Music holds a profound power over our emotions. It can amplify joy, soothe sorrow, and, perhaps most importantly, resonate with our deepest feelings, assuring us we are not alone in our experiences. For those grappling with suicidal thoughts, music can be particularly impactful. While some songs may unfortunately glorify or intensify feelings of despair, there exists a powerful collection of Songs On Suicide that offer a message of hope, resilience, and the strength to keep going.
This article expands on a previous exploration of songs that speak to the struggle with suicide, offering an even more comprehensive list of tracks that acknowledge the pain while illuminating a path toward hope and healing. These are songs that understand the darkness, but ultimately choose to sing a different tune – one of survival, encouragement, and the enduring possibility of a brighter tomorrow. If you’re looking for songs on suicide that offer more than just sadness, songs that can be a lifeline in moments of despair, this collection is for you.
24 Floors – The Maine
Genre: 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 powerful alternative rock anthem directly confronts suicidal ideation with a stark but vital message: “You don’t wanna die tonight.” It’s a raw and immediate plea to reconsider, urging the listener to take a breath and focus on the present moment. The lyrics emphasize the preciousness of each moment, acknowledging life’s bittersweet nature while highlighting that the present is all we truly have. It’s a song about choosing life, one night at a time.
Adam’s Song – Blink-182
Genre: 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 upbeat punk-pop, delves into a more serious and introspective territory with “Adam’s Song.” This track offers a message of hope focused on the future. It acknowledges current pain but firmly asserts that “tomorrow holds such better days.” It’s a reminder that feelings are temporary and that the possibility of joy and renewed vitality always exists. The song emphasizes the vastness of the world and the passage of time, implying that life, with all its potential experiences, is still unfolding.
Battle Scars – Paradise Fears
Genre: 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.
“Battle Scars” by Paradise Fears is an empowering rock song that speaks directly to those feeling overwhelmed and ready to give up. It’s a direct address, acknowledging the listener’s exhaustion but immediately countering with a powerful refusal to let go. The lyrics are a call to resilience, reminding listeners of their inherent worth and the importance of fighting for themselves. The metaphor of “battle scars” universalizes suffering, suggesting that everyone carries burdens, but the key is to “keep marching on.” This song is about inner strength and perseverance in the face of adversity.
Cut the Cord – Shinedown
Genre: 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 high-energy rock anthem that uses strong imagery to encourage listeners to break free from destructive patterns and thoughts. The phrase “cut the cord” represents severing ties with negativity and self-destructive impulses. It’s a call to action, urging listeners not to become victims (“don’t be a casualty”). The song emphasizes the possibility of “victory” over inner struggles and encourages proactive steps towards healing and growth (“cultivate and plant the seed”). The “count to ten” lyric suggests a practical grounding technique to manage overwhelming moments.
Don’t Close Your Eyes – Kix
Genre: 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, known for their metal sound, delivers a surprisingly tender and protective message in “Don’t Close Your Eyes.” It’s a desperate plea against succumbing to despair, personified as “closing your eyes” or singing a “last lullaby.” The lyrics are urgent and reassuring, urging the listener to “hold on tight” and promising support (“I’ll make everything alright”). The song evokes a sense of guardianship and unwavering support, offering a comforting presence in the face of darkness.
End of the Movie – Cake
Genre: 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 dry wit and insightful lyrics are on display in “End of the Movie.” This song uses a clever metaphor to address persevering through difficult times. It acknowledges the negativity and pain that others can inflict (“people you hate will get their hooks into you”) but counters it with a relatable human tendency: wanting to see things through to the end. By comparing life to a movie or a show, it gently suggests that even when things are tough, there’s value in staying to see what happens next, implying that the story isn’t over yet and may still have positive turns.
Friend, Please – Twenty One Pilots
Genre: 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 are known for their emotionally charged lyrics, and “Friend, Please” is a direct and heartfelt plea to someone contemplating suicide. The lyrics are intimate and personal, speaking directly to a “friend.” It’s a vulnerable expression of care and a desperate request for the person to reconsider. The simple, repeated phrase “Friend, please don’t take your life away from me” underscores the impact of suicide on loved ones and the deep desire for the person to choose life.
Hang On – Guster
Genre: 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 powerful rock song centered around the core message of perseverance. The lyrics are sparse but evocative, acknowledging the fragility of life (“we break, we bend”) and the shared human experience (“with hand in hand”). When “hope is gone,” the only directive is to “hang on.” The repetition of this phrase emphasizes its importance and creates a mantra of resilience. It’s a song about finding strength in shared vulnerability and the simple act of holding on during hopeless times.
How to Save a Life – The Fray
Genre: 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 rock ballad reflecting on the difficulty of helping someone in crisis and the regret of not knowing how to intervene effectively. While not directly telling someone not to commit suicide, it serves as a powerful reminder of the value of life and the devastating impact of loss. The song expresses a desire to have been able to help and a lament for the “friend” lost. It highlights the importance of awareness, intervention, and seeking help, both for oneself and for others struggling with suicidal thoughts.
