Songs About Mindful Listening, Speech, and Silence
published 5/17/22; updated 7/22/24
by Catharine Hannay, founder of MindfulTeachers.org
Here’s the final(?) installment of the popular series of Song Playlists for Teachers. This time, the focus is on speaking out, choosing our words, miscommunication, and when to keep quiet.
Teachers, please note: With such a multicultural audience teaching young children through adults, I can’t guarantee that all of the songs and videos will be appropriate for your particular context. I’ve put brief descriptions to help you choose, but please preview anything you plan to share with your students.
Brave, Sara Bareilles
lyrics; official video; sign language (ASL) interpretation by deaf and hard-of-hearing students (song starts at 1:07)
It can take a lot of courage to speak honestly.
Children Will Listen, Stephen Sondheim
lyrics; audio by Barba Streisand; audio by Bernadette Peters
The final song from the musical ‘Into the Woods.’ Be careful what you say…
Don’t Speak; No Doubt
lyrics; cover by Bárbara Martínez
The famous breakup song—This already hurts enough. Please don’t go into any detail about why you’re leaving me.
Enjoy the Silence, Depeche Mode
lyrics; audio; video; cover by Polish folk group Tulia
Sometimes it’s better not to speak and just appreciate the moment with someone we love.
Hear My Heart, Andy Mineo
video with sign language and graphics to show the beat of the music
Andy Mineo wrote this song for his sister, to apologize for not learning sign language while they were growing up.
I Wanna Talk About Me, Toby Keith
lyrics; video (Teachers, some words and images might not be appropriate for your class.)
This song is about how women can’t stop talking and men can’t get a word in edgewise.
Speaking as a woman and an introvert, I think it’s often the other way around—how about men letting women get a word in edgewise?
Listen, Kyshona Armstrong
Music therapist Kyshona Armstrong puts into words and music the biggest frustration most of us have in our lives (particularly if you’re from a marginalized community): Why won’t you just listen instead of ignoring or invalidating me?
Listen, Street Symphony
Listen to your breath, listen to your inner voice, listen to each other. Listening is an act of love.
(“Street Symphony is a Los Angeles-based nonprofit organization that utilizes music to create opportunities of human connection to homeless and incarcerated communities.”)
More Than Words, Extreme
lyrics; official video; cover by Nonoy Peña & Dave Carlos
You don’t need words to say ‘I love you.’ (See also: “When You Say Nothing at All.”)
Our Lips Are Sealed, The Go-Go’s
lyrics; official video; ukulele cover by Olivia Vessel
When they’re insulted or someone tells lies about them, they don’t talk back or take it seriously. Their strongest defense is silence.
Peter Does Not Listen, Prokokiev
short passage from the ‘symphonic fairy tale’ “Peter and the Wolf”
Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars (Corcovado), Antônio Carlos Jobim
The classic bossa nova song about a quiet evening with the one you love.
Silence is Golden, The Four Seasons
lyrics; cover by The Revolvers
He loves her and can see her hurt from another relationship. Is silence golden, or should he speak?
The Sound of Silence, Simon & Garfunkel
lyrics; audio; video by Disturbed; a cappella version by Pentatonix; reggae version by Tropavibes
A few different twists on the classic song by Simon & Garfunkel.
Speak Life, Toby Mac
lyrics; video; cover by Melanie Robinson
Speak words of hope, compassion, and love.
Talk to Me, Laurent Avenard, Moïra Conrath and Ludwig Gorhan
video (lyrics not available)
Soft jazz music; singer repeats “Why don’t you talk to me?” and video shows a lonely man.
(From the popular French series Les Petits Meurtres d’Agatha Christie. The book cover shown at :10 translates to “The Art of Always Being Right.”)
Talk to Me, Stevie Nicks
lyrics; audio; cover by Sophie Jones with Michael Carpenter
I’m a safe person to confide in. You can talk to me.
When You Say Nothing At All, by by Allison Krauss, Keith Whitley and Ronan Keating
lyrics; video; cover by Music Travel Love
You don’t need words to say ‘I love you.’ (See also: “More Than Words.”)
Related Posts
There are many more song playlists and resources on mindful communication here at MindfulTeachers.org, including the following posts: