10 Songs About New Beginnings: Songs About A New Life To Inspire You

There are many songs that tug at our heartstrings about starting over. Some of these songs are known as classics while some are relatively new to the music scene. The common denominator about all of these songs about starting over is that the lyrics will be remembered by music lover’s for decades to come.

Read on to discover twenty of the best songs that talk about starting over.

songs about starting over

“I Can See Clearly Now” – sung by Johnny Nash

It is one of the most popular songs used regarding starting over. The song was originally recorded in 1971 and released in 1972 by American singer Johnny Nash. It talks about life becoming brighter after the rain is gone. It references more clarity in life after getting pass the troubles that have held you back.

Some of the lyrics read “I can see clearly now the rain is gone. It’s gonna be a bright, bright sun shiny day.”

While Johnny Nash was the first to sing it. other artists like Ray Charles and Jamaican artist Jimmy Cliff have redone the song with different arrangements and musical genres The song has also been in films like Thelma and Louise and Cool Runnings. I Can See Clearly Now reached number 1 on the USA Hot 100. Canadian and South African music charts.


“Amazing Grace” written by John Newton

it is one of the oldest and most popular Christian hymns in the world. Written in 1772 by English poet and clergyman John Newton, the song has been sung the world over. It was first published in 1779 and has brought lyrics that are classics throughout time.

Some of the lyrics read, “I once was lost, but now I see” and have helped millions begin their lives again.

Newton wrote from personal experiences about the difficulties that were going on in his life.


“Here Comes The Sun” – written and sung by The Beatles

The biggest boy band group in the history of music must surely have a song about starting over. The English rock band The Beatles wrote the tune “Here comes The Sun’ in 1969. It was written by member George Harrison and has been one of their best songs to date.

The song references the coming of summer after a long cold and dreary winter. It is similar to life when problems overtake you and finally some good comes into your life.


“These Boots Are Made For Walkin'” – sung by Loretta Lynn

Nobody sings a song about starting over better than country and legendary singer Loretta Lynn. ’These Boots Were Made For Walkin’ helped to encourage a generation of women to walk away from bad relationships.

The song was originally written by Lee Hazlewood and recorded and released by Nancy Sinatra in 1965. Other artists in addition to Lynn and Sinatra recorded the song including Jessica Simpson, Billy Ray Cyrus and Haley Reinhart.


“I Hope You Dance” – sung by Lee Ann Womack

This beautifully recorded pop country song was written by Mark D. Sanders and The Sillers. It was recorded and released in March 2000 by Lee Ann Womack who is one of the biggest country legends in music.

The songs talks about being a survivor after losing a loved one. It tells a person to not just sit life out, but to dance and live life to your fullest potential. It is Womack’s biggest hit to date in her musical career. The song reached number 1 on the Billboard HOT 100 Billboard hot country singles and tracks and Hot Adult Contemporary.


“A Better Man” – sung and written by Clint Black

An up tempo country tune recorded by the great Clint Black in 1989 as his debut single, speaks of a relationship gone wrong with his lover. The lyrics are poignant and relevant when he says that he is a better man after knowing his lost love.

Some of the lyrics read “Yes I’m leaving here a better man. for knowing you this way. things I couldn’t do before, now I think I can. yes. I’m leaving you a better man.”

The song was co[written with Black and Hayden Nicholas. It is one of the great songs about starting over ever written from a man’s perspective.


Brand New Day’ sung and written by Dizzee Rascal

British rapper Dizzee Rascal used the tune “Brand New Day” to describe life before and after heartbreaks. He speaks about how he used to argue and how he lost friends He talks about hostility being in his life and how life was not getting better. After years of strife and turmoil it is now a brand new day.

He talks about opportunities now coming his way. He speaks about new beginnings and how life can turn around for the better. His rapping style gives credence to the lyrics which are powerful and inspirational.


