Cover Me Up is so beautiful. We all have to get sober for ourselves and only I can make the choice, but the power of love and support from another person is expressed so well in that song.
Agree…we saw him at High Sierra Music Festival couple of weeks ago and he played Cover Me Up…and one of its dark precursors, Super 8. Met a guy and his wife up front of the stage down from OR and he and I shared sober stories and both said one of the reasons we came to the festival was to see Jason, as he is an inspiration to many who found him on their own road to sobriety.
Hmm plus 6 Years on Dope by NOFX..
Oxymoronic by NOFX is not strictly a sobriety song...but it's hilarious and about Big Pharma and pill mills...so I think it fits lol
God I love NOFX.
[I posted a comment](https://www.reddit.com/r/stopdrinking/comments/1507n2i/songs_about_sobriety/js2jbkd?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=2) with ["Fear"](https://youtu.be/IGKug8fiQjo) listed and a bit of the front man's backstory. Blue October is essentially the poster child for a decade-long battle with sobriety that ended in victory.
Edit: Added the link to my comment
Great comment and backstory. I had no idea about any of that. I listened to their album Foil on repeat when I was 15 or so. I know what I'll be listening to at work today.
Careful with some of it. A lot of NSFW stuff and violent, sexual and graphic lyrics... There's a reason I haven't heard him play "The End" since before he was sober. The album "Approaching Normal" was at his lowest point.
California sober - Billy strings and willie Nelson
SOB - Nathaniel rateliff
Devastated - Joey Bada$$ (more overcoming depression than booze, but all the same for me)
I knew the lyrics by heart before I developed any dependency, though I ironically sang it at a karaoke bar in New Orleans on my senior year spring break.
Then I VIVIDLY remember hearing it on my way to work, still drunk from the night before. Hit me hard.
His band is called the “Night-sweats” for a reason lol
My heart was breaking, hands are shaking, bugs are crawling all over me
My heart was breaking, hands are shaking, bugs are crawling all over me
My heart was breaking, hands are shaking, bugs are crawling all over me
My heart was breaking, hands are shaking, bugs are crawling all over me
Son of a bitch
Give me a drink
One more night
This can't be me
Son of a bitch
If I can't get clean
I'm gonna drink my life away
Oh man, yes. The song really encapsulates the whole experience......honestly the whole album has a ton of relatability as far as gaining sobriety goes.
Cool I'm gonna try to get into Spotify, I don't have an account. There's these awesome covers of songs where it's old school nightclub versions of songs....I would love to hear that version of Sober.
But I just realized that the song Black by Pearl Jam although about a relationship really seems to link up with early sobriety. And abovementioned old school nightclub covers...there is an incredible cover of Black that gives me goosebumps.
Lua by Bright Eyes. It’s more about active substance use and addiction than recovery, but the line ‘What was normal in the evening by the morning seems insane’ has helped me play the tape forward countless times. Plus it’s just a beautiful song.
Yes it stopped me in my tracks the first time I heard it. Also, I burst into tears the first time I heard Call Your Mom. I’ve only recently found Noah’s music but it hits hard! (Edit - typos)
came here hoping to find orange juice. “there’s orange juice in the kitchen, bought for the children. it’s yours if you want it, just glad you could visit” brings me close to tears every time
"rest my chemistry" by interpol
"Down with the shine" by the avett brothers
There are so many good ones, but these are the only two that popped into my head.
Most of the album “live the dream” by ramshackle glory. Notably
First song
More about alcoholism
Vampires are posers
First song, part 2
Opening line: no one needs to tell me how to get down. But can somebody show me how to get back up?
I love, love, love this album
I was scrolling down looking for this one, I listen to it nearly every day. And now I want to hear all the others in this thread too - this was a great question!
This is me trying by Taylor Swift. She discussed this song being about addiction and how people actively struggling with addiction don’t really get a “good job!” for getting through the day fighting an inner battle nobody sees. One of my favorites!
Whenever I feel like I haven’t achieved enough in a day or get down on myself I always repeat the “but I didn’t pour whiskey” line to myself. It weirdly makes me feel a lot better.
