Nurses Song

Nurses Song
Songs That Interpolate Nurse’s Song (Songs of Experience)
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This brief but rather chilling poem was first published in 1794 and was one of the series of poems in Songs of Experience . They explore the harsh realities of late 18th and early 19th Century life during the time of King George III, known — ironically given the terrible social conditions of the time — as the Romantic Era . Each poem in the “Songs of Experience” category is matched by an idealistic portrayal in Songs of Innocence . The contrast is Blake’s method of social protest.
In this poem the Nurse, a mirror image of the gentle, kind Nurse in Songs of Innocence , has a harsher view of play and sees the freedom that the children enjoy as wasteful. There is a sense of yearning in this woman for, perhaps, better times in her childhood. Her response is jealousy.
Structure
The poem comprises two quatrains , that is, four-lined stanzas. The metrical rhythm is broadly anapaests , that is, each metrical foot is made up of two unstressed syllables followed by a stressed syllable. This gives an appropriately jaunty feel. There is a regular ABCB rhyme scheme throughout in both stanzas.
Language
The voice is that of the Nurse, and her memories of her own childhood. Her nature is jealous. simplicity of the language masks a serious subject, that of the doubtful quality of care that many children endured in Blake’s time. The Nurse is more concerned with the memories of her own childhood than selfless nurturing.
There are sinister undertones, for example, the ‘whispering’ in the ‘dale’ could be hints that all will not be well with the children as they grow.

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Strangely there aren’t quite as many songs about nurses as you might think! Given they do such an important job, which we are all pretty thankful for, You’d think there’d be more.
We had to dig deep with this one, so be prepared to hear a fair few new tunes along the way, as well as the handful of classic nurse songs.
The pandemic of course brought with it a newfound appreciation and we saw lots of songs about nurses emerge to show them some love.
The lockdowns that came with it also brought about a goldmine of funny nurse songs and songs about nursing in a comedic light.
Of course, we had to start with this one, probably first to spring to mind for everyone! It dominates google search rankings if you search for songs about nurses and has been covered by just about everyone out there.
The nurse in question is not an officially trained matron but rather the protagonist’s night-time partner. His “one and only remedy” is the woman who can “quench his thirst”.
Securing our second spot is this modern ska track that discusses the perfect remedy for when life gets a little tough. The music typical of the genre, is upbeat enough to draw y the listener out of a funk anyway but the words give a little more encouragement, despite their simplicity;
“Roll out the stretcher And make me feel better For what is bad, don’t be glad And what is worse, I’m the nurse”
The protagonist needs no help from women, or whiskey, or anything else for that matter to when times are hard, they can lift their own spirits!
With a bizarre maraca and marimba-intro interrupted chaotically by the crashing of drumkits and guitar, this nurse song, is pretty out there for The White Stripes.
Unsurprisingly, it was an editing mistake, that occurred whilst trying to record primitively with an 8-track.
The singer wrote it about an ex he had been in love with for 10 years. He declares that he will never let them down, after remarking that a “nurse should not be the one who puts salt in your wounds”.
In a track from his 3rd album; Billy Bragg sings with his recognizable, attitude fuelled voice about his reasons for believing that the life of a nurse isn’t an easy one…
He discusses some great points, such as the long hours of overtime often expected of them.
For many, nursing is a calling, it takes hours of study for a nurse to graduate. It appears to Billy like a nurse he knows may not have dedicated herself to the right path and to her detriment, after putting so much time in and choosing such a solid career path he believes she can’t walk away from it for the fear of humiliation.
“To live forever in your stupid dream And face the ignominy that old age brings Looking up in your heart, but I think you know That a nurse’s life is full of woe”
This 1987 post-punk rock song about a nurse, is again a love song of sorts. The character is not necessarily a professional.
The narrative is pretty easy to grasp, they want to be infected, nursed into sickness, and back to health-simple!
“I can’t give you up, ’till I’ve got more than enough Infect me with your love Nurse me into sickness Nurse me back to health Endow me with the gifts of the man-made world ”
Beneath the love-themed lyrics are political truths, as to be expected from the group.
