# 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:** 6
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-song-of-all-time/214756/101 "2003-11-28T01:48:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by kevlaw \* > **My girlfriend died at about the same time as Eric Clapton’s son and someone bought be Tears in Heaven on 12in.** I’m so very sorry, **kevlaw**. ☹ It’s strange, but sometimes, it takes confrontation with situations like yours to demonstrate how frickin’ lucky we really are. And yes, it’s a gorgeous song. Not over the top sentimental, but not avoiding the tought parts either. Just perfect. I’ve always admired Clapton, but my interest got lost a bit with that whole early 90’s Unplugged hype. Then when he brought out _Tears in Heaven_, he was right back at the top of my list. Wow. ---
**Author:** ![Gail](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Gail](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gail)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-song-of-all-time/214756/102 "2003-11-28T01:49:14Z")
“Something’s Always Wrong” by Toad the Wet Sprocket “Don’t Laugh at Me” by Mark Wills (?) “Long Long Time” by Linda Ronstadt ---
**Author:** ![Kaotic\_Newtral](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/71e660/32.png) [@Kaotic\_Newtral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaotic_Newtral)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-song-of-all-time/214756/103 "2003-11-28T04:12:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Grousser \* > \*\*_Creep_, by Radiohead have been the most depressing song I’ve heard. > > \*\* I’m going to have to echo Grousser, Creep can make me cry anytime I hear it. I’d like to nominate ‘So Far Away’ by Dire Straits too. There’s many more in my mind but those come to mind. -K ---
**Author:** ![Kaotic\_Newtral](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/71e660/32.png) [@Kaotic\_Newtral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaotic_Newtral)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-song-of-all-time/214756/104 "2003-11-28T04:14:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Grousser \* > \*\*_Creep_, by Radiohead have been the most depressing song I’ve heard. > > \*\* I’m going to have to echo Grousser, Creep can make me cry anytime I hear it. I’d like to nominate ‘So Far Away’ by Dire Straits too. There’s many more I could list, but those come to mind. -K (new and edited) ---
**Author:** ![Kaotic\_Newtral](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/71e660/32.png) [@Kaotic\_Newtral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaotic_Newtral)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-song-of-all-time/214756/105 "2003-11-28T04:22:05Z")
Sorry, and another that hits close to home. Willie Nelson - “Angel Flying to Close to the Ground” It’s haunting to me…I lived it. -K ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-song-of-all-time/214756/106 "2003-11-28T05:30:54Z")
**Billy and Sue - BJ Thomas - 1966** For those who don’t know, Billy and Sue have been in love for years, Billy gets sent to Vietnam and receices a “Dear John” letter from Sue - Billy dies shortly thereafter in Vietnam. This song is very depressing and could be the reason that although it was a big hit it, is _rarely_ played nowadays. **Jonathan King - Everyone’s Gone To The Moon - 1965** Gee, I’m showing my age here. ---
**Author:** ![mrklutz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ebca7d/32.png) [@mrklutz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrklutz)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-song-of-all-time/214756/107 "2003-11-28T17:34:56Z")
Lots of good choices here. I’d have to say of all of them, Danny Boy is top of my list so far. But I’d also like to add: “My Beloved Wife” – Natalie Merchant (from the album “Tigerlily”) ---
**Author:** ![Soul\_Brother\_Number\_Two](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/soul_brother_number_two/32/3515_2.png) [@Soul\_Brother\_Number\_Two](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soul_Brother_Number_Two)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-song-of-all-time/214756/108 "2003-11-28T23:13:14Z")
David Bromberg’s Mr. BoJangles ---
**Author:** ![Dread\_Pirate\_Danno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@Dread\_Pirate\_Danno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dread_Pirate_Danno)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2003, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-song-of-all-time/214756/109 "2003-11-28T23:39:51Z")
“Somewhere in My Broken Heart” by Billy Dean. There are some songs that simply resonate with a particular time in our lives. ---
**Author:** ![Phouchg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/41988e/32.png) [@Phouchg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phouchg)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2003, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-song-of-all-time/214756/110 "2003-11-29T06:20:55Z")
[“One for my baby (One more for the road)” - Frank Sinatra](http://www.lyricsfreak.com/f/frank-sinatra/55223.html) such incredible heartbreak. Instrumental-wise, I think **Adagio For Strings - Samuel Barber** and **Main Theme from “Schindler’s List” - John Williams** are so very very sad. And while it isn’t really sad, **The Lark Ascending - Ralph Vaughan Williams** has a very wistful quality to it that can move me to tears… ---
