# Songs about or heavily influenced by depression and/or suicide **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 12, 2003, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-or-heavily-influenced-by-depression-and-or-suicide/212790 "2003-11-12T12:00:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-or-heavily-influenced-by-depression-and-or-suicide/212790/1 "2003-11-12T12:00:31Z")
Let me preface this by saying that while I’ve **never** had any intention of killing myself, I have been depressed for several years and can relate to songs of this nature. Maybe it sounds corny, but music like this is one of those things that helps me feel like I’m not alone in my uphill battle. A good tune of this type is “Adam’s Song” by Blink 182. I really wouldn’t have expected a song like this out of them, and I don’t like most of their other works, but I have to admit that “Adam’s Song” song really strikes a chord with me. Another is “The Pass” by Rush: “And now you’re trembling on a rocky ledge, Staring out into a heartless sea. Can’t face life on the razor’s edge, Nothing’s what you thought it would be.” Or how about “Hollow Years” by Dream Theater: "Carry me to the shoreline, Bury me in the sand, Walk me across the water, And maybe you’ll understand. Once the stone you’re crawling under, Is lifted off your shoulders. Once the cloud that’s raining, Over your head disappears, The noise that you’ll hear, Is the crashing down of hollow years." Or for that angry, irritable brand of depression, nothing beats Papa Roach’s “Last Resort.” Screaming along with the song (into a pillow, of course, so nobody thinks you’re a maniac) can be very cathartic. ---
**Author:** ![mascaroni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@mascaroni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mascaroni)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-or-heavily-influenced-by-depression-and-or-suicide/212790/2 "2003-11-12T12:08:55Z")
Sparks - ‘Here In Heaven’ Up here in Heaven without you I’m here in Heaven without you Up here in Heaven without you It is Hell knowing that your health will keep you out of here For years and years and years Dear, do you often think of me As you overlook the sea Do I qualify as dearly departed or am I That sucker in the sky The fall guy for the first and the last time Juliet, I thought we had agreed Now I know why you let me take the lead [Full Lyrics](http://www.sparksofficialwebsite.com/sparklet/Recordings/04Kimono/kimono-main.html) ---
**Author:** ![auliya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/90db22/32.png) [@auliya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/auliya)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-or-heavily-influenced-by-depression-and-or-suicide/212790/3 "2003-11-12T12:12:41Z")
Well, anything by Leonard Cohen has long been known as music to slash your wrists to. ---
**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:** [November 12, 2003, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-or-heavily-influenced-by-depression-and-or-suicide/212790/4 "2003-11-12T12:42:26Z")
I agree with the above, and was going to suggest “Dress Rehersal Rag.” Also, “Memory” from CATS is a very depressing song, especially Tim Rice’s lyrics: Daylight, I don’t care if it finds me With no breath in my body, with no beat in my heart. For I know now the meaning of what happiness is. Wish I knew that from the start. ---
**Author:** ![AllShookDown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d9b06d/32.png) [@AllShookDown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AllShookDown)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-or-heavily-influenced-by-depression-and-or-suicide/212790/5 "2003-11-12T13:09:39Z")
The Ledge (from The Replacements - Pleased To Meet Me) All eyes look up to me High above the filthy streets Heed no bullhorn when it calls Watch me fly and die, watch me fall I’m the boy they can’t ignore, For the first time in my life, I’m sure All the love sent up high to pledge Won’t reach the ledge ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-or-heavily-influenced-by-depression-and-or-suicide/212790/6 "2003-11-12T13:12:06Z")
_Richard Cory_ and _A Most Peculiar Man_ by Simon and Garfunkel. The latter is… let’s just say I like it. A lot. ---
**Author:** ![SJSB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@SJSB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SJSB)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-or-heavily-influenced-by-depression-and-or-suicide/212790/7 "2003-11-12T13:17:02Z")
Anything by Joy Division. ---
**Author:** ![mascaroni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@mascaroni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mascaroni)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-or-heavily-influenced-by-depression-and-or-suicide/212790/8 "2003-11-12T13:18:48Z")
“Little white flowers won’t wait for you, not where the black coach of sorrow has taken you. Angels have no thought of ever returning you. Would they be angry if I thought of joining you?” [Gloomy Sunday](http://www.phespirit.info/gloomysunday/) “We’ll drink through it all, this, the Modern Age” Joy Division - ‘These Days’. “Directionless, so plain to see, a loaded gun won’t set you free. So you say” Joy Division - ‘New Dawn Fades’ Joy Division would give Leonard Cohen a run for his money… ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-or-heavily-influenced-by-depression-and-or-suicide/212790/9 "2003-11-12T13:28:45Z")
One of my favorite depression songs is “Cocoon” by **Assemblage 23** : \*Even though I know It’s only chemical These peaks and valleys Are beginning to take their toll Try to convince myself That all it takes is time But the most derisive voice I hear is mine It opens all the scars on me It leaves me shaken in my belief It takes my hand just to drag me down It makes me a stranger in the crowd Give me isolation just for now I feel a hard rain coming down I promise that I will be back soon But for now I’ll return to my cocoon.\* There are a couple more verses, but you get the idea. ---
