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Widow playlist
Jan. 6th, 2021 03:00 pmI feel particularly like a widow at this time of year. Just a couple of weeks from now will be the third anniversary of Rob’s death. One of the things I’ve done in the past few years that I’ve found comforting is collecting songs about the experience of being a widow.
I’ve finally put the music I’ve collected about the experience of being a widow into a YouTube playlist, which I’ve made public, 80 songs in all (well, 79 songs and one video: the fourth on the list is actually a scene rather than a song).
The playlist is in a roughly narrative arc, with the bleakest and most numb songs at the beginning (when a loss is most fresh and the widow is most devastated), which then lead into songs of widows struggling and coping and finally moving on with their lives, maybe even finding a new love. The last song on the list is one of the most hopeful songs I’ve ever found.
In a few of the songs, although it’s not reflected in the lyrics, it’s clear from the video that the singer is actually singing about someone other than a spouse/partner: i.e., a sibling or parent. I still included them if nothing in the lyrics contradicts the impression that it could be for a spouse/partner.
I’ve cried over the songs in this list many times, but on the whole, this list of music has gone a long way to helping me process my grief. I’ve shared this list with a few online widow groups already, but it occurs to me that there are widows amongs my friends here, too. And, unfortunately, there are a lot of newly bereaved people out there, due to Covid. I hope this playlist can help others, so please do share it. And I’d love feedback: Let me know if this list introduces a new song to you that helps you...I’d be curious to know which ones you particularly liked and/or found helpful or comforting.
Edited to add: I wanted to add the link for the song “Row of Small Trees” because it’s not on YouTube but people might want to listen to it and/or buy it for their own collection. It was written by Garnet Rogers, who also wrote “Night Drive,” another song on the YouTube list.
I’ve finally put the music I’ve collected about the experience of being a widow into a YouTube playlist, which I’ve made public, 80 songs in all (well, 79 songs and one video: the fourth on the list is actually a scene rather than a song).
The playlist is in a roughly narrative arc, with the bleakest and most numb songs at the beginning (when a loss is most fresh and the widow is most devastated), which then lead into songs of widows struggling and coping and finally moving on with their lives, maybe even finding a new love. The last song on the list is one of the most hopeful songs I’ve ever found.
In a few of the songs, although it’s not reflected in the lyrics, it’s clear from the video that the singer is actually singing about someone other than a spouse/partner: i.e., a sibling or parent. I still included them if nothing in the lyrics contradicts the impression that it could be for a spouse/partner.
I’ve cried over the songs in this list many times, but on the whole, this list of music has gone a long way to helping me process my grief. I’ve shared this list with a few online widow groups already, but it occurs to me that there are widows amongs my friends here, too. And, unfortunately, there are a lot of newly bereaved people out there, due to Covid. I hope this playlist can help others, so please do share it. And I’d love feedback: Let me know if this list introduces a new song to you that helps you...I’d be curious to know which ones you particularly liked and/or found helpful or comforting.
Edited to add: I wanted to add the link for the song “Row of Small Trees” because it’s not on YouTube but people might want to listen to it and/or buy it for their own collection. It was written by Garnet Rogers, who also wrote “Night Drive,” another song on the YouTube list.