From TikTok anthems to chart-crushing pop hits, her songs are absolutely everywhere right now. The Canadian singer, dancer, and viral social media favorite, only 22 years old, has been fueling our powerful “who runs the world – girls!” playlists with her sassy diva lyrics ever since her breakout hit ‘greedy’ dropped in 2023. Before the release of ‘greedy,’ the 2021 track ‘You Broke Me First’ was already making waves, peaking within the top ten of the Canadian Hot 100 and landing in the top 20 of the US Billboard Hot 100, proving her star power long before her latest takeover.
With the recent release of the 2025 Spotify Wrapped, we stand on the edge of 2026. The Honey Pop decided to share with you Tate McRae’s essential tracks you definitely don’t want to miss.
‘Just Keep Watching‘
It’s a clear banger to go wild, whether you’re crushing it at the gym, sweating it out at home, or forcefully preparing for exams. All while aiming to reach that prime era where you can proudly tell yourself – you are the best! Released later this year, ‘Just Keep Watching’has already hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Electronic Songs chart and broken into the Top 10 on both the Global and U.S. Spotify charts.
Undoubtedly, Tate McRae’s popularity is skyrocketing just as fast as 2025 flew by. And surprise: ‘Just Keep Watching’ is featured on the soundtrack for the new Brad Pitt film F1, which follows the turbulent career of struggling race car driver Sonny Hayes, set against themes of success, friendship, and a dramatic crash back into reality.
So, if you haven’t started blasting this fiery, unstoppable track to crush your day and chase your dreams, do it now—even the F1 soundtrack credit can’t top it!
‘Greedy‘
Yes, yes, I know, we know, and TikTok knows too, otherwise, why would your feed be streaming the iconic“I would want myself” lines on every reel? You sigh, “Again this song?” We say, obviously—this track is a must. A hymn for all the broken women’s hearts, reminding them how precious they are and that no one should ever burden them if they can’t value their incomparable selves. ‘greedy’ ruthlessly dominated the charts in 2023, leaving every competitor in the dust.
Powerful as a self-affirmation, ‘greedy’ pushes even further, showing that your value doesn’t depend on someone you used to love or love in general. Self-love is always stronger, and it deserves to be celebrated just like this song. C’mon, ladies and gentlemen, after all, it’s her most-streamed hit with 2.07 billion total streams. Give it the credit it truly deserves!
‘You Broke Me First‘
After the first two bangers mentioned above, ‘You Broke Me First’ may have slipped a little from music lovers’ minds, but don’t let that fool you. It’s still another heartbreak-revenge anthem for the ages.
Written collaboratively with Griffin Stoller, Victoria Zaro, and Lowell, all talented musical producers and independent artists, ‘You Broke Me First’ is a more honest, raw, and quietly regretful take on love, especially compared to the bold, sassy energy of ‘Greedy.’ With its emotional vibe and perfect balance between “sad-pop” and mainstream energy, it’s a timeless classic that still hits hard in today’s overly digital world.
In fact, ‘You Broke Me First’marked McRae’s global breakthrough, amassing 1.9 billion streams since its 2020 release and remaining popular to this day.
‘Exes‘
Last but certainly not least in our selection is, of course, and we know you’ve been waiting for this one—‘ Exes,’And please don’t tell us you haven’t heard it or that you didn’t dance to it on one of your girls‘ nights out. We know you totally did. The pop, R&B, and trap vibes of the track actually stem from McRae’s spontaneous decision to add one final song to her album Think Later, serving as a logical conclusion that reflects the album’s full concept in a polished way.
Released the same year as ‘Greedy,’ it also earned its well-deserved spot on the Olympus with 735 million streams—a solid hit among her songs. Even more, her live performances of the track are outstanding, combining strong choreography with powerful vocals. Ironically, what began as an afterthought has become a chart-topping hit, proving that McRae is a pop genius who deserves all your attention.
The leaves are brown and orange, and the air smells like rain and cinnamon. We are finally in autumn, and we can’t think of a better way to enjoy a pumpkin spice latte and a Dark Academia book than with Hozier albums as the soundtrack. And because we know his songs can perfectly fit this season, we at The Honey Pop chose some tracks for you. These are five Hozier songs that you should have on your autumn playlist to make this season the best.
‘Shrike’ From Wasteland, Baby!
The lyrics of this song are heartbreaking, however, we want to focus on the body of the music. This track is a slow folk song, with an acoustic guitar leading the rhyme section. We think that Hozier’s voice in this song is ethereal, and somehow it comforts the listener. Play this song, close your eyes, and imagine yourself in a cabin in the woods. If ‘Shrike’ was a place, we are sure it would be that cabin you imagined.
‘To Be Alone’ From Self-Titled Hozier
You want something that makes you feel like a badass? Like you can’t let go of Tumblr 2016? Then this song is for you. On this track, blues rock takes over, giving us goosebumps with the perfect mix between the drums and the electric guitar. If you’re hanging out with your friends, and it’s your time to play some music, play them this song. Trust us, you won’t regret it. The thing with Hozier is that even dads love him, so you can never go wrong playing his songs.
‘Like Real People Do’ From Hozier
This one is for the hopeless romantics. For those who find comfort in romance books and period dramas. This song has the beauty of a lullaby with the magic of the folk genre. At first, the lyrics may seem odd, but listen closely and prepare to believe in love. In general, this Hozier song is perfect for this autumn, especially if you are reading books or even writing. ‘Like Real People Do’ is the ideal song to find inspiration.
‘First Light’ From Unreal Unearth: Unaired
This is the last song from his third album, whose main inspiration was Dante’s Inferno, as he said to Apple Music. This track represents freedom and seeing the light after a long time of darkness. As we noted with the previous songs, Hozier’s voice is fantastic, however, the cherry on top for this song is the backup vocals and the instrumentals that bring the whole song to a new level. We recommend listening to this song after a long week, with a cup of tea and a candle. If you like to run, it’s the perfect song to make you feel like the main character. Wear a scarf though, it’s starting to get cold outside.
‘As it was’ From Wasteland, Baby!
The beginning of this final recommendation is led by only an acoustic guitar and Hozier’s voice, which somehow creates a mysterious atmosphere. Then the violin joins in along with the piano, and the magic happens. This track gives off the same vibes as Game of Thrones and Outlander. If you like any of those TV shows, you will love these songs. Also, if this season gets you inspired to write, ‘As It Was” it’s the perfect alternative rock song to get inspired. If it were for us, we would write a story about a forbidden love in the middle of the woods with magic involved.
If you didn’t know Hozier or you did know him but not so much, these songs will bring a fresh sound to your playlist. His music is unique, and there’s no better season to become a fan of him and his music than fall. Grab your headphones, wait until it’s raining, light up a candle, and enjoy these songs.
Are there any other Hozier songs you’re listening to this autumn? Be sure to let us know by tweeting us at @thehoneypop or visiting us on Facebook and Instagram!
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Music can be a powerful source of inspiration and motivation in a world where leadership is often tested.
From anthems that encourage perseverance to ballads that remind us of inner strength, songs about leadership resonate deeply, echoing the challenges and triumphs that leaders face.
In this blog post, we delve into the “17 Best Songs About Leadership,” each chosen for its capacity to uplift and empower.
Tracks like “Whatever It Takes” by Imagine Dragons and “Go the Distance” from Disney’s Hercules remind us that authentic leadership is not just about authority but about the relentless pursuit of goals and the courage to overcome obstacles.
Join us as we explore the melodies that inspire action, instill resilience, and celebrate the heroes among us.
Then, dive into today’s article featuring songs about leadership you can add to your playlist.
These tracks were chosen because they describe what it takes to be a leader who helps those on their team achieve common goals and guides others to reach their full potential.
Here are the songs that represent what a good leader is in a Spotify playlist:
“Whatever it takes. ‘Cause I love the adrenaline in my veins. I do whatever it takes. ‘Cause I love how it feels when I break the chains. Whatever it takes. Yeah, take me to the top, I’m ready for whatever it takes…”
This song perfectly describes a leader’s determination to help their team reach their goals. It describes someone willing to do whatever it takes to achieve their vision.
2. Go the Distance (OST for Disney’s Hercules), Michael Bolton
“And I won’t look back, I can go the distance. And I’ll stay on track, no I won’t accept defeat. It’s an uphill slope. But I won’t lose hope, ’til I go the distance and my journey is complete.”
There are no shortcuts to true success. As a good leader, you must realize this and set an example for others. Inspire them to go the distance—to go the extra mile for their goals.
The path to a goal might be long and arduous, but a good leader can rally each team member to help them reach it.
“Now you’re looking at a leader. Now you’re staring at a queen. You said I’ll never be someone. But now I’m pulling all the strings.”
This song is about someone who has experienced discrimination, yet still managed to overcome all the challenges and reach the top.
Often, women leaders experience a different kind of discrimination compared to their male counterparts. It’s truly an inspiration to see a woman in a leadership position, knowing how difficult the way to the top can be for them.
“When you’ve been fighting for it all your life, you’ve struggled to make things right. That’s how a superhero learns to fly. Every day, every hour, turn the pain into power.”
If you’ve ever encountered leaders who inspire those around them, you probably also learned that they went through difficulties before reaching success.
This song reminds listeners that we discover our inner strength and power when we encounter hardships. Overcoming challenges is how we become great leaders who inspire others to give their best.
“I didn’t know my own strength, survived my darkest hour. My faith kept me alive. I picked myself back up. Hold my head up high. I was not built to break. I didn’t know my own strength.”
This song by Whitney Houston is about discovering what she’s truly capable of. By realizing her true power, she survived the darkest hour of her life.
“We can be heroes everywhere we go. We can have all that we ever want. Swinging like Ali, knocking out bodies. Standing on top like a champion. Keep your silver, give me that gold. You remember when we say we can be heroes everywhere we go. Keeping us down is impossible. ‘Cause we’re unstoppable.”
True leaders put their faith in their teams, but those who do not fully trust their team members’ abilities put the team’s success at risk.
Leaders who recognize each team member’s unique contribution will be rewarded with better performances and greater chances of reaching their goals.
“I’m gonna make it a brighter place. I’m gonna make it a safer place. I’m gonna help the human race. Oh, make it a brighter place. I can hold you. And I can comfort you.”
Good leaders look after the welfare of each team member, but great leaders will work for the greater good of all.
This song describes the “mission” of any great leader. It may sound idealistic, but if every leader worked to fulfill these goals, the world would be a better place for everyone.
“Now maybe someday, I’ll reach that higher goal. I know I can make it. ‘Cause I’ve got my strength. And it don’t make no sense not to keep on pushing.”
This song describes the determination and self-confidence of a good leader. Even when they encounter setbacks, good leaders keep pushing forward until they achieve their goals.
“So long, status quo. I think I’ve just let go. You make me want to be brave. The way it always was is no longer good enough. You make me want to be brave…”
Leaders often go beyond what society expects them to be capable of. They venture into untested waters in pursuit of excellence.
One of the main qualities of a good leader is bravery. This song emphasizes this trait in leaders: They break beyond the status quo to achieve greater heights for others.
“Cause when push comes to shove, you taste what you’re made of. You might bend ’til you break ’cause it’s all you can take. On your knees, you look up, decide you’ve had enough. You get mad, you get strong. Wipe your hands, shake it off. Then you stand…”
Successful people, such as leaders and those featured in this post, often experience failures before achieving success.
However, they don’t give up easily, and neither should any of us. This song tells us all that to be good leaders (whether in our jobs or in our personal lives), we need to stand back up each time we fall.
“Heal the world. Make it a better place. For you and for me and the entire human race. There are people dying. If you care enough for the living, make a better place for you and for me.”
Great leaders have the will and the power to make positive changes to the world around them. This song is about how leaders can make the world better for everyone.
“I am a lonely hero, trying to fight my battles. Life likes to blow the cold wind. Sometimes, it freezes my shadow. Amid all this darkness, I sacrifice my ego. There isn’t no room for selfishness. We do it for the people.”
You’ve probably heard of the phrase, “It’s lonely at the top.” Leaders often experience isolation because of their positions.
However, good leaders will embrace this situation as part of their responsibility. There is no time for regrets or bitterness. What matters to them is making a difference for the benefit of others.
“He doesn’t fight crime or wear a cape. He doesn’t read minds or levitate. But every time my world needs saving, he’s my Superman. Some folks don’t believe in heroes ’cause they haven’t met my dad.”
We learn our core values at home, including leadership skills. In this song, Owl City pays tribute to fathers, who can be outstanding leaders and even be superheroes for their kids.
“Just a day job that someone’s gotta do. It’s kinda hard when everyone looks up to you. Try to make it look easy. Gonna make it look good. Like anybody would.”
This song describes some of the qualities of a true leader.
True leaders have qualifications that make them the perfect person for the job. They accomplish more than others and make the job look easy because they’re very capable.
“I read the rules before I broke ’em. I broke the chains before they choked me out. Now I pay close attention. Really learn the code. I learned to read the map before I hit the road.”
This song is about tapping into your inner strength and realizing what you are truly capable of. It is about becoming aware of where your power lies and using it to lead and succeed.
“I’m never gonna let you down. I’m always gonna build you up. When you’re feeling lost, I will always find you, love. I’m never gonna walk away. I’m always gonna have your back. And if nothing else, you can always count on that when you need me, I promise I will never let you down.”
Leaders look after the members of their teams. This song from Colbie Caillat is a true leader’s promise. It’s terrific when a leader builds you up and never lets you down.
Final Thoughts on Leadership
A good leader has integrity. They can communicate well and are sincere in all their dealings with others.
You can often tell if a company or organization has a good leader by their level of success. However, being a good leader doesn’t only benefit your career. It can also help your personal life.
We hope you enjoyed this collection of songs about leadership. Consider adding a track or two to your playlist.
If you’re looking for more collections of songs for specific topics, we recommend you visit the following posts:
Admittedly, our testing artists did push Jen beyond the boundaries of what a “normal” person might ask in a query, veering more toward a “record store clerk” level of familiarity with recorded sound. Cleveland, for instance, failed to get anything good out of a query for “mid-tempo California garage rock influenced by ’70s Indonesian pop,” while Heywood expressed dismay that Jen didn’t seem to recognize his request for “city pop,” a type of Japanese music that came to prominence in the mid-’70s and has seen a minor resurgence in popularity in recent years. But to Heywood, that kind of breadth of music is necessary, especially as a musician.
“A lot of musicians or producers, when they ask something of each other, they’ll use bands and other artists as a reference point, like, ‘We’re going to go for a Prince type of sound,’ or, ‘Let’s add some Clavinet like Stevie Wonder,’” Heywood explains. With Jen’s lack of understanding of both existing recording artists and even some fairly common genres and instruments, it makes it hard to really land on something specific.
“I kept trying to coax some warmth out of it, like vinyl hiss or saturation or something lo-fi or vintage sounding, but everything it made had the same kind of hi-fi, video-game-menu-screen-type sound to it,” Heywood says. “They even give you ‘lo-fi’ as a prompt suggestion, but that didn’t seem to make much of an impact. If you’re trying to get a certain sound, like ’80s funk, the closest you’re able to get is something that sounds more like Daft Punk.”
Every electric guitar sound that WIRED and the testers generated sounded almost too clean, and it was virtually impossible to get it to produce a track that wasn’t in a 4/4 time signature unless you used the word “waltz” in the prompt.
Some of this, says Jen cofounder Shara Senderoff, is to be expected. The tool is in its alpha phase, and the 10-second and 45-second tracks it generates are “meant to inspire and provide a starting point for creativity, not necessarily a final product,” she says. New capabilities are coming, and because Jen was trained using a limited data set, it has room to grow and “will expand significantly in the beta phase,” Senderoff adds.
Everything Jen made under the guise of rock music, Heywood says, was akin to “the clip art version” of the genre. Cleveland was able to coax out some songs that sounded “like they could be used in a car commercial” or that were “getting into Black Keys territory,” but says more than anything, she felt like all Jen’s musical suggestions were just plain hokey.
“It felt like the kind of music I’d make if I were messing around with my friends, joking about the cliches of other genres,” she says. “I could see some of the songs on a super bad Netflix dating show, but nothing I made felt like a threat to me personally.”
But what about everyone who makes the tracks you might hear on a Netflix dating show? Could Jen be a threat to their jobs? According to Blickle, almost certainly.
“If you’re a producer with a small budget and you’re just trying to get your content out, now you can say, ‘I’m not even going to pay a designer or an animator. I can just use an image generator,’” he says. “The same thing is true for a music budget. If they can pay nothing for something that was going to cost them $2,000, then great, someone will think that’s $2,000 in their pockets.”
Welcome to the ultimate list of songs about family to get those emotions stirring!
Family is one of the most profound and enduring themes in music. Whether celebrating the bonds of love, reflecting on shared memories, or exploring the complexities of relationships, songs about family resonate deeply with listeners across generations and cultures.
The best songs about family
In this article, we explore some of the best songs about family, each one a testament to the powerful role that family plays in our lives. From heartfelt ballads to uplifting anthems, these tracks provide a soundtrack to the myriad ways we experience family, reminding us of the strength, comfort, and love found within these special relationships.
Let’s delve into the melodies and lyrics that celebrate the essence of family, offering a musical journey through the ties that bind us.
