Over the Rainbow: Rape Survivor Music

Featured Song

Empty

Tori Amos

Something has left my life
And I don't know where it went to
Somebody caused me strife
And it's not what I was seeking

Didn't you see me, didn't you hear me
Didn't you see me standing there
Why did you turn out the lights
Did you know that I was sleeping

Say a prayer for me
Help to feel the strength I did
My identity has it been taken
Is my heart breaking on me

All my plans fell through my hands
They fell
Through my hands on me
All my dreams it suddenly seems
Empty

While many survivors are lucky enough to find Tori's songs to help them, it was some time before I discovered the healing power of her work. This was the first song that I heard that spoke to me about what I had experienced. As I had had to abandon my plans of completing my drama training I did feel that my childhood dreams had ben destroyed.. I also felt that my identity had been crushed by the one person who I had trusted more than anyone. The line 'Didn't you see me, didn't you hear me' had resonance because I really felt that in his eyes I had stopped being a person, and of course the title of the song was just what I felt at the time - empty.

Some Other Suggestions:

Tori Amos - Tori is pretty much a must for any survivor. She's a fantastic musician, is public about the fact that she is a survivor and many of her lyrics are very healing.
Natasha Bedingfield - A strong female slant. I particularly love her latest single 'I Bruise Easily'.
Cold Play -I found their first album gentle and calming to listen to.
Jamillia - another strong independant gal who penned a song about her experience of an abusive relationship with 'Thank you
'Dido - a nice gentle voice and many lyrics that I related to, in particuar 'I just want to feel safe in my own skin'
Classical - when I was still invovled in the abusive realtionship I found that I was unable to sleep. Listening to classical music at night helped me to feel calmer and safer.