“You Are Not Alone” by Michael Jackson

When a loved one dies, one of the first things many of us do is make a phone call. Whether it’s to those that were closest to our loved one or to other family and friends of our own, connecting with others after a death seems automatic. And while one might argue that these calls are obligatory because people have the right to know when someone has died, they are also necessary for our own mental health.

Credit: gretasday.com

This is the message of Michael Jackson’s 1995 song “You Are Not Alone.” The song is 22 years old this year, but its message is still relevant to those who experience the denial, sadness and loneliness that death leaves behind. Jackson relays these feelings poetically in his song, singing:

Another day is gone

I’m still all alone

How could this be

You’re not here with me

You never said goodbye

Someone tell me why

Did you have to go

And leave my world so cold?

Although losing a loved one can leave those affected feeling vulnerable, Jackson’s song assures us that no one is ever completely alone. There are always others that we can call, groups that we can attend or people we can talk with in order to help us deal with hard times.

You are not alone

I am here with you

Though you’re far away

I am here to stay

You are not alone

His words also symbolize that even the ones who die never leave us:

I can hear your prayers

Your burdens I will bear

But first I need your hand

Then forever can begin

This iconic song is definitely one to save for when you need a little reminder that it’s okay to ask for help or guidance through rough times. And while the grief process is not the same for everyone, a sense of community definitely spans all varieties of healing.

Check out the song lyrics here: