# Saddest song of all time? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 23, 2003, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-song-of-all-time/214756 "2003-11-23T00:32:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![raz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@raz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raz)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2003, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-song-of-all-time/214756/41 "2003-11-23T21:19:09Z")
Damn straight, **eli**. Hank’s songs go straight to the heart. I love his music because its just one guy singing how he feels, and everyone can relate. I don’t know if I can pick one song to be the saddest, but I think “A Night to Remember” by Joe Diffie is rather sad. Actually, pretty much every sad country song could be said to be one of the saddest songs of all times. Maybe thats just me being a country fanatic, I dunno. ---
**Author:** ![shannablu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8baadc/32.png) [@shannablu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shannablu)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2003, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-song-of-all-time/214756/42 "2003-11-23T22:20:18Z")
How Do I Live Without You - Leann Rimes ---
**Author:** ![Moo\_the\_Magic\_Cow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ebca7d/32.png) [@Moo\_the\_Magic\_Cow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moo_the_Magic_Cow)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2003, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-song-of-all-time/214756/43 "2003-11-23T22:40:11Z")
> [@](#): > > The Mountain Goats - No Children I think that song’s hilarious ---
**Author:** ![medstar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f07891/32.png) [@medstar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/medstar)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2003, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-song-of-all-time/214756/44 "2003-11-23T22:42:57Z")
What about _Still in Saigon_ by the Charlie Daniels Band? ---
**Author:** ![daniel801](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@daniel801](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/daniel801)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2003, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-song-of-all-time/214756/45 "2003-11-23T23:37:16Z")
Danny Boy. ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2003, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-song-of-all-time/214756/46 "2003-11-23T23:41:35Z")
The Ballad of Lucy Jordan They Shoot Horses Don’t They? ---
**Author:** ![LilyoftheValley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/54ee81/32.png) [@LilyoftheValley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LilyoftheValley)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-song-of-all-time/214756/47 "2003-11-24T01:59:16Z")
Definitely: _Dust in the Wind_ by **Kansas** ---
**Author:** ![Odieman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a87d85/32.png) [@Odieman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odieman)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-song-of-all-time/214756/48 "2003-11-24T02:00:58Z")
When I saw this thread title, I immediately thought of “Here Comes a Regular” by the Replacements…so I would like to second Huskerdudes nomination ---
**Author:** ![Uvula\_Donor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e19adc/32.png) [@Uvula\_Donor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uvula_Donor)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-song-of-all-time/214756/49 "2003-11-24T02:52:07Z")
_Fallen Embers_ by **Enya** ---
**Author:** ![Sylkyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/da6949/32.png) [@Sylkyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sylkyn)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-song-of-all-time/214756/50 "2003-11-24T03:19:33Z")
“Cats In the Cradle”…Harry Chapin. It pertains to a little boy and his dad…but reminds me of all I missed with my own father who died when I was six. I love that song…and cry every time I hear it. ---
**Author:** ![ZebWalton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/fbc32d/32.png) [@ZebWalton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZebWalton)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-song-of-all-time/214756/51 "2003-11-24T03:20:42Z")
\*\*bobkitty wrote: \*\* > [@](#): > > How could we have gotten this far and not mentioned the Ultimate Sad Song? **Puff the Magic Dragon** That’s not a sad song. It’s a song about getting high on marijuana. Even Tipper Gore knows that. Sheesh.😉 [Robert De Niro voice]_Are you a pothead, Fokker?_[/Robert De Niro voice] ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-song-of-all-time/214756/52 "2003-11-24T03:41:52Z")
I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again. The saddest song (in terms of being truly emotionalyl draining and not maudlin) is Al Green’s cover of “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart?” ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-song-of-all-time/214756/53 "2003-11-24T03:47:55Z")
