# 'Fess up! What mawkishly sentimental song makes you cry? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [October 6, 2023, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fess-up-what-mawkishly-sentimental-song-makes-you-cry/991179 "2023-10-06T06:16:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Chumba\_Wumba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9a140/32.png) [@Chumba\_Wumba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chumba_Wumba)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2023, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fess-up-what-mawkishly-sentimental-song-makes-you-cry/991179/1 "2023-10-06T06:16:00Z")
For me, it’s “The Rose.” And I don’t even much like Bette Midler. Even so, it’s been a good deal more than one or two times it’s reduced me to tears and utterly destroyed my macho facade. So let’s hear it. What breaks you up and exposes all your hidden beautiful feelings to the jeers and mockery of your brutish ape-like _compadres_? Surely I’m not alone here! ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2023, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fess-up-what-mawkishly-sentimental-song-makes-you-cry/991179/2 "2023-10-06T06:59:20Z")
Randy Crawford - “One Day I’ll Fly Away” Hardly floods of tears, but it was all around at the time of a painful break-up, and it can still shake me up decades later, especially if I hear it unexpectedly. ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2023, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fess-up-what-mawkishly-sentimental-song-makes-you-cry/991179/3 "2023-10-06T07:18:46Z")
The Dance. Garth Brooks. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2023, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fess-up-what-mawkishly-sentimental-song-makes-you-cry/991179/4 "2023-10-06T07:28:57Z")
Alison Krauss’ version of “I’ll Fly Away” always gets me even though I don’t believe in an afterlife. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/1BPoMIQHwpo/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AH-BIAC4AOKAgwIABABGCIgSih_MA8=&rs=AOn4CLB_FrGmbnfr1v6f-uYR3g-xpuOlJg "Alison Krauss - I'll fly away") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BPoMIQHwpo) ---
**Author:** ![Moonrise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moonrise/32/14764_2.png) [@Moonrise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonrise)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2023, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fess-up-what-mawkishly-sentimental-song-makes-you-cry/991179/5 "2023-10-06T08:12:22Z")
Lots of them, actually. [Aaron Espe - Back to the Beginning](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMMnNpBF3AE), for the most recent one. It inspired me to start a thread about [songs that hit too close to home on several levels.](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-hit-a-little-too-close-to-home-on-several-levels/986952) [Don McLean - Vincent](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qd0APVnDIbE) _But I could have told you, Vincent_ _This world was never meant for one_ _As beautiful as you_ Let’s stop here (for the moment). ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2023, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fess-up-what-mawkishly-sentimental-song-makes-you-cry/991179/6 "2023-10-06T08:14:02Z")
Alison Krauss has a truly moving voice. [Alison Krauss & Union Station — “The Lucky One” — Live - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmzVEPgBsYU) And two from the Lord of the Rings: [The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring • May It Be • Enya - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJVxEaGrHS4) [Annie Lennox - Into The West (live at the 2004 Oscars) - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RDuQfSwKfY) ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2023, 9:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fess-up-what-mawkishly-sentimental-song-makes-you-cry/991179/7 "2023-10-06T09:15:58Z")
I don’t know about “mawkish”, that’s a bit pejorative, but I embrace sentimentality. Who doesn’t want to be moved in that way? “one day I’ll fly away” is a good one. “[good year for the roses](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hBWBVVFA4c)” Elvis Costello version “[Devonside](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQQcTArj9nc)” by Richard Thompson, the live version specifically. This verse gets me every time. > Ah, she said, my John, I’ll be your pillow > I’ll be your lover, mother, whore and wife > And he knew that he had loved and never seen her > When the light fell from the shiver in her eyes ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2023, 9:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fess-up-what-mawkishly-sentimental-song-makes-you-cry/991179/8 "2023-10-06T09:34:06Z")
I listen to this one a lot late at night, especially in the depths of winter: > [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l\_CbqGccJmY](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_CbqGccJmY) _I would be happy just to hold the hands I love_ _on this winter night with you._ ---
**Author:** ![scareyfaerie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scareyfaerie/32/3135_2.png) [@scareyfaerie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scareyfaerie)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2023, 9:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fess-up-what-mawkishly-sentimental-song-makes-you-cry/991179/9 "2023-10-06T09:39:34Z")
It’s not exactly mawkishly sentimental, Danny wrote this song after his mother died and I cannot listen to it without having at least a sniffle. [What You Left Behind](https://www.google.com/search?q=danny+vaughn+you+youtube+what+you+left+behind&rlz=1C1GCEA_enGB1051GB1051&oq=danny&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqCAgAEEUYJxg7MggIABBFGCcYOzIICAEQRRgnGDsyBggCEEUYOzIGCAMQRRg5MgYIBBBFGDwyBggFEEUYPTIGCAYQRRg9MgYIBxBFGDzSAQgxOTAzajBqN6gCALACAA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:f31e5de7,vid:aO4fw4IW5nQ,st:0) ---
**Author:** ![slicedalone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slicedalone/32/12515_2.png) [@slicedalone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slicedalone)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2023, 9:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fess-up-what-mawkishly-sentimental-song-makes-you-cry/991179/10 "2023-10-06T09:45:29Z")
> [@Chumba\_Wumba](#): > > Surely I’m not alone here! I’ve told you not to call me Shirley! OK, with that out of the way, “Alone Again, Naturally” has to rank #1 in this category. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2023, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fess-up-what-mawkishly-sentimental-song-makes-you-cry/991179/11 "2023-10-06T10:41:31Z")
