“Sad songs,” the saying goes, “say so much.” This holds incredibly true, with countless songs capturing the depths of sadness and despair. While many of these songs can resonate with feelings of melancholy, and some even tragically romanticize suicide, there’s a vital, yet often less explored, category: songs that acknowledge the intense pain associated with suicidal ideation but powerfully offer hope, encouragement, and reasons to stay alive.
In a world saturated with sadness, these songs act as lifelines. They are the anthems for those moments when darkness feels overwhelming. Building upon the conversation around music and mental health, and inspired by previous explorations of songs addressing suicide, this article delves into a curated list of songs that speak directly to those struggling with suicidal thoughts. It’s not just about commiserating with pain; it’s about finding strength, resilience, and the will to keep going, even when it feels impossible.
It’s undeniable that sad songs resonate deeply and can articulate feelings words often fail to capture. But for those grappling with suicidal thoughts, songs that offer a glimmer of hope, a reason to hold on, can be profoundly impactful. These songs, carefully selected, aim to be more than just melodies; they are beacons of hope in the darkest times. Here are almost 30 songs that offer solace and strength when life feels unbearable.
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 each moment and the finality of suicide, urging listeners to focus on the present and find strength to get through the night. The raw emotion in the lyrics and the driving rhythm create a powerful message of immediacy and hope.
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, known for their pop-punk anthems, delivers a surprisingly poignant message in “Adam’s Song.” Written from the perspective of someone contemplating suicide but ultimately choosing life, the song looks forward to brighter days. It’s a reminder that feelings are temporary, and the future holds possibilities for joy and renewed appreciation for life. This track speaks to the potential for change and the promise of better times ahead.
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’ “Battle Scars” is an anthem of resilience and self-worth. It directly addresses the feeling of being overwhelmed and wanting to give up, countering it with a powerful message of inner strength and the importance of perseverance. The lyrics emphasize that everyone carries emotional wounds (“battle scars”), but these scars are testaments to survival and the ongoing journey of life. It’s a call to keep fighting and recognize your own inherent value.
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 hard-hitting rock track “Cut the Cord” uses the metaphor of cutting ties with negativity and despair. It’s an energetic and forceful encouragement to break free from destructive thoughts and behaviors. The lyrics focus on taking control, cultivating inner strength (“plant the seed”), and counting to ten as a grounding technique to overcome immediate impulses. It’s a powerful call to action, urging listeners to actively choose life and fight for their own “victory.”
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, known for their metal sound, delivers a surprisingly tender and protective message in “Don’t Close Your Eyes.” The song is a plea for someone to hold on, to not give in to the finality of death (“Don’t sing your last lullaby”). It offers reassurance (“I’ll make everything alright”) and a sense of guardianship, emphasizing the value of life and the hope for things to improve. The lyrics are both comforting and urgent, urging the listener to stay awake and keep fighting.
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 quirky alternative rock style delivers a subtle yet effective anti-suicide message in “End of the Movie.” Using the metaphor of staying until the end of a movie or show, the song suggests sticking around to see what happens next in life, despite the negativity and challenges (“People you hate will get their hooks into you”). It’s a reminder that life, like a movie, has a narrative that unfolds, and there’s value in seeing it through to the end.
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, known for their emotionally resonant music, directly addresses suicidal ideation in “Friend, Please.” The song is a heartfelt and intimate appeal from one friend to another, urging them to reconsider suicide. The lyrics are simple and direct, emphasizing connection and the impact of suicide on loved ones. It’s a powerful reminder that you are not alone and that your life is valued by those around you.
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 profoundly comforting rock song. The repetition of “Hang on” acts as a mantra, a simple but powerful encouragement to persevere during difficult times. 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 gentle reminder of resilience and the strength found in simply enduring.
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 losing someone to despair and the regret of not knowing how to help. While not directly telling someone not to commit suicide, it serves as a powerful reminder of the impact of suicide on those left behind and the importance of reaching out and offering support. The song highlights the fragility of life and the desperate need for connection and understanding when someone is 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, offers an uplifting message in “I Walk Beside You.” The song acknowledges feelings of hopelessness and being overwhelmed, but counters them with the assurance that things will get better (“the sun will rise again”). It emphasizes perseverance (“don’t give up, don’t give in”) and the idea of not being alone in your struggles (“I walk beside you”). It’s a powerful anthem of hope and resilience in the face of adversity.
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 and encouraging rock song focused on taking a breath and releasing the immediate pressure of suicidal thoughts. The lyrics are calming and reassuring, urging the listener to slow down, “let go” of the overwhelming emotions, and remember that their story isn’t over (“You’re not done yet”). It’s a reminder to take things one step at a time and find the strength to keep going.
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, known for their punk rock anthems with social messages, delivers a powerful and poignant track in “Make It Stop (September’s Children).” Written in response to suicides among LGBTQ+ youth, the song directly confronts the pain and prejudice faced by this community. It’s both a lament for the suffering and a defiant declaration of resilience and the will to survive (“I plan to go on living”). It’s a raw and emotional song that acknowledges the darkness while ultimately choosing hope and perseverance.
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” is a direct and heartfelt message urging someone to keep fighting and not give up. The lyrics emphasize the potential for future experiences (“so much left to do”) and the impact of suicide on loved ones (“we’ll be missing you”). It’s a personal and relatable song that speaks to the importance of holding on, even when it’s difficult, and considering the ripple effect of your choices.
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’s “No Giving Up” is a metal-infused anthem against despair. The song directly challenges the idea of giving up, questioning the desire to “give it all away.” It urges listeners to reconsider, to “see things in a different way,” and to think things through before making a permanent decision. It’s a forceful and direct plea for reconsideration and a reminder that there might be alternative perspectives to consider.
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, legendary for their progressive hard rock, offers a more metaphorical and poetic take on perseverance in “The Pass.” The lyrics acknowledge the universal experience of struggle (“All of us get lost in the darkness,” “All of us do time in the gutter”). It contrasts this with the resilience of “dreamers” who find guidance even in darkness (“steer by the stars”). The song urges listeners to keep moving forward (“walk the razor’s edge”) and not to give up on themselves or others (“Don’t turn your back and slam the door on me”). It’s a complex and thoughtful encouragement to navigate life’s challenges with strength and hope.
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 hard rock track that uses the inevitability of death to emphasize the value of life in the present moment. The lyrics are stark and direct: “Remember we die, But you’re still alive.” This contrast is used to urge listeners to “don’t let go” of life, because it’s the only existence they currently know. It encourages patience and the idea that there’s “plenty of time to see the other side” – implying that life’s journey is ongoing and holds future possibilities.
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 mournful but ultimately life-affirming approach. The song reflects on a lost potential, asking “why you sacrificed all that you would be.” It emphasizes the tragedy of unfulfilled dreams and the immense value of “so much life to live, so much love to give.” It’s a poignant reminder of what is lost when life is cut short and a call to cherish the potential that remains.
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 uplifting rock anthem with a clear and simple message: keep living. The lyrics provide a multitude of reasons to “stay alive,” encompassing both positive and negative experiences (“good times,” “bad”), and future possibilities (“hopes and fears and dreams”). It’s a broad and inclusive encouragement to embrace the entirety of life, with all its ups and downs.
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 offers another song titled “Stay Alive,” this one with a hard rock edge. This version focuses on the temporary nature of current pain (“it’s almost over now”) and the promise of a brighter future (“Better days to come around”). The repetition of “Stay alive” acts as a powerful affirmation, urging listeners to endure the present moment with the hope of future improvement.
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
Backstreet Boys, known for their pop hits, delivers a surprisingly relevant message in “Story of My Life.” While not explicitly about suicide, the song’s themes of universal struggle (“Everybody falls, everybody cries”), resilience (“You get up again, give it one more try”), and inner strength (“Everybody’s got what it takes on the inside”) are deeply applicable to overcoming suicidal thoughts. It’s a reminder that hardship is a common human experience, and everyone possesses the inner resources to persevere.
