Recovery and healing rarely happen overnight. It’s a process that requires a lot of patience, regardless of what kind of healing you’re going through.
But it’s important to know that things change and that time does do wonders.
And one thing you can do to make that process easier is to surround yourself with kind people and, of course, good music!
To help you with that second part, we’ve created a list of the best songs about healing.
After all, music can provide comfort and help you see the world around you in a different way. And a little change of perspective can do wonders as well.
Whether you’re searching for relatable healing songs or some tunes to cheer you up, we’ve got you covered!
25 Songs About Healing
1. Coldplay – “Fix You”
“When you try your best, but you don’t succeed
When you get what you want, but not what you need
When you feel so tired, but you can’t sleep
Stuck in reverse.”
If you know the feeling in these lyrics all too well, you’re probably in the middle of the healing process. But Coldplay’s “Fix You” will ensure you that it will all turn out fine in the end.
Besides being one of Coldplay’s signature songs, “Fix You” holds a rather personal meaning for Chris Martin. He wrote it for his then-wife Gwyneth Paltrow after her father died.
Nonetheless, “Fix You” is undeniably one of the best and most popular songs about healing. It’s also a song about love, grief, and compassion.
2. Tom Odell – “Heal”
Tom Odell is known for writing raw, honest songs about heartbreak. And he knows a thing or two about healing as well.
Released on Tom’s debut album “Long Way Down”, “Heal” is an emotional piano-driven ballad expressing vulnerability and need for reassurance in a relationship.
Pain can sometimes really result in the most beautiful art. As Tom claimed in one of the interviews: “having your heart broken makes for good songs.”
“Take my mind
And take my pain
Like an empty bottle takes the rain
And heal, heal, heal, heal.”
3. Alanis Morissette – “Thank U”
In one of her most beloved hits, Alanis Morissette is being thankful for the bad things in her life because they led her to where she is now.
“Thank U” is a gentle reminder to look at the bigger picture. Of course, certain experiences are simply bad and you shouldn’t try to make them anything else.
But sometimes, bad experiences will help you appreciate all the good ones. And once you realize that, you’re on a good path for healing.
“Thank you India
Thank you terror
Thank you disillusionment
Thank you frailty
Thank you consequence
Thank you thank you silence.”
4. Van Morrison – “And the Healing Has Begun”
This heartwarming song by Van Morrison will make you feel hopeful and optimistic.
Van Morrison believes that being true to yourself is an essential part of healing. Well, if you feel centered and confident, you will definitely go through some life situations more easily.
“And we’ll walk down the avenue in style
And we’ll walk down the avenue and we’ll smile
And we’ll say:
Baby, ain’t it all worthwhile when the healing has begun?”
5. Sigur Rós – “Hoppípolla”
All music by the Icelandic band Sigur Rós is healing and somewhat other-worldly, so it wasn’t easy to pick just one song.
We decided on “Hoppípolla”, one of their most popular songs released in 2005. In a way, it’s a song that could easily be chosen as the hymn of life.
The title of the song is the combination of words that would mean “jumping into puddles”. It’s what kids do; they jump and fall and get back up again.
6. Adele – “Easy on Me”
In one of the interviews, Adele admitted she used some of her best lyrics for the album “30.”
And with her lead single “Easy on Me”, she gave us a good hint of what to expect.
The singer was inspired by her personal experiences including the end of her marriage. She wrote “Easy on Me” during a turbulent period of her life, and that was undoubtedly part of her healing process.
“Didn’t get the chance to
Feel the world around me
Had no time to choose
What I chose to do
So go easy on me.”
7. R.E.M. – “Everybody Hurts”
“Everybody Hurts” is one of those iconic songs about healing that will offer you a glimpse of hope.
In fact, it will help you understand that everybody feels low at times and that you can overcome anything.
With one of their greatest hits, R.E.M. intended to help people and managed to convey a powerful and important message.
“Don’t let yourself go
‘Cause everybody cries
Everybody hurts sometimes.”
8. Flight Facilities – “Claire de Lune”
Some songs will help you process your thoughts and make you feel better simply by listening to them. That’s the power of music.
With “Claire de Lune” by Flight Facilities, you’ll definitely be transported somewhere else; perhaps somewhere where the world seems a little less overwhelming.
“Don’t go, tell me that the lights won’t change,
Tell me that you’ll feel the same, and we’ll stay here forever,
Don’t go, tell me that the lights won’t change,
Tell me that it’ll stay the same.”
9. Gorillaz – “Feel Good Inc.”
This indie anthem by Gorillaz brings up many topics, one of which is love as a “windmill” of the world.
Although “Feel Good Inc.” tackles certain political issues (especially if you look at the music video), it’s ultimately a song about things that people do to feel good; or it can at least be interpreted in that way.
“Love forever, love is freely
Turned forever, you and me
Windmill, windmill for the land
Is everybody in?”
10. Lady Gaga – “Heal Me”
It’s legit to say that Lady Gaga stripped her soul for the “A Star is Born” soundtrack.
The most popular and touching song from the movie soundtrack is definitely a ballad “Shallow”, but “Heal Me” takes a different turn and introduces classic pop vibes.
“Dose me with your energy
Leave your soul inside me
Cool me down and calm me
Ring me, don’t alarm me.”
11. Destiny’s Child – “Survivor”
When it comes to R&B and pop songs about healing, we can’t skip Destiny’s Child’s iconic hit.
Beyoncé, Kelly, and Michelle released “Survivor” on their third studio album of the same name.
It’s a song about dealing with tough situations and keeping your hopes up. Believing that you can survive anything is an important part of healing, and this empowering song will help you think that way.
12. Oasis – “Stop Crying Your Heart Out”
“Cause all of the stars are fading away
Just try not to worry, you’ll see them someday
Take what you need, and be on your way
And stop crying your heart out.”
We’re sure this song helped many people during hard times. It has a direct message and genuine lyrics.
Also, “Stop Crying Your Heart Out” was covered in 2020 by the supergroup called BBC Radio 2 Allstars to raise funds for the “Children in Need” charity. Some of the artists who participated are Kylie Minogue, Lenny Kravitz, Robbie Williams, and Cher.
13. Michael Jackson – “Heal the World”
“Heal the world
Make it a better place
For you and for me, and the entire human race.”
The message of Michael Jackson’s song “Heal the World” is pretty clear.
And Michael was right: love can make this world a better place. Even the smallest acts of altruism and compassion can do a lot.
After all, the Earth is in desperate need of healing, especially lately.
14. FLETCHER – “Healing”
“I’m finally breathing
The smoke ain’t gone, but it’s clearing
I ain’t there yet, but I’m healing
I ain’t there yet.”
As we’ve mentioned at the beginning of this article, proper healing takes time. And simply being aware of that can be helpful.
In the 2021 track “Healing”, young American artist FLETCHER sings about the process of healing as well as making peace with her own mistakes.
15. Bloc Party – “Only He Can Heal Me”
Bloc Party added a twist to gospel healing songs with their track “Only He Can Heal Me.”
It’s a captivating song about guilt, healing, and overcoming defeat.
“Under strain and under guilt
Lay me down in rivers cleansing
Where the tall grass grows and grows
And let me wait until my saviour comes home.”
16. Daughter – “Medicine”
“Pick it up, pick it all up
And start again
You’ve got a second chance
You could go home
Escape it all
It’s just irrelevant.”
Without a doubt, music by the indie-folk trio Daughter has a healing effect.
Their song “Medicine” is a delicate, melancholic song about medicine.
Medicine can represent different things, but this ultimately feels like a love song and a perfect tune to help you heal.
17. David Bowie – “Survive”
“Who said time is on my side?
I’ve got ears and eyes and nothing in my life
But I survive your naked eyes
I’ll survive.”
Originally released in 1999, “Survive” is one of Bowie’s hidden gems.
Bowie was known for distinctive and genuine songwriting, but “Survive” somehow feels especially personal.
And the verse: “You’re the great mistake I never made” also stands out.
18. First Aid Kit – “My Silver Lining”
“And you’ve just gotta keep on keeping on
Gotta keep on going
Looking straight out on the road
Can’t worry ’bout what’s behind you
Or what’s coming for you further up the road.”
First Aid Kit has a simple but wise suggestion: you just gotta keep on keeping on.
“My Silver Lining” offers encouragement that everything will be fine. Eventually, you need to stop dwelling on the past and enjoy the present moment. And once you do that, you’ll know you’re doing much better.
19. Alabama Shakes – “Hold On”
“So, must be someone up above saying “Come on, girl!
Yeah, you got to get back up!”
According to the lyrics, this song can easily be interpreted as one of the Christian songs about healing.
In “Hold On”, Alabama Shakes’ amazing Brittany Howard also sings about the feeling of being trapped in your own life and holding on while hoping for things to get better.
However, the song is rather uplifting, and it will provide you with the comfort and optimism you deserve.
20. Beck – “Everybody’s Gotta Learn Sometime”
This song is perhaps not specifically about healing, but listening to it certainly feels like a cleansing of a sort.
“Everybody’s Gotta Learn Sometime” is a song about relationships and changes, but its lyrics can be interpreted in any way that suits you.
The song was also featured in the 2004 movie “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.”
“Change your heart
Look around you
Change your heart
It will astound you
I need your lovin’
Like the sunshine.”
21. Elbow – “Real Life (Angel)”
Elbow’s lead singer Guy Gurvey wrote “Real Life (Angel)” about his heartbroken friend. It was a way of offering him comfort and advice on how to “dance away the heartaches.”
It’s one of the band’s most beautiful songs with thoughtful, heartfelt lyrics that will surely help you in your process of healing.
“You always found peace in the grip of the beat, darling
Time alone with the pounding of your heart
As it starts to heal you’ll find a better mirror in another.”
22. Baka Beyond – “Spirit of the Forest”
This is perhaps not one of the classic spiritual songs for healing, but it will help you feel calm and grounded.
Although emotional healing often requires a lot of introspection and thinking about the cause of your pain, it’s also important to stop for a minute; to rest, and be mindful.
Baka Beyond is a world music group focused on fusing Celtic and western styles with Baka music from Cameroon.
There is something very liberating in their music, and we’re sure it will help you in your healing process if you give it a chance.
23. Sharon Van Etten – “Let Go”
One of the things you have to do to heal is to let go.
Sharon Van Etten released “Let Go” in 2020, and the song got popular after being featured in the new Netflix series “Maid.”
“Let Go” captures the emotions of peace and freedom that come after letting go of whatever holds you back.
“Down on the other side
I’m almost out of sight
Looking up to let go
Now I’m letting go.”
24. Florence + The Machine – “Dog Days Are Over”
This indie anthem by Florence + The Machine is exactly what you need to lift your spirits up.
“Dog Days Are Over” is a song about healing and overcoming hard times. It’s a perfect tune to celebrate life after realizing you’re feeling better; a bit healthier, calmer, and stronger.
“Happiness hit her like a train on a track
Coming towards her stuck still no turning back
She hid around corners and she hid under beds
She killed it with kisses and from it she fled.”
25. The Beatles – “Getting Better”
In the process of healing, it’s a really precious moment when you realize you’re feeling better.
And this upbeat song by The Beatles captures that feeling perfectly.
In the end, healing is sometimes a lifelong process; but the most important thing is to be aware that you’re getting better, one day at a time.
“I’ve got to admit it’s getting better
A little better all the time (it can’t get no worse)
I have to admit it’s getting
It’s getting better.”
Songs About Healing – Final Thoughts
We hope this playlist gave you what you were looking for.
To heal properly, you need to face your situation, but you also need to take it easy and simply give yourself time.
So, some of these songs about healing offer relatable thoughts that will help you process your pain, and some of them provide a boost of positivity and hope.
After all, music has always been one of the best healers.
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