“Start Over” – written and sung by Beyonce

If anyone knows about starting over, it is Queen Bee. The song, “Start Over” was co-written by Beyonce. Shea Taylor. and Ester Dean for her fourth studio album in 2011. The lyrics bring to life a bad relationship that leaves you feeling trapped.

It talks about how walking away is not an option, but instead starting over within the same relationship. It seems that this song represents Beyonce’s own life as she began again to rebuild a stronger, healthier relationship with her husband Jay Z. Anything that Beyonce puts out is met with acceptance from her millions of fans around the world.


“I Can’ – sung and written by Nas

The song.* I Can” by Nas was written at the request of his mother. The song was written to inspire children to be what they want to be in life. It is one of his biggest hits and is listened to in schools around the world as a motivational piece.

The song is often played at graduations to inspire children to excel in the next chapter of their lives. The artist said that” I owed my children something they could listen to.” Some of the lyrics read “I know I can be what I wanna be. If I work hard at it. I’ll be where I wanna be’ Rapper Nas wrote the song for his 2002 album “God’s Son.”


“Feelin Good’ – sung by Nina Simone

“Feeling Good” was published in 1964 and recorded by Nina Simone in 1965 for the musical “The Roar of the Greasepaint – The Smell of The Crowd.” The song was written by English songwriters Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse. Other major artists who have recorded the song include: Lauryn Hill, Traffic, Michael Buble, George Michael. Sammy Davis Jr., John Coltrane, Eden, Muse and Black Cat Bones just to name a few.

The song deals with the emancipation of slavery, The musical speaks of a hero and his master arguing. And while the arguing continues, the negro in the musical wins the race. Surely starting over is something that is equal to slaves being set free to live a new and better life.


“Pack It Up” – sung by The Pretenders

Written by Chrissie Hynde and James Honeyman – Scott in September 1981 for the new wave punk rock band The Pretenders second album, the song “Pack It Up’ and the Pretenders II album hit the charts.

The lyrics describe someone who is tired of living the life of getting drunk and always going through hard times. It talks about packing it up and hitting the road to find long lost loves and friends. It speaks about starting over and getting to a new and better place in life, while leaving all of the old life behind.


“Break Every Chain” – sung by Tasha Cobbs Leonard

She is simply one of the most powerfully anointed artists in the world. Tasha Cobbs Leonard came onto the contemporary gospel scene in 2010 from Jesup. Georgia. She is known as one of the hardest working women in gospel. She is a Grammy award winning artist who recorded the song, ’Break Every Chain” in 2013 for her debut album Grace.

Written by Will Reagan and produced by Vashawn Mitchell, the song is one of the most popular gospel songs known around the world. It speaks about breaking the chains in your life that are holding you back from becoming a better, stronger you. If ever a song about starting over was written, this would be it.


Move On Up A Little Higher” – sung by Mahalia Jackson

Mahalia Jackson is simply an icon in the music and entertainment industry and an inspiration for women around the world. Written by W. Herbert Brewster. “Move on Up A Little Higher” was originally recorded in 1946 by John Sellers. However, it was made popular by the magnificent instrument of Mahalia Jackson in September 1947.

The song was given a Grammy Hall of Fame award in 1998. The song references life after death when she will move on up and lay down her cross. It references people in the bible like Paul and Daniel. It depicts a higher place called heaven where life after her troubles of he world are over begins.


“Easy Come, Easy Go” – sung by George Strait

Written by Aaron Barker and Dean Dillon for country legend artist George Strait, the song “Easy Come, Easy Go” was released in August 1993 to become an immediate hit The song is about a bad relationship breakup where both parties know they need to part ways. It shows how the lovers come to realize that they were never good for each other.

Now if that does not sound like a George Strait song, then I don’t know what does. Easily a song about starting over after two lovers realize they should have never been together and parted ways a long time ago.


“Brand New Sun” – sung by Jason Lytle

Jason Lytle is known to be an American musician who was one a part of the rock band Granddaddy from 1992 – 2005. The song.. “Brand New Sun” talks about difficulties in life and how working together we can have a “Brand New Sun.”