‘The Best Day’ by Taylor Swift
“The Best Day” by Taylor Swift is a heartfelt song about family and the singer’s relationship with her mother. Featured on her 2008 album “Fearless,” the song captures the warmth and comfort of family through vivid, nostalgic storytelling. This tender ballad will appeal to those who appreciate the simple yet profound moments that define family life.
‘We Are Family’ by Sister Sledge
An iconic anthem celebrating the strength and unity of familial bonds. Released in 1979, this disco classic quickly became a symbol of togetherness and solidarity. The song’s chorus, “We are family, I got all my sisters with me,” emphasises the joy and empowerment found in familial connections, making it a timeless favourite when it comes to songs for family gatherings and celebrations.
‘Teach Your Children’ by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
A timeless folk-rock anthem that emphasises the importance of guiding the next generation. Released in 1970, the song advocates for parents to instil values of love, understanding, and wisdom in their children, while also encouraging young people to seek patience and empathy with their elders.
‘The House That Built Me’ by Miranda Lambert
“The House That Built Me” by Miranda Lambert is a deeply moving country song that reflects on the profound connection between a person and their childhood home. With its themes of nostalgia, self-discovery, and personal growth, “The House That Built Me” resonates with listeners who understand the significance of where they come from in defining who they are.
‘Father and Son’ by Cat Stevens
A beautiful song that explores the generational conflict and differing perspectives between a father and his son. The father’s verses express a desire to protect and guide, while the son’s verses convey a longing for independence and self-discovery. “Father and Son” is a timeless reflection on the complexities of family relationships and the universal journey from youth to adulthood.
‘Kooks’ by David Bowie
This endearing song celebrates the unconventional love and joy of family life. Released in 1971 on the album “Hunky Dory,” Bowie wrote the song for his newborn son, Duncan. Bowie captures the essence of parental affection and the promise of a nurturing, if not entirely conventional, upbringing. The song’s charm lies in its honest and heartfelt portrayal of family, highlighting the beauty of being unique and true to oneself.
‘Family Affair’ by Sly and the Family Stone
A seminal funk and soul track that delves into complex family dynamics. The song features a distinctive, laid-back groove, introspective lyrics, and an exploration of the human condition, “Family Affair” stands out as a timeless piece that speaks to the universal experience of family life.
‘Blended Family’ (What You Do For Love)’ by Alicia Keys
Released in 2016 on the album “Here,” this song features a collaboration with rapper A$AP Rocky. It addresses the challenges and triumphs of merging families, highlighting the bonds that form through love and acceptance. Keys’ soulful voice and poignant lyrics convey a message of inclusivity and compassion, emphasising that family is defined not by blood but by the love and support shared among family members.
‘Brotherhood’ by Stormzy
“Brotherhood” by Stormzy is a powerful anthem that highlights the importance of solidarity and loyalty among a circle of friends who are considered family. With a driving beat and compelling lyrics, “Brotherhood” delves into themes of camaraderie, mutual support, and the unbreakable bonds forged through shared experiences and struggles.
‘Mockingbird’ by Eminem
Released in 2004 as part of the album “Encore,” the song showcases Eminem’s emotional depth and storytelling prowess. Through poignant lyrics and a haunting melody, Eminem reflects on the challenges of fatherhood, his regrets, and his hopes for his daughters. It will resonate with listeners who can relate to the complexities of family relationships and the desire to protect and nurture loved ones despite personal struggles.
‘Keep the Family Close’ by Drake
A soulful and introspective track that delves into the complexities of maintaining familial bonds amidst personal and professional challenges. With candid lyrics, Drake reflects on feelings of betrayal, distance, and the importance of loyalty within his inner circle. “Keep the Family Close” serves as a reminder of the enduring significance of family ties, even in the face of adversity.
‘Daughters’ by John Mayer
“Daughters” by John Mayer is a heartfelt tune that reflects on the impact of father-daughter relationships. Mayer explores themes of love, vulnerability, and the lasting influence of paternal guidance.
‘Isn’t She Lovely?’ by Stevie Wonder
A joyful celebration of new life and the overwhelming love a parent feels for their child. With its infectious melody and upbeat tempo, “Isn’t She Lovely” captures the sheer delight and awe of welcoming a newborn daughter into the world. The sweet song has become a timeless classic, beloved by generations for its universal message of love, joy, and the beauty of new beginnings.
‘My Father’s Eyes’ by Eric Clapton
This song delves into Clapton’s personal journey of coming to terms with the absence of his father and the longing to understand him. It serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of understanding and forgiveness in reconciling with the past.
‘A Song For Mama’ by Boyz II Men
This soulful ballad expresses gratitude and appreciation for the sacrifices and guidance provided by mothers. With its smooth harmonies and tender lyrics, “A Song for Mama” captures the depth of the mother-child bond and the profound impact of maternal love.
‘My Little Love’ by Adele
Over a haunting piano melody, Adele delivers raw and vulnerable lyrics, expressing her love, guilt, and longing for her child amidst the turmoil of her relationship breakdown. “My Little Love” is ideal for those who can relate to the challenges of navigating parenthood amidst personal struggles.
‘Family Business’ by Kanye West
Released in 2004 on his debut album “The College Dropout,” “Family Business” showcases West’s heartfelt storytelling over a smooth, nostalgic beat. Through poignant lyrics, West reminisces about cherished memories with his relatives and emphasises the sense of unity and support that comes from his familial circle.
‘Father and Daughter’ by Paul Simon
Released in 2002 for the animated film “The Wild Thornberrys Movie,” this song expresses the unconditional love, guidance, and support that a father offers his little girl as she navigates through life’s challenges. “Father and Daughter”serves as a timeless tribute to the enduring connection and affection shared within families.
‘Piece By Piece’ by Kelly Clarkson
A deeply personal and emotive song that explores themes of love, resilience, and healing. Clarkson reflects on her own experiences with fatherhood and the impact of having an absent father. The song’s anthemic chorus celebrates the love and stability Clarkson has found in her own family, contrasting with the pain of her past. “Piece by Piece” offers a message of hope and empowerment in overcoming adversity and finding love and acceptance.
‘See You Again’ by Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth
Released in 2015 as part of the soundtrack for the film “Furious 7,” the song pays homage to actor Paul Walker, who tragically passed away during the production of the movie. The song reflects on the bond shared between friends and the pain of saying goodbye. “See You Again” reminds us of the enduring impact of friendship and the importance of cherishing every moment together.
‘Grandma’s Hands’ by Bill Withers
A tribute to the enduring love and wisdom of a grandmother. With intimate lyrics and a gentle melody, the song reminisces about the comforting presence and nurturing touch of a grandmother. Withers fondly recalls the warmth and strength he found in her hands, which served as a source of solace and guidance throughout his life. A great track to help you cherish the memories and lessons passed down from grandparents.
‘Family’ by Dolly Parton
With its gentle melody and sincere lyrics, “Family” pays tribute to the love, support, and sense of belonging found within the familial circle. Parton’s emotive delivery captures the warmth and strength of familial ties.
‘Cat’s in the Cradle’ by Harry Chapin
Released in 1974 on the album “Verities & Balderdash,” this song tells the story of a father who is too busy to spend time with his son, only to later regret it when his son grows up and becomes too busy for him. It’s a powerful reminder of the importance of prioritising family and cherishing moments of connection before they slip away.
‘Family Portrait’ by Pink
An emotionally charged song that delves into the complexities of family dynamics and the impact of parental separation on children. Through introspective lyrics, Pink reflects on the pain and dysfunction within her family, expressing a longing for healing and reconciliation.
‘I’ll Be There’ by The Jackson 5
With its tender lyrics and heartfelt delivery, “I’ll Be There” expresses unwavering love and support, promising to be there for a loved one through thick and thin. The song’s universal message of devotion and loyalty is great for listeners of all ages, making it a classic anthem of enduring love and commitment.
‘Creatures of Love’ by Talking Heads
“Creatures of Love” by Talking Heads is an infectious song that explores themes of human connection and the search for intimacy in a world filled with uncertainty.
‘Little Bird’ by Jonas Brothers
With its upbeat rhythm and optimistic lyrics, “Little Bird” serves as a celebratory anthem of empowerment and self-discovery. The song’s infectious energy and relatable message inspires you to spread your wings and embrace life’s adventures.
‘Never Grow Up’ by Taylor Swift
Featured on Taylor’s 2010 album “Speak Now,” this song captures the bittersweet nostalgia of growing older and the longing to hold onto the simplicity of youth. “Never Grow Up” reminds us to cherish the special moments of innocence and joy before they slip away.
‘Home’ by Michael Bublé
With its lush orchestration and nostalgic melody, “Home” speaks to the universal desire for a sense of belonging and security. Bublé’s emotive delivery conveys a deep longing for the familiarity and love found within the walls of home, striking a chord with those who appreciate its message of connection and belonging.
‘I Hope You Dance’ by Lee Ann Womack
This uplifting song encourages listeners to embrace life’s possibilities and pursue their dreams with courage and optimism. The song’s universal themes of hope, resilience, and the power of love make it a cherished anthem for graduations, weddings, and other family milestones. “
‘Brooklyn’ by Maisie Peters
“Brooklyn” tells the story of a longing to return to a familiar place and rediscover the comfort and sense of belonging it once provided. A good choice for those who have experienced the ache of homesickness or the desire to reconnect with their roots.
‘Begin’ by BTS
Featured on the BTS album “Wings,” this K-pop song is sung by member Jungkook, who reflects on his journey as an individual and as a member of the group. Jungkook expresses gratitude for the support and guidance he has received, acknowledging the challenges he has faced and the lessons he has learned along the way.
‘Family is Family’ by Kacey Musgraves
With its upbeat tempo and playful lyrics, “Family is Family” affectionately acknowledges the unique dynamics and unconditional love shared among relatives, no matter how unconventional or chaotic they may be. It’s an anthem for embracing the imperfections and the bonds that tie us together.
‘Daddy Sang Bass’ by Johnny Cash
“Daddy Sang Bass” tells the story of a family that finds solace and strength in coming together to sing and worship. The song’s uplifting message and spirited melody serve as a reminder of the importance of faith, love, and togetherness in overcoming life’s challenges. “Daddy Sang Bass” has become a beloved classic in Cash’s repertoire, cherished for its timeless appeal and universal themes of unity and resilience.
‘Through the Years’ by Kenny Rogers
“Through the Years” by Kenny Rogers is a timeless ballad that celebrates the enduring love and commitment shared between two people over time. Rogers’ emotive storytelling resonates with listeners who have experienced the ups and downs of love, serving as a touching tribute to the strength and beauty found in long-lasting relationships.
‘Mama Said’ by The Shirelles
“Mama Said” tells the story of a young woman who learns valuable lessons from her mother about love and relationships. The song’s message is about listening to mum’s guidance and the influence of maternal wisdom.
‘Dance With My Father’ by Luther Vandross
“Dance With My Father” recounts fond memories of a father’s love and the cherished moments shared together. The song’s universal themes of love, loss, and longing will be recognised by those who have experienced the loss of a parent or yearn for the chance to relive precious moments with loved ones.
‘Family Man’ by Fleetwood Mac
With its catchy melody and reflective lyrics, “Family Man” tells the story of a man torn between his commitments to his family and his desire for personal freedom. The song’s universal themes of love, responsibility, and the struggle to find balance outlines of the importance of prioritising and nurturing meaningful connections with loved ones amidst life’s complexities.
‘Mother-in-Law’ by Ernie K-Doe
“Mother-in-Law” humorously depicts the frustrations and tensions that can arise from familial relationships. Despite its tongue-in-cheek portrayal, the song’s relatable themes of family dynamics and interpersonal conflict have made it a beloved classic in the realm of humorous music.
‘7 Years’ by Lukas Graham
This song follows a man’s reflections on pivotal moments in his life at ages 7, 11, and 20, contemplating the passage of time, the pursuit of dreams, and the importance of family and friendship. “7 Years” covers the universal themes of growth and self-discovery, reminding us to cherish each moment and embrace the journey of life.
‘There Goes My Life’ by Kenny Chesney
“There Goes My Life” follows the journey of a young man whose plans are suddenly changed when he learns he is going to become a father. As he navigates the challenges of parenthood, the song reflects on the sacrifices made and the profound joy that comes from the unconditional love of a child. A good choice for listeners who have experienced similar life-altering moments, serving as a reminder of the unexpected blessings that can arise from life’s surprises.
‘Family Song by The Weavers
“Family Song” emphasises the importance of love, support, and shared experiences in fostering strong familial bonds. The song’s optimistic message and feel-good vibe serves as a reminder of the warmth and comfort found within the embrace of family.
‘Dear Mama’ by 2Pac
“Dear Mama” delves into 2Pac’s complex relationship with his mother, highlighting her resilience in the face of adversity and the sacrifices she made to provide for her family. A timeless anthem of love and resilience.
‘I’ll Always Love My Mama’ by The Intruders
A celebration of the unconditional bond between a mother and her child. The song’s universal message of gratitude and appreciation for maternal love highlights the irreplaceable role mothers play in shaping our lives.
‘Mama Tried’ by Merle Haggard
With its twangy melody and poignant lyrics, “Mama Tried” chronicles the narrator’s troubled past and the influence of his upbringing by his mother. The song’s relatable themes of parental influence, regret, and redemption make it a timeless classic in the country music genre.
‘In My Life’ by The Beatles
With its beautiful melody and poignant sentiment, “In My Life” captures the bittersweet nostalgia of looking back on cherished moments and relationships. The song’s universal themes of love, friendship, and personal growth highlight the importance of embracing the past while looking forward to the future.
‘Ready, Set, Don’t Go’ by Billy Ray Cyrus
“Ready, Set, Don’t Go” tells the story of a parent reluctantly letting go as their child ventures out into the world. The song’s universal themes of love, sacrifice, and the passage of time cover the emotional journey of seeing their children spread their wings and forge their own path.
‘Count on Me’ by Bruno Mars
An infectious song that celebrates the power of friendship and support, Count on Me” emphasises the importance of being there for one another through thick and thin. Mars’ earnest delivery conveys a message of loyalty and solidarity, providing a reminder that no matter what challenges arise, friends will always be there to lend a helping hand and provide unwavering support.
‘Hey Brother’ by Avicii
Avicii’s upbeat song tells the story of a brother offering guidance and support to his sibling, urging them to stay strong and persevere through life’s challenges.
‘Butterfly Kisses’ by Bob Carlisle
The story of a father reflecting on his daughter’s journey from childhood to adulthood and the precious moments they shared together. The song explores themes of love, sacrifice, and the passage of time.
‘Dollhouse’ by Melanie Martinez
“Dollhouse” paints a vivid picture of a not-so-perfect family hiding behind a facade of happiness and normalcy. The song’s unsettling imagery and poignant storytelling explores the pressure to conform to societal expectations and the complexity of familial relationships.
‘I’ll Stand By You’ by The Pretenders
With its stirring melody and powerful message, the Pretenders’ ‘80s ballad has themes of love, empathy, and solidarity, encouraging us to stand by a loved one through life’s trials and tribulations and offering comfort and strength during tough times.
‘Family Line’ by Conan Gray
With its gentle melody and poignant storytelling, “Family Line” delves into themes of love, dysfunction, and the longing for connection. A reminder of the importance of acceptance, forgiveness, and finding one’s place within the intricate web of family ties.
‘Chosen Family’ by Rina Sawayama & Elton John
“Chosen Family” emphasises the importance of finding acceptance, love, and belonging among those who may not be blood relatives but are nonetheless deeply cherished. Elton John’s powerful ballad serves as a moving tribute to the transformative power of friendship and the beauty of finding kinship in unexpected places.
‘You’ll Be In My Heart’ by Phil Collins
Featured in Disney’s Tarzan soundtrack, “You’ll Be in My Heart” speaks to the unconditional love and protection a parent offers their child, promising to always be there through life’s challenges.
From joyful celebrations of togetherness to reflections on the complexities of familial relationships, these best family songs serve as timeless reminders of the importance of family in shaping our identities and providing a source of comfort and support. Whether it’s through soulful ballads, anthemic pop hits, or heartfelt folk tunes, songs about family capture the essence of what it means to be part of a family in all it’s messy glory.
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Feeling hopelessly trapped?
Perhaps you’re stuck in a relationship where you’re no longer happy, or you could be stuck in a toxic home situation that you have to endure for various reasons.
Maybe you feel stuck because the methods you’re using to bring happiness into your life aren’t giving you the results you want. You may already own a lot of material possessions, but your wealth and success provide no meaning to you.
You might even be trapped in a job that doesn’t allow for personal improvement.
As dire as the situation may appear to be, it is nice to know that you’re not alone in feeling like this. Even before the pandemic hit the world in 2020, a survey revealed that more than half of employed Americans felt trapped in dead-end jobs.
Today, we’re sharing a collection of songs about being trapped. These tracks from various artists represent the different states in which people can feel stuck.
We hope that, through these songs, you’ll be able to pinpoint the exact spot where you’re feeling trapped. This way, you can channel your energy to extricate yourself from the situation and find true and lasting happiness.
1. Better Man, Pearl Jam
“She lies and says she’s in love with him, can’t find a better man… She loved him, yeah. She don’t want to leave this way. She feeds him, yeah. That’s why she’ll be back again.”
This single from Pearl Jam’s album Vitalogy tells of a woman stuck in an abusive relationship.
