# Songs that discourage suicide.... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 22, 2013, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-discourage-suicide/651064 "2013-02-22T07:31:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JohnClay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c37758/32.png) [@JohnClay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnClay)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2013, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-discourage-suicide/651064/1 "2013-02-22T07:31:47Z")
Many years ago I attempted suicide - and I’ve only tried once. I was in the process of gassing myself using my car’s exhaust fumes. I put on the radio to help the time pass quicker. I heard two songs. One was “Gamble Everything For Love” [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/5jzWFcTko3s/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AG-AoAC8AGKAgwIABABGGIgZShRMA8=&rs=AOn4CLANBFkfy5N5UQkCVt_0h5sEXcuExA "Gamble Everything For Love - Ben Lee (w lyrics)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jzWFcTko3s) > [@](#): > > …Tell me are you feeling lost, have you crossed > In the places that you never knew to get through > Tell me are you gonna cry all night > Tell me the truth, and Ill tell you the truth > If you gamble everything for love > You gonna be alright, alright… I also heard “You Get What You Give” [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/cPAEFnVZVOs/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AH-BIAC4AOKAgwIABABGEogWChlMA8=&rs=AOn4CLDNmhBEUhnqo-h-_10FXDCumnUH0Q "New Radicals - You Get What You Give (Original)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPAEFnVZVOs) > [@](#): > > …But when the night is falling > And you cannot find the light > If you feel your dream is dying > Hold tight > You’ve got the music in you > Don’t let go > You’ve got the music in you > One dance left > This world is gonna pull through > Don’t give up > You’ve got a reason to live > Can’t forget you only get what you give… I decided not to go through with it… It is very unlikely that I’d hear two of the most appropriate/meaningful songs I can think of. Especially the song “you only get what you give”. I guess there could have been many people in my situation except I was just the lucky one that heard the right songs and ended up alive. [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=16029691&postcount=69](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=16029691&postcount=69) Richard Pearse replied: > [@](#): > > In that mental state I’d bet any song you heard would have seemed meaningful… In order to investigate how likely that situation was I’ve started a new thread… Here are lists of popular songs: [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List\_of\_songs\_considered\_the\_best](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_songs_considered_the_best) I don’t think many of them would include some lyrics that discourage suicide… maybe 10% or less? If so, then two songs in a row is 10% of 10% which is 1%. I’ve tried thinking of _any_ song that discourages suicide. BTW in my case I didn’t care what other’s thought, I was tired of trying to change my life, I just wanted to give up. It was only years later that I had my first two kisses (at a party with an engaged woman - her idea). It was only a year after that that I romantically hugged/held hands with a girl (who later became my wife). “Gamble Everything For Love” seemed to be challenging me to take a chance - using love - and somehow things would turn out alright. “You Get What You Give” reminded me that I hadn’t offered the world much. I was scared to step out of my comfort zone. The song repeated says to keep trying and “You’ve got a reason to live”. Most of the rest of the song has fairly meaningless lyrics though. I thought that maybe Whitney Houston’s “The Greatest Love of All” might fit… “Learning to love yourself is the greatest love of all”. But when I was suicidal I might have thought that if I was self-centered (not the same as self-love though) I’d want to end my suffering as soon as possible… So anyway are there any other popular songs that might qualify? I think it might be less than 10% of all songs… but that still would mean thousands of songs. I suspect there aren’t that many songs. ---
**Author:** ![JohnClay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c37758/32.png) [@JohnClay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnClay)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2013, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-discourage-suicide/651064/2 "2013-02-22T07:43:16Z")
BTW this is in particular about songs heard on the radio: [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List\_of\_songs\_considered\_the\_best#Radio\_airtime](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_songs_considered_the_best#Radio_airtime) Five songs have received more than 7 million plays over the radio. “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’” – The Righteous Brothers > [@](#): > > Bring back that lovin’ feeling, > 'Cause it’s gone…gone… “Never My Love” – The Association > [@](#): > > You ask me if there’ll come a time > When I grow tired of you > Never my love > Never my love Sounds like infatuation (which I’ve had with various girls) “Yesterday” – The Beatles > [@](#): > > Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away > Now it looks as though they’re here to stay > Oh, I believe in yesterday. “Stand by Me” – Ben E. King > [@](#): > > I won’t cry, I won’t cry, no I won’t shed a tear > Just as long as you stand, stand by me Well I was alone in the girlfriend department so that song would make me feel bad. “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay” – Otis Redding > [@](#): > > Sittin’ here resting my bones > And this loneliness won’t leave me alone > It’s two thousand miles I roamed > Just to make this dock my home The 5 most popular radio songs wouldn’t have discouraged suicide in me… ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2013, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-discourage-suicide/651064/3 "2013-02-22T08:00:53Z")
