# How many songs have a death in them? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 11, 2000, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-songs-have-a-death-in-them/32789 "2000-09-11T17:28:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![chique](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@chique](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chique)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2000, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-songs-have-a-death-in-them/32789/41 "2000-09-12T03:26:48Z")
_He Stopped Loving Her Today_ by George Jones? \*You Never Even Called My By My Name{/i] (I think that’s the title) by David Allen Coe But before I could get to the station in my pickup truck She got runned over by a damned old train… _If You Get There Before I Do_ by Colin Raye ---
**Author:** ![chique](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@chique](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chique)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2000, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-songs-have-a-death-in-them/32789/42 "2000-09-12T03:30:42Z")
Oh, yeah… And about 75% of church hymns. ---
**Author:** ![justwannano](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7ab992/32.png) [@justwannano](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justwannano)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2000, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-songs-have-a-death-in-them/32789/43 "2000-09-12T03:36:55Z")
Big John—Jimmy Dean ---
**Author:** ![justwannano](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7ab992/32.png) [@justwannano](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justwannano)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2000, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-songs-have-a-death-in-them/32789/44 "2000-09-12T03:38:24Z")
Ode to Billy Joe—??? ---
**Author:** ![TroubleAgain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e480ec/32.png) [@TroubleAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroubleAgain)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2000, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-songs-have-a-death-in-them/32789/45 "2000-09-12T08:07:48Z")
That country song, Independence Day…I forget who it’s by. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2000, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-songs-have-a-death-in-them/32789/46 "2000-09-12T08:29:30Z")
‘Candle in the wind’ and ‘Funeral for a friend’ by Elton John. ‘Dead Babies’, ‘I love the dead’, ‘Killer’ and ‘Millie and Billie’ by Alice Cooper ‘Beheaded’ and ‘Kill the President’ by Offspring ‘American Pie’ by Don McClean ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2000, 10:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-songs-have-a-death-in-them/32789/47 "2000-09-12T10:50:41Z")
“Green, Green Grass of Home” …and in the 9th grade, I wrote a depressing ballad about a girl who was killed in a train crash - I was in my morbid phase, I guess… ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2000, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-songs-have-a-death-in-them/32789/48 "2000-09-12T11:46:32Z")
"Emily – Elton John “Captain Jack” – Billy Joel “Ode to Billy Joe” – Bobbie Gentry “Vincent” – Don McLean “San Francisco Fan” and “Jack, You’re Dead” – ??? oldies but they were covered by Joe Jackson ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2000, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-songs-have-a-death-in-them/32789/49 "2000-09-12T12:06:40Z")
DarbyV is my new hero! Did you _see_ that list of cool songs? That said: All dead, all dead - Queen Knockin’ on Heavens Door - Dylan and a BILLION covers Nobodys Hero - Rush Tell Laura I Love Her - ??? ---
**Author:** ![Turpentine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecd19e/32.png) [@Turpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turpentine)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2000, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-songs-have-a-death-in-them/32789/50 "2000-09-12T15:19:21Z")
“People Who Died”- Jim Carroll ---
**Author:** ![Heloise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e36b37/32.png) [@Heloise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heloise)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2000, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-songs-have-a-death-in-them/32789/51 "2000-09-12T16:41:36Z")
Hmm, what was the name of that one: “I saw your mommy and your mommy was dead!” By a punk group. And Green Death by Metallica. Or Megadeth. Darn, it’s hard not being young anymore. ---
**Author:** ![G.B.H.Hornswoggler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c67d28/32.png) [@G.B.H.Hornswoggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G.B.H.Hornswoggler)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2000, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-songs-have-a-death-in-them/32789/52 "2000-09-12T17:03:15Z")
“The Card Cheat” – The Clash At least two of the songs on Elvis Costello’s _The Juliet Letters_ are suicide notes. “Only a Lad” – Oingo Boingo _And when he stole the car, Nobody dreamed that he would try to take it so far He didn’t mean to hit the poor man, Who had to go and die. It made the judge cry._ Some of my favorite Tom Waits songs were already mentioned, but how about “Big Joe and Phoantom 309?” “My Dead Friend” by the Judybats is a bit obvious. The Violent Femmes’ “Country Death Song” was already mentioned, but how about “Kiss Off?” (another suicide song) And I’m doing this at work without being able to rummage through my CDs (as several other posters have also said). Lots of death songs out there. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2000, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-songs-have-a-death-in-them/32789/53 "2000-09-12T19:42:49Z")
