6 Musical Backstories to Lift Your Mood

Source: Mary_Markevich/Adobe Stock

Co-authored with Joel Klepac, a licensed marriage and family therapist.

Recently, I found myself longing for a song to lift my mood. From somewhere in my memory, Paul Simon’s “Call Me Al” bubbled up. The opening notes, buoyant and bouncing, instantly delivered a smile: “If you’ll be my bodyguard/I can be your long-lost pal/ I can call you Betty/And Betty, when you call me/You can call me Al.”

And my curiosity was sparked — “Call Me Al” — what’s it all about? A little digging revealed an unexpected backstory. Turns out, one evening Paul and his wife Peggy were hosting a party. As an esteemed guest was leaving, he turned to Paul and said, “Nice to meet you, Al, and tell your wife Betty goodbye.”

It was an “inside joke” for Paul and his wife—until Simon wove it into a song that’s delighted millions. For me, knowing this playful backstory has created an even deeper bond with the song. And in sharing the “Al and Betty backstory,” I’ve found that it too is a big hit.

Tap the Power of Music

Music meets our human need for connection and gives it a melody. It nurtures the warm and caring relationships that are fundamental for our long-term health and happiness.

Music changes our moods and our minds. It lifts and energizes our spirits.

The simple act of telling a friend you like a song is meaningful. Sharing the backstory-—and why you like it—can be even more connecting.

Follow the Backstory for Added Joy

Maybe it’s a title that sparks your curiosity, or a phrase that nails it for you. Perhaps it’s a feeling that someone else gets it—and you’re not alone. In discovering how a song came to be, you just might land on an energizing story that you can’t wait to share.

6 Backstories to Get You Started

1. “All of Me” – John Legend. A song overflowing with love, Legend wrote this for his then fiancé, Chrissy Teigen. After the very first line, she knew it was about her—and tears flowed.
2. “Sweetest Thing” – U2. Knowing Bono wrote this song to make up with his wife, Ali, after forgetting her birthday just might change how you hear it. The song’s impact has been even bigger. Since it first came out, Ali’s made sure that all proceeds of “her” song go to the Chernobyl Children’s Fund.
3. “Hey Jude” – The Beatles. Paul McCartney was like an uncle to John Lennon’s son, Julian. Paul started creating this song as he was driving over to cheer up Julian as his parents were divorcing. Infused with comfort and care, it was Paul’s attempt to “make it better.”
4. “Sweet Caroline” – Neil Diamond. Written at a low point in Diamond’s career, one story has the song’s inspiration from Diamond seeing a picture of a young Caroline Kennedy on a horse with her parents (JFK and Jackie.) Diamond sang the song for Caroline at her 50th birthday party in 2007. A rousing crowd favorite, it’s played at sporting events across the world, including baseball, football, soccer, and more.
5. “Don’t Stop Believin’” – Journey. The band needed a final song for their seventh album. Years before, when songwriter and keyboardist Jonathan Cain was struggling and thinking of quitting music, he called his dad and asked for a loan. He got the loan, and these words: “…don’t stop believing.”
6. “I Will Survive” – Gloria Gaynor. Rich emotions and a soaring melody carry this tune. Its backstory is equally intense. Dino Fekaris, the primary lyricist, had just gotten fired by Motown records. Anxious and uncertain about his future, he heard one of his songs being played on TV. Taking it as a positive omen, he found himself jumping up and down on his bed saying, “I will survive!”

Sharing Music and Backstories: Energizing Connections Await

Sharing music creates joy and naturally invites others to share—music, backstories, and more. For added benefits, try naming the particular emotion sparked by a song or its backstory. Is it resilience? Or empathy? Perhaps it’s love or a certain energy that calls to you?

In your listening, a story of your own strength or support just might be touched. If so, take a moment and savor it. Know it’s a part of you that’s always available.

And if what you’re hearing brings up a longing—maybe for love, or safety, or understanding—that too is valuable. Though it may feel uncomfortable, it also brings clarity about your needs. Now you can take steps to meet them in healthy ways, with kindness and care.

Surprising gifts await in songs and backstories. We need these musical touchstones and the connections they nurture, now more than ever. Please do enjoy each and every note!