[nextpage title=”intro” ]

The 16 Songs that grace “Simply Morbid: 16 Songs Referencing Various Causes of Death” reference various causes of death.  This is a morbid playlist for sure.

Ah, just when life was getting good, here comes a playlist to “rain on the parade.”  Yes indeed, folks, we have a morbid one for you to check out – a morbid playlist that is!  Simply put, the 16 songs that grace Simply Morbid: 16 Songs Referencing Various Causes of Death have one thing in common: they reference various causes of death.  Fascinating, yet depressing, right? An assortment of artists, as well as an assortment of causes of death referenced, appear on this list.  Among the musicians fueling the fire are Alessia Cara, A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, The Black Keys, Logic, and Trey Songz.

---

[/nextpage][nextpage title=”1-8″ ]

1. Sia, “Free Me”

Free Me [Single] • Monkey Puzzle Music • 2017

Cause of Death: AIDS/HIV 

“So free me / Oh free me / From this pain I’ve been running from / I’m tired and I’m free falling… / I’m lost, and I am calling you.” Sia is an exceptional songwriter who is captivating as an artist in her own right.  Once again, she works her magic on the gorgeous, emotionally-driven  record, “Free Me”. Released in 2017, “Free Me” served as a benefit single for the ending HIV campaign. The specifics behind this single – lyrics and purpose – only build the case for its exceptionalness.

“Free Me” commences with incredible simplicity, accompanied initially by piano.  Clearly, this simplicity is meant to place emphasis on voice and lyrics. Sia delivers a sincere performance that highlights her instrument and the powerful words she is singing.  From the jump, the authenticity shines through. She continues on the pre-chorus to clarify the narrative:

“Peace may come

I hope it won’t take long

Just a faith I cannot see

Bring me home

I’m in here all along

Just me and my melody.”

On the chorus (excerpted at the beginning), her vocals are harmonized, adding more emotion to the heartfelt lyrics and message.  Clearly, Sia, who portrays the portrait of a woman who is HIV positive, doesn’t want the disease to destroy her. By the end, “Free Me” percolates to its grandest, demarcated by a key change and the strings reaching their highest of heights.  At this point, the expressiveness of Sia’s voice also reaches its peak, with her signature cracks adding nuance and even more conviction.  She makes the listener feel the pain of which she sings, which in this particular song, are the effects of being HIV positive.

---

2. M.I.A., “Bird Flu”

Kala • XL • 2007

Cause of Death: Bird Flu (Avian Influenza)

M.I.A. has always been one of a kind. On “Bird Flu,” she seeks looking for retribution, at least at the tail-end of the record where bird flu actually comes into play. If indeed M.I.A. were to do this, it would be utterly deadly. 

“Bird flu gonna get you

Made it in my stable

From the crap you drop

On my crop when they pay you.”

---

3. My Chemical Romance, “Cancer”

My Chemical Romance • Reprise • 2006

Cause of Death: Cancer 

On “Cancer,” My Chemical Romance portrays a character who is diagnosed with cancer at a young age. He knows this is his death sentence, and that’s tough to cope with.  One of the band’s best IMO.  

“Now turn away

Cause I’m awful just to see

Cause all my hairs abandoned all my body

Oh, my agony

Know that I will never marry

Baby, I’m just soggy from the chemo

But counting down the days to go

It just ain’t living.” 

---

4. A Boogie Wit da Hoodie, “Drowning”

Ft. Kodak Black

The Bigger Artist • Highbridge the Label • 2017 

Cause of Death: Drowning

Drowning can kill you.  Unfortunately for A Boogie Wit da Hoodie and Kodak Black, they don’t take it seriously.  Exhibit A is the chorus by Boogie, where the only thing he’s drowning in is his overabundance of jewelry and ‘the bigger picture,’ WEALTH.

“Wrist so icy, wonder why she like me, bitch I’m drowning

In water, I just bought a Cuban, dipped it in a fountain

Everywhere that I go it’s a light show, I’m surrounded

Bust down, bust down, bust down…bitch I’m drownin’.” 

