# Recommend me some sad songs, with lyrics. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 6, 2006, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-sad-songs-with-lyrics/355629 "2006-05-06T01:26:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speaker_for_the_Dead)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2006, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-sad-songs-with-lyrics/355629/1 "2006-05-06T01:26:51Z")
I like to imagine that you all follow my threads with a keen interest, so I’m certain that you remember my past request for sad instrumentals. Well, here’s its long overdue sister thread. As should be obvious, I’m searching for sad songs that have lyrics. Now, I’ll have you know that I’m a picky little monster, so I’ve got to lay down some rules. I’d like these sads to be sad to most people. Basically, I’m heartless–if Raffi’s _Banana Phone_ tears you up because your favourite tape (that you’ve lost) had it on it, that really sucks for you, but most people wouldn’t share your reaction. On the other hand, the plight of all of the folks in _Streets of London_ ought to make anybody a little glum, so it’s a good choice. Naturally, I thank you all ahead of time for your suggestions. ---
**Author:** ![LawMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2006, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-sad-songs-with-lyrics/355629/2 "2006-05-06T01:31:21Z")
The Pogues, “The Band Played Waltzing Matilda.” _So they collected the cripples, the wounded, the maimed And they shipped us back home to Australia The armless, the legless, the blind, the insane_ It’s giving me shivers right now, and I’m not even listening to it–just thinking about it. Listening to it generally brings on the tears. ---
**Author:** ![Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speaker_for_the_Dead)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2006, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-sad-songs-with-lyrics/355629/3 "2006-05-06T01:33:03Z")
An additional comment: the song can be sad either for its lyrics or for its sound. Of course, if the lyrics are plainly happy, then a sad melody might not save it. I leave that up to your expert judgement. Another example is _Superman_ by the Crash Test Dummies. It illustrates a lot more than simply the state of Superman’s life. ---
**Author:** ![Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speaker_for_the_Dead)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2006, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-sad-songs-with-lyrics/355629/4 "2006-05-06T01:34:31Z")
> [@Lemur Catta](#): > > The Pogues, “The Band Played Waltzing Matilda.” Great start! That’s definitely the sort of stuff I’m looking for. ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2006, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-sad-songs-with-lyrics/355629/5 "2006-05-06T01:40:56Z")
Ghost Town by [Huns and Dr. Beeker](http://hunsanddrbeeker.com/music/). You can listen to it, or even watch a video which has it as the sound via a link on [this](http://www.angelfire.com/extreme4/kiddofspeed/afterword.html) page. Also, Closedown from Disentegration by The Cure. ---
**Author:** ![Windwalker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/5e9695/32.png) [@Windwalker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Windwalker)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2006, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-sad-songs-with-lyrics/355629/6 "2006-05-06T01:46:17Z")
I find myself always recommending Elliott Smith for a lot of these types of threads, but here he really applies. You can choose from about 75% of his catalog, but here’s part of The Biggest Lie: You gave everything you had Wanted everything to Stop that bad ---
**Author:** ![tiny\_ham](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@tiny\_ham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tiny_ham)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2006, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-sad-songs-with-lyrics/355629/7 "2006-05-06T01:48:37Z")
The music is super duper sad but the lyrics can be interpreted either way: **The Luckiest** by Ben Folds and the classic: **Hallelujah** by Jeff Buckley or Rufus Wainright or any of the six thousand people who have done it. ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2006, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-sad-songs-with-lyrics/355629/8 "2006-05-06T01:49:42Z")
Er, to see the video you will have to look at the page from that site titled “High resolution pictures and videos”. :o I misremembered that the page I linked had both a link with both the song, and also the video. It only has the song. ---
**Author:** ![tiny\_ham](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@tiny\_ham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tiny_ham)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2006, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-sad-songs-with-lyrics/355629/9 "2006-05-06T01:50:17Z")
Coding Fever! Catch It! :smack: ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2006, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-sad-songs-with-lyrics/355629/10 "2006-05-06T02:00:30Z")
Sting’s “Fields of Gold” as sung by Eva Cassidy, though I’ll admit it might be sadder because of the circumstances of her death–so it might require extra knowledge not inherent in the song. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2006, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-sad-songs-with-lyrics/355629/11 "2006-05-06T02:13:58Z")
How about “Eli the Barrow Boy” by the Decemberists? “Would I could afford to buy my love a fine gown Made of gold and silk arabian thread But I am dead and gone and lying in a church ground But still I push my barrow all the day Still I push my barrow all the day.” But, even without the lyrics, I find the melody of the song itself to be beautifully mournful (pardon the oxymoron, but I think you know what I mean) - almost like an old English minstrel lamentation of a dead knight (or something) ---
**Author:** ![Hanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b3f665/32.png) [@Hanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hanna)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2006, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-sad-songs-with-lyrics/355629/12 "2006-05-06T02:14:01Z")
No Bravery by james Blunt - sad and depressing. ---
**Author:** ![Savannah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savannah)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2006, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-sad-songs-with-lyrics/355629/13 "2006-05-06T02:14:48Z")
**Has He Got A Friend For Me** , Richard Thompson, sung by Maria McKee. \* Saturday night and I’m all alone no ring on the doorbell, no ring on the phone\* Don’t tell anyone, but the Forrester Sisters’ singing **Letters Home** makes me cry. So does **Travellin’ Soldier** done by the Dixie Chicks. Oh! More Richard Thompson: \*\*The Dimming of the Day. \*\* _This old house is falling down around my ears I’m drowning in the river of my tears_ ---
**Author:** ![Savannah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savannah)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2006, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-sad-songs-with-lyrics/355629/14 "2006-05-06T02:16:55Z")
Tom Waits’ **Broken Bicycles** _Broken bicycles, old busted chains With rusted handle bars, out in the rain_ ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2006, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-sad-songs-with-lyrics/355629/15 "2006-05-06T02:22:15Z")
John Denvers’ song Junk is sad IMO as well. It is from his album Poems Prayers and Promises. It has been performed by other people as well. ---
**Author:** ![LawMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2006, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-sad-songs-with-lyrics/355629/16 "2006-05-06T02:39:07Z")
A few other thoughts that popped up: Bad Religion’s “Better Off Dead.” I’m not certain if this is properly considered sad or just angsty, and to be entirely honest, it’s not the Bad Religion original that I’m thinking of when I’m putting it here. Rather, it’s the cover by (former) doom metallers Anathema, which is about as far removed from the punky original as you can imagine. Nick Cave’s “Where the Wild Roses Grow” and “The Kindness of Strangers” have both been known to get me all choked up if I’m paying attention to them. I’m not sure that the lyrics of either would properly convey the emotion without the accompanying music, so I’ll refrain from quoting here and suggest you go listen to 'em instead! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Frostillicus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Frostillicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frostillicus)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2006, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-sad-songs-with-lyrics/355629/17 "2006-05-06T02:52:06Z")
\*\*If the Phone Doesn’t Ring, its Me \*\* by Jimmy Buffett. The title says it all. \*\*Didn’t Even Know Her Name \*\* by Bread. "_Should’ve kept on going, better that than knowing that he made her his wife. He took her life. You know, I didn’t even know her name."_ ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slip\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f475e1/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slip\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slip_1)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2006, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-sad-songs-with-lyrics/355629/18 "2006-05-06T03:06:44Z")
OK … I officially dislike the OP for making me think of this one 😛 \*Feed Jake Sung by: Pirates Of The Mississippi I’m standing at the crossroads in life… And I don’t know which way to go… You know you’ve got my heart, babe… But my music’s got my soul…\* Hell, reading the lyrics makes me misty-eyed. And, it’s a time that being one of those people who recalls full arrangements (with vocals) at will really sucks. :smack: There’s also “Shooting Star” by Bad Company, but I think it’s because I’m an emotional sap. I generally can’t listen to it in the car - when it gets to the lines _Mama came to the door With a teardrop in her eye Johnny said, don’t cry, mama Smile and wave goodbye_ I generally lose it. ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2006, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-sad-songs-with-lyrics/355629/19 "2006-05-06T04:42:00Z")
**VNV Nation** “Forsaken (Vocal Version)” _And whose life do I lead? Whose blood do I bleed?_ **Assemblage 23** “Disappoint” (about his father’s suicide) _And so I ask for one more chance To understand this senseless circumstance_ **Assemblage 23** “30KFT” _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_ The last song (“30kft”) is particularly chilling. ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2006, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-sad-songs-with-lyrics/355629/20 "2006-05-06T04:54:33Z")
I’d like to refer you to my brand new [“Staff Recommends” selection](http://a1204.g.akamai.net/7/1204/1401/05110415011/images.barnesandnoble.com/images/10350000/10351160.jpg) at the bookstore. If you can’t find one you like in there, how about this Joni Mitchell song the author somehow overlooked: **Song for Sharon** _"A woman I knew just drowned herself The well was deep and muddy_" [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-sad-songs-with-lyrics/355629.md?page=2)