I Walk Beside You – Dream Theater
Genre: 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 style, delivers an uplifting and anthemic message in “I Walk Beside You.” This song directly addresses feelings of despair and hopelessness (“when everything is wrong,” “hopelessness surrounds you”) but immediately offers reassurance and hope. The imagery of the “sun will rise again” and the tide carrying you “back home” symbolizes the cyclical nature of life and the promise of renewal and resolution. It’s a powerful encouragement to persevere, to “don’t give up, don’t give in,” even when facing overwhelming challenges.
Let Go – Everest
Genre: 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 and encouraging rock song focused on self-compassion and resilience. It begins with a calming invitation to “take a breath” and “take it slow,” suggesting a need for patience and self-care. The core message is about “letting go” – perhaps of pain, expectations, or self-criticism – to allow for renewal and growth (“rise again”). The powerful closing line, “You’re not done yet,” is a direct affirmation of the listener’s ongoing potential and purpose.
Make It Stop (September’s Children) – Rise Against
Genre: 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
Rise Against tackles social injustice and personal resilience in “Make It Stop (September’s Children).” Written for LGBTQ+ youth facing bullying and discrimination, it speaks to the pain and despair caused by societal pressures (“pushed to the ledge”). Despite this, the song is ultimately a powerful declaration of self-acceptance and defiance. “Proud I stand, of who I am, I plan to go on living” is a powerful assertion of identity and a commitment to life in the face of adversity. It’s a song of survival and strength in the face of prejudice.
Missing You – All Time Low
Genre: 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” is a direct and personal address to someone struggling, urging them not to give up. The informal address “kid” creates a sense of intimacy and care. It acknowledges the struggle (“don’t lose your fight”) but emphasizes that overcoming it may be closer than it seems (“it only takes a little push to pull on through”). The song highlights the potential for future experiences (“so much left to do”) and the impact of suicide on loved ones (“we’ll be missing you”), appealing to a sense of connection and the value of staying for oneself and for others.
No Giving Up – Crossfade
Genre: 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’s “No Giving Up” is a forceful metal track that directly confronts the idea of suicide as a solution. The repeated phrase “there’s no giving up now” is a firm refusal to accept defeat. The song questions the listener’s desire to “give this all away,” challenging them to reconsider their perspective (“can’t you ever see things in a different way”). It emphasizes the importance of careful consideration (“think things through over and over again”) before making irreversible decisions, suggesting that alternative solutions and perspectives are always possible.
The Pass – Rush
Genre: 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, known for their complex and philosophical lyrics, offers a more metaphorical take on suicide prevention with “The Pass.” The song acknowledges the universal experience of struggle and feeling “lost in the darkness” or “in the gutter.” It contrasts this with the resilience of “dreamers” who learn to navigate through hardship. The “razor’s edge” metaphor represents the precariousness of life and the constant need for balance. The plea “Don’t turn your back and slam the door on me” suggests the importance of connection and not isolating oneself during difficult times.
Remember We Die – Gemini Syndrome
Genre: 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” uses the stark reality of mortality to argue for choosing life. It begins with a reminder of our finite existence (“remember we die”) but immediately pivots to emphasize the present opportunity: “but you’re still alive.” The song urges listeners to “don’t let go” because living is the only certainty in the moment. It offers a perspective of time and possibility, suggesting “there’s plenty of time to see the other side,” implying that life’s challenges are temporary and that future experiences await.
Sacrifice – Aurelio Voltaire
Genre: 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 reflective and mournful approach, addressing someone who has died by suicide and questioning the “sacrifice” of their potential. It evokes a past shared dream of freedom and then laments the lost future. The repeated lines “So much life to live, so much love to give” underscore the tragedy of a life cut short and the unrealized potential that is lost. It’s a poignant reminder of the value of life and the dreams that suicide extinguishes.
Stay Alive – Andy Black
Genre: 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 anthemic rock song with a clear and simple message: choose to live. It provides a list of reasons to persevere, encompassing both positive and negative aspects of life (“good times,” “bad,” “hopes,” “fears,” “dreams”). By listing these diverse experiences, the song suggests that life in its entirety, with all its ups and downs, is worth experiencing. It’s a broad and inclusive encouragement to embrace life’s full spectrum.
Stay Alive – Smile Empty Soul
Genre: 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” is a repetitive and urgent hard rock track with a message of imminent relief and future hope. The repeated plea “stay alive, stay alive” emphasizes the urgency of the moment. The phrase “because it’s almost over now” suggests that current pain is temporary and will soon pass. The promise of “better days to come around” offers a forward-looking perspective, encouraging listeners to hold on for a brighter future just ahead.
