Welcome to the next entry in the exploratory series of Mental Health Themes in Music! Today we’ll dig into a sparsely known song by indie folk artist Bermuda Records. His song, Hey There, was first released on Soundcloud 2 years ago (though I have a preference for version 3, which was released about 5 months ago) as a single that was recorded in his bedroom. My hope in sharing this with you is that you find some comfort, both in the intimate production style and the relatability of the lyrics.
First off, here is a link to the song (it hasn’t been released to major streaming platforms yet):
Now, let’s take a look at the lyrics…
“Hey there, wait a minute, are you caught up in it? Are you trying to fit in? Are you being yourself?” Love and belonging are central to being human, and being seen for who we are at our core is also central. This presents us with a dialect in need of balancing that is a common, and perhaps, universal experience. However, vulnerability is essential for connection and takes an immense amount of courage at times. I invite you to ask yourself these questions and see what answers arise.
“I know the world is spinning out of control, it's just a hard road to new beginnings.” I could go on a rant about late-stage capitalism in our country and the messy state of the entire planet, but I will spare you. I will simply say that while things are hard, there can also be the hope of new beginnings, which is another existential dialect for us to balance.
“It's just a long way to heavy healing.” Healing isn’t linear. Healing takes time. Healing looks different for everyone. But ultimately, healing is worth the heavy lifting.
There is more I could say about this song, but I will leave you to find your own interpretations or to simply take solace in the sound. That’s the beauty of music. In the words of Freddie Mercury, “If you see it, darling, then it's there.”
Kim Johnson, LMHC, MT-BC, is a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) and board certified music therapist (MT-BC) who graduated with her master’s from Lesley University in 2017. She has experience with adults and adolescents in group private practice and community mental health settings. The levels of care she has worked in are outpatient, with both individual and group therapy and in partial hospital programs for mental health and substance use disorders. Additionally, she has had intensive training in dialectical behavioral therapy and cognitive processing therapy for PTSD.
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