Seeking songs that say times are hard but they will pass
July 4, 2019 9:37 PM Subscribe
I'm far from a loved one who is going through a really rough time. So am I. It's unclear how or when it will end, and I have little control. I need songs to help me through this: wistful, lonely songs about a long slog, ideally with tinges of hope and a message of "you can get through this."
Above the cut basically says it all. Previous similar questions have yielded mostly songs that are a bit more "rah rah" and active than what I'm looking for, full of too much fire and purpose. A fundamental part of my situation is that I have almost no control about any of it, so anything saying "go out and fight!" just makes me feel worse.
However I am also looking for hope. The songs that seem to do best to help me capture a sense of melancholy and sadness about the situation, combined with yearning and worry (for my loved one) -- but also a sense that even if times are hard, they will pass. Any kind of message like "keep putting one foot in front of the other" or "just do your best and act well" is really helpful.
Here's an example of what I'm talking about:
Gabe Dixon Band - All Will Be Well
Anything by queer artists or with queer-friendly messages is especially appreciated, but not at all necessary.
Above the cut basically says it all. Previous similar questions have yielded mostly songs that are a bit more "rah rah" and active than what I'm looking for, full of too much fire and purpose. A fundamental part of my situation is that I have almost no control about any of it, so anything saying "go out and fight!" just makes me feel worse.
However I am also looking for hope. The songs that seem to do best to help me capture a sense of melancholy and sadness about the situation, combined with yearning and worry (for my loved one) -- but also a sense that even if times are hard, they will pass. Any kind of message like "keep putting one foot in front of the other" or "just do your best and act well" is really helpful.
Here's an example of what I'm talking about:
Gabe Dixon Band - All Will Be Well
Anything by queer artists or with queer-friendly messages is especially appreciated, but not at all necessary.
Crowded House, Don’t Dream It’s Over
Steven Page, Looking for the Light
Bruce Cockburn, Lovers in a Dangerous Time
posted by armeowda at 9:56 PM on July 4, 2019 [3 favorites]
Steven Page, Looking for the Light
Bruce Cockburn, Lovers in a Dangerous Time
posted by armeowda at 9:56 PM on July 4, 2019 [3 favorites]
Riley - The Corin Tucker Band
Don’t Give Up - Peter Gabriel
(Apologies for the lack of links!)
posted by corey flood at 10:08 PM on July 4, 2019 [2 favorites]
Don’t Give Up - Peter Gabriel
(Apologies for the lack of links!)
posted by corey flood at 10:08 PM on July 4, 2019 [2 favorites]
First thing that came to mind: "Hard Times Come Again No More.
posted by teraflop at 10:38 PM on July 4, 2019 [4 favorites]
posted by teraflop at 10:38 PM on July 4, 2019 [4 favorites]
Ones I think meet all your requirements maybe:
* That Lonesome Road - James Taylor (linked the choral version because I like it a bit better)
* End of the Movie - Cake
* Tomorrow - Miner
Ones that need caveats:
* No Below - Speedy Ortiz is maybe more about the friendship part of this, but I definitely always read it about alternating the load of difficult times between friends without a clear exit but with the possibility of hope
* Firewood - Regina Spektor strongly about the possibility of hope and life in dark times but the refrain is "you're not dying" so based on the facts in question, maybe not always applicable
posted by peppercorn at 10:41 PM on July 4, 2019 [1 favorite]
* That Lonesome Road - James Taylor (linked the choral version because I like it a bit better)
* End of the Movie - Cake
* Tomorrow - Miner
Ones that need caveats:
* No Below - Speedy Ortiz is maybe more about the friendship part of this, but I definitely always read it about alternating the load of difficult times between friends without a clear exit but with the possibility of hope
* Firewood - Regina Spektor strongly about the possibility of hope and life in dark times but the refrain is "you're not dying" so based on the facts in question, maybe not always applicable
posted by peppercorn at 10:41 PM on July 4, 2019 [1 favorite]
Rhythm Composer by Villagers is about depression explicitly, but I feel like it's what you're looking for.
posted by forbiddencabinet at 10:56 PM on July 4, 2019
posted by forbiddencabinet at 10:56 PM on July 4, 2019
Chicago by Sufjan Stevens. 'All things go, all things go...'
posted by HandfulOfDust at 12:02 AM on July 5, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by HandfulOfDust at 12:02 AM on July 5, 2019 [2 favorites]
This may be a little bleak, but I love it: Bonnie "Prince" Billy — I See a Darkness.
