Depression is the dark shadow that engrosses the normal life function of individuals making them numb or extremely agitated. In this situation, personally, I prefer to listen to music that can beat any stress with a calm vibe. And not only me, music therapy is one of the best ways to deal with depression and sadness.ย
There is nothing more relaxing than listening to some soulful music that can calm your soul and also you can relate to them.ย
Bands like Coldplay or famous songwriters like Lana Del Rey are not only popular for good music but for relatable songs that can nurture a weary heart. In this blog, we will talk about the top 10 songs about depression.
Popular 10 Songs About Depression
Some of the most popular songs about depression are as follows:
1. Hurt by Johnny Cash
One of the best depressed songs is Johnny Cashโs Hurt. The song starts with the line โI hurt myself today/To see if I still feelโ. In the immediate next line, he continues โI focus on the pain/The only thing thatโs realโ. This is one of the most common feelings among depressed people as their bodies do not produce much happy hormones. So, all they can feel is pain and sadness.
The song could also resonate with people who are depressed due to grief. The songโs lyrics discuss how he ultimately loses everyone. For anyone who has experienced the unexpected or abrupt death of a loved one, this song about depression may be relatable.ย
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Read More: 8 Depression poem that can help you stay strong
2. Summertime Sadness by Lana Del Rey
Lana Del Reyโs โSummertime Sadnessโ combines a nostalgic melody with lyrics that reflect the bittersweet nature of fleeting happiness and enduring melancholy. Del Reyโs distinctive voice and the songโs dreamlike quality create a powerful sense of longing and heartache.
The powerful lines like โOh, my God, I feel it in the air/Telephone wires above are sizzlinโ like a snare/Honey, Iโm on fire, I feel it everywhere/Nothinโ scares me anymoreโ make this one of the best and most touchy sad songs of all time. Even if this music isnโt particularly eerie, anyone who suffers from clinical depression can nevertheless relate to it.
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3. Unsteady by X Ambassadors
The third one on the list of songs to hear when depressed is Unsteady. This song by X Ambassador is quite a relatable song for individuals who have been dealing with depression and are in need of help.
The song starts with the lines โHold, hold on, hold onto me/โCause Iโm a little unsteady/A little unsteadyโ which directly states the unsteadiness that happens due to depression.ย
In addition, the song is based on the theme of divorced parents and the complications that children face. Lines like โMama, come here/Approach, appear/And Daddy, Iโm aloneโ reflect the deep grief of individuals who have witnessed toxicity due to their parentโs separation.
Although we frequently imagine our homes to be secure havens, this isnโt always the case for certain individuals. Occasionally, our unstable home environment contributes to our depression by making us feel unsteady.ย
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4. Never Let Me Go by Florence the Machine
Never Let Me Go by Florence the Machine is one of the most popular songs that depressed people can relate to. However, the song is a whole lot of celebration of negative emotions. In addition, the song also tells about accepting a heartbreaking relationship and going forward with it.
People who are dealing with depression due to relationships and similar issues may listen to this song to soothe their souls. Moreover, if you recently experienced the breakup of a relationship, this lyrical piece might make you cry a little.
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5. Tears Dry on Their Own by Amy Winehouse
Amy Winehouseโs hauntingly beautiful voice captures the essence of sorrow and resilience in โTears Dry on Their Own.โ This song explores the aftermath of a painful breakup, with Winehouseโs raw and honest lyrics depicting the struggle of moving on and finding strength in the face of despair.
The very title of the song tells about the despair that is prevalent in depression. Then the lines like, โI donโt know why I let myself get so attached/Itโs my responsibility/And you donโt owe nothing to me/But to cut myself off I had no capacityโ are desperately stating the helpless situation that individuals go through after a rough break up.
However, the song also reconciles two opposite feelings together in the lines โI donโt understand/Why do I stress a man/When there are so many better things than him at hand/We could have never had it all/We had to hit a wall/And this is inevitable withdrawalโ.
