# A song makes me burst into tears. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 2, 2004, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-song-makes-me-burst-into-tears/277699 "2004-12-02T15:34:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![zoogirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b9bd4f/32.png) [@zoogirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoogirl)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2004, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-song-makes-me-burst-into-tears/277699/81 "2004-12-06T10:25:34Z")
[http://www.alicecoopertrivia.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/lyrics/hs.php#6](http://www.alicecoopertrivia.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/lyrics/hs.php#6) This is the song that’s making me misty right now. There’s a bit in it that just gets me. The chorus is - \*I’m on the roof and I’m staring at the stars looking down at all the cars I can see you In the window of your favorite corner bar But to reach is just too far And I might as well be on Mars… \* So, he’s on the roof and he’s pretty upset, right? At one point there’s a bit of a bridge and the way Alice sings it - well, I didn’t connect it the first couple of times and then I realized. He’s thinking he should just go over. The line is - - Baby, I can’t fly If I could, I’d come down to you Maybe I should try…\* Oh, damn. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2004, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-song-makes-me-burst-into-tears/277699/82 "2004-12-06T14:13:07Z")
> [@Crandolph](#): > > Uh…hate to “spoil” your downer, but that’s [probably a song about a guy being released from prison](http://www.loc.gov/folklife/ribbons/ribbons_81.html), and is possibly based on a true story. That’s why there’s suspense as to whether or not she still wants him… I know what the song is really about, and I still just about lost it. Everything makes me cry these days; apparently I’m getting soft in my old age. Another lame one: Coven’s One Tin Soldier. I’ll be singing along, and when I get to the line “Peace on earth” was all it said my throat closes right up. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2004, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-song-makes-me-burst-into-tears/277699/83 "2004-12-06T16:56:00Z")
> [@Crandolph](#): > > “_Catch_ the Wind”? Thank you, yes. :o There’s also a version of “Redemption Song” (mentioned above) by Stevie Wonder, on the “Get on the Bus” soundtrack, that has a very stirring sound to it. ---
**Author:** ![KRC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/45deac/32.png) [@KRC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KRC)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2004, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-song-makes-me-burst-into-tears/277699/84 "2004-12-06T21:40:28Z")
I cried over Iggy Pop’s song \*\* The Passenger \*\* . It seems to be about a guy who drifts through life observing things rather than actually living. Hit a little to close to home, I guess. One corny song that would probably make me cry is **Romance del Enamorado y la Muerte** , a medieval Andalusian folk song redone in 1967 by Chilean singer Victor Jara. In it a man discovers death is coming for him, begs death for a day to live, and gets an hour. He rushes to his girlfriend’s house but she can’t let him in because her parents are home. She offers to make a cord of silk so he can climb into the window (yeah, I said the song is kind of corny .) The cord breaks, death arrives, and the girlfriend decides to go off and die with her lover. I had a recording of it on tape but my parrots ate it. That was 20 years ago and I’d probably cry if I got to hear it again. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2004, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-song-makes-me-burst-into-tears/277699/85 "2004-12-06T22:02:53Z")
> [@zoogirl](#): > > - Baby, I can’t fly > If I could, I’d come down to you > Maybe I should try…\* > Oh, damn. Oh, yeah! That’s been one of my favorite Alice Cooper songs for a long time. That line doesn’t make me misty but it makes me kind of tingly because it’s so intense. In my mind I always picture him jumping off a big tall stack of amps as he sings it. (If there’s a video I’ve never seen it, and I’ve never seen him in concert, but that’s what I picture anyway). ---
**Author:** ![EmeraldGrue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dc4da7/32.png) [@EmeraldGrue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmeraldGrue)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2004, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-song-makes-me-burst-into-tears/277699/86 "2004-12-07T01:47:03Z")
“What A Good Boy” by the Barenaked Ladies (the live version) gets me all sniffly. And any version of “Country Roads”, no matter how punk-like the cover is. ---
**Author:** ![maikai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/53a042/32.png) [@maikai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maikai)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2004, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-song-makes-me-burst-into-tears/277699/87 "2004-12-07T01:51:43Z")
The Blower’s Daughter by Damien Rice. The way he sings “I can’t take my eyes off of you,” oh man. Please Forgive Me by David Gray. “I got half a mind to scream out loud I got half a mind to die So I won’t ever have to lose you girl Won’t ever have to say goodbye I won’t ever have to lie Won’t ever have to say goodbye.” ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2004, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-song-makes-me-burst-into-tears/277699/88 "2004-12-07T02:18:20Z")
