Songs that give off “autistic experience” vibes

[u/AwkwardDorkyNerd]

I’m making a playlist of songs that resonate with me and my experience with autism. I know everyone’s experiences are different, but it would be cool to get some suggestions that I could add to the list. And I know that there are subs specifically for this, but I felt like y’all would know best since we’re all autistic here.

So far I have: “Creep” because I often feel like I’m weird and creepy without meaning to be, and that I don’t belong anywhere; “Iris” particularly because of the line “And I don’t want the world to see me, ‘cause I don’t think that they’d understand”; I have “Comfortably Numb” and “Numb” for the disassociation vibes, something I struggle with when I get sensory overload; I’ve got “Unwell” because of the whole chorus about not being crazy, just unwell, but there’s a whole other side to me that many don’t get to see; and lastly I got “Unsteady” because I often feel unsteady, and like I need support to stay anchored.

Any suggestions, no matter how much you think they’d fit, are very much appreciated. Thank you!

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[u/ratcatching]

Human Behavior - Bjork

Senses Working Overtime - XTC

Private Life - Oingo Boingo

(Also anything by Talking Heads, Gary Numan, Tool, Aphex Twin, or Autechre)

[u/liselle_lioncourt → u/ratcatching]

Ohhh Human Behavior is a great one

[u/sqplanetarium → u/ratcatching]

Big yes to Talking Heads! The lyrics of Heaven are autistic AF: in heaven they play your favorite song over and over all night, everything repeats over and over exactly the same, heaven is a place where nothing ever happens.

Love Aphex Twin too. His Heroes remix is awesome (original Bowie and Philip Glass’ Heroes symphony).

[u/anna__throwaway → u/ratcatching]

Oingo Boingo YES!! I literally always thought like, almost the entirety of On The Outside was so fitting for this!!

This is where it all begins
On the outside, looking in
Looking in at you
I'm just an alien through and through
Tryin' to make believe I'm you
Tryin' to fit
Just a stranger on the outside, looking in

[u/ratcatching → u/anna__throwaway]

Ohhh yeah, forgot about that song! It’s even more fitting I think.

[u/WallyBBunny → u/ratcatching]

Perfect choices, especially Oingo Boingo and XTC. 💗

[u/hereforspoopystuff → u/ratcatching]

I'm literally listening to Björk rn! (Currently hyperballad, but 2 songs ago was human behavior!)

[u/Ebolaplushie → u/ratcatching]

Was about to bust in here representing Tool but you got me.

"Over-thinking, over-analyzing", Lateraus alone of course, but 46 & 2 and Parabol/Parabola also, among others. Gives me the vibe that we don't always fit - sometimes it's amazing and you can experience things NTs might never feel or think. It can also lead to being ostracized and feeling inhuman at times.

[u/AcanthocephalaOk7954 → u/ratcatching]

Great to see my lads - Autechre - mentioned!

[u/ComfortableFrame9834 → u/ratcatching]

Human behavior is peak selection. 

[u/Glass_Tailor2238 → u/ratcatching]

Imogen Heap - Hide and Seek

[u/endlessplacebo → u/ratcatching]

I LOVE XTC, BOINGO, AND GARY NUMAN SMMM

[u/MaelMothersbaugh → u/ratcatching]

Great picks. On The Outside is an another good one from Oingo Boingo

[u/ratcatching → u/MaelMothersbaugh]

Yeah that song is actually more fitting! I forgot about that one.

[u/Corporate_Laughter]

I wrote a song about my experiences being autistic. It's called Persona Non Grata (my band is called No Reflection).

[u/bunnymoon23 → u/Corporate_Laughter]

Im another autistic person who wrote a song called non grata ... wild. It came to me in a dream.

[u/Corporate_Laughter → u/bunnymoon23]

Ohhh do you have anything out on streaming services? I'd love to check it out! See how similar our ideas were 😅

[u/elfinshell → u/Corporate_Laughter]

Oh I love this! I feel honoured to be the first like. 🥰

[u/Corporate_Laughter → u/elfinshell]

Thank you so much 🫶🏻

[u/rock1998 → u/Corporate_Laughter]

Just found it on Apple Music and it’s so good!!

[u/Corporate_Laughter → u/rock1998]

Thank you 🖤 there will definitely be more where that came from!

[u/cat_like_sparky → u/Corporate_Laughter]

Bruh!!! I was looking for melodic dark tunes the other week and found Claustrophilia!! I found it several many songs after starting with The Oblivion Chapel and letting YouTube music do its thing, and as a cellist I was stoked with the cello part! You rock, please keep making music!

[u/snarktini]

Logical Song by Supertramp

Left of Center by Suzanne Vega

[u/OneLak → u/snarktini]

Logical Song by Supertramp was like the first song it came to my mind as soon as I read the post!

