GOOD MUSIC AND LYRICS FOR RECOVERING ALCOHOLICS & ADDICTS
Music does not always promote addiction, no matter what my grandmother thought
As A Certified Addictions professional and extreme lover of music, the most natural thing for me was always to find music and lyrics to encourage the newly recovering person. Music has always spoken to me in a language all its own. You can tell me something a thousand times, and I may get it, but say it with music just once and you drive your point home. So, I'm sharing some music, lyrics, and entertainers who have done much of my counseling for me through their art.
First I'd like to make mention of Collin Raye, a country performer who has made points about many social issues through his music. As much as I hate to limit my mention of him to his anti addiction lyrics, I must, as one hub can't include every piece of work a man or woman has done. First of all, Collin deals with the personal aspects of addiction. Please click below to hear his lyric titled Little Rock.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRv0jVZtdbY&feature=related
Another one of my country favorites is Kenny Chesney, and his song entitled That's why I'm here. If you haven't heard it, you would do well to click the link below and do so, as it is good soul food for anyone struggling with alcohol addiction.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzVchabIOg8
Ladies, you don't have to be in recovery to appreciate Kenny Chesney topless in shorts, but for those of you, both men and women who are, here's another recovery great sung by Kenny Chesney, and ironically, George Jones, and I think we'd agree that Georgie boy ought to know. To hear From Hillbilly Heaven to Honky Tonk Hell, please click the link below. It's a little nasal, but the meaning is clear.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mzc196rWMKo
But we aren't all country, and we're not all addicted to alcohol. Losing My Way, by Justin Timberlake, definitely speaks to crack and meth addicts. Its title speaks for itself; however, unfortunately, it is no longer available on this site. Please check it out elsewhere.
Little Sister, on Jewel's Pieces of you CD, could speak to prescription drugs addicts, or any addict who has tried to stop using, and not been able to do so. Most of us are in that group long before we manage to somehow actually put our drug and alcohol use on hold. This song is not available on this site, but is worth checking out.
One of my favorites, if not my favorite is sung by the Indigo Girls, and speaks to my personal recovery. Its title, Prince of Darkness, speaks to my own belief that we can actually be participating in the worship of the forces of darkness with out being aware of it. Click link below to hear Prince of Darkness:
Unfortunately, Prince of Darkness was removed from utube due to a contractual violation and the link was broken. Please take time to look it up on your own.
I never mention the forces of darkness, without also mentioning the forces of light, because I believe there is a war going on. I'm not sure what I believe every day of my life, but I'm sure I want to be on the side of the forces of light, so my last lyric on this hub is going to be related to the sources of light, and its back to alcohol addiction with T. Grahm Brown's Help me turn the wine back into water, though these lyrics could be true of any addiction. Please click link below to hear this wonderful song.
Unfortunately, Wine to Water has been removed from the site it was originally on; however, it could probably still be found on utube or elsewhere on the internet.
These are all lyrics I have used in group therapy sessions, so if you happen to be a counselor who is lucky enough to still have a job, you might consider using some or all of them. If you are a person in recovery, you might want to just listen to them some yourself. I will probably add some more links to this hub, and if you know of one I didn't mention, don't hesitate to place it in a comment for anyone reading this hub to check out. Look forward to reading your comments on this hub, as it is near and dear to my heart.
Below in a chapter of Undercover, my novel on methamphetamine addiction, is an example of how the classical music soundtrack, Phantom of the Opera, can be used in a group therapy process. Please click below to read it, and hear the music.
http://hubpages.com/_2pvzhao591xs4/hub/THE-PHANTOM-CHAPTER-35-OF-UNDERCOVER
Many are now saying that Undercover: Our Secret Obessions, is a must read for anyone who has been touched by addiction, or treats it. Please click the link below to learn more about this compelling new novel:
http://valeriebelew.hubpages.com/hub/UNDERCOVER-SYNOPSIS-OF-MY-FIRST-NOVAL
Your friend and hopefully your encourager,
Valerie
CLICK LINK BELOW TO VIEW SITE ON ADDICTION LYRICS AND ALL THINGS ADDICTION:
http://hubpages.com/_2pvzhao591xs4/hub/ADDICTION-LYRICS-LYRICS-ABOUT-ADDICTION
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Comments
AUTHORLol. Not sure Garth's drinker was in recovery.
So...Garth Brooks didn't make the list with, "I Got Friends In Low Places"??? lol
Sorry, I couldn't help it. As soon as I saw Kenny Chesney (and the hub's title), that's just what popped into my mind.
Voted up and interesting
- AUTHOR
This is a sad song, SaMcNutt, but a good one. Reminds me of early recovery, and someone who has been on my mind recently who just doesn't seem to be able to put away the meth, nor to even want to do so. Yet his life is going nowhere, just being wasted.
