Music has healing power. It has the ability to take people out

The words of Elton John—“Music has healing power. It has the ability to take people out of themselves for a few hours.”—resound like a hymn of truth passed down from the ages. In this statement lies the acknowledgment of one of the most mysterious and sacred gifts given to humanity: the power of music to soothe the wounded heart, to mend the broken spirit, and to lift the weary soul beyond the confines of pain and despair. For when sorrow chains a man within his own grief, music opens a window, and for a few hours, he breathes the fresh air of freedom.

Elton John, who himself walked through valleys of struggle and triumph, speaks not as an outsider but as one who has known both the healing and the haunting of song. His own melodies have carried millions beyond their troubles—whether in the gentle embrace of “Your Song” or the aching power of “Candle in the Wind.” He understood that music is not merely sound but a balm, a remedy, a spiritual medicine. It does not erase suffering, but it grants respite, reminding us that beauty still exists even in the midst of chaos.

The ancients too recognized this sacred power. David played the harp before King Saul, and the evil spirit that tormented him would depart, if only for a time. The Greeks believed in the doctrine of ethos, teaching that certain modes of music could calm anger, inspire courage, or bring peace to a restless heart. In temples and battlefields, in weddings and funerals, songs were not mere ornamentation—they were instruments of healing, bridges between the human spirit and the divine.

History gives us moving examples of this truth. In the trenches of World War I, soldiers sang songs together to bear the unbearable weight of war. When “Silent Night” drifted across the battlefield one Christmas Eve, both sides paused in awe, if only for a few hours, their humanity awakened by the power of music. In that moment, the guns were silent, and men remembered they were brothers, not just enemies. Such is the healing power Elton John speaks of—the ability of song to draw people out of themselves, beyond pain, fear, and hatred, into something greater.

The meaning of this wisdom is clear: music is a sanctuary. It does not deny reality but offers release from its burdens. It does not pretend the wounds are gone, but it bandages them long enough for the soul to remember its strength. This is why people turn to song in hospitals, why choirs sing in times of mourning, why an anthem can lift a nation from despair. For in music, we remember that we are more than our suffering, that even in darkness, harmony and beauty endure.

The lesson for us is this: when you are weary, seek music not as escape but as restoration. Let it carry you beyond yourself, lifting your gaze to higher things. Do not despise the simplicity of a melody, for within it may lie strength greater than words or logic can offer. Use music to heal yourself, and also to heal others—sing for the broken, play for the lonely, share the gift of song as a light in their night.

Practically, this means making music part of your daily life. Begin your day with melodies that inspire courage. In times of sorrow, let hymns or songs of hope lift you. Offer music as a gift—sing to your children, play for the sick, gather with others to share in harmony. For just as Elton John has reminded us, even a few hours of relief can change a life, renewing the soul for the battles ahead.

Thus, let his words endure: “Music has healing power.” It is not mere entertainment, but medicine for the heart, a salve for the spirit, a refuge for the weary. And when we use it wisely, it draws us out of ourselves and into a realm where sorrow cannot reign. In that sacred space, even for a brief moment, we are healed, renewed, and reminded of the beauty of being alive.