# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2008, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-song/435014/41 "2008-01-25T23:29:22Z")
I have to go with my old favorite, [The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald](http://gordonlightfoot.com/wreckoftheedmundfitzgerald.shtml) by Gordon Lightfoot. Seven verses. The first reference to death is in the third line, and it gets worse from there. While we’re on the subject, let me commend a book called [I Hate Myself and Want to Die](http://www.popmatters.com/pm/books/reviews/i-hate-myself-and-want-to-die-the-52-most-depressing-songs-youve-ever-heard) by Tom Reynolds. He pretty much exhausts the discussion of depressing songs, and you’ll find many of the songs here listed in the book. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2008, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-song/435014/42 "2008-01-25T23:33:02Z")
That song they played at the end of ever episode of the Incredible Hulk. Marc ---
**Author:** ![lee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lee/32/7455_2.png) [@lee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lee)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2008, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-song/435014/43 "2008-01-25T23:36:00Z")
Denny by Pansy Division ---
**Author:** ![bufftabby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/77aa72/32.png) [@bufftabby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bufftabby)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2008, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-song/435014/44 "2008-01-25T23:46:59Z")
Amazing Grace. Gets me every time, no matter what. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2008, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-song/435014/45 "2008-01-25T23:57:32Z")
_Reason to Believe_ by Bruce Springsteen to paraphrase: horrible shit happens all the time to undeserving people and there’s nothing you can do about it. People find some reason to go on living, but I’m not sure what it is. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2008, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-song/435014/46 "2008-01-26T00:05:17Z")
30,000 ft, Assemblage 23. Lyrics can be found at [Assemblage 23’s site](http://www.assemblage23.com/frameset.html), but it’s framed, so you’ll have to go to the album Storm in the lyrics section. The first verse gives an idea, though: > [@](#): > > Hello, if you’re there pick up the phone > I’m calling from 30,000 feet above you > The captain’s just informed us that our plane is going down > So I’m calling for one last time to say I love you ---
**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 26, 2008, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-song/435014/47 "2008-01-26T00:29:00Z")
[QUOTE=Annie-Xmas] Hank Williams “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” [/QUOTE] The version by the Cowboy Junkies is the saddest song ever sung. ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2008, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-song/435014/48 "2008-01-26T00:50:35Z")
[QUOTE=Gangster Octopus] Elanor Rigby by the Beatles [/QUOTE] It’s a curious thing that sunnily-dispositioned Paul McCartney was responsible for some of the Beatles’ most bleakly depressing lyrics. “For No One” is another one. John Lennon didn’t write downbeat songs like that, despite seeming to be less content than McCartney in his personal life. He did write some ironically self-referential songs like “Help” and “Nowhere Man”, but at least they had a bit of uplift in them, unlike McCartney’s unrelentingly grim songs. ---
**Author:** ![Tamryne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3e96dc/32.png) [@Tamryne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamryne)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2008, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-song/435014/49 "2008-01-26T00:58:53Z")
[Mad World](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4N3N1MlvVc4), by Gary Jules. Donnie Darko wasn’t a great movie but this song has always been a tear jerker. [Precious Things](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42OQlroK7SM), by Tori Amos ---
**Author:** ![Charger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df788c/32.png) [@Charger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charger)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2008, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-song/435014/50 "2008-01-26T01:06:59Z")
_He Stopped Loving Her Today_ by George Jones. If they ever play that at a funeral, it might generate an emotional black hole that could destroy the universe. ---
**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 26, 2008, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-song/435014/51 "2008-01-26T01:18:39Z")
The [Carpenters](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKh86kOoiWQ&feature=related). As someone said, Cowboy Junkies [Sweet Jane](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHRFZFmEq9o) ---