As with many victims of abuse, she is trapped in a cycle of violence, in which she hopes that the person she loves will eventually change and stop abusing her.
2. With or Without You, U2
“I can’t live with or without you…”
This song describes how a person is torn between wanting to escape and wanting to stay in a relationship.
Perhaps you’re in the same situation, where you love someone, yet also feel frustrated about the things they do. How does one remedy such a challenging situation?
3. Once More (With Feeling), Traffic Experiment
“Confined within these four walls I plan out my great escape. As I cling to this fading dream and pray I’ve not too long left to wait. And the world moves on through that door. And day after day you want me to do this once more (with feeling).”
This song is about the feeling of being stuck in a dead-end job for so long that there is no time to fulfill your other dreams. It describes the monotony of work when there is no chance for advancement or growth.
4. There’s No Way Out of Here, David Gilmour
“There’s no way out of here. When you come in, you’re in for good.”
In this song, a guy describes how we can get trapped in the lives we choose for ourselves.
These could be happy, fulfilling lives, or lives full of misery and missed chances.
“Freezing, can’t move at all. Screaming, can’t hear my call. I’m dying to live. Cry out. Trapped under ice.”
This song is filled with pain and suffering, and talks about isolation.
Many people feel that they are cut off from others. This loneliness makes them feel like they’re trapped in ice, where no one can hear them crying out.
6. Chains, Nick Jonas
“Tried to break the chains but the chains only break me.”
Looking for a song about being trapped in an unhealthy relationship? You might want to consider this song for your playlist.
It’s about loving and giving everything to someone who doesn’t appreciate any of it. However, you keep loving them, hoping that they’ll eventually love you back.
7. My Own Prison, Creed
“I cry out to God, seeking only His decision. Gabriel stands and confirms, I’ve created my own prison.”
In this song, a person’s bad habits caused him to be trapped in a prison of his own making. There’s no one else to blame. It’s up to him to get out of it.
“Oh, trapped in a box, I’m not alone. I know of others with a box as their home. A light only enters from a crack or a hole. Oh, this is not enough for a human to grow. Trapped in a box.”
Excessive gadget use can bring about the feeling of being trapped, which is the message of this song from No Doubt, a popular band in the 1990s.
The song tells of people who are “trapped in a box,” which refers to a television, the main source of entertainment and information during that era.
These days, it is our handheld personal gadgets that dominate our waking hours, trapping us in a virtual world with no real interaction.
“When I got nowhere to go and nowhere to be. “Trinidad Charlie” on a stool next to me. Reading his book about the “have” and “have-nots”. In between chapters we take another shot. And one by one we slide from reality. With nowhere to go and nowhere to be. Days turn into night, when you’re stuck in still life.”
Here is a song about how having nowhere to go can make you feel trapped. Those who experience this type of situation feel like the days just pass in quick succession without meaning or purpose.
10. Prisoner, The Weeknd feat. Lana Del Rey
“I’m a prisoner to my addiction. I’m addicted to a life that’s so empty and cold. I’m a prisoner to my decisions.”
This song is about feeling trapped because of a bad habit.
Often, people who are addicted to something find that life has no meaning. Fortunately, receiving appropriate intervention can be the lifeline one needs to escape the prison of their addiction.
11. Malibu, Hole
“Help me, please. Burn the sorrow from your eyes. Oh, come on be alive again. Don’t lay down and die.”
Feeling isolated can often lead people to feel trapped and hopeless. This song is about someone reaching out and offering empathy to a friend who is trapped in their own personal struggles.
12. No Way Out, Cobi
“So much of my life is out of control. Feeling like there’s no way out. I’m buried alive so deep in this hole. Feeling like there’s no way out.”
This song is about someone who may have made several wrong decisions in life, and is now facing the consequences of those decisions.
For them, it feels like being in a deep hole with no way out.
Sometimes, developing personal accountability is the first step toward escaping the deep hole people find themselves in.
13. However Much I Booze, The Who
“And however much I squirm, there ain’t no way out. There ain’t no way out. I don’t care what you say, boy. There ain’t no way out.”
This song describes an alcoholic who has given up hope of redemption because he is stuck in his bad habits. Fortunately, there is hope. Having recognized how deep he has fallen into his drinking habit, he can choose to kick it for good. It might not be easy at first, but getting the right kind of help will get him back on his feet again.
Final Thoughts on Songs About Being Trapped
Many of us feel trapped in some way, and this can bring a sense of dissatisfaction and unhappiness.
The good news is that feeling trapped in a situation is a signal from our higher selves that we need to get out of there. It tells us that the situation does not encourage our growth or give us the happiness we deserve.
We hope that the collection of songs about being trapped that we’ve shared today will help you realize that you have the choice and the power to get out of any situation where you’re unhappy and dissatisfied.
If you’re looking for more resources about songs for specific topics, here are some posts worth checking out:
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Turning your dreams into reality takes a special kind of determination.
Setbacks can block the path that leads to your dreams and it’s easy to get discouraged.
But don’t give up just yet.
One of life’s great joys is to pursue your passions. By doing so, you are applying yourself to things that you truly care about and setting yourself up for success.
Today, we’re sharing a collection of songs about dreams. We hope that these tunes provide the motivation you need to keep moving forward and never give up until you’ve achieved what you truly want in life.
It will develop your courage and make you more willing to take risks that, when overcome, will bring you success.
It will force you to focus on what’s truly important rather than dwelling on the drama of everyday existence.
It will make you resilient. You’ll encounter failure, setbacks, and other challenges along the way, like everyone else, but you’ll be stronger and wiser once you overcome them.
It will inspire others. The journey you take to reach your dreams will give others the motivation and courage to do the same.
Play these songs on full blast and get ready to live life as you’ve always wanted.
1. Long Live, Taylor Swift
“Long live the mountains we moved. I had the time of my life, fighting dragons with you. I was screaming, ‘Long live the look on your face.’ And bring on all the pretenders. One day we will be remembered.”
If you’re looking for a song about hard work paying off, you might want to include this single from Taylor Swift in your playlist.
It is a celebration of a triumphant moment after all the setbacks, hardships, doubts, and other challenges you’ve been through along the way.
2. Don’t Stop Believin’, Journey
“Don’t stop believin’. Hold on to that feelin’.”
This song shares a message of positivity for listeners who are following their dreams. It gives your playlist a hopeful vibe that everything will be all right, even though you may be encountering roadblocks on your way to success.
3. Great Expectations, Diggy Simmons feat. Bei Maejor
“They want me to fail. They wanna see if I make it. Got my back against the wall, put my head to the sky. No one let them break me. I got great expectations. Great expectations. I’m ready.”
It takes a lot of effort to break away from self-limiting habits. Once you do so, some people won’t be supportive, for various reasons. It might seem like they’re only looking forward to your failure.
However, this song fights back against that kind of hostility. It tells the world that you are ready to make all your dreams come true.
4. How Far I’ll Go (Disney’s Moana OST), Auli’i Cravalho
“See the line where the sky meets the sea? It calls me. And no one knows how far it goes. If the wind in my sail on the sea stays behind me, one day I’ll know how far I’ll go.”
Oftentimes, the dreams we have are not in line with what people want for our lives. It takes a lot of courage to break away from these expectations and pursue your own dreams.
This song from Disney’s Moana describes the challenge faced by those who must choose between duty and their true calling.
5. When You Believe, Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey
“There can be miracles when you believe. Though hope is frail, it’s hard to kill. Who knows what miracles you can achieve? When you believe, somehow you will. You will when you believe.”
This song, which is part of the official soundtrack for the Dreamworks animated film Prince of Egypt, features two of the biggest personalities in the music industry.
It encourages listeners to look within themselves and have faith that whatever they want to achieve is within their reach. The song is full of hope and encouragement to never give up on your dream.
6. Livin’ on a Prayer, Bon Jovi
“Oh, we’ve got to hold on, ready or not. You live for the fight when it’s all that you’ve got. Woah, we’re halfway there. Woah, we’re livin’ on a prayer. Take my hand, we’ll make it I swear. Woah, livin’ on a prayer.”
Here is another song about having faith and believing in the power of your dreams.
The path to success might be difficult, but the hardships feel lighter if there is someone there for you, supporting you all the way.
7. The Best of Both Worlds (Hannah Montana OST), Miley Cyrus
“You get the best of both worlds. Chill it out, take it slow. Then you rock out the show. You get the best of both worlds. Mix it all together, and you know that it’s the best of both worlds. The best of both worlds. Yeah.”
In this track from the TV series Hannah Montana, Miley Cyrus sings about how she gets the best of both worlds once she achieves her dream of becoming a pop star. She does so by creating her celebrity alter ego, Hannah Montana.
8. Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now, Starship
“Let ’em say we’re crazy. I don’t care about that. Put your hand in my hand. Baby, don’t ever look back. Let the world around us just fall apart. Baby, we can make it if we’re heart to heart.”
When you’re intent on following your dreams, you won’t allow anything to get in the way of achieving them. This song is a tribute to that kind of determination.
9. Dream Big, Jazmine Sullivan
“I gotta dream big. ‘Cause when it happens, it’s gonna happen real big. Yes, I feel it. I gotta move fast. ‘Cause when it happens, I can’t let it go past. Only get one chance.”
An effective tool to help turn your dreams into reality is avision board. This uses theLaw of Attraction, which states that you can achieve your goal by visualizing and focusing on it.
This song reminds you to pull out all the stops when you visualize what you want. Don’t limit yourself. You’ll be pleasantly surprised with the results.
10. Follow Your Dream, Sheryn Regis
“Follow your dream, the courage found within. Your soul is keeping you so strong that you could rise each time you fall. And stand up on your own. This time you won’t go wrong. Just give your best to hold your will. Persistently, become the one you’ve always aimed to be.”
This song reminds listeners that they have the inner strength to get back up after any setback they might encounter while following their dreams.
It lets them know that they can persist until they become the person they’ve always wanted to be.
Have you ever felt like giving up on your dreams? What made you continue going after it?
11. A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes (Disney’s Live Action Cinderella OST), Lily James
“Have faith in your dreams and someday your rainbow will come smiling through. No matter how your heart is grieving, if you keep on believing, the dream that you wish will come true.”
This classic song encourages all the dreamers to keep on believing in their dreams. Although we may have painful experiences in our pursuit of the lives we want, it will all be worth it in the end.
Have faith. One day, all that you’ve dreamed of will be yours.
12. Lose Yourself, Eminem
“You better lose yourself in the music, the moment. You own it, you better never let it go. You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow. This opportunity comes once in a lifetime.”
Life presents us with opportunities to make our dreams come true, but it is up to us to seize those opportunities as they come our way.
As this song says, we only get one shot, so we shouldn’t waste it.
Hopefully we all have the wisdom to identify these opportunities and the courage to thrive when the spotlight is on us.
13. Believer, Imagine Dragons
“Second thing second. Don’t you tell me what you think that I could be. I’m the one at the sail. I’m the master of my sea.”
Oftentimes, the reason we fail to reach our dreams is because we’re following other people’s ambitions for us.
This song is about breaking free from other people’s expectations in order to find your own greatness and be the master of your own destiny.
14. Fly Away, Tones and I
“I had a dream that someday I would just fly, fly away. And I always knew I couldn’t stay. So I had a dream that I’d just fly away.”
This track from Tones and I is about leaving in order to manifest your dreams.
Some places limit our progress in life. The only choice is to move somewhere else that supports your growth and dreams.
We hope you find a place where you have a chance to spread your wings, express yourself, and make your dreams come true.
15. If Today Was Your Last Day, Nickelback
“If today was your last day, and tomorrow was too late. Could you say goodbye to yesterday? Would you live each moment like your last? Leave old pictures in the past, donate every dime you have? If today was your last day.”
This final track presents a question about the dreams you are chasing. Do your dreams fill you with a sense of satisfaction?
Is it a worthwhile quest?
Will you live without regrets after you’ve achieved what you are seeking?
We hope the answer to all of these questions is yet.
16. I Can, Nas
“I know I can be what I wanna be if I work hard at it.”
This song has an empowering message for those who struggle in pursuit of their dreams.
The lyrics are very relatable in how they recount the challenges many will have to overcome in order to achieve what they want in life.
It reminds us that through hard work, focus, and determination we can achieve what we want.
17. Make It Happen, Mariah Carey
“If you believe in yourself enough and know what you want, you’re gonna make it happen.”
Having faith in oneself is essential to reaching your dreams. This 1991 song from Mariah Carey reminds us of this fact, as she encourages listeners to believe in ourselves in order to make things happen.
18. Almost There (Disney’s The Princess and the Frog OST), Anika Noni Rose
“And I’m almost there. I’m almost there. People down here think I’m crazy. But I don’t care. Trials and tribulations, I’ve had my share. There ain’t nothing gonna stop me now. ‘Cause I’m almost there.”
In this song, Tiana, one of the protagonists of Disney’s animated film The Princess and the Frog, expresses her willingness to forego having fun or taking a rest in order to finally have her dream restaurant.
What sacrifices are you willing to make (or you have already made) to achieve your dream?
19. Believe, Justin Bieber
“Cause everything starts from something. But something would be nothing, nothing if your heart didn’t dream with me. Where would I be if you didn’t believe?”
This song perfectly describes why it’s important to have someone who believes in you and your vision.
While in pursuit of your dreams, there will be times when you get discouraged, especially when faced with a lot of setbacks. Being surrounded by supportive people makes it easier todeal with failure and helps us get going again.
20. Impossible Is Nothing, Iggy Azalea
“Keep on livin’. Keep on breathin’. Even when you don’t believe it. Keep on climbin’. Keep on reachin’. Even when this world can’t see it. Know impossible is nothing. Even when you don’t believe it. Impossible is nothing.”
This song encourages us to keep on going and keep on climbing.
Even when we’re full of doubt, we must keep trusting that we can make it.
Impossible is just a construct that we can choose not to believe in.
21. Making Our Dreams Come True (Laverne & Shirley OST), Cyndi Grecco
“Doing it our way, there is nothing we won’t try. Never heard the word impossible. This time there’s no stopping us. We’re gonna make it!”
This is another song that reminds us to never believe that our dreams are impossible to reach. It is a declaration of how people who have dreams should try everything to get where they want to be.
22. Each Tear, Mary J Blige ft. Jay Sean
“In each tear there’s a lesson. Makes you wiser than before. Makes you stronger than you know. And each tear brings you closer to your dreams. No mistake, no heartbreak can take away what you’re meant to be.”
Everybody encounters setbacks. However, each moment of failure is an opportunity to learn something vital that will eventually propel us to success.
This song reminds us of this important truth and assures us that the hardships we might experience can also bring us closer to our destiny.
23. If You’re Going Through Hell, Rodney Atkins
“If you’re going through hell, keep on going. Don’t slow down. If you’re scared don’t show it. You might get out before the devil even knows you’re there. Yeah if you’re going through hell, keep on movin’. Face that fire, walk right through it. You might get out before the devil even knows you’re there.”
If you’re just about ready to throw in the towel while in pursuit of your dreams, you’ve got to listen to this song.
Its lyrics contain a famous quote that is often attributed toWinston Churchill. The statesman’s leadership and attitude during WWII encouraged people to keep going despite being faced with dire circumstances.
In the same manner, this song urges us to keep moving, to never slow down, even when we’re in the midst of a difficult situation.
24. Rise, Eddie Vedder
“Gonna rise up. Burning black holes in dark memories. Gonna rise up. Turning mistakes into gold.”
This song provides a sense of hope for those who are discouraged. First released in 2007, it is part of the soundtrack for the movie Into the Wild.
It tells listeners who feel hopeless after experiencing countless failures that they can still rise up. They can overcome the challenges blocking the way to their dreams and ambitions.
25. Hall of Fame, The Script ft. will.i.am
“Standing in the hall of fame. And the world’s gonna know your name. ‘Cause you burn with the brightest flame. And the world’s gonna know your name. And you’ll be on the walls of the hall of fame.”
What’s waiting for you at the end of the road to success? According to this song, those who make it will be celebrated. The world will know your name. You will be immortalized in the hall of fame.
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Looking for songs about loneliness?
Even if it’s an unwelcome emotion, loneliness is universal. It pays all of us a visit at some point in our lives.
The feeling of loneliness is not necessarily the effect of being physically alone. One can feel lonely in a crowd.
The physical distancing, lockdowns, and sheltering in place required during the pandemic mean that many of us have been living in isolation. Because of this, the CDC has declared loneliness as a public health risk.
Musicians are adept at describing the pain of loneliness. Hundreds of songs have been written about the experience of being lonely, and that’s just counting songs written in English!
For today’s article, we’ve rounded up 17 songs that best depict the feeling of being lonely.
The majority of the songs describe loneliness that’s caused by physical separation from a loved one. In addition, there are also songs that describe the pain of social isolation because of being different.
Before we dive into this collection, here are some tips for keeping loneliness at bay. Please note that these are only suggestions and should not replace the advice of a medical expert.
Quick Tips for Combating Loneliness
Whether you’re going through a low point in your life right now or are just in need of new tunes to mix things up a bit in your playlist, we wish you cheerful days ahead.
1. Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely, Backstreet Boys
“Show me the meaning of being lonely. Is this the feeling I need to walk with? Tell me why I can’t be there where you are. There’s something missing in my heart.”