Story of My Life – Backstreet Boys
Genre: 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
While perhaps unexpected on a list of songs on suicide, Backstreet Boys’ “Story of My Life” offers a universally relatable message of resilience and self-belief. It normalizes struggle and hardship (“everybody falls, everybody cries,” “everybody feels like a nobody sometimes”), assuring listeners that they are not alone in their pain. The core message is about perseverance: “you get up again, give it one more try.” It also emphasizes inner strength (“everybody’s got what it takes on the inside”), empowering listeners to believe in their own capacity to overcome challenges.
Suicide; Stigma – The Color Morale
Genre: 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 and heartfelt plea: “I want you to live.” It challenges the perception of suicide as a solution, arguing that “suicide doesn’t end the pain, it passes to the ones you love and remains.” This highlights the ripple effect of suicide on loved ones. The line “take yourself out of the equation and the problem stays” suggests that suicide doesn’t resolve underlying issues but rather leaves them unresolved and burdens others.
The Sun is Rising – Britt Nicole
Genre: 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 comfort and reassurance during times of deep pain and loss. It acknowledges profound suffering (“life has cut too deep,” “future you had hoped for is now burning,” “dreams…lost their meaning”) but counters it with unwavering hope. The repeated affirmation “you’re gonna make it” is a powerful declaration of resilience. The metaphor “the night can only last for so long” provides assurance that suffering is temporary and that brighter times are inevitable.
Sunrise – Our Last Night
Genre: 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 simple yet powerful image of sunrise as a symbol of hope and overcoming darkness. It speaks to feelings of isolation and despair (“night is cold,” “no one knows,” “only one buried in this hole”). The core message is one of endurance and the promise of a new beginning: “You can make it to the sunrise.” Sunrise represents hope, renewal, and the end of darkness, suggesting that even in the deepest despair, there is always the possibility of a new dawn.
Survive – Rise Against
Genre: 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, in their second entry on this list, offers “Survive,” a hard rock anthem about resilience and defining oneself through overcoming adversity. It 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 focus shifts to agency and self-determination: “how we survive is what makes us who we are.” It’s a message of empowerment, suggesting that our struggles shape us and that survival is a testament to our strength and character.
Truce – Twenty One Pilots
Genre: 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,” their second song featured, is a delicate and poignant track that offers a unique perspective on life and death. The repeated line “stay alive, stay alive for me” is a direct and personal plea, similar to “Friend, Please.” However, it introduces a philosophical element with “you will die, but now your life is free.” This could be interpreted as acknowledging the inevitability of death but emphasizing the value of living fully in the present moment. “Take pride in what is sure to die” could suggest finding meaning and purpose in our fleeting existence.
Wonderful Life – Hurts
Genre: Pop
Don’t let go
Never give up.
Don’t let go
Never give up, it’s such a wonderful life.
Hurts’ “Wonderful Life” is a synth-pop ballad with a deceptively simple but powerful message of hope and perseverance. The repeated phrases “don’t let go,” “never give up,” and “it’s such a wonderful life” create a mantra of resilience and appreciation for life. Despite a potentially melancholic tone, the core message is positive and life-affirming. It’s a reminder to hold on and recognize the inherent beauty and value of life, even amidst hardship.
You are Loved – Set It Off
Genre: 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’s “You Are Loved” directly addresses suicidal ideation with a clear and rational perspective. It reframes suicide as “a permanent solution to a temporary problem,” highlighting the transient nature of emotional distress. It normalizes struggles (“we all have issues not knowing how to solve them”) and offers a message of support and validation: “you are loved.” The song encourages listeners to remember these words of affirmation during their darkest moments.
You’re Gonna Be Ok – Brian and Jenn Johnson
Genre: 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 powerful reassurance and hope. It addresses feelings of encroaching darkness (“when the night is closing in”) and counters them with direct encouragement: “don’t give up, and don’t give in.” The song emphasizes the temporary nature of suffering (“this won’t last, it’s not the end”) and offers a confident promise of future well-being: “you’re gonna be ok.” It’s a comforting and faith-based message of hope and resilience.
You’re Only Human – Billy Joel
Genre: 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
Billy Joel’s “You’re Only Human (Second Wind)” is a pop song that normalizes suicidal thoughts as a human experience and offers a message of hope and resilience. It directly acknowledges the intensity of suicidal feelings (“sometimes you just want to lay down and die,” “that emotion can be so strong”). However, it immediately counters these feelings with an encouragement to “hold on” and wait for the “second wind” to come along, implying that strength and hope will return. It’s a reassuring message that acknowledges the validity of difficult emotions while offering a path toward overcoming them.
These songs on suicide, while diverse in genre and style, share a common thread: they acknowledge the pain and darkness associated with suicidal thoughts but ultimately offer a message of hope, resilience, and the enduring value of life. They serve as a reminder that even in the deepest despair, you are not alone, and that music can be a powerful companion on the journey towards healing and hope. If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts, please remember that help is available. Reach out to a crisis hotline or mental health professional – your life is valuable, and there is support for you.
