# Songs that Inspire You When You're Down **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 5, 2006, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-inspire-you-when-youre-down/338496 "2006-01-05T00:47:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Gail](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Gail](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gail)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2006, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-inspire-you-when-youre-down/338496/1 "2006-01-05T00:47:48Z")
One of my favorite songs is _Any Major Dude_ by Steely Dan. “Any Major Dude with half a heart surely will tell you, my friend… Any minor world that breaks apart falls together again; When the demon is at your door, in the morning it won’t be there No more…” I also like Sister Hazel’s _Change Your Mind_ and _Great Life_ by Goat. What songs cheer you up? ---
**Author:** ![Emily\_Litella](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emily_litella/32/3370_2.png) [@Emily\_Litella](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emily_Litella)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2006, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-inspire-you-when-youre-down/338496/2 "2006-01-05T01:10:19Z")
I love Any Major Dude, I love just about any song by Steely Dan. Bodisatva works for me too, so does Bad Sneakers. I’ll have to go listen to them now, it’s been awhile. The song that lifts me up when I’m down is ‘Dreams’ by Van Halen. Their ‘Right Now’ usually gets me motivated when I’m in a rut. (And yeah, I’m a child of the '70s. 🙂 ) ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2006, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-inspire-you-when-youre-down/338496/3 "2006-01-05T01:13:10Z")
I’ve got a few medical problems that can get me down. Whenever that happens, I listen to Jason Mraz’s The Remedy. ---
**Author:** ![Gail](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Gail](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gail)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2006, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-inspire-you-when-youre-down/338496/4 "2006-01-05T01:18:18Z")
_I’ve got a few medical problems that can get me down. Whenever that happens, I listen to Jason Mraz’s The Remedy._ * * * Op by Biggirl Oh! I forgot that one…I _love_ that song. (walking away…muttering…“the remedy, the experience, it’s the dangerous liason”) ---
**Author:** ![PsychoWench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e9a140/32.png) [@PsychoWench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PsychoWench)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2006, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-inspire-you-when-youre-down/338496/5 "2006-01-05T01:42:12Z")
A lot of songs cheer me up for stupid reasons, but if you mean something that’s actually kind of related in lyrics I guess my top three choices are “Defying Gravity” from Wicked, “Grand Illusion” from Styx, and “Freewill” from Rush. ---
**Author:** ![JpnDude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/838e76/32.png) [@JpnDude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JpnDude)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2006, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-inspire-you-when-youre-down/338496/6 "2006-01-05T02:05:19Z")
Howard Jones “No One is to Blame” ---
**Author:** ![Nic2004](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/4491bb/32.png) [@Nic2004](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nic2004)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2006, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-inspire-you-when-youre-down/338496/7 "2006-01-05T02:10:06Z")
> [@PsychoWench](#): > > A lot of songs cheer me up for stupid reasons, but if you mean something that’s actually kind of related in lyrics I guess my top three choices are “Defying Gravity” from Wicked, “Grand Illusion” from Styx, and “Freewill” from Rush. I thought you beat me to it but after a second glance I’d like to add “Crystal Ball” by Styx. ---
**Author:** ![PsychoWench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e9a140/32.png) [@PsychoWench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PsychoWench)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2006, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-inspire-you-when-youre-down/338496/8 "2006-01-05T02:12:43Z")
> [@Nic2004](#): > > I thought you beat me to it but after a second glance I’d like to add “Crystal Ball” by Styx. I forgot that one! And I was listening to my Styx cd earlier in class too! :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Linty\_Fresh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Linty\_Fresh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linty_Fresh)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2006, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-inspire-you-when-youre-down/338496/9 "2006-01-05T02:34:27Z")
_Let Your Troubles Roll By_ by Carbon Leaf will snap me out of most of my blue moods. For some weird reason _Feelin’ Alright_ by Traffic does the same thing. For a quick burst of energy, though, nothing beats _Ride My See-Saw_ by the Moody Blues. It never fails. ---