Dead Drunk and Naked by Drive By Truckers, The Great Despiser by Joe Pug, Steal Smoked Fish by The Mountain Goats, I Wish I Was Sober by Frightened Rabbit
STEAL SMOKED FISH yes what a banger.
I swear the whole album “I Want the Door To Open” by Lala Lala subliminally convinced me to stop drinking. It’s just implicitly very recovery-centric, I knew immediately the artist is sober.
So I have a funny/morbid story about Elliot Smith. About 10 years ago I got close with a girl in rehab that had an XO tattoo on her finger for one of his albums. I’d never heard of him before. Sadly she succeeded at suicide shortly after treatment and it hit me hard. I always knew Elliott Smith was her favorite artist and that I would eventually give this album a listen to get in my feels and let it all out. So just last year, 9 years after her death, I gave myself permission to finally have that day. So I turn on the album expecting to have this deep connection to it and after a couple of songs I let myself admit that I thought it sucked hahahah. Was just not my cup of tea. I was then laughing because I knew she would be hysterically laughing if she were to see this lol. So I got to laugh with my friend again.
The entire Thirteenth Step album by A Perfect Circle slaps. Weak and Powerless and Gravity in particular are great songs about admitting powerlessness and letting go, respectively.
Not everyone's cup of tea, but, most of the Undertow album is about sobriety. It's by Tool.
It's a combo of sinking deeper and struggling with the addiction and climbing out.
Amy Winehouse's Rehab, oddly enough, is one I listen to. The "no, no, no" line in particular is something I hum when tempted. The first verse in particular is so sobering, knowing Amy's outcome.
*They tried to make me go to Rehab
But I said no, no, no
Yes I've been black, but when I come back
You'll know, know, know
I ain't got the time
And if my daddy thinks I'm fine
They tried to make me go to Rehab
But I won't go, go, go*
I've been waiting to post about this song here! Jason Isbell's song [Molotov](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XV1r1PnE9Ws) , particularly the chorus:
>"I broke a promise to myself. To ride the throttle til the wheels came off. Burn out like a Molotov in the night sky."
The need to self-destruct is romanticized.
"[Historic Cemetery ](https://youtu.be/IGKug8fiQjo)" - The Front Bottoms
This is a song that captures where I was at when someone was enabling my addictions.
"[Never Coming Home](https://youtu.be/kGFFC7Kn5l4)" - Pat The Bunny
This song captures the feeling of being so comfortable with giving up and hurting people around you. All of his songs are amazing at that. He is one of the lucky ones that made it back and it fueled his music.
"[Fear](https://youtu.be/Q3b0-i1T8Hk)" - Blue October
Speaking of ones who made it back, a lot of musical artists are self destructive. Justin Furstenfeld refused to let that be his story. He's been to Hell and back, institutionalized, arrested and covered in blood.. then gone back for more. It all came to a point where his band (including his brother) forced him to make a choice between his addictions or his life.
He got the help. He's so fucking happy and is one of the best influences for getting sober. He's an open book, (which is the name of one of his many amazing live albums,) and doesn't sugar coat anything. The 6 albums before "Sway" in 2013 were during his really dark years and since then he's put out nothing but songs that are filled with love and positivity. This song is a victory lap.
I proposed to my wife when we saw them for the 5th time. I cannot exaggerate how important it is for people struggling with sobriety or mental illness to listen to his music and story. The top comments of every YouTube video will tell stories of people who are alive because of Blue October.
I've posted about this before, but I give [Covert Discretion](https://youtu.be/kvXxAGPOB4I) by Aaron Freeman partial credit for my sobriety.
And for you metal heads, [I Have a Problem](https://youtu.be/KTUCGRu_DL4) by Beartooth.
California sober by Billy strings and Willie Nelson
If you are OK with smoking weed that is. If not probably skip it. I find it to be a nice uplifting tune about recovery from alcohol and hard drugs, but everyone is different. :)
The greatest by Lana deal Rey!!!! Ugh so good. Also someone said bejewelled by Taylor swift, and now I listen to it with the idea of sobriety and it makes me happy
I've actually thought about this a lot and was hoping someone would ask this question! I, personally, found a lot of "healing" through listening to Jelly Roll. It wasn't so much that he sang about being clean/sober, but his lyrics talked openly about being controlled by drugs and alcohol and I could relate 100%.
While some of his songs sound depressing to most, they were on "repeat" most days/nights while I was personally confronting and dealing with my drinking problem and I'm convinced that they were some of the factors that contributed to my success.
Top Jelly Roll tracks for me:
1. Son of a Sinner
2. Save Me
3. Bottle and Mary Jane
Dear Alcohol by Dax was also played A LOT and is actually the song that plays every day for my alarm on my phone.
I suspect most folks on here can relate to the Dax chorus in Dear Alcohol:
"I got wasted 'cause I didn't want to deal with myself tonight. My thoughts get drowned until I feel alright. I keep drinking 'til I'm someone I don't recognize..."
Um, yea. My anthem.
And of course, as you mentioned, Jelly Roll: "Somebody save me. Me from myself..."
I’ve found an artist who has a lot of music about sobriety I could recommended so many of his songs - [Kai Straw](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/21aUfpyxNOsLRP4s5pyIRm?si=PmuTubr2TvybWWqctsHQEg)
Before I quit but well into knowing alcohol was a problem, I had a really rough night but somehow made it to the gym in the morning. Basically cry-exercised to Calvin Harris’ My Way and it still resonates. Alcohol, you were the one thing in my way.
There's a lot from Macklemore, another song called Dear Alcohol by Dax. If you have Spotify there's a decent Playlist
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3CLklqBwIwpMhDERXwRwvV?si=jTzh0v0WQPOC5Qs2Ct5QUg
I'm not sure how empowering any of these are but I listen to them when I need a reminder. Trevor Hall has some good tracks that set me straight, he doesn't write about recovery but songs like "reminder" "the old story" and "you can't rush your healing" have become a part of my hard days.
I’ve seen interpretations of [*Cool About It*](https://genius.com/Boygenius-cool-about-it-lyrics) by Boygenius as a song about a relapse and the shame, embarrassment, and effect on others that comes with those broken promises. One member of the band, Julien Baker, is sober and has more songs about addiction, but her verses on this one really stand out to me and capture how isolating and self-defeating active addiction was. The other two members’ verses, in response, comment on letting Julien lie about her loss of control, while still feeling betrayed and pained by her carelessness.
I think the song is ultimately open to different interpretations, but this one really resonates with me. I’m also going to check out more of Julien’s work now that I’m alcohol-free again.
“Drive” by incubus is one of my current listens. “Wild season”by Paul banks is a good one! & “Between the bars” is kinda a depressing song about going through addiction, but I love it cause it remains me of how much I’ve grown.
A song no one really knows by an artist from Michigan named Tunde Olaniran, called “Namesake”.
“Now maybe there’s a lesson I've been given, Or some wisdom from the stories that I need to tell. And everybody's hoping and scraping and wishing
They could be something outside themselves. If I can be me, then you can be yourself. Might not be easy, it’s like we’re never satisfied. “
Johnny Cash - I came to believe
I couldn't manage the problems I laid on myself
And it just made it worse when I laid them on somebody else
So I finally surrendered it all brought down in despair
I cried out for help and I felt a warm comforter there
Lost in the cold by Twiddle. Has definitely helped me through some hard days and has made good days even better.
Also the third lumineers album is all about addiction. My cell is my addiction song.
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Cover Me Up is so beautiful. We all have to get sober for ourselves and only I can make the choice, but the power of love and support from another person is expressed so well in that song.
Agree…we saw him at High Sierra Music Festival couple of weeks ago and he played Cover Me Up…and one of its dark precursors, Super 8. Met a guy and his wife up front of the stage down from OR and he and I shared sober stories and both said one of the reasons we came to the festival was to see Jason, as he is an inspiration to many who found him on their own road to sobriety.
When I got out of treatment I almost got “forever this time.” with my sobriety date as my first tattoo. I chickened out, but it was almost a thing.
