I’m in love with this song.
It’s exactly the kind of track I imagined might exist when I first started curating Music to Grieve To.
Suicide is the tragedy behind a number of tracks on this list - from artists taking their own lives to the horrific aftermath experienced by loved ones left behind - Suicide is a tough one and there are no easy answers.
It’s the guilt though isn’t it?
It’s the survivor’s guilt - the feeling of “I could have, should have…” - it’s the pain of the loss combined with the shame and the blame and it warps everything. And of course it’s nuts, ‘cos while you’re punishing yourself you’re not actually leaving space to mourn and it can get pretty nasty.
There’s a wonderful book by Lynda Cheldelin Fell & Sharon Ehlers: Grief Diaries: Loss By Suicide - it was written specifically for people dealing with this kind of grief. One of the major takeaways is that while everyone’s journey is unique - there is comfort in knowing that you are not alone - reading the stories of others who have gone and are still going through it, reminds us of that and in some weird and wonderful way, it helps.
Darling by ROHSE offers the same kind of support. It’s a beautifully produced track - I love everything about it: the instrumentation - sparse percussion, warm piano and guitar tones that remind me of Coldplay’s early albums - but it’s the vocal performance that slays me. The authenticity of the lyric is undeniable but it’s the honesty of ROHSE’s delivery that imbues those words with the ability to resonate deeply and bring comfort to those who need it.
If you know someone that is dealing with the loss of a loved one through suicide - you should probably send this their way…
“Darling, could you tell me just one thing
Cause I need something you could never give me
Did you find peace in the shadow of your feeling
Repeat, til my head is broke and reeling
Strange things indeed x2
They think there’s a reason for all things
A baby or a funeral at nineteen
I can’t breathe when I remember you can’t call me
I’ll re-read the last words that you wrote me
Strange things indeed x4
You called me moments just before you fell asleep
Now I’m waking to the sound of my own weeping
Truly you would never hurt somebody
But you cut me deep, now all my things are getting bloody
Strange things indeed x4”
Here's the number and link to The Samaritans UK
From any phone just dial - 116 123
https://www.samaritans.org/
Here's the link to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline:
1-800 273 8255
https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
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You can learn more about ROHSE here:
About the Curator - Andrew McCluskey
The first visual memory I have is that of the white upright piano in Singapore, Hell and the Dark Forces lived at the bottom, Heaven and the Angels at the top, they would play battles through my fingers and I was hooked.
I’ve been fascinated by music ever since.
As a psychology graduate I studied how sound affects human performance.
As a musician I compose instrumental music that stimulates your brain but doesn't mess with your language centers, leaving you free to be creative and brilliant without distraction.
As a curator I research how music can improve your life and create flow - I can tell you what music to listen to when studying for a test and why listening to sad music can make you feel better.
As the founder of musicto I’m on a mission to inspire a global audience of music lovers and artists through the development of people powered playlists.
Latest Posts
Don’t Give Up – Peter Gabriel
24 September 2022
What’s the point? You ever find yourself asking that? The point of this playlist is to bring succor to people who are grieving. That’s it. We listen to and feature songs that we hope people can resonate with and perhaps elicit a cathartic release – at the very least – to help them feel less alone…
Strange Beauty – First Aid Kit
18 September 2022
It’s still September. We’re still talking about Suicide. We’re doing this because the experts tell us that the more we talk about it – the more we bring it into the open – the less likely it is that people will go through with it. And yet – people still do…
Open Letter – Mr. Phelps
11 September 2022
Yep – if you didn’t know – September is Suicide Awareness Month – it’s also National Suicide Prevention Month and in fact right now – between the 8th and the 14th – it’s actually National Suicide Prevention Week. If you are in any doubt as to the impact suicide has on society – spend a minute here: Suicide Statistics – the rate inches up every year – and as a middle aged white male – well – I’m slap bang in the highest risk group…
Andrew McCluskey
The first visual memory I have is that of the white upright piano in Singapore, Hell and the Dark Forces lived at the bottom, Heaven and the Angels at the top, they would play battles through my fingers and I was hooked.
As a psychology graduate I studied how sound affects human performance.
As a musician I compose instrumental music that stimulates your brain but doesn't mess with your language centers, leaving you free to be creative and brilliant without distraction.
As a curator I research how music can improve your life and create flow - I can tell you what music to listen to when studying for a test and why listening to sad music can make you feel better.
As a creator / contributor at musicto I’m part of a global creator community that collaborates through music. You can learn more about our community here.