Wake Up
This song expresses the desire to discover that a diagnosis of cancer is not real, to "wake up" from the experience and emotions of approaching and fighting illness to discover it's been a nightmare, rather than one's new reality. The song is from the musical, Club Meds, which tells the stories of three people affected by cancer and by each other.
Songs can be powerful tools for teaching by providing emotional resonance, perspective, and connection to a topic that can otherwise feel isolating or clinical. Lyrical stories engage emotions in ways that data or factual information alone often cannot. In "Wake Up," pace, rhythm, and repetition convey feelings of wanting to deny or resist a diagnosis yet being forced to come to terms with it.
Stories of illness told in song can also allow individuals to connect with themes of mortality and end-of-life on a personal level, creating empathy for the fear or stigma associated with these topics. This can be especially beneficial in communities where discussing mortality is a cultural taboo. Mortality-themed lyrical stories can normalize discussions around death and dying. In a community setting, they can facilitate support groups or workshops where people feel safe to discuss these topics openly. In clinics, they can make patients and families feel more comfortable asking questions or expressing concerns about end-of-life care options. For both patients and families, lyrical stories about mortality can provide solace and a way to process grief. They serve as a form of art therapy, encouraging reflection and emotional release, which can be healing during or after the grieving process.