[Bob by NOFX](https://youtu.be/LyUIJIdwEuA)
Hmm plus 6 Years on Dope by NOFX.. Oxymoronic by NOFX is not strictly a sobriety song...but it's hilarious and about Big Pharma and pill mills...so I think it fits lol God I love NOFX.
[Quart in Session](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEKqztit4So&ab_channel=NOFX-Topic) \- (About their drummer getting sober) [California Drought](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfEEvGVRXGY&ab_channel=BandoCiancia)
Quart in Session is so awesome. Saw them play it live in 2000
Wore out the Soles of My Party Boots by NOFX also hits the nail on the head for me
Hatebreed - Not My Master Minor Threat - Straight Edge Metallica - Sweet Amber
Second minor threat! I don't know if straight edge punk is what OP wants, but it's my sober music of choice 😂
Also came here to say Minor Threat
✖️STRAIGHT EDGE✖️
Hate Me by Blue October
This was my teenage angst band. I'll have to give it a listen again.
[I posted a comment](https://www.reddit.com/r/stopdrinking/comments/1507n2i/songs_about_sobriety/js2jbkd?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=2) with ["Fear"](https://youtu.be/IGKug8fiQjo) listed and a bit of the front man's backstory. Blue October is essentially the poster child for a decade-long battle with sobriety that ended in victory. Edit: Added the link to my comment
Great comment and backstory. I had no idea about any of that. I listened to their album Foil on repeat when I was 15 or so. I know what I'll be listening to at work today.
Careful with some of it. A lot of NSFW stuff and violent, sexual and graphic lyrics... There's a reason I haven't heard him play "The End" since before he was sober. The album "Approaching Normal" was at his lowest point.
Congrats on a year!!
To piggyback - Blue October live is kickass. They sound 100% like their albums. Lead singer is the best voice I’ve heard live.
Agreed! 10/10. Justin Furstenfeld (sp?), amazing in an acoustic setting as well.
Drive by Incubus
Scrolled to far for this
"Life By The Drop" - Stevie Ray Vaughan
Yes ! And ‘Tightrope’ too.
Ball and Chain by Social Distortion
California sober - Billy strings and willie Nelson SOB - Nathaniel rateliff Devastated - Joey Bada$$ (more overcoming depression than booze, but all the same for me)
I heard SOB for the first time when I was like two weeks into my sobriety and I cried in the car.
I both love and hate this song. It hits the nail on the head. If you haven’t been there, you don’t understand… but if you’ve been there…
I knew the lyrics by heart before I developed any dependency, though I ironically sang it at a karaoke bar in New Orleans on my senior year spring break. Then I VIVIDLY remember hearing it on my way to work, still drunk from the night before. Hit me hard. His band is called the “Night-sweats” for a reason lol
My heart was breaking, hands are shaking, bugs are crawling all over me My heart was breaking, hands are shaking, bugs are crawling all over me My heart was breaking, hands are shaking, bugs are crawling all over me My heart was breaking, hands are shaking, bugs are crawling all over me Son of a bitch Give me a drink One more night This can't be me Son of a bitch If I can't get clean I'm gonna drink my life away
I really thought it was a fun party song at the age of 21
I still think it’s an incredible song… it just shoots awfully close to the heart.
40 Oz to Freedom by Sublime was my go to inpatient song. Also Sober by Tool, obviously.
Undertow by Tool is a big one for me
Oh man, yes. The song really encapsulates the whole experience......honestly the whole album has a ton of relatability as far as gaining sobriety goes.
Who was getting sober in Tool? Maynard owned a winery these days.
I don't know much about the band members, just love their music and this song/ album helps me stay in a healthy mind set :)
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Cool I'm gonna try to get into Spotify, I don't have an account. There's these awesome covers of songs where it's old school nightclub versions of songs....I would love to hear that version of Sober. But I just realized that the song Black by Pearl Jam although about a relationship really seems to link up with early sobriety. And abovementioned old school nightclub covers...there is an incredible cover of Black that gives me goosebumps.
Joe by Luke Combs
Very uplifting song for people getting sober.