How would you describe the feeling of loneliness? For some people, loneliness is akin to having a hole in their heart.
This song is about heartbreak and the inevitable loneliness that comes from being separated from a loved one. In this song, loneliness is like having something missing from them.
2. I’m so Lonesome I Could Cry, Hank Williams
“Hear that lonesome whippoorwill. He sounds too blue to fly. The midnight train is whining low. I’m so lonesome I could cry.”
Sometimes, being in a strange place can bring on a wave of homesickness and loneliness. This song describes the isolation one feels when far away from everything familiar and dear.
3. Another Lonely Night, Adam Lambert
“Another day, another lonely night. I would do anything to have you by my side. Another day, another lonely night. Don’t wanna throw away another lonely life.”
Have you ever pined for a loved one who’s far away from you? This song describes that lonely, empty feeling when the one you love is not physically present.
4. The Outside, Taylor Swift
“How can I ever try to be better? Nobody ever lets me in. And I can still see you. This ain’t the best view. On the outside looking in. I’ve been a lot of lonely places. I’ve never been on the outside.”
At 12 years old, Taylor Swift’s interests and hobbies were different from the other kids at her school, and she was made to feel like an outcast because of it.
At that time, she had just gotten her first guitar. She wrote this song describing the feeling of isolation she experienced at school.
5. Wake Up Alone, The Chainsmokers ft. Jhené Aiko
“Will you still care in the morning when the magic’s gone? And will you be there in the morning? Do you stay when it all goes? Or will I wake up alone?”
This song is about the uncertainty of showing one’s true self to another person. In it, the singer wonders whether showing their vulnerability to another causes the person to turn away, leaving them alone.
6. Astronaut, Simple Plan
“Can anybody hear me, or am I just talking to myself? My mind is running empty in the search for someone else who doesn’t look right through me. It’s all just static in my head. Can anybody tell me why I’m lonely like a satellite?”
Many people who feel the pain of isolation equate it with being an astronaut adrift in outer space. There’s no one to reach out to.
Just like everybody else, lonely people long for connection. They long to be seen, heard, and acknowledged.
7. Away From the Sun, 3 Doors Down
“Cause now again I’ve found myself so far down. Away from the sun that shines into the darkest place. I’m so far down, away from the sun that shines to light the way for me. To find my way back into the arms that care about the ones like me. I’m so far down, away from the sun again.”
This song likens loneliness and isolation to being away from the sun, where everything is dark and nothing grows.
Loneliness shows us what we lack — the presence of a loved one, the acceptance of peers, or the company of others with whom we can share our life experiences. In fact, in her poem The Loneliness One Dare Not Sound, Emily Dickinson described loneliness as a “horror” and something to be scared of.
8. The Lonely, Christina Perri
“Dancing slowly in an empty room. Can the lonely take the place of you? I sing myself a quiet lullaby. Let you go and let the lonely in, to take my heart again.”
In this song, Christina Perri wonders whether loneliness is the appropriate replacement for somebody after a breakup. She ultimately learns to let go so she can put her life back in order.
9. I’m With You, Avril Lavigne
“I’m looking for a place. I’m searching for a face. Is anybody here I know? ‘Cause nothing’s going right and everything’s a mess. And no one likes to be alone.”
In this song, someone who is lonely is reaching out to others to end their feeling of isolation. They’re asking for help, hoping someone will recognize they are in need of companionship.
10. Invisible, Hunter Hayes
“Crowded places are the loneliest places for outcasts and rebels, or anyone who just dares to be different. And you’ve been trying for so long to find out where your place is. But in their narrow minds there’s no room for anyone who dares to do something different…”
This song describes the fear and isolation felt by young people who are bullied for being different. Hunter Hayes offers a reassuring message that it won’t always be that way.
He assures listeners that, one day, there will be people who will offer support for those who have felt the sting of social isolation.
11. I Wanna Dance With Somebody, Whitney Houston
“Oh, I wanna dance with somebody. I wanna feel the heat with somebody. Yeah, I wanna dance with somebody, with somebody who loves me.”
In this song, Whitney Houston expresses her loneliness due to being single. She longs to be with someone who can give her the love she wants.
12. Blue Moon, Beck
“I’m so tired of being alone. These penitent walls are all I’ve known. The songbird calling across the water, outside my silent asylum. Oh, don’t leave me on my own, left me standing all alone.”
Sometimes, we just have to vent the frustration we feel that is caused by our loneliness. Beck does just that with his song Blue Moon.
In the song, he states that he’s tired of being alone. Perhaps he has built emotional walls around himself to keep others out. But now he’s tired of the loneliness.
Perhaps it’s time to break down those walls and let whatever’s outside in.
13. All by Myself, Celine Dion
“Living alone, I think of all the friends I’ve known. But when I dial the telephone, nobody’s home. All by myself. Don’t wanna be all by myself anymore.”
Here is another song that speaks out about loneliness. It’s about someone who has taken her previous romantic relationships and friendships for granted.
Now she’s alone and wants to reach out to others, but no one’s available.
Nevertheless, as the song progresses, Celine Dion realizes that love is the cure for loneliness.
14. Lonely Day, System of a Down
“Such a lonely day and it’s mine. The most loneliest day of my life. Such a lonely day should be banned. It’s a day that I can’t stand.”
This song is a straightforward account of a person’s experience of loneliness.
It describes the day as the “most loneliest day” of that person’s life. The narrator even declares that a day like that ought to be banned. Wouldn’t you agree?
15. Scared to Be Lonely, Martin Garrix & Dua Lipa
“Is it just our bodies? Are we both losing our minds? Is the only reason you’re holding me tonight ’cause we’re scared to be lonely? Do we need somebody just to feel like we’re alright? Is the only reason you’re holding me tonight ’cause we’re scared to be lonely?”
This song raises the question of whether people are scared of being alone and that’s why they stay in unfulfilling relationships, putting up withtoxic people.
How about you? Are you scared to be alone?
16. Only the Lonely, Roy Orbison
“Only the lonely know the heartaches I’ve been through. Only the lonely know I cry and cry for you.”
This song is about how only those who have experienced loneliness can understand why someone would shed tears when the person they love is gone.
17. How to Fight Loneliness, Wilco
“How to fight loneliness? Smile all the time. Shine your teeth ’til meaningless. Sharpen them with lies.”
Here’s a song that offers ways to deal with loneliness. However, as the song progresses, listeners find that, instead of being uplifting, the solutions only seem to make one sadder.
Final Thoughts Songs About Loneliness
There you have it — 17 songs about loneliness. This may not be the most cheerful collection of songs we’ve rounded up for you, but we hope that this post can help raise awareness about how loneliness impacts our lives.
If you feel that you’re at risk for the negative effects of loneliness, we encourage you to seek the help of a medical professional for diagnosis and treatment.
Meanwhile, here are some useful resources for dealing with loneliness:
In addition, check these posts out if you’re looking for song collections for specific topics:
There might be affiliate links on this page, which means we get a small commission of anything you buy. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Please do your own research before making any online purchase.
Feeling overwhelmed?
The past year has been a difficult one, and we are still not through the global COVID-19 catastrophe. Many people’spatience, compassion, and will power are nearing a breaking point.
Let’s hang in there a little bit longer. Humanity has endured so much throughout the course of history. Now it’s our turn this time, and we will get through this.
Generations before us have turned to music to reclaim their power during moments of hardship, and we can do the same. Today, we’re sharing a list of songs about hope that will restore your power and help you rise above the struggles you may be facing.
As you listen to these songs, visualize those obstacles crumbling. Envision yourself renewed and strengthened. Believe in hope, and in your own unbreakable spirit.
1. Wavin’ Flag (Coca-Cola Celebration Mix), K’naan
“When I get older, I will be stronger. They’ll call me ‘Freedom’, just like a wavin’ flag.”
This song became popular when it was chosen as the anthem for the 2010 FIFA World Cup held in South Africa.
Originally a song about the aspirations of a nation for emancipation, Wavin’ Flag has become an anthem for those who dream of a better life.
The song celebrates freedom, hope, ambition, and pride in our accomplishments.
2. Every Day, Rascal Flatts
“That I’m hangin’ on to your words with all my might and it’s alright. Yeah, I’m alright for one more night — every day.”
Sometimes we don’t realize how much difference we make in other people’s lives. Our actions towards a stranger could be the lifeline that they badly need at that moment.
This song is a tribute to those whose selfless, compassionate acts have given others hope that there is still goodness in this world.
3. Coming Out of the Dark, Gloria Estefan
“Coming out of the dark, I finally see the light now and it’s shining on me. Coming out of the dark, I know the love that saved me, you’re sharing with me.”
In 1990, Gloria Estefan’s career almost ended after anear-fatal vehicular accident. Her husband and son were also with her at the time.
They survived the accident, but Gloria Estefan was left paralyzed. When she finally recovered, it was a miracle.
Her first public performance after the accident was at the 1991 American Music Awards, where she sang Coming Out of the Dark. It is a strong message of hope and determination.
4. Hope, Natasha Bedingfield
“Remember morning always comes, as night surrenders to the sun. No matter how dark it may become, don’t stop your light from shining on.”
The song reminds listeners that no matter how bleak things are, that should not be a reason for quitting. Bedingfield assures us that things will become better. We just need to hold on to hope.
5. Lean on Me, Bill Withers
“Lean on me when you’re not strong. And I’ll be your friend. I’ll help you carry on. For it won’t be long ’til I’m gonna need somebody to lean on.”
When we’re starting to get overwhelmed, it’s nice to know that someone is looking out for us. This classic song from Bill Withers is a comforting reminder that if we have that one friend we can lean on, everything will be okay.
6. Hey, Hey, Hey, Michael Franti & Spearhead
“Until the morning comes, I will remain with you my friend. And we will ride until the sun goes to the place where it began. And we will live to laugh and cry another day.”
This song reminds listeners that obstacles can be overcome. When you’re going through a difficult time, having a friend helps make your burden lighter.
7. Never Give Up, Whitney Houston
“Never, never give up… No matter how many times somebody tells you it ain’t working. Never, never give up… Hold your head to the sky, look them right in the eye, tell ’em you will never quit until the day you get it right.”
In this unreleased song by Whitney Houston, she tells listeners to never quit, even when they’re considering throwing in the towel. She encourages them to keep going—to do better and reach higher.
“Don’t give up because you want to burn bright. If darkness blinds you I, I will shine to guide you.”
Listening to this song lifts the spirit, regardless of your religious or spiritual leanings.
The song offers reassurance that, no matter how lost or hopeless you’re feeling, if there is someone who loves you, then it’s worth every effort toovercome those obstacles in life.
9. When We Stand Together, Nickelback
“Hey, yeah, yeah, yeah, hey, yeah. We must stand together… There’s no giving in. Hey, yeah, yeah, hey, yeah. A hand in hand forever… That’s when we all win.”
Sometimes difficulties in our lives are caused by rifts in our relationships with others. If we let things fester, the quality of our lives is affected. However, there is always hope for reconciliation.
This song offers a way to undo the damages caused by conflict: We must all work together to achieve peace. This peace can bring the hope that the world sorely needs.
10. Heal the World, Michael Jackson
“Heal the world. Make it a better place for you and for me and the entire human race.”
Many places around the world are devastated by disasters, both natural and man-made.
It can be very difficult for hope to thrive in these places.
This song is a reminder that human beings are accountable for the state of our planet.
In order to foster hope for others, we need to embrace practices that nurture rather than destroy. We need to start seeing others not as separate entities, but as part of our global family.
11. A Million Dreams, P!nk with Ndlovu Youth Choir
“‘Cause every night I lie in bed, the brightest colors fill my head. A million dreams are keeping me awake. I think of what the world could be, a vision of the one I see. A million dreams is all it’s gonna take. Oh, a million dreams for the world we’re gonna make.”
Listen to Pink’s stirring rendition of this song from the movie The Greatest Showman. The song’s lyrics tell us to never give up hope that our dreams will come true. It also tells us that there is a better tomorrow for all of creation.
12. After the Rain, Nelson
“Whoa, after the rain washes away the tears and all the pain, only after the rain can you live again.”
While in the midst of a major setback, many people find it hard to imagine that life can ever be good again.
This song from the early 1990s tells us that it is time to live again. Think of this as the start of a brand new chapter in your life story.
13. Can’t Back Down, Demi Lovato and Camp Rock 2 Cast
“We can’t back down, there’s too much at stake. This is serious, don’t walk away.”
This song is an official soundtrack for Disney Channel’s Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam. In the film, Demi Lovato (playing Mitchie Torres) tries to raise her friends’ morale by telling them that they should not give up, even if the situation is bleak at Camp Rock.
Real life is much the same. We can’t give up when presented with challenges. Take that obstacle and turn it into a learning experience that catapults you to success.
14. Hang in Long Enough, Phil Collins
“You never thought you’d ever get the chance. You never thought your break would come along. If you tell me what you want, I’ll find the key. Just reach out and touch it’s all yours if you hang in.”
When we’re working hard to achieve our dreams, obstacles inevitably come along to test our determination.
Sometimes, these challenges seem to go on and on. We begin to think that there is no light at the end of the tunnel.
It is in this moment that we need to increase our resolve to keep trying. Hang in there, because things will eventually get better.
15. That’s the Way It Is, Celine Dion
“Don’t surrender ’cause you can win in this thing called love. When you want it the most there’s no easy way out… Don’t give up on your faith. Love comes to those who believe it. And that’s the way it is.”
Do your dreams seem so far out of reach that you’re beginning to get discouraged?
This song reminds us that our dreams can come true as long as we have faith and don’t give up.
Final Thoughts Songs About Hope
We hope you enjoyed this collection of songs about hope, and that they will give you the courage to keep moving forward, even in the darkest of days.
Hope is what gets us through our darkest moments. It empowers us to improve our circumstances. Keep hope alive and you will achieve great things.
If you are looking for other song suggestions, check out the following articles for more lists of songs about specific topics:
There might be affiliate links on this page, which means we get a small commission of anything you buy. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Please do your own research before making any online purchase.
Many of us don’t enjoy going through changes, yet it is something we all experience on a regular basis.
Music can be the best companion to help soften the blow while you’re going through a major upheaval in your life. It’s as if music is a force that can reach us on a soul level when things are scary and uncertain—when we stand at the threshold of something new in life.
To help you walk the new path in your life, we’ve compiled a list of empowering songs about change.
Some of the songs in this collection are famous, and you may already know their lyrics. Sing right along with them, at the top of your lungs if you must!
1. Tonight, Tonight, Smashing Pumpkins
“…Our lives are forever changed. We will never be the same. The more you change the less you feel.”
We start our list with one of the most popular songs of the 1990s, Tonight, Tonight. This song is from the group Smashing Pumpkins.
You may have done things in the past that made you proud or embarrassed, brave or more afraid. Regardless, all of these things are now in the past.
The best thing to do, this song tells us, is move forward, reaping the lessons of what has been and doing your best to make better choices in the future.
2. All Things Must Pass, George Harrison
“All things must pass, none of life’s strings can last. So I must be on my way and face another day.”
This song reminds us that things inevitably come to an end, and when they do, we feel pain. However, it’s something that we have to come to terms with.
After the pain, things will start looking brighter again. Grey clouds will be lifted. There is hope for a more vibrant day.
3. 100 Years, Five For Fighting
“Half time goes by, suddenly you’re wise. Another blink of an eye sixty-seven is gone. The sun is getting high, we’re moving on.”
This song is about the transitions we go through in life. Everything seems to change in the blink of an eye, and suddenly we find ourselves living the last days of our lives. Have we lived well? Have we followed our hearts and chased our dreams?
These are some of the questions we ponder as we go through life’s changes. Will we achieve wisdom? What will we be our most treasured memories of who we once were? We’ll only know in the end.
4. Change, Taylor Swift
“Because these things will change. Can you feel it now?”
You may have faced a lot of setbacks in the past. Perhaps a new game plan is needed to finally get that elusive break you’ve been seeking?
“Closing time, every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.”
Sometimes endings can be opportunities for new growth.
It could be that you’re leaving a toxic relationship, or perhaps you’ve finally resigned from an unfulfilling job. Maybe you’ve finally decided to leave your hometown to move to another city.
“Grab yourself a drink with a pink umbrella. Goodbye yesterday. Well when life don’t go your way, well maybe it’s time to take a nice long break.”
When things in your life are not going according to plan, you have the power to change things.
This song assures you that it’s ok to say goodbye to the past and welcome a new and better future.
7. Stronger, Britney Spears
“Stronger than yesterday. Now it’s nothing but my way. My loneliness ain’t killing me no more. I, I’m stronger.”
A breakup—especially after being in a long-term relationship—can be a major upheaval that has far-reaching effects on our health and well-being. If you find yourself recently single again, life can be fraught with uncertainties.
This song is about someone who has left a relationship and learned to find empowerment and happiness in being alone.
8. Burning Gold, Christina Perri
“I’ve had enough. I’m standing up. I need, I need a change.”
We all have the power to change our lives. Sometimes, however, we forget this and get stuck in patterns of negativity.
We need to recognize our ability to choose a better life—to walk a new path.
When you’ve had enough of your old patterns and habits, let Burning Gold be your theme song as you forge better habits and a more positive outlook.
