# Saddest love song ever. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 14, 2007, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-love-song-ever/415518 "2007-08-14T03:33:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**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:** [August 14, 2007, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-love-song-ever/415518/21 "2007-08-14T06:52:52Z")
The Cure - [To Wish Impossible Things](http://www.uppercutmusic.com/artist_c/cure_the_lyrics/to_wish_impossible_things_lyrics.html) ---
**Author:** ![GreedySmurf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a698b9/32.png) [@GreedySmurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreedySmurf)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2007, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-love-song-ever/415518/22 "2007-08-14T07:12:06Z")
Every time I listen to \*Goodbye My Lover \* by James Blunt it sends a shiver down my spine. His song \*You’re Beautiful \* is also very sad and ethereal. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2007, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-love-song-ever/415518/23 "2007-08-14T08:29:30Z")
For me, it’s Sinéad O’Connor - _Nothing Compares 2 U_. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2007, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-love-song-ever/415518/24 "2007-08-14T09:35:37Z")
I always think [this](http://www.cowboylyrics.com/lyrics/jones-george/he-stopped-loving-her-today-18102.html) is worth a sniffle or two. ---
**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 14, 2007, 9:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-love-song-ever/415518/25 "2007-08-14T09:52:13Z")
What the heck…either _Why Can’t He Be You_ by Patsy Cline, or _That’s All I’ve Got to Say_ from _The Last Unicorn_. First things that came to mind. ---
**Author:** ![Sophistry\_and\_Illusion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Sophistry\_and\_Illusion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sophistry_and_Illusion)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2007, 9:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-love-song-ever/415518/26 "2007-08-14T09:52:30Z")
[QUOTE=Malacandra] I always think [this](http://www.cowboylyrics.com/lyrics/jones-george/he-stopped-loving-her-today-18102.html) is worth a sniffle or two. [/QUOTE] Ooh, that’s a good one. Traveling further along the traditional music route, we have Bill Monroe’s [Body and Soul.](http://www.cowboylyrics.com/lyrics/monroe-bill/with-body-and-soul-17478.html) The combination of the powerfully sad music, the lyrics, and Bill Monroe’s singing is something else. And, joy of joys, it’s available on I-Tunes. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2007, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-love-song-ever/415518/27 "2007-08-14T10:42:01Z")
Well, considering that everyone who has listened to GLOOMY SUNDAY has committed suicide soon after, I guess that won’t get any mentions. (One day, I listened to every version I could find on the Net and, well… BOO!) 😃 ---
**Author:** ![eenerms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cdc98d/32.png) [@eenerms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eenerms)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2007, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-love-song-ever/415518/28 "2007-08-14T11:15:29Z")
“Ne me quitte pas” Jaques Brel ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2007, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-love-song-ever/415518/29 "2007-08-14T11:19:03Z")
[QUOTE=fishbicycle] I vote for Janis Ian’s _Jesse_, sung by Roberta Flack. [/QUOTE] I forgot how sad this song is until I re-read the lyrics. Damn! ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2007, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-love-song-ever/415518/30 "2007-08-14T11:23:27Z")
I’m partial to “Forever Autumn” by Justin Hayward of the Moody Blues. “The summer sun is fading as the year grows old And darker days are drawing near… The winter winds will be much colder Now you’re not here” Ooh yeah, that’s cheery. ---
**Author:** ![Idlewild](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8491ac/32.png) [@Idlewild](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idlewild)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2007, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-love-song-ever/415518/31 "2007-08-14T11:29:04Z")
_Soft Shoulder_ by Ani Difranco is my saddest love song. Two people pulled over on the same night To look up at the same stars They both found their wheels were spinning In a soft shoulder When they got back into their cars And they missed fate’s appointed rendezvous It’s all about love that was just off in the timing/circumstances but knowing that the person could have been the whole world to you. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2007, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-love-song-ever/415518/32 "2007-08-14T11:48:44Z")