**Author:** ![myles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/779978/32.png) [@myles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/myles)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2003, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-song-of-all-time/214756/111 "2003-11-29T08:13:18Z")
Anything by the Shaggs, particularly, “What are parents” and “Philosophy of the World”, yes, I just relistened to a song, and if any music can make you suicidal, it is a song by the Shaggs. I just lied. I tried to relisten to them. But, my inner will to live stopped me at the last second. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![RyanV](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@RyanV](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RyanV)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2003, 8:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-song-of-all-time/214756/112 "2003-12-07T08:58:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by NDP \* > \*\*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?” \*\* 10-4 ---
**Author:** ![Lola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ed655f/32.png) [@Lola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lola)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2003, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-song-of-all-time/214756/113 "2003-12-07T12:17:33Z")
“Flyin’ Shoes” by Townes van Zandt, as well as damn near everything else he did. When my wife hears me listening to Townes, she gets worried about me. “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face”, Johnny Cash version, but it’s all in the context; he knew his wife was dying, I believe. Absolutely heartbreaking. And “Hurt” was an amazingly affecting reading even before he died - now, it’s almost unbearable. ---
**Author:** ![manx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/65b543/32.png) [@manx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manx)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2003, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-song-of-all-time/214756/114 "2003-12-07T13:17:22Z")
I’d like to second Jeff Buckley’s _Haleluja_, and yet another nomination for _Tears in Heaven_. Someone mentioned \* Empty Chairs at Empty Tables\* - that song is guaranteed to make me tear up any time I listen to it. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Death](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecccb3/32.png) [@Evil\_Death](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Death)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2003, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-song-of-all-time/214756/115 "2003-12-07T14:18:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Chavardz \* > \*\*Anything by Portishead. > > Noby loves me is a good example \*\* I recommend you try listening to some Portishead sometime. Firstly, many of their songs aren’t sad. Secondly, they’ve never released a song called “Noby loves me” (sic). The track you’re undoubtedly thinking of is “Sour Times”. Sun Comes Up, It’s Tuesday Morning by the Cowboy Junkies is one of the best sad songs I’ve ever heard. ---
**Author:** ![JackaRoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b5e925/32.png) [@JackaRoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackaRoe)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2003, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-song-of-all-time/214756/116 "2003-12-07T16:03:52Z")
“To Lay Me Down” by the Grateful Dead ---
**Author:** ![The\_Raven\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@The\_Raven\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Raven_1)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2003, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-song-of-all-time/214756/117 "2003-12-07T16:54:33Z")
Howyadoin, _Without Your Love_ by Roger McGuinn from the _Back From Rio_ album. “Now that you’re gone I have to face living Without your eyes to see through Shadows are falling before all my steps I can’t see the path through the tears that I’ve wept” Music to Write Your Suicide Note By [sup]TM[/sup]… -Rav P.S. Johnny Cash’s cover of _Hurt_ is right up there too… ---
**Author:** ![sunfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/96bed5/32.png) [@sunfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sunfish)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2003, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-song-of-all-time/214756/118 "2003-12-07T17:22:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ranchoth \* > **"Llorando" from the “Mulholland Drive” soundtrack.** I thought this was great, too, but Roy Orbison’s version of _Crying_ always gets me - just something about his voice combined with that song… Others: Sarah Brightman’s version of _Pia Jesu_ from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s _Requiem._ Mike and the Mechanics, _Living Years._ ---
**Author:** ![Mini-Thud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/779978/32.png) [@Mini-Thud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mini-Thud)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2003, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-song-of-all-time/214756/119 "2003-12-07T17:26:46Z")
Tupac - Changes Creed - So far away Those are prolly the worst two for me, I have my reasons for why… not going to share though. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![StanDup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e5b9ba/32.png) [@StanDup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StanDup)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2003, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-song-of-all-time/214756/120 "2003-12-07T17:26:58Z")
Stan -Eminem Unwell- Matchbox 20 When I’m Gone- 3 Doors Down Vanessa Carlton- A Thousand Miles The Hives- Find Another Girl (well, _I_ think it’s really sad.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-song-of-all-time/214756.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saddest-song-of-all-time/214756.md?page=7)