Life can be challenging sometimes.
If it’s been a constant uphill struggle recently, reading these quotes about strength and courage can give you a boost to help you power through tough times.
Listening to songs about not giving up can also help remind you that you’ve got this and that you’ll make it through.
You can include the following songs in your playlist. They will give you the courage to overcome adversity and remind you to keep on fighting and striving.
When you are having a hard time, belt out the chorus of any of these songs. Feel your hardships shrink and envision yourself coming out of your struggles as a survivor and a champion.
1. Survivor, Destiny's Child Ft. Da Brat
via Destiny's Child
“I'm a survivor, I'm gonna make it; I will survive, keep on survivin'.”
Tough times can arrive unexpectedly.
They can often be made worse when the people you thought you could depend on aren’t there when you need them the most.
But you will survive. You have it within you to overcome challenges. This song reminds you of that.
While waiting out the storm, take the time to learn how to love yourself more or listen to songs about loving yourself.
2. Here Comes The Sun, The Beatles
via The Beatles
“Here comes the sun, and I say it's alright.”
Going through tough times can feel like being in the midst of a storm. Sometimes you can’t do anything except wait it out. Eventually all storms pass and there is peace and calm again.
Then you have the opportunity to pick up the pieces and rebuild.
The Beatles remind us that the sun always comes up again. Things are going to get better.
If anything, the storms of life can teach us to be truly thankful for the blessings we normally enjoy.
3. Call On Me, Starley
via Starley
“You know you can call on me when you need somebody.”
The debut single of Australian singer/songwriter Starley was first released in 2016. It is a reminder about not giving up your dreams, even when things are extra challenging.
We have to accept the fact that our journey through life isn’t always going to be smooth. But with perseverance, we’ll get there.
4. Rise, Katy Perry
via Katy Perry
“They're whispering, ‘You're out of time,' but still I rise.”
Sometimes we all doubt what we’re capable of achieving. Katy Perry’s Rise encourages you to believe in your personal power.
This song is for those who have ever felt like imposters and sabotaged their own success. (Here are some tips for dealing with imposter syndrome and celebrating your accomplishments.)
5. Who Says, Selena Gomez & The Scene
via Selena Gomez
“Who says you're not pretty? Who says you're not beautiful? Who says?”
In this song, Selena Gomez gives us the affirmation we often fail to give ourselves. It’s a great song to listen to, reminding you to believe in and embrace your authentic self.
Always keep in mind that you’re OK just the way you are.
6. The Show Must Go On, Queen
via QueenHouse85
“Inside my heart is breaking, my makeup may be flaking, but my smile still stays on.”
A little backstory: When Queen was recording this song, Freddie Mercury was quite sick with AIDS. However, he sang the song powerfully, belying his health condition. He died a year later, just one month after the song was released.
This song encourages us to continue doing what we love, even when we’re faced with so many hardships. Mercury lived his life that way until the very end.
7. Fighter, Christina Aguilera
“So thanks for making me a fighter.”
Some people come into our lives and push our buttons the wrong way. Through their presence, we often experience difficulties that we are forced to cope with.
In the end, these people are the ones who make us stronger and more capable of dealing with challenges.
8. Up!, Shania Twain
via Shania Twain
“Up, up, up! Can only go up from here!”
When times are tough, we can all use some cheering up. However, sometimes there’s no one around who can do that for us.
If you need a song to dispel the gloom and heavy feelings of a challenging day, try this one from Shania Twain. You’ll be dancing to the catchy tune in no time.
9. It's Not Over Yet, For King & Country
“And even when you think you're finished, it's not over yet.”
Hang in there is what this song is telling you.
Life can be difficult. It can be crazy and downright discouraging sometimes.
But it won’t be that way forever. Keep the faith and keep moving forward. Things will be better.
10. Underdog, Alicia Keys
via Alicia Keys
“They said I would never make it, but I was built to break the mold. The only dream that I've been chasing is my own.”
Many of us struggle to claim our personal power. We are often under extreme pressure to conform, to keep our heads down and hide our brilliance.
This song reminds us to reclaim that brilliance—to finally live the lives we want for ourselves and not what other people want for us.
Underdog celebrates the individual who defies the odds and comes out on top.
11. Defying Gravity, Idina Menzel
via Idina Menzel
“I think I'll try defying gravity, and you can't pull me down!”
Trying to live your life in accordance with other people’s expectations is one of the greatest blocks to happiness.
Just like Alicia Keys’ Underdog, this powerful song helps us to defy those expectations and finally live life according to how we truly want to live it.