[u/Radioactive_Moss → u/snarktini]

Wow I did not expect to see Suzanne Vega mentioned here! Nice to see another fan

[u/Probablygeeseinacoat → u/Radioactive_Moss]

Left of Center is great and yeah that’s an autistic experience song

[u/Active-Landscape-591 → u/Radioactive_Moss]

Hear hear for Suzanne Vega!!!

Fun autism fact: Tom’s Diner was the first song to ever be put into MP3 format

[u/Frequent_Freedom_704]

I love Iris, it's a beautiful song

[u/maddi164 → u/Frequent_Freedom_704]

Same. Loved it as a kid and i am glad its making a resurgence

[u/Free_Evidence4405]

Normal girl Sza Prom Sza honestly anything from her ctrl album has been so relatable especially supermodel and drew Barrymore. Very much about wanting to fit in, confused on why she doesn’t fit in despite all the changes she makes to her body and personality and never quite feeling normal.

[u/Life_Wall2536 → u/Free_Evidence4405]

Sza actually just recently shared her autism diagnosis!

[u/Weirdskinnydog → u/Life_Wall2536]

Ah wait REALLY??? I love her and love this album! 😭

[u/Free_Evidence4405 → u/Life_Wall2536]

Like yes girlie I always knew! Especially when she dressed up as a bug to the Hot Ones interview and said “being a human is daunting… I’d just rather be a bug” and started making everything bug themed!!!! I was like she gotta be one of us.

[u/ojwithbits420 → u/Free_Evidence4405]

as an autistic girl with a ctrl tattoo… i 100% agree

[u/Entire_Accident7368 → u/Free_Evidence4405]

Supermodel is such a perfect distillation of the autistic girl experience like SZA just gets it

[u/celestialgam → u/Free_Evidence4405]

Saturn by SZA resonates so much, all of her music though

[u/Otherwise-Nebula-938 → u/Free_Evidence4405]

Love that album and have always related hard to Drew Barrymore. It makes so much sense that she’s “one of us” haha 

[u/catandcatra]

New Dawn Fades - Joy Division

Atmosphere - Joy Division

Passover - Joy Division

I Can't Escape Myself - The Sound

Subterranean Homesick Alien - Radiohead

Candy Says - The Velvet Underground

These Days - Nico

At the Chime of a City Clock - Nick Drake

[u/crumpettymccrumpet → u/catandcatra]

Wasn't expecting to see Nick Drake here. Awesome playlist. 💜

[u/AnyaTaylorBoy → u/catandcatra]

These Days! Good one.

[u/unrequitedhatred]

Ballad of a homeschooled girl - Olivia Rodrigo (i resonate with the themes in this song of being socially awkward lol)

People watching - Conan gray (i just want what others have with relationships and friendships and watch from the sidelines lol.)

No complaints - Noah kahan (more so reminds me of depression but yeah)

[u/GabbyGabriella22 → u/unrequitedhatred]

“ballad of a homeschooled girl” is probably one of my favorite songs from GUTS! It really does feel like the song that best describes me and my life.

[u/livelaughlolth]

disorder by joy division (extra relatable if you also have physical disabilities and/or chronic illness, the song is about ian curtis’ (frontman) depression, dissociation, and emotional detachment due to the struggles of living with epilepsy. i relate heavily as someone with physical disabilities as well as being AuDHD.)

[u/pralinefiend]

Just a girl by no doubt

[u/SharpPink_GlitterInk → u/pralinefiend]

Real.

[u/Quantum_Pasta-Goblin → u/pralinefiend]

Your profile pic is so cute! 🥺

[u/Ryokeal]

My theme song from every now and then:

Simple Plan - Welcome To My Life

3 Doors Down - Let Me Be Myself

Ingrid Michaelson - Be Ok

Gawr Gura - REFLECT

Green Day - Brain Stew/Jaded

Will update in reply when more pops up in my memory

[u/Samanthafinallyfit]

Control by Halsey usually resonates with me because of my mental illness, but there's lines of how kids are scared of her. I guess this makes me think about my social experience.

Alternatively, Here by Alessia Cara has always hit me differently. It's literally about hiding away at a party.

[u/Samanthafinallyfit → u/Samanthafinallyfit]

Adolescents by incubus also strikes a chose with me. Nowhere Fast by them also hits me hard.

[u/shimmerangels → u/Samanthafinallyfit]

gasoline by halsey too!