[QUOTE=HazelNutCoffee] Dire Straits’(s?) “Romeo and Juliet” always seems so heartbreaking to me, for some reason. Especially the last verse: [/QUOTE] Gotta back this one up. Knopfler hit something just as universal with this song as Shakespeare did. > [@](#): > > Come up on different streets they both were streets of shame > Both dirty both mean yes and the dream was just the same > And I dreamed your dream for you and now your dream is real > How can you look at me as if I was just another one of your deals ? > > Where you can fall for chains of silver you can fall for chains of gold > You can fall for pretty strangers and the promises they hold > You promised me everything you promised me think and thin > Now you just say “Oh Romeo, yeah, you know I used to have a scene with him” The casual dismissal by Juliet breaks my heart. ---
**Author:** ![carlb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carlb/32/5930_2.png) [@carlb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carlb)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2007, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-love-song-ever/415518/33 "2007-08-14T11:54:09Z")
[QUOTE=HazelNutCoffee] Dire Straits’(s?) “Romeo and Juliet” always seems so heartbreaking to me, for some reason. Especially the last verse: I can’t do the talk Like the talk on the TV And I can’t do a lovesong Like the way it’s meant to be Can’t do anything But I’d do anything for you Can’t do anything 'Cept be in love with you. [/QUOTE] Came here to say this. We saw Knopfler and Emmylou Harris at the Charter One Pavilion in Chicago last year. He did “Romeo & Juliet”, and about halfway through I looked over at my wife, and saw her eyes watering (and she _never_ cries because of music). That made it a little less embarrassing that I was openly weeping. Beautiful song. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2007, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-love-song-ever/415518/34 "2007-08-14T11:57:57Z")
The Winner Takes It All by _ABBA_. Given what they were going through. Both Sides Now by Joni Mitchell. ---
**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:** [August 14, 2007, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-love-song-ever/415518/35 "2007-08-14T12:17:11Z")
George Jones’s [He Stopped Loving Her Today](http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/He-Stopped-Loving-Her-Today-lyrics-George-Jones/79CAC5AE933B588348256BF8002C0BE1) He stopped loving her today They placed a wreath upon his door And soon they’ll carry him away He stopped loving her today ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2007, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-love-song-ever/415518/36 "2007-08-14T12:26:45Z")
[QUOTE=Zabali\_Clawbane] The Cure - [To Wish Impossible Things](http://www.uppercutmusic.com/artist_c/cure_the_lyrics/to_wish_impossible_things_lyrics.html) [/QUOTE] I’ve never heard this song, but I suspect it’s disqualified, as even _happy_ Cure songs are _depressing_. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2007, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-love-song-ever/415518/37 "2007-08-14T12:53:53Z")
[QUOTE=HazelNutCoffee] Dire Straits’(s?) “Romeo and Juliet” always seems so heartbreaking to me, for some reason. [/QUOTE] You win. Some others: **“I Can’t Help It if I’m Still In Love With You”** - **Hank Williams** (Hank sees his ex with another man.) **“You Don’t Know Me”** - as performed by **Ray Charles** (He’s too shy to tell his friend he loves her. Now she’s with another man.) **“4th of July”** - **X** (the death of love) This lyric kills me: _She gives me her cheek When I want her lips Oh, but I don’t have the strength to go On the wrong side of town In a dark apartment We gave up trying so long ago…_ ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2007, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-love-song-ever/415518/38 "2007-08-14T13:01:30Z")
[QUOTE=Annie-Xmas] George Jones’s [He Stopped Loving Her Today](http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/He-Stopped-Loving-Her-Today-lyrics-George-Jones/79CAC5AE933B588348256BF8002C0BE1) He stopped loving her today They placed a wreath upon his door And soon they’ll carry him away He stopped loving her today [/QUOTE] [Too right](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=8878663&postcount=24). 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Layla01](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/layla01/32/15552_2.png) [@Layla01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Layla01)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2007, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-love-song-ever/415518/39 "2007-08-14T13:02:00Z")
[The Day you Went Away](http://www.wendymatthews.com.au/thedayyouwentawaylyrics.htm) by Wendy Matthews - always makes me a bit teary. - hey there’s not a cloud in sight it’s as blue as your blue goodbye and I thought that it would rain the day you went away\* _sniff_ ---
**Author:** ![I\_m\_No\_Saint](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/977dab/32.png) [@I\_m\_No\_Saint](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_m_No_Saint)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2007, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-love-song-ever/415518/40 "2007-08-14T13:05:34Z")
[QUOTE=Rubystreak] “Black” by Pearl Jam is pretty damn sad: “I know someday you’ll have a beautiful life, I know you’ll be the star in somebody else’s sky, but why can’t it be mine?” [/QUOTE] Have you heard Aaron Lewis’ version? It’s worth tracking down. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-love-song-ever/415518.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-love-song-ever/415518.md?page=3)