Musicians write tracks about their thoughts, emotions, and feelings, and it’s a great way to relate to other people and make them feel less alone. One emotion that they often write about is fear and being afraid. We’ve compiled a list of 45 songs about fear and being afraid that you might want to check out, so continue reading below to find out what tracks made our list.
1. Somebody’s Watching Me – Rockwell
First on our list is Somebody’s Watching Me, which was released in 1984 by Rockwell. This is a classic song, and Michael Jackson is featured in the track singing the chorus. It’s a song about being afraid that someone is watching you and is going to get you. They are scared of going through daily life because they are scared that someone is watching them. It made it to number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and is still a huge hit today.
2. The Fear – Lily Allen
Next is Lily Allen with her song The Fear, which goes into detail about how when we are scared of something, it can prevent us from living our lives and going about our daily routines. The track talks about how much fear can really stop us from enjoying life, and while it’s a depressing song, it’s a very honest track and a reminder of just how much fear can control us if we let it.
3. Fear – Sade
In 1985, Sade released the song Fear, which is about how a woman fears that her man won’t be coming home that night. You can feel the anguish that she sings about, and you can tell the woman just feels sad when thinking about the fear of her guy leaving her. In this track, the woman’s man is a matador, so she has every right to be worried and scared he won’t come home.
4. Fear Of The Dark – Iron Maiden
Next up is Iron Maiden with Fear Of The Dark, and it’s all about being scared of the unknown and the dark. This is a really chilling song, and the instruments also sound very dark and scary.
When you listen to this track, you’ll get the chills and want to turn on the lights because it’s classic heavy Iron Maiden mixed in with a little more fear than usual. It doesn’t matter what you’re scared of either, whether it’s dying, the dark, or something else, this song perfectly conveys thoughts and feelings related to our most common fears.
5. Fear Of Sleep – The Strokes
The Strokes make the list with the song Fear Of Sleep, which is from the album First Impressions Of Earth, released in 2006. This track is all about being scared of going to sleep because they are afraid of their dreams and about dying. It compares dying to being similar to sleeping, so it’s haunting and cuts to one of our deepest vulnerabilities.
6. Fear Of Dying – Poppy
Poppy released Fear Of Dying, which is all about being afraid of death, and it’s one of the most honest songs out there when it comes to being afraid to die. This is one of her most beloved and well-known tracks, and when you listen to the melody, you’ll see why because it’s simply beautiful yet chilling at the same time.
7. Welcome To My Nightmare – Alice Cooper
Next is Alice Cooper, one of the best metal musicians of all time, and he released Welcome To My Nightmare, which made it to 45 on the Billboard Hot 100. This song is the title track to the album, so it gets you ready to dive into his world and see how dark it really is. The entire album is about nightmares that a young boy Steven has, and it’s just scary when you sit down and listen to it.
8. Fearless – Taylor Swift
Fearless by Taylor Swift is next, and this is one of her most popular tracks. In this song, she tries to encourage people to face their fears and fight them head-on and how important it is to try to stay fearless when you’re scared. She wants us all to be brave when we are scared and just look the fear in the eye and keep moving forward. This track made it to 14 on the Hot Country Songs chart and 71 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
9. FEAR. – Kendrick Lamar
Kendrick Lamar released FEAR. in 2017, which is amazing because it talks about fear from three ages: seven, 17, and 27. It gives the different viewpoints of fear based on being a child, teenager, and adult, so you can hear the fear in his voice when he talks about how strict his mom is, then he goes into the fear when he was a teenager and everything he worried about. The last part of the song is about the fears we all have as adults, including fears such as losing everything you’ve worked hard for or accomplished in life.
10. Fear – SEVENTEEN
Fear by SEVENTEEN is next on our list, which is all about being scared of failure and how badly they wish they wouldn’t fail. They are just worried and scared they won’t be good enough. This song will remind you that fear shouldn’t hold you down or stop you from pursuing what you want in life, such as professional or personal goals.