Harry Chapin’s “Taxi” and “Sequel,” back to back. The story of two people, who seem just right for each other, except she’s a society girl, and he’s just a cabdriver. They’ve met before, and “learned about love in the back of a Dodge,” but that was that. The girl was gonna be an actress, and Harry was gonna learn to fly, but all that happened was that “she took off for the footlights,” and Harry took off for the sky. Except neither’s wish came true. She ended up _acting_ happy, inside her handsome home; and Harry just kept driving a taxi, taking tips and getting stoned. He goes _flying_ so high … It’s in “Sequel” where the tearjerking comes. Sue got away from her rich family, and now lives in a five-storey old brownstone. Harry has had some success with music, and is now doing concerts, and he pays a call on Sue, when he’s in town for a concert. They converse, and when asked by Harry “Why are you so happy now?” Sue replies: _I finally like myself,_ _At last, I like myself._ Have the Kleenex handy. That’s when we understand who Sue really is, and she’s not that society girl, nor did she ever want to be. That was a role that was thrust upon her. I used to sing both these songs back-to-back, at a neighbourhood pub, back in the 1990s. And it was difficult, I must say. Just so much emotion in the lyrics. ---
**Author:** ![nelliebly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nelliebly/32/5422_2.png) [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2023, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fess-up-what-mawkishly-sentimental-song-makes-you-cry/991179/12 "2023-10-06T11:19:40Z")
“Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” It was played at the funeral of one of my students, as it was her favorite song. “Saturn” by Sleeping at Last: _You taught me the courage of stars before you left_ _How light carries on endlessly, even after death_ _With shortness of breath_ _You explained the infinite_ _And how rare and beautiful it is to even exist_ ---
**Author:** ![theater\_in\_a\_crowded\_fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/aca169/32.png) [@theater\_in\_a\_crowded\_fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/theater_in_a_crowded_fire)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2023, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fess-up-what-mawkishly-sentimental-song-makes-you-cry/991179/13 "2023-10-06T11:43:10Z")
I don’t know if I’d call either of these “mawkish” but they certainly are sentimental and get me every time. “Space City” by Drive By Truckers (written by Mike Cooley. “If I could have one wish right now, I’d be about half as tough as I pretend I am.” “Elephant” by Jason Isbell “Surrounded by her family I saw that she was dying alone”. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2023, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fess-up-what-mawkishly-sentimental-song-makes-you-cry/991179/14 "2023-10-06T11:55:26Z")
Believe it or not, the song “Patches” by Clarence Carter gets me choked up a bit. Even though some people consider it the corniest song in existence. ---
**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:** [October 6, 2023, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fess-up-what-mawkishly-sentimental-song-makes-you-cry/991179/15 "2023-10-06T12:01:17Z")
One Tin Soldier, by Coven. Shut up! 😭 ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2023, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fess-up-what-mawkishly-sentimental-song-makes-you-cry/991179/16 "2023-10-06T12:34:50Z")
For some reason “I’ve Been To Town” always made me maudlin. It was first a poem by Rod McKuen, then first sung by Glenn Yarbrough, who could make you cry by singing the phone book. This part of the lyric always got to me: "Don’t tell me any more lies I can’t waste any more years I’ve seen my image in your eyes dissolve in disappointed tears. I’ve been to town you ask me do I know the Milky Way I do and furthermore I’d like to say It isn’t milky white it’s dirty gray. Especially when Your world breaks down I know because I’ve been to town…" ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2023, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fess-up-what-mawkishly-sentimental-song-makes-you-cry/991179/17 "2023-10-06T12:49:15Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Alison Krauss’ version of “I’ll Fly Away”… That was a collaboration with Gillian Welch (first featured in the film “Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?”). My choice would be a Gillian Welch solo song (well, with David Rawlings): “Hard Times.” The sentimental feelings are for…a mule. Don’t laugh. It’s a real tearjerker (for me, at least). [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/k35haKwqY14/hqdefault.jpg "Gillian Welch - Hard Times") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k35haKwqY14) ---
**Author:** ![veryfrank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/87869e/32.png) [@veryfrank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/veryfrank)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2023, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fess-up-what-mawkishly-sentimental-song-makes-you-cry/991179/18 "2023-10-06T12:51:38Z")
Cry? Can’t think of one. Emotional, with a swelling in my chest, and feeling like tears aren’t out of the question? Maybe these ones, but I’d never describe any of them as “mawkishly sentimental.” Harry Nilsson’s cover of Randy Newman’s “[I’ll Be Home](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXaIVaL1mho)” Bruce Springsteen’s “[Valentine’s Day](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhFrj092j3o)” The sax solo in Paul Simon’s “[Still Crazy After All These Years](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5Eoax6I-O4)” Okay, maybe this one’s a bit mawkish. I was in a pretty emotional place when I saw “We Wil Rock You” at the Dominion in London, but I was nearly brought to tears by “[No One But You](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_p0Ga5qRyM)” ---
**Author:** ![Jaydubba77](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Jaydubba77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaydubba77)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2023, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fess-up-what-mawkishly-sentimental-song-makes-you-cry/991179/19 "2023-10-06T13:27:22Z")
Several song over the years have brought a tear to my eye but The Sad Cafe by The Eagles does it for me almost every time. Some friends and I used to use a local truck stop as a hang out and as our numbers dwindle I can relate to that tune. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2023, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fess-up-what-mawkishly-sentimental-song-makes-you-cry/991179/20 "2023-10-06T13:45:30Z")
Gordon Lightfoot, “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” > Does anyone know where the love of God goes > When the waves turn the minutes to hours? > And all that remains is the faces and the names > Of the wives and the sons and the daughters [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fess-up-what-mawkishly-sentimental-song-makes-you-cry/991179.md?page=2)