And a Johnny Cash cover too.
Also, everything else by Bonnie "Prince" Billy.
Good luck to you.
posted by ZipRibbons at 12:07 AM on July 5, 2019 [1 favorite]
Well I hope that someday, buddyThere's a jauntier version of the same song here.
We have peace in our lives
Together or apart
Alone or with our wives
That we can stop our whoring
And pull the smiles inside
And light it up forever
And never go to sleep
My best unbeaten brother
This isn't all I see
And a Johnny Cash cover too.
Also, everything else by Bonnie "Prince" Billy.
Good luck to you.
posted by ZipRibbons at 12:07 AM on July 5, 2019 [1 favorite]
This Year by The Mountain Goats is, if you like this sort of thing, absolutely ideal for your purposes.
posted by howfar at 12:24 AM on July 5, 2019 [8 favorites]
posted by howfar at 12:24 AM on July 5, 2019 [8 favorites]
Sam Cooke, A Change is Gonna Come
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 12:41 AM on July 5, 2019 [4 favorites]
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 12:41 AM on July 5, 2019 [4 favorites]
These are songs that help me keep going when things are hard:
Alanis Morisette - Hand in my pocket
The Beautiful South - Good as gold <---The video is particularly uplifting.
posted by Too-Ticky at 3:17 AM on July 5, 2019 [2 favorites]
Alanis Morisette - Hand in my pocket
The Beautiful South - Good as gold <---The video is particularly uplifting.
posted by Too-Ticky at 3:17 AM on July 5, 2019 [2 favorites]
All in Good Time by Ron Sexsmith has helped me through some pretty challenging times.
posted by notquitejane at 3:43 AM on July 5, 2019
posted by notquitejane at 3:43 AM on July 5, 2019
If you like folk music, Jim Ringer's Waitin' for the Hard Times to Go is a classic.
posted by Banky_Edwards at 4:20 AM on July 5, 2019
posted by Banky_Edwards at 4:20 AM on July 5, 2019
Seconding teraflop. Please be comforted by Mavis Staples, "Hard Times Come Again No More."
posted by MonkeyToes at 4:55 AM on July 5, 2019 [3 favorites]
posted by MonkeyToes at 4:55 AM on July 5, 2019 [3 favorites]
Lenny Kravitz, It Ain't Over 'Til It's Over
Crosby, Stills and Nash, Southern Cross
posted by wellred at 5:01 AM on July 5, 2019 [5 favorites]
Crosby, Stills and Nash, Southern Cross
posted by wellred at 5:01 AM on July 5, 2019 [5 favorites]
Let It Be by the Beatles. The “Mother Mary” in the lyrics is often thought of as the Virgin Mary, but it’s actually Paul McCartney’s mother, named Mary, who died when he was fourteen. He was going through a tense time with the Beatles, and he had a dream in which his mother said to him, “It will be all right, just let it be.”
posted by FencingGal at 5:23 AM on July 5, 2019 [8 favorites]
posted by FencingGal at 5:23 AM on July 5, 2019 [8 favorites]
"Can't Go Back Now" and "They're in Love, Where am I?" - The Weepies
posted by jzb at 5:32 AM on July 5, 2019
posted by jzb at 5:32 AM on July 5, 2019
Gillian Welch, Hard Times. Hard times ain't gonna rule my mind no more...
posted by TwoStride at 6:33 AM on July 5, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by TwoStride at 6:33 AM on July 5, 2019 [1 favorite]
Sara Bareilles - Brave
Miley Cyrus - The Climb
posted by wwax at 7:00 AM on July 5, 2019 [1 favorite]
Miley Cyrus - The Climb
posted by wwax at 7:00 AM on July 5, 2019 [1 favorite]
Judy Garland’s original version of Over the Rainbow is wistful, hopeful, and a bit melancholy too.
posted by elphaba at 7:10 AM on July 5, 2019 [3 favorites]
posted by elphaba at 7:10 AM on July 5, 2019 [3 favorites]
Judy Garland’s original version of Over the Rainbow is wistful, hopeful, and a bit melancholy too.
Also see her version of Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, which has slightly different lyrics than you might be used to.
posted by Johnny Assay at 7:19 AM on July 5, 2019 [4 favorites]
Also see her version of Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, which has slightly different lyrics than you might be used to.
posted by Johnny Assay at 7:19 AM on July 5, 2019 [4 favorites]
Cry Cry Cry - By Way of Sorrow
You who once were left behind will be welcomed at love's table
posted by darchildre at 10:21 AM on July 5, 2019 [1 favorite]
You who once were left behind will be welcomed at love's table
posted by darchildre at 10:21 AM on July 5, 2019 [1 favorite]
Devon Sproule - Plea for a Good Night's Rest
Come revenant, come, come ye gentle host.
