# Songs to keep our spirits up in dark times **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [January 30, 2026, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-to-keep-our-spirits-up-in-dark-times/1027215 "2026-01-30T21:55:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2026, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-to-keep-our-spirits-up-in-dark-times/1027215/1 "2026-01-30T21:55:26Z")
When the human race gets me down, music comes to the rescue. I love songs that fire my spirit in dark times, so let’s share. First of all, support the [Singing Resistance of Minneapolis](https://www.reddit.com/r/Minneapolis/comments/1qgt5wy/singing_resistance/), who are taking their collective voices to the streets _right now._ “[Streets of Minneapolis](https://youtu.be/GDaPdpwA4Iw?si=bxgh3PWYoGcZNI3T)” by Bruce Springsteen is exactly the song we need at this moment. Kudos, Boss! “[The Little Flame](https://youtu.be/BH38VSfZbnU?si=RAaOsUZ_iPBkexqu)” by Carsie Blanton is historically informed as well as powerfully inspirational. This song keeps me going. _Prison cells, Freedom Rides, we keep that little flame alive._ “[Lincoln Portrait](https://youtu.be/0dW1pFvbnNk?si=ysDQn6w3OLq7UjAz)” by Aaron Copland to refresh our memory of what America’s ideals are supposed to be all about. It helped topple a dictator. Let’s deploy it here. “[Biko](https://youtu.be/jsVieeccpQs?si=wYaAv5WCobdAEoVw)” by Peter Gabriel is an old favorite. _You can blow out a candle, but you can’t blow out a fire Once the flames begin to catch, the wind will blow it higher_ ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2026, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-to-keep-our-spirits-up-in-dark-times/1027215/2 "2026-01-30T22:03:12Z")
For whatever reason, Let it Be makes me feel hopeful. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2026, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-to-keep-our-spirits-up-in-dark-times/1027215/3 "2026-01-30T22:15:42Z")
I think ‘Bridge over troubled water’ is a heartening song. Here’s a wonderful version by John Legend: [Bridge Over Troubled Water - John Legend - North Sea Jazz 2013([https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnCHCqYRQFs](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnCHCqYRQFs)) And a truly great songwriter: [Blowing In The Wind (Live On TV, March 1963)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWwgrjjIMXA&list=RDvWwgrjjIMXA&start_radio=1) ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2026, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-to-keep-our-spirits-up-in-dark-times/1027215/4 "2026-01-30T22:16:16Z")
[![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/wGGW4IezbC4/hqdefault.jpg "CANNED HEAT - LET'S WORK TOGETHER") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGGW4IezbC4) Works for me. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2026, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-to-keep-our-spirits-up-in-dark-times/1027215/5 "2026-01-31T12:42:04Z")
Billy Bragg and Wilco covering Woody Guthrie: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Vq75KA5IA0A/maxresdefault.jpg "All You Fascists") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vq75KA5IA0A) ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2026, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-to-keep-our-spirits-up-in-dark-times/1027215/6 "2026-01-31T14:14:01Z")
All you fascists bound to lose! That’s a great one. I was trying to think of what song “Streets of Minneapolis” reminded me of musically—then it came to me: “Desolation Row” by Bob Dylan. Effective. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2026, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-to-keep-our-spirits-up-in-dark-times/1027215/7 "2026-01-31T14:57:17Z")
Well, I don’t know if it “Lifts the Spirit”, but I think this one captures the feelings we’re all having: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/XluslIGClRA/maxresdefault.jpg "Flogging Molly - The Worst Day Since Yesterday (Official Audio)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XluslIGClRA) Flogging Molly - The Worst Day Since Yesterday ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2026, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-to-keep-our-spirits-up-in-dark-times/1027215/8 "2026-01-31T14:59:56Z")
On a more hopeful notes, there’s some Blues: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/-uW5U6DN2sU/maxresdefault.jpg "Lead Belly - "Hitler Song (Mr. Hitler)"") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uW5U6DN2sU) Lead Belly - “Hitler Song (Mr. Hitler)” ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2026, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-to-keep-our-spirits-up-in-dark-times/1027215/9 "2026-01-31T15:14:02Z")
How about something a bit escapist [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/a4_q0oOPpYo/maxresdefault.jpg "It's a Lovely Day Tomorrow") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4_q0oOPpYo) ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2026, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-to-keep-our-spirits-up-in-dark-times/1027215/10 "2026-01-31T15:35:12Z")
