Music Monday: Keep Holding On

Music Monday!

Music can be a great source of comfort and inspiration when you’re feeling down.

Today’s song is: “Keep Holding On” by Avril Lavigne

Listen to the song here:

Lyrics:

“You’re not alone
Together we stand
I’ll be by your side
You know I’ll take your hand
When it gets cold

And it feels like the end
There’s no place to go
You know I won’t give in
No, I won’t give in

Keep holding on
‘Cause you know we’ll make it through
We’ll make it through
Just stay strong
‘Cause you know I’m here for you
I’m here for you
There’s nothing you could say
Nothing you could do
There’s no other way when it comes to the truth
So keep holding on
‘Cause you know we’ll make it through
We’ll make it through

So far away
I wish you were here
Before it’s too late
This could all disappear

Before the doors close
And it comes to an end
With you by my side, I will fight and defend
I’ll fight and defend
Yeah, yeah

Keep holding on
‘Cause you know we’ll make it through
We’ll make it through
Just stay strong
‘Cause you know I’m here for you
I’m here for you
There’s nothing you could say
Nothing you could do
There’s no other way when it comes to the truth
So keep holding on
‘Cause you know we’ll make it through
We’ll make it through

Hear me when I say, when I say I believe
Nothing’s gonna change
Nothing’s gonna change destiny
Whatever’s meant to be will work out perfectly
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

La da da da
La da da da
La da da da da da da da da

Keep holding on
‘Cause you know we’ll make it through
We’ll make it through
Just stay strong
‘Cause you know I’m here for you
I’m here for you
There’s nothing you could say
Nothing you could do
There’s no other way when it comes to the truth
So keep holding on
‘Cause you know we’ll make it through
We’ll make it through

Keep holding on

Keep holding on

There’s nothing you could say
Nothing you could do
There’s no other way when it comes to the truth
So keep holding on
‘Cause you know we’ll make it through
We’ll make it through”

Why this song’s so cool:  Say what you will about Avril Lavigne, this song is dang catchy. It’s inspirational without being trite or hokey – it plays as truth – just what someone might actually say.  Plus, the chorus is great for belting out all that frustration or aggression, while still having a hopeful message – so you can start singing it feeling sad, and end it feeling happy!

Why this song’s helpful: Keep holding on. If there was any message that depressed or struggling people need to understand, it’s that. Well, that and You’re not alone, the words that start the frikkin’ song! Yes, it’s repetitive, but it needs repeating. Often, when people are upset, they just need to know that they are not alone, that you love and support them – that they’re there for you, there for you. That’s it. You literally have to be there for them. Of course, it also helps if you make them a cup of tea, say comforting things, massage their back, and give them a million dollars, but if you don’t know how to do any of that, just being  there for them – as in just being physically present and paying attention – how simple is that? – goes a helluva long way.

No one is alone.

Music Monday: No One Is Alone

 


You don’t know who Avril Lavigne is? Do you live under a rock?:

http://www.avrillavigne.com/

Suicide Prevention Resources:

Home

https://www.sprc.org/states/washington

https://crisisclinic.org/find-help/crisis-line/

 

Music Monday: Home

Music Monday!

Music can be a great source of comfort and inspiration when you’re feeling down.

Today’s song is: “Home” by Phillip Phillips (what a silly name)

Listen to the song here:

Lyrics:

“Hold on to me as we go
As we roll down this unfamiliar road
And although this wave, wave is stringing us along

Just know you’re not alone
‘Cause I’m gonna make this place your home

Settle down, it’ll all be clear
Don’t pay no mind to the demons
They fill you with fear
The trouble—it might drag you down
If you get lost, you can always be found

Just know you’re not alone
‘Cause I’m gonna make this place your home

Settle down, it’ll all be clear
Don’t pay no mind to the demons
They fill you with fear
The trouble—it might drag you down
If you get lost, you can always be found

Just know you’re not alone
‘Cause I’m gonna make this place your home”

Why this song’s so cool: Catchy and pleasantly upbeat. Not to mention extremely fun to harmonize along to.

Why this song’s helpful: THIS: “Just know you’re not alone, ‘Cause I’m gonna make this place your home.” It’s repeated many times, and I’m glad.  It’s an important thing to remember, and it can be especially difficult to remember when you are suffering or in pain, such as the pain and suffering accompanying depression.

“If you get lost, you can always be found.” This is a particularly affirming quote that is helpful for those feeling especially lost and alone.  When in crisis, dealing with loss, feeling lost, confused, and alone, suffering from depression, or all of the above, you tend to suffer an influx of increasingly negative and hopeless thoughts.  You’re mind becomes confused and irrational, making the truth difficult to accept or even see at all. That’s why it is so important to have a strong support system to tell you those truths over and over again – for them to believe, even if you can’t. Music can be a part of your support system, and the lyrics of this song can be a resource for having those positive and affirming messages repeated over and over to you – the more you hear positive messages that you are not alone, the more likely you will be to believe them.


“For there is nothing lost, that may be found, if sought.”

-Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene


More about Phillip Phillips:

http://www.phillipphillips.com/

The Psychology of Home:

https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2011/12/the-psychology-of-home-why-where-you-live-means-so-much/249800/

Home is Where Your Butt Is:

Home Is Where Your Butt Is

 

Music Monday: Stars

Music Monday!

Music can be a great source of comfort and inspiration when you’re feeling down.

Today’s song is: “Stars” by Grace Potter and the Nocturnals

Listen to the song here:

Or if you like lyric videos, this one is pretty …. STELLAR!!!

