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These are some dark times we’re living in. A global pandemic. Extreme political and social polarization. Economic stress. And everywhere you look, it seems like people just keep hurting each other.
When things feel really heavy, music has the power to lift our spirits and remind us to hold on to hope.
Here are 25 inspiring songs about hope for the future.
Tomorrow from “Annie”
Who better to start off our list of hopeful songs than the optimistic little orphan Annie?
I find the Quvenzhané Wallis version of this classic musical hit particularly soothing.
The sun’ll come out tomorrow
Bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow
There’ll be sun
Annie reminds us that even in the darkest times, we can choose to keep looking forward to a brighter day.
Energy by The Apples In Stereo
It’s gonna be alright
We’re gonna see the sunlight
This feel-good, upbeat song encourages a bright outlook on the future. It’s one of my favorite songs about hope for the future.
There’s a Hero by Billy Gilman
Go on and trust yourself
You can ride the wind
You’re gonna take your dreams
Where they’ve never been
A young Billy Gilman sings about the inner strength we all have, to push through tough times and claim the future we want.
Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head by B.J. Thomas
But there’s one thing I know
The blues they send to meet me
Won’t defeat me
It won’t be long
‘Til happiness steps up to greet me
This classic by the late B.J. Thomas is always a go-to when I’m in need of hopeful music.
Jump Rope by Blue October
I wanna tell you that everything will be okay
That everything will eventually turn itself to gold
So keep pushing through it all
Don’t follow, lead the way
Don’t lose yourself or your hope
In a song written for his daughter, Justin Furstenfeld of Blue October reminds us that life has its ups and downs, like a jump rope.
I Feel Love (Benji’s Theme) by Charlie Rich
Love, love love’s the answer
Love’s the only way
Sunshine gonna come and go
But love is here to stay
This catchy tune may be a source of nostalgia for those who grew up loving the adorable dog the song was written for, Benji.
But even outside of the soundtrack, we can all use the reminder that love is what will keep us moving into a brighter future.
Don’t Dream It’s Over by Crowded House
Hey now, hey now
Don’t dream it’s over
An 80s classic that’s been covered more times than I can keep track of, but the original will always be a soothing sound.
O-o-h Child by The Five Stairsteps
Someday we’ll walk in the rays of a beautiful sun
Someday when the world is much brighter
Ooh child, things are gonna get easier
Ooh child, things’ll get brighter
Perhaps one of the best known songs for hope, this hit was released in 1970 and has stood the test of time.
Don’t Stop by Fleetwood Mac
Don’t stop thinking about tomorrow
Don’t stop, it’ll soon be here
It’ll be better than before
One of my absolute favorite songs about hope for the future, this Fleetwood Mac classic is a must-have on any encouraging playlist.
Treat People With Kindness by Harry Styles
Maybe we can find a place to feel good
And we can treat people with kindness
In this feel-good, uplifting song, Harry Styles sings of optimism for a future where humans put kindness above all else.
The Heart of Life by John Mayer
Pain throws your heart to the ground
Love turns the whole thing around
No, it won’t all go the way it should
But I know the heart of life is good
John Mayer doesn’t just have a soothing voice; his words in this song remind us that no matter how painful life can be at times, the heart of life is good.
Your Life Is Now by John Mellencamp
Your life is now, your life is now, your life is now
In this undiscovered moment
Lift your head up above the crowd
We could shake this world
If you would only show us how
A lot of songs about hope for the future are more about emotion than action.
And that’s great, but I appreciate that in this song, we’re reminded that we all have direct impact on the future. It’s in our hands! What are we going to do with it?
Stay Alive by José González
There is a truth and it’s on our side
Dawn is coming, open your eyes
Look into the sun as the new days rise
An inspiring song from the soundtrack of the 2013 film The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.
Love Will Set You Free by Kodaline
When the world is on your shoulders
And you’re falling to your knees
Oh, please
You know love will set you free
Yet another reminder that love, above all, is what can carry us through the darkest of times.