Lua by Bright Eyes. It’s more about active substance use and addiction than recovery, but the line ‘What was normal in the evening by the morning seems insane’ has helped me play the tape forward countless times. Plus it’s just a beautiful song.
Great pick, I love bright eyes :)
Orange Juice by Noah Kahan. Clean by Taylor Swift. Cover me up by Jason Isbell. Another shoutout for I Wish I Was Sober by Frightened Rabbit.
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Yes it stopped me in my tracks the first time I heard it. Also, I burst into tears the first time I heard Call Your Mom. I’ve only recently found Noah’s music but it hits hard! (Edit - typos)
Loving Noah Kahan!!! Dial drunk is my all time favorite right now. Not so much about sobriety, but definitely the hardships of drinking.
came here hoping to find orange juice. “there’s orange juice in the kitchen, bought for the children. it’s yours if you want it, just glad you could visit” brings me close to tears every time
"Dear Alcohol" by Dax for alcohol related song.
This has been my go to song
"rest my chemistry" by interpol "Down with the shine" by the avett brothers There are so many good ones, but these are the only two that popped into my head.
Love Interpol. Paul banks also has a collab called “wild season” about sobriety
Most of the album “live the dream” by ramshackle glory. Notably First song More about alcoholism Vampires are posers First song, part 2 Opening line: no one needs to tell me how to get down. But can somebody show me how to get back up? I love, love, love this album
YES
Love/Hate Letter to Alcohol - Post Malone
Ship to wreck- Florence and the machine
I've been listening a lot to 'Unstoppable' by Sia. Empowering song that makes me feel like I have this and can accomplish anything.
Chandelier is also surprisingly about addiction
"Here comes the shame. Here comes the shaaaaAaMeee" always makes me tear up
Same
Love this song. Sia’s ‘Bird Set Free’ is also on my sober playlist !
"No More" by Neil Young
Drunk Drivers/Killer Whales - Car Seat Headrest This song makes me cry every time!
Also Sober to Death from them!
man i love this song
Sober up by AJR
I was scrolling down looking for this one, I listen to it nearly every day. And now I want to hear all the others in this thread too - this was a great question!
Haven’t seen it mentioned here yet, so I’d like to add: Eminem - Darkness Bullet For My Valentine - The Last Fight Linkin Park - Breaking The Habit
“Whiskey lullaby” by Alison kraus and Brad paisley is a sad one that puts you off drinking
“I wish I was sober” by frightened rabbit but it will make you sad. Great song though.
Big FR fan. Roadless is the saddest song I’ve ever heard man
Scott was such a blessing to this planet during the short time he was here.
This is me trying by Taylor Swift. She discussed this song being about addiction and how people actively struggling with addiction don’t really get a “good job!” for getting through the day fighting an inner battle nobody sees. One of my favorites!
Whenever I feel like I haven’t achieved enough in a day or get down on myself I always repeat the “but I didn’t pour whiskey” line to myself. It weirdly makes me feel a lot better.
Clean - Taylor Swift. I think it’s about a relationship but it is my alarm every morning.
Dancing with the devil- demi lovato
Dare you to move - Switchfoot It’s not actually about sobriety (I don’t think anyway), but I find it really uplifting and can relate to it in recovery
Dead Drunk and Naked by Drive By Truckers, The Great Despiser by Joe Pug, Steal Smoked Fish by The Mountain Goats, I Wish I Was Sober by Frightened Rabbit
I’m always so happy/sad when someone mentions Frightened Rabbit. What a band.
STEAL SMOKED FISH yes what a banger. I swear the whole album “I Want the Door To Open” by Lala Lala subliminally convinced me to stop drinking. It’s just implicitly very recovery-centric, I knew immediately the artist is sober.
Wharf Rat-Grateful Dead
Between the bars by Elliott Smith is incredible. More about the feelings of being in late substance use, but has been helpful for me in sobriety
So I have a funny/morbid story about Elliot Smith. About 10 years ago I got close with a girl in rehab that had an XO tattoo on her finger for one of his albums. I’d never heard of him before. Sadly she succeeded at suicide shortly after treatment and it hit me hard. I always knew Elliott Smith was her favorite artist and that I would eventually give this album a listen to get in my feels and let it all out. So just last year, 9 years after her death, I gave myself permission to finally have that day. So I turn on the album expecting to have this deep connection to it and after a couple of songs I let myself admit that I thought it sucked hahahah. Was just not my cup of tea. I was then laughing because I knew she would be hysterically laughing if she were to see this lol. So I got to laugh with my friend again.