The Beatles’ **For No One** does have the most wonderfully sad horn solo ever. I’ve got to disagree on Clapton’s **Tears in Heaven**. I’ll add Jim Croce’s **Operator** to the list. This is embarrassing to admit, but since I haven’t been getting much sleep and I’ve been under a lot of stress lately, a lot of John Denver’s canon makes me cry. ---
**Author:** ![guy\_from\_wpa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/5e9695/32.png) [@guy\_from\_wpa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guy_from_wpa)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-song-of-all-time/214756/54 "2003-11-24T03:51:19Z")
The Bee Gees: New York Mining Disaster 1941 ---
**Author:** ![INSANE1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f0a364/32.png) [@INSANE1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/INSANE1)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-song-of-all-time/214756/55 "2003-11-24T03:58:55Z")
Elvis Presley’s ‘You were always on my mind’ ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-song-of-all-time/214756/56 "2003-11-24T04:30:13Z")
I’m going to nominate two: One, _Got to Begin Again_ by **Billy Joel**. > [@](#): > > I was dreaming of tomorrow, so I sacrificed today > And it sure was a grand waste of time > And despite all the truth that’s been thrown in my face > I just can’t get you out of my mind > And I’ve got to begin again > Though I don’t know how to start > Yes, I’ve got to begin again > And it’s hard And either _Goodnight, Elisabeth_ or _Raining In Baltimore_ by Counting Crows. _Goodnight Elisabeth_: > [@](#): > > I was wasted in the afternoon > Waiting on a train > I woke up in pieces, and > Elisabeth had disappeared again > I wish you were inside of me > I hope that you’re okay > I hope you’re resting quietly > I just wanted to say Goodnight > Goodnight Elisabeth - or - > [@](#): > > This circus is falling > Down on its knees > The big top is tumbling down > It’s raining in Baltimore > 50 miles east > Where you should be > No one’s around To me, these are all about ultimate longing. And _Raining In Baltimore_ reminds me of my dad, who died almost three years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Ruiniform](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9de053/32.png) [@Ruiniform](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruiniform)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-song-of-all-time/214756/57 "2003-11-24T04:30:38Z")
I have to second Art Garfunkel’s **Bright Eyes** – when I was little, I loved the Watership Down movie, which was quite macabre and heady for an animated talking-rabbit flick. Also, I must nod to Cash’s interpretation of **Hurt** as well-- he sounds so…weary in it. Especially knowing that the single came out around the time June died (and not too long before his own death). Having an old, weathered voice singing it lends so much more personality and subtext than Trent Reznor’s slimy whisper. ---
**Author:** ![rackensack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@rackensack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rackensack)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-song-of-all-time/214756/58 "2003-11-24T06:06:31Z")
At the top of my list would be “It Makes No Difference” by **The Band** , from _Northern Lights-Southern Cross_. **Lyle Lovett’s** “She’s Already Made Up Her Mind” is up there as well. I’ll second the nomination above of “And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda”. ---
**Author:** ![lokij](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/5e9695/32.png) [@lokij](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lokij)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-song-of-all-time/214756/59 "2003-11-24T06:43:38Z")
“Padraic My Prince” by Bright Eyes “Kilkelly, Ireland” performed by whoever, it’s Rita and Mary Rankin to me “I’m so Lonesome I could Cry” by Hank Williams “The Cellar Song” by The Palace Brothers “Black Dog” by Nick Drake “Mr. Banker” by Lynyrd Skynyrd or “Four Walls of Raiford” “Family Reserve” by Lyle Lovett or “Baltimore” “Where the Wild Roses Grow” by Nick Cave “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” by Gordon Lightfoot “I am Stretched on your Grave” by Dead Can Dance “The Foggy Dew” by anybody but mine is The Chieftains with Sinead O’Connor “Starlight and Saxophone” by Tom Smith “Marie” Townes Van Zandt “The Fall of Troy” Tom Waits “Red Water” by Type “O” Negative Those are the saddest in my collection. My wife refuses to listen to a couple of them. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-song-of-all-time/214756/60 "2003-11-24T08:19:41Z")
“Exit Music (From a Film)” by Radiohead is simply the most depressingly sad thing I have ever heard. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-song-of-all-time/214756.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-song-of-all-time/214756.md?page=4)