Here I can highly relate to that urge of focusing on the better side of our lives instead of worrying about one person who broke me. In addition, such relationship issues are so common among youngsters that they go out of the life track. Therefore, such spirited songs will definitely help them to some extent to rethink their life decisions.
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Read More: 7 Must-See Powerful Movies About Teenage Depression
6. Breathe Me by Sia
Written in 2004 by Australian songwriter Sia, Breathe Me is a lyrical ballad for depressed souls. The song has a very calm rhythmic charm that is very soothing for me.
Starting with the calm vibe the song shifts into a higher note with more touchy words like โOuch I have lost myself again/Lost myself and I am nowhere to be found/Yeah I think that I might break/Lost myself again and I feel unsafe.โ
The song utters the most common urge that anyone feels during a depressive mood which is warmth. The lines โBe my friend, hold me/Wrap me up, enfold me/I am small and needyโ are talking about us only, isnโt it?
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7. Everybody Hurts by R.E.M
โWhen your day is long/And the night, the night is yours alone/When youโre sure youโve had enough/Of this life, well hang on/Donโt let yourself go/โCause everybody cries/And everybody hurts sometimesโโฆthese lines truly validates my weary soul and make me feel that I am not alone in the battle. The song points out that you can nurture your soul and come back to the mainstream even if you are hurt like everybody else.
โEverybody Hurtsโ by R.E.M. is a comforting reminder that no one is alone in their struggles. With its gentle melody and Michael Stipeโs reassuring vocals, the song encourages listeners to hold on and seek help when theyโre feeling overwhelmed by sadness.
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8. Lose You to Love Me by Selena Gomez
Selena Gomezโs songs hit differently when you face a depressive mood or sadness. Thus, I would definitely mention her song Lose You to Love in this list for you all. The grieving opening lines โYou promised the world and I fell for it/I put you first and you adored it/Set fires to my forest/And you let it burn/Sang off-key in my chorus/โCause it wasnโt yoursโ touched me in a different level.
Also, phrases like โIn two months, you replaced us like it was easyโ express heartbreakโs emotional toll and a sense of betrayal. The songโs themes of loneliness, introspection, and the quest for self-worth represent the mental state connected to depression.
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9. Mad World by Gary Jules and Michael Andrews
This somber cover of Tears for Fearsโ โMad Worldโ by Gary Jules and Michael Andrews gained widespread recognition for its appearance in the film โDonnie Darko.โ Its melancholic tone and introspective lyrics poignantly capture the sense of confusion and sadness that often accompanies depression.
The world is a different place for people who are depressed. They find multiple things meaningless awkward and hard to take. For them, the lyrics โAnd I find it kinda funny, I find it kinda sad/The dreams in which Iโm dying are the best Iโve ever had/I find it hard to tell you, I find hard to take/When people run in circles, itโs a very, very/Mad world, mad world,โ is the perfect match.
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Read More: 7 must see movies for Teenage depression
10. Adamโs Songโ by Blink-182
โAdamโs Songโ by Blink-182 tackles themes of depression and suicide with surprising depth and sensitivity. The song narrates a story of loneliness and despair but also hints at hope and the possibility of finding light at the end of the tunnel.
Adamโs Song is a perfect everyday song to calm your soul. I mean, who could not relate to the lines like โI never thought Iโd die alone/I laughed the loudest, whoโd have known?โ or โI never conquered, rarely came/Tomorrow holds such better days/Daysโ?
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Concluding Thoughts
The songs that I have listed in this blog are quite impactful for people who are facing depression and persistent sadness. There is no limit to such lists as in this post-modern world life has become different and such songs are in high demand. Feel free to suggest the best songs about depression in this list.
1. What are the sad songs called?
Sad songs or lyrical potery are called lament.
2. Which is one of the most suicidal songs?
Gloomy Sunday is one of the most suicidal songs about depression.
3. Who are โSad Girlโ singers?
โSad Girlโ is a popular pop genre and some of the popular singers are Billie Eilish, Gracie Abrams, Olivia Rodrigo, etc.
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