“Sad songs,” as the saying goes, “say so much.” This sentiment resonates deeply, particularly when navigating the turbulent waters of suicidal thoughts. The world of music is awash with melancholic tunes, many amplifying feelings of despair, and some even tragically romanticizing suicide. However, within this vast soundscape, there exists a vital, though often less prominent, category: songs that confront the pain associated with suicide head-on, yet illuminate paths towards hope, resilience, and the will to live.
While songs that delve into sadness can offer a sense of understanding and validation, it’s crucial to recognize the power of music that actively encourages life. Previously, we explored songs explicitly arguing against suicide (“Oh, I’m Begging You, No”: 18 Songs Against Suicide), highlighting those musical pieces that directly challenge suicidal ideation. This article expands on that crucial conversation, presenting a curated list of songs that, while acknowledging the darkness, ultimately lean towards hope and survival.
It’s undeniable that sad songs possess a unique ability to articulate profound emotions. For individuals grappling with suicidal thoughts, “Suicide Songs” – those that offer solace and a reason to keep going – can be even more impactful, acting as a lifeline in moments of intense distress. Here are nearly 30 songs that serve as reminders of hope and the strength within to persevere.
24 Floors – The Maine (Alternative Rock)
You don’t wanna die tonight
Take one more breath to clear your mind
Every moment’s relevant
Bittersweet and delicate
Tomorrow may not come again
Tonight is all there is
This alternative rock offering from The Maine is a direct and urgent plea to reconsider ending it all. “24 Floors” emphasizes the preciousness of the present moment, urging listeners to take a breath and find clarity. It’s a stark reminder that even in the darkest night, there is still a “tonight” to experience, and the potential for a tomorrow.
Adam’s Song – Blink-182 (Rock)
Tomorrow holds such better days
Days when I can still feel alive
When I can’t wait to get outside
The world is wide, the time goes by
Blink-182, often known for their pop-punk anthems, delves into deeper emotional territory with “Adam’s Song.” This track, while initially perceived by some as somber, ultimately carries a message of hope for the future. The lyrics look forward to “better days,” reminding listeners that current pain is not permanent and that the ability to feel alive and experience joy will return. It’s a powerful message of temporal perspective, suggesting that time and change can bring relief.
Battle Scars – Paradise Fears (Alternative Rock)
You’ve had enough,
But just don’t give up.
Stick to your guns,
You are worth fighting for.
You know we’ve all got battle scars.
Keep marching on.
Paradise Fears delivers an anthem of resilience in “Battle Scars.” This song is a powerful declaration of self-worth and perseverance. It acknowledges the feeling of “having enough” – the exhaustion and despair that can precede suicidal thoughts – but directly counters it with the encouragement to “don’t give up.” The metaphor of “battle scars” normalizes struggle and reinforces the idea that everyone carries burdens, but these scars are also proof of survival and strength.
Cut the Cord – Shinedown (Rock)
Don’t be a casualty, cut the cord…
Cause victory is all you need
So cultivate and plant the seed
Hold your breath and count to ten, just count to ten
Shinedown’s “Cut the Cord” is a raw and energetic call to action. The phrase “cut the cord” is a metaphor for severing ties with negativity and self-destructive thoughts. The song emphasizes the importance of inner strength (“victory is all you need”) and proactive steps (“cultivate and plant the seed”) towards healing and overcoming despair. The simple act of “counting to ten” provides a practical, grounding technique to manage overwhelming emotions in the moment.
Don’t Close Your Eyes – Kix (Metal)
Don’t close your eyes
Don’t sing your last lullaby…
Hold on – Hold on tight
I’ll make everything all right
Wake up – Don’t go to sleep
I pray the lord your soul to keep
Kix, with their metal ballad “Don’t Close Your Eyes,” offers a plea for life wrapped in a powerful rock sound. The lyrics directly address someone on the brink, urging them to “hold on tight” and resist giving in to despair. The lines “I’ll make everything alright” and “Better days to come around” offer reassurance and hope for future improvement, emphasizing that the current darkness is not permanent.
End of the Movie – Cake (Alternative Rock)
People you hate will get their hooks into you
They’ll pull you down…
But you still don’t like to leave before the end of the movie
No you still don’t like to leave before the end of the show
Cake’s signature wry and insightful style is evident in “End of the Movie.” This song uses the metaphor of leaving before the “end of the movie” or “end of the show” to represent suicide. It acknowledges the negativity and hardship (“People you hate will get their hooks into you”) but frames suicide as prematurely abandoning one’s life story before it reaches its conclusion. It suggests an inherent desire to see things through, to witness how one’s personal “movie” unfolds.