First: I’m glad you’re still around. I don’t think this song ever got much radio play . . . and I don’t know that it would have saved your life had you heard it at that moment, but the first song that came to mind seeing the Thread title was: [Teenage Suicide (Don’t Do It)](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-w1GeH8KPU) Might this do better in Cafe Society? ---
**Author:** ![GreenElf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@GreenElf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenElf)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2013, 8:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-discourage-suicide/651064/4 "2013-02-22T08:59:09Z")
“Don’t Try Suicide” by Queen (The Game album) ---
**Author:** ![camille](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/22d042/32.png) [@camille](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/camille)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2013, 9:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-discourage-suicide/651064/5 "2013-02-22T09:39:19Z")
“You Only Get What You Give” is a good one, but there are so many! Here’s a few: Stuck in a Moment - U2 Everybody Hurts - REM Fix You - Coldplay Second Wind - Billy Joel Hide in your Shell - Supertramp Wild Horses - Rolling Stones Lovely Day, Lean On Me - Bill Withers Love is the Answer - Todd Rundgren I Will Survive - Gloria Gaynor I’m Still Standing - Elton John Look a Little on the Sunny Side - The Kinks That’s Life - Frank Sinatra Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You) - Kelly Clarkson Feeling Stronger Every Day - Chicago Dog Days Are Over - Florence & The Machine Hold Your Head Up - Argent I Just Want To Celebrate - Rare Earth Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da - The Beatles ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2013, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-discourage-suicide/651064/6 "2013-02-22T10:56:52Z")
> [@bienville](#): > > First: I’m glad you’re still around. > I don’t think this song ever got much radio play . . . and I don’t know that it would have saved your life had you heard it at that moment, but the first song that came to mind seeing the Thread title was: > [Teenage Suicide (Don’t Do It)](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-w1GeH8KPU) Big Fun! 😉 **Heathers** is one of my favorite movies. ---
**Author:** ![Mavic\_Chen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e56c9b/32.png) [@Mavic\_Chen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mavic_Chen)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2013, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-discourage-suicide/651064/7 "2013-02-22T11:52:07Z")
Kind of related / hope it’s not too much of a hijack: I have a CD by the metal band Wolfsbane (Down Fall The Good Guys) and in the cover notes it states “There are no hidden or subliminal messages on this disk. Don’t do suicide, do life. It’s mega even when it hurts.” I put it on and read it once in a while when I’m tempted to play sad songs. ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2013, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-discourage-suicide/651064/8 "2013-02-22T12:14:13Z")
Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip have a song on the album Angles called Magician’s Assistant which is anti-suicide. The song is performed in a mocking tone so don’t take the lyrics at face value without hearing the performance. Lyrics: [Dan Le Sac VS Scroobius Pip - The Magician's Assistant Lyrics | SongMeanings](http://www.songmeanings.net/songs/view/3530822107858721660/) Song: [dan le sac vs scroobius pip - Magicians Assistant - Angels - YouTube](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVcuZBDu48I) ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2013, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-discourage-suicide/651064/9 "2013-02-22T13:24:22Z")
Back in the late '80’s (I think) I heard a song on the radio a couple of times that spoke against suicide. When I say “spoke,” I mean that literally: it was more like a monologue backed by music, in a style similar to “Everybody’s Free (To Wear Sunscreen).” The speaker was rattling off a list of reasons not to commit suicide, and it was geared toward young teens. Anybody know the name of it? ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2013, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-discourage-suicide/651064/10 "2013-02-22T13:43:45Z")
Traffic’s [(Sometimes I Feel So) Uninspired](http://www.metrolyrics.com/sometimes-i-feel-so-uninspired-lyrics-traffic.html) > [@](#): > > But don’t let it get you down, no, no > There is no reason for not failing > You’ve got to smile and turn the other cheek Not sure how much play it got though. ---
**Author:** ![Oly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oly/32/8255_2.png) [@Oly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oly)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2013, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-discourage-suicide/651064/11 "2013-02-22T13:47:22Z")
In The Middle - Jimmy Eat World ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2013, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-discourage-suicide/651064/12 "2013-02-22T13:47:47Z")
