# Most. Depressing. Pop or rock song. Ever. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 3, 2005, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-pop-or-rock-song-ever/329296 "2005-11-03T15:20:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Boulter\_s\_Canary](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e79b87/32.png) [@Boulter\_s\_Canary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boulter_s_Canary)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2005, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-pop-or-rock-song-ever/329296/141 "2005-11-08T16:24:33Z")
[QUOTE=OtakuLoki] I love that book. I really do. Now I need to find this album. Another folk/country song that I love I just remembered. Leslie Fish is a rather prominent filk singer - that is she sings what are basically folk song on an SF or fantasy tilt. She’s also been doing, for several years, now, a series of albums where she records various of Kipling’s poems to music. It works out to be a very effective way to listen to Kipling, I think. My favorite one of hers in that vein is [Birds of Prey March](http://whitewolf.newcastle.edu.au/words/authors/K/KiplingRudyard/verse/volumeXI/birdsofprey.html). The music is a cheerful marching tune. The lyrics are so bitter and bleak… I keep wondering why the various war protestors haven’t started trying to get this poem more well known. If we’re talking Kipling in bitter mood, then it’s got to be ‘Mesopotamia’: \*“Our dead shall not return to us while Day and Night divide - Never while the bars of sunset hold. But the idle-minded overlings who quibbled while they died, Shall they thrust for high employments as of old?..” “Their lives cannot repay us - their death could not undo - The shame that they have laid upon our race. But the slothfulness that wasted and the arrogance that slew, Shall we leave it unabated in its place?”\* Mesopotamia is called Iraq these days… ---
**Author:** ![J.Gelert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/53a042/32.png) [@J.Gelert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/J.Gelert)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2005, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-pop-or-rock-song-ever/329296/142 "2005-11-08T21:40:38Z")
I’m gonna second (third?) ‘30000 feet’ by Assemblage 23. More that haven’t been mentioned… “Perfect Fit” - The Dresden Dolls “Chop Suey” - System Of A Down “Black Dollar Bills” - Hope Of The States “Kettles” - Arcade Fire “Fitter Happier” - Radiohead “Exit Music” - Radiohead ---
**Author:** ![Caricci](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85f322/32.png) [@Caricci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caricci)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2005, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-pop-or-rock-song-ever/329296/143 "2005-11-08T22:25:55Z")
I can’t be depressed by **Honey** because all I can think of is Howard Stern and Robin Quivers analyzing it circa 1986. “Robin! I can’t talk to you right now. I’m listening to this Bobby Goldsboro song.” and later “Oh, Howard, Honey didn’t just grow the tree, she _loved_ it!” hee hee hee. However, there’s this Kelly Clarkson song **Because of You** that I’m hearing all the time that bums me out big time, maybe because it’s the story of my life. ---
**Author:** ![stargazer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb8c5e/32.png) [@stargazer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stargazer)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2005, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-pop-or-rock-song-ever/329296/144 "2005-11-08T23:50:36Z")
_[Ghost in this House](http://www.lyricsdomain.com/1/alison_krauss/ghost_in_this_house.html)_ by Alison Krauss is about the saddest song I’ve ever heard – not depressing, just purely sad – about a relationship that is over. It’s so pretty. You can listen to a bit of it [here](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00006LLLN/002-3471131-2740806?v=glance&s=music&n=507846&vi=samples#disc_1). ---
**Author:** ![PastAllReason](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f07891/32.png) [@PastAllReason](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastAllReason)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2005, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-pop-or-rock-song-ever/329296/145 "2005-11-09T01:59:45Z")
> [@eleanorigby](#): > > Eric Clapton’s song about his dead son. > > What about that old song that goes: > _It’s the last song, I’ll ever sing for you…It’s the last time that I’ll tell you just how much I really care, this is the last song…_ I agree with you about _Tears in Heaven._ The other song you mentioned is _Last Song_ by Edward Bear. I’ll add a song called _Out of Tears_ performed by the Rolling Stones. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2005, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-pop-or-rock-song-ever/329296/146 "2005-11-09T02:45:33Z")
