Feeling down in the dumps? Check out these 6 songs to help you get out of your funk.
1. “Shy Away” by Twenty-One Pilots
This song has a fast-paced, upbeat soundtrack and talks about breaking out of patterns of shyness and passivity, so you can become the person you want to be. It’s a good song to listen to if you feel anxious about something. In my experience, the poppy, retro sound and encouraging lyrics can help alleviate a lot of worries.
Favorite lyric: “Don’t circle the track, just break the cycle on half/And leave your skin on the floor.”
2. “Innocent (Taylor’s Version)” by Taylor Swift
This slower, more serious song is less for when you need a distraction or motivation, and more for when you need to sit with a darker thought. With incredibly beautiful lyrics, it talks about making mistakes and how people’s worst moments don’t define them.
Favorite lyric: “Who you are is not where you’ve been/You’re still an innocent.”
3. “Outsiders” by Against the Current
This motivational, pop-rock song is about finding joy even when you feel alone. It celebrates the fact that being an “outsider,” even if it hurts, means that you can be completely yourself.
Favorite lyric: “We’re misfits, rebels, we’re creeps and freaks/How come they’ve got it figured out/While we’re lost, waiting to be found?”
4. “Catch Us” by the People’s Thieves
This alternative, indie band is criminally underrated. Many of their songs, like this one, focus on their experiences with mental health. This one acknowledges that, some days, they feel tested by life, but they won’t let it destroy their spirits.
Favorite lyric: “Just take one more breath, then rise to take one step/You’ll know, you’ll know/That life’s not lived for death, and not just bones are left/To hold, to hold.”
5. “Be Kind” by Marshmello and Halsey
This one sounds a lot like a 2000s pop hit, back when everything tried to be as catchy and wholesome as possible. Although I don’t tend to like songs like that, this one is an exception. It describes a relationship where one person acts up due to some past wound, and says that people can be kind and vulnerable with those they love. (Also, the music video for this song features Halsey dancing – which she’s amazing at, like everything else.)
Favorite lyric: “I know you need…the upper hand even when we’re not fighting.”
6. “Partners in Crime” by FINNEAS
This one might not seem reassuring, as it tells a love story about two people who commit crimes together. But the combination of the lovely, simple string music and the lyrics – about people who make illegal mistakes, but love each other deeply anyway – makes for a good listen if you feel your own mistakes have made you unlovable. To quote another favorite song of mine, this song talks about how love doesn’t discriminate between the sinners and the saints.
Favorite lyric: “Thought you wanted me tied down/Starting to chafe/But it’s easy to see now/You just wanted me safe.”
Do you have a favorite song you listen to when you’re down? Let us know in the comments!
Photo by Mark Rohan on Unsplash
It’s clear that these songs were chosen for their emotional resonance, not just their popularity. This is a very helpful and empathetic article.
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I really enjoyed this list, these 6 songs to play when you’re feeling down give a nice mix of moods and reminders that music can help you feel understood and uplifted!