_Sting and Police, Roxanne_. Probably because I knew a Roxanne. Tellin’ stuff right outta my _soul_ now. :eek: Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![Chanteuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de053/32.png) [@Chanteuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chanteuse)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2004, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-song-makes-me-burst-into-tears/277699/89 "2004-12-07T13:58:25Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > Where’ve You Been by Kathy Mattea – you’d need a heart of stone to get through that without crying. How did she manage to sing it Oh, I agree! And how about _How Can I Help You To Say Goodbye_ by Patty Loveless? From what I heard, it took several takes before she got through it without tears. I’ve never been able to sing it without crying. And _Streets of Heaven_ and _Teddy Bear_ always get to me, too! _He Stopped Loving Her Today_–I never much cared for the song, I found it too depressing. Then a few years ago, my ex-BIL, despondent over many things, including his twice-failed marriage, committed suicide. Now I can’t bear to hear the song at all, because it makes me think of him and the pain he must have been in. ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2004, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-song-makes-me-burst-into-tears/277699/90 "2004-12-07T17:28:32Z")
> [@Chanteuse](#): > > And _Streets of Heaven_ and _Teddy Bear_ always get to me, too! Oh good, I was starting to wonder if I was either a) the only one who knew the song or b) the only one reduced to tears by it. Although, my dad also gets choked up by it. If you ever saw him, you’d likely vote him the least likely to get choked up by anything, much less by Teddy Bear. ---
**Author:** ![coleridge78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@coleridge78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coleridge78)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2004, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-song-makes-me-burst-into-tears/277699/91 "2004-12-07T18:12:11Z")
I’ll have to take John Cale’s version of “Hallelujah”. Tim (The Real) Buckley’s “Dolphins”. “And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda”, to bring back the Aussie theme. – And when the ship pulled into Circular Quay I looked at the place where me legs used to be And thank Christ there was no one there waiting for me To grieve and to mourn and to pity And the Band played Waltzing Matilda When they carried us down the gangway Oh nobody cheered, they just stood there and stared Then they turned all their faces away … ---
**Author:** ![Ol\_Gaffer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Ol\_Gaffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ol_Gaffer)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2004, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-song-makes-me-burst-into-tears/277699/92 "2004-12-07T20:33:29Z")
Wow…what timing **coleridge78** …I was just going to post _Waltzing Matilda_…not that I cry or anything, but my allergies do seem to act up when I hear it. 😉 I’m also, ahem, affected by _The Town I Loved So Well_ by **The Dubliners**. ---
**Author:** ![coleridge78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@coleridge78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coleridge78)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2004, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-song-makes-me-burst-into-tears/277699/93 "2004-12-07T20:36:32Z")
> [@Ol'Gaffer](#): > > I’m also, ahem, affected by _The Town I Loved So Well_ by **The Dubliners**. Oooo, good one. How 'bout the Chieftains version of _Coast of Malabar_. ---
**Author:** ![TastesLikeBurning](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@TastesLikeBurning](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TastesLikeBurning)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2004, 9:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-song-makes-me-burst-into-tears/277699/94 "2004-12-08T09:56:13Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by **coleridge78** - Tim (The Real) Buckley’s “Dolphins”. What do you mean by that? ---
**Author:** ![coleridge78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@coleridge78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coleridge78)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2004, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-song-makes-me-burst-into-tears/277699/95 "2004-12-08T12:38:52Z")
> [@TastesLikeBurning](#): > > What do you mean by that? Tim Buckley, Jeff Buckley’s father. Just my personal preference… I like Jeff’s stuff, but it always, to me, sounded like a conservative version of his dad. Eh. Different strokes. ---
**Author:** ![TastesLikeBurning](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@TastesLikeBurning](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TastesLikeBurning)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-song-makes-me-burst-into-tears/277699/96 "2004-12-09T03:13:27Z")
> [@coleridge78](#): > > Tim Buckley, Jeff Buckley’s father. Just my personal preference… I like Jeff’s stuff, but it always, to me, sounded like a conservative version of his dad. Eh. Different strokes. If by conservative you mean more coherent and accessible, then I’d have to agree. Other than that, you’re spot on in regards to personal preference. Have you read “Dream Brother”? If you’re a fan of either, it’s quite an insight into both of their lives with the book equally split into covering Tim and Jeff. ---