> [@soulmurk](#): > > Honorable mentions: **Nine Inch Nails** _A Warm Place_ (short instrumental that is very pretty out of context, but downright powerful within the context of the concept album > [@Sam Stone](#): > > Hurt - Sung by Johnny Cash. I was going to say Hurt off the same NIN album was about the most depressing thing I ever heard…until I heard JCs remake. Couple more tearjerkers from the days of flannel: Pearl Jam - Black Nirvana - Where Did You Sleep Last Night (MTV Unplugged version) Surprised there hasn’t been any mention of the following: Guns N Roses - November Rain Stevie Nicks (also done by Tori Amos and The Dixie Chicks) - Landslide Tori Amos - Jackie’s Strength, Hey Jupiter, Caught a Light Sneeze, pretty much anything she writes ---
**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:** [November 9, 2005, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-pop-or-rock-song-ever/329296/147 "2005-11-09T04:39:19Z")
**The Decemberists** - _Leslie Anne Levine_ - My name is Leslie Anne Levine My mother birthed me down a dry ravine My mother birthed me far too soon Born at nine and dead at noon [LYRICS DELETED BY MODERATOR] \* ---
**Author:** ![Lisa-go-Blind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Lisa-go-Blind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lisa-go-Blind)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2005, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-pop-or-rock-song-ever/329296/148 "2005-11-09T05:02:30Z")
“All the Umbrellas in London” by The Magnetic Fields. The music is dancey and somewhat upbeat, but oh those lyrics: \*If I live through the night, I could be all right It’ll make a good song or something [LYRICS DELETED BY MODERATOR] \* If we’re confining “pop songs” to chart hits, though, I have to say “Tears in Heaven,” if only for the back story. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2005, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-pop-or-rock-song-ever/329296/149 "2005-11-09T05:40:20Z")
> [@dinahmoe](#): > > Elvis Costello is the King of The Depressing Song. **Shipbuilding** rips me to shreds, and the songs about his grandmother, **Veronica** and **That Day is Done** are very sad as well. Elvis’ biggie, for me, is “Deep Dark Truthful Mirror,” because it just happened to be in my car CD player after the worst breakup I’ve ever experienced. The one where she basically told me that she couldn’t NOT just be brutally honest with me _about_ me, and the person I was. ---
**Author:** ![max\_yasgur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f07891/32.png) [@max\_yasgur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/max_yasgur)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2005, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-pop-or-rock-song-ever/329296/150 "2005-11-09T06:06:24Z")
**Ghost of a Dog** - Edie Brickell & New Bohemians ☹ ---
**Author:** ![scotandrsn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a4c791/32.png) [@scotandrsn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scotandrsn)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2005, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-pop-or-rock-song-ever/329296/151 "2005-11-09T07:23:50Z")
> [@max yasgur](#): > > **Ghost of a Dog** - Edie Brickell & New Bohemians ☹ I think we’re going for works whose _content_ is depressing, not whose _existence_ is. 😉😃 Great username, BTW. Welcome to the SDMB! ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2005, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-pop-or-rock-song-ever/329296/152 "2005-11-09T07:31:21Z")
Back from the 60’s the Association **Requiem for the Masses** > [@](#): > > Kyrie Eleison > Mama, mama, forget your pies > Have faith they won’t get cold > And turn your eyes to the bloodshot sky > [LYRICS DELETED BY MODERATOR] very 60s, very drepressing. or for just plan shoot your brains out, kill me now lyrics how about **Fire and Rain** by James Taylor? > [@](#): > > I’ve seen fire and I’ve seen rain > I’ve seen sunny days that I thought would never end > I’ve seen lonely times when I could not find a friend > But I always thought that I’d see you again > > [LYRICS DELETED BY MODERATOR] ---
**Author:** ![TX\_SpookyPants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a8b319/32.png) [@TX\_SpookyPants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TX_SpookyPants)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2005, 9:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-pop-or-rock-song-ever/329296/153 "2005-11-09T09:52:45Z")
Oh, man. I agree with so many on here already. Hurt by Cash, Mad World, The Noose by APC, Brick, and a few others. But I have a few others I don’t think anyone else has ever heard (and if you have, well, yay?). Second Coming has two that has just . . . bleh. Quick excerpts. **Confessional** : She sees a sky of perfect blue A winter chill runs through my veins Her stone white skin will draw me near It begins to rain… **The Song** : Never hurts to be awake When you’re dying in my arms My love she’s slipping Years have gone to waste Years to take her place Tea Party has