9. Wide Awake, Katy Perry
“Yeah I’m falling from cloud nine, crashing from the high. I’m letting go tonight, I’m falling from cloud nine.”
You may have gone through experiences that you wished never happened, and these experiences may have caused you great pain.
This song is about moving forward with life even when one has experienced a lot of hurt in the past. After all, letting go of the past is the first step toward true happiness.
10. Landslide, The Chicks
“Well, I’ve been afraid of changing ’cause I built my life around you. But time makes bolder, children get older. I’m getting older, too.”
You’ve probably experienced outgrowing people who are dear to you. It’s not their fault—we all change.
This song speaks of someone who has had this realization—who has outgrown their original feelings for their partner. It’s time to move on and live separate lives.
This change might be painful, but it’s the only way to continue to grow.
11. Breakaway, Kelly Clarkson
“I’ll spread my wings and learn how to fly. I’ll do what it takes ’til I touch the sky. And I’ll make a wish, take a chance, make a change and breakaway.”
This single from Kelly Clarkson’s album of the same title was written in collaboration with Avril Lavigne, and speaks of someone creating a major change in their life.
Often, our comfort zone lulls us into a sense of security. We don’t want to step out and take risks. However, we risk stagnating if we just stay where we are.
Making a major move, whether it’s in your career, relationship, or health, can be truly terrifying at first. However, if you do take the chance—if you break away—you might find yourself soaring to great heights.
12. I’m Coming Out, Diana Ross
“I’m coming out. I want the world to know. Gotta let it show.”
Sometimes, it can be terrifying to show the world your true self. It takes a lot of guts to just be who you are and stand up to others’ views of how you should act, dress, or think.
“So I remember we were driving…. And I had a feeling that I belonged, I had a feeling I could be someone, be someone, be someone.”
When you are stuck in a rut, with no opportunities in sight and surrounded by so much misery, that’s when you dream of getting away from it all. You want to experience something better.
This song tells of that kind of life, and what one woman is willing to do in order to get away from the chaos. Tracy Chapman sings about hopes lost and finding one’s personal power amidst all the hardships one has been through. (Here are more songs about hope.)
14. I Am Changing, Jennifer Hudson
“I am changing, trying every way I can. I am changing, I’ll be better than I am.”
Jennifer Hudson’s rendition of this song is full of power. The song is about giving yourself a second chance. This time, with the help of people who care, you’ll make it through. It inspires those who have been through a lot of disappointments to try again.
15. What About Now, Daughtry
“What about now, what about today? What if you’re making me all that I was meant to be? What if our love had never went away?”
In this ballad, the singer is asking for reconciliation. Maybe your relationship has been broken or you are on the verge of breaking up. If so, perhaps a change of heart is needed to save the relationship.
Will you take this chance and take someone back after all the pain? Or will you walk away and start again? The choice is yours.
16. Break Away, The Beach Boys
“And I can break away to the better life where the shackles never hold me down. I’m gonna make a way for each happy day as my life turns around.”
Change is easy when you can see the bigger picture. For many of us, taking the leap into the unknown is very scary, so we opt to stay rooted in place.
In this song, the singer chooses to leave the past behind and break away to a better life. They choose to experience happiness every day.
The shape of your future depends on your outlook. Choosing happiness often helps happiness find you.
17. Walk Away, Kelly Clarkson
“…Should you stay or should you go? Well, if you don’t have the answer why you still standing here? Hey, hey, hey, hey, just walk away.”
Perhaps you’ve had enough of a bad situation and the only thing left to do is to call it quits.
This song suggests that you just walk away. You can walk away from toxic relationships, a lifestyle you’ve outgrown, or anything that doesn’t nourish your personal growth.
18. Interlude: Moving On, Paramore
“Well, I could be angry but you’re not worth a fight. And besides, I’m moving on.”
Sometimes, we get hurt by how other people treat us. They trigger us, and it causes us pain.
When we are triggered, we tend to act in ways that are detrimental to our well-being.
This song counsels that the best way to change all that is to ignore the people who mistreat us. It’s better to move on and walk away, rather than engaging those who drag us down with their negativity.
19. You Learn, Alanis Morissette
“You live, you learn. You love, you learn. You cry, you learn. You lose, you learn. You bleed, you learn. You scream, you learn.”
As we’ve mentioned, change often brings pain before things get better.
This song, popular in the 1990s, was an anthem for change and growth. It says that the way we learn is through living, loving, losing, and bleeding.
That’s what life is all about. You might not like it, you might scream about it, but it’s the only way forward.
20. Changing of the Seasons, Two Door Cinema Club
“And I’ve worn out all the reasons to keep knocking at your door. Could be the changing of the seasons. But I don’t love you anymore.”
There are many reasons why relationships end. Usually, the two people involved go their separate ways after breaking up.
Sometimes, though, one partner might have difficulty accepting that the relationship has ended. He or she might continue working for reconciliation, even when the other party is no longer interested.
For this person, the realization is often late in coming. However, once they finally accept that the relationship is over for good, they can move forward and begin to heal.
21. Wake Me Up When September Ends, Green Day
“Summer has come and passed, the innocent can never last. Wake me up when September ends.”
Billie Joe Armstrong wrote this song in memory of his father who passed away when Billie Joe was 10 years old.
A lot of things change when we lose someone dear to us, and it often affects our outlook on life. Some of us might still carry the grief years after.
This song is a testament that, although time passes, the memory of the dearly departed can be a source of strength as we build a life that they are no longer a part of.
Final Thoughts on Songs About Change
Over 2,500 years ago, the philosopher Heraclitus proclaimed that change is the only permanent thing in this world.
Oftentimes, pain accompanies change. We grieve for things that once were part of us.
However, without change, we stagnate.
Change is necessary to grow and progress in life.
These songs about change can empower you and give you comfort during a major transition. We hope you’ve found a favorite among the songs in this collection.
You might also be interested in more songs compiled for specific purposes. You can check a few lists out below:
2023 was a banner year for anime. From beloved continuing series like Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba and Jujutsu Kaisen to long-awaited passion projects like Pluto and Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, there was pretty much something for every type of anime fan. While we’ve already published our picks for the best anime of the year and where to watch them, we also wanted to highlight one of the important yet overlooked elements of any great anime: the opening title sequence.
Opening title sequences in anime have a lot of purposes, from crediting the staff of animators who pour their hearts and craft into creating an excellent production to foreshadowing significant moments in the series itself. Combined with a particularly memorable theme song, a well-done title sequence has the potential to create a lasting impression on audiences and fans, if not even possibly eclipsing the quality of the show itself.
With that in mind, we’ve pulled together a list of some of our favorite anime openings of the year to highlight the work of the animators who created them while sharing our favorite anime theme bops.
Scott Pilgrim Takes Off — “Bloom”
Director: Masamichi Ishiyama Music by: Necry Talkie
Scott Pilgrim Takes Off was one of the year’s big surprises, despite being highly anticipated. The anime adaptation of Bryan Lee O’Malley’s action rom-com comic series turned the story of Scott Pilgrim and Ramona Flowers’ whirlwind romance on its head, reinventing its world as a way of reintroducing characters that fans knew and loved.
Chief animation director and character designer Masamichi Ishiyama’s opening sequence was the perfect reintroduction of Scott to new and old fans of the series, taking the video game-inspired visuals of the comic and injecting them with vibrant anime flair. Aside from a very clever blink-and-you’ll-miss-it nod to the opening sequence of the 2004 anime Beck: Mongolian Chop Squad, what makes the opening sequence for Scott Pilgrim Takes Off is for how much it doesn’t tease the big twist of the series. It’s just a brilliant distillation of what made Scott Pilgrim such a beloved hang-out in the first place, and that’s all that it really needs to be. Combine that with an awesome track “Bloom” courtesy of the Japanese pop rock band Necry Talkie, and you’ve got a certified banger.
Jujutsu Kaisen season 2 — “SPECIALZ”
Director: Yuki Kamiya Music by: King Gnu
This season of Jujutsu Kaisen took a significantly darker turn, and the series’ second opening title sequence encapsulates that. Just as Shōta Goshozono took on the role of directing the show’s second season from previous director Sung Hoo Park, so too did Yuki Kamiya inherit the role of crafting this season’s opening title sequences from Jujutsu Kaisen’s former animation director Shingo Yamashita.
Of the two sequences Kamiya directed for this season, it’s the second one, created for the “Shibuya Incident Arc,” that stands out as one of the year’s best. It’s dark, ominous, and foreboding; foreshadowing not only Yuji Itadori’s fraught battle against the cursed spirit Mahito and the increased prominence of the malicious jujutsu sorcerer Sukuna, but also the tragic passing of one of the series’ most beloved characters. It’s an apt opening for a bracing, violent, and heartbreaking season.
Heavenly Delusion — “Innocent Arrogance”
Director: Weilin Zhang Music by: BiSH
Heavenly Delusion was one of my favorite anime premieres of the year, so it’s little wonder the series’ opening title sequence would also win a place in my heart. Weilin Zhang absolutely nails it with this opening, translating the already excellent character designs by the artist known as Utsushita into scenes that feel as unruly and adventurous as the series’ protagonist.
One particular moment in the sequence that stands out to me is at the one-minute mark, when Kiruko is running against a pink and purple sunset sky, the outline of their body racing out of sync alongside them before eventually merging. It’s a memorable and impressive artistic decision that feels, in hindsight, like a symbolic metaphor for Kiruko’s struggles with body dysmorphia throughout the season. The gorgeous sequence is made even more impactful for how perfectly BiSH’s original theme song “Innocent Arrogance” complements it.
Spy x Family season 2 — “Ado Kura Kura”
Director: Masaaki Yuasa Music by: Ado
Who do you choose to direct the opening title sequence for the second season of Spy x Family, one of the best animated action comedies in recent memory, if you want it to be an absolute legendary effort? Why Masaaki Yuasa, former president of Science Saru, of course!
The opening sequence for Spy x Family feels like the anime equivalent of an Avengers-style team up, with Yuasa’s whimsical polka-dotted animation backed by a theme song performed by Ado (of One Piece Film: Red-fame) and composed by none other than Cowboy Bebop’s Yoko Kanno and the Seatbelts. The result is a sequence that feels every bit as auspicious as the creative team behind it, a wild and rollicking adventure that finds everyone’s favorite family of undercover spy-assassins-psychics enjoying a good cup of tea in-between performing donuts in their car.
Trigun Stampede — “TOMBI”
Director: None listed Music by: Kvi Baba
Much has been said about Trigun Stampede, the latest 3D CG anime adaptation of Yasuhiro Nightow’s space western manga, and the differences between it and the beloved 1998 anime produced by Madhouse. One of the key points of contention that fans of the original anime have is the absence of any equivalent to the 1998 Trigun’s rock-’n’-roll-inspired score by Tsuneo Imahori, with Trigun Stampede composer Tatsuya Kato taking on a more electronic and orchestrally inspired approach for the new series.
As a fan of the 1998 anime, I totally get it. But I will happily go to bat for it, and I absolutely loved the western-inspired title theme song by Kvi Baba and its accompanying sequence. Without fail, every time I watched this sequence before a new episode of the series, I was locked in and ready to take in the latest chapter in Vash the Stampede’s mission to protect the people of the planet Gunsmoke from his murderous brother Knives. It sets the tone for the series perfectly, striking a balance between mournful, adventurous, and appropriately epic.
The Fire Hunter — “Usotsuki”
Director: Kenichi Kutsuna Music by: Leo Ieiri
The Fire Hunter flew under the radar of many anime viewers this year, despite the pedigree of talent attached to its production. Make time to watch it — Ranma 1⁄2 director Junji Nishimura reunites with Mamoru Oshii (Ghost in the Shell) on an epic apocalyptic fantasy story and the opening title sequence for the series absolutely rocks.
Directed by Kenichi Kutsuna, who previously worked as a key animator on Puella Magi Madoka Magica and Dororo, the opening for The Fire Hunter is a beautiful and memorable sequence that expounds on Takuya Saitō’s delicately rendered character designs and pairs them with elegantly pictorial backgrounds. I mean, look at that shot at the 23-second mark with the shafts of light piercing through the thinly outlined mass of clouds! Art!
Vinland Saga season 2 — “River”
Director: Yūsuke Sunouchi Music by: Anonymouz
Like Jujutsu Kaisen season 2, the second season of the historical adventure epic Vinland Saga took a sharp tonal shift from the vibe of its first season. Far from a revenge story, this season’s focus was on Thorfinn’s search for a sense of meaning and a life separate from the vengeance that previously drove him.
Directed by Yūsuke Sunouchi, who previously worked as an episode director on the first season of Vinland Saga, the opening title sequence for Vinland Saga season 2 perfectly captures the feeling of someone emerging out of the darkness and grasping after a sense of renewed clarity and direction. It’s a sequence that drops you directly into Thorfinn’s mindset at the outset of the season and primes the audience for the next chapter of his story.
Rob Harvilla, Chris Ryan, and our intrepid host Yasi Salek converge onstage at the Teragram Ballroom in Los Angeles, California, to do a live draft episode in honor of Rob’s fantastic new book 60 Songs That Explain the ’90s. A heartwarming and funny evening from start to finish that we are so happy to share with all of you.
Host: Yasi Salek Guests: Rob Harvilla, Chris Ryan, and Rob’s mom Producers: Jesse Miller-Gordon, Jonathan Kermah, and Justin Sayles Audio Editor: Adrian Bridges Theme Song: Bethany Cosentino
60 Songs That Explain the ’90s is back for its final stretch run (and a brand-new book!). Join TheRinger’s Rob Harvilla as he treks through the soundtrack of his youth, one song (and embarrassing anecdote) at a time. Follow and listen for free on Spotify. In Episode 110 of 60 Songs That Explain the ’90s—yep, you read that right—we’re covering Sublime’s “Santeria.” Read an excerpt below.
All the way up to the mega-huge self-titled Sublime record in ’96, the album that comes out two months after Bradley Nowell dies, Sublime are never famous in real time. When you listen to Sublime, the dudes singing and playing for you, those dudes aren’t famous yet. They don’t know that they’re gonna be famous. They don’t know that the ’96 Sublime record is gonna sell 6 million copies in America. It’s a little heartbreaking, listening to Sublime, what you know that they don’t. Sublime’s first official-official album comes out in 1992. It’s called 40oz. to Freedom. We got a super-important Sublime collaborator, Marshall Goodman, a.k.a. Ras M.G., playing drums on a lot of it because Bud Gaugh’s got his own problems. This record’s famous—it sells 2 million copies in America—but it doesn’t blow up right away. Or, really, it doesn’t blow up fast enough to do Bradley Nowell any good.
This song is called “Badfish.” This is a top-tier Sublime hit, actually. This is maybe, probably, presumably a song about Bradley battling heroin addiction. “Badfish” is also the song that makes me think, if only for a split second, of Jimmy Buffett. Bradley and Jimmy. The clown princes of Margaritaville. Two barefoot bards of good-time partying, all libido and id and conspicuous overconsumption, but with a not-so-hidden soulfulness, a grace to them even at their bawdiest. Shrewd songwriters with hidden depths. Bradley and Jimmy—and Jimmy’s still present tense too—they don’t specialize in super-sad songs that deceive you by sounding all happy; they write happy and anthemic songs where the shrewd undercurrent of sadness somehow only amplifies the happiness, the anthemicness. The pain, the struggle driving “Badfish” doesn’t make it sound painful. The struggle just makes it sound better.
Yasi really likes that line: Ain’t got no quarrels with god. The use, the deployment of the word quarrels there. Yes. Great word. But don’t skip over Ain’t got no time to grow old. That’s—OK, that one’s a little painful.
Despite the fact that, again, Sublime are very much not huge or even “successful” yet—they’re not even on a major label yet—even so, 40oz. to Freedom has Greatest Hits energy. It feels monumental if only in retrospect. “Badfish” and “Ball and Chain” (love that one) and “Let’s Go Get Stoned” and “Don’t Push” are all back. Sublime’s covers of “Hope” by the Descendents and the Grateful Dead’s “Scarlet Begonias” are here, and this is the only record I’m aware of that covers both the Descendents and the Grateful Dead. “Smoke Two Joints” is here. “Smoke Two Joints” is a cover, also. “Smoke Two Joints” was written and recorded by the Toyes, a reggae band that started in Hawaii but later moved to Oregon. Tough break. Great song, great cover. When Bradley Nowell sings, “I smoke two joints before I smoke two joints / And then I smoke two more,” you believe him. But then again, you believe him when he sings anything.
This might be my favorite song on 40oz. to Freedom, if you want the truth. Ask him how he knows about hamburgers and Elijah Muhammad and the welfare state. Go ahead, ask him: He wants you to know why he knows. The song is called “KRS-One.” It is probably the best quote, unquote rock song about a rapper, ever. Just the delicacy of this song. The sweetness. The earnestness. Bradley just loves listening to KRS-One and wants to shout out everything he’s learned about by listening to KRS-One. And I love listening to him talk about why he loves listening to KRS-One; I even love when Bradley slips back into reggae patois while he does it.