This song about nurses is either about imagined intimacy, from the POV of a mentally ill patient- or drugs… There has been some debate.
Whether there is more to it or not the lyrics tell of a patient in and out of a manic mental state and his delusional fascination with his nurse.
It ha happens in a regular hospital setting, as caregivers, nurses are often friendly which can be perceived incorrectly by a lonely person.
“O my sweet nurse Seems you have so little time That you rather put Me to sleep than sit by my side ”
A chilling narrative told in a few short lines, this progressive heavy metal song about a nurse is told from the perspective of somebody dying in a hospital.
Nurses have a lot of patients and not a lot of time to do the rounds. They beg in the first verse to have their curtains open to see the sun and have their request brushed aside. Metaphorically it centers on depression, on how it seems the system is only interested in treating the chemical imbalance with “poison”. (Meds).
This early Noughties’ alt-rock track has a post-grunge vibe with Kim’s airy apathetic vocals telling a bizarre tale, that appears to be about some sort of doctor and nurses ‘roleplay’ going down on the farm.
However, on close examination of the disconnect and non-full sentences, there is a tonne of room for ambiguity. The band has introduced this track live several times with an Anti-Bush speech.
So it has been debated that the ‘Nurse’ was in fact Bush trying to heal a sick America with efforts that were insincere and is essentially just ‘roleplay’.
If that is the case then the shot is in reference to gunfire and wars rather than injections.
With some of the better-known nurse songs covered it’s time to introduce something from a lesser-known group in the mix. We chose this one for some of the better lyrics, namely clever medical and illness references scattered amongst the sexier, chorus lyrics.
“My back is breakin’ My head aches This Shit I’m Takin Don’t feel so great…”
It has a bluesy-Memphis-inspired rock and roll feel and the production is commendable for an independent project. It is a simple, catchy song about a nurse.
“Sister Morphine”, tells the story of a man who has been in a car accident in a hospital bed as he waits and begs for pain meds to arrive. Pretty harrowing stuff!
Sister was a British title for a nurse, back in the day, so it’s a clever play on the drug’s name and the nurse’s name.
The song portrays someone who is clearly a drug addict, to begin with.
“The scream of the ambulance is sounding in my ears Tell me, Sister Morphine, how long have I been lying here? What am I doing in this place? Why does the doctor have no face?”
In what is one of the band’s shortest ever recordings, “Nursie” is a sweet tune that has plenty of appreciation for a fantastic occupation. A song about nurses and thankfulness.
It is so short, that we may as well share all of its lyrics;
“Tiptoes in silence ’round my bed And quiets the raindrops over my head. With her everlasting smile She stills my fever for a while. Oh, nursie dear I’m glad you’re here To brush away my pain.”
Over to a brilliant British band of the late 80s for a melancholy mixture of indie/alternative meets prog rock-inspired roots. It is an epic 8-minute musical journey that gives much more significance to the words. The lyrics heavily describe loss, there are some religious connotations explored. The title suggests that the person is in emotional pain and in need of an emotional nurse.
You can be forgiven for not having heard of this underrated group, but you may recognize parts of the track as it was featured in the film “The Invisibles”.
“Anaesthetise me just til you return I feel the loss like a squandered opportunity to whisper You’re all I ever needed.”
Another more obscure entry here for you, it’s from an Aussie artist who made his way onto the scene from Australian Idol’s third season.
“Call The Nurse” is a high-energy pop-punk track that makes for a great example when it comes to metaphorical songs about nurses.
“I want her back, want her back That nurse in cardiac Every night and day it hurts I think it’s time Time to call the nurse Call the nurse”
Nurse Bety tore his heart apart, and now he needs her back like a drug for all that is bad in his life. Same story, different song- eh?