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 their metalcore track “Suicide; Stigma.” The song is a passionate plea: “I want you to live.” It directly debunks the idea that suicide ends pain, stating instead that it “passes to the ones you love and remains.” It highlights the lasting consequences of suicide on loved ones and emphasizes that suicide doesn’t solve underlying problems (“Take yourself out of the equation, And the problem stays.”). It’s a raw and honest portrayal of the realities of suicide and its aftermath.
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 after profound pain. The lyrics acknowledge deep hurt and loss, but repeatedly affirm “You’re gonna make it.” It emphasizes the temporary nature of darkness (“the night can only last for so long”) and the promise of a brighter future. It’s an uplifting and faith-based encouragement to persevere through suffering and believe in eventual healing.
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” is a rock song focused on enduring the darkest moments with the hope of reaching a new day. The lyrics vividly depict feelings of isolation and despair (“feel like no one knows what it’s like to be the only one buried in this hole”). The core message is simple yet powerful: “You can make it to the sunrise.” It’s a metaphor for overcoming darkness and reaching a point of renewed hope and 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 hard rock anthem about resilience and perseverance. The lyrics acknowledge that “Life for you, has been less than kind” and the universality of suffering (“We’ve all been sorry, we’ve all been hurt”). The central theme is that it’s not the hardships themselves, but “how we survive” them that defines us. It’s a powerful message about finding strength in adversity and shaping your identity through overcoming challenges.
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 offers another poignant and introspective track with “Truce.” The song has a gentle and almost melancholic tone, yet carries a powerful message of choosing life. The repeated plea “Stay alive, stay alive for me” is deeply personal and impactful. The lyrics also touch on the acceptance of mortality (“You will die”) but emphasize the freedom and value of life in the present moment. It’s a reflective and emotionally resonant song that encourages cherishing life and living for others.
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” is a synth-pop track with a deceptively simple but vital message. The repeated phrases “Don’t let go, Never give up” are direct and forceful encouragements to persevere. The song contrasts the potential for despair with the assertion that “it’s such a wonderful life.” Despite its potentially melancholic undertones, the core message is one of hope and a reminder of the inherent value of life, even when it’s difficult to see.
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’s “You are Loved” directly addresses the impulsivity of suicide, stating, “It’s a permanent solution to a temporary problem.” The song acknowledges the universality of struggles (“We all have issues not knowing how to solve them”) and offers a message of support and love, especially “when you feel you’re at your worst.” It’s a direct and compassionate reminder that suicidal feelings are often temporary and that support and love are available.
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 a comforting and faith-based message of reassurance. The lyrics directly address feelings of darkness and despair (“When the night is closing in”), urging listeners to “Don’t give up, and don’t give in.” It emphasizes the temporary nature of suffering (“This won’t last, it’s not the end”) and provides the hopeful affirmation “You’re gonna be ok.” It’s a soothing and encouraging song that offers solace and faith in overcoming difficult times.
You’re Only Human (Second Wind) – 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 surprisingly upbeat and direct approach to the topic of suicidal feelings. The song acknowledges the intensity of the desire to “lay down and die,” normalizing these feelings as part of the human experience (“You’re Only Human”). It encourages listeners to “hold on” and trust that difficult emotions are temporary and that a “second wind” will come. Despite its cheerful melody, the message is explicitly anti-suicide and reassuringly human.
Finding Your Anthem of Hope
Music possesses an extraordinary power to connect with our deepest emotions and offer solace in times of distress. This curated collection of Songs For Suicidal thoughts aims to provide more than just a listening experience; it’s intended to be a source of strength, hope, and a reminder that you are not alone in your struggles.
If you are facing suicidal thoughts, please remember that these feelings are temporary, and help is available. Reach out to a crisis hotline, mental health professional, or a trusted friend or family member. Your life is valuable, and there is hope for brighter days.
This playlist is a starting point. Explore these songs, find the ones that resonate with you, and let the messages of hope and resilience seep into your heart. Music can be a powerful tool on your journey towards healing and choosing life.
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, please seek help. You can contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline in the US at 988, or find a crisis hotline in your country.
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Note: This list is intended for informational and supportive purposes and should not be considered a substitute for professional mental health advice. If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, please seek immediate professional help.
