Songs about depression

[ocadhla]

First, holy shit the board got spammed.

Second, I guess this is the best place to put this. Something that I think a lot of people have heard is a lot of artists are depressed. I know its kind of silly to relate to them when you don't know anything about their story, but since being diagnosed I find it interesting when I listen to a song I've known for years and realize its about clinical depression. I thought it might be a good idea to start a thread about these songs. I think that seeing people who are open about their condition in a very public way is good for people (myself included) who feel alone a lot of the time and that its also a good way to show how prevalent our problem is. Anyway, here's a few that I know, please add any you can think of!

I'll try to post only songs that I believe are beneficial to a depressive. I don't want to put anything on here that encourages suicide, the point of this thread is to provide comfort for people who think that they're all alone in this and to show that you can do great things with your life (like make great music) even when your brain keeps telling you you're a piece of shit.

Depression by Dirty Projectors, one of my favorite bands. Note that this is a reworking of the Black Flag song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teiHUFmIv7U

I See a Darkness by Bonnie Prince Billy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAriDxTeed8

Razorblade Salvation by Jedi Mind Tricks
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAriDxTeed8

Hurt by Nine Inch Nails as covered by Johnny Cash
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clq01TXQR0s

Take Lots With Alcohol (Also a fair number of their songs) by Alkaline Trio. I know they're definitely more negative/dark but I find it relatable.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVu2GODuaVk


These are all I can think of off the top of my head.

[manuel_moe_g]

A+ #1 music video for people suffering with mental illness.

"Rabbit in Your Headlights" from UNKLE, album Psyence Fiction (1998), video by director Jonathan Glazer

http://youtu.be/cud_k9f6tqk

I cannot watch it at work, I will start crying

[BikeForDays]

Ocadhia> Good idea and good taste in music. Definitely been getting into Billy "Prince" Bonnie a lot recently.

If you haven't heard of Jason Molina/Songs: Ohia/Magnolia Electric Co. it seems like it is exactly up your alley. Sounds hyperbolic but Jason's music has saved my life more than once.

"Hold On Magnolia" - by Magnolia Elec. Co
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D93xc7p_yKw

"Blue Chicago Blues" - by Songs: Ohia
http://youtu.be/U39aGJ9zz7k

[PeyoteUgly]

three posts in and already a Black Flag AND Songs:Ohia mention?
I think i'm gonna like it here!

[slothrop]

Not about depression, but when people ask me what it feels like, I tend to use this song for audio help.

Bitcrush - Engale

Maybe there are some electronic music fans out there too...

[inmymind]

Hurt by Nine-Inch-Nails. I don't know if I've seen their video yet, but the Johnny Cash one is a tear jerker. I never thought of his as a song of depression, per se, but more as a song about dying (which I know can be depressing). But as strange as this may sound, I also see his video rendition of this song as a statement of love. The love of his life, his wife, in the background crying is a testamont of the volume of love they had for each other. If you've seen the Cash biography movie (forget the name), then this video is even more meaningful and you could better understand my interpretation that it is about love too.

[inmymind]

I have always wondered if there is a mathematical brain-wave pattern that depressed people are attracted to in the form of music made by depressed artist. Would avoiding "depressing" music, and more exposure to "happier" music cause a shift in our brain chemestry? My intuition says "yes". Are we partial to certain great, depressed musicians because we are depressed? I would love someone to study this. I bet someone already has, but I don't hear it talked about so maybe there hasn't been enough study on this.

Am I overanalyzing?

[Murphy]

Emotion sickness by silverchair is another good one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBf1UblIMKU

inmymind, I don't know, while there is some emotional music I'm really into, I listen to mostly upbeat, happy sounding stuff (listening to They Might be Giants at the moment), and I'm still depressed! It hasn't helped me at all, sadly.

[ocadhla]

Interesting idea inmymind... Although from personal experience, I disagree. I was a big metal fan growing up but my tastes include many other things as shown in my first post. I listened to mostly happy, indie sort of stuff when I was depressed. Only when I started to recover did I delve back into some of my old favorites like Cradle of Filth and the Black Dahlia Murder.

I'm really trying not to preach or sound like I know it all. When I was/(still might be, and definitely struggle with) depressed, it wasn't the ever-present sadness that got to me. It was the feeling that I wasn't really alive. Something about the raw anger and (if you actually spend time analyzing it) indignation in metal music and the like, makes me feel alive and important; makes me feel like there's something left worth fighting for, even if its just another fucking day in this world.

I believe there's a time and place for all types of music, and that it differs for every person. To me, there's no sense listening to happier music if you're depressed in order to feel better. In reality, you won't be able to relate to it and that will, in turn, make you feel worse. Sometimes you just need that voice to tell you that you aren't the only one who feels like a fucked up, worthless piece of shit that the world would be better off without. Some of the most important/influential people in the world's history have felt this way and it is a completely natural and human way to feel.

I do agree with you, however, that as depressives, we are drawn to songs that channel the same frequency that our souls seem to sing. Although, again from my own experience, this is beneficial and can help to stave off the darkest of our days. Ignoring or avoiding the dark sides of humanity is no cure for them, in fact, oftentimes, facing them is the only way to heal.

[meh]

It's Only Life by the Shins, who coincidently brought the Dirty Projectors on stage with them when they played in NY last month.

http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/shins/itsonlylife.html

And I'm happy to see a Black Flag reference too