# Music to slash your wrists to... (figurately speaking, of course) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 5, 2008, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-to-slash-your-wrists-to-figurately-speaking-of-course/458873 "2008-08-05T03:02:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2008, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-to-slash-your-wrists-to-figurately-speaking-of-course/458873/81 "2008-08-09T03:33:45Z")
If you feel yourself possessed by an overabundance of good spirits, Renaissance’s “Cold Is Being” will drain them right off: \* behold the feeling lonely the living part is done the dying has begun the world is spinning slow so tired slow\* Beautifully sung by Annie Haslam, but damn, that is one stone cold downer. > [@rowrrbazzle](#): > > In the final scene of the opera, Magda kills herself by turning on the gas in her apartment. As she dies, she hallucinates a chorus of familiar people around her, singing cheery stuff like “Lo! Death’s frontiers are open. All aboard!” If I was a DJ playing music from that scene on the radio, I’d segue right into “Love Train”. Speaking of segues, one I used to do on-air involved “Harold The Barrel” by Genesis (a cheery song about a guy who mutilates himself and then jumps off a building), fading out eerily with Harold’s rapidly diminishing cries and on into the disembodied voices of the opening of Supertramp’s “A Soapbox Opera”: _“We must not stand still, For the night is coming, Every man, every woman and child, Everybody help me”_ ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2008, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-to-slash-your-wrists-to-figurately-speaking-of-course/458873/82 "2008-08-09T03:44:57Z")
Dave Van Ronk, “Last Call” (sung a cappella, quoted in Lawrence Block’s “When The Sacred Ginmill Closes”): \*And so we’ll drink the final drink that cuts the brain in sections where answers do not signify and there aren’t any questions. I broke my heart the other day. It will mend again tomorrow. If I’d been drunk when I was born I’d be ignorant of sorrow. \* ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2008, 9:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-to-slash-your-wrists-to-figurately-speaking-of-course/458873/83 "2008-08-09T09:34:13Z")
A large portion of the repertoire of Melanie. It’s what she does. nominees: I Really Loved Harold Detroit or Buffalo Imaginary Heroes Leftover Wine Stop I Don’t Wanna Hear it The Good Guys Uptown Down Summer Weaving Stoneground Words I am Not a Poet ---
**Author:** ![supergoose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@supergoose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/supergoose)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2008, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-to-slash-your-wrists-to-figurately-speaking-of-course/458873/84 "2008-08-09T20:04:44Z")
The song the tv show Bones used in the first season at the end of the episode “The Superhero in the Alley”. According to IMDB, it’s “Feel It Now” by Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. It’s beautiful and sad and despairing but also a bit at peace. I imagine that if I were to commit suicide, my feelings would be similar - some combination of sorrow and peace. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2008, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-to-slash-your-wrists-to-figurately-speaking-of-course/458873/85 "2008-08-10T00:01:05Z")
[QUOTE=Sunshine and Smiles] Hide and Seek - Imogen Heap. There’s something about it that just makes you want to, well, slash your wrists. [/QUOTE] [This will cheer you up!](http://www.ebaumsworld.com/video/watch/18964) Not as funny ☹ … Dave Mathews - Stay or Leave Sia - Breath Me Jewel - Foolish Games Mazzy Star - Fade Into You Toad the Wet Sprocket - Listen ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2008, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-to-slash-your-wrists-to-figurately-speaking-of-course/458873/86 "2008-08-10T00:55:56Z")
If I could change your mind - **Alan Parson Project** Almost every song on the album “E”, by **E** Almost every song on Magic and Loss, by **Lou Reed** Forever Autumn - **Justin Hayward** Goodbye Cruel World - **Pink Floyd** Time - **Pink Floyd** Seventeen - **Janice Ian** ---
**Author:** ![Apocalypso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Apocalypso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apocalypso)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2008, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-to-slash-your-wrists-to-figurately-speaking-of-course/458873/87 "2008-08-10T01:12:46Z")
**Bright Eyes** (any song) Not really music to kill yourself to, more the stuff you listen to first to get sad enough. I remember one song from Letting off the Happiness about a little brother that drowned in the bathtub… For actually kill yourself (or someone else 😉 ) to, I’d recommend the Murder Ballads album from **Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds**. [Edit] No one’s mentioned **Tom Waits** yet? ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2008, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-to-slash-your-wrists-to-figurately-speaking-of-course/458873/88 "2008-08-10T01:29:48Z")
_Tomorrow Wendy_ by Andy Prieboy, probably better known is the inferior Concrete Blonde version: \*It is complete now the two ends of time are neatly tied A one-way street, she’s walking to end of the line And there she meets the faces she keeps in her heart and mind They say ‘good bye’ Tomorrow, Wendy, is going to die, They say ‘good bye’ Tomorrow, Wendy, is going to die, \* _How to Make Gravy_ by Paul Kelly _Three Babies_ by Sinead O’Connor _Ballad of Lou the Welterweight_ by the Felice Brothers ---
