# Most Depressing Song **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 25, 2008, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-song/435014 "2008-01-25T21:01:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2008, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-song/435014/21 "2008-01-25T21:52:55Z")
Mahler’s “Der Kindertotenlieder” if classical counts. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2008, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-song/435014/22 "2008-01-25T21:55:35Z")
Sorry to post again, but I found a link for mine. [Goodbye](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pyZPDI54fI) — Elton live in 1971 ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2008, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-song/435014/23 "2008-01-25T21:59:51Z")
[QUOTE=Liberal] Sorry to post again, but I found a link for mine. [/QUOTE] Youtube can be an absolute _goldmine_ of nostalgia. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2008, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-song/435014/24 "2008-01-25T21:59:57Z")
[QUOTE=srand] [In the Aeroplane Over the Sea](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2jkyuT8unw) - Neutral Milk Hotel [/QUOTE] Really? I always thought it was kind of uplifting. I do feel a little sad whenever I hear it, but I think that’s just because I associate it with someone with whom I had an odd sort of relationship. Either way, though, I think it’s a beautiful song, capable of evoking emotions of any kind. My nomination is “Hey You” by Pink Floyd. For me, I knew, it had to be Pink Floyd. The question was just which of their songs was depressing enough. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2008, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-song/435014/25 "2008-01-25T22:00:56Z")
James Taylor’s [Long Ago and Far Away](http://www.actionext.com/names_j/james_taylor_lyrics/long_ago_and_far_away.html). ---
**Author:** ![Wakinyan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wakinyan/32/352_2.png) [@Wakinyan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wakinyan)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2008, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-song/435014/26 "2008-01-25T22:05:55Z")
[QUOTE=Liberal] \*\*Goodbye \*\* — Elton John and Bernie Taupin [/QUOTE] Thanks for sharing, that was a fine tune, indeed. My contestant is Bob Dylan’s [Not Dark Yet](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijiVYgvbP1M) . ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2008, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-song/435014/27 "2008-01-25T22:09:18Z")
Down in a Hole by Alice in Chains is pretty damned depressing. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2008, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-song/435014/28 "2008-01-25T22:10:24Z")
Hank Williams “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2008, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-song/435014/29 "2008-01-25T22:12:02Z")
The Yardbirds’ “Still I’m Sad” is right up there in the depression Hall of Fame. It’s sung in the style of a Gregorian Chant: _See the stars come falling down from the sky. Gently passing, they kiss your tears when you cry. See the wind come softly blow the hair from your face. See the rain hide away in disgrace. Still I’m sad. How I’m sad._ There is a second verse but I won’t type it because: 1. SDMB policy forbids the printing of a song’s entire lyrics (copyright issues). 2. I don’t feel like supplying the readers of this thread with Prozac™. Incidentally, I think this is post # 5,000 for me. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![srand](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@srand](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/srand)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2008, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-song/435014/30 "2008-01-25T22:15:42Z")
[QUOTE=Freudian Slit] Really? I always thought it was kind of uplifting. I do feel a little sad whenever I hear it, but I think that’s just because I associate it with someone with whom I had an odd sort of relationship. Either way, though, I think it’s a beautiful song, capable of evoking emotions of any kind. [/QUOTE] You’re right, overall the song does have an uplifting message, but still it makes me sad. The other songs on the album are actually a lot more grim. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2008, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-song/435014/31 "2008-01-25T22:17:35Z")
Gorecki - [3rd](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Lno9dkGRtQ) . I’m pretty sure this is Dawn Upshaw singing and although the video is bits from from Leon, it’s lovely. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2008, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-song/435014/32 "2008-01-25T22:29:13Z")
[QUOTE=fatgail] **Keep me in Your Heart For A While** by Warren Zevon is pretty f-ing depressing, but when you listen to it and know that he KNEW he was on his deathbed, and this was his last album…it’s heartwrenching. [/QUOTE] This is the song I came in here to mention. The first time I heard it I had to choke back tears. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2008, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-song/435014/33 "2008-01-25T22:35:43Z")
A whole slew of songs by **The Smiths** would have to make the list, notably [Asleep](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkdjLeMmSOQ&feature=related) and [Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9vn-Na4_eU) ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2008, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-song/435014/34 "2008-01-25T22:44:09Z")
[QUOTE=spoke-] A whole slew of songs by **The Smiths** would have to make the list, notably [Asleep](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkdjLeMmSOQ&feature=related) and [Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9vn-Na4_eU) [/QUOTE] Yah, [Reel around the fountain](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rdV7p3Qudc) or [Suffer little children](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdYif7TBl64). ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2008, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-song/435014/35 "2008-01-25T22:47:52Z")
Nodding in acceptance to many songs here, my own addition is Sufjan Stevens’ [Casimir Pulaski Day](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGEMx3TKxNc). ---
**Author:** ![Cub\_Mistress](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea666f/32.png) [@Cub\_Mistress](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cub_Mistress)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2008, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-song/435014/36 "2008-01-25T22:52:27Z")
Neil Young: The Needle and the Damage Done This one wrecks me every time. ---
**Author:** ![Icerigger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icerigger/32/432_2.png) [@Icerigger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icerigger)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2008, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-song/435014/37 "2008-01-25T22:55:46Z")
Carpenters, Goodbye to Love. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2008, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-song/435014/38 "2008-01-25T22:59:19Z")
I’m gonna have to go with Dan Fogelberg’s [Same Old Lang Syne](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Same_Old_Lang_Syne). Man, that song just depresses me every time I hear it. ---
**Author:** ![3acresandatruck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/e79b87/32.png) [@3acresandatruck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3acresandatruck)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2008, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-song/435014/39 "2008-01-25T23:09:41Z")
[_Roads to Moscow_](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxkN8UrxfDs) by Al Stewart ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2008, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-song/435014/40 "2008-01-25T23:17:38Z")
How about a song that has been the subject of many, many (_many_, many) threads on this board: [Ode to Billy Joe](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZt5Q-u4crc) by **Bobbie Gentry**? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-song/435014.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-song/435014.md?page=3)