On the tough days with arthritis, a great song can help put you in a different frame of mind. A song can inspire you to keep pushing through the pain, remind you that you’re not alone, or even take your mind off the pain. Or maybe, you just need to listen to something that expresses what you’re feeling: frustration, anger, confusion.
We partnered with CreakyJoints to ask our communities with arthritis to share the song that gets them through difficult days. The next time you’re having a hard time, check out the songs that other people with arthritis turn to for inspiration.
1. “In the Tradition” by The Great White
“I can’t fake a smile through the evening, I’ll probably crack if the pain’s too strong. Play a song for me, but it has to be in the tradition of love gone wrong.”
2. “Til I Collapse” by Eminem feat. Nate Dogg
“You gotta search within you and gotta find that inner strength and just pull that sh*t out of you and get that motivation to not give up and not be a quitter, no matter how bad you wanna just fall flat on your face, and collapse.”
3. “Biscuits” by Kacey Musgraves
“Nobody’s perfect, we’ve all lost and we’ve all lied. Most of us have cheated, the rest of us have tried. The holiest of holies even slip from time to time. We’ve all got dirty laundry hanging on the line.”
4. “Good Life” by One Republic
“When you’re happy like a fool, let it take you over. When everything is out you gotta take it in. Oh this has gotta be the good life.”
5. “Good to Be Alive (Hallelujah)” by Andy Grammer
“And it’s good to be alive right about now.”
6. “Heaven Is a Place on Earth” by Belinda Carlisle
“They say in heaven, love comes first. We’ll make heaven a place on earth.”
7. “Heroes” by David Bowie
“We can beat them, just for one day. We can be heroes, just for one day.”
8. “Beauty From Pain” by Superchick
“After all this has passed, I still will remain. After I’ve cried my last, there’ll be beauty from pain.”
9. “Try” by Pink
“Just because it burns, doesn’t mean you’re gonna die. You gotta get up and try, and try, and try.”
10. “What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong
“The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night, and I think to myself what a wonderful world.”
11. “Ooh Child” by The Five Stairsteps
“Ooh-oo child, things are gonna get easier, Ooh-oo child, things’ll get brighter.”
12. “Keep Your Head Up” by Ben Howard
“Oh my, my darlin’, keep your head up, keep your heart strong. Na, oh, no, no, keep your mind set in your ways.”
13. “March Out of the Darkness” by Papa Roach
“The only thing that will set us free is living through the pain and the only thing that I cannot take will never be the same.”
14. “Elastic Heart” by Sia
“I’m like a rubber band until you pull too hard, but I may snap when I move close, but you won’t see me fall apart, ’cause I’ve got an elastic heart.”
15. “Thunder Road” by Bruce Springsteen
“Oh oh, come take my hand, we’re riding out tonight to case the promised land, oh oh oh oh, Thunder Road.”
16. “I’m Still Standing” by Elton John
Don’t you know I’m still standing better than I ever did, looking like a true survivor, feeling like a little kid I’m still standing after all this time.”
What songs help you face arthritis? Share in the comments below.
Erin is the former senior editor and chronic illness editor of The Mighty. She joined The Mighty in 2015 and previously worked at Inside Weddings magazine, Mic, and The Huffington Post. She was also the features editor at The California Aggie, UC Davis' student newspaper. She is honored to be a part of the Mighty community!
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