Hopes and Prayers Playlist Top 10

Today we count down the top 10 songs on the Hopes and Prayers Playlist.

10. “Don’t Stop Believin’” by Journey: Beneath its arena-rock gloss, the song is about perseverance in an indifferent world: ordinary people facing loneliness, uncertainty, and disappointment while still “holdin’ on to that feelin’.” Stoics don’t deny difficulty; they insist on maintaining an inner stance of courage and hope. Continuing the journey despite not knowing the outcome is very much in line with Stoic fortitude.

9. “Life’s What You Make It” by Talk Talk: The song’s refrain — “Baby, life’s what you make it / Celebrate it”* — echoes a core Stoic idea: externals are unpredictable, but your attitude and choices are yours. The lyrics don’t promise an easy life; rather, they insist that meaning is found in how you meet whatever comes. This parallels Epictetus’s teaching that events themselves are not good or bad; it’s our judgments and responses that matter.

8. “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor: An iconic anthem of personal resilience and self‑respect after emotional devastation. The narrator moves from dependency and heartbreak to self‑mastery and autonomy: “I grew strong / And I learned how to get along.” This shift from victimhood to inner strength reflects the Stoic insight that other people’s actions are outside our control, but our response—whether we maintain dignity and composure—is ours. The proud refusal to be broken by betrayal mirrors Stoic emotional resilience.

7. “Colors” by Saigon Kick: This song meditates on impermanence and the changing nature of life. The “colors” can be read as the shifting experiences and emotions we go through. Instead of clinging to any one state, the lyrics suggest a kind of resigned clarity that things change and pass. That stance—recognizing transience and not being overly attached—is deeply Stoic: reality shifts, and wisdom lies in seeing it clearly rather than fighting it.

6. “Unwritten” by Natasha Bedingfield: This song centers on the idea that your life is an unwritten book and *you* hold the pen. Lines like “Today is where your book begins / The rest is still unwritten” echo the Stoic focus on the present moment and the freedom to choose your response to circumstances. It emphasizes possibility and choice rather than regret or fatalism.

5. “Three Little Birds” by Bob Marley & The Wailers: With the refrain “Don’t worry about a thing, ’cause every little thing gonna be all right,” this song captures a Stoic approach to anxiety. Marley isn’t advocating denial, but a shift of focus: worry doesn’t change outcomes, and much is outside our control. The friendly, almost mantra-like reassurance parallels Stoic exercises aimed at calming the mind and accepting what comes.

4. “Believe” by Savatage: “Believe” is about clinging to an inner conviction even when life has been cruel and dreams have collapsed. The narrator looks back on pain, loss, and disappointment, but instead of giving in to bitterness, he insists on holding onto something deeper—an inner belief that can’t be taken away. That’s very close to the Stoic view that your true good lies in your character and judgments, not in fortune. The song’s tone is tragic but defiant, like a person who’s been through a lot and decided: “I can’t control what happened, but I can control what kind of person I will be in response.”

3. “What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong: This song embodies the Stoic practice of noticing and appreciating what is right in front of you: trees of green, skies of blue, friends shaking hands. Instead of chasing external status or complaining about what’s wrong, the song calmly points to simple, ever-present sources of joy. That attitude mirrors a Stoic’s focus on recognizing the good in the world without denying its difficulties—choosing to see and affirm the beauty that is already there.

2. “Anti-Hero” by Taylor Swift: Taylor confronts her insecurities and self-sabotaging thoughts, calling herself “the problem” while also recognizing the distortions in her inner narrative. The song is almost a guided tour of the Stoic discipline of perception: noticing the stories we tell ourselves, recognizing them as stories (not facts), and refusing to let them tyrannize us. It’s an unflinching inventory of the self that aligns with Stoic self-scrutiny.

1. “Let It Be” by The Beatles: The song’s refrain, “Let it be,” echoes the Stoic practice of accepting reality instead of fighting it emotionally. Paul McCartney wrote it after a dream about his late mother, finding peace in the idea that there’s wisdom in calmly accepting what happens and focusing on inner serenity rather than external chaos.