Playlist of the Week: Songs of Hope

When going through my repertoire and personal playlists to put this post together, I noticed that many songs, if not all, had some message of finding or losing hope within them. The overall message of hope can be dependent on personal circumstances, so there are such a myriad of options out there for music therapists to draw upon when working with a variety of clients, from youth at risk, substance abuse, oncology, rehabilitation, and other populations.I hope you enjoy these examples and that they can be useful to you in your practice. I also encourage readers to make their own personal 'Songs of Hope' playlist, and use it purposefully when you may be feeling like you are running low on hope. You may want to make a playlist of, for example, 10 songs, where the first 5 are more reflective of feelings of hopelessness, and the last 5 reflect regaining hope. It is so important to ride out the low emotions to get to the positive ones.

I hope you enjoy these examples:

1. Somewhere Over the Rainbow - Judy Garland

Lyric: Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue

And the dream that you dare to dream

really do come true.

2. Imagine - John Lennon

Lyric: You may say I'm a dreamer

But I'm not the only one

I hope someday you'll join us

And the world will be as one

3. One Day - Matisyahu

Lyric: Sometimes in my tears I drown

But I never let it get me down

So when negativity surrounds

I know some day it'll all turn around

4. The Climb - Miley Cyrus

Lyric: Every move I make feels

Lost with no direction

My faith is shaking, but I

Gotta keep trying

Gotta keep my head held high

5. Hope - Natasha Bedingfeild

Lyric: Remember morning always comes

As night surrenders to the sun

No matter how dark it may become

Don't stop your light from shining on

6. Here's Hope - Owl City

Lyric: Here's hope (Here's hope) Showing up at your front door Here's hope (Here's hope) Yeah what's everybody looking for

7. Keep Holding On - Avril Lavigne

Lyric: And it feels like the end

There's no place to go

You know I won't give in

No, I won't give in

Keep holding on'

Cause you know we'll make it through

8. In My Blood - Shawn Mendes

Lyric: Help me, it's like the walls are caving in

Sometimes I feel like giving up

No medicine is strong enough

Someone help meI'm crawling in my skin

Sometimes I feel like giving up

But I just can't

It isn't in my blood

9. High Hopes: Kodaline

Lyric: But I've got high hopes, it takes me back to when we started

High hopes, when you let it go, go out and start again

High hopes, ooh when it all comes to an end

But the world keeps spinning around

10. Don't Stop Believing

Lyric: Some will win, some will lose

Some were born to sing the blues

Oh, the movie never ends

It goes on and on, and on, and on

11. Only Hope: Mandy Moore

Lyric: There's a s