He knows. He knows you know he just sang the words, We don’t want to pay no money fi hear the same old sound. He sells the fi there, somehow, maybe. Or maybe not. Or maybe you could also ask, Who’s “we,” Bradley? in the line Watch and we’ll take hip-hop to a higher ground. But even here, there’s a difference between wrapping yourself in the flag of KRS-One, so to speak, and simply waving KRS-One’s flag on KRS-One’s behalf. Not that this is the song on this record that unnerves everyone. At first, 40oz. to Freedom isn’t a disaster, exactly, but it doesn’t sell a ton. It doesn’t push Sublime to the next level. It doesn’t work, really, and it especially does not help Bradley Nowell in his very public battle with drugs. The next Sublime record is called Robbin’ the Hood. It’s from 1994, it’s four-track recordings, it’s lo-fi in the extreme, it’s experimental, it has a theoretically visionary sample-heavy beat-tape vibe, it’s got Gwen Stefani for less than two minutes, and it features several interludes from a schizophrenic gentleman named Raleigh that unfortunately last way longer than two minutes. There’s a lot going on, and pretty much all of it is baffling, but it’s all more intriguing than maybe you remember. Here’s a little throwaway tune called “Lincoln Highway Dub.”
Huh. That sounds familiar. I may actually not get around to “Santeria” here today. Is that OK? Are people gonna get pissed at me? They might. Sublime’s biggest songs are so huge, are so ubiquitous, that I never need to hear them again, externally, because they’ve been stuck in my head for 30 years. In a broader sense, I’m never not listening to Sublime. I don’t know if there’s any point to elaborating on that, but—OK. So, look: Robbin’ the Hood is not designed to push Sublime to the next level, to put it mildly. What pushes Sublime to the next level, in August of 1994, is that a famous DJ named Tazy Phyllipz plays “Date Rape” on the famous L.A. rock station KROQ, and the phone lines blow up, and soon “Date Rape” is the biggest song on KROQ, which means that rock radio stations nationwide pick up on it, which is how I hear it in fuckin’ Ohio, and that’s what pushes Sublime to the next level. Yeah, this is a story of a single DJ at a single radio station plucking a random song from obscurity, and that song blows up in a manner so absolute that we even remember the DJ’s name now.
Sublime get signed to a major label, to the MCA subsidiary Gasoline Alley, but also Bradley goes to rehab. Sublime start recording in Redondo Beach with David Kahne, who’s worked with Fishbone and Tony Bennett (separately), but that flames out, so they also record with Paul Leary, he of the Butthole Surfers, at Willie Nelson’s Pedernales Studios in Austin. Sublime nail down their biggest, most enduring hits—“Santeria,” “Wrong Way,” “Doin’ Time,” “What I Got”—but they also leave a trail of destruction and consternation. Sublime’s self-titled album comes out in July 1996, and those songs slowly but surely make Sublime super-famous, finally, but Bradley is already gone, and we’ll spend the rest of our lives listening to Bradley singing about himself in the present tense.
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The concept of home has a different meaning for everyone.
For some, it is the place where they were born. Others define home as the place where they lived the longest. Still others call the place where they’re currently living “home.”
There are those who maintain that home is not actually a place but a person—typically someone they love or consider to be family.
For some people, home is not associated with a structure, geographic location, or person, but instead a feeling. This could be the feeling of being completely accepted, or being allowed to be vulnerable yet protected at the same time.
Regardless of how you define it, there may come a time when it becomes necessary to leave home. Then, in the great cycle of life, there will likely come a time when you’ll be making a homecoming.
In today’s article, we share a collection of songs about home to celebrate the place, person, or feeling closest to your heart.
Many of the hits featured today celebrate the place where we can be most vulnerable. There are several that evoke a sense of nostalgia. Some describe the pain of leaving the familiar, while others are about the excitement of coming home after being away for a long time.
Read on for a list of the best songs about home.
1. Home, Michael Bublé
“Another airplane, another sunny place. I’m lucky, I know. But I wanna go home… I gotta go home.”
This song expresses a person’s homesickness after being away for a long time.
It tells of the person’s pain that results from being separated from the familiar and comforting. The opportunities, fame, and fortune that come his way while overseas aren’t enough to console him in his loneliness.
2. Who Says You Can’t Go Home, Bon Jovi and Jennifer Nettles
“Who says you can’t go home? There’s only one place they call me one of their own. Just a hometown boy born a rolling stone. Who says you can’t go home?”
For some people, home is where they feel a sense of belonging. This song is about that feeling.
In this case, home is not necessarily the place where someone was born. Rather, it is the place where you are welcomed as family, whether you have blood ties there or not.
3. The House That Built Me, Miranda Lambert
“If I could just come in I swear I’ll leave. Won’t take nothin’ but a memory from the house that built me.”
This country song brings a feeling of nostalgia to those who have lived in different houses, towns, cities, and countries throughout their lives.
If you’ve already moved several times over the years, what place do you miss the most?
4. That’s What I Call Home, Blake Shelton
“Daddy don’t know a stranger. A handshake and he’s your friend. Oh, and Mama is an angel. She’ll hold you tight till the heartache ends. Just a place made of nails and wood. But it’s the love that makes you feel so good. That’s what I call, that’s what I call home.”
Here is another country song that makes listeners feel nostalgic for those carefree moments during childhood and those places where everyone looks out for each other.
Add this to your playlist if you resonate with the longing for a place where you are loved and accepted unconditionally.
5. Life of Leaving Home, Yellowcard
“I am awake and alive, there is something calling me. More than a moment in time, it’s a dream I’m following on my own… More than a moment in time, it’s a life of leaving home.”
People who arein pursuit of their dreams sometimes find that the home environment they are in makes it impossible to achieve what they want. The only way for them to be able to soar is to leave home.
If you find yourself in this situation, this song from Yellowcard might be a good addition to your playlist as you prepare to leave home and everything that’s familiar tostart fulfilling your vision.
6. Never Ready to Leave, Sherwood
“And I’ll tell you the worst part: You’re exactly the way that I thought you would be. So I’ll stay for the last call. ‘Cause I’ll move away, but I’m never ready to leave.”
While some people are excited to leave home and embrace the possibilities that come with their newfound independence, some are hesitant and even scared to venture out and make it on their own.
This song is about that reluctance to leave what’s familiar and comforting.
We hope those who are reluctant to leave home when it’s time to do so will eventually find the motivation to set out on their own and grow.
7. Coming Home Pt. II, Skylar Grey
“I’m coming home… Tell the world I’m coming home. Let the rain wash away all the pain of yesterday. I know my kingdom awaits and they’ve forgiven my mistakes. I’m coming home… Tell the world I’m coming.”
People leave home for various reasons, such as a job offer in another city, the search for independence, or even a conflict.
When you leave home because of a negative experience or conflict, the tone of your homecoming will depend on whether peace has been restored between the people involved.
For some, the time away might feel like an exile. This song has a hopeful message for those who are away from home and hoping for a peaceful and joyous homecoming.
8. Almost Home, Mariah Carey
“When you let your heart be the compass, you won’t get lost, not if you trust it. When you hear the sound of the trumpet, louder than ever before, when you’re almost there. Almost home. Just open up your eyes and go, go. ‘Cause you’re almost there.”
We’ve all heard the adage, “Home is where the heart is.”
This song assures listeners that they will never be lost if they let their hearts guide them. They will always know how to find their way back home.
9. Home, Daughtry
“Well, I’m going home, back to the place where I belong. And where your love has always been enough for me. I’m not running from, no, you got me all wrong. I don’t regret this life I chose for me. But these places and these faces are getting old. So, I’m going home. Well, I’m going home.”
Success can sometimes bring us to unfamiliar places and situations. Going through these experiences can be disconcerting, but having something familiar to center you can be a source of comfort and strength.
This is the message of this song from Chris Daughtry, whose stint at American Idol propelled him to success. Despite his success, he longed for the sense of belonging that one can only get at home.
10. Homeward Bound, Simon & Garfunkel
“Homeward bound. I wish I was homeward bound. Home, where my thoughts escapin’. Home, where my music’s playin’. Home, where my love lies waitin’ silently for me.”
Here is another song that expresses a longing for the familiar and comforting. Success can often be lonely, and the dynamic duo of Simon & Garfunkel must have felt this as they toured around the world during the height of their fame.
They surely longed for home, for being with the people who truly knew and loved them.
11. She’s Leaving Home, The Beatles
“She (we gave her most of our lives). Is leaving (sacrificed most of our lives). Home (we gave her everything money could buy).”
In this song, a girl has had enough with home and not receiving the love and affection she needed there. She decides to leave and carve her own path through life.
This is a sad reason for leaving home, but The Beatles were able to tell a beautiful, cleverly written song with this story.
12. Hometown Glory, Adele
“Round my hometown, memories are fresh. ‘Round my hometown, ooh, the people I’ve met are the wonders of my world… Are the wonders of this world. Are the wonders of now.”
Memories often come flooding back when you return to your hometown after several years away.
Each spot around town probably has a significant memory for you, whether a sweet or bitter one.
This song talks about those memories that anchor you to that one place in the world where you truly belong.
13. I Feel Home, O. A. R.
“Well, I’ve been away but now I’m back today. And there ain’t a place I’d rather go. I feel home when I see the faces that remember my own. I feel home when I’m chillin’ outside with the people I know.”
Many of us are in search of that special place where we can put down roots and have a place to call home.
For those who have already found that place, their decision to settle there might have been influenced by how the members of the community made them feel.
In this song, that sense of belonging is described as seeing faces that recognize you, even after being away for some time. Do you have a special place that you call home?
14. It’s Time to Go, Taylor Swift
“That old familiar body ache, the snaps from the same little breaks in your soul. You know when it’s time to go.”
We mentioned earlier that the concept of home is not limited to a place. It can be a person, too.
This song is about leaving a relationship with someone you may have considered “home.”
The relationship might have been wonderful at first, but as time passedtoxic personalities may have been unmasked.
It’s time to go. Perhaps it’s time to build a new home with someone else.
15. Home Again, Michael Kiwanuka
“Home again… One day I know I’ll feel home again… One day I know I’ll feel strong again.”
Home is not necessarily a structure, a place, or even a person. It can also be a feeling.
Michael Kiwanuka expressed this wonderfully when he explained the meaning of his song in an interview in Q magazine:
“It’s about comfort and peace. Home is where you’re most yourself – you don’t have many inhibitions, you just feel free to be who you are. The song is about getting back to that….”
16. Caledonia, Dougie MacLean
“Oh, but let me tell you that I love you. That I think about you all the time. Caledonia, you’re calling me. And now I’m going home. If I should become a stranger, you know that would make me more than sad. Caledonia’s been everything I’ve ever had.”
Quick trivia: Historically, Caledonia was the old name for the area in north Great Britain that currently includes Scotland.
Scottish singer-songwriter Dougie MacLean wrote this song as an ode to his homeland. Obviously he was terribly homesick when this song was written.
The song has become the country’s unofficial national anthem and is sung at various cultural events.
17. Take Me Home, Country Roads, John Denver
“Country roads, take me home to the place I belong. West Virginia, mountain mama. Take me home, country roads.”
This song is about homesickness and nostalgia, but this time it’s for a home state instead of a country.
John Denver’s song is so powerful that it spawned numerous memes in recent years, with people posting about missing West Virginia even though they’ve never set foot there.
18. Missing Home, Flora Cash
“Been a lot of hard days and been a lot of long nights. And even though I love the road, I’m missing home somehow.”
This song was written after duo Flora Cash experienced an extreme bout of homesickness. They were away from family and friends, pursuing their dreams of making it big in the music scene.
This song gave them comfort. For listeners, it is a reminder to have faith in their dreams and believe that, as Flora Cash said, “…we can make ‘home’ wherever we happen to be.”
19. Come Home, OneRepublic
“So, I say to you come home, come home. ‘Cause I’ve been waiting for ya for so long… And right now there is a war between the vanities. But all I see is you and me. And the fight for you is all I’ve ever known. So come home.”
This song is about leaving home, from the perspective of the one left behind.
How do you cope with a loved one who’s left home?
What will you do while waiting for them to return?
Finally, if you could turn back time, would you allow them to leave in the first place?
20. Castle on the Hill, Ed Sheeran
“Found my heart and broke it here. Made friends and lost them through the years. And I’ve not seen the roaring fields in so long. I know I’ve grown, but I can’t wait to go home.”
Here is a song that makes you nostalgic for your childhood. If you need a song to help jog your memory about “the good old days,” add this to your playlist and find yourself transported to the past.
21. Empire State of Mind, Jay-Z feat. Alicia Keys
“In New York, concrete jungles where dreams are made of. There’s nothing you can’t do. Now you’re in New York. These streets will make you feel brand new. Big lights will inspire you. Hear it for New York.”
When you consider a place your hometown, you feel a certain pride about its features and anything associated with it. This song celebrates New York City as the place where dreams have the chance of coming true.
22. Home, Phillip Phillips
“Just know you’re not alone. ‘Cause I’m gonna make this place your home.”
The feeling of home holds a power that can heal, comfort, energize, and rejuvenate you. When you listen to this song, you can’t help but feel this power.
It makes you look forward to all the good things that you can experience at home. The song also opens the doorway to happy memories.
23. My Love, Westlife
“So I say a little prayer and hope my dreams will take me there. Where the skies are blue. To see you once again, my love. Overseas, from coast to coast. To find a place I love the most. Where the fields are green. To see you once again, my love.”
Similar to Caledonia, this song from Westlife has often been interpreted as an ode to their homeland.
The members of the group are all from Ireland, and the song is their declaration that the miss the place they love and are looking forward to seeing it once more.
24. Welcome to New York, Taylor Swift
“Walkin’ through the crowd the village is a-glow. Kaleidoscope of loud heartbeats under coats. Everybody here wanted somethin’ more. Searchin’ for a sound we hadn’t heard before. And it said, “Welcome to New York! It’s been waiting for you.””
This is the second song in this collection dedicated to New York City. Delivered in an upbeat style, the song’s cheery melody gives hope to those wanting to make the city their home.
25. Don’t Forget Where You Belong, One Direction
“Been a lot of places. I’ve been around the world. Seen a lot of faces. Never knowing where I was on the horizon. Umm, well I know… the sun will be rising back home.”
The final song in this collection is about someone who has risen to fame, met many people, and had a lot of amazing experiences. But despite all of this, his thoughts wander back to the place he calls home.
Each experience he has is juxtaposed with what would be happening in his hometown.
His memory of home is an assurance that there is a place where he truly belongs.
Final Thoughts on Songs About Home
There you have it—songs that have the power to make you to think about home. What is your favorite from the ones included in this collection?
We all have different experiences and definitions of home. Ultimately, it is that which has made the greatest contribution to who we are today.
If you loved today’s compilation of songs about home, you might also be interested in other song collections found in the following posts:
60 Songs That Explain the ’90s is back for its final stretch run. (And a brand-new book!) Join TheRinger’s Rob Harvilla as he treks through the soundtrack of his youth, one song (and embarrassing anecdote) at a time. Follow and listen for free on Spotify. In Episode 108 of 60 Songs That Explain the ’90s—yep, you read that right—we’re covering Portishead’s “Glory Box.” Read an excerpt below. And if you’re in Los Angeles on November 16, check out the 60 Songs and Bandsplaincrossover event celebrating Rob’s new book.
What is this voice? What is the deal with Beth Gibbons? How would you describe Beth’s diction here? Playful? Caustic? Bright? Malicious? Theatrical? All of ’em? None of ’em? Who do you hear? You hear Billie Holiday? You hear Dusty Springfield? You hear a Disney villain? You hear a Bond girl? You hear a Bond villain? No, Mr. Cupid, I expect you to die!
What does Beth Gibbons think about Beth Gibbons? “I’m not technically a very good singer. If anyone says I am, I know they don’t know what they’re talking about. If I wanted to be, I’d have to give up smoking and have lessons.” That’s Beth in a 1998 book called Seven Years of Plenty: A Handbook of Irrefutable Pop Greatness 1991-1998, by Ben Thompson. 1991 to 1998 is eight years, but OK. Portishead consists primarily of three people. You got Beth. You got Geoff Barrow, on lots of stuff but primarily on turntables. And you got Adrian Utley, primarily on guitar. Beth and Geoff meet while participating in an Enterprise Allowance Scheme. I’m going to be honest with you and say that I got really excited by the word Scheme. I pictured Beth and Geoff meeting while devising, y’know, an Ocean’s Eleven–style audacious crime spree. Right? I pictured a stylish caper. I pictured Beth and Geoff hanging upside down and stealing the Pink Panther diamond or whatever. Right? How appropriate, given this band’s flagrant old spy movie vibe, the Mission: Impossible of it all.
But, no. No. The Enterprise Allowance Scheme was an ’80s Margaret Thatcher–era British political thing that gave young people extra government money if they set up a small business. That’s boring. That’s so boring. But Beth and Geoff meet, and they do set up, in a manner of speaking, a small business called Portishead, a band named after the town near Bristol where Geoff grew up. A town that Geoff once described to SPIN magazine by saying, “I really don’t like the place. It’s a place you can go to and die.” And then Beth says, “That’s why we named ourselves after it.” That’s funny. C’mon. She’s a little playful. The first song they work on together is called “It Could Be Sweet.” Dig the feature-length, majestic, tragic arc of the word nothing here.