How about something rousing [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/MpPMkuyBX3E/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AHoA4AC4AOKAgwIABABGGEgYShhMA8=&rs=AOn4CLCaJn4IpQEe4lMt4dsxKvFWeAJ-DA "Patti Smith - People Have The Power") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpPMkuyBX3E) ---
**Author:** ![Lizzie1210](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f04885/32.png) [@Lizzie1210](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lizzie1210)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2026, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-to-keep-our-spirits-up-in-dark-times/1027215/11 "2026-01-31T16:16:40Z")
Van Morrison’s ‘Cleaning Windows’. It’s remarkably cheerful and happy. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2026, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-to-keep-our-spirits-up-in-dark-times/1027215/12 "2026-01-31T16:23:45Z")
**Fortunate Son** always gets my blood moving. Yeah, I know it’s a war protest song, but it also says “fuck you” to the establishment. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2026, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-to-keep-our-spirits-up-in-dark-times/1027215/13 "2026-01-31T19:58:25Z")
Get up! Stand up! Stand up for your rights. Get up! Stand up! Don’t give up the fight! (now global) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/d6szT5NnwTY/maxresdefault.jpg "Get Up Stand Up | Playing For Change | Song Around The World") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6szT5NnwTY) ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2026, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-to-keep-our-spirits-up-in-dark-times/1027215/14 "2026-01-31T20:16:45Z")
Lady Gaga sings Fred Rogers: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/e3o5FIXoK84/maxresdefault.jpg "Won’t You Be My Neighbor? | Lady Gaga Original") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3o5FIXoK84) ---
**Author:** ![gkster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gkster/32/14107_2.png) [@gkster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gkster)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2026, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-to-keep-our-spirits-up-in-dark-times/1027215/15 "2026-01-31T20:39:17Z")
[Top 10 Protest Songs That Are Still Powerful in 2025](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXxI9aekR4c&list=RDeXxI9aekR4c&start_radio=1) ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2026, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-to-keep-our-spirits-up-in-dark-times/1027215/16 "2026-01-31T21:17:34Z")
Fleetwood Mac, Sunny Side of Heaven. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/9BujGOSvIZw/maxresdefault.jpg "Sunny Side of Heaven") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BujGOSvIZw) ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2026, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-to-keep-our-spirits-up-in-dark-times/1027215/17 "2026-01-31T21:27:30Z")
Rage Against The Machine’s “Killing In The Name”. It’s even more relieving and liberating to shout along “Fuck you, I won’t do what you tell me!” now than when I saw the band at Pink Pop, Netherlands 33 years ago: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/bWXazVhlyxQ/maxresdefault.jpg "Rage Against The Machine - Killing In the Name (Official HD Video)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWXazVhlyxQ) ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2026, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-to-keep-our-spirits-up-in-dark-times/1027215/18 "2026-01-31T21:53:45Z")
❤ Viva Tom Morello! _Yaşasın_ I love angry songs that cry out for justice. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/8bYFZZ42P6U/maxresdefault.jpg "Jimmy Cliff - Piece Of The Pie (With Lyrics)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bYFZZ42P6U) ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2026, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-to-keep-our-spirits-up-in-dark-times/1027215/19 "2026-01-31T21:57:25Z")
Refuse/Resist by Sepultura [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/6ODNxy3YOPU/maxresdefault.jpg "Sepultura - Refuse/Resist [OFFICIAL VIDEO]") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ODNxy3YOPU) ---
**Author:** ![Saphir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Saphir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saphir)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2026, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-to-keep-our-spirits-up-in-dark-times/1027215/20 "2026-01-31T21:59:05Z")
Phil Ochs has so many songs which feel so topical! For the moment I’m just going to nominate Power and Glory, though. ![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/LWcJVojSNk8/maxresdefault.jpg)https://www.youtube.com/embed/LWcJVojSNk8?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque&list=RDLWcJVojSNk8 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-to-keep-our-spirits-up-in-dark-times/1027215.md?page=2)