“Sad songs,” the saying goes, “say so much.” This is especially true when we consider songs that touch upon the sensitive topic of suicide. While many songs explore sadness and melancholy, and some even tragically glorify suicide, there exists a powerful category of music that offers a message of hope and resilience for those grappling with suicidal thoughts. These “Suicidal Songs,” in a counter-intuitive way, can become lifelines, offering solace and a reason to hold on.
In a previous exploration of this topic, we highlighted songs that directly encourage listeners to resist suicidal urges. The response to that compilation was significant, with many suggesting other songs that resonated with an anti-suicide message. Interestingly, not all suggested songs explicitly mentioned suicide, and some, unfortunately, even romanticized it. However, the sheer volume of music available for those in despair is undeniable.
Indeed, sad songs can be profoundly impactful, and for someone experiencing suicidal ideation, songs that address these feelings can resonate even more deeply. Here, we present a curated list of songs that, while acknowledging the pain associated with suicidal thoughts, ultimately lean towards hope, survival, and finding reasons to stay. These are songs that can be considered “suicidal songs” in the sense that they speak to the heart of suicidal feelings but offer a message of hope instead of despair.
Songs Offering Hope Amidst Suicidal Thoughts
This collection of songs spans various genres, each carrying a unique message of encouragement for those facing dark times. They remind us that even in the deepest despair, there is a possibility for hope and a reason to keep going.
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 song delivers a direct and urgent message, grounding the listener in the present moment and emphasizing the value of each breath. It’s a powerful reminder to focus on the “now” when the weight of tomorrow feels unbearable.
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
Initially perceived by some as glorifying suicide due to its narrative, “Adam’s Song” ultimately pivots to a message of hope and anticipation for better days. It acknowledges the pain of feeling disconnected but looks forward to a future filled with renewed vitality and joy.
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.
An anthem of resilience, “Battle Scars” directly addresses the feeling of being overwhelmed and urges the listener to persevere. It’s a powerful affirmation of self-worth and the importance of continuing the fight, even when wounded.
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
This song uses strong imagery of cutting ties with negativity and choosing victory over defeat. The “count to ten” lyric offers a practical, grounding technique for managing 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
A raw and emotional plea, “Don’t Close Your Eyes” is a desperate cry for someone to hold on and not give up. It conveys a sense of urgency and unwavering support, promising to “make everything alright.”
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
Using the metaphor of a movie or show, Cake’s song encourages listeners to see things through, even when faced with negativity. It’s a subtle reminder that life, like a movie, has a conclusion worth witnessing, despite the difficult parts.
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
A direct and heartfelt plea from one friend to another, this song confronts suicidal ideation with empathy and a powerful desire for the friend to stay. The simplicity of the lyrics amplifies its emotional impact.
Hang On – Guster (Rock)
We break
We bend
With hand in hand
When hope is gone
Just hang on
Hang on
“Hang On” is a minimalist yet profound message of solidarity and perseverance. It acknowledges the fragility of life and hope, but offers a hand to hold and the simple, crucial advice to “hang on.”
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
This poignant song reflects on the regret of not knowing how to help a friend in crisis. It serves as a reminder of the importance of reaching out and seeking help, both for oneself and for others who may 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…
“I Walk Beside You” offers reassurance that even in the darkest moments of hopelessness, one is not alone. It emphasizes the cyclical nature of life and the promise of renewal, urging listeners not to surrender to despair.
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…
This song encourages a gentle approach to coping with pain. It advises taking a breath, slowing down, and “letting go” of overwhelming emotions, while affirming that the listener’s journey is not yet complete.
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
“Make It Stop” is a powerful anthem against bigotry and suffering, particularly for LGBTQ+ youth. It acknowledges immense pain but ultimately declares a defiant commitment to living authentically and proudly. It’s a song that is both deeply moving and fiercely inspiring.
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.
This song offers straightforward encouragement not to give up, emphasizing the potential for future experiences and the impact of one’s absence on loved ones. It’s a simple yet effective reminder of connection and future possibilities.