**Author:** ![Kneepants\_Erasmus\_the\_Humanist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/54ee81/32.png) [@Kneepants\_Erasmus\_the\_Humanist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kneepants_Erasmus_the_Humanist)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2008, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-song/435014/52 "2008-01-26T01:27:38Z")
“Some Mother’s Son” by The Kinks. This is a really beautiful song that perfectly captures the awfulness of war. I really love it, but cannot listen to it because it ruins my day. Even thinking about it depresses me. Now I am sad. Thanks a lot. ---
**Author:** ![Gail](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Gail](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gail)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2008, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-song/435014/53 "2008-01-26T02:09:30Z")
I agree with _Hurt_ by NIN–I downloaded the “quiet” version for my iPod and it just breaks my heart. Some other nominees: _Nothing Else Matters_ by Metallica and _Something’s Always Wrong_ by Toad the Wet Sprocket. ---
**Author:** ![BrassyPhrase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea666f/32.png) [@BrassyPhrase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrassyPhrase)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2008, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-song/435014/54 "2008-01-26T03:14:23Z")
“Martha” by Tom Waits. I burst into tears the first time I heard it. ---
**Author:** ![MadPansy64](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@MadPansy64](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MadPansy64)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2008, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-song/435014/55 "2008-01-26T03:22:04Z")
Obscure oldie – Gayle Garnett’s “Little Man” Actually, her entire (only?) album is a recipe for Prozac abuse. I can’t think of a single song on it that isn’t horrifically depressing when given just a little thought. Surviving a nuclear war, romantic failure, child abuse, being an orphan . . . hell, even the perky anthem for the heartbroken “I’ll Sing in the Sunshine” is based in despair. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2008, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-song/435014/56 "2008-01-26T03:41:08Z")
Hide and Seek - Imogen Heap ([with one hilarious exception)](http://www.metacafe.com/watch/530084/snl_digital_short_dear_sister/) Beautiful - James Blunt (or anything else by him) Stan - Eminem feat Dido Warning Sign - Coldplay Fix You - Coldplay Hallelujah - Jeff Buckley Foolish Games - Jewel Apologize - OneRepublic Landslide - Fleetwood Mac (also versions by The Smashing Pumpkins and Tori Amos) Walk on the Ocean - Toad the Wet Sprocket Fade into You - Mazzy Star (except for the scene in Starship Trooper where it was inexplicably playing over the fight in the mess hall) Taxi Ride - Tori Amos (or really any Tori Amos song) Breath Me - Sia Piano Man - Billy Joel (interestingly, I’ve always found Downeaster Alexis more defiant than depressing) ---
**Author:** ![lokij](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/5e9695/32.png) [@lokij](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lokij)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2008, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-song/435014/57 "2008-01-26T03:43:13Z")
Little Girl and the Dreadful Snake by Bill Monroe Padraic My Prince by Brighteyes My Sister’s Tiny Hands by The Handsome Family (really, just about Anything from The Handsome Family) Those spring to mind after some already mentioned. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2008, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-song/435014/58 "2008-01-26T04:07:35Z")
My vote: Messages by OMD. Starts off as nostalgic but in the end expresses that even with communication we are all ultimately alone, especially when we are not with the ones we love. Plus the repeated hook is just so muddling and, well, depressing. [QUOTE=Freudian Slit] 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. [/QUOTE] I’d agree, except that the re-emergence of the theme (i.e. after “open your heart, i’m comin’ home…”) sends chills down my spine every time and almost makes me cry but in a good way – it’s one last expression of hope in an otherwise bleak part of the song cycle. ---
**Author:** ![Pixilated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/aeb1de/32.png) [@Pixilated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pixilated)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2008, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-song/435014/59 "2008-01-26T04:10:36Z")
only one? I see where some people “cheated” =P It really is a toss-up between “Hollow” by Godsmack, and [Where are You, (Tonight I Wonder)](http://www.hcs.harvard.edu/~celts/songs/Where%20Are%20You.html) which is a haunting Irish ballad. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2008, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-song/435014/60 "2008-01-26T04:35:23Z")
Jezebel - 10,000 Maniacs Black - Pearl Jam (surprised no mention yet) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-song/435014.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-depressing-song/435014.md?page=4)