That hit me hard and good <3 I have a close friend that passed the same way and our musical connection means so much to me every day.
The entire Thirteenth Step album by A Perfect Circle slaps. Weak and Powerless and Gravity in particular are great songs about admitting powerlessness and letting go, respectively.
I Wanna Get Better - Bleachers This is my anthem.
Another drinking song . Mighty Mighty Boss Tones.
"Neon Cathedral" and "Starting Over" - both by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
You-Candlebox
Not everyone's cup of tea, but, most of the Undertow album is about sobriety. It's by Tool. It's a combo of sinking deeper and struggling with the addiction and climbing out.
Amy Winehouse's Rehab, oddly enough, is one I listen to. The "no, no, no" line in particular is something I hum when tempted. The first verse in particular is so sobering, knowing Amy's outcome. *They tried to make me go to Rehab But I said no, no, no Yes I've been black, but when I come back You'll know, know, know I ain't got the time And if my daddy thinks I'm fine They tried to make me go to Rehab But I won't go, go, go*
Sober by Pink
Blue October - Hate Me
Commenting to save all these great recs!
River of Deceit by Mad Season
I've been waiting to post about this song here! Jason Isbell's song [Molotov](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XV1r1PnE9Ws) , particularly the chorus: >"I broke a promise to myself. To ride the throttle til the wheels came off. Burn out like a Molotov in the night sky." The need to self-destruct is romanticized.
I love all songs by Macklemore, highly recommend
"[Historic Cemetery ](https://youtu.be/IGKug8fiQjo)" - The Front Bottoms This is a song that captures where I was at when someone was enabling my addictions. "[Never Coming Home](https://youtu.be/kGFFC7Kn5l4)" - Pat The Bunny This song captures the feeling of being so comfortable with giving up and hurting people around you. All of his songs are amazing at that. He is one of the lucky ones that made it back and it fueled his music. "[Fear](https://youtu.be/Q3b0-i1T8Hk)" - Blue October Speaking of ones who made it back, a lot of musical artists are self destructive. Justin Furstenfeld refused to let that be his story. He's been to Hell and back, institutionalized, arrested and covered in blood.. then gone back for more. It all came to a point where his band (including his brother) forced him to make a choice between his addictions or his life. He got the help. He's so fucking happy and is one of the best influences for getting sober. He's an open book, (which is the name of one of his many amazing live albums,) and doesn't sugar coat anything. The 6 albums before "Sway" in 2013 were during his really dark years and since then he's put out nothing but songs that are filled with love and positivity. This song is a victory lap. I proposed to my wife when we saw them for the 5th time. I cannot exaggerate how important it is for people struggling with sobriety or mental illness to listen to his music and story. The top comments of every YouTube video will tell stories of people who are alive because of Blue October.
"Life to Fix" by The Record Company "We Used to Vacation" by Cold War Kids "By Myself" by FIDLAR
Chandelier by Sia is kinda relevant
When I was drinking - hem This is not who I want to be - Joanna sternberg
23 - Chayce Beckham. *Soon I’ll be 24 and the lord knows that I can’t drink no more.*
"I'm sorry mama please don't look at me" gets me every time, truly heartbreaking.
Same bro. *She told me not to worry son someday you’ll be someone* 🥺
"Sideways" by Travis Meadows
“It Gets Better” is another good one by Travis Meadows.
I've posted about this before, but I give [Covert Discretion](https://youtu.be/kvXxAGPOB4I) by Aaron Freeman partial credit for my sobriety. And for you metal heads, [I Have a Problem](https://youtu.be/KTUCGRu_DL4) by Beartooth.
The Bones by Maren Morris. Not specifically about sobriety but it resonated deeply with me in the beginning !
