Which Musicians Sampled The Phrase This Too Shall Pass?

I still smile when I hear 'this too shall pass'—my grandma used to tuck it into conversations like a little life jacket. On the origin front, it's messy but fascinating: scholars trace versions of the idea across Persian, Hebrew, and Ottoman folk traditions. In Persian the phrase shows up as 'in niz bogzarad' (این نیز بگذرد), and many believe a Persian or Sufi source helped spread the proverb through medieval storytelling. One popular tale involves a powerful king who asks for a ring that will make him happy when he is sad and humble when he is proud; the jeweler inscribes something like 'this too shall pass' so the ruler learns impermanence. Jewish folklore has a similar story about King Solomon—sometimes the same tale migrates between cultures. In the 19th century the saying reached English readers through translations of Middle Eastern tales, and even Abraham Lincoln famously used the sentiment, saying essentially 'this, too, shall pass away.' I like how the phrase acts as a tiny philosophy: comforting in hard times, grounding in good ones, and perfect for pocket meditation when my day gets dramatic.

Music has always been my refuge when life feels overwhelming, and I love how certain songs weave timeless wisdom into their lyrics. One track that immediately comes to mind is 'This Too Shall Pass' by OK Go—their iconic Rube Goldberg machine music video perfectly mirrors the song's theme of resilience. Then there's Danny Schmidt's folk gem 'This Too Shall Pass,' which feels like a warm hug with its gentle guitar and poetic reflections. I’ve also found comfort in Yolanda Adams' gospel rendition, where her powerhouse vocals turn the phrase into a spiritual anthem. Even hip-hop touches on it—Kanye West’s 'Saint Pablo' samples the phrase, though with a more chaotic energy. These songs remind me that no matter how heavy things feel, nothing lasts forever, and that’s weirdly comforting. A deeper cut I adore is 'This Too Shall Pass' by the band Relient K—their pop-punk take is surprisingly poignant, blending youthful energy with mature introspection. And let’s not forget Sufjan Stevens’ 'The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades,' which doesn’t use the exact phrase but captures its essence through haunting imagery of impermanence. It’s fascinating how artists across genres keep returning to this ancient Persian adage, each offering a unique lens on endurance. Lately, I’ve been humming Iron & Wine’s cover of 'This Too Shall Pass'—his whispery voice makes the message feel like a secret shared between friends. Music truly is the best therapist.

The phrase 'this too shall pass' has always fascinated me because of its timeless wisdom. I first stumbled upon it in a collection of Persian poetry, where it felt like a gentle reminder of life's impermanence. The saying is often attributed to medieval Persian poets, particularly in Sufi traditions, where it encapsulates the fleeting nature of both joy and sorrow. Some say it was popularized by the 13th-century poet Attar of Nishapur in his works, though its origins might be even older, woven into oral storytelling. It’s one of those gems that feels universal—like it could’ve been whispered by a wise grandmother or etched into an ancient temple wall. Every time I hear it, I’m struck by how something so simple can feel so profound. Interestingly, the phrase also appears in Jewish folklore, linked to King Solomon. The story goes that he challenged his advisors to find a ring that could make a happy man sad and a sad man happy. They returned with a ring inscribed with this phrase. It’s wild how one line can bridge cultures and centuries, popping up everywhere from self-help books to indie song lyrics. Makes you wonder how many hands it’s passed through to reach us today.

There’s something almost cinematic to me about how a proverb turns into a song title — it’s like watching a tiny, weathered sign get repainted and hung above someone’s chorus. The phrase 'this too shall pass' has been doing rounds for centuries as a consoling line in folk tales, poetry, and sermons, and at some point songwriters started borrowing it because it’s short, mysterious, and emotionally punchy. I think songwriters pick it for two big reasons: it’s universal and it’s versatile. Universal because everyone knows the feeling of impermanence, so the title instantly connects. Versatile because you can write a ballad that comforts, a punk track that sneers, or an indie single that watches the world drift by — same phrase, different moods. That’s why artists from different genres have used 'This Too Shall Pass' as a title; one of the more visible cases is OK Go, whose mechanical Rube Goldberg video turned the phrase into a visual metaphor for cause-and-effect and impermanence. There’s also a practical side: titles aren’t copyrighted, so multiple musicians can reuse beloved proverbs without legal headaches. For me, hearing a new 'This Too Shall Pass' feels like opening a familiar book to a fresh page — the promise is the same, but the story inside is new. Next time you hear it, listen to how the music shapes the proverb’s mood.

Man, 'Everything Shall Pass' is one of those tracks that hits differently every time I hear it. The song is performed by the legendary band Oasis, specifically from their 2005 album 'Don’t Believe the Truth.' It’s got that classic Oasis vibe—noisy guitars, Liam Gallagher’s unmistakable snarl, and lyrics that feel both defiant and oddly comforting. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve blasted this in my car, windows down, pretending I’m in some mid-200s indie movie montage. There’s something about the way the chorus swells that just makes you wanna scream along, you know? What’s funny is how this track kinda flew under the radar compared to their earlier hits like 'Wonderwall' or 'Don’t Look Back in Anger,' but for hardcore fans, it’s a gem. The album itself was a comeback of sorts, proving Oasis still had that magic after years of drama. Liam’s voice might’ve lost some of its 90s edge by then, but the attitude? Totally intact. Every time I listen, I end up diving back into their discography—nostalgia’s a hell of a drug. Anyway, if you haven’t heard it, drop everything and give it a spin. Perfect for those days when you need a reminder that, well, everything shall pass.

