# Most achingly beautiful songs ever **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 17, 2010, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-achingly-beautiful-songs-ever/550584 "2010-08-17T23:15:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 16
**Author:** ![MTCicero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@MTCicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MTCicero)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-achingly-beautiful-songs-ever/550584/301 "2010-08-27T17:43:49Z")
I prefer [Johnny Cash’s dirge-like take on it](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdSIlVZhsDw) myself. ---
**Author:** ![MTCicero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@MTCicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MTCicero)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-achingly-beautiful-songs-ever/550584/302 "2010-08-27T18:52:35Z")
[This post](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=12848569&postcount=17) just reminded me that I haven’t yet mentioned [this Bing Crosby version of “Silent Night”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvhsaLDgipk), which never fails at making my eyes well up with tears and my lower lip tremble. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-achingly-beautiful-songs-ever/550584/303 "2010-08-27T19:09:34Z")
I had a hunch that his thread might be in record territory, so I looked for all threads with the word “songs” in their title and here are the top ones, ranked descending on “number of replies.” Another search for the singular “song” produces some with more replies, but this is still a success story. ================= Most achingly beautiful songs ever ( 1 2 3 4 5 6 … Last Page) MTCicero Today 01:52 PM by MTCicero 301 8,134 Cafe Society Ordinary songs that no one notices are actually creepy ( 1 2 3 4 5 6) digs 02-02-2005 02:03 AM by Dunderman 287 14,038 Cafe Society American Idol 3/28, Songs of the 21st Century ( 1 2 3 4 5 6) Dung Beetle 04-03-2006 08:58 AM by gigi 274 4,740 Cafe Society What one-hit-wonder songs were actually really good, even GREAT, songs? ( 1 2 3 4 5) RickJay 09-16-2008 11:03 AM by want2know 248 9,109 Cafe Society Songs that are just plain wrong ( 1 2 3 4 5) Diceman 10-29-2004 09:34 PM by capacitor 231 6,316 Cafe Society Name that cheesy '70 songs in 5 words ( 1 2 3 4 5) Biggirl 02-13-2008 12:45 PM by descamisado 224 5,179 Cafe Society Songs that make you embarrassingly weepy ( 1 2 3 4 5) Palo Verde 12-08-2008 01:43 AM by Jragon 202 10,786 Cafe Society Scientifically inaccurate songs ( 1 2 3 4) Superdude 10-21-2005 10:28 PM by Hometownboy 199 9,487 Cafe Society What are the saddest songs you know? ( 1 2 3 4) interface2x 07-21-2002 01:04 AM by Ruffian 198 4,063 Cafe Society Cover songs that are better than the original ( 1 2 3 4) Whack-a-Mole 08-20-2010 07:32 AM by Marley23 194 14,286 Cafe Society Songs you find unbearably moving ( 1 2 3 4) Made in Macau 01-21-2007 12:24 AM by eenerms 171 4,951 Cafe Society Real Meanings Behind Pop Songs ( 1 2 3 4) Jonathan43 05-13-2001 04:59 PM by eunoia 164 4,216 In My Humble Opinion Cover Songs Better Than The Original ( 1 2 3 4) RickJay 10-06-2007 12:25 AM by doverpro 164 4,590 Cafe Society Wildly unsuitable songs for striptease acts. ( 1 2 3 4) Interrobang!? 01-29-2004 10:56 AM by vibrotronica 161 4,247 Cafe Society Songs that make you cry ( 1 2 3 4) BoBettie 03-15-2002 08:39 AM by Johnny L.A. 160 2,078 Mundane Pointless Stuff I Must Share (MPSIMS) Songs you didn’t “get” as a kid ( 1 2 3 4) Leaffan 04-24-2010 06:58 PM by eleanorigby 160 9,854 Cafe Society Songs that contain words not commonly found in song lyrics ( 1 2 3 4) Wee Bairn 03-05-2007 11:25 AM by Boggette 159 3,710 Cafe Society Songs that must not be played at all. ( 1 2 3 4) Ogre 11-09-2007 12:39 PM by Hippy Hollow 154 3,812 Cafe Society Songs that MUST be played full blast ( 1 2 3 4) EvilGhandi 11-11-2007 10:12 AM by DudleyGarrett 153 3,163 Cafe Society ---
**Author:** ![ladeda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bbe5ce/32.png) [@ladeda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladeda)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2010, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-achingly-beautiful-songs-ever/550584/304 "2010-08-27T19:31:34Z")
Thank you for the welcome **MTCicero**! I have a few more that popped into my head: Congratulations: Blue October Let It Go: Blue October Sad Eyes: Robert John My Lover’s Gone: Dido Fumbling Towards Ecstasy: Sarah McLachlan I Will Remember You: Sarah McLachlan I Will Remember You: Amy Grant On The Turning Away: Pink Floyd That’s it for now. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2010, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-achingly-beautiful-songs-ever/550584/305 "2010-08-29T15:52:12Z")
Love song to a stranger. [Joan Baez](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yg9Q9co8W2g). I don’t know what to say. Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2010, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-achingly-beautiful-songs-ever/550584/306 "2010-08-29T16:01:47Z")
Thanks for keeping this thread alive! I was afraid that list had killed it. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2010, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-achingly-beautiful-songs-ever/550584/307 "2010-08-29T16:22:43Z")
I’d like to put all the songs, in their order on this thread. on CD. Just the songs. Cool road trip music. ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2010, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-achingly-beautiful-songs-ever/550584/308 "2010-08-29T20:11:24Z")
Beth Orton - She Cries your name [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1FER2PjP08) Beverley Craven - Promise Me [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_efZerCZoU) Tim Hardin - If I were a carpenter - the original version [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJvhJfSSnUQ) Tim Hardin - Reason to believe - the original version [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/-bW6VZi0ICs/hqdefault.jpg ""Reason to Believe" Tim Hardin") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bW6VZi0ICs) Gordon Lightfoot – to be honest there’s a lot of stuff I could have picked out [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLcx4VCkJH0) [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/jqMG3VR5PP4/hqdefault.jpg "Gordon Lightfoot " If You Could Read My Mind" - Lyrics") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqMG3VR5PP4) [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRhEvjyk_dc) Lindisfarne - Lady Eleanor [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/KJ8VNEqBH00/hqdefault.jpg "Lindisfarne-Lady