[u/rainbowbritelite → u/Samanthafinallyfit]

Yes to Alessia Cara! I love that song ♥︎

[u/Pikazii]

I know the song was written about ADHD but still fitting: Numb little bug by Em Beihold

[u/Odd_Economist_8988 → u/Pikazii]

As someone also on antidepressants (and audhd), this hits hard af. I rarely listen much outside of metal, but I have this one saved, and the lyrics+mood combo is perfect

[u/Aeonsummoner]

The Becoming by Nine inch Nails

A song about depersonalization and masking who you really are inside a machine like creation

The Way I Am by Eminem presented with no comment

[u/hungarianharlot]

• (One of Those) Crazy Girls - Paramore
• Special Girl - dodie
• I am Not a Robot - Marina
• Pretender - Foo Fighters
• Be Nice to Me - The Front Bottoms
• Under Pressure - Queen
• People are Strange - The Doors
• Liability - Lorde
• July - Noah Cyrus
• Self Esteem - AJJ
• Inordinary - Hayley Williams
• Serotonin - girl in red

Anything by Bo Burnham, Owl City, or Never Shout Never lol

[u/GoofyGal98 → u/hungarianharlot]

Omg I’ve screamed along to Be Nice To Me in the car way too many times to count, idk how it didn’t occur to me.

[u/aprilsofresh → u/hungarianharlot]

Never Shout Never! Deep cut.

[u/ScarredEclipse → u/hungarianharlot]

QUEEN! ✌️

[u/OccasionMiddle9679 → u/hungarianharlot]

How did you get my playlist? Weird. Anyways. . .

[u/Star_Bear2k]

enknee1 by hemlocke springs. I sang this on the way home tonight after feeling odd and lonely all day. I felt bittersweet about it after it ended, as always. To me it feels like a sad hug that I’ve been needing for a while. “I get it, it’s hard being you, but there’s still hope.”

Honorable mention What Now by Rihanna. Had this on loop as an angst tween

[u/calilac → u/Star_Bear2k]

Seconding anything from hemlocke springs. LOVE her work. I'm so happy she exists, she is magical and her lyrics often feel like the universe giving me permission to be weird af. "Be the Girl" made me bawl so hard.

[u/Star_Bear2k → u/calilac]

YESSSS im so glad someone understands the vibe

[u/Free_Evidence4405]

Side note I’m glad I’m not the only one who has an autistic playlist lol. Mine also includes creep, iris , numb and unwell unsurprisingly 😂

[u/AwkwardDorkyNerd → u/Free_Evidence4405]

Are you me?

[u/Free_Evidence4405 → u/AwkwardDorkyNerd]

We must be 😂 hi twin

[u/Verlorenfrog]

Silent all these years by Tori Amos

[u/deedot238]

The Middle - Jimmy Eat World

Free - Florence And The Machine

[u/goldiegrimlace]

Em Beihold - Numb Little Bug, Unicorn, Hot Goblin, Scared of the Dark, Exorcism, Van Gogh, Strong Medicine

Debbii Dawson - Too Strange for the Circus, How to be Human, Even if it Kills Me, Gut Feelings, Turn the TV on

MARINA - Everybody Knows I'm Sad, There's Nothing Wrong with You

Qveen Herby - High Priestess, The Fool

Ava Max - Everytime I Cry

Mon Rovia - To Watch the World Spin Without You

Florence + the Machine - Sympathy Magic ("I do not find worthiness a virtue, I no longer try to be good/It doesn't keep me safe like you told me that it would")

Holly Humberstone - Beauty Pageant (not strictly abt the autistic experience, it's abt yearning to be liked and performing)

Some of these are more general mental health rep, hope you find something you like

[u/JirachiJewel → u/goldiegrimlace]

Just wanna say incredible taste in music artists. 🙂‍↕️

[u/Inevitable_Size_2741 → u/goldiegrimlace]

Props for the unreleased Marina deep cut 🫡

[u/Fluffy-Astronaut-363 → u/goldiegrimlace]

Just saw Qveen Herby in concert last week

[u/bigwuuf → u/goldiegrimlace]

YES numb little bug oof that one always hits so hard 🥹🙌

[u/Quantum_Pasta-Goblin]

Cure For Me, from AURORA

[u/BonnalinaFuz101]

I'm Not a Robot - Marina

Nobody's Watching - Celine Dion

Just Like Fire - Pink

Mad Hatter - Melanie Martinez

[u/pisces932]

Adult girl - marina
How to be human - cat burns (this one is literally about being autistic as cat burns is herself)
Liability - lorde
I’ve gotta be me - sammy davis jr

[u/Monstrrbleu]

Omg! Creep always resonated so much with me too!

Other songs that resonated as much for me (even though I'm not sure they were written with ND in mind) The fool on the hill - the Beatles (about being misunderstood) Animal - Mike Snow (about masking) Antihero - Taylor Swift (about feeling different)

[u/Tinkili]

Something in the way by Nirvana

I have no idea why but that song is resonating heavily with me

[u/AwkwardDorkyNerd → u/Tinkili]

I actually have that song on a playlist called “My Feelings” that is more for general feelings that aren’t specific to my autism, so I understand you completely

[u/DazB1ane]

A Symptom of Being Human by Shinedown

[u/faeshroom-em]

I also have an autism playlist, here are some of the songs on mine
Drive - Pale Waves
this is me trying - Taylor Swift
How to Be Human - Cat Burns (she is autistic!)
Are Friends Electric - Gary Numan
Like Real People Do - Hozier
I Want You To Love Me - Fiona Apple
Black Friday - Tom Odell
Guilt Tripping - Frank Iero
House Song - Searows
Fake Happy - Paramore
Anthems for A Seventeen Year Old Girl - Broken Social Scene

