Self Help Recovery from Addictions › Forums › General Discussions on Addiction and Recovery › Songs about addiction and recovery (post your recommendations!)
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Anonymous
September 10, 2011 at 2:19 pmPost count: 38“Hang on to Your Life” The Guess Who
Thinkin’ ’bout the people gone by
Screamin’ that I don’t wanna die
You can push your head
But don’t you push it too far…Thinkin’ ’bout it’s here and it’s real
Wonderin’ how I really should feel
You can sell your soul
But don’t you sell it too cheap…Hang on to your life
Hang on to your lifeThinkin’ ’bout betrayin’ a friend
Thinkin’ ’bout delayin’ the end
You can ride the wind
But don’t you ride it too highHang on to your life….
(Spoken, from Psalm 22)
They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.
I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint.
My heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.
My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws;and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.Mongo
September 16, 2011 at 12:37 pmPost count: 1“Dead Man’s Rope”…… Sting
A million footsteps, this left foot drags behind my right
But I keep walking, from daybreak ’til the falling night
And as days turn into weeks and years
And years turn into lifetimes
I just keep walking, like I’ve been walking for a thousand yearsWalk away in emptiness, walk away in sorrow,
Walk away from yesterday, walk away tomorrow,If you’re walking to escape, to escape from your affliction
You’d be walking in a great circle, a circle of addiction
Did you ever wonder what you’d been carrying since the world was black?
You see yourself in a looking glass with a tombstone on your backWalk away in emptiness, walk away in sorrow,
Walk away from yesterday, walk away tomorrow,
Walk away in anger, walk away in pain
Walk away from life itself, walk into the rainAll this wandering has led me to this place
Inside the well of my memory, sweet rain of forgiveness
I’m just hanging here in spaceNow I’m suspended between my darkest fears and dearest hope
Yes I’ve been walking, now I’m hanging from a dead man’s rope
With Hell below me, and Heaven in the sky above
I’ve been walking, I’ve been walking away from Jesus’ loveWalk away in emptiness, walk away in sorrow,
Walk away from yesterday, walk away tomorrow,
Walk away in anger, walk away in pain
Walk away from life itself, walk into the rainAll this wandering has led me to this place
Inside the well of my memory, sweet rain of forgiveness
I’m just hanging here in spaceThe shadows fall
Around my bed
When the hand of an angel,
The hand of an angel is reaching down above my headAll this wandering has led me to this place
Inside the well of my memory, sweet rain of forgiveness
Now I’m walking in his grace
I’m walking in his footsteps
Walking in his footsteps,
Walking in his footstepsAll the days of my life I will walk with you
All the days of my life I will talk with you
All the days of my life I will share with you
All the days of my life I will bear with youWalk away from emptiness, walk away from sorrow,
Walk away from yesterday, walk away tomorrow,
Walk away from anger, walk away from pain
Walk away from anguish, walk into the rain.September 16, 2011 at 5:28 pmPost count: 261Don’t know if it’s already been said but….
Pat Travers: Snortin’ whiskey, drinkin’ cocaineSeptember 16, 2011 at 7:21 pmPost count: 2There are so many where would I begin ? Everyone likes John Lennon but everyone usually miss “Watching the Wheels”. Indigo Girls… all through their albums from “Prince of Darkness”, “Hammer and a Nail”, “Reunion”.. too many to even think of just from them. Five for Fighting “Superman”… and on and on… and then there is Jewel and her album “Spirit”… and what is probably my all time favorite recovery tune…
Life Uncommon
Don’t worry mother, it’ll be all right
And don’t worry sister, say your prayers and sleep tight
It’ll be fine lover of mine
It’ll be just fine
Lend your voices only to sounds of freedom
No longer lend your strength to that which you wish to be free from
Fill your lives with love and bravery
And you shall lead a life uncommon
I’ve heard your anguish, I’ve heard your hearts cry out
We are tired, we are weary, but we aren’t worn out
Set down your chains, until only faith remains
Set down your chains
And lend your voices only to sounds of freedom
No longer lend your strength to that
Which you wish to be free from
Fill your lives with love and bravery
And we shall lead a life uncommon
There are plenty of people who pray for peace
But if praying were enough it would have come to be
Let your words enslave no one and the heavens will hush themselves
To hear our voices ring out clear
With sounds of freedom
Sounds of freedom
Come on you unbelievers, move out of the way
There is a new army coming and we are armed with faith
To live, we must give
To live
And lend our voices only to sounds of freedom
No longer lend our strength to that we wish to be free from
Fill your lives with love and bravery
And we shall lead…
Lend our voices only to sounds of freedom
No longer lend our strength to that which we wish to be free from
Fill your lives with love and bravery
And we shall lead a life uncommonSeptember 17, 2011 at 7:26 amPost count: 26Whelp, didn’t see this one. Video’s pretty powerful, too.
