Author: Matthew Palmieri
In managing bipolar, I’ve learned that music is a crucial part of my ongoing recovery.
When I discover new music, it gives me hope for the future, helping me avoid rumination from memories past.
There are, however, songs that I can go back to on repeat, helping bring closure and a deeper understanding of mental wellness.
How I interpret lyrics may be subjective, not necessarily in line with an artist’s intention, but I’ve put together a sample of songs that bring me closer to my bipolar.
- “The Ballad of Me and My Brain” — The 1975
To my knowledge, although the song isn’t referencing bipolar in particular, the song is about the struggle with mental health, identity, and a metaphorical search for the brain. It’s about struggling to recognize yourself while dealing with a particularly difficult period of reluctant acceptance.
2. “I’m Not Mad” — Halsey
I remember seeing an interview with Halsey where she discussed the making of “Manic” before I even heard a note of the album. I was struck by her candor, particularly when she mentioned the anger and irritability that she felt, associated with Bipolar symptoms. Even if this song and album are an encapsulation of an era, the edge, the vibe, and just the overall emotional and message in the interview really hit home.
3. “Step by Step” — Panda Bear
To me, this song is about recovery and understanding the deliberate process it takes to get there. One of the opening lyrics says, “There is some kind of poison in disorder.” This line speaks to me when I look at how routine is crucial for my day to day recovery.
4. “Werewolf” — Fiona Apple
My interpretation of this song is about recognizing the ‘why’ when someone has left you, while having the wisdom to know you played a part in the departure. The feeling of being left alone after having a bipolar episode is something many of us are familiar with. The lyric, “I can liken you to a werewolf the way you left me for dead, but I admit that I provided a full moon” summarizes this feeling to me.
5. “That’s Life” — Frank Sinatra
“Riding high in April, shot down in May” — really, is there any more to say?
6. “Oh are you bipolar one or two?” — Glaive
As one of the more overt references to bipolar, this song is about the openness of speaking about bipolar and mental illness in general. People may also educate themselves about the illness because it mentions two forms of the illness, something many may not be aware of. To me, it is a landmark song of sorts because it so plainly mentions the things that generations ago would have been swept under the rug. It gives me hope for the future when we discuss the role mental illness plays in all of our lives.
7. “Rainbow” — Kacey Musgraves
I see this song about the other’s perspective. When I’m deep in depression or recently recovering from an episode, it can be so hard to see the forest for the trees. I interpret this song as when someone close to you, who hasn’t left, recognizes how far you’ve come, even if it doesn’t feel like it yet.
8. “Sanity” — Paramore
For me, this song is about getting to where you want to be, but hearing the echoes of loneliness when you’ve arrived. I interpret it as arriving at a place where you feel like you’re on the other side of something, but still feel a loneliness, questioning whether or not you are sane for feeling this way. Even if I’ve arrived at a good place in my life, I still question my sanity, wondering whether or not the other shoe will drop.
9. “Manic Monday” — Prince
I see these lyrics as about the perils of having to work, no matter your mood. Sometimes even when I am productive and at a place very much removed from problematic mania, I still have to kind of run around like everyone else who has a busy schedule. As a result, I tend to question the line between a balanced euthymic state, with a kind of mild mania we all have to tap into in this busy modern world.
10. “Me Again” — Sasha Alex Sloan
I hear this as about a longing for recovery, while recognizing how far you are from that circumstance. It’s about experiencing both sides of the coin, knowing that you aren’t on the other side of pain and isolation yet. Knowing my ideal self after the ups and downs of the illness makes this song stand out to me. I know most times when I am in a depressive state, the only thing I can do is wait, knowing that it’s going to take time to mend. Knowing it’s about not rushing the recovery process, avoiding lying to myself about my own well-being, seeing things with the clarity while, respecting the ebb and flow of the illness.
Music as therapy can be tumultuous, and when I’m in the mood, I love the catharsis in making my own. Sometimes it is best though to let others do the talking for me, helping it feel like I’m not all alone, and I am exactly where I’m supposed to be.
The content of the International Bipolar Foundation blogs is for informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician and never disregard professional medical advice because of something you have read in any IBPF content.
