My Gen X Playlist: Everybody Hurts – REM

Like everyone else, I have a few challenges I’m working on in the coming months. They are important to me and I’m confident I can work through them. I’ll just put my head down and power through it. Recently someone put everything in perspective for me.

I know someone who is struggling with his mental health. Every day is a challenge for him and may be for the rest of his life. My concerns pale in comparison. Yes, I’ll still work through my coming challenges, but in the grand scheme of things, mine don’t matter. He has bigger challenges that start the moment he wakes. Mental health doesn’t discriminate. He is very successful, but still struggles with this daily. I say a prayer for him every day.

I know I’ve been flooding the playlist with a lot of REM recently, but the process is to find a song after I’ve written about the daily prompt. REM just seems to appear. Everybody Hurts was released in 1992 with a higher purpose than climbing the billboard charts.

Put simply, R.E.M. wrote ‘Everybody Hurts’ to save people’s lives. Everything about the song was designed to stop teenagers from committing suicide; from the straightforward lyrics to the dramatic string arrangements to the beautiful melody, the song hits directly where it counts — the heart.  

The lyrics to the song are very straight forward as they were originally intended for distraught teens. Singer Michael Stipe, however, has commented that a good number of people of different ages have told him that the song saved their lives.

On many R.E.M. songs, Michael Stipe purposefully sings indecipherably. He sang very clearly on this one though, because he didn’t want his message getting lost. “I don’t remember singing it . . . but I still kind of can’t believe my voice is on this recording. It’s very pure. This song instantly belonged to everyone except us, and that honestly means the world to me.”

– Far Out Magazine

REM saved so many lives with this song including mine. People think it’s a song of sadness but it’s a song of strength and seeing the next sunrise.

YouTube comment by ekhimari

REM has saved my life again and again. When I am sure I have had enough of my life, I listen to this and get myself up and carry on. Thank you REM.

YouTube comment by shieldaigbencher

This song is helped me get through some dark days. It reminds me to keep fighting even if I’ve reached that point where I just want throw it away.

YouTube comment by markhartshorn3476

This song took me from a world of depression, drug addiction and attempted suicide to the family man I am today. No matter how bad life has become dont give up. Things do get better and wounds heal and memories are not forgotten but used as lessons to a brighter future. May God Bless all of you that are hurting.

YouTube comment by davidbranquinho4796

This song gives me just that little bit more strength to soldier on through bouts of pain, and for that I am eternally grateful.

YouTube comment by jxff2000

SAMHSA’s National Helpline is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders.

 1-800-662-HELP (4357)

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available.

• Call or text: 988
• Chat: 988lifeline.org

You’ll be able to speak with a trained crisis counselor any time of day or night.

–

For a complete playlist, please click here.

For the Spotify playlist, please click here.

When the day is long
And the night, the night is yours alone
When you're sure you've had enough
Of this life, well hang on

Don't let yourself go
'Cause everybody cries
And everybody hurts sometimes

Sometimes everything is wrong
Now it's time to sing along
When your day is night alone (Hold on, hold on)
If you feel like letting go (Hold on)
If you think you've had too much
Of this life, well hang on

'Cause everybody hurts
Take comfort in your friends
Everybody hurts
Don't throw your hand, oh no

Don't throw your hand
If you feel like you're alone
No, no, no, you are not alone

If you're on your own in this life
The days and nights are long
When you think you've had too much of this life to hang on

Well, everybody hurts sometimes
Everybody cries
And everybody hurts sometimes
And everybody hurts sometimes

So hold on, hold on
Hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on
Everybody hurts

No, no, no, no you are not alone