1-800-273-8255
by Logic (featuring Alessia Cara & Khalid)

Album: Everybody (2017)
Charted: 9 3
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Songfacts®:

  • The song's title comes from the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Logic plays two roles; the first hook and verse is from the perspective of someone who is calling the hotline as they want to commit suicide. Later, he offers some inspiration as the person on the other end of the phone telling the suicidal person that they have every reason to live.

    Logic explained to Rolling Stone: "I spent six figures of my own money to get a tour bus and do a fan tour for my second album. I surprised fans at their houses, and we'd eat food and play video games. People kept saying, 'Your music saved my life.' I was like, 'What the f--k?' And then I thought, 'What if I tried to save a life with a song?'"
  • Logic explained to Genius how grappling with the idea of suicide fitted into the larger narrative of Everybody.

    "What can happen if I took myself out of my comfort zone and made a whole album about everybody and everybody's struggles including my own which is one I've never done. What if I silenced my own fear and I say, 'I'm scared talk about my race. I'm scared to talk about the state of this country but I'm going to do anyway. I'm going to persevere.' Man, how many lives can I really save then?"
  • The song features guest vocals from Alessia Cara, who offers some hopeful words on the second verse and Khalid who closes out the tune.
  • Written and directed by Andy Hines, the song's cinematic music video tackles the song's theme of suicidal thoughts through the story of a gay high school student. The clip stars Are We There Yet? star Coy Stewart as the student with Modern Family actor Nolan Gould as the youngster's crush. Don Cheadle and Matthew Modine play their fathers, with Luis Guzman cast as a sympathetic coach. Logic, Alessia, and Khalid also make appearances in the promo via computer screens.
  • This was the second title featuring a phone number to reach the top ten of the Hot 100. Tommy Tutone's "Jenny (867-5309)" previously reached #4 in 1982.
  • Logic got together with Colombian musician Juanes to record a Spanish remix of the song. Juanes told Billboard the collaboration originated when the rapper played Miami on July 25, 2017 during his Everybody's Tour:

    "I met him. I went to his tour bus and spent some time with him talking about music, and about life, and then I saw his show," the Colombian recalled. "It just blew my mind. Amazing, amazing, amazing. When I saw Logic, it made me be like, 'Wow - this guy is so, so talented. So incredible.'"

    "And also because this song is so powerful," he added. "I just loved that inspiration of the song. So we met each other, and I went to my studio with Mosby. We did a translation of the lyrics and recorded it."
  • Logic, Alessia Cara and Khalid performed this at the Grammy Awards in 2018. The video was nominated for Best Music Video, but lost to Kendrick Lamar's "HUMBLE."

    Logic closed out the performance by saying: "On behalf of those that fight for equality in a world that is not equal, not just, and not ready for the change we are here to bring, I say to you, bring us your tired, your poor, and any immigrant who seeks refuge. For together, we can build not just a better country, but a world that is destined to be united."
  • Logic asked for, and received permission from the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline before naming this song after their phone number. On the day the song was released, April 28, 2017, the Lifeline received the second highest daily call volume in its history.

    After Logic performed the song at the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards, the Lifeline saw an 50% increase in call volume in the hours following the show. After the Grammy performance, the Lifeline answered triple the number of calls for two hours than it typically does in the same time period. The Lifeline collaborated with Logic's team for both performances, with each one including individuals who have personally been affected by suicide.

    "By sharing a message of hope and taking the stage with individuals who have been personally affected by suicide, Logic's song demonstrates that healing is happening every day for people in crisis, and that there is help available," the Lifeline's Director of Communications, Frances Gonzalez, told Songfacts. "If you are in crisis or in emotional distress, the Lifeline is free, confidential, and available 24/7 for anyone in the United States. Call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or visit suicidepreventionlifeline.org.
  • Cartman sings a version of this song in the 2017 South Park episode "Put It Down." Sample lyric:

    My girlfriend is messed up, but all I wanna do is help her
    I'm suffocatin', I'm drowning in sorrow
    Gonna kill myself, probably around 2:30 tomorrow
    ...But Eric, we don't want you to die, Eric. Give life a try


    Logic had mixed feelings about the parody. "They went a little far, but they're still talking about suicide, so it did shed more light on it," he said.
  • A scientific study showed that this song did indeed reduce the number of suicides. The heartening results were published by the medical trade journal The BMJ on December 13, 2021. According to the study, in the 34-day period after the three events when the song received the most attention (its release, Logic's performance at the VMAs, and the Grammy performance), calls to Lifeline went up 6.9%, and suicides dropped 5.5%, indicating the song helped prevent 245 suicides during this time period.

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