[ul][li]The Reaper - Blue Oyster Cult[/li][li]Ebony Eyes - Everly Brothers[/li][li]Mother’s Little Helper - The Rolling Stones[/li][li]Papa Was a Rolling Stone - The Temptations[/li][li]Wreck on the Highway - Springsteen[/li][li]The Damage Done - Neil Young[/li][li][Four Dead in] Ohio - Buffalo Springfield[/li][li]Angie Baby - Helen Reddy (Not proud to know that one, by the way…)[/li][li]Born in the U.S.A. - Springsteen (Brother killed in 'Nam.)[/li][li]Wendell G - R.E.M.[/li][li]Dead Man’s Curve - Jan and Dean[/li]In the Name of Love - U2[/ul] ---
**Author:** ![Opengrave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/919ad9/32.png) [@Opengrave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Opengrave)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2000, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-songs-have-a-death-in-them/32789/54 "2000-09-12T20:16:54Z")
**Rock-n-Rolga** > [@](#): > > Hey Opengrave! Where are you from? Originally from the Republic of Texas but now I live in Arkansas. In addition to Amon Amarth I also like In Flames, Dark Tranquility, and Opeth. More metal death songs…… **Black Sabbath** – Iron Man (implied) **Iced Earth** – Watching Over Me **Metallica** – Fade to Black **Sentenced** – The Suicider, Funeral Spring, Noose, screw it as said earlier – just about every Sentenced Song **Megadeth** – Skin o’ My Teeth **Kiss** – Detroit Rock City (omplied) **Iron Maiden** – The Trooper **Amon Amarth** – North Sea Storm **Sepultura** - Kaiowas (its an instrumental but its about a tribe who killed themselves protesting actions in the rain forest) **King Diamond** – all of the Voodoo and Abigail albums Non Metal **The Offspring** – Gone Away **Willie Nelson** – Time of the Preacher **Bad Company** – Shooting Star **Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys** – Across the Alley from The Alamo ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2000, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-songs-have-a-death-in-them/32789/55 "2000-09-12T22:48:00Z")
**Heloise:** _I Saw Your Mommy…_-Suicidal Tendencies and I believe Metallica did _Green Hell_, but it was a cover of a Misfits song. Speaking of which, most of the Misfits’ stuff was just lousy with death, too. ---
**Author:** ![screech-owl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@screech-owl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/screech-owl)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2000, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-songs-have-a-death-in-them/32789/56 "2000-09-13T01:54:25Z")
Of my “Arrogant Worms” CDs still residing in my house, the ones that haven’t been ‘adopted’ by friends… [ul] [li]Goin’ Huntin’[/li][li]Don’t Go Into Politics[/li][li]Jesus’ Brother Bob[/li][li]The Christmas Song (definitely NOT the Nat King Cole edition][/li][li]Tokyo Love Song[/li][li]Carrot Juice Is Murder[/li][li]Rippy The Gator[/li][li]Killer Robots From Venus[/li][li]Having Fun Is Bad For You[/li][li]The Fishing Song[/li][li]William Shakespeare’s In My Cat[/li][li]Sam, The Guy From Quincy[/li][li]Kill The Dog Next Door[/li][li]Sex, Drugs and RRSP’s[/li][li]History Is Made By Stupid People[/li][li]Horizon (about a car)[/li][li]Dangerous[/li][li]The Happy Happy Birthday Song[/li]and the classic… [li]Mounted Animal Nature Trail[/li][/ul] I’m sure I’d have more if my NEIGHBOR GAVE ME BACK MY CD’S THAT HE BORROWED!!! (Maybe if I type loud enough, he’ll hear me.) ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2000, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-songs-have-a-death-in-them/32789/57 "2000-09-13T15:38:33Z")
“March to the Scaffold” from Symphonie Fantastique by Hector Berlioz. ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2000, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-songs-have-a-death-in-them/32789/58 "2000-09-13T16:58:02Z")
Well I’ve seen some Maiden but they’ve forgot: From Here to Eternity Alexander the Great Heaven can Wait Iron Maiden Killers Muders in the Rue Mourge Invaders Flash of the Blade Powerslave Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner The Clarivonent (does the future count? ) The Clansman Hooks in You Bring your Daughter to the Slaughter The Mercinary there’s more I just can’t think of them now. Golden Earring: Going to the Run Johnny Makebelieve Jim Croce: Bad Bad Leroy Brown You Don’t mess Around with Jim well he implies a real good beating, if they die you don’t know for sure. 18 and Life by Skid Row Killed by Death Motorhead Bomber by Motorhead 1916 by Motorhead that’s enough for now I think. ---
**Author:** ![Skelji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b38774/32.png) [@Skelji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skelji)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2000, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-songs-have-a-death-in-them/32789/59 "2000-09-13T17:29:57Z")
What, no Grateful **Dead**? Jack Straw Black Peter Stagger Lee Jack-A-Roe Dupree’s Diamond Blues Death Don’t Have No Mercy ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2000, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-songs-have-a-death-in-them/32789/60 "2000-09-13T17:52:20Z")
**No no no no no!!!** Dire Wolf, at least two of those songs were old blues songs. “Death Don’t have No Mercy” was done by the Rev. Gary Davis, and Stagger Lee is a _very_ old song covered by everyone from Mississippi John Hurt to Nick Cave. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-songs-have-a-death-in-them/32789.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-songs-have-a-death-in-them/32789.md?page=4)