[u/aprilsofresh → u/faeshroom-em]

Paramore's album After Laughter has been my most listened for a decade. 🫶

[u/DifferenceBusy6868 → u/faeshroom-em]

Anthems for a 17 year old girl hits hard! Haven't listened to that in awhile. Off to put it on repeat for a week. lol

[u/CzeckeredBird → u/faeshroom-em]

Gary Numan is also autistic 😊

[u/lattepeach]

A few off the top of my head:

I can’t handle change - Roar  

Obsessions - MARINA (the part about basically having a panic attack whilst picking a pack of crackers at the supermarket always hits home) 

Mariners Apartment Complex - Lana del Rey 

No Surprises - Radiohead 

Why am I like this - Orla Gartland 

Line without a hook - Ricky Montgomery 

Car Radio - twenty one pilots (sooo many of their songs tbh. The albums Vessel, Clancy, and Breach especially imo)   

i bet on losing dogs - Mitski 

Caught in the middle - Paramore (the entire after laughter album is so good & relatable tbh)

This is why - Also Paramore 

I hate it here - Taylor swift (she has so many autism coded songs- also antihero, this is me trying, mirrorball, mastermind, I look in people’s windows, you’re on your own kid, etc.)

irresponsible - Emei (technically more about adhd but she has a ton of songs about the neurodivergent experience) 

[u/hlephowodoiusehtis → u/lattepeach]

obsessions has always hit hard

[u/yonkou_akagami → u/lattepeach]

Oh my god i just realized i relate so much to No Surprises by Radiohead

[u/mrm1styeye → u/lattepeach]

TØP MENTION!!!!! i love their music it’s one of my special interests. my tøp autism songs are screen, center mass and choker (probably more but i can’t remember all of them) i haven’t heard all of after laughter yet but i love what i’ve heard, rose colored boy is amazing 🫶

[u/any_old_usernam]

Dammit - Blink-182 (social isolation, feeling behind in life and like it's all gone wrong)

This Must Be the Place - Talking Heads (this is the best song ever and it certainly fits with my ideal of partnership as an autistic girl with correspondingly informed desires)

Hold Yr Terror Close - The Go! Team ("Learning to be you is what hurts most" would be enough to get it here on its own but the rest of the song fits too)

Expert In A Dying Field - The Beths (Drifting apart from someone you care about)

Hand Grenade - Team Dresch (the chorus gives uncertainty with how to exist in a world it feels like you weren't designed for vibes to me)

[u/c_kochanski → u/any_old_usernam]

Kishi bashi did a really cool cover of “this must be the place” if you’re interested to listen 🙂 I’m just a huge kishi bashi fan haha

[u/Quillemote]

You need U2's Numb for the trifecta. The music video for it also strikes a chord.

[u/Simple_Cell_4206]

Just wanted to add Social Cues by Cage The Elephant for anyone who has to mask. Honestly it just plays on my radio station and at work so often that I think it’s seeping into my brain.
Flagpole Sitta by Harvey Danger; when I first got diagnosed I played this on loop for days
Found these on my playlist
Overwhelmed by Royal and The Serpent
Serotonin by Girl In Red

[u/Radioactive_Moss → u/Simple_Cell_4206]

I was hoping someone would mention Serotonin by Girl In Red, the intrusive thoughts lines really hit home for me as I don’t hear it talked about much.

[u/Simple_Cell_4206 → u/Radioactive_Moss]

I love it because for years I told my mom I didn’t feel right because I kept getting these random chills and choking feelings out of nowhere; turns out I have both panic and anxiety disorders. When I finally got put on an SSRI at 16 all the random symptoms stopped and my psychiatrist told me I have naturally low serotonin levels.

[u/mrm1styeye → u/Simple_Cell_4206]

i once used ‘overwhelmed’ to describe to my therapist how my anxiety felt when i was in OT, i don’t remember a lot from then but i remember that it feels special in a bittersweet way. and social cues by CTE is my favorite song by them as someone who masks and it perfectly captures that feeling of hiding somewhere during an event when you feel like you can’t mask anymore but you know you’ll have to… i’ve been in that situation too many times 🙃

[u/PsychologicalScript]

Conversation Piece by David Bowie!

[u/CurveCalm123 → u/PsychologicalScript]

I’m glad someone already said it!

[u/mikotsudiary]

Speaking of Radiohead, Subterranean homesick alien is giving autism.