Perhaps you’re like me, and you can close your eyes and clearly picture the cover of Portishead’s 1994 debut album, Dummy: It’s a quite striking, almost nauseating blue, with a blurry photo of Beth sitting in a chair in a fancy dress with blood on her face and hooked up to an IV, looking disconcertingly dazed. Perhaps you’re like me and you were not previously aware that this cover photo of Beth is a still from a short film Portishead devised and, perhaps to their chagrin, starred in called To Kill a Dead Man. Adrian plays an oily businessman type, Geoff plays a dirtbag assassin type, Beth plays a femme fatale type. They’re all not great actors, necessarily—Beth, maybe, though, if she took lessons and smoked more—but they’re all extremely well cast. Let’s leave it at that, actually.
The drums on “It Could Be Sweet,” though. The precise and bone-dry psh psh psh psh of the cymbals, the dollhouse-tea-set delicacy of it all. It’s a minor technical marvel; it’s a marvelous major triumph of vibe. Looking back on this song while talking to BBC 6 in 2010, Geoff says, “It wasn’t soul, but then, it kind of was. And it wasn’t overtly jazzy. And it wasn’t folk. But she brought this adultness to the track. And all of a sudden it was—this is actually real. And she’s singing about things that she obviously cares about.” You can find that quote in a cool Trash Theory video about “Glory Box” as well.
So this is real. Geoff is somewhat of a studio veteran by the time Portishead kicks off; in fact he was a tape operator at Coach House Studio in Bristol when Massive Attack was making Blue Lines. Geoff has said that he was a lousy tape op, but he made great tea. That’s gonna about do it for Geoff and self-deprecation. Geoff once told Melody Maker, “Ambient music has never particularly appealed to me. Push ‘Go’ on a synthesizer. Make some noise. Put some delay on it, and put a couple sheep noises on it. I’m not into it.” Rude! I believe Geoff’s got some specific targets in mind, there. The KLF would like a word, Geoff. But let’s leave that at that, as well, actually. Sheep noises will not suffice, then, in terms of a hook.
And this is how Dummy, this is how Portishead first reaches me in 1994, an alt-rockin’ midwestern teenager with no ambient sheep music experience, only a little Massive Attack experience, and for that matter very little cool old spy movie experience. Portishead first reaches me via the single “Sour Times,” which has a recognizable retro-futuristic cool old junk drawer feel that makes a lot of sense if you’ve spent 1994 getting heavy into Beck, or Stereolab, or, like, “A Girl Like You” by Edwyn Collins. You remember that shit? Is that a sacrilegious comparison from Portishead’s perspective? Too bad.
[Rob hums guitar solo.] That’s right. That’s exactly how that guitar solo sounds. Too many poor-ass singers! Not enough poor-ass songs! That’s what he says there, right? Listen. There was a subset of 1994 alternative rock popular enough to sneak on the radio and MTV and yet ultra-cool and wily enough that I’d hear it and go, I don’t know how old this is. This is not the most sophisticated initial framework through which to receive Portishead, but, well, the statute of limitations expired on that, too. What elevates Dummy, what enshrines Dummy, is that you get all these warped old samples, you get that disorienting sense of timelessness, you get all these wonderful dusty old machines, but you get all the ghosts in those machines, too. All the ghosts are played by Beth Gibbons.
I dig the beat here, right? The alarm clock boom bap of it all. Adrian Utley’s less-is-more fuzzed-out guitar: bwwwwooowwww. But you also get Beth singing, wailing, moaning, declaiming whatever it is she’s saying there, on the song “Strangers.” I can’t think of another album that delivers quite the same sort of delightful whiplash pivot between cool detached post-human sounds and bone-chillingly extreme human frailty. This song is called “Numb.” You ever heard a cooler snare drum sound in your life? No, you have not.
However. Does the coolest snare drum sound she’s ever heard in her life make Beth Gibbons feel less lonely? No, it does not.
In my California years, my Bay Area years, one time I went to this super-cool San Francisco apartment open-mic night sorta living room concert deal, and this dude had just a microphone and a loop pedal—he was a beatboxer, right—and he did a full looped beatboxed version of Portishead’s “Wandering Star.” It is difficult, perhaps, to convey the exquisite desolation of Beth Gibbons’s vocal approach while beatboxing; I don’t know if I would recommend getting romantically involved with a Portishead-covering beatboxer. You’re living on the edge there, emotionally. You’re gonna end up living a Portishead song. I’m generalizing, but come on. But on the other hand, this dude did a great job this time, and thereafter, every time I go back to Dummy, “Wandering Star” sounds ever so slightly more human to me.
“Wandering Star” sounds more human to me now, but it also remains, like, wildly depressing, right? “The blackness/The darkness/Forever.” I have always heard Portishead primarily as primo moping music. Moping, whining, sulking, pouting. Being a grumpus. Not calling ladies on the phone. Feeling extravagantly sorry for oneself. Over-romanticizing one’s solitude, et cetera. This does not appear to be the way most people heard Dummy. The moping approach does not appear to be either of the top two approaches most people took to Dummy. Generally, you hear two things about this record. One: It is apparently stupendous background music. You’d hear it in restaurants, you’d hear it in both high- and not-as-high-end clothing boutiques, you’d hear it at the parties where all the girls were so they wouldn’t have been home even if I had tried to call them, which I didn’t. Dummy became not ambient music, exactly—not Lo-Fi Beats to Study To—but this record did prove compatible with a wide variety of activities and social situations. Put it that way.
Or! Or, put it the other way. People thought it was makeout music. Music for … smooching. Amorousness. Et cetera. On YouTube you can find footage of Geoff and Beth, on camera, in a church, being asked by a cheerful Canadian interviewer how they feel about Dummy being described as “the greatest shagging record of 1994.” That’s another way to put the other way to put it. That’s apparently the Canadian way to put it. They don’t shag in Canada. Do they? Don’t answer that. Do you find this music appropriate for, uh, smooching? Don’t answer that, either. I just have a very hard time imagining some suave Canadian dude being like, Hold on, baby, we need some music, yeah, let me put on some, yeah, all right, check this out, baby.
That song’s called “Biscuit.” I just googled “Do they shag in Canada,” and I got what I deserved. That’s all I have to say about that. “Biscuit” is the second-to-last song on Dummy. The last song is “Glory Box.”
Dig that slow-motion gnarly guitar, man. Phenomenal. Adrian Utley on guitar. The chopped-and-screwed Jimi Hendrix, they call him. Nobody calls him that. That is also dumb. That is Cheeto chamber–caliber dumb. Now, that line’s got makeout music overtones for some of you, perhaps, not unreasonably, but Beth’s focus, not surprisingly, is elsewhere.
Talking to The Independent on Sunday in 1994, Beth says, “The key line in the song really is Move over and give us some room, because I do think women are very much taken for granted. I’m more an easygoing than a rabid feminist, but women in general are very supportive to me. History has made them like that. And this is not something that is always reciprocated.” She elaborates on this theme after Adrian’s extra-rad guitar solo.
In 1995 Dummy won the prestigious Mercury Prize, awarded to the best album of the year from the United Kingdom or Ireland, beating out Oasis’s Definitely Maybe, Tricky’s Maxinquaye, PJ Harvey’s To Bring You My Love, and many other fine records, including a Van Morrison album I was unfamiliar with. I wouldn’t say Portishead recoiled from the spotlight, precisely, but Portishead put out a second album, self-titled, in 1997, in a vein similar to Dummy’sbut just a little harsher, sharper, less … what’s the word? Warm. It’s not as warm. It’s still pretty great, though. What it doesn’t have is a “Glory Box.”
To hear the full episode, click here. Subscribe here and check back every Wednesday for new episodes. And to preorder Rob’s new book, Songs That Explain the ’90s, visit the Hachette Book Group website.
60 Songs That Explain the ’90s is back for its final stretch run. (And a brand-new book!) Join TheRinger’s Rob Harvilla as he treks through the soundtrack of his youth, one song (and embarrassing anecdote) at a time. Follow and listen for free on Spotify. In Episode 107 of 60 Songs That Explain the ’90s—yep, you read that right—we’re covering the Cardigans’ “Lovefool.” Read an excerpt below. And if you’re in Los Angeles on November 16, check out the 60 Songs and Bandsplaincrossover event celebrating Rob’s new book.
The Cardigans form in Jönköping, Sweden, in 1992. The Cardigans consist of guitarist Peter Svensson, bassist Magnus Sveningsson, drummer Bengt Lagerberg, keyboardist Lars-Olof Johansson, and lead singer Nina Persson. Nina had never sung before, but Peter and Magnus were like, Trust us on this. Peter and Magnus both started out as metal dudes. They played in heavy metal bands—as did Max Martin, come to think of it—but they got sick of metal, and now they’d like to play in the poppiest pop band ever born. And the Cardigans will devote their lives to proving that pop and metal are quite tonally similar, at least the way they do it. They do that in a song called “Rise and Shine,” and this one’s called “Black Letter Day.”
And here’s the whole ball game, really, with Nina Persson, lead singer of the Cardigans: She sings beautifully and exquisitely and elegantly and delicately even when she’s singing what could totally be Metallica lyrics. James Hetfield totally would’ve written and barked out a song called “Black Letter Day” if he’d thought of that title first. James Hetfield got so mad when he heard this song. The first Cardigans album, called Emmerdale, comes out in 1994; the album cover is a blurry photo of a dog. It’s an extremely 1994 album cover, I have to say. A blurry photo of a dog perfectly sums up the dominant vibe of alternative rock in 1994. Time for a piano ballad.
This song is called “After All,” and it sounds like Nina is singing directly into your ear, which means that the t in the word insanity is really going to pop when she sings the word insanity. Is she singing, “I’m scaring close to insanity”? Because if she is, James Hetfield is so pissed he didn’t think of that first. James Hetfield is pissed regardless, obviously. You want the chorus? Do you think you can handle the chorus? Well, let’s find out!
And this, too, is an extremely 1994-type vibe, yes? Tremendous darkness in a tremendously bright package. This bait-and-switch approach is not exclusive to the Cardigans, or exclusive to Sweden for that matter, but it feels exclusive, it feels fresh and freshly unsettling when the Cardigans do it. Talking in early 2023 with a newspaper called The New European, Nina says, “Isn’t it a universal thing, really? If you made stats, there are few pop or rock songs that are only bright—that’s very rare. The rest of them are dark! I’ve always had a hard time talking about the Scandinavian mentality, but I think it’s art in general. I think what we are drawn to—which might be a Scandinavian thing—is to sort of ‘Trojan Horse’ your product; put it in a costume of something that’s light and upbeat.” All right, so time for something light and upbeat. Name that tune!
And then the Trojan horse opens up and oh, shit, it’s the Cardigans’ cover of “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath” by Black Sabbath. Told ya pop and metal were quite tonally similar! Take it, Ozzy!
I feel as though Ozzy and Nina would really get along. I don’t think Nina Persson would bite the head off a bat or snort a line of ants or befoul the Alamo, but she sings as though she’s considering doing all of those things. All right, we got ourselves an intriguing and sweetly confrontational Swedish alt-rock band with sophisticated pop overtones; time for the second Cardigans album. You know the greatest feeling in the world? You wanna know my favorite thing? I’ve said this before, but I’m saying it again: It’s when you love a song, but you totally forget about that song, and then you hear that song again years and years later, and you fall in love with it for the first time but also simultaneously realize that you’d already fallen in love with it.
The second Cardigans album is called Life, it comes out in 1995, and we have leveled up in terms of brightness, cheeriness, catchiness, and also, possibly, subversion. There’s an exclamation point in this song title.
That song’s called “Hey! Get Out of My Way.” There’s Nina, on the cover of the Life album, smiling extra brightly, lying on her stomach in a powder-blue dress with furry sleeves, propped up on her elbows with a little sunflower pinkie ring, her feet crossed and dangling in the air, and she’s wearing ice skates, and it occurs to you, pretty immediately, that ice skates are just blades for your feet. Hey! Hey! Get out of her way. This song’s called “Tomorrow,” and it’s as close as Jönköping, Sweden, has ever gotten to Motown.
Is morning a sugar kiss, though, really? The Cardigans are not setting the world or the pop charts on fire at this point. But they are building toward something, and this precise three-year span, 1994 to 1996—post-grunge, pre–nü metal, post–alternative explosion, pre-Napster—this is a great time to be building toward something, pop subversion–wise. The third Cardigans record, released in 1996, is called First Band on the Moon. Nina, in a 2014 interview, says, “Every record we have made with the Cardigans has been a counter-reaction to the previous one. And by then we were really tired of everybody calling us cute, after having done sort of cute and ethereal—we felt like we weren’t easy listening. We weren’t taken serious. So we wanted to be taken seriously. We wanted to be sort of more gritty and rocking.”
As an added bonus, this song has the most Black Sabbath–esque guitar riff on this whole record. Get a load of how rad this guitar riff is:
Y’know how Black Sabbath–esque that guitar riff is? It’s the most Black Sabbath–esque guitar riff on an album where, just for emphasis, the Cardigans cover Black Sabbath again.
Yes, the Cardigans do “Iron Man,” and I used to play the Cardigans cover of “Iron Man” all the time on college radio, and I’d be just tremendously pleased with myself. As an added bonus, this record, First Band on the Moon,has another track that went semi-arbitrarily viral on TikTok in the spring of 2023, and I love it when semi-arbitrary ’90s songs go viral on TikTok; that doesn’t make me feel weird or old at all. It’s called “Step on Me,” and Nina means it literally.
That’s the sped-up TikTok version of “Step on Me.” I feel great. This phenomenon of speeding up songs for TikTok, I understand that perfectly. I don’t feel like my bones are grinding themselves to dust and blowing away in the wind at all. That quote of Nina’s, about wanting to be taken seriously and be more respected and gritty and rocking on this record, there’s one last part to that quote, actually. She says, “So we wanted to be taken seriously. We wanted to be sort of more gritty and rocking. But then we made ‘Lovefool’ on that record, so we like totally dug our grave.”
And maybe there is nothing that I could do. The mass appeal of “Lovefool” was immediately, painfully obvious to everyone, and that includes the band—this song’s mass appeal was painfully obvious while they were still writing it, before they sped it up. Talking to Billboard in 2016, Nina says, “We definitely were aware that it was a single and a catchy song when we wrote it, but the direction it took is not something we could have predicted. It wasn’t necessarily our character; it felt like a bit of a freak on the record—which, objectively, it still is. Before we recorded it, it was slower and more of a bossa nova. It’s quite a sad love song; the meaning of it is quite pathetic, really. But then when we were recording, by chance, our drummer started to play that kind of disco beat, and there was no way to get away from it after that.”
To hear the full episode, click here. Subscribe here and check back every Wednesday for new episodes. And to preorder Rob’s new book, Songs That Explain the ’90s, visit the Hachette Book Group website.
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From helping your neighbor to volunteering at an animal shelter, real-life heroism comes in many forms. Teleportation and invisibility are no more than cool on-screen tricks. Yet, compassion, friendliness, and generosity are qualities that help us become the best version of ourselves and uplift others in everyday life.
We’ve compiled a list of the 31 best songs about heroes. Hopefully, they will remind you that you can singlehandedly change your life and the lives of those around you for the better.
Best Songs About Heroes
1. Hero, Mariah Carey
“And then a hero comes along with the strength to carry on. And you cast your fears aside, and you know you can survive.”
One of Carey’s most successful tracks, “Hero,” is about self-appreciation. The lyrics promote the message that when times get tough, you can tap into your inner strength and find the resilience to combat any inconvenience. We’re shaped by our qualities that are stronger than outside circumstances. It’s easy to lose sight of our innate courage, but it’s always there to push us to rise above seemingly impossible problems. When help doesn’t come your way, you can rely on your power and come out as an undefeated champion.
2. Heroes and Friends, Randy Travis
“Your heroes will help you find good in yourself. Your friends won’t forsake you for somebody else. They’ll both stand beside you thru thick and thru thin.”
This optimistic country tune expounds on the idea that heroes are idols who teach us valuable life lessons. They show us how to persevere and stay true to our vision, even when dark clouds are ahead. However, if you feel like you’re losing your way, the unsung heroes will step in and help you get back on track.
True friends do more for us than we sometimes realize. They laugh with us when the sun is shining, but they’re also ready to swoop in when we’re about to stumble and fall.
It’s good to look up to incredible people and strive to become just as amazing, but friends who have your back make the journey to greatness less difficult.
3. Superheroes, The Script
“When you’ve been fighting for it all your life, you’ve been struggling to make things right. That’s how a superhero learns to fly.”
Everyone’s going through struggles we may know nothing about. Whether they’re going to work or doing household chores to help their family, people are trying to improve their lives in many ways. These unassuming heroes often go underappreciated because we’re unaware of how much blood, sweat, and tears go into their efforts.
The chorus underscores the strength it takes to keep going when nothing seems right. Rather than knocking you down, your struggle pushes you to try harder and shows you how to face future problems head-on.
4. We Don’t Need Another Hero, Tina Turner
“Love and compassion, their day is coming. All else are castles built in the air.”
Turner’s song appeared in the 1985 movie “Mad Max: Beyond the Thunderdome” and captured the determination and hope of the main characters. Trapped in a barren post-apocalyptic desert, their chance of survival is slim. But they refuse to resign themselves to failure and are determined to help themselves and their friends.
This sentiment has touched the hearts of many people across the world.
Rather than waiting for the world to change, become the hero you want to see. Take positive action to better your position and inspire others. You might not think you’re capable of saving the day. But when others follow your lead, you’ll see that real heroes work together to turn their dreams into reality.