Recommended: Top songs about failure
11. The Fear – The Score
Next up on our list is The Score with their song The Fear, which is all about being scared at the thought of not knowing what is going to happen next. When you listen to this track, you’ll hear how haunting the lyrics are, and it will send a shiver down your spine. It also details thoughts of being scared about the future and thinking about every single thing that can go wrong.
12. Pretty Little Fears – 6LACK Feat. J. Cole
In 2018, 6LACK released Pretty Little Fears, which is a song that talks about how a guy is hoping his girlfriend will tell him everything about her life, such as her secrets and the things she fears the most. He says he wants his girlfriend to be open, honest, and transparent with him about her past, but being that vulnerable with someone is often scary. What makes this track stand out is that it’s about wanting to relate to someone by knowing their fears and understanding them as opposed to being scared themselves.
13. Fear The Future – St. Vincent
Fear The Future by St. Vincent makes the list, which is all about fearing what lies ahead, with a specific emphasis on fearing an answer to a question because you know it’s not what you want to hear. The character in the song wants their significant other to answer a question that could spell doom for their relationship. Fearing the answer to that question and knowing it could end your relationship is a scary thing to confront.
14. Crawling – Linkin Park
Linkin Park has a song that gets into the topic of fear and anxiety, which is Crawling. Lead singer Chester Bennington screams as he details the feeling of crawling in his own skin and how there’s a lot of anxiety and pain underneath he is having trouble coping with. This track goes into being angry at the feelings of both anxiety and fear as well as anger toward depression and pain.
Recommended: Behind the death of Chester Bennington
15. (Don’t Fear) The Reaper – Blue Oyster Cult
(Don’t Fear) The Reaper by Blue Oyster Cult is an iconic and timeless song about fear. It’s all about how there is a couple who are younger in age coming to terms with dying, and the man is hoping he can get his girlfriend to be less scared of death. This is a moving tune that talks about fear being a motivator but also something that can hinder you. We all face death at some point but none of us know when, and it’s talking about this fact to bring some peace to the situation.
16. Never Scared – Bone Crusher Feat. Killer Mike And T.I.
Bone Crusher released Never Scared in 2003, and this is one of his most famous songs and one of the biggest tracks of the 2000s. Instead of depressing lyrics like most songs about fear, this one is about not being scared, and he says it in a very aggressive and empowering track about not being scared in the face of life’s challenges.
17. I Will Fear No More – The Afters
Next is I Will Fear No More by The Afters, and this song is also a track about empowering you to not be scared. Instead of feeling helpless and letting fear run your life, the lyrics in this song can be seen as motivating and having faith that everything will turn out okay.
18. Help! – The Beatles
Next up is the iconic song Help! by The Beatles, which is catchy and very honest at the same time when it comes to feeling helpless and being scared. Paul McCartney said this track and the lyrics are coming from real-life situations and emotions. Knowing it’s based on reality makes the song even better and loved by fans.
19. Paranoid – Black Sabbath
Up next is another iconic song from another iconic band, and we’re talking about Black Sabbath and the track Paranoid. Released in 1970, this song is thought of as one of the best metal tracks in history. It is all about being depressed and being scared at the same time, so it got into having mental health issues before that was talked about much in songs or anywhere else.
There is a fear of not being able to find someone who will love them because of their baggage. It’s this fear that makes this track very relatable to millions of people all over the world.
20. Fear Is The Weakness – In Flames
In Flames released Fear Is The Weakness, which is all about empowering you to overcome your fears. It talks about how fear is just a state of mind and emotion, and we can easily overcome it by being rational. If you struggle with being scared then this song can help motivate you to find ways to face it head on and overcome it.
21. Only Fear Of Death – 2Pac
In 1997, the rapper 2Pac released Only Fear Death, which is all about him being paranoid because he fears he’s about to die. Later in the song, he realizes that he can overcome those feelings, and he ends up not being scared anymore of death.