**Author:** ![Tracy\_Lord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@Tracy\_Lord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tracy_Lord)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-song-makes-me-burst-into-tears/277699/97 "2004-12-09T03:30:36Z")
> [@coleridge78](#): > > “And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda”, to bring back the Aussie theme. > > – > And when the ship pulled into Circular Quay > I looked at the place where me legs used to be > And thank Christ there was no one there waiting for me > To grieve and to mourn and to pity > > And the Band played Waltzing Matilda > When they carried us down the gangway > Oh nobody cheered, they just stood there and stared > Then they turned all their faces away … I opened this thread just to post this song – although the verse you quoted isn’t the one that does it for me: _For I’ll go no more waltzing Matilda All around the green bush far and free To hump tent and pegs, a man needs both legs No more waltzing Matilda for me._ Which gets me sniffling through the rest of the song, until the last verses, which make me cry in these gut-wrenching, choking sobs: \*And so now every April I sit on my porch, And I watch the parade pass before me And I see my old comrades, how proudly they march Reviving part dreams of old glory Those old men march slowly, old bones stiff and sore They’re tired old heroes of a forgotten war And the young people ask, ‘what are they marching for?’ And I ask myself the same question And the band plays Waltzing Matilda And the old men still answer the call But as year follows year, more old men disappear Someday no one will march there at all.\* ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-song-makes-me-burst-into-tears/277699/98 "2004-12-09T03:52:11Z")
How about, “You Are My Sunshine?” So many people think it’s a happy song… > [@](#): > > The other night dear, as I lay sleeping > I dreamed I held you in my arms > But when I awoke, dear, I was mistaken > And so I hung my head and I cried. > > You are my sunshine, my only sunshine > You make me happy when skies are gray > You’ll never know dear, how much I love you > Please don’t take my sunshine away > > I’ll always love you and make you happy, > If you will only say the same. > But if you leave me and love another, > You’ll regret it all some day: > > You are my sunshine, my only sunshine > You make me happy when skies are gray > You’ll never know dear, how much I love you > Please don’t take my sunshine away > > You told me once, dear, you really loved me > And no one else could come between. > But now you’ve left me to love another; > You have shattered all of my dreams: > > You are my sunshine, my only sunshine > You make me happy when skies are gray > You’ll never know dear, how much I love you > Please don’t take my sunshine away > > In all my dreams, dear, you seem to leave me > When I awake my poor heart pains. > So when you come back and make me happy > I’ll forgive you dear, I’ll take all the blame. > > You are my sunshine, my only sunshine > You make me happy when skies are gray > You’ll never know dear, how much I love you > Please don’t take my sunshine away ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-song-makes-me-burst-into-tears/277699/99 "2004-12-09T05:11:18Z")
Joni Mitchell is the Queen of Sobs: _Song for Sharon_: A woman I knew just drowned herself The well was deep and muddy She was just shaking off futility Or punishing somebody My friends were calling up all day yesterday All emotions and abstractions It seems we all live so close to that line And so far from satisfaction. _Down to You_ In the morning there are lovers in the street They look so high You brush against a stranger And you both apologize Old friends seem indifferent You must have brought that on Old bonds have broken down Love is gone _I Had a King_ I had a king in a tenement castle Lately he’s taken to painting the pastel walls brown He’s taken the curtains down He’s swept with the broom of contempt And the rooms have an empty ring He’s cleaned with the tears Of an actor who fears for the laughter’s sting- I can’t go back there anymore You know my keys won’t fit the door You know my thoughts don’t fit the man They never can they never can ☹ ---
**Author:** ![coleridge78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@coleridge78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coleridge78)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-song-makes-me-burst-into-tears/277699/100 "2004-12-09T05:28:05Z")
> [@TastesLikeBurning](#): > > Have you read “Dream Brother”? No. I’ll look out for it. Books about musicians that I love are almost always disappointing… but on the other hand, Joe Klein’s Woody Guthrie bio is my all-time favorite (so much so that I still owe a replacement copy to the Perrysburg OH public library, oops), so one never knows! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-song-makes-me-burst-into-tears/277699.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-song-makes-me-burst-into-tears/277699.md?page=6)