Stand by Lenny Kravitz
Don’t give up you’re gonna see tomorrow
That you’ll be on your feet again
Here’s Lenny Kravitz to remind you to keep getting back up, no matter how many times life knocks you down. There’s always a future ahead.
Sing to the Moon by Laura Mvula
Sing to the moon and the stars will shine
Over you, lead you to the other side
In this soul-lifting song, Laura Mvula encourages you to pour out your troubles to the night sky. In time, morning will come.
Anyway by Martina McBride
This world’s gone crazy
And it’s hard to believe
That tomorrow will be better than today
Believe it anyway
Sometimes, we just have to choose stubborn hope no matter how bleak things might seem.
Celebrate by MIKA ft. Pharrell
Once I get up I feel better
And I pull myself together
I remember those two letters
It will be O.K.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve found myself in a foul, pessimistic mood as I lie in bed and obsess over things I can’t control.
In this song, MIKA reminds us that sometimes we just need to get up, take a breath, and lean into the hope that things will be okay.
Angels On My Side by Rick Astley
Yes, you read that right.
The one and only Rick Astley, who has promised to never give you up, and never let you down, is here to reassure you yet again.
This time, he’s letting you know that angels are on your side.
Hope is for the hopeful
It’s a dream that never fades
Faith is for the faithful
And I will not be swayed
Whether or not you actually believe in angels, or take the song as more of a metaphor, this can be pretty comforting to hear.
Streetcorner Symphony by Rob Thomas
But it’s alright now
We’ll make it through this somehow
And we’ll paint the perfect picture
All the colors of this world will run together more than ever
An underrated song (in my opinion), in which Rob Thomas holds hope for a future where humanity is united.
Today Will Be Better, I Swear by Stars
When the worries of the world hold your feet
And there’s little left to believe in
Today, today is gonna be a better one
One of my favorite songs to play in the morning, this song by Stars sets the mood for the rest of the day.
Higher Love by Steve Winwood
Bring me a higher love
I could rise above on a higher love
I will wait for it, I’m not too late for it
Until then, I’ll sing my song
To cheer the night along
Steve Winwood sings of hoping for a love that is so deep, so strong, that it will give him strength to “rise above”.
Whether you take that to have a spiritual meaning, or more relational, it’s another reminder that emphasizing love is what strengthens us.
Love Is the Seventh Wave by Sting
There is a deeper wave than this
Rising in the land
There is a deeper wave than this
Nothing will withstand
I say love is the seventh wave
Here, Sting sings of love being the inevitable conclusion to all the world’s struggles. We may face war, division, and all sorts of pain, but love is “the seventh wave”.
In a 1985 interview, Sting explained the song’s metaphor: “In popular myth, if you count the waves on a sea shore, the seventh wave is supposed to be the strongest, the most profound. And I felt that at present the world is undergoing a wave of evil, if you like. … And the song is uncharacteristically hopeful, saying that behind this wave there’s a much more profound one. It’s love, beyond selfishness. And I think if there isn’t this wave, then we are finished. So it’s singing about something and hoping that by singing about it you’ll create it.”
I Was Made for Sunny Days by The Weepies
But I’m the one who’s waiting
‘Til the sun comes out again
I say, I was made for sunny days
I made do with grey, but I didn’t stay
The sweet vocals and upbeat melody of this song are a great mood booster for anyone who needs to remember to eagerly await the next sunny day.
When You Believe by Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey
There can be miracles
When you believe
Though hope is frail, it’s hard to kill
Who knows what miracles you can achieve?
When you believe, somehow you will
You will when you believe
And we conclude this list of songs about hope for the future with the award-winning song from the 1998 animated feature The Prince of Egypt.
Whatever you believe about the Universe, there is something to be said about the power of hope.
When we choose to lean into hope rather than fear or discouragement, we empower ourselves to not just keep going until we reach a brighter future, but to create that future.
May you find all the hope you need in order to cultivate the future you envision. ❤️
Sincerely,
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Can you think of any other songs about hope for the future? Drop your hopeful music recommendations in the comments below! ⬇️⬇️⬇️
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