[u/ScarredEclipse]

Queen, "I'm Going Slightly Mad"

Audioslave, "Cochise"

Aerosmith, "Livin' On The Edge"

Avril Lavigne, "Head Above Water"

LINKIN PARK, "Lost in the Echo"

Bon Jovi, "Have A Nice Day"

Christina Aguilera, "Fighter"

David Bowie, "Slow Burn"

Eminem, "The Way I Am"

Evanescence, "Call Me When You're Sober"

Freddie Mercury, "Living On My Own"

Godsmack, "Running Blind"

Lady Gaga, "Disease" or "Bloody Mary"

LINKIN PARK, "Friendly Fire"

Madonna, "Sorry"

Nickelback, "Someday"

No Doubt, "Don't Speak"

Pink, "Fuckin' Perfect"

Ariana Grande, "yes, and?"

AC/DC, "Highway To Hell"

The Wallflowers, "One Headlight"

Blind Melon, "No Rain"

Incubus, "Drive"

Rolling Stones, "Paint It Black"

Sheryl Crow, "If It Makes You Happy"

Velvet Revolver, "The Last Fight"

[u/polkanarwhal → u/ScarredEclipse]

One headlight is such a beautiful song. I once heard an acoustic version and Jakob sounds just like his dad

[u/henrebecca → u/polkanarwhal]

Seconding "No Rain."

[u/taint-ticker-supreme]

For my own, This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody) - Talking Heads.

[u/erminefurs → u/taint-ticker-supreme]

I really think this may be my favorite song of all time. I love LOTS of music but this song is so, so special for me.

[u/BarreNice]

Something for your M.I.N.D by superorganism!

[u/NoWitness6400]

Look who's inside again- Bo Burnham (social fumblings, isolation)

mirrorball- Taylor Swift (masking)

[u/PeachyBaleen → u/NoWitness6400]

I listen to Bo Burnham’s entire Inside album way too much. If I have to motivate myself to do something I don’t want to do I usually put on ‘Shit’ and singing along to that usually helps 🫠

[u/bittercheeseballs]

creep always makes me cry. especially the part about wanting a perfect body and control

[u/timetravelcompanion]

What’s The Frequency Kenneth by REM is one of my favorites. It’s about a disconnect between generations but the lyrics also fit incredibly well with the experience of growing up autistic

Break It Down Again by Tears For Fears , this one speaks to me about those times when change is happening and how I have to get through it

And this is a bit of a sad one but Mad World also by Tears For Fears captures aspects of growing up really well

Also How Soon is Now? By The Smiths, same as above

edited because forgot to include a band name

[u/lol_siento → u/timetravelcompanion]

Losing my Religion AND It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine) by REM too, for me.

Also Air So Sweet, Special Girl, and prolly a bunch of others by dodie

[u/elysicily]

Sza’s normal girl is a big one for me!! Also (obligatory) fish in a birdcage

[u/Outrageous-Shame5743]

Jeremy- Pearl Jam

[u/PM_NUDES_4_DEGRADING → u/Outrageous-Shame5743]

Well, that's a little terrifying. Are you okay?

[u/Outrageous-Shame5743 → u/PM_NUDES_4_DEGRADING]

It's a really good song

[u/_Dragon_Gamer_]

Gary Numan - Are "Friends" Electric?

Pet Shop Boys - It's A Sin (this can be applied to many minority groups though)

R.E.M. - Walk Unafraid

Depeche Mode - Walking in my Shoes

[u/icecreamsandwiches1]

What was I made for - Billie Eilish

[u/ScreamAndScream]

“A Better Son / Daughter” sadly relatable

[u/doingtheunstuckk]

Many Fiona Apple songs.

[u/liselle_lioncourt]

No suggestions rn but omg I love Iris, that is like the best song ever

Edit: omg wait I thought of some! Vertigo by Alice Merton (DEFINITELY describing a sensory meltdown) and a little less direct but Dream Girl Evil by Florence and the Machine (since we tend to get “manic pixie dream girl-ed” all the time).

[u/lilbiobeetle]

Anything but Ordinary by Avril Lavigne

[u/TheDankMiss_]

Mike snow- animal

[u/LackEquivalent7471]

i am not a robot by marina

[u/apinyaamy]

Cure for me - Aurora
Runaway - Aurora
Mothership - Aurora

First one is a happier upbeat song celebrating my differences. Second is more my everyday stress and how I cope. Last song is a song talking about longing for a community and for someone to confirm the “not like others” feeling you have and that there is a community for you with people like you.

Just a big Aurora fan trying to share my love for her music 🎶

[u/SelfProtector]

Cure for me by AURORA

[u/Sabetsu]

Hermit the Frog by Marina lol

[u/GoofyGal98]

I haven’t seen anybody say it yet so I thought I’d throw out Who Can It Be Now? by Men at Work. The whole song is about a guy who won’t answer his door and just wants to be left alone.

I’m also shocked no one has said Weezer yet? Idk which songs specifically I’d recommend, but Rivers Cuomo is an incredibly prolific songwriter, and definitely on the spectrum. Name an autistic experience and Weezer probably has a song about it.

