Topics centred around mental health and depression dominate our public discourse. The national conversation surrounding mental wellness — online and offline — has aided in the stigma of suffering from depression being removed, slowly but surely.
Though society has recently developed the language and perspective to expand our understanding — through data and first-hand accounts — the current conversation surrounding mental health and depression isn’t quite new; it’s been subtly channelled through music through time. And historically, rap music has always served as a medium for artists to share their struggles.
The late Prodigy once said, “hip-hop is our therapy.” But the conversation around mental health is constantly evolving beyond that notion — beyond the catharsis of making and consuming music. Hip-hop artists have delved deeper into discussing the reality of mental wellness and how it affects their personal and professional lives, from being vocal about getting therapy to coping through self-care. All these states of transparency in their music help to promote a fuller understanding of mental health.
A topic that must not be just taken seriously but also addressed properly is depression. In India, the term ‘depression’ is taken seriously, but the person going through is asked to “get over it” or be rudely dismissed. A topic that needs colossal attention and taken into consideration because right now in times of pandemic, the atmosphere has not just turned into a panic but also has been affecting the mental health of many people.
Depression has an impact on everyone but differently. Be it loneliness, anxiety, stress, grief, or extreme worry, it affects your overall health. And it is essential to acknowledge and take your mental health as seriously as we consider physical health.
Below are 25 of the best songs about depression, old and new. The common thread of them all, though, is that they all help put dark thoughts into perspective.
Here is what they had to say:
1. “1-800-273-8255” by Logic
“It just empowers me to be able to live to sing the last verse, ‘I finally wanna be alive, I don’t want to die anymore,” and have it be something meaningful to me and not a lie as it currently would be.” — James T.
2. “Oh, Ms Believer” by Twenty One Pilots.
“The instrumental itself is so soothing, and the lyrics are comforting because it feels like someone knows what you’re going through.” — Maddie V.
3. “I Won’t See You Tonight Part 1” by Avenged Sevenfold
“I don’t know, it just made me feel calm and less alone. Like someone understood my feelings when I was in that dark place.” — Amber T.
4. “I Won’t Give Up” by Jason Mraz
“Having struggled with suicidal thoughts and depression since a very young age, I have fought to keep on going to the next chapter. I have been faced with many terrible chapters in my life. I am married and have two beautiful children — my story and life just keep me from never giving up.” — Robert J.
5. “Keep Holding On” by Avril Lavigne
“It helps calm me when I’m having an anxiety attack because it’s mine and my sister’s song. When I need to cry, it helps me to break the dam so to speak, which means I get the therapeutic release of crying.” — Ciara L.
6. “One Headlight” by The Wallflowers
“It reminds me of the person I used to be. The fake version of me that was never truly me. It reminds me of how I found myself and my favorite line is, ‘There’s gotta be something better than in the middle,’ because depression makes me feel so stuck between my past and future — like I’m not going anywhere.” — Shelby M.
7. “Take Me Somewhere Nice” by Mogwai
“The song made me feel like I’m longing for a place that never existed. Somewhere far away from my own home.” — Azis N.
8. “Numb” by Linkin Park
“It was the one song that kept reminding me that I don’t, and won’t, be what people claim I am. I’m going to be stronger, smarter, better and faster than anything I was told. It helped remind me I’m tougher than what everyone wants to claim I am.” — Teddy B.
9. “Marry The Night” by Lady Gaga
“In the prelude pathetique, there’s a line that goes, ‘And I did what any girl would do, I did it all over again,’ in reference to her being dropped by her first label and when she was feeling like she was at her lowest. She once performed in an IKEA parking lot, and now she is one of the biggest stars in the world.” — Syarizat K.
10. “Vienna” by Billy Joel
“This song helped me through so many bad times, especially when my anxiety is really bad, the lyrics help me calm down my thoughts, breathe, cry and feel better after a while. The part when he says, ‘Slow down, you’re doing fine, you can’t be everything you want to be before your time,’ makes me accept what I’m going through a little more. It’s so so hard to be strong, but this song really does help me.” — Sarah O.
11. “Car Radio” by Twenty One Pilots
“The lyrics describe how mental health ruins your life so perfectly. ‘Someone stole my car radio and now I just sit in silence.’ It starts off mellow then builds up momentum until they are screaming, ‘Now I just sit in silence.’ He also sings about how he could just end things, but by how fast he sings the lyrics it’s like his mind is swamped with thoughts about how he feels worthless and contemplates life.” — Abbie S.
12. “Music of the Night” from “The Phantom of the Opera”
“It embraces the darkness and changes it to beauty. It helps me accept my mental darkness and makes me feel when I’m numb.” — Clare D.
13. “Smile” by Josh Groban
“I love his voice and the lyrics make me remember there is a tomorrow. Also, my mom always says ‘say cheese’ and makes me smile because I’ve read that smiling helps.” — Kyra S.
14. “A Little Too Much” by Shawn Mendes
“When I’m feeling lost and lonely, this song helps me remember that it won’t last forever. I am strong and I will get through this, like I’ve gotten through before. Sometimes life can just be a little too much and that’s OK.” — Kendra W.
15. “A Better Son/Daughter” by Rilo Kiley
“I can relate to this song from the first line to the last. From the relationship with my mother and her mental illness to my anxiety and depression. And it sounds like a march. You’ve just gotta keep marching on.” — Katie M.
16. “Live This Life” by The Natural & Supereeego
“I resonated with so many of the lyrics. Knowing someone out there felt how I felt was comforting. At 3 a.m., when you are alone with your thoughts, music is there to let you know you aren’t really alone.” — Brittanie M.
17. “Better Man” by Robbie Williams
“It keeps me mindful that I’m healing and feeling; that even though shame is a big part of my battle, I will overcome it and I will grow through the pain; that I’m doing the best I can and when I feel unloved and alone that ‘love is all around.’ My depression hits me hardest at night so I turn to music.” — Kit M.
18. “Try” by Pink
“Every time I’m listening to this song, especially the chorus, I like to sing the lyrics to remind me that, even though I’m hurting, I will get through this.” — Melanie M.
19. “Missing You” by All Time Low
“The lines, ‘So 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,’ reminds me that tough times are inevitable, but sometimes all you have to do is take this first little baby step and the rest falls into place.” — T.J A.
20. “Satellite” by Rise Against
“It makes me feel like I can take on the world despite all the crap going on. It gives me energy, pushes me to move on and breathe. It makes me strong again. Rise Against songs are pretty amazing in general and have already saved me and brought me back so many times when I’m down, but this one’s my favorite.” — Sabine R.