> [@GreenElf](#): > > “Don’t Try Suicide” by Queen (The Game album) I think their “Just Keep Passing the Open Windows” also qualifies. The other first ones I thought of have already been mentioned: Don Dixon’s “Teenage Suicide (Don’t Do It)” and Billy Joel’s “Second Wind.” Not all the songs on **camille** ’s list as explicitly about/against suicide, even if they’re positive and life-affirming. The Christian song “[Friend In You](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPBXI-gqmok),” by Stevie Wonder-soundalike Jon Gibson, also springs to mind. I don’t think the Kinks song “[Life Goes On](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPNxTaiAavg)” really fits here, but I am still reminded of its lyric: > [@](#): > > My bank went broke and my well ran dry. > It was almost enough to contemplate suicide. > I turned on the gas, but I soon realized > I hadn’t settled my bill so they cut off my supply. And I have myself been (perversely?) encouraged by their song “[Misery](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8Mtgz_K_ZM)”: > [@](#): > > Misery > You’re only happy when you’re feeling totally down > Misery > I only ever see you when your chin’s hanging on the ground > Well > Until you learn to laugh at yourself > You’ll never get anywhere with me > I’m down but I’m still happy but > You’re such a misery ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2013, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-discourage-suicide/651064/13 "2013-02-22T14:23:56Z")
I was never suicidal but the line in that Traffic song of “There is no reason for not failing” was the one that really helped me out when I was way down on myself as a teen/young adult. Something about changing the bar to “not failing” just did it for me. That seemed realistic, while “everything will be wonderful tomorrow” kind of thoughts fell flat. ---
**Author:** ![AnthonyElite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b487fb/32.png) [@AnthonyElite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnthonyElite)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2013, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-discourage-suicide/651064/14 "2013-02-22T15:27:59Z")
> [@Oly](#): > > In The Middle - Jimmy Eat World That is a good one! Another one: 311 - Beyond the Grey Sky [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/KGl2NvFNCSY/maxresdefault.jpg "311 beyond the grey sky with lyrics") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGl2NvFNCSY) And, I can’t believe **Jumper - Third Eye Blind** hasn’t been mentioned yet! ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2013, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-discourage-suicide/651064/15 "2013-02-22T15:45:31Z")
Don Henley’s “New York Minute” is a very dark song that comes into the light at the end. A bit obscure, but David Benoit has a vocal piece on the “Urban Daydreams” album, sung by Jennifer Warnes, that is about as powerful a “talk you down” song as I’ve ever heard. “When the Winter’s Gone” is the title. ETA: Formal title is “Song for a Stranger.” I have my issues with Jennifer Warnes, but apart from one fillip she does a beautiful job with this song. ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2013, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-discourage-suicide/651064/16 "2013-02-22T15:51:51Z")
Streetlight Manifesto’s “A Better Place, A Better Time” is a giant anti-suicide song. A 6.5 minute one, in fact > **[STREETLIGHT MANIFESTO LYRICS - A Better Place, A Better Time](http://www.plyrics.com/lyrics/streetlightmanifesto/abetterplaceabettertime.html)** > > Accurate Streetlight Manifesto "A Better Place, A Better Time" Lyrics: So she wakes up in time to break down She left a note up on the dresser and she's right on time... [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/u2yeNzL7rTU/hqdefault.jpg "Streetlight Manifesto - A Better Place, A Better Time") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2yeNzL7rTU) > [@](#): > > And when you wake up > everything is going to be fine > I guarantee that you wake up in a better place > in a better time > so you’re tired of living > and you feel like you might give in > well don’t > it’s not your time In the middle verse they also capture some of the frantic feelings involved: > [@](#): > > she said she won’t go > and that’s that > it hurts too much to stand by > you’ve got to stop and draw a line > and everyone here has to choose a side tonight > the moment of truth is haunting you > don’t forget your family > regardless of what you choose to do > you can’t decide > and they’re all screaming “why won’t you?” ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2013, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-discourage-suicide/651064/17 "2013-02-22T16:08:31Z")
> [@AnthonyElite](#): > > That is a good one! > > Another one: > > 311 - Beyond the Grey Sky > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGl2NvFNCSY](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGl2NvFNCSY) > > And, I can’t believe **Jumper - Third Eye Blind** hasn’t been mentioned yet! Jumper is the first one I thought of. I credit that song with keeping me from a suicide attempt. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2013, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-discourage-suicide/651064/18 "2013-02-22T17:18:41Z")
Alice Cooper Hey Stoopid ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2013, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-discourage-suicide/651064/19 "2013-02-22T17:32:42Z")
I suppose the Peter Gabriel song “Don’t Give Up” could be interpreted as discouraging suicide. ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2013, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-discourage-suicide/651064/20 "2013-02-22T17:44:34Z")
I’m surprised nobody’s mentioned “Try” by Pink – it’s about not giving up on love, but could also be about not giving up on life: Where there is desire there is gonna be a flame Where there is a flame someone’s bound to get burned But just because it burns doesn’t mean you’re gonna die You’ve gotta get up and try try try Also, I always thought of “Hey Jude” as uplifting. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-discourage-suicide/651064.md?page=2)