Some of the lyrics read “I might fall down and my back is bad, and you might fall down on a sleeping bag, so you should hold my hand while everything blows away, and we’ll run to a brand new sun, and we will run to a brand new sun.” The lyrics describe a new day and new beginnings for two people running away from their uneventful pasts.


“We’ve Only Just Begun” – sung by The Carpenters

“We’ve Only Just Begun” as sung by the legendary group The Carpenters, talks about the beginning of a new relationship. Starting over in a good healthy relationship can be exciting. The music was done by Roger Nichols and the lyrics done by Paul Williams.

It has been ranked number 414 on Rolling Stone’s list of 500 greatest songs in music history It was first released in 1970 by Smokey Roberds, “We’ve Only Just Begun” has been sung at weddings around the world.


“Brand New Me” – sung and written by Alicia Keys

Multi Grammy award winning artist Alicia Keys has been writing inspirational songs since coming onto the music scene in 1996. The song “Brand New Me” speaks about positive inner change and the process of getting to a better place n her life.

The songs says, “it is just a brand new me. I found a new freedom.” The song tells those in her past “not to be mad, cause it’s a brand new time for me.”

The song was released in November 2012 for Keys fifth studio album. She speaks in depth about pain and the courage and bravery it takes in starting over.


“Whole New You” – sung by Shawn Colvin

Rock and contemporary folk artist Shawn Colvin released “Whole New You” on her sixth studio album in March 2001. The song represented her return to the music scene after being away for four years.

The track was written by Shawn Colvin and John Leventhal. The song was written following her divorce and is about family commitment, acceptance and beginning again after divorce.


“I Wonder” – sung by ABBA

Recorded in December 1977 by the iconic group ABBA, the song talks abut a person leaving everything in the past behind to pursue something greater in her life. Starting over is about leaving the bitter parts of your life and reaching to be something greater within yourself.

It references a young girl in her twenties who leaves her family to pursue a singing career. I wonder makes you think about what can you do with your talents and gifts and how far you can make it. It is the beginning of dreaming and having a goal and realizing it.


“First Day of My Life – sung by Bright Eyes

“First Day of My Life was released on February 7. 2005 by the American band Bright Eyes. The song was ranked 37 on the United Kingdom’s singles charts. It was written by Connor Oberst and talks about meeting a new lover and how this makes life seem brand new.

It shows how all of the problems that you had with someone else disappears and becomes a thing of the past. Meeting a new lover can be exciting and fun. It begins a whole new chapter in your life. When you met the right person. you will build a new life together and work together as a team who always look out for each other.


These are some of the most popular and iconic songs about starting over in musical history. Some are classics by artists who have impacted the music industry and known all over the world. And some are by newer major label artists who are beginning to pave their way in the music world.

Starting over will be one of the most challenging things that you will do in your life. However, every wrong choice and bad path helps you with learning what not to do again. It will show you clarity in your life and build a stronger and better you.

A child looks at the first step, which represents a new beginning.
A child looks at the first step, which represents a new beginning.

Listening to these songs will bring back good memories for many and remind others that you can begin to rebuild your life again. Starting over does not have to be a bad thing. but can be something good for you and others around you. When you begin again. there are new opportunities that were not there before.

Starting over means resetting your mind set to something different and going down a new path that you may not not have thought to venture down before. Bad relationships. the loss of a loved ones. or just wanting to reinvent your inner self will all leave you more determined and wanting to start over.

These songs for starting over are a testimony that everyone can begin again. These artists did, and they wrote songs about it that have been listened to by millions of fans around the world. They also found a deeper understanding of themselves and an inner strength that they did not know they have.

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About Jayden Buckley

Hi, my name is Jayden and I am author/editor for PlayTheTunes. I remember the first time I hopped on the drums, I was hooked. Music has played an enormous part of my life, and I'm honored I get to share my experiences with you!