Many people report feeling intense feelings during these times. Loneliness, frustration, anger, helplessness, depression, confusion, and many other emotions are rampant. People are just plain tired of this pandemic. Blaming of others is tossed back and forth over the volleyball net of social media and no one wants to catch the ball.

Whether the solution is enforcing masking of all society or not, or whether the solution is lockdown or not, we know there is lots and lots of strong feelings.

In my work as a music therapist, I use music to help people process their feelings. Music – whether it’s the melody, rhtyhm, tone, or lyrics – or all of them – serves as a trigger for emotions to be expressed. And music can also serve as healing.

Here are two songs that many of you may already know. Each of these songs induces a particular feeling for me. And they may elicit a totally other feeling for you. And that’s okay. Please share if you’d like in the comments what songs produce which songs. Just the discussion below will help us all.

SONG #1: YESTERDAY:  (by John Lennon and Paul McCartney)

(Feelings of longing, missing, wanting things to be the way they were)

Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away,

Now it looks as though they’re here to stay

Oh, I believe in yesterday.

Suddenly, I’m not half the man I used to be.

There’s a shadow hanging over me,

Oh, yesterday came suddenly.

Why she had to go?
I don’t know, she wouldn’t say.

I said something wrong.

Now I long for yesterday.

Yesterday love was such an easy game to play

Now I need a place to hide away

Oh, I believe in yesterday.

Why she had to go?…….

SONG #2: LEAN ON ME (by Bill Withers)

(Feelings of pain, hope, friendship, support)

Sometimes in our lives we all have pain

We all have sorrow

But if we are wise

We know that there’s always tomorrow

Lean on me, when you’re not strong

And I’ll be your friend

I’ll help you carry on

For it won’t be long

Till I’m gonna need

Somebody to lean on

Please swallow your pride

If I have things you need to borrow

For no one can fill those of your needs

That you won’t let show

You just call on me brother, when you need a hand

We all need somebody to lean on

I just might have a problem that you’ll understand

We all need somebody to lean on

Lean on me, when you’re not strong

And I’ll be your friend

I’ll help you carry on

For it won’t be long

Till I’m gonna need

Somebody to lean on…