It is so liberating to sing the final line of the song at the top of your lungs.
12. The Comeback, David Gokey
via David Gokey
“This is your time, this is your moment; the fire, the fight, you're golden. You've come so far keep going; oh here comes the comeback.”
Have you ever felt like giving up on your goals? Does it seem like pursuing your dreams only leads to dead-ends?
Danny Gokey experienced a lot of setbacks before his big break. He lost his wife, a record deal, and what he thought was the pinnacle of his career.
It took a lot of faith and perseverance to stay true to his dreams, but in the end it paid off.
This song tells you to not give up just yet. You can still make a comeback!
13. Carry On, Fun.
via Fueled By Ramen
“If you’re lost and alone or you’re sinking like a stone, carry on. May your past be the sound of your feet upon the ground. Carry on.”
Everything about this song—the melody, the lyrics, and lead singer Nate Ruesse’s vocals—is uplifting.
The song speaks of hardships faced and the feeling of hope fading.
But don’t give in and lose hope. You are destined to carry on.
14. Love Myself, Hailee Steinfeld
via Hailee Steinfeld
“Gonna love myself. No, I don't need anybody else.”
A lot of people go through life searching for acceptance from others. This song is a great reminder to give ourselves the love and acceptance we’re asking others to give to us.
The moment we remember to do this, our lives change. We become more empowered and confident in simply being ourselves. We become magnets for success. (Here's a list of songs about success.)
15. Win (Men of Honor Soundtrack), Brian McKnight
via TheRealMichaelG
“I'll never give up, never give in, never let a ray of doubt slip in.”
No matter what your dream is in life, there will always be obstacles. Some of these obstacles may be people around you doubting your abilities and telling you that you can’t make it.
When you hear these put-downs, you need this song as a powerful antidote to self-doubt. It is a song that encourages you to do whatever it takes to fulfill your dreams. Never give in to other people’s toxicity. Persevere and you’ll win.
16. You Gotta Be, Des'ree
via SpotlessTVTech
“You gotta be hard, you gotta be tough, you gotta be stronger.”
Do you cave easily when faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges?
This song tells us that we need toughness of character to make it through the obstacles in our lives.
However, this doesn’t mean adopting aggressiveness.
Instead, it means developing grit. Grit is the driving force behind an open mindset, and studies have shown that having a growth mindset is a major contributing factor for success.
So be strong. Be tough. Be gritty.
17. I Will Survive, Gloria Gaynor
via Solrac Etnevic
“I will survive, as long as I know how to love, I know I'll stay alive.”
You may have gone through hell—you may have climbed mountains and crossed raging rivers to get where you are now. But you made it.
The road might not always be smooth. There will be challenges to face and obstacles to overcome.
Nevertheless, as this song tells us, you will survive.
18. Courage to Change, Sia
via Gerardo Sustasig
(This picture is not of Sia, it’s a still shot from the TV show The Queen’s Gambit.)
“You're not alone in all this.”
If you’re losing hope in the midst of your struggles and feeling very alone, this song can give you hope. You might not be aware that you have a support system around you, just waiting to give you the help you need.
Start looking around you. Notice that friendly smile. You’ll find that you are never alone.
19. Skyscraper, Demi Lovato
via Demi Lovato
“Go and tear me down, I will be rising from the ground like a skyscraper.”
This song describes how a person can experience a lot of pain from life’s disappointments. It is a reminder that life is a constant struggle to find peace and happiness.
But Skyscraper also reminds us that we have our own personal power. It tells us that we have the choice to rise above painful experiences.
20. The Champion, Carrie Underwood Ft. Ludacris
via Carrie Underwood
“I am invincible, unbreakable, unstoppable, unshakeable. They knock me down, I get up again.”
“There’s a champion in every single one of us!” declared Carrie Underwood when she revealed the meaning of this song.
The Champion inspires listeners to break through their limitations in order to accomplish what they want in life.
If things aren’t working in your favor recently, this is an empowering song to listen to. You’ll find that overcoming obstacles will be a breeze.
21. I Can See Clearly Now, Johnny Nash
“It's gonna be a bright…sunshiny day.”
First released in 1972, this classic was number one on the Billboard’s Hot 100 in the US.
The reggae-influenced single brings hope and encouragement. It’s a great song to listen to when you’re feeling overwhelmed with everything you are dealing with in life. (Check out more songs about hope in this post!)
22. I Won't Let Go, Rascal Flatts
via Rascal Flatts
“I will dry your eyes. I will fight your fight. I will hold you tight. And I won't let go.”
