[whimsicalman]

This may be an odd post, but I know that music is a tool that people use to help cope with depression, or anything, really. I don't use it, myself, on a regular basis. But sometimes a song or album will somehow resonate with my feelings of depression, sometimes lifiting me up a little bit in the midst of it, sometimes just making me consider it a little.

Lately parts of the lyrics to "The Greatest Show" from the movie musical The Greatest Showman have been weirdly helpful. So here is the part I am referring to, followed by what it makes me think, in terms of my depression.

Don't fight it, it's coming for you, running at ya

It's only this moment, don't care what comes after

Your fever dream, can't you see it getting closer

Just surrender 'cause you feel the feeling taking over

It's fire, it's freedom, it's flooding open

It's a preacher in the pulpit and you'll find devotion

There's something breaking at the brick of every wall, it's holding

All that you know So tell me do you wanna go?


Where it's covered in all the colored lights

Where the runaways are running the night

Impossible comes true, it's taking over you

Oh, this is the greatest show

We light it up, we won't come down

And the sun can't stop us now

Watching it come true, it's taking over you

Oh, this is the greatest show

So the "greatest show," for me, is the hope for and the attainment of feeling free from my depression. The happiness, Or joy. Or simple contentment, without the dark cloud of sadness, moodiness, irritability, etc. that I feel. I like to think of it in terms of the all the coolness that this section of lyrics presents the circus as - all the colored lights, the rush of feeling that can't be overtaken or stopped, where the weirdos like us mental health sufferers claim ownership and run with it. Sounds awesome, right?

So, there you go. My weird approach to a song lyric that is upbeat in sound and from which part of it I can impose an interpretation of hope.

Your turn.

[instant depresso]

That's interesting, personally, it's the song 1-800-273-8255 that always makes me feel a bit better. Because it starts with exactly how I feel, then at the end it makes me feel like someone wants me to get better, kinda. The melody is great as well, the song is so close to perfection.

So here's some of the lyrics:
I've been on the low
I been taking my time
I feel like I'm out of my mind
It feel like my life ain't mine
(Who can relate? Woo!)
I've been on the low
I been taking my time
I feel like I'm out of my mind
It feel like my life ain't mine
I don't wanna be alive
I just wanna die today

[...]

I want you to be alive
You don't gotta die today
You don't gotta die

I know where you been, where you are, where you goin'
I know you're the reason I believe in life
What's the day without a little night?
I'm just tryna shed a little light
It can be hard
It can be so hard
But you gotta live right now
You got everything to give right now

[...]

Pain don't hurt the same, I know
The lane I travel feels alone
But I'm moving 'til my legs give out
And I see my tears melt in the snow
But I don't wanna cry
I don't wanna cry anymore
I wanna feel alive
I don't even wanna die anymore
Oh I don't wanna
I don't wanna
I don't even wanna die anymore

Listening to the whole song is of course a lot different from reading the lyrics, I often listen to this song on repeat during a depressive episode, it helps that tiny bit

This video, with the photo and the cinematic ending song playing from the The Theory of Everything, just breaks my heart and gives me hope at the same time. Breaks my heart that there'll be people like Dr.Stephen Hawking who suffer, and gives me the hope that I can be a pharmaceutical scientist and hopefully discover better drugs.

" here I am, at the end of me,

trying to hold on to what I can't see

I forgot how to hold, this night's been so long

I cling to your promise, their will be a dawn"

superchick- beauty from pain

You taught me the courage of stars before you left
How light carries on endlessly, even after death
With shortness of breath, you explained the infinite
How rare and beautiful it is to even exist
I couldn't help but ask
For you to say it all again
I tried to write it down
But I could never find a pen
I'd give anything to hear
You say it one more time
That the universe was made
Just to be seen by my eyes

I couldn't help but ask
For you to say it all again
I tried to write it down
But I could never find a pen
I'd give anything to hear
You say it one more time
That the universe was made
Just to be seen by my eyes
With shortness of breath, I'll explain the infinite
How rare and beautiful it truly is that we exist

[Laure]

This may sound strange but sometimes listening to I guess depressed type songs makes me feel better

I'm not sure why. I mean sometimes they make me cry which actually makes me feel better

But even if I don't cry, those depressed type songs that have good meaningful lyrics makes me happier

[whimsicalman]

Originally Posted by instant depresso

That's interesting, personally, it's the song 1-800-273-8255 that always makes me feel a bit better. Because it starts with exactly how I feel, then at the end it makes me feel like someone wants me to get better, kinda. The melody is great as well, the song is so close to perfection.

