There’s a message in each of these songs that aligns closely with ideas that are more than two thousand years old.
There’s been a lot of interest in stoicism lately. Recent books such as Think Like A Roman Emperor have been evaluating the ideas of ancient Rome when powerful men such as Marcus Aurelius and Seneca pondered the nature of life. Very little is needed to make a happy life, they claimed. Many of their choice thoughts or phrases have made their way into the 21st century.
“Do not waste time on what you cannot control or influence… Dwell on the beauty of life. “~ Marcus Aurelius
“We suffer more from imagination than from reality,” said Seneca.
Here are seven songs that express the ideas of stoicism for today’s world. There’s a message in each of these songs that aligns closely with ideas that are more than two thousand years old.
“Your sons and your daughters are beyond your command, your old road is rapidly aging’“
Bob Dylan was all of 22 years old when he released his third album The Times They Are A-Changin’. He denied that he was writing songs of political protest, claiming that his true purpose was to “separate aliveness from deadness”. And indeed, he awoke an entire generation to the possibilities of change – change from within. The song’s message roused many from the deadness and staleness of the 1950s and made Dylan a folk prophet, an image he was reluctant to embrace.
~Released 1964
“Then suddenly it happened, I lost every dime but I’m richer by far with a satisfied mind.“
Tim Hardin recorded this 1955 country classic for his late-career album Bird On A Wire. It was his finest, most haunting performance in years. It tells the story of a man who pursued wealth and fame, and lost it, only to regain his happiness. The simple life restored the soul. “A Satisfied Mind” has been recorded by countless artists, among them Ella Fitzgerald, Rosanne Cash, Robert Plant, and Bob Dylan himself on more than one occasion. It’s a meaningful song for performer and listener alike.
~ Released 1972
“Look all around, there’s nothin’ but blue skies
Look straight ahead, nothin’ but blue skies”
Johnny Nash had collaborated with Bob Marley on several occasions, so it was no surprise that the island feel and reggae beat figure heavily in the production of “I Can See Clearly Now”. Indeed, Marley’s band The Wailers backed Nash on the track.There’s never been a more joyous song about overcoming your troubles, and accentuating the positive. The song went to number 1 internationally and has been covered numerous times, but none better than Nash.
~Released 1972
“Sun is the same, in a relative way, but you’re older / Shorter of breath and one day closer to death“
More than 50 years on, the Pink Floyd album Dark Side of the Moon looms large over today’s popular music for its sonic brilliance. The most iconic cut is “Time“, for its insistence on living for today and not dwelling on the past. The fellow in the song is seen to “fritter and waste the hours in an off-hand way” while ten years go by. The message is clear. Today is the only day that matters. “Waiting for someone or something to show you the way’ is a recipe for disaster.
~ Released 1973
“Any major dude with half a heart surely will tell you my friend / Any minor world that breaks apart falls together again.“
Steely Dan were known for their impenetrable lyrics and sardonic humour, so “Any Major Dude” is quite the departure from the otherwise twisted lyrics on the Pretzel Logic album. This tune is dead serious about not taking yourself too seriously. Who’s the major dude? Someone you trust, someone who’s been through it and kept calm. He will reassure you that the answers to your troubles lie within. Never again were the cool hipsters Fagen and Becker so forthright.
~ Released 1974
“Planets spinning through space
The smile upon your face/ Welcome to the human race”
James Taylor was known for his deeply personal songs, but “The Secret of Life” is a song of the universal, echoing Marcus Aurelius’ dictum to look beyond the personal; gaze at the stars and wonder at the beauty of creation. It’s a deeply philosophical song about enjoying the passage of time and the ride down from the top of the hill of time. “Any fool can do it, there ain’t nothing to it”, rejoiced Taylor in a convincing meditation on the secret of life.
~ Released 1977
“I guess I’m living my best life now.”
Sachal Vasandani is 2025’s cool jazz hipster, and his song “Best Life Now” sums up the stoic approach to life in a mere eight words. It’s a hypnotic, laid-back number about a guy who has finally learned to take things easy, and to appreciate the unique beauty of his own modest life. He’s chased a few dreams that were outsized, he’s been evading little lies, but he’s finally figured things out. He’s living his best life right now, today, learning how to feel truly alive without wanting anything more. The phrase is a mantra destined to become an ear-worm.
~ Released 2025