22. What, Me Worry? – Portugal. The Man
Next is What, Me Worry? by Portugal. The Man, which came out in 2022. This song is all about trying to run away from fear and from the problems you’re facing in your life. The lyrics describe someone who might be happy or smiling on the outside, but inside, they are scared and depressed.
Basically, pretending to put on a happy face to the world so that people won’t worry about you, and the tone of this track is one we all can relate to at some point in our lives. While the chorus itself is very catchy and sounds upbeat, the lyrics describe the complete opposite situation.
23. There Goes The Fear – Doves
Doves makes our list with the song There Goes The Fear, which is all about regret and the fear you have when you see the person you thought you’d be with forever walk out the door. Haunting, emotional, and beautiful describe this track, and the lyrics describe one of the biggest fears a lot of us have in life, which is being abandoned.
24. Runnin’ – Blood Orange
Blood Orange put out Runnin’, which is about trying to deal with your fears and struggles, with the thought of hiding their fears is the best way to go. By the end of this song, they were given the suggestion to just face their fears head-on and offered words of empowerment and encouragement. You’ll notice that the instrumentation changes from dark in the beginning to more hopeful toward the end.
25. Scared Of Beautiful – Brandy
Next up is Brandy with her song Scared Of Beautiful, which is a cover of the Frank Ocean track. It’s all about how we can be scared at the thought of having to be perfect. In the song, she sings about how it’s frightening to feel like you have to live up to a certain standard.
26. Fear For Nobody – Måneskin
Måneskin is on our list with Fear For Nobody, which is all about trying to overcome fears. Fear can prevent us from doing things, and it’s a song that can be empowering. The lyrics deal with being a teenager and being scared you’re not good enough. It’s saying don’t be scared and just move forward.
27. Mr. Fear – Siamés
Next is Mr. Fear by Siamés, which is all about how if you let it, fear can cause many problems in your head. The song delves into how you’re always going to have fear in your life because your vulnerabilities and insecurities are how it thrives.
28. scared – Jeremy Zucker
Jeremy Zucker has a song about fear called Scared, which talks about how a guy lives with fear and how these fears have stopped him from enjoying and living life. This younger guy feels fear has taken control of him, and he is frightened of the future.
29. Fear and Loathing – Marina And The Diamonds
Marina And The Diamonds released Fear And Loathing, which is a song all about the fear of abandonment and being alone. It’s a chilling track with very dark and emotional lyrics. The guy in the song wants to be loved and be accepted. You clearly can tell he has mental health issues he’s having a hard time dealing with.
30. Paranoia – Chance The Rapper Feat. Nosaj Thing
In 2013, Chance The Rapper had a hit with Paranoia, which is all about people growing up in the inner city and the violence that happens around them. People in Chicago and other cities feel scared, and they often carry weapons to try to protect themselves; this track goes into the fear and paranoia related to those situations.
31. Fear Of A Blank Planet – Porcupine Tree
Up next is Porcupine Tree with Fear Of A Blanket, which deals with the fear of daily life and feeling isolated. Depression and fear of what our world has become are talked about in this song.
32. Doubt – twenty one pilots
In 2015, twenty one pilots had a hit with Doubt, which is all about how the lead singer, Tyler Joseph, is doubting his faith, and he talks about being scared of how immature he is. He sings about being fearful of his own image, and he fears he’s going to die early because of his constant worrying.
33. Fear Inoculum – Tool
Metal band Tool released the song Fear Inoculum, which is all about being scared of the unknown. It goes into how you need to face all of your fears and overcome them. You’ll find the lyrics are chilling, and the instruments really capture and convey those fearful feelings. This is one of their most well-known and beloved tracks, and it’s one of the best songs that deals with fear.
34. Gone – Charlie XCX And Christine And The Queens
In 2019, Charlie XCX had a smash hit called Gone, which is all about fear. If you have ever felt afraid and scared and like you’re being judged by people around you then you’ll understand this song. It’s about that fear of having people judge you, and because of that, they don’t want to be around you.
