One song that speaks to us about hope, strength, and the will to go on is Mariah Carey's 'Hero' from the album 'Music Box.'

If music can tame the savage beast, it can also be the balm to ease and soothe pain. 

Right now, lots of our countrymen are stuck in the mire—literally and figuratively—due to the onslaught of typhoon Ondoy.

No doubt, many of them are looking for that bit of inspiration—a beam of light to hang their hopes unto, a twinkle of a note to help pick themselves up and start the tedious job of rebuilding their lives. It is in this light that we write this piece.

Through the years, inspirational songs and music have made an imprint in our lives. Here are six of our favorites that we hope would serve its purpose even more so now.

1. “Lean On Me” by Bill Withers

He wrote this elegant song of brotherhood in the 70s and is part of his “Still Bill” album. This number one R&B tune talks about offering a shoulder to lean on, or that the mere act of offering a helping hand to others can make a difference in their lives. Bill Withers’ relaxed yet soulful singing makes the song a salve for tired souls. 

BEST LINES: "Lean on me/When you're not strong And I'll be your friend/I'll help you carry on/For it won't be long/'Till I'm gonna need Somebody to lean on..."

2. “Let It Be” by The Beatles

This song was inspired by a dream its writer, Paul McCartney, had of his mother who died of cancer when he was just 14 years old. The dream came to Paul at the time when his band The Beatles was disintegrating.

In the dream, McCartney’s own turmoil was lessened when his mother told him, “It will be alright, let it be.”  The song later became an anthem of hope to listeners who recognize that we sometimes must simply surrender to a higher power “when we find ourselves in times of trouble.”

BEST LINES: “When I find myself in times of trouble, mother Mary comes to me/speaking words of wisdom/Let it be/And in my hour of darkness/she is standing right in front of me/there will be an answer/Let it be.”

3. “Hero” by Mariah Carey

“There’s a hero in us all” is the premise of this Mariah Carey-hit. The song declares that even though we may feel down at times, there is always that "hero" inside us that will help transcend  pain or suffering.

BEST LINES: “And then a hero comes along/With the strength to carry on/and you cast your fears aside/and you know you can survive/so when you feel like hope is gone/look inside you and be strong/And you'll finally see the truth/That a hero lies in you...”

4. “Bridge Over Troubled Water” by Simon & Garfunkel

Singer-songwriter Paul Simon was inspired to write this song after reading the lyrics of “Mary Don’t You Weep” by Swan Silvertone. Despite the creative differences growing between Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel at the time, the duo still managed to craft this piano-driven, folk masterpiece which easily transformed into a classic reinterpreted by music legends such as Elvis Presley and Aretha Franklin. 

BEST LINES: “When you're down and out/When you're on the street/When evening falls so hard/I will comfort you/I'll take your part/When darkness comes/And pain is all around/Like a bridge over troubled water/I will lay me down”

5. “Stand” by Rascal Flatts

Simply put, this song is about overcoming obstacles in life and to keep pushing even when the odds are stacked against you.

BEST LINES: “Cause when push comes to shove/You taste what you’re made of/You might bend ‘til you break /Cause it’s all you can take/On your knees you look up/Decide you’ve had enough/You get mad, you get strong/Wipe your hands, shake it off/Then you stand”

6. “Heal The World” by Michael Jackson

In the past few days, we saw how helpless we are in the face of Mother Nature’s wrath. It’s scary to think that it’s going to get worse if we all don’t start taking better care of our environment. Michael Jackson had that message in mind in this song albeit far from scaring us, the gloved one simply espoused love to make this world a better place.

BEST LINES: “Heal the world/Make it a better place/For you and for me and the entire human race/There are people dying/If you care enough for the living/Make a better place for you and for me”

Other picks: James Taylor’s “You’ve Got A Friend” (“When you’re down and troubled/and you need a helping hand…”); Des’ree’s “You Gotta Be (“Listen as your day unfolds/challenge what the future holds/try and keep your head up to the sky”); Chumbawamba’s “Tubthumping,” (“I get knocked down, but I get up again, and nothing’s gonna get me down”); and Switchfoot’s “Dare You To Move,” (“I dare you to move/I dare you to lift yourself up from the floor/I dare you to move like today never happened before”).

Directly or implied, these songs speak to us about hope, strength, and the will to go on. Help always comes from unexpected quarters.

Or as the Righteous Brothers puts it: “You’ll Never Walk Alone.”