Friend, Please – Twenty One Pilots (Alternative Rock)
Friend, please remove your hands from
Over your eyes for me
I know you want to leave but
Friend, please don’t take your life away from me
Twenty One Pilots’ “Friend, Please” is a direct and intimate address to someone contemplating suicide. The lyrics are a heartfelt plea from a friend, emphasizing connection and the devastating impact of suicide on loved ones. The simple repetition of “Friend, please” underscores the personal and urgent nature of the message, making it a powerful song for anyone feeling isolated and considering ending their life.
Hang On – Guster (Rock)
We break
We bend
With hand in hand
When hope is gone
Just hang on
Hang on
Guster’s “Hang On” is a minimalist yet potent anthem of solidarity and perseverance. The repeated phrase “Hang on” serves as a mantra of hope and resilience in the face of despair. The lyrics acknowledge the fragility of life (“We break, We bend”) and the feeling of hopelessness, but emphasize the importance of holding on, especially when connected to others (“hand in hand”). It’s a reminder that even when hope seems lost, the act of persevering is itself a form of strength.
How to Save a Life – The Fray (Rock)
Where did I go wrong?
I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life
The Fray’s “How to Save a Life” is a poignant reflection on loss and the desire to help someone in distress. While born from a different context, the song resonates deeply with the theme of suicide prevention. It highlights the pain of losing a friend and the retrospective wish to have intervened more effectively. The title itself becomes a question, prompting listeners to consider how they can support those around them who might be struggling.
I Walk Beside You – Dream Theater (Rock)
Oh, when everything is wrong
Oh, when hopelessness surrounds you
Oh, the sun will rise again
The tide you swim against
Will carry you back home
So don’t give up, don’t give in…
Dream Theater, known for their progressive rock epics, offers a surprisingly direct message of hope in “I Walk Beside You.” The song acknowledges feelings of being overwhelmed and surrounded by hopelessness, but counters these feelings with the promise of renewal (“the sun will rise again”). The metaphor of the tide carrying you “back home” suggests an eventual return to safety and peace, urging listeners to “don’t give up, don’t give in” during difficult times.
Let Go – Everest (Rock)
So take a breath
My dear friend
Take it slow
And let go
And rise again
You’re not done yet…
Everest’s “Let Go” is a gentle yet firm encouragement to persevere. The song emphasizes the power of breath and taking things “slow” as coping mechanisms. “Let go” here signifies releasing the grip of despair and self-destructive thoughts, allowing for a “rise again.” The phrase “You’re not done yet” is a powerful affirmation of potential and the belief that life’s journey is not over, even in moments of intense struggle.
Make It Stop (September’s Children) – Rise Against (Punk Rock)
Make it stop,
Let this end,
All these years pushed to the ledge,
But proud I stand, of who I am,
I plan to go on living
(This is one of those anti-suicide songs that is both inspiring and depressing. Written for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans youth, it captures the bigotry, misery, and deaths that occur, along with the need to go on living.)
Rise Against tackles a specific and critical issue with “Make It Stop (September’s Children).” Written in response to suicides among LGBTQ+ youth due to bullying, this punk rock anthem is both a lament and a defiant declaration of survival. It acknowledges the pain and “misery” inflicted by bigotry, but powerfully asserts pride in identity and the “plan to go on living.” It’s a vital song for marginalized individuals facing immense societal pressure and discrimination.
Missing You – All Time Low (Alternative Rock)
Now don’t lose your fight, kid,
It only takes a little push to pull on through,
With so much left to do,
You’ll be missing out, and we’ll be missing you.
All Time Low’s “Missing You” offers a direct and personal appeal to someone considering suicide. The lyrics emphasize the listener’s inner strength (“don’t lose your fight, kid”) and the idea that overcoming current difficulties is possible with “a little push.” It highlights the future potential (“so much left to do”) and the impact of suicide on loved ones (“we’ll be missing you”), making it a poignant reminder of connection and the value of life.
No Giving Up – Crossfade (Metal)
There’s no giving up now
Do you really want to give this all away
Can’t you ever see things in a different way…
You should think things through
Over and over again
Crossfade delivers a hard-hitting message of resilience in “No Giving Up.” This metal track is a forceful rejection of surrender. The lyrics directly challenge the listener’s desire to “give it all away,” urging them to reconsider (“think things through over and over again”) and explore alternative perspectives (“see things in a different way”). It’s a powerful anthem for fighting back against despair and choosing to persevere.
The Pass – Rush (Hard Rock)
All of us get lost in the darkness
Dreamers learn to steer by the stars
All of us do time in the gutter
Dreamers turn to look at the cars
Turn around and turn around and turn around
Turn around and walk the razor’s edge
Don’t turn your back
And slam the door on me
Rush’s “The Pass” is a poetic and metaphorical exploration of adolescence and the challenges of life. The lyrics acknowledge the universal experience of “getting lost in the darkness” and “doing time in the gutter,” representing periods of struggle and hardship. “Dreamers” are presented as those who find guidance and hope even in darkness (“steer by the stars”). The “razor’s edge” metaphor signifies the precariousness of life, while the plea “Don’t turn your back and slam the door on me” emphasizes the importance of connection and support during difficult times.
Remember We Die – Gemini Syndrome (Hard Rock)
Remember we die
But you’re still alive
So don’t let go
‘Cause it’s the only thing you know
There’s plenty of time
To see the other side
Gemini Syndrome’s “Remember We Die” is a stark yet ultimately hopeful meditation on mortality. The opening line, “Remember we die,” is a powerful confrontation with the finite nature of life. However, it immediately pivots to emphasize the present moment: “But you’re still alive.” This juxtaposition underscores the value of life in the present, urging listeners to “don’t let go” because life itself is the known entity, while death is the unknown. The promise of “plenty of time to see the other side” suggests that life holds possibilities and experiences yet to be discovered.
Sacrifice – Aurelio Voltaire (Rock)
There’s a place where you and I looked in each other’s eyes and promised we’d be free someday.
So please tell me why you sacrificed all that you would be.
You threw away your dreams.
So much life to live…
So much love to give…
So much life to live…
So much love to give…
Aurelio Voltaire’s “Sacrifice” takes a slightly different approach, addressing someone who has already died by suicide. The song expresses grief and questions the decision to “sacrifice all that you would be.” It highlights the lost potential (“dreams thrown away”) and the unlived life, emphasizing “so much life to live, so much love to give.” While somber, it serves as a poignant reminder of the value of life and the tragedy of suicide.
Stay Alive – Andy Black (Rock)
Stay alive for the good times
Stay alive through the bad
Stay alive for the hopes and the fears and the dreams
The best that we ever had
Andy Black’s “Stay Alive” is a straightforward and affirmative anthem for life. The repetition of “Stay alive” is a powerful mantra, urging listeners to persevere through both “good times” and “bad.” It emphasizes the full spectrum of human experience – “hopes and fears and dreams” – as reasons to keep living. The phrase “the best that we ever had” suggests that even past joys are reasons to continue experiencing life and creating new memories.
Stay Alive – Smile Empty Soul (Hard Rock)
Stay alive, stay alive,
Because it’s almost over now
Stay alive, stay alive,
Better days to come around
Smile Empty Soul’s “Stay Alive” offers a raw and direct message of hope in the midst of struggle. The repeated plea “Stay alive” is urgent and insistent. The lyrics offer reassurance that current pain is temporary (“it’s almost over now”) and promise future improvement (“better days to come around”). It’s a simple yet powerful message of hope for those in immediate distress.
Story of My Life – Backstreet Boys (Pop)
Everybody falls, everybody cries
Everybody feels like a nobody sometimes
You get up again, give it one more try
Everybody’s got what it takes on the inside
The Backstreet Boys, known for their pop hits, deliver a surprisingly universal message of resilience in “Story of My Life.” The lyrics normalize struggle and emotional pain (“Everybody falls, everybody cries,” “Everybody feels like a nobody sometimes”). The core message is about perseverance: “You get up again, give it one more try.” It reinforces the idea that inner strength (“everybody’s got what it takes on the inside”) is available to everyone, offering encouragement to keep going despite setbacks.
Suicide; Stigma – The Color Morale (Metal)
I want you to live.
Suicide doesn’t end the pain,
it passes to the ones you love and remains.
Take yourself out of the equation
And the problem stays.
The Color Morale directly confronts the issue of suicide and its impact in “Suicide; Stigma.” The song opens with a direct plea: “I want you to live.” It challenges the misconception that suicide ends pain, arguing that instead, “it passes to the ones you love and remains.” This highlights the ripple effect of suicide on loved ones. The lines “Take yourself out of the equation and the problem stays” suggest that suicide doesn’t solve underlying issues but rather leaves them unresolved and burdens others.
The Sun is Rising – Britt Nicole (Christian Pop)
When life has cut too deep and left you hurting
The future you had hoped for is now burning
And the dreams you held so tight lost their meaning
And you don’t know if you’ll ever find the healing
You’re gonna make it
You’re gonna make it
And the night can only last for so long
Britt Nicole’s Christian pop song, “The Sun is Rising,” offers a message of hope and healing rooted in faith. The lyrics acknowledge profound pain and loss (“life has cut too deep,” “future…now burning,” “dreams…lost their meaning”) and the uncertainty of healing. However, the repeated affirmation “You’re gonna make it” and the promise that “the night can only last for so long” offer reassurance and the belief in eventual recovery and brighter days.
Sunrise – Our Last Night (Rock)
When the night is cold and you feel like no one knows
what it’s like to be the only one buried in this hole
You can make it to the sunrise.
Our Last Night’s “Sunrise” uses the metaphor of night and sunrise to represent darkness and hope. The lyrics capture feelings of isolation and profound despair (“feel like no one knows what it’s like to be the only one buried in this hole”). The core message is one of endurance and the promise of dawn: “You can make it to the sunrise.” It offers a simple yet powerful image of hope and the cyclical nature of darkness giving way to light.
Survive – Rise Against (Hard Rock)
Life for you, has been less than kind
So take a number, stand in line
We’ve all been sorry, we’ve all been hurt
But how we survive, is what makes us who we are…
Rise Against returns with “Survive,” another powerful anthem about resilience in the face of hardship. The song acknowledges that “life for you has been less than kind” and that suffering is a universal experience (“We’ve all been sorry, we’ve all been hurt”). The central theme is that “how we survive” defines us. It’s a celebration of strength, perseverance, and the human capacity to overcome adversity.
Truce – Twenty One Pilots (Alternative Rock)
Stay alive, stay alive for me
You will die, but now your life is free
Take pride in what is sure to die
Twenty One Pilots’ “Truce” is a poignant and introspective song offering a unique perspective on life and death. The opening lines, “Stay alive, stay alive for me,” are a direct plea for life. However, the lyrics then shift to acknowledge mortality (“You will die, but now your life is free”). This paradox suggests finding freedom and meaning in life, even with the awareness of its finitude. “Take pride in what is sure to die” can be interpreted as valuing the present moment and finding significance in the ephemeral nature of existence.
Wonderful Life – Hurts (Pop)
Don’t let go
Never give up.
Don’t let go
Never give up, it’s such a wonderful life.
Hurts’ “Wonderful Life,” despite its melancholic undertones, is ultimately an affirmation of the value of life. The repeated phrases “Don’t let go,” “Never give up,” and “It’s such a wonderful life” are direct and powerful affirmations of hope and resilience. The song acknowledges hardship but emphasizes the inherent wonder and worth of life itself, urging listeners to hold on and appreciate its inherent beauty.
You are Loved – Set It Off (Rock)
It’s a permanent solution to a temporary problem
We all have issues not knowing how to solve them
And when you feel you’re at your worst,
Remember all these words
Set It Off directly addresses the core misconception about suicide in “You Are Loved.” The opening line, “It’s a permanent solution to a temporary problem,” is a crucial message in suicide prevention. The song normalizes struggles (“We all have issues not knowing how to solve them”) and offers reassurance that even in moments of crisis (“when you feel you’re at your worst”), there is hope and support available. The title itself, “You Are Loved,” is a simple yet vital affirmation of worth and connection.
You’re Gonna Be Ok – Brian and Jenn Johnson (Christian Pop)
When the night, is closing in
Don’t give up, and don’t give in
This won’t last, it’s not the end, it’s not the end
You’re gonna be ok
Brian and Jenn Johnson’s Christian pop song, “You’re Gonna Be Ok,” offers simple yet profound reassurance. The lyrics directly address feelings of being overwhelmed (“When the night is closing in”) and urge listeners to resist despair (“Don’t give up, and don’t give in”). The core message is one of hope and the promise of future well-being: “This won’t last, it’s not the end, it’s not the end, You’re gonna be ok.” It’s a comforting and faith-based message of perseverance.
You’re Only Human – Billy Joel (Pop)
Sometimes you just want to lay down and die
That emotion can be so strong
But hold on
Till that old second wind comes along
(This song is unnervingly cheerful for an anti-suicide song. But it is so explicitly against suicide that this list wouldn’t really be complete without it.)
Billy Joel’s “You’re Only Human (Second Wind)” takes a conversational and empathetic approach to suicidal thoughts. The opening line acknowledges the intensity of suicidal feelings (“Sometimes you just want to lay down and die, That emotion can be so strong”). It normalizes these feelings as a part of the human experience (“You’re only human”) and offers practical advice: “But hold on, Till that old second wind comes along.” The “second wind” metaphor represents renewed strength and hope, suggesting that even in moments of despair, resilience can emerge. While the song’s upbeat tone might seem unconventional for the topic, its directness and message of perseverance make it a valuable addition to this list.
Do You Know of Other Anti-Suicide Songs?
Music’s capacity to connect with and uplift us during difficult times is undeniable. These songs represent just a fraction of the music available that speaks to the struggle with suicidal thoughts and offers a counter-narrative of hope and resilience.
If you are aware of other songs that resonate with this theme and are not included in this list or the original article (“Oh, I’m Begging You, No”: 18 Songs Against Suicide), please share them in the comments below. Your contributions can help expand this resource and provide further comfort and support to those who need it.
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