The poem 'and this too shall pass' is often attributed to Persian Sufi poets, but its exact origins are shrouded in mystery. I first stumbled upon it in a collection of Middle Eastern folklore, where it was presented as a parable about impermanence. The story goes that a king demanded a phrase that would comfort him in sorrow and humble him in joy, and his wise advisor crafted this timeless line. It’s fascinating how something so simple has woven itself into so many cultures, from Abraham Lincoln’s speeches to modern self-help books. The ambiguity of its authorship almost adds to its power—like it belongs to everyone. I love how this phrase pops up in unexpected places, like in the chorus of a folk song or etched into a friend’s journal. It’s one of those rare pieces of wisdom that feels both ancient and freshly relevant. Whenever I’m having a rough day, I whisper it to myself like a mantra. Funny how four words can feel like a lifeline.

I stumbled upon the phrase 'the twain shall meet' while reading classic literature, and it immediately piqued my interest. The phrase originates from Rudyard Kipling's 1889 poem 'The Ballad of East and West,' which explores themes of cultural divide and eventual unity. The line 'Oh, East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet' suggests a seemingly insurmountable gap between Eastern and Western civilizations. However, the poem later subverts this idea by showing how mutual respect and bravery can bridge even the deepest divides. It's fascinating how a single line can encapsulate such profound themes, making it timeless. Kipling’s work often delved into colonialism and identity, and this phrase has since been widely quoted in discussions about cultural reconciliation. The poetic rhythm and the weight of its meaning have kept it alive in modern discourse, often used metaphorically to describe any two opposing forces coming together.

I get asked this kind of line-drop all the time in chat threads, because 'this too shall pass' is one of those little proverbs filmmakers and screenwriters love to drop for emotional heft. From what I've dug up and what I've personally heard in films, the phrase shows up a lot in dramas and family movies—usually from a mentor, parent, or a weary protagonist trying to steady someone. I can’t promise an exhaustive, definitive list off the top of my head, but the best way I’ve found to pin down exact occurrences is to search subtitle and script repositories (like OpenSubtitles, IMSDb, and script PDFs), then cross-check with YouTube clips or timestamped scene transcripts. Fans often note occurrences in forum threads and subtitle comments too, so a targeted Google search for "\"this too shall pass\" site:opensubtitles.org" or "\"this too shall pass\" script" usually surfaces examples. That method caught several indie films, holiday dramas, and a few mainstream titles where characters literally say the line. If you want, tell me whether you care about mainstream studio films only, and I’ll hunt down specific titles and timecodes for you—I love a good subtitle-scavenger hunt.

I’m the kind of person who falls down rabbit holes at midnight — this question sent me straight to sample-detective mode. After poking through memory and the usual sample sleuthing spots, here's what I can tell you: there aren’t a ton of widely documented examples that credit a direct sample of a specific recorded vocal that says exactly "if there's a will there's a way." That phrase is a common proverb and shows up as a lyric or line in lots of soul, gospel, and R&B songs from the '60s and '70s, so many later artists simply interpolate the lyric rather than sample a single famous source. If you want concrete tracks that definitely use that spoken/sung phrase, the best route is to search sample databases like WhoSampled, look up liner notes on Discogs for soul/gospel singles, and check lyric annotation sites like Genius — they often flag interpolations versus direct samples. If you can share a small clip or point me to a genre/era you heard it in, I’ll help pinpoint which recording that particular vocal likely came from; personally I love tracing these tiny vocal hooks and seeing how they reappear in hip-hop and neo-soul.

That phrase hits like a drumbeat in my head whenever I think about 'Dune'—short, cold, and full of teeth. When I read or hear 'none shall sleep' in the context of the book, I don't take it as literal insomnia so much as a declaration: there will be no rest, no sanctuary, no quiet when the forces in motion finally collide. It's the kind of line that reads like a prophecy or a war-cry, and it carries that double weight Herbert loves—both political and existential. On one level it links to the very physical realities of life on Arrakis: spice, scarcity, and constant watchfulness. The Fremen are up against an ecosystem and imperial politics that demand vigilance. On another level there’s the mental and moral meaning—the idea that once certain truths are unleashed, complacency is impossible. Paul’s rise, the jihad that follows, and the way prescience robs people of simple ignorance all feed into a world where sleep, in the sense of unawareness or ease, is no longer available. I often think about the line beside the litany 'I must not fear' and the command 'The sleeper must awaken'—they're siblings in theme. Honestly, I love the way a short phrase like that can freeze a scene. It’s ominous, it’s uncompromising, and it leaves you picturing desert watchfires and eyes that never close. Whenever I reread that part, I feel the story tighten up like a held breath—exactly the effect Herbert aimed for, in my view.