A wholesome example, that makes for a perfect song for a nurse in your life. It is a beautiful country tribute to the hard work that nurses do. The lyrics discuss the sacrifices made…
“Everyday with her heart on her sleeve Underpaid over time, set aside all her dreams Doesn’t get the thanks she deserves She goes to work”
Released in 2021, during the Covid pandemic it is one of the best recent tracks that has emerged to show appreciation for the front-line workers.
Now at the height of the pandemic, we saw many examples of songs about nurses finding their way to the masses, and this one, though less professional than some has a deeper sentiment that we can all share.
” I don’t know how you do what you do, you’re gonna get it that doesn’t bother you but your there on the line always in control rest don’t matter for the caregivers soul and you always put us first, thankyou nurse”
The amateur singer-songwriter rose to some local fame in Wisconsin for his efforts in his heartfelt tribute to “the ones in blue” commending them upon their efforts.
Now we probably could have filled this article with entries from ZDoggMD, as his entire y Youtube Channel is focused on the hospital, and funny parodies are rife!
We chose this one as it is specifically nurse-centric and funny nurse songs are a good pick-up post-shift.
Musically it parodies Macy Gray’s late nineties hit “I Try” and the lyrics are cleverly laced with references. Some horrific but a reality;
“I hit the breakroom for pot-luck and then, 30 call lights and I smell feces…”
For more on why he wrote the song , you can visit his website.
A glorious parody of Pharrell Williams’ “Happy” and one of the best songs about nursing that comes straight from the workers.
Making nursing songs funny is no easy task for a professional songwriter, so kudos for the humor in this one!
“Clap along if you’d like an injection against the flu Symptomatic relief for you if you’re suffering from runny poo,”
It was shot at a Christmas party and would be a fun inclusion in any nursing school graduation songs playlist.
We are leaving the inspirational songs for healthcare workers and funny nursing songs for a moment as we touch on this song with some pretty dark lyrics aimed at a bad nurse. Nurses can be blamed, whether or not at fault when emotions are raw.
In this song, some difficult feelings are laid bare as Kanye talks about his grandmother in a hospital bed.
“If Magic Johnson got a cure for AIDS And all the broke motherfuckers passed away You telling me if my grandma’s in the NBA Right now, she’d be okay? But since she was just a secretary Working for the church for thirty five years Things supposed to stop right here? My grandfather tryin’ to pull it together, he strong That’s where I get my confidence from I asked the nurse, “Did you do the research?” She asked me, “Can you sign some t-shirts?” “Bitch, is you smokin’ reefer? You don’t see that we hurt?””
Okay, now this one makes such a brief reference to a nurse and it isn’t in the best of lights either but considering it has a multitude of medical references strewn about the lyrics we chose to include it in our round-up and save you having to suffer a song about nurses with less than a hundred hits on Youtube! You’re welcome…
“I can’t stay on your life support There’s a shortage in the switch I can’t stay on your morphine ‘Cause it’s making me itch I said I tried to call the nurse again But she’s being a little bitch I think I’ll get outta here, where I can”
Well, we warned you there would be songs about nurses with very little notoriety…
This one however has some fantastically cheesy rock-opera moments that make it well worth a listen.
I honestly can’t divulge much about the group and the lyrics aren’t the most profound but musically there is a lot of cool stuff going on. With a Queen-like opening and lots of bold decisions give it a spin!
A sincere entry from the swinging sixties that again makes the comparison to the way our needs are met by our lovers with that to medicine…
In this one, the trio of gal pals insists that they require no medical professional as they already have someone who is their remedy.
“Don’t call a doctor A nurse is worse ‘Cause a pill won’t heal my pain When I’m feeling blue You know what to do To make me feel alright again”
This one is a sincere but somber piece of music for nurses. It’s pretty specific actually as it was written in tribute to the nurses of the Vietnam war by Barry Sadler a sergeant himself.
“Many a wounded soldier pain is eased for a while by opening his eyes to see a nurses smile To each of the wounded on the operating shelf, these nurses give a part of themselves”
It has a lot of touching moments in the lyrics. It is a grave place to be in the hands of a battlefield nurse. It tackles a heavy subject in a candid manner, making mention of how some part of the job was even to write down some of the soldier’s last words.
