# Songs about pain? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 6, 2011, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-pain/580927 "2011-05-06T03:57:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2011, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-pain/580927/1 "2011-05-06T03:57:36Z")
Are there any songs about pain? Not emotional pain, not grief, not loss, not heartbreak, but physical pain. Not songs with pain or pain-related themes in them as metaphors for something else, like, “It Hurts So Good,” but songs about the pain itself as such. Songs about suffering pain. In the only ones I can think of it’s only mentioned in passing, like “You and me, we sweat and strain / Body all achin’ and wracked with pain,” but the song isn’t really about that, it’s about Old Man River. ---
**Author:** ![Feyrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/fbc32d/32.png) [@Feyrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Feyrat)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2011, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-pain/580927/2 "2011-05-06T03:59:27Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Are there any songs about pain? Not emotional pain, not grief, not loss, not heartbreak, but physical pain. Not songs with pain or pain-related themes in them as metaphors for something else, like, “It Hurts So Good,” but songs about the pain itself as such. Songs about suffering pain. In the only ones I can think of it’s only mentioned in passing, like “You and me, we sweat and strain / Body all achin’ and wracked with pain,” but the song isn’t really about that, it’s about Old Man River. “Hurt” by Nine Inch Nails is kinda a classic in that regard I think. It’s pretty much about self-harm. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2011, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-pain/580927/3 "2011-05-06T04:21:21Z")
The Plastic Ono Band’s “Cold Turkey” is all about the physical pain of withdrawal. ---
**Author:** ![GreasyJack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@GreasyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreasyJack)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2011, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-pain/580927/4 "2011-05-06T04:55:40Z")
This old Bobby Bare song comes to mind: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRWlnv0\_svU](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRWlnv0_svU) (Well, it was actually one of the many great country songs Shel Silverstein wrote.) ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_A.Robrin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sam_a.robrin/32/14497_2.png) [@Sam\_A.Robrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_A.Robrin)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2011, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-pain/580927/5 "2011-05-06T04:56:58Z")
This sounds like it might be what you’re looking for: [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/9nGsUbZpCKM/hqdefault.jpg "The Velvet Underground- Venus in Furs") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nGsUbZpCKM) ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2011, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-pain/580927/6 "2011-05-06T05:53:27Z")
What about Metallica’s “One”? (inspired by the book Johnny Got His Gun) Sure, it’s mostly about the mental anguish of being trapped in your own mutilated body, but I’m sure that must come with physical suffering as well, as mentioned in the bolded lyric, I interpret it to mean both mental and physical pain… a pain two-fer! [Quote=Metallica] I can’t remember anything Can’t tell if this is true or dream Deep down inside I feel to scream This terrible silence stops me Now that the war is through with me I’m waking up I cannot see That there is not much left of me **Nothing is real but pain now** Hold my breath as I wish for death Oh please God, wake me… [/quote] ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Q](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/898d66/32.png) [@Johnny\_Q](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Q)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2011, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-pain/580927/7 "2011-05-06T06:19:02Z")
Speaking of pain, how about [this?](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hks_t-HzSc) ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2011, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-pain/580927/8 "2011-05-06T12:04:03Z")
> [@Johnny\_Q](#): > > Speaking of pain, how about [this?](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hks_t-HzSc) _The pain down inside can’t be denied every time I try I can’t be satisfied_ ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2011, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-pain/580927/9 "2011-05-06T12:45:26Z")
A wonderful pairing of artist name and song title, and the bass sax isn’t too bad either… _Cure for Pain_, by Morphine. > [@](#): > > Someday there’ll be a cure for pain > That’s the day I throw my drugs away > When they find a cure for pain ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2011, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-pain/580927/10 "2011-05-06T13:40:10Z")
There is the obvious one, [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/0mgSCKXSp9M/hqdefault.jpg "King of Pain - The Police") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mgSCKXSp9M) This one fits the bill - I’m a cotton pickin’ mass o contusions. [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtzKr7ERmXE) ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2011, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-pain/580927/11 "2011-05-06T13:42:45Z")
Folks, YouTube links are great, but could you also post the name of the song so we don’t _have_ to click a link to find out what you had in mind? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2011, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-pain/580927/12 "2011-05-06T13:45:57Z")
“I ache for the touch of your lips, dear. But much more for the touch of your whips, dear.” [The Masochism Tango](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TytGOeiW0aE) ---
**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:** [May 6, 2011, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-pain/580927/13 "2011-05-06T13:51:26Z")
Tom Paxton’s [Cindy’s Crying](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDvA673mJjs) a sympathic song about a druggie hooker. Sorry his original isn’t on youtube; it’s much better. In concert he pairs it with [Hooker](http://www.mydfz.com/Paxton/lyrics/th.htm), a song only Tom could write. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2011, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-pain/580927/14 "2011-05-06T14:43:53Z")
_El Paso_ by Marty Robbins: Something is dreadfully wrong for I feel a deep burning pain in my side I feel the bullet go deep in my chest ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2011, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-pain/580927/15 "2011-05-06T14:52:36Z")
One of the true classics in this field would have to be Screamin’ Jay Hawkins’ [“Constipation Blues”.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hks_t-HzSc) ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2011, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-pain/580927/16 "2011-05-06T15:24:07Z")
_Laying here, looking at the ceiling Someone lays a sheet across my chest Something warm is flowing down my fingers Pain is flowing all through my back…_ —Bloodrock, “D.O.A.” ---
**Author:** ![phungi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/phungi/32/395_2.png) [@phungi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phungi)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2011, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-pain/580927/17 "2011-05-06T15:30:48Z")
By Live (both from_Mental Jewelry_): [Pain Lies on the Riverside](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UP5XavjhhQc) [Good Pain](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTHtTdDWIiQ) ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2011, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-pain/580927/18 "2011-05-06T23:31:37Z")
“Soldier’s Joy” by Michelle Shocked “Heroin” by the Velvet Underground “Bitches’ Brew” (instrumental, but unmistakable) by Miles Davis ---
**Author:** ![installLSC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/54ee81/32.png) [@installLSC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/installLSC)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2011, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-pain/580927/19 "2011-05-07T02:42:54Z")
Two incredibly depressing songs about suffering from terminal illness: [Eels, The Medication Is Wearing Off](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZNvp6WD6kY&feature=related) [Cigarette, Ben Folds Five](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJye3_Edjmo) ---
**Author:** ![heathen\_earthling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/13edae/32.png) [@heathen\_earthling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/heathen_earthling)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2011, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-pain/580927/20 "2011-05-07T03:06:38Z")
Can’t believe none of you posted this… [Frank Zappa - Why Does It Hurt When I Pee?](http://youtu.be/fiu6DFXeF9A) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-about-pain/580927.md?page=2)