Lyrics:

“I lit a fire with the love you left behind
And it burned wild and crept up the mountainside
I followed your ashes into outer space
I can’t look out the window, I can’t look at this place
I can’t look at the stars
They make me wonder where you are
Stars, up on Heaven’s boulevard
And if I know you at all,
I know you’ve gone too far
So I, I can’t look at the stars
All those times we looked up at the sky
Looking out so far, we felt like we could fly
And now I’m all alone in the dark of night
The moon is shining but I can’t see the light
And I can’t look at the stars
They make me wonder where you are
Stars, up on Heaven’s boulevard
And if I know you at all,
I know you’ve gone too far
So I, I can’t look at the stars
Stars
Stars, they make me wonder where you are
Stars up on Heaven’s boulevard
And if I know you at all,
I know you’ve gone too far
So I can’t look at the stars”

Why this song’s so cool: It is SO beautiful.  And it’s a good wailer/belter to get really into.  I have definitely karaoked this more than once.  Vocal-wise, it has a nice range of mood variety and dynamic options, so lots of potential to expressing a broad emotional range.

Why this song’s helpful: Perfect song for dealing with a loss.  And I don’t necessarily mean a death. A loss of any kind.  Also a nice jam for just feeling sad and/or lonely. Or if you’re looking at the stars.


More about Grace Potter:

http://gracepotter.com/

 

Music Monday: The Call

Music Monday!

Music can be a great source of comfort and inspiration when you’re feeling down.

Today’s song is: “the Call” by Regina Spektor

Listen to the song here (OR just watch Prince Caspian):

Oh… you prefer LIVE.  Well, here ya go then:

Lyrics:

“It started out as a feeling
Which then grew into a hope
Which then turned into a quiet thought
Which then turned into a quiet word
And then that word grew louder and louder
‘Til it was a battle cry
I’ll come back when you call me
No need to say goodbye

Just because everything’s changing
Doesn’t mean it’s never been this way before
All you can do is try to know who your friends are
As you head off to the war
Pick a star on the dark horizon and follow the light
You’ll come back when it’s over
No need to say goodbye
You’ll come back when it’s over
No need to say goodbye

Now we’re back to the beginning
It’s just a feeling and no one knows yet
But just because they can’t feel it too
Doesn’t mean that you have to forget
Let your memories grow stronger and stronger
‘Til they’re before your eyes
You’ll come back when they call you
No need to say goodbye
You’ll come back when they call you
No need to say goodbye”

Why this song’s so cool: It’s soooooo pwetty!

Why this song’s helpful: It’s chock-a-block FULL of inspirey messages and allusions.

Those who leave you never really leave you.

“Just because everything’s changing doesn’t mean it’s never been this way before.” YOU CAN DO IT! You will get through this. This too shall pass.

The war is your challenges and obstacles.  And you’ll come back to yourself and who you truly are once you’ve weathered the storm.

Follow the light.

A reminder that what is important to you may not be important to everyone but that’s okay.

Music Monday: No One Is Alone

Music Monday!

Music can be a great source of comfort and inspiration when you’re feeling down.

Today’s song is: “No One Is Alone” by Stephen Sondheim, from Into The Woods.

Listen to the song here:

 

Lyrics:

“CINDERELLA
Mother cannot guide you.
Now you’re on your own.
Only me beside you.
Still, you’re not alone.
No one is alone, truly.
No one is alone.

Sometimes people leave you
halfway through the wood.
Others may deceive you.
You decide what’s good.
You decide alone.
But no one is alone.

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD
I wish…

CINDERELLA(To Little Red)
I know…
Mother isn’t here now. BAKER(to Jack)
Wrong things, right things…
Who knows what she’d say?
Who can say what’s true?
Nothing’s quite so clear now-
Do things, fight things…
Feel you’ve lost your way?
You decide, but
You are not alone, You are not alone.
Believe me.
No one is alone.
No one is alone,
Believe me.
Truly…

BOTH
You move just a finger,
Say the slightest word,
Something’s bound to linger,
Be heard.
No one acts alone.
Careful, no one is alone.
CINDERELLA
People make mistakes. People make mistakes.
Fathers,
Mothers,

BOTH
People make mistakes,
Holding their own,
Thinking they’re alone.

CINDERELLA
Honor their mistakes…
Fight for their mistakes-
Everybody makes-

BOTH
One another’s
Terrible mistakes.
Witches can be right,
Giants can be good.
You decide what’s right,
You decide what’s good.

CINDERELLA
Just remember:

BAKER
Just remember:

BOTH
Someone is on your side.

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD & JACK
Our side.

CINDERELLA & BAKER
Our side-
Someone else is not.
While we’re seeing our side-

LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD & JACK
Our side….

CINDERELLA & BAKER
Our side-

ALL
Maybe we forgot:
They are not alone.
No one is alone.

CINDERELLA
Hard to see the light now.

BAKER
Just don’t let it go.

BOTH
Things will come out right now.
We can make it so.
Someone is on you side,
No one is alone.”

Why this song’s so cool: uhhhh… because it IS.

Why this song’s helpful:  Not everyone will understand what you are going through, but you’re not alone.  No one is alone.

More about Into The Woods:

The Musical:  http://stageagent.com/shows/musical/1284/into-the-woods

The 2014 Movie:  http://movies.disney.com/into-the-woods/

Stephen Sondheim:  http://www.masterworksbroadway.com/artist/stephen-sondheim/

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