5. Wind Beneath My Wings, Bette Midler
“Did you ever know that you’re my hero and everything I would like to be? I can fly higher than an eagle, for you are the wind beneath my wings.”
There’s nothing more motivating than unconditional support from your loved ones. Whether you’re on the brink of success or cowering in defeat, someone cheering you on is a reminder that you’re a hero no matter the outcome.
We should be proud of our achievements, but they shouldn’t go to our heads. It’s important to acknowledge the kind-hearted people who always had faith in us and encouraged us to continue working towards our goals. Even heroes suffer from self-doubt and need a bit of support to reassure them of their capabilities.
6. Heroes, David Bowie
“We could steal time just for one day. We can be heroes for ever and ever. What d’you say?”
A catchy anthem that praises resilience, “Heroes” inspires our fighting spirit to stay strong in the face of hardship. Bowie’s idea for the song came from a young German couple who meet secretly near the Berlin Wall every day. The couple was determined to keep their love alive against all odds.
Their story carries a powerful message. We should trust ourselves and stay true to the values we find dear. In the end, no oppression is stronger than the heroism of fighting for who and what you love.
7. Heroes (We Could Be), Alesso ft. Tove Lo
“Every day people do everyday things, but I can’t be one of them. I know you hear me now; we are a different kind. We can do anything.”
Heroes don’t have to work miracles to unlock their full potential. Sometimes, falling in love is enough. Finding that special person doesn’t just make you happy and dizzy but also makes you feel powerful. No issue can overshadow your newfound motivation to make the good in your life even better.
With a kind-hearted person by your side, you’re ready to move mountains and turn obstacles into victories. Heroes never walk alone. They always have someone in their corner, glad to hold their hand and help them thrive.
8. I’ll Be There, Mariah Carey
“I’ll reach out my hand to you, I’ll have faith in all you do. Just call my name and I’ll be there.”
Another Mariah Carey entry, this soulful track pays homage to anyone ready to put another person’s needs first. Selflessness is a superpower that makes others happy and transforms you into a more tender and compassionate human. There’s nothing nobler than watching someone’s eyes smile after you’ve raised their spirits. It’s one of the most incredible things you can do for someone, stay by their side until they rediscover their inner hero.
9. Hero, Weezer
“When I was a kid, I thought I’d save the world. Running ’round and chasing all the criminals. Swinging on a web, flying in the sky, shooting lasers from my eyes. But now I know it never was my destiny.”
A subversive take on the superhero narrative, this song underscores that many heroes remain unknown. It was released in the spring of 2020, and it’s dedicated to the essential workers whose tireless work has protected millions of people from the pandemic.
Traditionally, we’re taught that heroes are well-known, idolized, and different from regular people. But the regularity of everyday people is exactly what the song appreciates. Being true to who you are and doing your best doesn’t always look heroic, but it’s an impressive feat we should respect and acknowledge more often.
10. Something Just Like This, The Chainsmokers ft. Coldplay
“I’m not looking for somebody with some superhuman gifts, some superhero, some fairytale bliss. Just something I can turn to, somebody I can miss.”
This upbeat collaboration reworks the concept of great mythical characters. Unlike the heroes from classical mythology, the narrator is struck that he has no qualities that make him stand out. He has no hidden powers that would compel others to admire him. But when he turns to his relationship, he finds a way to become a superhero.
Supporting our loved ones and listening to their needs is the ultimate act of care and affection. Fictional characters fight monsters and complete unbelievable tasks, but daily life requires a different hero, a loving, kind, and selfless person.
11. Superman (It’s Not Easy), Five for Fighting
“I’m more than a bird, I’m more than a plane. I’m more than some pretty face beside a train and it’s not easy to be me.”
The song’s narrator is Superman himself, and the lyrics express his innermost thoughts and doubts. He struggles under the weight of peoples’ expectations and feels that this superhero persona overshadows his true identity. It’s as if he’s had to sacrifice a part of his identity to achieve greatness.
But despite the difficulty he’s faced and the pressure he’s under, he continues to serve and protect others. The worry and anxiety are not as strong as his desire to do good.
The song reminds listeners that life’s not always smooth sailing. Heroes grapple with self-doubt, but they don’t allow it to crush their spirit.
12. When You Believe, Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston
“There can be miracles when you believe. Though hope is frail, it’s hard to kill. Who knows what miracles you can achieve?”
No matter how put-together they appear, even the most self-assured people don’t have all the answers. Finding your way through the murky uncertainty is challenging, but guidance comes from believing in yourself. The world is often unfair, so bleakness seems like the only outcome. However, looking deep within yourself and discovering hidden courage will reassure you that you’re capable of heroic acts.
13. Go the Distance, Michael Bolton
“I’ll be there someday, I can go the distance. I will find my way if I can be strong. I know every mile would be worth my while.”
This Disney classic was written for “Hercules,” an animated movie that follows the trials and tribulations of the young hero before he fulfills his destiny. Hercules is a demigod, so he possesses many abilities unattainable for the ordinary person. He still faces many hurdles, and what makes him fight harder isn’t some godlike superpower but his self-confidence.
When your plans go awry, it’s hard not to question your self-worth. You’re unsure whether your next steps will lead you to success or failure. However, keeping your course despite all your fears is a courageous deed. Arm yourself with determination and hope, and victory will come your way.
14. My Hero, The Foo Fighters
“There goes my hero. Watch him as he goes. There goes my hero. He’s ordinary.”
The Foo Fighter’s Dave Grohl claims that he didn’t look up to celebrities growing up. Instead, he admired the hard work and perseverance of ordinary people. This sentiment is deeply embedded in “My Hero.”
The lyrics are concerned with paying your respects to the people you pass on the street every day but fail to notice. Their accomplishments won’t be televised, and you won’t hear them interviewed on your local radio station. At first glance, they’re just regular people, but their lives are nothing short of extraordinary.
The accompanying music video builds on this idea, depicting an unidentified man saving items from a burning house. We can’t see his face, but that’s the whole point. We may never discover his identity, but his heroic actions are worthy of praise and respect.
15. We Are the Champions, Queen
“I’ve done my sentence but committed no crime. And bad mistakes, I’ve made a few. I’ve had my share of sand kicked in my face, but I’ve come through.”
No sporting event is complete without playing Queen’s anthemic tune. The lyrics celebrate victory and show that the path to triumph is full of challenges.
Setting goals is relatively quick but reaching them takes a lot of effort. True winners understand that hardship teaches them to be stronger and more resourceful. Each time they make a mistake, they’re ready to learn from it and strengthen their mindset. The journey to success isn’t always enjoyable, but it shows us how to turn mistakes into small victories.
16. Hero, Superchick
“You could be a hero — heroes do what’s right. You could be a hero — you might save a life. You could be a hero — you could join the fight.”
Many people fight an internal battle that eats away at their strength and confidence. The song’s lyrics introduce us to several people who are suffering silently, unable to ask for help. Their problems are different, but, ultimately, they all feel weak and alone.
Once the chorus kicks in, the message becomes clear. When heroes see others in pain, they’re quick to lend a hand and help them heal. Whether it’s a kind word, encouraging smile, or thoughtful pep-talk, what you have to offer can change someone’s day for the better.
17. Superman’s Song, Crash Test Dummies
“Superman never made any money. Savin’ the world from Solomon Grundy. And sometimes I despair. The world will never see another man like him.”
The music video of this song shows people attending the funeral of Superman. In the lyrics of the song, Crash Test Dummies highlight the differences between Tarzan and Superman. The message is that true heroes never ask for something in return when saving people. They, like Superman, do what needs to be done in the name of goodness, and not for personal gain.
18. Heroes, Paul Overstreet
“’Cause you know heroes come in every shape and size. Making special sacrifices for others in their lives. No one gives them medals. The world don’t know their names. But in someone’s eyes, they’re heroes just the same.”
This song introduces us to two individuals who don’t have powers like usual superheroes. However, they are heroes in their own right. The two are ordinary people—a hardworking father/husband and a loving mother/wife—who are committed to supporting their families, doing the best they can to provide and care for their loved ones.
19. She’s Somebody’s Hero, Jamie O’Neal
“She’s somebody’s hero. A hero to her baby with a skinned-up knee. A little kiss is all she needs. The keeper of the Cheerios. The voice that brings Snow White to life. Bedtime stories every night. And that smile lets her know she’s somebody’s hero.”
This song is about a woman who, like the individuals in the previous song, doesn’t possess any superpower and hasn’t done anything remarkable or heroic, such as pulling someone from a burning building or landing on the moon.
Nevertheless, the song tells us that she’s a hero in her daughter’s eyes. As her daughter grew, the devotion and love between them remained and they were both heroes in each other’s eyes.
20. Not All Heroes Wear Capes, Owl City
“He built me a house in the arms of a tree. He taught me to drive and to fight and to dream. When he looks in my eyes, I hope he can see that my dad’s a hero to me.”
This song is a tribute to fathers who are heroes in their children’s eyes. The singer recounts how his dad taught him valuable life lessons, and how they shared precious memories. This song is a reminder that, for many of us, real-life heroes don’t necessarily have to do extraordinary feats or have superpowers. They often become heroes because of their steady presence in our lives and the valuable lessons they give us.
21. Wonder Woman, Lion Babe
“I ain’t gonna break for that. I’m a Wonder Woman. I ain’t gonna take all that. I’m a Wonder Woman. That’ll get you nowhere. You don’t wanna see what happens when I get provoked. You don’t wanna go there. See me spin around, see me swing my golden rope.”
In this song, a woman reclaims her personal power. She likens herself to Wonder Woman, a powerful woman superhero. She warns detractors to watch out, because she is not one to give up without a fight.
22. Unstoppable, The Score
“We can be heroes everywhere we go. We can have all that we ever want. Swinging like Ali, knocking out bodies. Standing on top like a champion. Keep your silver, give me that gold. You will remember when I say we can be heroes everywhere we go. Keeping us down is impossible. ‘Cause we’re unstoppable.”
Failure can be the springboard to your future success. However, many people stop trying when they experience setbacks. To become successful and achieve your dreams, you need to believe in yourself and your ability to keep moving forward. This way, you become not just a hero for others, but also for yourself.
23. Heroes, Zayde Wolf
“We are heroes, heroes in the darkest times. When there is no light, we are heroes. Heroes in the darkest times who will rise above. We are heroes.”
If you need a song that reflects a hero’s struggles to achieve victory, you might want to add this one to your playlist. Listening to the lyrics, you’ll feel empowered to stand up for yourself and go after your dreams.
In this song, Dustin Brian Burnett, aka Zayde Wolf, sings about those who are capable of bringing back the light amidst darkness, and calls them heroes.
24. Everyday Superhero, Smash Mouth
“I’m just your average ordinary everyday superhero trying to save the world, but never really sure. I’m just your average ordinary everyday superhero, nothing more than that. That’s all I really am.”
Here is a song from the point of view of a typical superhero. But this isn’t a song where the superhero brags about his abilities and achievements. Instead, the superhero downplays all of that and insists he’s just doing the right thing. Everything amazing that happens in his effort to save the world is only part of his job.
25. No Hero, Elisa
“I can’t jump over buildings, I’m no hero. But love can do miracles. I can’t outrun a bullet, I’m no hero. But I would take one for you. Be sure I would.”
In this song, the narrator acknowledges their limitations as an ordinary human being. They have no superpowers and therefore cannot do amazing feats. However, they promise to do the best they can to support the person they care for—even take a bullet for them. They’ll do it all in the name of love. Isn’t that something a heroic person would do?
26. A World Without Heroes, KISS
“A world without heroes is like a world without sun. You can’t look up to anyone without heroes. And a world without heroes is like a never-ending race. Is like a time without a place, a pointless thing, devoid of grace.”
What would the world be like if there weren’t people who are willing to sacrifice for others? This is the main theme of this song. The lyrics ask you to reflect on what life would be like if there were no heroes at all. It would be a very bleak world, without anyone to look up to and without a source of hope and grace.
27. In My Daughter’s Eyes, Martina McBride
“In my daughter’s eyes, I am a hero. I am strong and wise and I know no fear. But the truth is plain to see. She was sent to rescue me. I see who I want to be in my daughter’s eyes.”
Parents sacrifice so much for their children. And when the children grow up, they develop a deeper understanding of their parents’ selfless acts. They declare their parents to be the heroes in their lives and try to emulate them when they have their own families.
However, as this song tells us, people often don’t realize that, for many parents, their children are their inspiration to become better versions of themselves. So, while children view their parents as their heroes, the parents look up to their children in the same way.
28. Hero, Cash Cash ft. Christina Perri
“Now I don’t need your wings to fly. No, I don’t need a hand to hold in mine this time. You held me down, but I broke free. I found the love inside of me. Now I don’t need a hero to survive. ‘Cause I already saved my life. ‘Cause I already saved my life.”
Some people spend almost their whole lives looking for love and affirmation from others. Sadly, they don’t find what they’re looking for. This song is a reminder that true love stems from within. You need to learn to love yourself. When that happens, life changes and you begin to attract the right people and situations to make your life better.
29. Hero, Chad Kroeger ft. Josey Scott
“And they say that a hero could save us. I’m not gonna stand here and wait. I’ll hold onto the wings of the eagles. Watch as we all fly away.”
This song echoes the theme of self-love found in the previous track. You don’t need to wait for another person to affirm you, because you actually hold the power in your hands to create a better life for yourself.
30. Nobody’s Hero, Rush
“But she’s nobody’s hero. Is the voice of reason against the howling mob. Hero…is the pride of purpose in the unrewarding job. Hero…not the champion player who plays the perfect game. Hero…not the glamour boy who loves to sell his name. Everybody’s buying. Nobody’s hero.”
First released in 1993, this song is a reflection on the nature of heroes. Some of the lyrics are inspired by the personal stories of individuals some of the band members knew. The song concludes that a hero isn’t someone who is famous like an actor, but someone who saves lives in their own unassuming way.
31. Unsung Hero, for KING + COUNTRY
“To be strong like my father even when I am scared. And when someone’s in trouble, I’ll never leave them there. And I’ll love like my mother, like there’s nothing to lose. You’re my unsung hero, and I sing this song for you.”
This song is a tribute to parents who are good examples to their children. The memories of the love, care, and support they give etch a lasting legacy in the hearts of their children. In turn, they do their best to follow the good examples of their “heroes” when presented with situations where they need to do the right thing.
Final Thoughts on Songs About Heroes
Music can have a powerful impact on our perspective. It can make us realize that the hero we’ve been waiting for has been within us all along. Or it can help us appreciate our friends and family more for their unconditional love and support.
We hope that this collection of songs about heroes will add a dash of courage and selflessness to your life. Make sure to check out the accompanying song and video links to awaken your inner hero.
For more songs to listen to, check out these other lists:
It’s official: Warzone Caldera, formerly known as the original Call of Duty: Warzone, is shutting down later this year so developers can focus on the battle royale’s sequel and players are angry. The announcement came in a Call of Duty blog post titled “An update on Call of Duty: Warzone Caldera” published on June 22.
“As of September 21, 2023, Call of Duty: Warzone Caldera will shut down, as our teams focus on future Call of Duty content including the current Warzone free-to-play experience,” the blog post reads. Warzone 2.0 launched in November 2022 as a completely separate experience from the original Warzone, which was tied to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and could only be played within that mainline game and launched back in March 2020.
For fans of the original battle royale reluctant to move over to Warzone 2.0 (which was tied to Modern Warfare II and offered a brand-new map, new modes, new gameplay, and major UI changes, though it had its own separate launcher), Activision offered them Caldera, where the original Warzone experienceand all its cosmetics would remain. Until now.
Conspiracy theories were swirling back in March of this year that suggested cheaters were being paid to keep people from playing Warzone 1 after streamers and other esports pros refused to make the swap over to the 2.0. And though the claims were unsubstantiated, there was a noticeable delay in players warming to the sequel. Now, however, after many changes and updates, Warzone 2.0 has a healthy player base—though there are still those who play and prefer the original.
But the announcement that Warzone Caldera will officially die this fall was met with some rather passionate responses from fans, as the responses to the tweet from the official Call of Duty account show. Several people pointed out that Blackout, a battle royale mode introduced in 2018’s Black Ops 4 and beloved by many, still has operating servers, but the original Warzone will not. Others pointed to all the cosmetics they purchased, while others were angry that the blog posts mentions work on Warzone: Mobile.
I myself haven’t gotten into Warzone 2.0 at all despite being a pretty die-hard original Warzone fan—and I haven’t really been playing Caldera either, as I miss the first battle royale map Verdansk too much. But considering I spent an ungodly amount of time and money getting some really sick skins for my Operators, I am very annoyed that all of them will go bye-bye. I had an ‘80s workout skin, a ‘90s grunge skin, a Ripley from Aliens-inspired skin, and even some footy uniforms.
Though I won’t be able to play with those skins in a battle royale ever again, the Call of Duty blog does note that “regarding purchased content in Warzone Caldera–from Modern Warfare,Black Ops Cold War, or Vanguard–that will continue to be accessible in those specific games.”
I suppose this was always bound to happen, and maybe this is a sign that I should give Warzone 2.0 a proper chance. But it’s an important reminder that live service games can appear, rise to prominence, and fade out in the blink of an eye.