---

5. Band Aid 30, “Do They Know It’s Christmas?”

Do They Know It’s Christmas? • Virgin • 2014

Cause of Death: Ebola

Band Aid is a charity super-group that has had a couple incarnations over the years.  The original arrived in 1984.  In 2014, another star-studded group arrived, supporting efforts to stop Ebola.  Ebola is an epidemic with a high fatality rate in West Africa.  This Christmas classic never mentions Ebola specifically, but does speak about comforting the area devastated by the virus.

“Bring peace and joy this Christmas to West Africa

A song of hope where there’s no hope tonight

Where to comfort is to fear

Where to touch is to be scared

How can they know it’s Christmas time at all.”

---

6. The Black Keys, “Fever”

Turn Blue • Nonesuch • 2014

Cause of Death: Fever(s) (Dengue, Lassa, Typhoid, Yellow)

Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys isn’t specific about the fever that could ultimately cause his demise on “Fever.” While we don’t normally expect to die from fever, there are some fevers that have/can cause fatality, particularly if untreated or unvaccinated, etc.

“Fever cause I’m breaking

Fever got me aching…

Fever got me guilty

Just go ahead and kill me

Fever, why don’t you explain?”

---

7. Trey Songz, “Heart Attack”

Chapter V • Atlantic • 2012

Cause of Death: Heart Attack  

Massive heart attacks are nothing short of traumatic.  Heart problems are definitely nothing to take lightly.  In the case of Trey Songz, his heart problems on the song “Heart Attack” are related to love as opposed to physical ailments.

“In too deep, can’t think about giving it up

But I never knew love, would feel like a heart attack

It’s killing me, swear I never cried so much

‘Cause I never knew love would hurt this fucking bad.”

BTW, Demi Lovato has another fantastic “Heart Attack” song.

---

8. Kanye West, “Cold”

Ft. DJ Khaled

Kanye West Presents Good Music Cruel Summer • Def Jam • 2012

Cause of Death: Influenza  

Okay, maybe this one is a big stretch, but it sorta fits.  Originally, “Cold” was actually named “Theraflu”, but the original name didn’t fly with the company.  It then became “Way Too Cold,” before settling on “Cold” on the Good Music Cruel Summer compilation.  Don’t worry though.  The deadly disease still gets a nod… sorta.

“Way too cold, I promise you need some Theraflu

(Uh, uh, uh, uh, uh) Get the Theraflu…”

---

[/nextpage][nextpage title=”9-16″ ]

9. Big Sean, “Jump Out the Window”

I Decided. • Def Jam • 2017

Cause of Death: Jumping

Jumping out of the window could qualify as two causes of death: (1) suicide or (2) an accident.  Different than many of the causes of deaths on this list, jumping out of the window is self-inflicted. Big Sean isn’t focusing on death or self-harm on “Jump Out the Window,” but rather, giving his full, undivided attention and dedication to a special lady.

“I think I’m ready to jump out the window

And turn that nigga that you with right back into your friend, though

We already wasted too much time

And your time is the only thing I wish was mine

So yeah, oh yeah, I think I’m ready to jump out the window.”

---

10. Breaking Benjamin, “Bury Me Alive”

Dark Before Dawn • Hollywood • 2015

Cause of Death: Live Burial

Okay, things are just getting silly now, or ARE THEY? Believe it or not, live burial has been and really is a thing. As to why lead singer Benjamin Burnley would ever desire to be buried alive on “Bury Me Alive” is beyond me. Not a good way to go out.

“Light the way and let me go (suffocate inside!)

I will break and watch you crawl

Bury me alive!”

---

11. Ween, “Spinal Meningitis (Got Me Down)”

Chocolate & Cheese • Rhino • 1994

Cause of Death: Meningitis

Alternative rock band Ween was ‘something else’ to say the least.  Take one listen to “Spinal Meningitis (Got Me Down),” and you’ll understand… It’s almost unbelievable.  What is believable is the danger of meningitis the disease – left-field song aside.  Untreated, meningitis can be fatal.

“Why they wanna see my spine mommy?

Why they wanna see my spine?

It’s gonna hurt again mommy

Much worse than last time

Am I gonna see God, mommy?

Am I gonna die?

It really hurts mommy!

Am I gonna die?”

---

12. Alessia Cara, “Overdose”

Know-It-All • Def Jam • 2015

Cause of Death: Overdose

In the hands of Alessia Cara, her overdose refers to love – its ups and downs. Many can relate to Cara’s feelings.  However, a real-life overdose on any number of drugs can be fatal.  Hence, it goes deeper than matters of the heart.

“Oh, and I overdose

Boy I want off this roller coaster

You take me high just to bring me down

Oh, and you bring me down.”

---

13. Danny Brown, “Pneumonia”

Atrocity Exhibition • Warp • 2016

Cause of Death: Pneumonia

The good news is that pneumonia is treatable; it’s not necessarily a death sentence.  However, there’s also bad news – it can be fatal.  So, don’t play around with it!  As for the Danny Brown song entitled “Pneumonia,” it’s pretty irresponsible and playful with the pneumonia.  Actually, it’s not even really about pneumonia, save for the hook line.

“Made 30 bands in 30 minutes

Before I count it, I done damn near spent it

Put a brick on ya in some Rick Owens

Flow sick, nigga, call it pneumonia

I’m on ya.”

---

14. Aesop Rock, “Rabies”

The Impossible Kid • Rhymesayers • 2016

Cause of Death: Rabies

Rabies can be fatal.  The CDC puts it best: “Once a person begins to exhibit signs of the disease, survival is rare. To date less than 10 documented cases of human survival from clinical rabies have been reported…”

On his track, “Rabies,” Aesop Rock isn’t specifically referencing rabies the disease. Per his own tweet, “‘Rabies’ is about being the woods until you become the woods.”

Rabies is about being in the woods until you become the woods. War paint on the roof. Flowers growing from you feet. Birds landing on you.

— Aesop Rock (@AesopRockWins) April 30, 2016

“Hey warm cider, barn full of spiders

Orange moon, starry night, particle exciters

…Go to where the radio trails off

And people catch rabies on the way to the mailbox.”

---

15. Logic, “1-800-273-8255”

Ft. Alessia Cara & Khalid

Everybody • Def Jam • 2017

Cause of Death: Suicide

Previous Playlist Appearance: 26 Notable LGBTQ Songs Since 2010 | Playlist

“I don’t wanna be alive / I don’t wanna be alive / I just wanna die today / I just wanna die.” Suicide is the 10^th leading cause of the death in the United States! According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, “for every suicide, 25 [people] attempt [suicide].” Furthermore, it’s a major issue within the LGBTQ community.

With the release of “1-800-273-8255”, Logic released the biggest, heaviest, and most meaningful song of his career. “1-800-273-8255” is the title is the phone number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Logic approaches the song as a progression, starting from the suicidal perspective, encouraging the suicidal person to embrace life, and the suicidal person coming to the desire to live.

---

16. Jane’s Addiction, “Ted, Just Admit It”

Nothing’s Shocking • Warner Bros. • 1988

Cause of Death: Violence

Previous Playlist Appearance(s): 12 Songs Written About or Inspired by Ted Bundy; Chilling Songs About Serial Killers, Take 2; Editor’s Favorites from the True Crime Playlists 

According to Perry Farrell, “sex is violent.”  What the Jane’s Addiction frontman was referencing on classic “Ted, Just Admit It” were the heinous acts by serial killer Ted Bundy.  Maybe the most unfortunate, cruel way to die is at the hands of a serial killer.  In a number of cases, there’s more than just the murder itself involved, sadly.  Rape, cannibalism, and decapitation are among the list of ways people have been violated by serial killers.

“Camera got them images

Camera got them all

Nothing’s shocking…

Show me everybody

Naked and disfigured

Nothing’s shocking

And then he came

Now sister’s

Not a virgin anymore

Her sex is violent…”

---

Photo Credits: Monkey Puzzle Music, XL Recordings, Reprise, Highbridge the Label, Virgin, Nonesuch, Atlantic, G.O.O.D. Music, Def Jam, Hollywood, Rhino, Def Jam, Warp, Rhymesayers, Warner Bros.

---

[/nextpage]