1-800-273-8255

1-800-273-8255

“And then it hit me, the power that I have as an artist with a voice. I wasn't even trying to save your life. Now what can happen if I actually did?”

- Logic in an interview with Genius. 

In April of 2017, Logic dropped “1-800-273-8255” as a single from his album Everybody. While Logic has previously rapped about violence and racial injustices, he called this song the most important he’s ever written. I can’t decide what’s more impactful, his lyrics, the music video, or his performances. 

Lyrics

His lyrics follow a person calling the suicide hotline. The first half of the song talks about a person’s suicidal feelings and thoughts 

I don't wanna be alive

I just wanna die today

I just wanna die

It moves on to explain how they got to this low in their life. Talking about what happens to people validates them and their feelings. 

And let me tell you why

All this other shit I'm talkin' 'bout they think they know it

I've been praying for somebody to save me, no one's heroic

And my life don't even matter

I know it, I know it, I know I'm hurting deep down but can't show it

I never had a place to call my own

I never had a home

Ain't nobody callin' my phone

Where you been? Where you at? What's on your mind?

They say every life precious but nobody care about mine

This next verse goes through the response from the hotline. 

It's holding on, though the road's long

And seeing light in the darkest things

And when you stare at your reflection

Finally knowing who it is

I know that you'll thank God you did

I know where you been, where you are, where you goin'

I know you're the reason I believe in life

What's the day without a little night?

I'm just tryna shed a little light

It can be hard

It can be so hard

But you gotta live right now

You got everything to give right now

The song ends with the person deciding to live, they’re empowered and understand that their life is important. 

Pain don't hurt the same, I know

The lane I travel feels alone

But I'm moving 'til my legs give out

And I see my tears melt in the snow

But I don't wanna cry

I don't wanna cry anymore

I wanna feel alive

I don't even wanna die anymore

Oh I don't wanna

I don't wanna

I don't even wanna die anymore

I think that having such emotional lyrics help to validate and empower people. It acknowledges that life is hard but that our lives are important and we matter. Music helps to unite people and maybe help them feel like they’re not so alone because other people are going through the same things and feeling the same way. 

Music Video

Another component of the suicide prevention campaign, this video follows a high school boy who deals with homophobia in his school and home life. He contemplates suicide but decided to call the Suicide Prevention Lifetime. The end of the video flashes forward to show his life with a husband and their child. 

This almost 7 minute long video was released in August 2017 and has over 300 million views. 

Logic - 1-800-273-8255

While this emotional video may have made you shed a few tears, you’ll want to shed more watching reaction videos. The amount of people moved and touched by Logic’s song and the talents who made this music video shows the impact of using a platform to talk about things that the world doesn’t want to. 

Performances 

“I just want to take a moment right now and thank you all so much for giving me a platform to talk about something that mainstream media doesn’t want to talk about”

Logic, Alessia Cara, and Khalid performed 1-800-273-8255  at the 2018 Grammys and the 2018 MTV VMAs. 

In both performances he shared the stage with people who have been affected by suicide. As the videos pan across the audience and the people present on the stage, you can see the evident emotions that these performances have evoked. 

Logic ft. Alessia Cara, Khalid - 1-800-273-8255 (Live At The MTV VMAs)

Logic - 1-800-273-8255 (LIVE From The 60th GRAMMYs ®) ft. Alessia Cara, Khalid

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline stated that the calls were triple the usual amount that night after Logic’s Grammys performance.

Logic ends both performances with a message about equality for everyone but the message that all the people who shared the stage with him wore said “You are not alone”.