Scars ~ Papa RoachI tear my heart open, I sew myself shut
My weakness is that I care too much
And my scars remind me that the past is real
I tear my heart open just to failDrunk and I’m feeling down
And I just wanna be alone
I’m pissed cause you came around
Why don’t you just go home
Cause you channel all your pain
And I can’t help you fix yourself
You’re making me insane
All I can say is[Chorus:]
I tear my heart open, I sew myself shut
My weakness is that I care too much
And our scars remind us that the past is real
I tear my heart open just to failI tried to help you once
Against my own advice
I saw you going down
But you never realized
That you’re drowning in the water
So I offered you my hand
Compassion’s in my nature
Tonight is our last stand[Chorus]
I’m drunk and I’m feeling down
And I just wanna be alone
You shouldn’t ever come around
Why don’t you just go home?
Cause you’re drowning in the water
And I tried to grab your hand
And I left my heart open
But you didn’t understand
But you didn’t understand
Go fix yourselfI can’t help you fix yourself
But at least I can say I tried
I’m sorry but I gotta move on with my own life
I can’t help you fix yourself
But at least I can say I tried
I’m sorry but I gotta move on with my own life
September 17, 2011 at 10:35 amPost count: 11Happiness is a warm gun, Cold Turkey-John Lennon, In my father’s house-Eric Clapton, G. D. the pusher man-Steppin Wolf, Ball and Chain, Summer Time-Janis, Fairies Wares Boots, The Hand Of Doom-Ozzy, Paint It Black, Coming Down Again-The Stones, She Talks To Angels-The Black Crows? Life By The Drop-S.R.V., 30 Days in the hole-Humble Pie, Sledgehammer-Peter Gabriel.
September 20, 2011 at 4:06 pmPost count: 3Sandbox here is a few more:
Speed” /
ANNIE LENNOX…. “Bitter Pill”
BILLY IDOL ……… “Heroin”
Metallica…………. “Sad but true”
MOTLEY CRUE ….. “Bitter Pill”
Metallica ………… “Master of Puppets”
Master of PuppetsAbout drug addiction
“End of passion play, crumbling away”
“I’m your source of self-destruction”
– I = drug will kill you
“Veins that pump with fear, sucking darkest clear”
– The darkest = heroin
“Leading on your death’s construction”
– It is determining your fate
“Taste me you will see”
“More is all you need”
– Become addicted
“You’re dedicated to”
“How I’m killing you”“Come crawling faster”
“Obey your master”
– Master = drug
“Your life burns faster”
“Obey your master”
“Master”“Master of puppets I’m pulling your strings”
– The drug is now controlling you
“Twisting your mind and smashing your dreams”
– The impact of the drug
“Blinded by me, you can’t see a thing”
– Can’t see that it’s killing you
“Just call my name, ’cause I’ll hear you scream”
“Master”
“Master”
“Just call my name, ’cause I’ll hear you scream”
“Master”
“Master”“Needlework the way, never you betray”
– Needlework = fixing
“Life of death becoming clearer”
“Pain monopoly, ritual misery”
– You’re playing with your life
“Chop your breakfast on a mirror”
– Breakfast = taking cocaine on a mirror; or heroin if mirror = spoon
“Taste me you will see”
“(…)”“Come crawling faster”
“(…)”“Master of puppets I’m pulling your strings”
“(…)”September 20, 2011 at 7:03 pmPost count: 3Sandbox here is a few more:
check-em out
BILLY IDOL………. “Speed”
ANNIE LENNOX….. “Bitter Pill”
METALLICA …….. “Low Man’s Lyric”
BILLY IDOL ……… “Heroin”
Beck………………. “Loser” (This one is way out there!) http://www.songcrossfire.com/beck-loser.php
Janes Addiction… “Suffer Some“
Metallica…………. “Sad but true“
MOTLEY CRUE ….. “Bitter Pill”
Motercycle ……… “As the Rush Comes”
Metallica ………… “Master of Puppets”Master of Puppets
[About drug addiction]
http://www.encycmet.com/songs/smmop.shtml
“End of passion play, crumbling away”
“I’m your source of self-destruction”
– I = drug will kill you
“Veins that pump with fear, sucking darkest clear”
– The darkest = heroin
“Leading on your death’s construction”
– It is determining your fate
“Taste me you will see”