- AUTHOR
I'm going to listen to it again on the desktop. The larger computer has better speakers, while I can't hear music well enough from the laptop. Thanks for the music. I'm always looking for good recovery music. (:v
Cheers. I hope you like it.
- AUTHOR
Thanks SaMcNutt. I was hoping to learn about some new ones. (:v
This is the theme song from Crazy Heart called the Weary Kind.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zelvaxvTaUk
Enjoy!
- AUTHOR
Psychicdog.net, Thanks for commenting on my site. I actually did a research paper on Freud in graduate school, and learned many things about him, including that he used cocaine until he required nose surgery, but I never heard that particular quote. It doesn't surprise me, because poets and writers certainly eco everything I learned in school, and while I'm not a Freud in fame or success, I did spent seven years studying the subject, and then two more obtaining my certification. Thanks to the economy I now work part time at minimum wage, but that also is a lesson in life. Thanks again for you interest in my site. (:v
this is a great way to present the issue. Thanks Valerie and by the way did you know Freud actually thought poets and storytellers taught him psychology!
- AUTHOR
and we are such a frail bunch, SaMcNutt. If you have any music suffestions, please leave them in a comment so we can hear them. Thanks for responding to my site. Yes, music is indeed a healer. (:v
As I was reading your hub it made me think of Crazy Heart. I think the music in that movie is a great addition to the songs you listed here. I love how music can be a true healer to many suffering not only addiction, but cancer, loss actually music is the balm to many human ailments. My favorite lately is Hallelujah by Lenord Cohen, which speaks to human frailty. Thanks for sharing.
- AUTHOR
Oh, I see. Oxycotin (probably misspelled) is about that strong, but I don't know that it is that addictive for everybody. Real sad state of affairs when someone uses according to doctor's orders and still becomes addicted. She was probably dealing with some pretty incredible pain too. Thanks for clarifying that for us. At least its here for others to be aware of, though i don't know of a song that describes this situation. (:v
It was some strong synthetic opiate used to ease pain after a car crash...
- AUTHOR
Thanks Jim, I'm sitting here at my desktop, listening to the music myself. (:v
good hub, and thanks for the music!
- AUTHOR
Thanks to all of you for commenting on my site. Hopefully, you can see to click the links in order to hear the songs described. Mentalist, in the age of the drug war, and people suffering from terminal illnesses not being able to obtain meds for pain, based on fear of addiction, I am aware that such things happen. I'm not clear on whether she was court ordered to detox by some over zealous nurse type, or whether the drugs she was prescribed were so addictive she became an addict while taking them as prescribed. The first I'm aware of already; the second, I'd like to know the name of the drug. Thanks for responding to my first question. (:v
Oh dear..I am not familiar with any of the songs you mentioned except for The Phantom..
Great resource, valerie.
Valerie you are certainly a prolific writer right now. I am trying to catch up but so much to read. I am a bit of a music tragic myself. Some new ones here. I am familiar with the Indigo Girls track - excellent choice. I will listen trhough the others as suggested.
Great hub as always. Thanks for the songs. There are a few I would like to hear them
The girl was given a perscription and took them as she was supposed to and had to go to a detox-style step down that she said was agonizing...
- AUTHOR
Thanks habee. Music speaks to me about everything, so it was just a matter of time before I put these songs on a hub. Actually, I could list more than these, but a hub can only be so long and still be read. (:v
Great songs! An acquaintance of mine wrote a song entilted "a good man with a strong weakness." It's about an alocholic.
- AUTHOR
Interesting zzron, since for me its just the opposite. Guess i'm a poet at heart, and the lyrics are the most important thing to me. I also love good music, but seldom listen to music without words, since to me something important is missing. Thanks for commenting on my site. (:v
Hi Valerie, those are some good lyrics but for me I have never cared much for the words in songs as long as they are not evil or against God. I mostly like the music. I think that may be why I like modern jazz, not much singing in a lot of it. For some reason for me just good fast upbeat music makes me feel good :)
- AUTHOR
I'm not sure I am clear on what you are saying. I know many jump on addiction and rehab for people who may abuse on occasion, but don't actually have an addiction, or even a habit, but there are many who do have serious addictions and find it difficult to stop using. These lyrics are for them. If you don't have a problem, going to rehab is not going to make you an addict, though being labeled can damage your image. Thanks for responding to my site. As always I welcome your comments, and thank you for always being the first to leave a comment on my sites. (:v
Jewel's reference to pills concerns me with the availability to people who may not have the mindset to know how easy it is to habituate.If I'm not mistaken a girl had to go through a pretty rough detox regimen without even abusing the(I asumme) synthetic opiate...
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