I have my headphones in a lot throughout the day; most of the time, I’m content to let my phone shuffle through my music library at random. At night, however — as I’m leaving my library shift at 1 a.m., or returning to my dorm from a Wawa or CVS run — song choice becomes critical. I look for songs which honor the complexity and scope of things experienced that day, songs whose lyrics focus on the self and the world rather than a love interest (or other people in general). I look for relaxing songs which offer a sense of closure.
Some of my go-to selections are listed here in no particular order, as a definitive ranking would, for me, be contrived: rather than “good” or “bad,” I think of music as either fitting, or not fitting, different situations and emotions. This list holds 15 wonderful songs for 15 types of days.
I'm in the crush and I hate it
My eyes are fallen
I'm having trouble inside my skin
I try to keep my skeletons in
For anxious days.
Sure, sometimes they thrill me
But nothin' could ever chill me
Like the way they make
The time just disappear
For glad days.
3. Mid-November - Johnathan Rice
Wide-eyed, lonely, and dreaming of home
And you know there is nothing more that I can say
I just, I close my eyes, let you carry me away
For uneven days.
4. On My Way Back Home - Band of Horses
Every step, a victory it was
I was cheating death, just in time I woke
My memories start to wander off
Come to me, the remembrance of
On my way back home
For pointless days.
No tired sighs, no rolling eyes, no irony
No 'who cares', no vacant stares, no time for me
For messy days.
6. Fake Plastic Trees (Acoustic) - Radiohead
But I can't help the feeling
I could blow through the ceiling
If I just turn and run
For offbeat days.
7. Green Gloves - The National
Take another sip of them
It floats around and takes me over
Like a little drop of ink
In a glass of water
For confusing days.
8. First Day Of My Life - Bright Eyes
This is the first day of my life
Swear I was born right in the doorway
I went out in the rain, suddenly everything changed
They're spreading blankets on the beach
For hopeful days.
I could possibly be fading
Or have something more to gain
For tired days.
10. When You Can’t Sleep At Night - Of Mice & Men
Here in this world, I'm awake with mistakes
But it’s love that keeps fueling me
Fueling me
For restless days.
Was there one you saw too clearly?
Did they seem too real to you?
They were kids that I once knew
They were kids that I once knew
For mundane days.
12. Dark Bird is Home - The Tallest Man On Earth
And there are many ways of sorrow
For just stepping out
Everyday a growlin' storm
But they're kind somehow
For circular days.
13. Can’t Help Falling In Love - Elvis Presley (Cover by 21 Pilots)
Like a river flows
Surely to the sea
Darling, so it goes
Some things were meant to be
For simple days.
It looks ugly, but it's clean,
Oh momma, don't fuss over me
For hurtful days.
15. Rest, Shame, Love - Augustana
Carve your name in a black stone
Swear to God we won't let go
If you can't love, babe, then you can't hurt
We take the good times with the worst
For content days.
