So many artists have created songs about feeling numb. Whether they’re emotionally exhausted or seeking out feelings of numbness because of the pain they feel, musicians have tried their best to write about feeling numb.
Below, we’ve listed 20 great songs about feeling numb in different ways.
1. “Numb” by Rihanna featuring Eminem
Up first, we have Rihanna’s 2012 song “Numb”. In this song, Rihanna sings about how she feels numb. She doesn’t care what people say or think about her, as her numbness overshadows these potential feelings.
Rihanna doesn’t necessarily discuss why she feels numb, though it is hinted in her duet with Eminem that it may have to do with a romantic relationship!
2. “Numb” by 21 Savage
21 Savage released his song “Numb” on his 2017 album Issa Album. In this song, 21 Savage talks about his life and struggles. Even though he now has money, many of his problems still persist. He isn’t happy because of his money.
The lyrics state, “Numb the pain with the money, numb the pain with the money”. In this way, 21 Savage is saying that he tries to numb his pain with all of his money, something that he never had before. However, he knows that this won’t work for long.
3. “Numb” by Pink
In Pink’s 2001 song “Numb”, which appears on her album M!ssundaztood, Pink talks about the end of a romantic relationship. This toxic relationship has finally come to an end, and she is very thankful for that.
Pink sings, “I was weak before, now you made me so numb / I don’t feel much for you anymore”. As this relationship comes to an end, she’s numb that she doesn’t feel anything towards her partner.
In this way, this song is also about being emotionless after a breakup!
4. “Numb” by Nick Jonas
Nick Jonas’ 2014 song “Numb” discusses how a relationship can bring you a high, yet a breakup can leave you feeling numb. Jonas sings about an ex who has broken his heart and seemingly already moved on.
Jonas himself, however, cannot. He sings, “You don’t know what it is you do to me / Yeah, you leave me numb”.
5. “Numb” by U2
U2 released their song “Numb” on their 1993 album Zooropa. After its initial release, the song was a hit and landed on the top music charts!
This song deals with sensory overload, along with social conformity. Throughout this song, the band sings about all the things society tells you not to do. Then, in the chorus, they sing, “I feel numb / Too much is not enough”.
Here, they are saying too much in their life — whether it be emotions or material things — doesn’t actually mean that they are receiving enough of what they’re looking for. Therefore, they become numb to better deal with life.
6. “Swim in the Light” by Kid Cudi
Kid Cudi’s 2016 song “Swim in the Light” discusses Cudi’s realization that drugs will not bring him happiness. Therefore, he realizes that he’ll have to work on his depression in a different way.
Let’s look at the lyrics. Cudi says, “You could try and numb the pain, but it’ll never go away”. Throughout the song, he repeats this phrase. Here, he’s explaining that he cannot numb his pain with drugs. His pain will never go away. So, he must learn how to live with it in a different, healthier way.
7. “Habits (Stay High)” by Tove Lo
When Tove Lo released her song “Habits (Stay High)” in 2013, it became a huge hit around the world. This song also deals with feeling empty and numb. Tove Lo discusses how someone left her and left her feeling numb.
So, she goes about her life doing unhealthy things to try to feel something again — and to try to get her ex off of her mind.
8. “Judas” by Banks
Banks released her song “Judas” on her 2016 album The Altar. In this song, she compares her ex to Judas, saying that her ex betrayed her in a similar fashion. Here, Banks also discusses how she was numb in this toxic relationship.
Therefore, she didn’t see the betrayal coming. If she wasn’t numb, she might’ve been able to better understand her situation.
She sings the lyrics, “Too dumb to deal, too numb to feel the knife in my back”.
9. “Numb” by Linkin Park
When Linkin Park released their 2003 song “Numb”, it became a huge hit! This song also deals with feelings of numbness. There are many ways listeners can find the meaning of this song. Some believe that it details the feelings of a child and their relationship with their parents.
Others believe that this song could be about any type of close relationship. Basically, the narrator of the song feels smothered by another person. This person wants the narrator to be more like them and to follow all their advice — but this isn’t what the narrator wants.
The band drives this point home in the chorus, and they sing, “I’ve become so numb, I can’t feel you there / Become so tired, so much more aware / I’m becoming this, all I want to do / Is be more like me and be less like you”.
10. “Piece of Mind” by Kehlani
In 2017’s “Piece of Mind”, Kehlani discusses her past mistakes in life and in a relationship. However, she also details her optimism for the future. She’s learned from her past and isn’t going to make the same choices again.
She sings, “I can feel again, won’t be numb again”. She won’t let this relationship, or this breakup, keep her down. And she won’t feel numb again!