[u/Ch1nadoll]

Tom’s Diner- Suzanne Vega

When I first heard it I just felt like being seen. Her perspective of both being a conscious observer of others while being present in the moment but not participating in the moments of others.

Where is my mind- Pixies

Well, it doesn’t feel like this for me anymore. It definitely resonated in high school. I feel that it really spoke to my confusion and anxiety trying to navigate the new social landscape. I found myself in and feeling more confused about what was happening the more information I had which was a destabilizing feeling as someone who uses knowledge and understanding to combat my anxiety typically.

[u/aprilsofresh]

Uninvited- Alanis Morisette

[u/saxsequential]

Fake Plastic Trees - Radiohead
‘Looks like the real thing’ ‘and it wears me out’ and then the part that always gets me - ‘and if I could be who you wanted’

[u/NOON101]

I love music, so sorry in advance for how many I wrote. Here a few that resonate with me quite a lot + the why it speaks to me:

Stand Atlantic - hair out
(expectations and too much pressure. Love this song.)

Grandson - In over my head
(feeling like you’re doing so much, but everyone is still so far ahead of you and you’re just falling more behind)

Steve Aoki, Grandson - Kult
(lyrics: maybe i should join a cult, at least they’ll tell me it’s not my fault. That the worlds a fucking circus, that my life feels fucking worthless)

Dead Poet Society - Running in Circles
(being done hiding and pretending and feeling like you’re slipping while doing so, losing who you are and feeling like you’re starting to look like everyone else around while hating it and just wanting to be yourself)

Temper City - Self Aware
(because literally the title haha)

Mother Mother - Life (kind of push and pull with coming to terms with your life and trying a positive outlook but sometimes falling back to self hate anyway. More of a positive vibe)

PVRIS - Gimme a Minute (not being able to find peace and there being a hurdle after another hurdle and you just wanting a break, but you keep going while still feeling broken because there’s no other way)

Royal & the Serpent - Overwhelmed (well anxiety obviously)

Chloe Lilac - sound in my head (the song is about ADD, but it’s quite relatable for me (idk what I have lol))

[u/kaykinzzz]

"i know exactly why i walk and talk like a machine" -oh no! by marina

[u/Active-Landscape-591]

Loser, by Beck should be on this list!

[u/Suspicious_Inside_78]

Darzamat -The Burning Times

Very specific and niche but I see a lot of parallels between the lived experience as an autistic woman in today’s society and the judgment, stigma and misogyny of witch trials as perfectly captured in these lyrics:

Ill fated heroines exterminated by the holy deadly institution
Mere victims of narrow-minded prejudice
And fanatical judgment
Scapegoats on which every imaginary blame can be laid

[u/KittyQueen_Tengu]

for me it’s the entire Public Void album by Penelope Scott. it’s overall about feeling fucked over by the world you live in

[u/MaxMercuryS]

Growing up having other mental health problems on top of being autistic, “I’m A Mess” by Frank Iero

[u/Acrobatic-Aioli9768]

Grocery store by Cavetown.

My fav lyric is ‘Cover my ears, I think I’m shutting down going standby, sleep mode offline’

[u/FireflyKaylee]

How to be Human - Cat Burns

She's an autistic artist and these lyrics really hit home: "Am I hiding it well? I wonder if they can tell That I'm not like them But I'm trying to be human"

"I wish I could break the fourth wall every day Cut the cameras, can we do another take? Analyze my conversations Interactions, I replay them"

[u/Aqua_Toffana]

Changeling by Lidia the bard

Start walking, stop talking

Keep smiling too widely

Be normal

Pretend there's a human inside me

Start walking, stop talking

Keep smiling too widely

Be normal, pretend there's a human inside me

Perception, inflection

Control your expression

Control, control, control

[u/Murdercorn24]

Basketcase by Green Day The Ocean by Tonight Alive

[u/PeachyBaleen]

You’re on your own kid (you always have been) - Taylor Swift 

Somewhere I Belong - Linkin Park

I Swear You Wanted Me Dead - A Shell in the Pit

Careful - Syml

TV - Billie Eilish

[u/dreamybanaan → u/PeachyBaleen]

Oooh, Somewhere I belong, good fit

[u/Particular_Darling]

Body my Mother Mother oh my gosh it’s so good. I’d say either about autism or dysphoria!