. . . Listening to the whole song is of course a lot different from reading the lyrics, I often listen to this song on repeat during a depressive episode, it helps that tiny bit

You're right. The auditory experience definitely has something to do with how we experience the lyric (obviously, since music is an auditory experience). And I barely mentioned that in my OP. For the example I gave, the beat and rhythm defintely catch me first, then hold me as I re-interpret the lyric to fit my mental health needs.


Thanks for sharing. Please share others, if you think of them!

[whimsicalman]

Originally Posted by TheLonelyChemist

This video, with the photo and the cinematic ending song playing from the The Theory of Everything, just breaks my heart and gives me hope at the same time. Breaks my heart that there'll be people like Dr.Stephen Hawking who suffer, and gives me the hope that I can be a pharmaceutical scientist and hopefully discover better drugs.

I love how you interpret this for yourself in your profession! So cool, and I am grateful for the work you do for all of us who suffer with mental health.

THanks for shairing the video and song!

[whimsicalman]

Originally Posted by Laure

This may sound strange but sometimes listening to I guess depressed type songs makes me feel better

I'm not sure why. I mean sometimes they make me cry which actually makes me feel better

But even if I don't cry, those depressed type songs that have good meaningful lyrics makes me happier

Doesn't sound strange at all. Hearing those types of songs probably helps you feel like someone gets you, and crying lets you release those feelings physiologically (however that works, as I can't remember at the moment). It's like you're in that negative space and rising above it at the same time.

[whimsicalman]

Originally Posted by raging vortex

" here I am, at the end of me,

trying to hold on to what I can't see

I forgot how to hold, this night's been so long

I cling to your promise, their will be a dawn"

superchick- beauty from pain

Love it! What a great lyric . . and title. Thanks for sharing!

[Laure]

Originally Posted by whimsicalman

Doesn't sound strange at all. Hearing those types of songs probably helps you feel like someone gets you, and crying lets you release those feelings physiologically (however that works, as I can't remember at the moment). It's like you're in that negative space and rising above it at the same time.

Exactly! That last part you said. Thanks. That's awesome

[MatBell]

A black eyed dog he called at my door
A black eyed dog he called for more
A black eyed dog knew my name
A black eyed dog knew my name

[Carmina]

And she said, "I have swallowed a secret burning thread
It cuts me inside, and often I've bled"

Suzanne Vega - The Queen & The Soldier Lyrics | AZLyrics.com

[whimsicalman]

Originally Posted by MatBell

A black eyed dog he called at my door
A black eyed dog he called for more
A black eyed dog knew my name
A black eyed dog knew my name

Wow, those lines speak to the feelings really well. Thanks for sharing.

[whimsicalman]

Originally Posted by Carmina

And she said, "I have swallowed a secret burning thread
It cuts me inside, and often I've bled"

Suzanne Vega - The Queen & The Soldier Lyrics | AZLyrics.com

What great imagery in those lines. Thanks for sharing!

Pink Floyd is one of my go tos when I am feeling depressed.

Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here (with lyrics)

[whimsicalman]

Originally Posted by Nowinners

Pink Floyd is one of my go tos when I am feeling depressed.

Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here (with lyrics)

Makes total sense. Mental illness of some sort does play into some of the music, as well as band member experience. I'm sure a lot of people with some type of mental illness resonate with those themes or feelings in the music. Thanks for sharing!

[mote.of.soul]

Two segments from Here To Stay by Korn resonate positively with my depression. In the sense that when I hear them I don't feel so alone with feeling messed up. I guess that was one of Korn's great musical gifts.

This state is elevating
As the hurt turns into hating
Anticipating
All the fked up feelings again

And...

You've taken everything and
Oh, I cannot give any more

(((Peace & Love to you PC))).

The Matrix Revolutions - Navras.

From delusion lead me to truth
From darkness lead me to light
From death lead me to immortality.

[TishaBuv]

Too many to list, all my life. Here’s one favorite:

Lent you outsiders and my new Badu
While you were thinking I didn't have a clue
Tough to sort files with your voice in my head
So then I bribed you downstairs with a Marlboro Red, uh huh
And now I feel so small discovering you knew
How much more torture would you have put me through?
You probably saw me laughing at all your jokes
Or how I did not mind when you stole all my smokes, yeah
And although my pride is not easy to disturb, yeah
You sent me flying when you kicked me to the curb
With your battered jeans and your Beasties tee
Now I can't work like this, with you next to me
And although he's nothing in the scheme of my years
It just serves to bludgeon my futile tears
And I'm not use to this, no no, I observe yeah, I don't chase
But now I'm stuck with consequences, thrust in my face, yeah
And the melodramas of my day delivery blows
And that surpass your rejection, it just goes to show
A simple attraction that reflects right back to me
So I'm not as into you as I appear to be
Although my pride, yeah, is not easily disturbed
You sent me flying when you kicked me to the curb
With your battered jeans, yeah and your Beasties tee, yeah yeah
Now I can't work like this, no with you next to me yeah yeah
His message was brutal but the delivery was kind
Maybe if I get this down, I'll get it off my mind, yeah
Oh it serves to condition me and smoothen my kinks
Despite my frustration for the way that he thinks
And I knew the truth, when it came, would be to that effect
At least you're attracted to me which I did not expect
Didn't think you'd get my number down as such
But I never hated myself, for my age so much, yeah
And although my pride's, yeah, not easy to disturbed, yeah
You sent me flying when you kicked me to the curb, yeah
So with your battered jeans, yeah, and your Beasties tee
Now I can't work like this, no, with you next to me, yeah
And although my pride's, yeah, not easy to disturbed, yeah
You sent me flying when you kicked me to the curb
So with your battered jeans yeah and your Beasties tee
Now I can't work like this, no, with you next to me
Songwriters: Amy Winehouse / Felix Howard

[mote.of.soul]

A few lines from the song Idiot Wind by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan:

I ran into the fortune-teller who said beware of lightning that might strike
I haven't known peace and quiet for so long I can't remember what it's like
There's a lone soldier on the cross, smoke pouring out of a boxcar door
You didn't know it, you didn't think it could be done, in the final end he won the war
After losing every battle

Imagine Dragons - Believer (although I am only the Observer, not any type of believer)

Awesome Sherlock edit... I fancy myself Mr.Holmes after watching that.

First things first
I'ma say all the words inside my head
I'm fired up and tired of the way that things have been, oh ooh
The way that things have been, oh ooh
Second thing second
Don't you tell me what you think that I can be
I'm the one at the sail, I'm the master of my sea, oh ooh
The master of my sea, oh ooh
I was broken from a young age
Taking my sulking to the masses
Write down my poems for the few
That looked at me, took to me, shook to me, feeling me
Singing from heartache from the pain
Taking my message from the veins
Speaking my lesson from the brain
Seeing the beauty through the
You made me a, you made me a believer, believer
(Pain, pain)
You break me down, you build me up, believer, believer
(Pain)
Oh let the bullets fly, oh let them rain
My life, my love, my drive, it came from
(Pain)
You made me a, you made me a believer, believer
Third things third
Send a prayer to the ones up above
All the hate that you've heard has turned your spirit to a dove, oh ooh
Your spirit up above, oh ooh

[sarahsweets]

Passenger Seat by DeathCab for Cutie:

I roll the window down
And then begin to breathe in
The darkest country road
And the strong scent of evergreen
From the passenger seat as
You are driving me home
Then looking upwards
I strain my eyes and try
To tell the difference between
Shooting stars and satellites
From the passenger seat as
You are driving me home
"Do they collide?" I ask
And you smile
With my feet on the dash
The world doesn't matter
When you feel embarrassed
Then I'll be your pride
When you need directions
Then I'll be the guide
For all time
For all time

This has become my husband's and my song. We sign all our cards "for all time.."

Often I think this sad old world is whistling in the dark.
Just like a child, who, late from school walks bravely home through the park.
To keep their spirits soaring and keep the night at bay.
Neither quite knowing which way they are going, they sing the shadows away,
Often I think my poor old heart has given up for good.
and then I see a brand new face,
I glimpse some new neighborhood.
So walk me back home, my darling,
tell me dreams really come true.
Whistling whistling here in the dark with you.
Often I think my poor old heart has given up for good.
and then I see a brand new face, I glimpse some new neighborhood.
So walk me back home, my darling, tell me dreams really come true.
Whistling whistling here in the dark with you.

A really dark song in itself but still it keeps my spirit up. Especially after being a victim of unrequited love.

[whimsicalman]

Originally Posted by mote.of.soul

Two segments from Here To Stay by Korn resonate positively with my depression. In the sense that when I hear them I don't feel so alone with feeling messed up. I guess that was one of Korn's great musical gifts.

This state is elevating
As the hurt turns into hating
Anticipating
All the fked up feelings again

And...

You've taken everything and
Oh, I cannot give any more

(((Peace & Love to you PC))).

Great stuff!