**Author:** ![NFlanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a9adbd/32.png) [@NFlanders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NFlanders)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-or-heavily-influenced-by-depression-and-or-suicide/212790/10 "2003-11-12T14:23:09Z")
[The Downward Spiral](http://www.lyred.com/lyrics/Nine+Inch+Nails/Downward+Spiral/The+Downward+Spiral/) by Nine Inch Nails. It’s so hard to find a free lyrics page without pop-ups… ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-or-heavily-influenced-by-depression-and-or-suicide/212790/11 "2003-11-12T14:30:01Z")
[“Crucifiction Lane”](http://www.procolharum.com/w/w0309.htm) by Procol Harum, off their brilliant album _A Salty Dog_. Robin Trower on vocals and guitar, showing unbelievable soul. Certainly a declaration of despair, the song could also be an eloquent suicide note. It’s always irked me that Procol Harum was best known for “Whiter Shade of Pale” and to some extent “Conquistador,” when this album (one of the ten best records ever made, IMHO) was their masterpiece. ---
**Author:** ![NYR407](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbe5ce/32.png) [@NYR407](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NYR407)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-or-heavily-influenced-by-depression-and-or-suicide/212790/12 "2003-11-12T14:39:19Z")
“Fade to Black” -Metallica (opening) "Life it seems will fade away. Drifting farther everyday. " (closing) “Death greets me warm. Now I will just say goodbye.” Not only a great song but possibly the greatest Metal song ever written. . ---
**Author:** ![nitroglycerine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c5a1d2/32.png) [@nitroglycerine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nitroglycerine)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-or-heavily-influenced-by-depression-and-or-suicide/212790/13 "2003-11-12T14:57:24Z")
“Depression” by Black Flag, “Suicide’s An Alternative” and “Suicidal Failure” by Suicidal Tendencies, Just about anything from the Cure’s post Boys Don’t Cry-pre Wish era. and my fave, “Suicide Chump” by Frank Zappa…“Go ahead on and get it over with then, find you a bridge and take a jump/Just make sure you do it right the first time, 'cause nothing’s worse then a suicide chump.” Jon ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-or-heavily-influenced-by-depression-and-or-suicide/212790/14 "2003-11-12T15:16:55Z")
Pretty much everything Kurt Cobain ever wrote. ---
**Author:** ![beajerry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@beajerry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beajerry)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-or-heavily-influenced-by-depression-and-or-suicide/212790/15 "2003-11-12T15:18:51Z")
Yeah, Frank Zappa’s song is the best! “And you don’t wanna mess your face up, cause they won’t know if it’s you, well there’s just so much to worry about, now whatcha gonna do?” ---
**Author:** ![YoudNeverGuess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a587f6/32.png) [@YoudNeverGuess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YoudNeverGuess)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-or-heavily-influenced-by-depression-and-or-suicide/212790/16 "2003-11-12T15:33:37Z")
_Exit Music_ from Radihead’s album ‘OK Computer’ Great song. Here’a a link to the lyrics and the background to the song. Written for Baz Luhrmann’s _Romeo and Juliet_ The lyrics seem like nothing without the music though… [Exit Music](http://www.greenplastic.com/lyrics/rh_songs/exitmusic.php) ---
**Author:** ![YoudNeverGuess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a587f6/32.png) [@YoudNeverGuess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YoudNeverGuess)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-or-heavily-influenced-by-depression-and-or-suicide/212790/17 "2003-11-12T15:45:38Z")
_Exit Music_ from Radihead’s album ‘OK Computer’ Great song. Here’a a link to the lyrics and the background to the song. Written for Baz Luhrmann’s _Romeo and Juliet_ The lyrics seem like nothing without the music though… [Exit Music](http://www.greenplastic.com/lyrics/rh_songs/exitmusic.php) ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-or-heavily-influenced-by-depression-and-or-suicide/212790/18 "2003-11-12T15:52:34Z")
[_Alone Again, Naturally_](http://www.popculturemadness.com/Music/AloneAgain.html) by Gilbert O’Sullivan. \*In a little while from now, If I’m not feeling any less sour. I promised myself, to treat myself, And visit a nearby tower … And climbing to the top, Would throw myself off, In an effort to, make clear to whoever, What it’s like when your shattered … [/quote] ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-or-heavily-influenced-by-depression-and-or-suicide/212790/19 "2003-11-12T15:56:22Z")
Nick Drake’s “Pink Moon” – the whole album, but especially the song of the same name. In hindsight it’s pretty clear that Drake was clinically depressed at the time and he would kill himself three years later. –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![Kaspar\_Hauser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b3f665/32.png) [@Kaspar\_Hauser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaspar_Hauser)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-or-heavily-influenced-by-depression-and-or-suicide/212790/20 "2003-11-12T16:21:20Z")
Alice in Chain’s _Sap_ is not a happy.album. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-or-heavily-influenced-by-depression-and-or-suicide/212790.md?page=2)