“More is all you need”
– Become addicted
“You’re dedicated to”
“How I’m killing you”“Come crawling faster”
“Obey your master”
– Master = drug
“Your life burns faster”
“Obey your master”
“Master”“Master of puppets I’m pulling your strings”
– The drug is now controlling you
“Twisting your mind and smashing your dreams”
– The impact of the drug
“Blinded by me, you can’t see a thing”
– Can’t see that it’s killing you
“Just call my name, ’cause I’ll hear you scream”
“Master”
“Master”
“Just call my name, ’cause I’ll hear you scream”
“Master”
“Master”“Needlework the way, never you betray”
– Needlework = fixing
“Life of death becoming clearer”
“Pain monopoly, ritual misery”
– You’re playing with your life
“Chop your breakfast on a mirror”
– Breakfast = taking cocaine on a mirror; or heroin if mirror = spoon
“Taste me you will see”
“(…)”“Come crawling faster”
“(…)”“Master of puppets I’m pulling your strings”
“(…)”September 20, 2011 at 8:17 pmPost count: 3Afroman……. “Because I got high”
not that I find it so humorous these days! dud ?October 2, 2011 at 7:08 amPost count: 1note- None of these songs glorify the drug(s)
Alice in Chains– Sludge Factory, Junkhead
Jerry Cantrell– Solitude, 31/32, Hurts Don’t It
Mad Season– Wake Up
Temple of the Dog– Times of Trouble
Audioslave– Drown Me Slowly
Pearl Jam– Habit, Save You
Ben Harper– The Drugs Don’t Work
Eric Clapton– Nobody Knows When You’re Down and Out
Lynyrd Skynyrd– Poison Whiskey, Junkie, Devil in a Bottle
Van Zant– Right Side Up, Can’t Help Myself
Neil Young– The Needle and the Damage DoneOctober 4, 2011 at 6:53 amPost count: 47I’ve recently discovered the band Dream Theater. The drummer and primary lyricist, Mike Portnoy, is putting his current 12-step recovery onto “vinyl” (yes that phrase effectively dates me) over the course of several albums.
He started out with a multi-part suite on their 6 Degrees of Inner Turbulence CD called “The Glass Prison”, which contains steps 1-3, and is dedicated to Bill W.
“This Dying Soul” from their Train of Thought CD contains steps 4 and 5.
Their current release, Octavarium, contains steps 6 and 7 in the track “The Root of All Evil”.
First of all, Dream Theater is the most amazing “Progressive” band I’ve ever heard. Their musicianship and technical brilliance is simply ASTONISHING. That being said, there is much that will probably go over the head of the casual listener (as is typical with most “Progressive” music).
Additionally, Mike’s lyrics tend to be extremely gut-wrenching self-analysis’ of his inner world, and it is easy to see yourself in them while studying them. Since he’s only up to Step 7, we’ll have to wait for the next few DT releases for the conclusion.
A sample from “The Root of All Evil”, pt VI (Ready):
Proud enough for you to call me arrogant
Greedy enough to be labeled a thief
Angry enough for me to go and hurt a man
Cruel enough for me to feel no griefNever could have just a part of it
I always need more to get by
Getting right down to the heart of it
The root of all evil has been running my whole lifeDirty enough for me to lust
Leaving nothing left to trust
Jealous enough to still feel envious
Lazy enough to sleep all day
And let my life just waste away
Selfish enough to make you wait for meDriven blindly by our sins
Misled so easily
Entirely ready to leave it behind
I’m begging to break freeTake all of me
The desires that keep burning deep inside
Cast them all away
And help to give me strength to face another day
I am ready
Help me be what I can beLIke I said, pretty heavy stuff. Add to that the music behind them is driving, intense and complex, and you’ve got for one interesting stew of complex emotions while listening. Since the theme is about admitting your sins and being ready to change, I tend to view this as a positive listening experience. (Even though it sounds at times like some pretty bleak stuff).
Anyway, thought I’d share this with everyone.
Peace!