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
“No Giving Up” directly challenges the listener contemplating suicide, urging them to reconsider and see alternative perspectives. It promotes thoughtful reflection as a way to navigate difficult emotions and find reasons to continue.
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
“The Pass” uses metaphorical language to explore the universal experience of struggle and finding direction amidst darkness. It speaks to the resilience of “dreamers” and the importance of facing challenges without shutting out connection and support.
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
This song uses the stark reality of mortality to emphasize the preciousness of life in the present moment. It encourages holding on and embracing the unknown future, suggesting that there is “plenty of time” to experience life’s different phases.
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…
“Sacrifice” poignantly questions the act of suicide as a forfeiture of potential and dreams. It highlights the value of life and love, suggesting that suicide is a tragic waste of what could be.
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” provides a simple, all-encompassing rationale for persevering. It encourages staying alive for the full spectrum of human experience – both the joys and sorrows, the hopes and fears – and for the memories and dreams that shape our lives.
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
Similar in title but distinct in execution, Smile Empty Soul’s “Stay Alive” offers a message of temporal perspective. It suggests that current suffering is temporary and that “better days” are on the horizon, urging listeners to endure until then.
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
This pop anthem normalizes struggle and emotional pain as universal human experiences. It emphasizes resilience, encouraging listeners to get back up and try again, recognizing their inner strength.
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.
“Suicide; Stigma” directly confronts the misconception that suicide ends pain. It highlights the transference of pain to loved ones and argues that suicide doesn’t resolve underlying issues but rather perpetuates them. The directness of “I want you to live” is particularly powerful.
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 song offers a message of hope rooted in faith. It acknowledges profound pain and loss but assures listeners that they will overcome their struggles and that difficult times are finite, like the night before sunrise.
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.
“Sunrise” provides a powerful image of hope emerging from darkness and isolation. It validates feelings of loneliness and despair but offers the promise of making it through the “night” to a new beginning, symbolized by the sunrise.
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…
“Survive” acknowledges the unfairness and pain of life but emphasizes that resilience in the face of adversity is what defines us. It’s a call to recognize shared suffering and find strength in the act of survival itself.
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
“Truce” is a poignant and somewhat paradoxical song. It acknowledges the inevitability of death but urges listeners to “stay alive” in the present, finding freedom and pride in the life they have now, even knowing it is finite.
Wonderful Life – Hurts (Pop)
Don’t let go
Never give up.
Don’t let go
Never give up, it’s such a wonderful life.
With its anthemic chorus, “Wonderful Life” is a straightforward and uplifting declaration of life’s inherent value, even amidst hardship. It’s a simple but powerful reminder to hold on and never give up on the “wonderful life” that is possible.
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
“You are Loved” directly addresses the impulsivity of suicidal thoughts, labeling suicide as a “permanent solution to a temporary problem.” It validates the feeling of being overwhelmed while offering the core message of being loved and valued.
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
This song offers simple, direct reassurance that difficult times are temporary and that overcoming them is possible. The repeated affirmation “You’re gonna be ok” provides a comforting and hopeful message.
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
Billy Joel’s song normalizes suicidal feelings as a part of the human experience. It acknowledges the intensity of such emotions but encourages listeners to “hold on” and wait for the inevitable return of strength and hope – the “second wind.”
Conclusion: Music as a Source of Strength
These “suicidal songs” demonstrate the power of music to address complex and painful emotions surrounding suicide. They offer not only solace and validation but also tangible messages of hope, resilience, and the importance of holding on. For those struggling with suicidal thoughts, these songs can serve as a reminder that they are not alone and that there is a path towards healing and hope. Music, in this context, becomes a powerful tool for connection and a source of strength in the darkest of times.
Do You Know of Other Hopeful Songs?
If you are aware of other songs that offer a message of hope and encouragement for those facing suicidal ideation, please share the song title in the comments below. We welcome your contributions to expand this list and provide even more resources for those who may need them.
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Top photo of person listening to music via headphones in a thoughtful pose. Image from Unsplash.
