When the new song titled, “1-800-273-8255,” hit the radio several weeks ago, I would just hear bits and pieces of it and never actually hear the entire song, as I always turned it to that station halfway through the song. I knew it was probably a song with a deep meaning, just with how the artist’s voices connected in a different way with the lyrics, but it wasn’t until a few weeks later that I saw the title of the song and it gave me chills. I was looking for a good song to listen to while getting ready for class and was continuously skipping every song that came on, until I heard the familiar lyrics of this song and decided to look at the name so I could play it later. I was slightly confused when I saw the title, as it was a phone number and decided to look it up and try to figure out why an artist would title their song after a phone number, and I was not expecting the answer that I received when I looked it up. 1-800-273-8255 is the National Suicide Prevention Hotline. As soon as I read this, I got chills and also saw that the calls to the NSPH had increased by 50% because of the awareness that this song was getting. It all made so much sense as I listened to the lyrics.
Logic:
I’ve been on the low
I been taking my time
I feel like I’m out of my mind
I feel like my life ain’t mine
I don’t wanna be alive
I just wanna die today
And let me tell you why
I know it I’m hurting deep down but can’t show it
They say every life is precious but nobody care about mine
Already, with the intro and chorus to this song, it is evident just how important these lyrics are because so many people go through this same cycle every day, every week, or every year of their life and feel like they are trapped and alone, but you are not, there is always a better alternative than taking your own life.
Alessia Cara:
It’s the very first breath
When your head’s been drowning underwater
And it’s the lightness in the air
It’s holding on, though the road’s long
And seeing light in the darkest things
Not letting certain situations get to you is a very important message in this song. Most of us have been there where it feels like the entire world is turned against us and you don’t want to do anything but just lay in bed all day and contemplate your world. But persevering through these trying times is the best thing to do.
Khalid:
Pain don’t hurt the same, I know
I don’t wanna cry anymore
I wanna feel alive
I don’t even wanna die anymore
The last part of this song is so important. It helps show that simply getting through all the terrible and ugly stuff in life is worth it, especially if you were considering taking your own life because your life is always worth living for.
NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION HOTLINE: 1-800-273-8255
You are NEVER alone.
National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month is September and National Suicide Prevention Day is September 10th.