October 4, 2011 at 8:44 pmPost count: 1Lean On Me
Sometimes in our lives we all have pain
We all have sorrow
But if we are wise
We know that there’s always tomorrowLean on me, when you’re not strong
And I’ll be your friend
I’ll help you carry on
For it won’t be long
‘Til I’m gonna need
Somebody to lean onPlease swallow your pride
If I have things you need to borrow
For no one can fill those of your needs
That you don’t let showLean on me, when you’re not strong
And I’ll be your friend
I’ll help you carry on
For it won’t be long
‘Til I’m gonna need
Somebody to lean onIf there is a load you have to bear
That you can’t carry
I’m right up the road
I’ll share your load
If you just call meSo just call on me brother, when you need a hand
We all need somebody to lean on
I just might have a problem that you’d understand
We all need somebody to lean onLean on me when you’re not strong
And I’ll be your friend
I’ll help you carry on
For it won’t be long
Till I’m gonna need
Somebody to lean onJanuary 12, 2012 at 2:45 pmPost count: 4Counting Crows – Perfect Blue Buildings
Just down the street from your hotel, baby
I stay at home with my disease
And ain’t this position familiar, darling
Well, all monkeys do what they see
Help me stay awake, I’m falling…Down on virginia and la loma
Where I got friends who’ll care for me
You got an attitude of everything I ever wanted
I got an attitude of need
Help me stay awake, I’m falling…Asleep in perfect blue buildings
Beside the green apple sea
Gonna get me a little oblivion, baby
Try to keep myself away from meIt’s 4:30 a.m. on a tuesday
It doesn’t get much worse than this
In beds in little rooms in buildings in the middle of these lives which are completely meaningless
Help me stay awake, I’m falling…Asleep in perfect blue buildings
Beside the green apple sea
Gonna get me a little oblivion, baby
Try to keep myself away from meI got bones beneath my skin, and mister…
There’s a skeleton in every man’s house
Beneath the dust and love and sweat that hangs on everybody
There’s a dead man trying to get out
Please help me stay awake, I’m falling…Asleep in perfect blue buildings
Beside the green apple sea
Gonna get me a little oblivion, baby
Try to keep myself away from meI can’t keep myself away from me
How am I gonna keep myself away from meJanuary 12, 2012 at 2:48 pmPost count: 4Grey Street – Dave Matthews Band
Oh look at how she listens
She says nothing of what she thinks
She just goes stumbling through her memories
Staring out onto Grey StreetShe thinks, “Hey,
How did I come to this?
I dream myself a thousand times around the world,
But I can’t get out of this placeâ€There’s an emptiness inside her
And she’d do anything to fill it in
But all the colors mix together – to grey
And it breaks her heartHow she wishes it was different
She prays to God most every night
Though she swears it doesn’t listen
There’s still a hope in her “HE” mightShe says, “I pray
Oh, but they fall on deaf ears,
Am I supposed to take it on myself
To get out of this place?â€Oh there’s a loneliness inside her
And she’d do anything to fill it in
And though it’s red blood bleeding from her now
It feels like cold blue ice in her heart
When all the colors mix together to grey
And it breaks her heartThere’s a stranger speaks outside her door
Says take what you can from your dreams
Make them as real as anything
It’d take the work out of the courageShe says, “Please
There’s a crazy man that’s creeping outside my door,
I live on the corner of Grey Street
and the end of the worldâ€There’s an emptyness inside her
And she’d do anything to fill it in
And though it’s red blood bleeding from her now
It’s more like cold blue ice in her heart
She feels like kicking out all the windows
And setting fire to this life
She could change everything about her using colors bold and bright
But all the colors mix together to grey
And it breaks her heart
It breaks her heart
To greyJanuary 12, 2012 at 2:49 pmPost count: 4This is more of a recovery song
Don’t be afraid
Open your mouth and say
Say what your soul sings to you
Your mind can never change
Unless you ask it to
Lovingly re-arrange
The thoughts that make you blue
The things that bring you down
Only do harm to you
So make your choice joy
The joy belongs to you
And when you do
You’ll find the one you love is you
You’ll find you love youDon’t be ashamed
To open your heart and pray
Say what your soul sings
To you
So no longer pretend
That you can’t feel it near
That tickle on your head
That tingle in your ear
Oh ask it anything
Because it loves you dear
It’s your most precious king
If only you could hear
And when you do
You’ll find the one you need is you
You’ll find you love you -
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