Hopeful songs for hopelessness
October 7, 2020 9:58 AM   Subscribe

Looking for songs that are hopeful and not romantic in nature. Bonus if lyrics point to patience and the fact that most awful things change time if we can just hold out. Themes of compassion/self-compassion also good.
posted by bunderful to Media & Arts (41 answers total) 23 users marked this as a favorite
 
Everybody Hurts.

Trouble Me.
posted by Lyn Never at 10:02 AM on October 7, 2020 [1 favorite]




Khala My Friend by Amanaz
This Year by The Mountain Goats
True Love Will Find You in the End by Daniel Johnston (maybe too romantic-leaning?)
posted by furnace.heart at 10:29 AM on October 7, 2020 [2 favorites]


Orpheus

One Light Shining

Trouble and Woe (in spite of the song title!)
posted by humbug at 10:31 AM on October 7, 2020 [1 favorite]


Happy Man by the Cactus Blossoms
posted by MundaneNoodle at 10:37 AM on October 7, 2020


By Way of Sorrow

After All
posted by darchildre at 10:37 AM on October 7, 2020 [1 favorite]


Everything's Right
posted by bondcliff at 10:41 AM on October 7, 2020


In case you’re looking for upbeat, positive messages with crunchy metal guitars and foreign language lyrics:

— Babymetal, “Karate”
— Bloodywood, “Jee Veeray”
posted by Pirate-Bartender-Zombie-Monkey at 10:41 AM on October 7, 2020


Abba: "People Need Love," "He Is Your Brother," probably a few others...
posted by Melismata at 10:55 AM on October 7, 2020


I Can See Clearly Now

This is sung by Johnny Nash, who sadly died yesterday.
posted by FencingGal at 11:01 AM on October 7, 2020 [4 favorites]


On mobile, so no links, sorry!

Keep Holding On, Avril Lavigne
Change, Taylor Swift
Powerless, Nelly Furtado feat. Josh
posted by Tamanna at 11:05 AM on October 7, 2020


Yusuf/ Cat Stevens: The Wind and Moonshadow.
posted by BibiRose at 11:09 AM on October 7, 2020


Level Up by Vienna Teng
posted by babelfish at 11:16 AM on October 7, 2020 [3 favorites]


I have a mix called "Just Keep Swimming." It's less about waiting it out than about continuing to put one foot in front of the other, even when it's hard.

Get Better, by Frank Turner
Carry On, by fun.
Extraordinary Machine, by Fiona Apple
The Hard Way, by Mary Chapin Carpenter
Climb On, by Shawn Colvin
Freedom '90, by George Michael
The Cave, by Mumford and Sons
Float On, by Modest Mouse
This Year, by The Mountain Goats (as mentioned earlier)
posted by gideonfrog at 11:17 AM on October 7, 2020 [1 favorite]


You Can Make It (if you try) by the Stones, from their first record.
posted by Rash at 11:26 AM on October 7, 2020






Lean On Me.

Don't Stop (my favorite version, with marching band)
posted by Lyn Never at 11:43 AM on October 7, 2020 [1 favorite]


I think this song is kind of full of cliches (even though generally AA are pretty solid lyrically) but this song is exactly your ask:
American Aquarium - Tough Folks

Jason Isbell - Be Afraid

Frank and Walters- Don't Stop
posted by The_Vegetables at 11:49 AM on October 7, 2020


Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, “Hope the High Road”
posted by Pirate-Bartender-Zombie-Monkey at 12:03 PM on October 7, 2020


It's not my taste in music, but Wilson Phillips's Hold On pretty much exactly fits this description. I guess it could be read as romantic, but it makes a lot more sense read as non-romantic.
posted by gideonfrog at 12:11 PM on October 7, 2020


Tom Waits, “Hold On”
posted by Pirate-Bartender-Zombie-Monkey at 12:22 PM on October 7, 2020


Here is a mixed assortment:

Age of Aquarius (5th Dimension)
What A Wonderful World (Louis Armstrong)
Over The Rainbow (Eric Clapton) This particular performance is maybe strange to suggest, but...Eric Clapton.

Walking On Sunshine (Katrina and the Waves)
Here Comes The Sun (Beatles)
posted by SemiSalt at 12:27 PM on October 7, 2020


Jack's Mannequin, Swim
posted by theatro at 12:52 PM on October 7, 2020




Morning has broken

We shall overcome

Milkman of human kindness - Billy Bragg

Lean on me - Bill Withers

Asian Dub Foundation- Buzzin, Change, New Way New Life

Travellin Thru - Dolly Parton

Se Vida e - Pet Shop Boys

Goddam right it's a beautiful day - Eels?

Long Way Around - Chris Whitley
posted by runincircles at 1:03 PM on October 7, 2020


The Okee Dokee Brothers - Hope Machine (all about the daily routine the singer keeps to "keep that hope machine running strong" when times are hard) and In My Bones (repetitive sea shanty that talks about impending storms and floods, but then ends with "there's hope for better weather, I can feel it in my bones").

The Weakerthans - Plea from a Cat Named Virtue (the cat is trying to talk its owner out of what sounds like depression, so that may or may not work for you).
posted by natabat at 1:18 PM on October 7, 2020


Robb Johnson:

Singing for the Moon

Raining Teddy Bears

Undefeated


Fisherman’s Friends:

Keep Hauling


Claire Mooney:

Ordinary Rebel
posted by Morfil Ffyrnig at 1:28 PM on October 7, 2020


Let it Be - The Beatles
posted by flowergrrrl at 1:29 PM on October 7, 2020


Better Things
 (originally by The Kinks but I love this version by Dar Williams and another singer whose name I can't remember)

With Arms Outstretched - Rilo Kiley

Alright - Kendrick Lamar

End of the Line - Traveling Willburys

posted by lunasol at 2:29 PM on October 7, 2020


Alabama Shakes - Hold On
posted by Rhaomi at 2:51 PM on October 7, 2020 [1 favorite]


I like Des'ree's song "You Gotta Be" and Jessica Andrews "Who I Am".

They are more along the lines of 'internal strength' rather than hope, but they're affirming.
posted by 7ajax7 at 2:59 PM on October 7, 2020 [1 favorite]


The Five Stairsteps' Ooh Child.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 3:16 PM on October 7, 2020 [2 favorites]


And The Waterboys' Fisherman's Blues, for the final lyric.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 3:18 PM on October 7, 2020


The Middle - Jimmy Eat World
posted by lakeroon at 3:45 PM on October 7, 2020




Call It Dreaming - Iron & Wine
Won't Give In - Finn Brothers
posted by jocelmeow at 5:30 PM on October 7, 2020


Summerland by AJR- Give a cheer, cuz you're only going up from here.

I was going to say Hold On by Alabama Shakes as well
posted by Lay Off The Books at 6:06 PM on October 7, 2020


Thanks for asking this! It's very timely. You also might like the suggestions that people made when I asked a similar question.
posted by forza at 10:43 PM on October 7, 2020


Also:

Jewel's "Hands" and Nate Ruess's "Great Big Storm" (mostly for the chorus).
posted by 7ajax7 at 7:36 AM on October 8, 2020


Noah and The Whale's Blue Skies. So uplifting, especially when you also watch the video.
posted by poppunkcat at 5:24 AM on October 9, 2020


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