35. No More Teardrops – Vic Mensa
Vic Mensa is next with No More Teardrops, which was written during the 2020 racial protests in America. It goes into how so many are worn out from screaming about their fears and how black people fear cops and the system. It’s an empowering song that gives a voice to those who feel they don’t have one.
36. Creature Fear – Bon Iver
Bon Iver makes our list with Creature Fear, which is all about the fear we have of the unknown. It goes into a story of this creature that no one knows much about, but it sacred everyone. It’s like this creature represents the boogeyman or sea creature we’ve heard a lot about but most likely doesn’t exist except in our minds.
37. Save Myself – Ed Sheeran
Rock and country star Ed Sheeran makes the list with his song Save Myself. The track is uplifting because it talks about how we should focus on ourselves and not be afraid to love who we are and to take care of ourselves.
38. Scared To Live – The Weeknd
The Weeknd is next with Scared To Live, which he released in 2020. It’s a song that details being scared about moving on after a breakup. The lyrics talk about how instead of focusing on what could have been, try to move on and find happiness even though it’s scary.
39. Terrified – Childish Gambino
Rapper Childish Gambino is up next with his song Terrified from 2016. This track details how he’s scared to find a woman, fall in love with her, and start a family with her. While love and having a family are scary because of the responsibility involved, he talks about wanting to embrace them.
40. Fear – X Ambassadors
Fear, by X Ambassadors and released in 2015, is all about the two sides of fear, which are as a motivational tool and as something that can hinder you. The song talks about how confidence can help you overcome fear, and it explores the ways fear can either hurt you or make you stronger.
41. In Fear and Faith – Circa Survive
In Fear And Faith by Circa Survive talks about how you can overcome fear and move on. It uses the fact fear can help motivate you, and at the same time, can be what destroys you if you let it.
42. Fearmonger – Saba
Saba is on our list with the 2022 song Fearmonger. This is all about a guy who grew up with nothing and is now famous but fears that one day, it’ll all be taken away from him. He fears losing money, fans, and fame and then thinks he will end up as poor as he was growing up.
43. Ready To Die – EARTHGANG
EARTHGANG released Ready To Die in 2019, which is about experiencing suffering during childhood and being scared to the point they are now numb. In this song, the group discusses what the meaning of life is and whether they mean anything considering the vastness of humans on this planet. If you grew up in a household full of violence then you will understand this track and relate to the fear and worry that you can feel throughout the song.
44. Breathe Me – Sia
In 2004, Sia released the song Breathe Me, which is a sad track about her fearing the thoughts in her head and fear of losing herself in those thoughts. It’s a depressing song and fits considering she tried to kill herself by taking more than 20 Valium and drinking on top of it. At the end of the track, she asks her friend for help.
45. Fear Not Of Man – Mos Def
Lastly is Fear Not Of Man by Yasiin Bey, which you may know as Mos Def. This song blends some elements of rap mixed with pop and talks about how we should never fear men because men are just mortals and don’t really control who we are. It goes into how God is the only one who you should fear and believe in, and if you do, then there is no need to concern yourself with being scared of anyone else.
From the time she was little, Florence loved listening to music and quickly learned how music can make you happy and feel fulfilled. One of her favorite memories is being in the garage with her dad working on classic cars with the local rock station blaring in the background. Ever since Florence was 3, she loved grunge music and spent hours listening to bands such as Alice in Chains, Mad Season, Soul Asylum, and Soundgarden.
She also enjoys classic rock, modern rock, nu metal, alternative rock, and old 90’s R&B. Her love of music grew as she got older, and used music to help her get through tough times in her life. More often than not, you’ll see Florence with earbuds in while she’s writing, cooking, cleaning, and doing other tasks. She also loves to debate music with her friends such as which lead singer is the best vocalist, the most iconic guitar solos in music, and what songs are really the best of the decade.