12 Song Lyrics That Explain the 2016 Election
This whole election season felt like it lasted for an eternity, so it’s understandable if you forget that it’s been less than a day since Donald Trump was officially elected President of the United States.
For those who opposed Trump’s views, the outcome of this election has felt larger than a loss alone. And this election season felt much dirtier than any other election we can remember in our lifetime. There’s been an overwhelming sense of hate and anger at the core of this political battle, leaving many feeling frightened and afraid as we look ahead into a Trump-led administration.
We know that sometimes, listening to music can prove to be healing. While it can’t fix everything, sometimes listening to a song with compelling lyrics can simply remind us that we’re not alone. That someone else has felt these same emotions. That it’s going to be OK.
Here are 12 song lyrics that might tap into some of the emotions you’re feeling today, if you're feeling worried and anxious because of the results of the election. If nothing else, let these lyrics be a reminder that you're not alone in your feelings.
1/13Christina Perri perfectly describes the feeling so many people had going to bed last night.
“2am; where do I begin / Crying off my face again. / The silent sound of loneliness / Wants to follow me to bed. / I'm the ghost of a girl that I want to be most. / I'm the shell of a girl that I used to know well.” –Christina Perri, “The Lonely”
2/13And Handsome Ghost is here for you if you couldn’t sleep at all.
“I'll meet you under open signs in the morning heat / I can feel the turning tide it's changing me / Staring at the sinking sky it's in my reach / I can see your sinking eyes, but we won't sleep.” – Handsome Ghost, “We Won’t Sleep”
3/13Willow Smith echoes the desire for love and kindness.
“Me and the mother / Singing the universal song / Calling each other / Why don't we all just sing along?” –Willow Smith, “Why Don’t You Cry”
4/13Adele captures the heartbreaking feeling of coming so close to something you worked hard for.
“I remember all of the things that I thought I wanted to be / So desperate to find a way out of my world and finally breathe / Right before my eyes I saw, my heart it came to life / This ain't easy, it's not meant to be / Every story has its scars.” –Adele, “Remedy”
5/13And Beyoncé encourages everyone to keep going. Keep going.
“And I thought the world would revolve / I thought the world would revolve, without us / Without us, without us, without us / But nothing I know could slow us down / They couldn't slow us down” –Beyoncé, “Superpower”
6/13Halsey’s song “Empty Gold” describes the heaviness of this autumn.
“I, I must confess / How hard I tried to breathe / Through the trees of loneliness / And you, you must confess / How hard you need to see / Through the heart beating out my chest / Feel like we've been falling down / Like these autumn leaves / But baby, don't let winter come / Don't let our hearts freeze” –Halsey, “Empty Gold”
7/13Ed Sheeran reminds people that we need to keep fighting, keep singing, keep loving.
“And play, let the music play / It came, so let the music say what it feels / Shame, shame it took too long / To see that you were wrong / Now turn the song back on” –Ed Sheeran, “Pause”
8/13Demi Lovato wants everyone to stand tall and rise up.
“You can take everything I have / You can break everything I am / Like I'm made of glass / Like I'm made of paper / Go on and try to tear me down / I will be rising from the ground / Like a skyscraper / Like a skyscraper” –Demi Lovato, “Skyscraper”
9/13Kesha tells her listeners to never give up.
“Now this is our time / Our generation / And we're impatient / Animals you ready to fight? / Fight for the f*ck ups, / Stand up for true love / We'll never give up / Live like it's our last night alive” –Kesha, “Warrior”
10/13The Weeknd's “Dark Times” feels like an appropriate anthem.
“In my dark times I've still got some problems, I know / Driving too fast but just moving too slow / And I've got something I've been trying to let go of / Pulling me back every time” –The Weeknd feat. Ed Sheeran, “Dark Times”
11/13Daya helps us remember to work towards shattering that glass ceiling.
“Oh I don't know what you've been told / But this gal right here's gonna rule the world / Yeah that is where I'm gonna be, because I wanna be / No I don't wanna sit still, look pretty” –Daya, “Sit Still, Look Pretty.”
12/13And last but not least, Lady Gaga reminds everyone to love ourselves, and each other. Even — and especially — in dark times.
“Don't hide yourself in regret / Just love yourself and you're set / I'm on the right track, baby / I was born this way” –Lady Gaga, “Born This Way”