Eleanor") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJ8VNEqBH00) Lindisfarne - Winter song [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/KJ8VNEqBH00/hqdefault.jpg "Lindisfarne-Lady Eleanor") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJ8VNEqBH00) Bread - Aubrey [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwdTcoUHfkw) Bread - Diary [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/24IfD-0VUu4/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AG-AoAC8AGKAgwIABABGGUgVyhGMA8=&rs=AOn4CLC1ntaThCmGm0CWmPSc0f6uLTL0vA "diary bread") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24IfD-0VUu4) Tracy Chapman - Fast Car [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/bfqEisOIMJc/hqdefault.jpg "Tracy Chapman - Fast Car") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfqEisOIMJc) Dusty Springfield - The Look of Love [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6KhuI_42W4) ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-achingly-beautiful-songs-ever/550584/309 "2010-08-30T00:34:14Z")
> [@](#): > > casdave;12854739]Beth Orton - She Cries your name Well now! > [@](#): > > This video contains content from Sony Music Entertainment. It is no longer available in your country. Somebody didn’t approve of the subject of your link. Oh, well. 😉 Maybe it’s on her website. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-achingly-beautiful-songs-ever/550584/310 "2010-08-30T00:42:29Z")
Heard a sample on amazon. I’ve heard some of her other stuff too. Good stuff. One more English Rose, eh. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![MTCicero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@MTCicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MTCicero)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-achingly-beautiful-songs-ever/550584/311 "2010-08-30T02:57:14Z")
Just thought of another. Can’t believe I didn’t think of it before now. [“Silent All These Years”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42jcad7etUg) - Tori Amos ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 9:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-achingly-beautiful-songs-ever/550584/312 "2010-08-30T09:50:56Z")
The Polyphonic Spree - [Light and Day](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHJo_klmPcA) ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-achingly-beautiful-songs-ever/550584/313 "2010-08-30T11:04:12Z")
Just uncovered another one. [Explosions in the Sky - Your Hand in Mine](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36U4ez7AzKA) Best known from the climax of Friday Night Lights, just amazing stuff. Ignore the homemade video and soak in the music. ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-achingly-beautiful-songs-ever/550584/314 "2010-08-30T12:31:14Z")
Sorry about the Beth Orton link, but whatever you do, you need to hear it. Variations on a theme by Erik Satie [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fbtCDSmlwk) [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/haZBhzrxMC4/hqdefault.jpg "Erik Satie") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=haZBhzrxMC4) Black Sabbath - Fluff [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9kdZ07BCFQ) Dorothy Moore - Misty Blue - quite a feat to do this live. [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBzG_37rmCQ) Don Maclean - Castles in the air [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9XHh8SJhwA) Don Maclean - empty chairs [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/jtrIc8vq7wU/hqdefault.jpg "Don Mclean - empty chairs") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtrIc8vq7wU) Sting - Desert Rose [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/C3lWwBslWqg/maxresdefault.jpg "Sting - Desert Rose") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3lWwBslWqg) Sting - They dance alone [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EiEl3KaD2aM) Renaissance - Carpet of the sun - you would do well to look up Annie Haslam [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/upIlhve5r-g/hqdefault.jpg "Renaissance - Carpet Of The Sun") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upIlhve5r-g) Renaissance - Ocean Gypsy [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/qGhUVX3-A18/hqdefault.jpg "Renaissance - Ocean Gypsy") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGhUVX3-A18) ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-achingly-beautiful-songs-ever/550584/315 "2010-08-30T12:43:29Z")
Try another link Beth Orton - she cries your name [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deDuVPC22ZE) ---
**Author:** ![alexandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e68b1a/32.png) [@alexandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alexandra)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-achingly-beautiful-songs-ever/550584/316 "2010-08-30T20:00:38Z")
I don’t think anyone has posted this Van Morrison track - Queen of the Slipstream [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/LLIYiL-UOnA/hqdefault.jpg "✿ VAN MORRISON - Queen of the slipstream (1987) ✿") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLIYiL-UOnA) ---
**Author:** ![ladeda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bbe5ce/32.png) [@ladeda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladeda)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-achingly-beautiful-songs-ever/550584/317 "2010-08-30T22:01:07Z")
I thought of another one too. Colorblind: Counting Crows Sorry I’m not putting up links to the songs. Can’t do where I’m am at the moment. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-achingly-beautiful-songs-ever/550584/318 "2010-08-30T23:44:59Z")
[Lady in Red](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vt2YIpZWBqA) ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2010, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-achingly-beautiful-songs-ever/550584/319 "2010-08-31T01:29:59Z")
Just one more: “Happy Trails” Roy Rogers & Dale Evans Maybe not quite “achingly” beautiful, but close. ---
**Author:** ![Molotok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@Molotok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Molotok)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2010, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-achingly-beautiful-songs-ever/550584/320 "2010-08-31T02:49:29Z")
Frühling in Paris - Rammstein. High Speed Train - REM. ‘Moonlight Sonata’ - Beethoven. One Crowded Hour - Augie March. Afterglow - ‘INXS’. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-achingly-beautiful-songs-ever/550584.md?page=15) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-achingly-beautiful-songs-ever/550584.md?page=17)