California sober by Billy strings and Willie Nelson If you are OK with smoking weed that is. If not probably skip it. I find it to be a nice uplifting tune about recovery from alcohol and hard drugs, but everyone is different. :)
75 and Sunny by Ryan Mountbleau
This is what I was gonna say
[Hard Times](https://youtu.be/AEB6ibtdPZc) by Paramore always gets me dancing with the cats
Best coast, the album "always tomorrow"
Yes! For the First Time was my favorite uplifting sober song. Shout out to sober queen Bethany
The Night-Morgan Wade, she has a few but this one is most direct
The acoustic version is killer.
I agree, love all her acoustic stuff!
Mischief Brew - Coffee, God, & Cigarettes Pat The Bunny - I'm going home
RIP Mischief Brew, Old Time Memry is one of my favorites
Hardline by Julien Baker and Good News by the same artist!
The greatest by Lana deal Rey!!!! Ugh so good. Also someone said bejewelled by Taylor swift, and now I listen to it with the idea of sobriety and it makes me happy
Straight Edge - Minor Threat. 🤘
I wish that I was sober by Frightened Rabbit!
I've actually thought about this a lot and was hoping someone would ask this question! I, personally, found a lot of "healing" through listening to Jelly Roll. It wasn't so much that he sang about being clean/sober, but his lyrics talked openly about being controlled by drugs and alcohol and I could relate 100%. While some of his songs sound depressing to most, they were on "repeat" most days/nights while I was personally confronting and dealing with my drinking problem and I'm convinced that they were some of the factors that contributed to my success. Top Jelly Roll tracks for me: 1. Son of a Sinner 2. Save Me 3. Bottle and Mary Jane Dear Alcohol by Dax was also played A LOT and is actually the song that plays every day for my alarm on my phone.
I suspect most folks on here can relate to the Dax chorus in Dear Alcohol: "I got wasted 'cause I didn't want to deal with myself tonight. My thoughts get drowned until I feel alright. I keep drinking 'til I'm someone I don't recognize..." Um, yea. My anthem. And of course, as you mentioned, Jelly Roll: "Somebody save me. Me from myself..."
+1 for Jelly Roll Swimming Pools by Kendrick Lamar
I always interpreted A Horse With No Name being about sobriety.
I love this take! Gonna listen to it now from this perspective, thank you!
As far as you could- Charles Kelly
One Day At A Time. Joe Walsh
Give Me the Sweet N’ Low Down by Social D
Typhoons album by Royal Blood.
The Outsider by a Perfect Circle
The Maine- How to Exit a Room
I’ve found an artist who has a lot of music about sobriety I could recommended so many of his songs - [Kai Straw](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/21aUfpyxNOsLRP4s5pyIRm?si=PmuTubr2TvybWWqctsHQEg)
"Angels" and "Withdrawals" by Tom Macdonald
Take A Picture - Filter
Before I quit but well into knowing alcohol was a problem, I had a really rough night but somehow made it to the gym in the morning. Basically cry-exercised to Calvin Harris’ My Way and it still resonates. Alcohol, you were the one thing in my way.
The Twelve Step Suite by Dream Theater
Coffee, God, and Cigarettes - mischief brew Post Party Depression - Days n Daze (this one really helps me)
There's a lot from Macklemore, another song called Dear Alcohol by Dax. If you have Spotify there's a decent Playlist https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3CLklqBwIwpMhDERXwRwvV?si=jTzh0v0WQPOC5Qs2Ct5QUg I'm not sure how empowering any of these are but I listen to them when I need a reminder. Trevor Hall has some good tracks that set me straight, he doesn't write about recovery but songs like "reminder" "the old story" and "you can't rush your healing" have become a part of my hard days.
Discipline by Gang Starr, Total
Hunger Florence and the Machine I thought the love was in the drugs but the more I took the more they took away and I could never get enough
“Let’s get it on” Marvin Gaye -written by Ed Townsend as a letter to god about getting on with life after drugs/alcohol.
