Focusing on Empathy, Compassion, Kindness, and Service
last updated February 22, 2021Continuing the popular series of song and video playlists for teachers, here's a selection of perspectives on coping with COVID-19.
There's a seemingly endless number of song covers and parodies on youtube (some of them quite clever), but for this list I went with originality and sincerity.
I'm sure a lot of kids will be able to relate to the song called, aptly enough, "A Song About Coronavirus from the Perspective of a Senior in High School":
"I wasn’t prepared to say goodbye to the last year of teen age. This all just feels so strange. Will I walk across a stage? I know I need to do my part stay inside. The world is torn apart. That matters more than a little year even though it breaks my heart."
by Jazzy Anne
And both teachers and students can relate to All Day Long by Chloe Langford:
"We've done e-learning, as much as we can stand!"
Hang in there, everybody! As Luke Combs sings,
"There will be light after dark. Some day when we aren't six feet apart."
Videos of Individuals Helping Their Communities
For more stories see 'Look for the Helpers': Kindness, Compassion, and Service all over the World
(focusing on gratitude and connection)
a popular weekly series
hosted by John Krasinski
from March through May
You may also be interested in the
(not affiliated) GoodNewsNetwork.org,
which features positive stories from around the world.
hosted by John Krasinski
from March through May
You may also be interested in the
(not affiliated) GoodNewsNetwork.org,
which features positive stories from around the world.
Songs About Helping Others, and about the Challenges of Quarantine
Breathe, Fia
video (lyrics in description)
"Hello my dear friend. I am writing you again. Checking in to see how you are doing. Everything is upside down. Things are kinda crazy now. If you wanna talk, I'm here to listen."
Better Days, One Republic
official video (lyrics in video description)
Whatever you do don’t worry bout me. I’m thinking bout you, don’t worry 'bout us...May we never ever shed another tear for today 'cause oh, I know that there’ll be better days.
A Brave New World, Shane Tutmarc
lyrics; official video broadcast on KOMO News, Seattle
We’re all together. We’re not alone. Through the window, through the phone. Where it stops, nobody knows. Let the light inside of you shine on. Let the love inside of you sing along.
official video (lyrics in video description)
C-O-V-I-D 19 Coronavirus is a buggin' me. I need my friends and my family to be close to me.
video (fundraiser for Jersey4Jersey); lyrics in video description
Small towns are rolling up their sidewalks. One last paycheck's coming through. I know you’re feeling kind of nervous. We’re all a little bit confused. Nothing’s the same. This ain’t a game. We got to make it through. When you can’t do what you do, you do what you can.
The Greatest, James Blunt
official video (lyrics in video description)
Too much to say. Too much to lose. It's a battle of time... I don't decide the how, the when or if we'll make it through. Be the young, the brave, the powerful. 'Cause the world is standing waiting for someone to come and change it.
If I Could, Yui Stonewell
video (lyrics in video description)
"It'll be just a few months more. Or maybe more, really I'm not sure. But I know what we're fighting for. The talking, laughing, smiling. The old days, good days, days I'll see you again... I wanna make some plans and say, 'I'll see you soon enough, I'm sure,' And that's all that I wanna do If I could."
It's OK (Not to Be OK)
"An 'Emotional Wellness Project' written, performed, and produced by the gifted and talented staff of the McDowell School, Chicago. An affirmation that you don't have to be ashamed to say 'I'm having a bad day.' It's ok not to be ok."Six Feet Apart, Luke Combs
video; lyrics
I miss my mom, I miss my dad. I miss the road, I miss my band. Giving hugs and shaking hands. Now it's a mystery, I suppose. Just how long this thing goes...There will be light after dark. Some day when we aren't six feet apart.
Superhero, Nimo Patel and Daniel Nahmod
official video (lyrics in video description)
"We don’t have to leap tall buildings in a single bound. Here’s a lot of good that we can do standing on the ground. We don’t need a jet pack suit to take us to the clouds. It's up to me and you. Right here, right now."
We Are Warriors, Avril Lavigne
"Like Vikings we’ll be fighting through the day and night. We’ll be marching through the darkness till the morning light. Even when it’s harder like the armor you will see us shine. No, we won’t stop, and we won’t drop until the victory’s ours."
I'm sure a lot of kids can relate to the last two songs:
official video (lyrics in captions)
"It's just me and my euphonium, sittin' here, stuck at home-ium, nothin' but time to talk on the phone-ium... We've cleaned everything in my home... We've washed our hands... We've done e-learning, as much as we can stand!"
official video (lyrics in video description)
I wasn’t prepared to say goodbye to the last year of teen age. This all just feels so strange. Will I walk across a stage?
I know I need to do my part stay inside. The world is torn apart. That matters more than a little year even though it breaks my heart.
If you like these types of videos, there are many more song playlists and video playlists here at MindfulTeachers.org, including:
- Change the World Song Playlist
- Inspiring Videos of Young People Serving the World
- Songs About Hope, Resilience, and Compassion
- Songs About Mindfulness and Compassion
- Thought-Provoking Videos About Empathy, Compassion, and Service
You may also be interested in these posts on empathy and compassion:
- Two Powerful Empathy Practices to Awaken Compassion
- Three Different Approaches to Lovingkindness Practice
And there are hundreds more posts here at MindfulTeachers.org on practicing and teaching mindfulness, compassion, and SEL.
About the Author
Catharine Hannay is the founder of MindfulTeachers.org and the author of Being You: A Girl’s Guide to Mindfulness, a workbook for teen girls on mindfulness, compassion, and self-acceptance. (Sales of the book help me continue to run MindfulTeachers.org with no sponsorship or advertising.)