An altogether more pro piece to have come out of the pandemic was this inspiration song for healthcare workers released by the International Council of Nurses ( ICN ). The self-described song for all nurses has plenty to say on the subject of nursing…
It takes the listener through the ever-changing role of being a nurse with its highs and obvious lows, it describes it as at times a thankless task.
“I have strength to carry on Because I know what you are worth Though we’re on our knees we’re still here to please The most rewarding job on earth”
Now for something a little more “out there” as a concept. This is a song about a mysterious woman shrouded in some chilling characteristics who is revealed to be the nurse of the devil himself. The lyrics are well-written;
“Fortune-teller sister long and bred Lay down next to you and stroke your head She had a way about her, it’s hard to explain Brings chills to your body and blood to your veins A devil’s woman With the devil’s curse Satan’s lady She was the devil’s nurse”
The late songwriter J.J Cale left a few musical gems before he parted with this world and this strangely catchy fusion is a fun song about a nurse that fits into an outside-of-the-box box.
We are parting on a positive note and what could be happier than a sone entitled “Happy Nurse” this one was a popular tune for the Sugarcubes and Björk’s sweet and innocent vocals bring a nativity to the eclectic nursing song that makes it all the more sugary.
So we know what you’re thinking where’s the ‘weird’? Björk is renowned for it, right? Okay so full disclosure; it may or may not be discussing mother earth as a nurse, wet-nursing…
Judge for yourself with some of the stranger lyrics below;
“Her breast was, great and soft Incredibly great, great and soft And could squirt, a long way A great distance…”
Whether it was by way of a search for songs for nursing graduation or just a song for a nurse in your life to show them that you care, we hope our write-up will have included a few you hadn’t considered.
There are not so many songs about nurses as you might think, so many of the nursing songs we have rustled up were probably new to you.
Nurses play a crucial role in our lives soo hopefully we will continue to see the popularity of giving our thanks in musical form thrive, past the metaphorical “Night Nurse with its sexual connotations.
The best songs for nurses are the inspirational songs for healthcare workers that we are starting to see appear or the funny nurse song satire that is worth a bit of a laugh.
Email us about anything. The next best band, a new song you just learned, or any questions you may have.

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This article was republished with permission from SCRUBS Magazine.
Sometimes when we’re listening to the radio, we feel as though an artist is talking directly to us. Here is a list of songs, suggested by nurses, to inspire you, comfort you, or make you smile. We swear they could have been written for or about nurses.
Songs to inspire and comfort
1. Ever ybody Hurts – R.E.M.
2. Wind Beneath My Wings – Bette Midler
3. Bridge Over Troubled Wate r – Simon and Garfunkel
4. How To Save A Life – The Fray
5. This Is Your Life (Album Version) – Switchfoot
6. Fix You – Coldplay
7. I Want To Hold Your Hand – Across the Universe Soundtrack
8. Night Nurse (Album Version) – Gregory Isaacs
9. The Nurse Who Loved M e – A Perfect Circle
10. Happ y – Leona Lewis
Ten more songs that will make you smile…
For those tough days when you need a smile or just a little extra pep in your step, tune in to these time-tested favorites:
1. She Works Hard For The Money — Donna Summer
2. Another One Bites The Dust – Queen
3. Take This Job And Shove It – David Allan Coe
4. Respect – Aretha Franklin
5. Help – The Beatles
6. Who Needs Sleep? (Album Version) – Barenaked Ladies
7. Manic Monday – The Bangles
8. Bring Me Some Water (Album Version) – Melissa Etheridge
9. That Smell – Lynyrd Skynyrd
10. I Wanna Be Sedated (Remastered Version) – Ramones
How did we do? Share your own song suggestions in the comments section below.
This article was republished with permission from SCRUBS Magazine.
How about the song “Pills” as performed by The New York Dolls. A classic!
What I wonder is how everyone ignores Jethro Tulls wonderful “Nursie” song!!!

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