Music has the ability to comfort us and help us to process things we can’t understand. Here’s another playlist filled with motivation and hope for those who are living with chronic illness and still continue to keep going.
Warrior- Avril Lavigne
Favorite lyric: ‘Cause I’m a warrior, I fight for my life/ Like a soldier all through the night
Lavigne actually wrote this song about her battle with Lyme disease. She understands what it’s like to deal with chronic illness and how much of a warrior you have to be.
Let it Go- James Bay
Favorite lyric: I used to recognize myself/ It’s funny how reflections change
Bay softly sings how we should just leave our brokenness to the breeze and let things be. When your health seems to be so out of your control, peace may come in accepting that. It’s a process and acceptance period—you’re not the person you used to be. You can’t do the things you used to do, and the constant battle is trying to learn how to “be you” when everything you knew about yourself has changed.
The Cure- Lady Gaga
Favorite lyric: If I can’t find the cure, I’ll fix you with my love
If there were ever a song to convince you that love could really heal your pain, it’s this one. Chronic illness teaches you the importance of a support system and how much it means to have somebody by your side helping you through everything.
This is a little reminiscent of our Lyme and Love video. (Love may not actually cure Lyme, but it sure does help.) Watch the video here.
By the Grace of God- Katy Perry
Favorite lyric: Thought I wasn’t enough and I wasn’t so tough/ Laying on the bathroom floor
From the first few piano notes, you know you’ll need to gear up for all of the feelings this song will make you feel. This soft ballad captures how it feels to hit rock bottom, and somehow, by the grace of God, pick yourself back up when you didn’t think you could keep going. Perry has decided every morning that she will stop mourning, which is a decision the chronic illness community has to choose each day.
Dare You to Move- Switchfoot
Favorite lyric: I dare you to lift yourself up off the floor
In a very literal form, it is a daring attempt to move if you’ve got chronic illness. But really, this song translates the hope and motivation needed to forget the pain of today and to keep going. There’s the way it should be and there’s the way it is, and it isn’t fair. You lift yourself up off the floor anyways.
I Won’t Give Up- Jason Mraz
Favorite lyric: God knows we’re worth it/ No I won’t give up
Mraz’s romantic gesture can also be looked at as a proclamation for all those going through anything difficult. This song is yet another reminder that you are a warrior. No matter what happens, you won’t give up.
The Climb- Miley Cyrus
Favorite lyric: Always gonna be a uphill battle/ Sometimes you gonna have to lose
Just as the lyrics build, the song continues to build. Likewise, you can’t help but be built up, too. The narrative is relatable to anyone—there is always going to be something hard to go through, but you have to keep your faith and keep going. (Even though chronic illness may make that nearly impossible.)
I Don’t Want to Be-Gavin DeGraw
Favorite lyric: All I have to do is think of me and I have peace of mind
There can be a lot of pressure to try and be somebody you aren’t when you’ve got chronic illness. You’re doing the best you can, and you don’t need to worry about other people’s expectations. You are not defined by your illness, but you should never be ashamed of it.
Fix You- Coldplay
Favorite lyric: When you get what you want, but not what you need/ When you feel so tired, but you can’t sleep
Lead singer Martin wrote a beautiful tribute to his wife after the passing of her father. It’s a song of comfort and love. He knows that there’s regret and sadness he cannot begin to understand, but he will try to fix her anyways.
To those dealing with chronic illness, you have dealt with grief and pain that most people do not understand, but the people who love you, the people in this community, and this song, can try to fix you.
Out of the Woods- Taylor Swift
Favorite lyric: Are we out of the woods?/Are we in the clear yet?
Swift wrote this song to convey the anxiety she felt the entire time during a past relationship. With chronic illness, there’s always this anxiety of not knowing if you’re going to feel okay. Will your medication work today? Will it stop working tomorrow? Will the pain subside? Will you ever get out of the woods?
Unwell- Matchbox Twenty
Favorite lyric: But I’m not crazy, I’m just a little unwell/ I know right now you can’t tell/ But stay awhile and maybe then you’ll see a different side of me
People don’t always understand chronic illness. They might think you are crazy, making your illness up, or expect you to be the person you were before. They might see a different side of you, but if they stuck around for a little while, they’d see that there’s no way you could be faking it.
Bad Day- Daniel Powter
Favorite lyric: You’re faking a smile with the coffee to go/ You tell me your life’s been way off line
You have more bad days than most. Sometimes all you can do is acknowledge that the day was bad and try again tomorrow.
Have you seen our other playlists? You can listen to all of the playlists on Spotify here.