We all have that one song that has the power to take us back in time to a point in our lives that has a lasting impact on us today, a song that can change our entire mood just by listening to it again. Maybe it’s a song that you listened to all the time with a friend whom you no longer speak to. Maybe it reminds you of an ex-boyfriend or girlfriend that you’ve avoided listening to because it was “your song”. Or perhaps this song can take you back to some of the best times of your life, reminding you of how good you used to have it. Regardless, the power of one song, whatever it may be, is incredible. Suddenly you’re lost in the memories that it brings back, feeling nostalgic and overwhelmed with emotion.

I discovered this recently while walking to class with my music on shuffle. A song I hadn’t listened to in ages came on and suddenly I felt as if I had been hit by a truck because the emotions it brought on were so strong. Bittersweet memories rushed through my head while I decided whether to skip the song and forget it or to continue listening and reminisce on what used to be. I listened to the song over and over that day, recalling all the times I had belted it out with the person I loved the most. Things I never thought would be important enough to remember came to me, causing a mixture of feelings: sadness because I’ll never get to live that life again, joy from remembering how carefree and in love we were, nostalgic because those memories will always be with me, but will never be anything more than a memory. It hurt to listen to the song. But I listened anyway. That lump in your throat that you get when you try to hold back tears just wouldn’t go away, so I cried. I laughed. I sat alone quietly thinking about how three minutes of music written by a stranger can make such an impact on my life.

I know other people feel this way about a certain song. I’ve noticed on multiple occasions that my friends will quickly change the song when they don’t want to recall certain memories. Some songs just bring back times that are too hard to remember.

Music is powerful. It has the ability to say exactly what we’re thinking and almost seem as if they were written about your life. Sometimes music is the only way people know how to cope with situations in their life. But sometimes, music can anger you because you want nothing more than to forget about the past, and a song comes along that forces you to remember.

Whatever it is that you’re thinking of when that song comes on, know that plenty of people have the same reactions. Even after years and years have passed since that moment, you can find yourself being afraid to remember. It can be impossible to listen to it. And that’s okay.

The power one song has on a person is incredible. So many memories can fit into a song, so many moments of a person's life, all in a few words. It can hurt. It can make you happy. It can do both at the same time. It can get you through hard times in your life.