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Music will forever connect the bridge between people and the words they leave unsaid.

Music has followed humanity alongside every leap and bound, and it will continue trailing behind it for the rest of time. All music, from folk songs, pop hits, or classics, tells the story of us. Music has been a permeating, nearly invasive part of my daily life; whether it be walking through the school, driving to work, or cleaning the kitchen, there is music. I’ve always adored music for the comfort it provides, the lessons it teaches, and the stories that it tells.

“It’s Called: Freefall” by Rainbow Kitten Surprise

This alternative/indie song gained popularity on TikTok during the quarantine alongside the band’s third studio album, How to: Friend, Love, Freefall. When I first heard this song, it wreathed itself around the emptiness that had long since settled into the crevices of my soul. It resonated with my want to settle into my introspection as it allowed its listeners to settle into the melodic lyrics, centered around letting go of control and toxicity, allowing life to fall into place. The song takes a unique approach to sharing its meaning, involving dialogue between the devil and the singer: “‘Anyway, you say you’re too busy saving everybody else to save yourself/ And you don’t want no help, oh well’/ That’s the story to tell.” This song has become one of comfort for me whenever that familiar emptiness snakes its way back into my daily life, as I let go of whatever is bothering me and decide to move forward.

“Call Your Mom” by Noah Kahan

Noah Kahan became an overnight sensation with his album, Stick Season, and the subsequent revised records Stick Season (We’ll All Be Here Forever) and Stick Season (Forever), but “Call Your Mom” has always been a standout song to me due to its hard-hitting lyricism and meaning. The song is about standing by a friend’s side as they face mental health struggles and an implied suicide attempt by being there and making sure that other important people in their life are there, too. This song lets the listener let go, succumbing to the melancholic, circular melody. Later in the song, Kahan lists things that should be done before giving up: “Medicate, meditate, swear your soul to Jesus / Throw a punch, fall in love, give yourself a reason.” This song offers not only comfort, but hope: the hope that tomorrow will be a better day. The hope that tomorrow is worth living.

“Nobody’s Soldier” by Hozier

Hozier has a uniquely poetic way of writing his music, weaving in his Irish roots. His music has always been political—from “Take Me to Church” to “Nina Cried Power (feat. Mavis Staples)”—and “Nobody’s Soldier” is no different. Although it did not gain the same popularity as many of his songs on Unreal Unearth, it’s one of the most efficacious songs on the album. The song starts off at a sprint and doesn’t slow down as it paints modern, late-stage capitalism with the choice of being a salesman or a soldier as the primary options. In the song, Hozier rebels against this idea as he chooses his own path, proclaiming to not follow orders or be under someone else’s control or listen to their inputs on his experiences: “If I tell you this is drowning, you’d tell me I’m walking on water/ I could bring fire from the mountain, you’d tell me it feels a little colder.” This song is fast-paced and reflective of modern society, while promoting the listener to think about the world around them in an in-depth way.

Music has always been at the core of humanity, and it will forever reflect the state of society, from relationships and dynamics to mental health and politics. These three songs have—and always will—give me a lot to think about while comforting me and providing hope.