11. “Made of Stone” by Evanescence
Evanescence released their song “Made of Stone” on their 2011 album Evanescence. In this song, the band details the end of a relationship. The singer says she is done with her ex, and she’s ready to move on.
Obviously, she still has pain from this relationship. But, she sings the lyrics, “I’m all out of love for you, baby / And now that I’ve tried everything / I’ll numb the pain / ‘Til I am made of stone”. In this way, she is working on being numb to pain.
12. “So Fast, So Numb” by R.E.M.
In R.E.M.’s 1996 song “So Fast, So Numb”, the band discusses how many musicians live fast and die young. So many people turn to drugs to numb their pain. The band sings, “You’re coming onto something so fast, so numb / That you can’t even feel”.
13. “Feel Again” by OneRepublic
When OneRepublic released the song “Feel Again” in 2012, it became a huge hit around the world! In this song, the singer discusses how a past relationship left him lost, alone, and numb. He sings, “I’ve been everywhere and back trying to replace / Everything that I had ’til my feet went numb”.
However, he does learn to “Feel Again” when he meets someone new. They bring him back to life, and he once again can feel happiness, rather than numbness!
14. “Silver Gun Superman” by Stone Temple Pilots
Stone Temple Pilots released their song “Silver Gun Superman” on their 1994 album Purple. In this song, the band describes their growing feelings of paranoia, jealousy, and anxiety. Many believe this song has to do with the singer’s drug addiction.
Later in the song, the lyrics say, “Take a piece of my life / (Leave me numb)”. Elsewhere in the song, they also sing about a friend “towing the line”. This has led many to believe the song deals with breakdowns of relationships, possibly because of numbness from addiction.
15. “Numb” by Marina
2010’s “Numb” by Marina is one of the greatest songs about feeling empty and numb. Throughout this song, Marina sings about her depression and how she’s searching for some form of happiness. However, she struggles.
She sings the lyrics, “I feel numb most of the time / Lower I get, the higher / I’ll climb, and I will wonder why / I got dark only to / Shine”.
Here, Marina is explaining that her depression and sadness led her to success in music. She got dark, only to find fame. But she cannot find light or happiness.
16. “Save Myself” by Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran released his song “Save Myself” on his 2017 album Divide. At the beginning of this song, Sheeran thinks about all the friendships and relationships where he did quite a lot. He gave them money, help, and love. But in the end, they didn’t do the same for him. He even questions whether they care for him.
Then, he says, “Life can get you down so I just numb the way it feels”. However, he does have some positive moments in this song. At the end of the chorus, he explains that you cannot help other people until you help yourself.
Then, at the very end of the song, he says that he also cannot love someone before he loves himself. So, even though he numbs the way he feels, he also knows this to be the truth!
17. “Happy Little Pill” by Troye Sivan
In Troye Sivan’s 2014 song “Happy Little Pill”, Sivan discusses depression and reliance on antidepressants, as well as other drugs to try to numb the pain. Throughout this song, Sivan discusses various situations and feelings that go hand in hand with depression and feelings of numbness.
18. “bad idea” by Ariana Grande
Ariana Grande released her song “bad idea” on her 2019 album thank u, next. In this song, Grande talks about how she needs to numb her pain. So, she considers calling up her ex to try to help numb the pain and divert her mind.
Grande knows this is a bad idea. However, she is looking for someone or something to numb the pain.
19. “Cut” by Plumb
Plumb’s 2006 song “Cut” also deals with feelings of numbness and depression. Throughout this song, Plumb details various feelings of sadness. In the chorus, she sings, “I’m tired, of feeling so numb”.
Even though she knows that she is numb — and even though she wants to not feel like this — she can’t seem to find a way to stop these feelings.
20. “Comfortably Numb” by Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd’s 1979 song “Comfortably Numb”, which appeared on their album The Wall, is possibly one of the most iconic songs about feelings of numbness. This classic rock song was inspired by a real incident that happened to Roger Waters.
In 1977, doctors injected Rogers with tranquilizers before a concert. He still had to perform the show — something he considered the hardest two hours of his life. Thus, the song “Comfortably Numb” was born!
In this song, much of Rogers’ story happens to the narrator. A man is injected with drugs by doctors. After the doctor’s injection, the narrator describes how he feels. Ultimately, he says, “I have become comfortably numb”.
However, much else is discussed in the song. For example, the narrator also talks about when he was a child. The band sings the lyrics, “The child is grown, the dream is gone”. Here, they are talking about the dreams the narrator had as a child. Now, all of those dreams are gone, and they were never realized.
Listen to the full playlist on YouTube here!