37 Songs About Depression & Suicide – Sad Songs About Loss & Feeling Hopelessness

“Hurt” by Christina Aguilera

Song year: 2006

This is a song about losing someone close to you.

And, it’s also about the resulting impact.

When you’re depressed, you will at times feel like nobody cares – it comes with the territory.

This song may help you see all the people that care about you.

And, if you’ve recently lost a loved one, you will relate to this song.

“Last Hope” by Paramore, A Song About Fighting The Hopelessness Feeling

Song year: 2013

“Last Hope” is an optimistic song about depression, and not being ready to give into that hopelessness feeling just yet.

It’s about finding hope and holding onto it, even when it seems like there’s nothing to hope for.

I particularly like this line because I can relate to it: “Every night I try my best to dream tomorrow makes it better/And wake up to the cold reality and not a thing is changed.”

Still, the narrator declares: “Gonna let it happen, gonna let it happen.”

Even if a spark is all you’ve got it, chase after it.

Look for the hope that lies just beyond the darkness.

“Lithium” by Evanescence

Song year: 2006

Lithium is a prescription drug often used to treat manic depression.

People who are diagnosed with depression are usually prescribed drugs to cope.

And, many have experienced the ups and downs that come with drug use – it can stop working after a while, it can worsen the situation, it can lead to relapses.

Some people have even told me that it made them feel like a zombie.

“Lithium” by Evanescence seems to capture these challenges well.

As the chorus goes: “Lithium, don’t want to lock me up inside/Lithium, don’t want to forget how it feels without/Lithium, I want to stay in love with my sorrow/Oh, but, God, I want to let it go.”

“You Found Me” by The Fray

Song year: 2009

Unfortunately, many of us know what it’s like to be waiting for that call that never comes.

We might be waiting for our significant other, our parents, our best friends… whatever the case.

You can reach a point of desperation when you don’t hear from that special someone.

“You Found Me” is a song about taking desperate measures when you suspect something is up with the person that’s supposed to call you.

People can be driven mad, especially by love.

By the way, there aren’t too many songs by The Fray that aren’t in some way about depression.

You can put them on repeat if you like what they have to offer.

“Otherside” by Red Hot Chili Peppers

Song year: 1999

A song about depression and suicide all wrapped into one.

The narrator says he’s ready to “Take it on the other side”, which in this case is referring to whatever is on the other side of death.

We are all mortal and contemplate what happens on the other side, which no one can know.

In this song, the narrator is losing control and doesn’t feel there’s anything left in this world for him.

If depression is causing you to slide, this may not be the song to listen to.

But if you need to remember what it’s like to go through something tough and how that can feel, “Otherside” can be a good listen.

“Why” by Rascal Flatts

Song year: 2009

It’s hard to make sense of suicide and it can leave you in shock.

“Why” by Rascal Flatts is a song that tries to understand why the departed was so tormented.

These lines are incredibly relatable: “Oh why, that’s what I keep askin’/Was there anything I could have said or done/Oh, I had no clue you were masking a troubled soul, God only knows/What went wrong, and why you’d leave the stage in the middle of a song.”

This gentle ballad is uplifting and heartfelt.

“Boulevard Of Broken Dreams” by Green Day

Song year: 2004

Many of us have unfulfilled dreams and desires.

“Boulevard of Broken Dreams” is an anthem for those who feel the sting of loneliness and isolation.

When everything’s gone wrong, it’s hard to imagine a future where everything’s better.

But that doesn’t mean it can’t happen.

If your heart is still beating in your chest, there is always a future.

It can be hard to see passed the darkness, and you may walk alone until someone finds you.

You can be found if you’re willing to be found.

“The Last Night” by Skillet

Song year: 2006

“The Last Night” is a song about saving someone who’s looking to end their life.

The narrator describes a friend coming to them saying they’re alright, but as he asserts: “But I know it’s a lie.”

He also offers this: “This is the last night/You’ll spend alone/Look me in the eyes/So I know you know/I’m everywhere/You want me to be.”

When we’re depressed, sometimes we just need someone to come alongside us, let us know they know how we feel, and to let us know it’s going to be okay.

It doesn’t mean it will be easy from then on.

But if you have hope, you can keep on.

“Jumper” by Third Eye Blind

Song year: 1997

At this point, this song is a bit of a self-caricature.

Still, it can be moving in the right situation.

It references someone who is about to jump off a ledge to their demise (of course, this can be taken literally or figuratively, but the song title references it too).

It’s hard to forget this chorus from the late 90s: “I wish you would step back/From that ledge my friend/You could cut ties with all the lies/That you’ve been living in/And if you do not want to see me again/I would understand/I would understand.”

This catchy tune can’t help but make you feel supported.

“Don’t Give Up” by Peter Gabriel ft. Kate Bush

Song year: 1986

“Don’t Give Up” describes someone who’s experienced disappointment and is going through rough times.

Gabriel’s message is straightforward: “Don’t give up/’Cause you have friends/Don’t give up/You’re not beaten yet/Don’t give up/I know you can make it good.”

This is also a good song to put on when you feel embarrassed about something that’s happened to you.

Everybody experiences failure and difficulties at times, and just because you’ve gone through those things doesn’t mean it’s over for you.

“Don’t Let Me Get Me” by P!nk

Song year: 2001

P!nk certainly isn’t a stranger to controversial topics.

This song is probably one of the tamer ones.

But the narrator is unhappy with who they are, and they don’t want to be themselves anymore.

As the chorus goes: “Don’t let me get me/I’m my own worst enemy/It’s bad when you annoy yourself/So irritating/Don’t wanna be my friend no more/I wanna be somebody else.”

This is one of the upbeat songs that can leave you feeling better about your situation, however.

“The Outsider” by A Perfect Circle

Song year: 2003

This is a dark song that’s not afraid of its subject matter.

I would not suggest listening to it if you’re deeply depressed right now.

The narrator describes a self-destructive friend.

And, they’re not exactly trying to be supportive either, although they don’t want to see their friend suffer, as indicated by these lyrics: “What’ll it take to get it through to you precious/Over this, why do you wanna/Throw it away like this.”

The song is also about the pain and difficulty of being around someone who doesn’t value their life.

“The Pass” by Rush

Song year: 1989

You can count on Canadian prog rock band Rush to deliver a heady song about depression and suicide.

And, characteristically, it’s uplifting.

Honestly, if you think you’d win in an argument against songwriter and virtuoso drummer Neil Peart, you’ve got another thing coming.

But I jest.

These lyrics are a wonderful reminder to us all: “All of us get lost in the darkness/Dreamers learn to steer by the stars/All of us do time in the gutter/Dreamers turn to look at the cars/Turn around and turn around and turn around/Turn around and walk the razor’s edge/Don’t turn your back/And slam the door on me.”

And, that seems like a good note to end this post on.

Songs About Depression & Suicide, Final Thoughts On These Sad Songs About Loss & Feeling Hopelessness

There are plenty of notable people and musicians who have or have had major depressive disorder.

This list includes people like Billie Joe Armstrong (Green Day), Johnny Cash, Eric Clapton, Kurt Cobain (Nirvana), Phil Collins, Eminem, Billie Eilish, Selena Gomez, Natalie Imbruglia, Paul McCartney (The Beatles) and many, many others.

Depression is a real thing and it needs to be discussed openly.

It isn’t understood at the level it could be as many people haven’t experienced what it’s like to be depressed.

But we shouldn’t cast judgment from either side – you can’t know what someone else is going through.

What’s important is that the conversations continue.