the caller says “I finally want to be alive. I don’t want to die today.”
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The musical Dear Evan Hansen begins with a character, Connor, ending his own life. You Will Be Found is sung as a speech given by protagonist Evan Hansen. As a tribute to Connor, this song sends the message of hope. Throughout a whole verse, the lyrics repeatedly remind us that “You are not alone”.
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A rock song that screams (not literally) the turmoil of feeling like we must stay strong for others, it relays the pain of wishing we could shield others from the pain we feel, or from the pain others may feel from losing us. The final message: it’s difficult, but it also shows strength.
Kill the pain and
Kill the family
Choke the dark down
Just be happy
Talk myself off
Of this ledge I know all too well -
In the genre of hip-hop/rap, ‘Don’t Do It’ talks about the struggle of not wanting to die, but also wanting to escape from the pain of our lives right now; wanting to find happiness. The second verse sends an empathic message about knowing how painful, and difficult it is, but death is not the only option.
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Following many teen suicides making the news in 2010, rock band Rise Against took to music to comment on mental health. Frontman Tim McIlrath said about the song, “The message is: It can get better, it does get better, give it a chance to get better, don’t end your life prematurely.”
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Nickelback’s Lullaby begins with feelings and thoughts of suicide. The singer relates to these feelings and reminds us that we are not alone. There may be a point where we feel like we’re “out there barely hangin’, on”, but the singer nudges us to remember that there are people who care.
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We’ll let this country song (with a modern twist), speak for itself:
I can't find myself
I get lost inside my brain
I think I might need help, mm
But I pushed all of 'em away
I took the cards they dealt
And there's nothin' I can change
So, when I'm by myself
I just pray for brighter days
Sometimes, even to live is an act of courage. We know it’s hard. We see you. We feel you. We hope this helps.