**Author:** ![saddata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@saddata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saddata)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2008, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-to-slash-your-wrists-to-figurately-speaking-of-course/458873/89 "2008-08-10T02:32:02Z")
the old blues classic _st. james infirmary_; _danny boy_; _hurt_; bonnie raitt’s _i can’t make you love me_; _by the time i get to phoenix_ ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2008, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-to-slash-your-wrists-to-figurately-speaking-of-course/458873/90 "2008-08-10T16:44:57Z")
“Crucifixion Lane” by Procol Harum, which has always seemed to me to be Jesus’ suicide note. Last verse: Youd better listen anybody, 'cause its me and you – that’s it And in case you find your maker perhaps you’ll plead for us a bit All my sick is in my stomach, all my sweat is clearly fear And if you could see inside me I don’t think you’d have me here Tell the helmsman veer to starboard, bring this ship around to port And if the sea was not so salty I could sink instead of walk And in case of passing strangers who are standing where I fell Tell the truth: you never knew me, and in truth its just as well It’s from Robin Trower’s days with the group - he sings the song and plays amazing guitar as well. ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2008, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-to-slash-your-wrists-to-figurately-speaking-of-course/458873/91 "2008-08-10T16:49:40Z")
This is the last time by Keane Everyones got to learn sometime by The Korgis The End by the Doors Cant Stand losing you by the Police ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2008, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-to-slash-your-wrists-to-figurately-speaking-of-course/458873/92 "2008-08-10T17:17:59Z")
_Christms Wish_—El Vez (“splash” :eek: ) Heiwa no Inori (Prayer for Peace)—_Gojira_ soundtrack ---
**Author:** ![irishgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@irishgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irishgirl)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2008, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-to-slash-your-wrists-to-figurately-speaking-of-course/458873/93 "2008-08-10T21:01:17Z")
Jeff Buckley- _Lover, You Should Have Come Over_ Kurt Cobain’s version of Leadbelly’s _Where Did You Sleep Last Night?_ Radiohead- _Creep_ Elliott Smith- _Sweet Adeline_ Elvis Costello- _Heart Shaped Bruise_ Tom McCrae- _You Cut Her Hair_ Nina Simone or Billie Holliday- _Don’t Explain_ Etta James- _I Would Rather Go Blind_ And finally… The Moody Blues- _Nights in White Satin_ ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2008, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-to-slash-your-wrists-to-figurately-speaking-of-course/458873/94 "2008-08-11T21:00:58Z")
Entire album “Amerika” by Tonio K. Some truly disturbing images. Early Tom Waits, heck, even current stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Apollyon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/apollyon/32/4238_2.png) [@Apollyon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apollyon)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2008, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-to-slash-your-wrists-to-figurately-speaking-of-course/458873/95 "2008-08-12T02:17:24Z")
[QUOTE=Bosda Di’Chi of Tricor] _The Chieftans_ and Sinead O’Conner did a version of _The Foggy Dew_. that could make anybody who admires brave men weep. [/QUOTE] Oh yes, that’s on “Long Black Veil”… the eponymous track (featuring Mick Jagger) may also fit the OP. Another of the Chieftains co-operative albums, “Tears of Stone” has Joni Mitchell’s “The Magdalene Laundries”; quite a haunting piece. Marianne Faithfull already got a mention for the “Ballad of Lucy Jordan”, but quite a lot of that album “Broken English” would qualify. My wife claims that Pink Floyd’s “The Wall” and “The Final Cut” are wrist slashing music… but I listen to them to cheer me up. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Bin-Gay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@Bin-Gay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bin-Gay)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2008, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-to-slash-your-wrists-to-figurately-speaking-of-course/458873/96 "2008-08-12T03:32:55Z")
Anything by Janis Ian. There’s something about her voice that strikes the depression chord in me. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-to-slash-your-wrists-to-figurately-speaking-of-course/458873.md?page=4)