This song tells you to keep on fighting. It empowers you to overcome any obstacles that get in your way.
In addition, for some listeners, this song is a sweet reminder of how a special person in their life stood by them through difficult times.
23. I Hope You Dance, Lee Ann Womack
via LeeAnn Womack
“I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean. Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens. Promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance. And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance, I hope you dance.”
Sometimes, the setbacks we experience can make us jaded. We fail to see how amazing life can be. This song is a reminder for all of us to never lose that sense of wonder when experiencing everything life has to offer, even in challenging moments.
24. Float On, Modest Mouse
via Modest Mouse
“Already, we'll float on alright. Already, we'll all float on okay. Don't worry even if things get heavy. We'll all float on, alright.”
We all have our share of different experiences, some of which can be difficult.
Some of these experiences will have a deep impact on us. There will even be experiences that alter our outlook on life.
This song tells us that we can move on from those experiences—that we’ll be alright no matter what we’ve been through.
25. Never Surrender, Corey Hart
via UnidiscMusic
“So if you're lost and on your own, you can never surrender. And if your path won't lead you home, you can never surrender!” (Check out more songs about leaving and coming back home.)
Even the title of this song is a call to never give up!
This classic from Corey Hart was first released in 1985. It encourages listeners to keep on going and to continue pursuing their dreams, even if the journey is filled with obstacles.
It was inspired by the speech Winston Churchill used to encourage Great Britain to never lose hope in the face of Nazi attacks on their country.
26. Still Unbroken, Lynyrd Skynyrd
“I guess I've lost everything I had, but I'm not dead, at least not yet. Still alone, still alive, still unbroken. I'm still alone, still alive. I'm still unbroken.”
If you are looking for a song about pure grit, this might just be the answer. This song from Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Gods & Guns album is about those who have gone through a lot in life and yet still manage to move on.
27. Resilient, Katy Perry
via Katy Perry
“Cause I am resilient, a full flower moment. Won't let the concrete hold me back, oh no. I am resilient, born to be brilliant. You'll see me grow right through the cracks. Yeah, 'cause you're gonna watch this flower grow right through the cracks.”
This song is a tribute to those who have overcome adversity, blooming and becoming better versions of themselves through their experiences.
It is also a song of self-awareness, with Katy Perry acknowledging her own destiny to be brilliant and resilient.
28. Fight Song, Rachel Platten
via Rachel Platten
“This is my fight song, take back my life song. Prove I'm alright song. My power's turned on. Starting right now I'll be strong. I'll play my fight song and I don’t really care if nobody else believes. ‘Cause I've still got a lot of fight left in me.”
This powerful song has become a personal anthem for those who are going through tough times and are determined not just to make it through the experiences, but come out on top.
29. I Ain't Goin' Down (Red Version), Shania Twain
via Shania Twain
“I'm gonna hold on 'cause what I believe in is so strong. No matter how long, no one can tell me I'm wrong, I ain't goin' down.”
A parent’s love keeps them going through tough times, inspiring them to do everything they can to provide the best for their children.
This song is a tribute to that kind of love.
If you have been raised by loving and supportive parents, one thing you have to admire about them is their tenacity and willingness to sacrifice to give you the best.
30. Get Back Up Again (Trolls OST), Anna Kendrick
via Peacock Kids
“Hey! I'm not giving up today, there's nothing getting in my way. And if you knock, knock me over, I will get back up again.”
Get Back Up Again is an official soundtrack song for the movie Trolls. In it, we hear Princess Poppy (Anna Kendrick) express her determination to overcome the odds in order to bring help for her village, despite being naive about the dangers beyond the world she knows.
31. Hold On, Wilson Phillips
“Don't you know, things can change. Things'll go your way. If you hold on for one more day. Can you hold on for one more day? Things'll go your way. Hold on for one more day.”
This song from the 1980s tells listeners that things will eventually change, so they don’t have to be stuck in a miserable situation for very long. The key is to simply hold on.
Final Thoughts on the Best Songs About not Giving Up
Music can soothe the soul. It can also help you make the right decisions. This is important if you are having a difficult time deciding which path to take toward your own happiness.
When you’re having a hard time, listening to the right song can relieve the heaviness of your burden. It can bring the spring back to your step, giving you the encouragement to move forward.
If you need more resources about moving forward and dealing with adversity, the following posts might provide deeper insights:
Finally, if you want to use these songs to make a lasting change to your life, then check out these 100 LIFE GOALS that can help you wake up each morning with a sense of enthusiasm about making progress toward what's important..
