Yeah, I’m becoming a one trick jackass, I’m sorry.
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Then what of songs & music? How much more can they express what words alone can not?
Someone somewhere must have written a song about depression from a first person POV. Searching You Tube has so far been fruitless. There are songs out there, but so far all I seem to find are ones aimed at young women & teenagers. I’m not sad because my boyfriend dumped me, I’m not cutting, & I’m not staving myself (maybe I should). I’m a 50something fat gay man, who has been dealing with depression for decades.
There must be something out there that speaks to me, right?
Thank you for your time.
PS: No need to tell me I should get help, I have and it hasn’t.
Well there is Suicide is Painless, the theme from MAS*H but I would suggest Alone Again, Or either the original by Love or I rather like the version by UFO. Although UFO are known as a hard rock band they are very restrained on this track.
I would’ve said “Dress Rehearsal Rag” as well. Cohen’s “Avalanche” from the same album maybe?
Elliot Smith - take your pick. Here’s the suicide scene from Royal Tennenbaums, but he was more depressing songs just by the music. Killed himself (maybe), although Luke Wilson and his character are okay.
Joy Division - take your pick. Maybe “Something Must Break.” Lead singer killed himself and they became New Order, and became only somewhat less depressing.
Los Campesinos! - “The Sea is a Good Place to Think of the Future” has been a go-to for me at certain times.
Mark Kozelek/Red House Painters/Sun Kil Moon. Maybe RHP’s “Shadows.”
The Smiths/Morrissey has good ones, although gets too maudlin sometimes, and sometimes you just want to punch him. It’s a common occurrence.
Good luck, I don’t think you’re a one trick pony in at least I don’t see your name on a thread and immediately think “not this again!” which I can’t say for every poster.
Rezső Seress is the original artist. Killed himself.
Manic Street Preachers. Holy Bible is the most intense look at depression. Everything Must Go explores the same themes but is musically far more accessible.
Lyricist Ritchie Edwards was himself depressed, self harmed, had male anorexia. He disappeared after the album Holy Bible and is presumed to have committed suicide jumping off a bridge (his body never found) but he left enough lyrics for Everything Must Go.
[spoiler]Many of her early songs deal with the topic. Some songs are very direct, some are not, but the topic is something she struggled with and came out the other side thanks to getting it out through music. Here are a few songs. There are several more.
“Possessed”
“Suicide Song”
“I Have A Heart”
“The First To Cry”
“Lay Me Down”
Here’s one of her many “Coming out the other side” songs.
The lead singer, Johnn Balance, was a gay alcoholic who suffered from depression. This song appeared on a collection called “Foxtrot” that was intended to raise money to help fight his alcohol addiction. It failed, alas, as Balance died from a drunken fall over the balcony in his home in 2004.
If it is the empty melancholy of existence you are looking for, you should listen to Sweden’s Beyond Sensory Experience. Mostly gloomy dark ambient, there are occasional poems, samples and lyrics that are certain not to lift your spirits.