some real winners, too. God, I used to listen to them way too much back when I was a teenager. **Psychopomp** : a frozen sun will guide you there as shadows hide the deep despair … so sleep tonight in idle dreams the pain will drown your silent screams **Emerald** : confess what you crave a life without pain you’d kill for the taste but the hurt still remains One last song, that I always nominate for Saddest Song, but one people may have actually heard of. **Sad Happy** , by Cold. Written by the lead singer for a fan who told him that their music kept her going while she was dealing with being sexually abused by a family member. Ug. She was only seventeen and forced to blame it on herself as she hides away to tame the pain she feels … She was only trying to breathe her broken nails had sliced his skin as he bruised her face she fades away again ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2005, 10:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-pop-or-rock-song-ever/329296/154 "2005-11-09T10:12:01Z")
The one that does it most to me is Warren Zevon’s _Please Stay_. So much fear of dying alone. Also Pink Floyd’s _Final Cut_ from the album of the same name. _And if I, opened my heart to you, showed you my weak side, what would you do? Would you sell your story to Rolling Stone?_ [LYRICS DELETED BY MODERATOR] ---
**Author:** ![Chanteuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de053/32.png) [@Chanteuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chanteuse)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2005, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-pop-or-rock-song-ever/329296/155 "2005-11-09T12:32:52Z")
**He Stopped Loving Her Today** by George Jones. I can hardly bear to hear this one. _He stopped loving her today, They’ve placed a wreath upon his door. And soon they’ll carry him away, He stopped loving her today._ Reminds me too much of my BIL’s suicide a few years back.\* \*Even though the song isn’t about suicide specifically, it reminds me of that time anyway. ---
**Author:** ![straykat23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@straykat23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/straykat23)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2005, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-pop-or-rock-song-ever/329296/156 "2005-11-09T12:45:49Z")
Barry McGuire, “Eve of Destruction:” \*The eastern world, it is explodin’. Violence flarin’, bullets loadin’ You’re old enough to kill, but not for votin’ You don’t believe in war, but what’s that gun you’re totin’ And even the Jordan River has bodies floatin’ [LYRICS DELETED BY MODERATOR].\* ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2005, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-pop-or-rock-song-ever/329296/157 "2005-11-09T20:23:01Z")
I don’t have their CDs in front of me right now for reference, but the band Travis can really depress the stuffing out of me with a number of songs. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2005, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-pop-or-rock-song-ever/329296/158 "2005-11-09T20:40:29Z")
MOTHER OF PEARL!! ::: Moderator swears in disgust ::: Look, folks, please note [Forum Rules](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=343601) and specifically Post #2. You may NOT quote an entire song lyric, not even if you give full attribution. You may post a couple of lines and then provide a link to a site that has copyrights to the full lyrics. This is not a mild request, this is one of our fundamental rules about copyright and fair usage. OK, so I’m going back through a buncha posts. I don’t have the time or the energy to check out who’s quote how much, I’m chopping out anything over a couple of lines. “Fair usage” rules give about 5%, if I recall, which for most songs would be two or three words; I presume they allow a bit more for lyrics, but a line or two is all we allow here. ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2005, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-pop-or-rock-song-ever/329296/159 "2005-11-09T23:11:14Z")
An oldie but a goodie: _Good night Irene_ > [@](#): > > Sometimes I live in the country, > sometimes I live in town > Sometimes I take a great notion, > To jump into the river and drown. > > I love Irene, God knows I do, > I’ll love her till the seas run dry > But if Irene should turn me down, > I’d take the morphine and die. ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2005, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-pop-or-rock-song-ever/329296/160 "2005-11-09T23:14:51Z")
I’d have to also nominate _Missing_ by Everything but the Girl as being a pretty desolate little lyric: \*Can I confess I’ve been hanging 'round your old address And the years have proved To offer nothing since you moved You’re long gone But I can’t move on And I miss you…\* [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-pop-or-rock-song-ever/329296.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-pop-or-rock-song-ever/329296.md?page=9)