I have to go with my old favorite, The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald 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 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.
That song they played at the end of ever episode of the Incredible Hulk.
Marc
Denny by Pansy Division
Amazing Grace. Gets me every time, no matter what.
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.
30,000 ft, Assemblage 23.
Lyrics can be found at Assemblage 23’s site, 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:
The version by the Cowboy Junkies is the saddest song ever sung.
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.
Mad World, by Gary Jules.
Donnie Darko wasn’t a great movie but this song has always been a tear jerker.
Precious Things, by Tori Amos
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.
The Carpenters.
As someone said, Cowboy Junkies Sweet Jane
“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.
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.
“Martha” by Tom Waits. I burst into tears the first time I heard it.
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.
Hide and Seek - Imogen Heap (with one hilarious exception)
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)
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.
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.
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.
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) which is a haunting Irish ballad.
Jezebel - 10,000 Maniacs
Black - Pearl Jam (surprised no mention yet)