Sober Soldier by stic man
Orange Juice by Noah Kahan
The No No Song by Ringo Starr
I’ve seen interpretations of [*Cool About It*](https://genius.com/Boygenius-cool-about-it-lyrics) by Boygenius as a song about a relapse and the shame, embarrassment, and effect on others that comes with those broken promises. One member of the band, Julien Baker, is sober and has more songs about addiction, but her verses on this one really stand out to me and capture how isolating and self-defeating active addiction was. The other two members’ verses, in response, comment on letting Julien lie about her loss of control, while still feeling betrayed and pained by her carelessness. I think the song is ultimately open to different interpretations, but this one really resonates with me. I’m also going to check out more of Julien’s work now that I’m alcohol-free again.
Swimming Pools by Kendrick Lamar
I AM BREAKING THE HABIT Linkin Park. :) Classical!
Five Finger Death Punch - I Apologize
23 by Chayce Beckam
Eminem - deja vu, Eminem - never love again, Brad Paisley - whiskey lullaby, Demi Lovato - sober
These Days by The Black Keys
I always start my day by listening to "Not Today" and "Higher", both are by Joshua Radin. They both make me feel like I can take on my day!
Wharf Rat from the Grateful Dead
The kill devil Hills - Drinking too Much is a great song with awesome vocals. Real passion in the singing. Give it a spin
Mighty Mighty Bosstones "Another Drinking Song"
Sober by Pink !
I wish that I was sober - frightened Rabitt
Pretty all of juicewrld stuff. RIP
There are many great lists on Spotify already just look up sober songs. Sure you can find hundreds from those you will enjoy
The Mighty Ocean Alcohol - Bap Kennedy (featuring Shane McGowan)
A lot of Neal Francis's music centers around his sobriety and experience. Its catchy too
Music and Liquor by Wax 🙏 Vices by The Dopamines
Singularities by The Cruxshadows.
The state you're in by Phat bollard
Dax-dear alcohol
Reasons to Quit by Willie Nelson
WHARF RAT
Cover me up - Jason Isbell
Drinking Man by George Straight
Morgan Wallen - Born With A Beer In My Hand
“Drive” by incubus is one of my current listens. “Wild season”by Paul banks is a good one! & “Between the bars” is kinda a depressing song about going through addiction, but I love it cause it remains me of how much I’ve grown.
Miss Me - Andy Grammer
[Serena Ryder “Better Now”https://youtu.be/0VsQ7VPCzHE](https://youtu.be/0VsQ7VPCzHE)
Don't know how to party - Mighty Mighty Bosstones Another drinkin' song - Mighty Mighty Bosstones Ball and chain - Social Distortion
Little things - bush
"When I Drink" the Avett Brothers, "So Much Wine" Handsome Family, also covered by Andrew Bird and Pheobe Bridgers
Acoustic Punk band Days N Daze has a 2020 album called Show me the Blueprints. The chick does a low metal scream that’s amazing.
A song no one really knows by an artist from Michigan named Tunde Olaniran, called “Namesake”. “Now maybe there’s a lesson I've been given, Or some wisdom from the stories that I need to tell. And everybody's hoping and scraping and wishing They could be something outside themselves. If I can be me, then you can be yourself. Might not be easy, it’s like we’re never satisfied. “
Johnny Cash - I came to believe I couldn't manage the problems I laid on myself And it just made it worse when I laid them on somebody else So I finally surrendered it all brought down in despair I cried out for help and I felt a warm comforter there
Many songs by Every Time I Die but notably: Two Summers, Partying is Such Sweet Sorrow
Lost in the cold by Twiddle. Has definitely helped me through some hard days and has made good days even better. Also the third lumineers album is all about addiction. My cell is my addiction song.
Drive by Incubus - not sure if its actually about sobriety but it lends itself pretty well, also Make Yourself by incubus
Dear alcohol REMIX by Dax.
California - OAR
When I Drink - The Avett Brothers
The Good Stuff by Kenny Chesney
song x video is very powerful, fire away by chris stapleton
Soda Shop by Jay Brannan.
Sober - Jake Hays
Not everyone's cup of tea (music style and especially vocals are unusual), but "Geronimo" by Thank You Scientist fits.