**Author:** ![DfrntBreign](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f6c823/32.png) [@DfrntBreign](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DfrntBreign)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2006, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-inspire-you-when-youre-down/338496/10 "2006-01-05T03:06:45Z")
> [@PsychoWench](#): > > I forgot that one! And I was listening to my Styx cd earlier in class too! :smack: “Young Lady!!! You are hear to learn, not to listen to music. Put that device away this instant and get back to work!” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Gail](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Gail](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gail)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2006, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-inspire-you-when-youre-down/338496/11 "2006-01-05T03:19:11Z")
I’m listening to my ipod…and found another one. _Roll To Me_ by Del Amitri… Mainly because I fantasize about a guy saying those things to me. ---
**Author:** ![flamingbananas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f4b2a3/32.png) [@flamingbananas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flamingbananas)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2006, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-inspire-you-when-youre-down/338496/12 "2006-01-05T03:21:31Z")
Maybe I’m too much of a Star Wars nerd, but I’ve found the Imperial March is rather inspiring. ---
**Author:** ![parsnip](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parsnip/32/4564_2.png) [@parsnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/parsnip)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2006, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-inspire-you-when-youre-down/338496/13 "2006-01-05T03:48:18Z")
“Drop the Pilot” by Joan Armitrading. total nonsense song, but it gets me moving every time. ---
**Author:** ![ThisSpaceForRent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thisspaceforrent/32/345_2.png) [@ThisSpaceForRent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisSpaceForRent)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2006, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-inspire-you-when-youre-down/338496/14 "2006-01-05T05:41:09Z")
Kinda morose but _Chain of Sorrow_ by John Prine You can gaze out the window get mad and get madder, Throw your hands in the air, say “What does it matter?” But it don’t do no good to get angry, So help me I know For a heart stained in anger grows weak and grows bitter. You become your own prisoner as you watch yourself sit there Wrapped up in a trap of your very own Chain of sorrow. ---
**Author:** ![Turek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/turek/32/18782_2.png) [@Turek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turek)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2006, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-inspire-you-when-youre-down/338496/15 "2006-01-05T13:39:58Z")
Well, I was originally only \*thinking \* about posting in this thread, since most of my inspirational songs are songs from the 80s. But since I see so many others have a similar bent, my confidence is shored up. _Fight the Good Fight_, by Triumph never fails to get my blood pumping and my attitude turned around. I love it when it comes up on the iPod Shuffle while I’m working out. ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2006, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-inspire-you-when-youre-down/338496/16 "2006-01-05T13:47:15Z")
The live version of “I’m Already In A Daydream” by the Freddy Jones Band always works for me. ---
**Author:** ![PookahMacPhellimey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pookahmacphellimey/32/3175_2.png) [@PookahMacPhellimey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PookahMacPhellimey)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2006, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-inspire-you-when-youre-down/338496/17 "2006-01-05T14:09:18Z")
I can’t stand outright cheerful music when I’m down as that makes me think that everyone is cheerful except me. My absolute emergency song is an obscure one by Townes van Zandt called _Don’t you take it too bad_. Any TvZ will help, though. ---
**Author:** ![spectrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc29f/32.png) [@spectrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spectrum)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2006, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-inspire-you-when-youre-down/338496/18 "2006-01-05T14:38:36Z")
“Let it Be” by the Beatles is my all purpose “things will get better” song. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2006, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-inspire-you-when-youre-down/338496/19 "2006-01-05T16:38:01Z")
“The Places you Find Love” off \*\*Back on the Block \*\* produced by Quincy Jones. And Carbonleaf too, but “Mary Mac”. “Rave On” done by Steeleye Span. ---
**Author:** ![tremorviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47774/32.png) [@tremorviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tremorviolet)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2006, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-inspire-you-when-youre-down/338496/20 "2006-01-05T16:41:25Z")
OK, it’s stupid and shallow but that **Chumbawumba** song that was a hit a few years back. “I get knoccked down and I get up again…” over and over with a catchy beat always picks me up. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-inspire-you-when-youre-down/338496.md?page=2)