20 Songs About Depression to Help You Through the Dark Days

Last updated on April 11th, 2023 at 08:40 pm

Depression hurts. Some days are so painful you can’t seem to even make it out of bed. Songs about depression are here to remind you that life will get better and that you can make it through.

No matter what genre you like, they all have amazing songs about depression to help inspire you during your darkest days. We’ve made a list of the best songs about depression. Hopefully at least one or two will resonate with you!

1. “Hurt” by Johnny Cash

No one sings about deep emotions as Johnny Cash does. “Hurt” is at the top of the list of our songs about depression and a high point of Johnny Cash’s career. This song is actually a cover song, and it was originally written by Nine Inch Nails. We like both versions, but there is just something about Cash’s voice that fits with this song.

2. “Lithium” by Evanescence

All millennials know that Evanescence was the queen of singing about depression in the early 00s. Whether you liked “My Immortal” or “Bring Me to Life,” most of their songs are songs about depression. “Lithium” is just a little more obvious than the rest.

3. “Runaway Train” by Soul Asylum

Do you sometimes feel like the emptiness you feel with depression is just too much? Soul Asylum talks about this in “Runaway Train,” which relates depression to feeling like a runaway train.

4. “everything I wanted” by Billie Eilish

Billie Eilish’s voice is beautiful and haunting in this song about depression which embodies the isolation felt when you are experiencing depression.

Anyone who has ever felt depression will especially recognize the part where she sings about feeling like her head is underwater.

Be warned, this can be a hard song to listen to for anyone who has ever been affected by suicide.

5. “Breathe Me” by Sia

No list of songs about depression would be complete without “Breathe Me” by Sia. This touching song shows the struggle to overcome depression and how it just creeps back up when you aren’t looking, making you feel like you can’t breathe.

6. “Adam’s Song” by Blink 182

Blink 182, the kings of pop punk, are one of our favorite bands. “Adam’s Song” is difficult to listen to because it discusses a suicide, with the words from the note he left behind in the song. It does capture the intense loneliness many people feel from depression, however, and might help you feel less alone.

7. “Never Let Me Go” By Florence and The Machine

Relationships ending can be a common cause of depression. This song addresses just that, so crank it up if your depression is a result of a relationship ending.

8. “Paint it Black” By The Rolling Stones

One of the first steps to overcoming depression is to recognize that it is the feeling you are experiencing. This song by The Rolling Stones talks about looking inside yourself to see your own black heart and recognizing your own feelings.

9. “Zero” by Imagine Dragons

Depression can often leave you feeling worthless. Imagine Dragons knows how it feels, and they sing about this type of depression in their song “Zero,” which was featured in the movie Ralph Breaks the Internet.

10. “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” by Green Day

Songs about depression are most often from the early 00s, which makes sense when you consider what was going on in the world at the time. This song is one of the biggest hits on our list and is perfect for those times you feel like you are walking alone.

11. “How to Save a Life” by The Fray

You may not have realized it, but this song is actually about dealing with the aftermath of a suicide. The lead singer of The Fray, Joe King, volunteered at a summer camp, and he met one of the kids who was very depressed. He did what he could, but ultimately the kid committed suicide. This left a profound mark on King and led to him writing this song years later.

12. “Fix You” by Coldplay

Coldplay is another of our favorite bands when it comes to songs about depression. Sometimes depression comes as a result of the death of someone else or something else you can’t control. Unfortunately, you are still the one who has to deal with it.

This can be painful, but this song reminds you that you aren’t at fault. You are just in charge of picking up the pieces.

13. “Deep End” by Ruelle

Ruelle has clearly experienced depression firsthand. The song opens with her singing about how the shadows are calling her and the feeling of being pulled over.

“Deep End” doesn’t have a happy ending like others on this end, however, but it can help you to put words to your feelings.

14. “Fade to Black” by Metallica

We weren’t joking when we said there is every genre on this list of songs about addiction. This particular hard rock song by Metallica talks about the dark and hopeless feelings you feel during a bought of depression.

15. “I Am Not Nothing” by Beth Crowley

Anyone who has ever listened to Beth Crowley knows her songs are heavy. This particular tune dives right in, talking about depression that comes from an abusive relationship. We like this tune because it also talks about letting go of past regrets and learning to love yourself again.

16. “Someone You Loved” by Lewis Capaldi

Anyone who has gone through a breakup knows this song. That moment when you are sitting there and realizing that you are someone that your ex once loved. This is a harsh realization, and something in Capaldi’s voice makes the message just that much more real.

17. “I Feel Like Dying” by Lil Wayne

Rap is one of the best genres when it comes to songs about depression. Regardless of the cause of your depression, rap has it all.

This song by Lil Wayne talks about the depression that comes after the drugs wear off. It’s a prime example of using substance abuse to cover depression—which we don’t recommend you do.

18. “Tears of Gold” by Faouzia

Are you depressed because you gave everything to someone, and they just tossed you aside? You’re not alone, as this is a common feeling following a breakup.

Faouzia sings about this type of depression, talking about how she cried “tears of gold” for someone who could care less about her.

19. “Numb” by Linkin Park

There comes a point in your journey of depression when you just feel numb. When you get to that point, this song by Linkin Park is the remedy. It emulates your feelings and reminds you that you aren’t at fault for something you may regret doing in your past.

20. “Hang On a Little Longer” by Unsecret and Ruelle

Struggling with feelings of depression is difficult. But you can do it. Depression, even though it may not seem like it, is temporary. This song by Unsecret and Ruelle talks about what you will experience someday if you just hang on a little bit longer.

Are you or a loved one experiencing serious depression? We hope this list of songs about depression helped you to feel comforted and like a better day is coming. If you are dangerously depressed, please seek help by calling 988, which will connect you to the National Suicide Hotline.

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