GOOD MUSIC AND LYRICS FOR RECOVERING ALCOHOLICS & ADDICTS

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