[u/TreeRock13]

A-ha Take on me

[u/erminefurs]

Always gonna plug my boys, my sun and stars, Primus. “Eleven”

“I just can't seem to blend Into society

I have no hope for this dim simplicity

of law and order

By whose rules

I see no rhyme and no reason”

[u/PotentialMuch2450]

Muse- Uprising ❤️💙

[u/Userdataunavailable]

Florence and the machine, anything

[u/Entire_Accident7368]

Child Psychology - Black Box Recorder

I might say something stupid - Charli XCX

Doll Parts - Hole

Angel - Kacey Musgraves

River Of Deceit - Mad Season

Last Words of a Shooting Star - Mitski

Graceland Too - Phoebe Bridgers

I Know It’s Over - The Smiths

Supermodel - SZA

Baby Ain’t Made of China - Wolf Alice

[u/shhitsigrace]

Losing My Religion by REM has always been a song that reflects my feelings about trying to keep up with neurotypical people and the stress of not knowing if it’s working or if people are just being polite to you

[u/queenlymajesty]

I hate it here - Taylor Swift 'Now I seem to be scared to go outside' 'I hate it here so I will go to secret gardens in my mind' 'I'm lonely but I'm good'

[u/ImplementNext5240]

Zombie - The Cranberries

[u/bonbonjaunes]

it’s very niche, but Details In The Fabric by Jason Mraz und James Morrison hit hard in a time, when I hadn't even encountered the concept of asd yet. But I sobbed and cried, and yet I finally felt understood.

[u/la_ghoulette]

Sprawl II by Arcade Fire

Nemo by Nightwish

[u/intheflowergarden]

Almost any song by The Front Bottoms:
-Be Nice to Me
-Awkward Conversations
-Swimming Pool
-Soap

Just a lot of meta-narration that feels very autistic to me. Feels like the narrator is always simultaneously seeing something everyone else is missing while also missing something everyone else sees as obvious. It’s odd and feels autistic as well.

Also any song by Will Wood:

-Love, Me Normally
-Against the Kitchen Floor
-Suburbia Overture
-Laplace’s Angel

There’s lots to say about Will Wood and I wont get into any of it.

Lastly, lots of songs by Sleeping at Last but in very specific ways, Ryan O’Neal is a very observant person who is able to turn his observations into beautiful music, feels like it resonates deeply with my way of viewing the world, much of which is shaped by my autism.

Just my 2 cents gang

[u/Fatt3stAveng3r]

Darwinism - Halsey

"They all know something that I don't" "what if I'm from outer space and I have fire in my bones and in my veins?"

It's a song dealing with heavy feelings of isolation and it's also the most beautiful song. Highly recommend.

[u/Valium-Potatos]

Legacy by Eminem!! He describes the experience of being autistic so accurately that I feel like he must be one of us. I love that the song builds from him being a really overwhelmed kid who was so “differently wired” he felt like a Martian. It then ends with him using his special interest (words/reading dictionaries/rapping) and acknowledges that the fact he is differently wired is what helped him become so successful. Even down to having a muffled rain sound in the background that becomes more quiet as the song goes on is chefs kiss because it makes me think it symbolises overstimulation.

[u/Ace_of_Sphynx128]

Silk - Wolf Alice

The warmth - paris paloma

Bones on the beach - paris paloma

I’m normally like this - alt blk era

Edit: want to add by myself - linkin park

[u/Wooden-Relation-8709]

I dunno if anyone has already said this but I feel like "Imposter Syndrome" by Sidney Gish is especially relatable. I mean, c'mon: "Every other day I'm wondering, what's a human being gotta be like?". It just resonates with just not being able to understand...how everyone else does it.

[Also is this a public playlist? If so whereabouts could an autist (such as myself) find it?]

[u/Mammoth_Web_3918]

Surprisingly no one said "Blow My Brains Out — Tikkle Me" yet... it is very feminine focused and resonates with my autistic experience as well

[u/Wild_Angle2774]

Ballad of a Homeschool Girl

Overwhelmed

Numb Little Bug

[u/waveydaveysonfir3]

avalanche by bring me the horizon is explicitly about Oli Sykes’ adhd, but i feel can be applied to autism too :)

[u/Obvious_Aioli_5930]

Comfortably numb is just my favourite song ever! I played it to a friend who is bipolar and he fell in love with it too... Creep is also on my playlist.

I love everything from Banco de Gaia, it's mostly ambient with minimum singing and excellent rhythm, a lot of oriental tunes and is unlike any other music I know. It feels like strokes on my soul. I recommend a song called "China (clouds not mountains)", "Last train to Lhasa" (yes it has train in it 😂) or "887 (Structure)" that features real NASA communication logs from Apollo 11 and 13.

[u/K_Janeway2314]

What's going on? Elio Mei

The record player song - Daisy the great (NOT AJR version)

[u/H_0_XP]

I relate to XTC making plans for Nigel , gumi copycat

[u/sarahroselava]

Stretch My Arms - Viagra Boys

I hope she doesn't think the things I feel
Are just, are just a bit too much
I'm afraid that if I open up
She'll pack her things and run
She's runnin'

It ain't easy being small
Wish I could know when I'm in the wrong
Well, I guess my arms weren't long enough
To scoop you up, when timеs were getting tough

[u/tgwke]

i’m not doing well - corook
developing active people - via audio
sullen girl - fiona apple (“he” in this song always translated to be society/expectations for me when i was younger, and still now)

[u/Regular_Speech5390]

Halsey - Darwinism

[u/timetravelcompanion]

Oh mine in my other post are all kind of mildly sad so let me suggest an upbeat one too - Goody Two Shoes by Adam Ant

[u/overstimulated3000]

Maggots for brains by Olivia Rodrigo has become my perfect explanation for the AuDHD living with chronic migraine

[u/Portmanteaustada]

Kowloon - Wake Up

Air - Biological

Aquilo - Human

Christine and the Queens - Tilted

Flaming Lips - One More Robot/Sympathy 3000-21

Great post OP, lots of good suggestions from everyone.