To my patient hip and across our sleeping coasts.
Lay down your mantle, shot through with gold,
That we may lie again, here in sweet repose.
posted by smugly rowan at 10:54 AM on July 5, 2019
Come revenant, come, come ye gentle host.
To my patient hip and across our sleeping coasts.
Lay down your mantle, shot through with gold,
That we may lie again, here in sweet repose.
posted by smugly rowan at 10:54 AM on July 5, 2019
My favorite for this purpose is by The Finn Brothers:
Won't Give In
Another from Neil Finn alone:
Faster Than Light
Lowen & Navarro (writers of "We Belong") were truly great at this:
Keep the Light Alive
I Don't Believe in Yesterday
Cry
How Mighty is the Silence
Raining in My Eyes
Indigo Girls' All That We Let In
That Gabe Dixon song is co-authored by Dan Wilson (late of Semisonic), who also wrote these:
Free Life
Your Brighter Days
Dan has a couple versions of "All Will Be Well" - this live one is my fave, but there's also a version on his album Re-Covered.
posted by jocelmeow at 11:57 AM on July 5, 2019
Won't Give In
Another from Neil Finn alone:
Faster Than Light
Lowen & Navarro (writers of "We Belong") were truly great at this:
Keep the Light Alive
I Don't Believe in Yesterday
Cry
How Mighty is the Silence
Raining in My Eyes
Indigo Girls' All That We Let In
That Gabe Dixon song is co-authored by Dan Wilson (late of Semisonic), who also wrote these:
Free Life
Your Brighter Days
Dan has a couple versions of "All Will Be Well" - this live one is my fave, but there's also a version on his album Re-Covered.
posted by jocelmeow at 11:57 AM on July 5, 2019
O-o-h Child yt , The Five Stairsteps
I've actually always loved Beth Orton's cover of this song, with its somewhat more melancholy tone.
I wore it out back in the day, during some real bad but temporary times.
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 1:09 PM on July 5, 2019 [1 favorite]
I've actually always loved Beth Orton's cover of this song, with its somewhat more melancholy tone.
I wore it out back in the day, during some real bad but temporary times.
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 1:09 PM on July 5, 2019 [1 favorite]
Hard Times - Kingmaker
Well these are hard times but I’m sure some have been worse, I’m not poor and I’m not dying of thirst...You see it all around you each and every day, does living in hard times mean there’s good times on the way?
posted by freya_lamb at 1:19 PM on July 5, 2019
Well these are hard times but I’m sure some have been worse, I’m not poor and I’m not dying of thirst...You see it all around you each and every day, does living in hard times mean there’s good times on the way?
posted by freya_lamb at 1:19 PM on July 5, 2019
A Man Needs to Be Told - The Charlatans
There is a rest in the dawn
There is a point to his life
posted by freya_lamb at 3:39 PM on July 5, 2019
There is a rest in the dawn
There is a point to his life
posted by freya_lamb at 3:39 PM on July 5, 2019
Andrew sisters- Accentuate the positive
Sam Cooke- A change is gonna come
ELO- Hold on tight to your dreams
Israel "IZ"- Somewhere over the rainbow
Labelle- It took a long time
Nina Simone- Aint got no
posted by xm at 8:06 PM on July 5, 2019
Sam Cooke- A change is gonna come
ELO- Hold on tight to your dreams
Israel "IZ"- Somewhere over the rainbow
Labelle- It took a long time
Nina Simone- Aint got no
posted by xm at 8:06 PM on July 5, 2019
Response by poster: You all are fantastic. I wish I didn't need all these, but they're great. *sob* Thanks!
posted by forza at 11:53 PM on July 5, 2019 [4 favorites]
posted by forza at 11:53 PM on July 5, 2019 [4 favorites]
More that came to mind today:
Michael Nesmith - Keep On
How could I forget Josh Ritter?
Girl in the War
Here at the Right Time
George Harrison - Just For Today
posted by jocelmeow at 9:31 AM on July 6, 2019
Michael Nesmith - Keep On
How could I forget Josh Ritter?
Girl in the War
Here at the Right Time
George Harrison - Just For Today
posted by jocelmeow at 9:31 AM on July 6, 2019
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by corey flood at 9:50 PM on July 4, 2019 [5 favorites]