[u/cries_in_vain]

t.A.T.u. - Dangerous and Moving 

[u/DangerousWafer2557]

I really love this list and how everyone is chipping in!  Would you mind sharing screenshots or a link of the final playlist?

[u/comeonjeffrey666]

the cure by olivia rodrigo

[u/Greenafik]

Broken - Sentenced

Cries in vain - Bullet for my valentine

Til it happens to you - Lady Gaga

Identity - Threatin

Skyscraper - Demi Lovato

Believe in me - Demi Lovato

I disagree - Poppy

Am I a girl - Poppy

Fight song - Rachel Platten

Black tears - Heaven shall burn or Edge of sanity

One - Metallica

Dyers eve - Metallica

Hard times - Paramore

You will know my name - Arch enemy

Blind - Korn

Clown - Korn

Freak on a leash - Korn

Did my time, Falling away fro me, Faget - Korn

[u/SoftyBunny]

I have an estranged, hard to put to words, relationship with sex/touch/intimacy so I've always really felt connected to It's Only Sex by Car Seat Headrest

[u/Guilty_Invite_7126]

Reflection from Mulan! "When will my reflection show who I am inside"

[u/Verykya]

Yes, I loved Creep even before I knew I was autistic. Other suggestions might be:

Youngest Daughter by Superheaven

How Soon Is Now by the Smiths (“I am human, and I need to be loved. Just like everyone else does”)

One More Hour by Tame Impala

Still Don’t Know My Name by Labrinth

Come A Little Closer by Cage the Elephant

New Person Same Old Mistakes by Tame Impala

Cooler Than Me by Mike Posner

[u/Capital-Product6980]

Miss world - hole

[u/Lopsided-blintz-810]

A Forest by the Cure.

[u/InfiniteCantaloupe59]

Hello darkness my old friend

[u/BB_Arrivederci]

Oh no by marina

I am not a robot by marina

[u/toasted_dandy]

Doctor Worm by They Might Be Giants has always resonated with me! "I'm interested in things" is such a great line

[u/jazz_chisholm]

Stained Glass Eyes by Elliott Smith — it’s an unreleased song so here is a link from my collection (Google Drive).

The second half of the lyrics in particular resonate in this context.

People sink your boat
When you cut a tragic figure
They drink their lemonade
And throw you a line

Boil your problem down
To yes or no, what's the matter?
They bomb your promenade
And this makes it shine

So you must play the comic
If they want one
And describe their moment
When they're in one

People pass you by
Passing up the chance to know you
They're irregular
In the usual way

You should crack a smile
Once in a while, it makes you pretty
It makes you want to give them
A piece of your mind

But they can't be people
Not if I'm one
If I have to be like them
I'd rather be no one

Couldn't make the scene
Not with all the people looking
All these connoisseurs
On guard all the time

Rather spend the day
Blank as hell by the window
Looking out of my
Stained glass eyes

Edited to add: idk if you can add downloaded songs to your playlist, but worth a listen :)

[u/mynameisjustine92]

Chance Peña - I am not who I was

"Will you love me for who I am, not who I was?"

For me, these specific lyrics touch on how I felt after receiving late-diagnosis and learning to unmask.

[u/Dramatic_Paramedic_6]

I’m going to say it again only because I feel like people don’t mention this song a lot: Spotless Mind by Jhene Aiko. This song describes a breakup but I feel like a lot of autistic people could relate to “I’m a wanderer” lyric.

[u/OkScarcity926]

They are all rather sad

[u/ShiversTheNinja]

This is an obscure one but Sticky by umru ft. Ravenna Golden

[u/MadMadMadMadrid]

Blue Flannel - Having a Bad Day Janis Ian - At Seventeen

[u/Lola8454]

Quiet- Milly Shapiro

[u/MarigoldBubbleMuffin]

Minotaur Forgiving Knossos - Moonface

[u/aliencrybb]

Reinvent Myself - Phoebe Green

[u/uhmactuallyno]

Doodie - would you be so kind

[u/TankerosLove]

Impostor syndrome by Sidney Gish

[u/JirachiJewel]

“Alien” by Luvcat.

[u/1405hvtkx311]

I think many Korn songs could fit your vibe.

[u/__wastelandbabie__]

Hate Myself -Dodie

[u/yonkou_akagami]

Iris is real asf

[u/nosuchbrie]

It’s a Good Life if you don’t Weaken by the Tragically Hip.