# Songs that you have an intense emotional reaction to **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [July 28, 2025, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-you-have-an-intense-emotional-reaction-to/1021415 "2025-07-28T02:07:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2025, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-you-have-an-intense-emotional-reaction-to/1021415/41 "2025-07-29T17:46:27Z")
Breathe Me by Sia https://www.youtube.com/embed/D51SYHkzIoo?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque&list=RDD51SYHkzIoo ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2025, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-you-have-an-intense-emotional-reaction-to/1021415/42 "2025-07-29T18:20:25Z")
_All I Left Behind_ – Emmylou Harris. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2025, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-you-have-an-intense-emotional-reaction-to/1021415/43 "2025-07-29T19:01:24Z")
Another one I thought of is “Lullaby” by Assemblage 23, particularly these lines: ”_As you drift into the gauzy realm of dreams May you take comfort in the thought that you are safe For it only takes a fraction of a second For all of this to change_.” The older I get, the more I realize how true this is - how shockingly fast life can change. Second “Time Stand Still” by Rush, and add one I’m surprised I didn’t come up with immediately: “Losing It.” Especially ever since Neil died. I heard them perform it live, and heard it again at Bubba Bash (Neil tribute concert) earlier this year. I tear up every time I hear it. “_Some are born to move the world To live their fantasies But most of us just dream about The things we’d like to be_ _Sadder still to watch it die Than never to have known it For you, the blind who once could see The bell tolls for thee The bell tolls for thee_…” ---
**Author:** ![P-man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/p-man/32/3606_2.png) [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2025, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-you-have-an-intense-emotional-reaction-to/1021415/44 "2025-07-29T20:13:47Z")
Another is Dire Straits’ “Romeo and Juliet’. Juliet, when we made love you used to cry Said I love you like the starts above, love you til I die. I teared up just typing it; it makes me think of my beloved. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2025, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-you-have-an-intense-emotional-reaction-to/1021415/45 "2025-07-29T20:23:07Z")
> [@P-man](#): > > Another is Dire Straits’ “Romeo and Juliet’. > > Juliet, when we made love you used to cry > > Said I love you like the starts above, love you til I die. > > I teared up just typing it; it makes me think of my beloved. There was a particular time (and girl) when that song really affected me. Still one of my favorites. Now when it comes on I just spend my time trying to convince my wife the original is much better than the Indigo Girls cover. She didn’t even know it was a cover until I told her. Kids today I tell ya ---
**Author:** ![P-man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/p-man/32/3606_2.png) [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2025, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-you-have-an-intense-emotional-reaction-to/1021415/46 "2025-07-29T20:30:08Z")
I’d never heard this cover before. I like the Indigo Girls, but I like the original version better. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2025, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-you-have-an-intense-emotional-reaction-to/1021415/47 "2025-07-29T20:33:51Z")
> [@P-man](#): > > I’d never heard this cover before. I like the Indigo Girls, but I like the original version better. My wife was 2 when the original came out. To her the cover was a new song. I’m older and Making Movies hit at the right time for me. ---
**Author:** ![P-man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/p-man/32/3606_2.png) [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2025, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-you-have-an-intense-emotional-reaction-to/1021415/48 "2025-07-29T20:47:23Z")
I was 16 when the original came out, and wouldn’t go on my first date for another 4 years. It had been out 15 years when I met my wife. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2025, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-you-have-an-intense-emotional-reaction-to/1021415/49 "2025-07-29T22:50:19Z")
Of all those associated with different times of my life, this one stands out: [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/alkr68ppB54/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AH-BIAC4AOKAgwIABABGGggaChoMA8=&rs=AOn4CLA23hCSY3MsNKgrq3HuVTfj2EOWjQ "The Seekers - Far Shore") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alkr68ppB54) I adored Judith Durham and was moved to tears when she passed away. Runners up include: Burt Bacharach’s “This Guy’s in Love with You” The Carpenters’ “Top of the World” John Denver’s “Back Home Again” Orleans’ “Dance with Me” Chad and Jeremy’s “A Summer Song” Gordon Lightfoot’s “Song for a Winter’s Night” Tom Jones’ “I’ll Never Fall in Love Again” Chris Isaak’s “Wicked Game” Honorable Mention: Jan Hammer’s “Crockett’s Theme” and Peter Guja’s “Memories,” both from the _ **Miami Vice** _ soundtrack album. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2025, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-you-have-an-intense-emotional-reaction-to/1021415/50 "2025-07-29T23:35:25Z")
“You Are Mine”, a choral anthem composed by David Haas. I’ve sung it several times as a member of my choir, and listened to it separately a handful of other times. It _always_ moves me deeply. ---
**Author:** ![FS65](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ea666f/32.png) [@FS65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FS65)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2025, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-you-have-an-intense-emotional-reaction-to/1021415/51 "2025-07-30T15:41:23Z")
Wow EVERY ONE of these!!! Desperado is IMO the best song/record of all time (maybe “hype,” but maybe not!). I’ve seen the Eagles/Henley live many times and Don just kills it every time! ---
**Author:** ![FS65](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ea666f/32.png) [@FS65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FS65)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2025, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-you-have-an-intense-emotional-reaction-to/1021415/52 "2025-07-30T15:43:03Z")
Another great HENLEY song! Heart of the Matter is brilliant and moving, and probably not as “notable” among Henley/Eagles songs. ---
**Author:** ![FS65](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ea666f/32.png) [@FS65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FS65)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2025, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-you-have-an-intense-emotional-reaction-to/1021415/53 "2025-07-30T16:01:55Z")
One that always “gets” me is Ripple, by the Grateful Dead. The first time I saw it was at the end of the movie MASK with Cher. Great movie. But that amazing song comes on at the end and it’s so moving. I had no idea it was the Dead and didn’t “find it” again until years later. ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2025, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-you-have-an-intense-emotional-reaction-to/1021415/54 "2025-07-31T22:38:49Z")
When we thought we were losing my mom a few months ago the Zevon song and “What Sarah Said” by Deathcab for Cutie just were on repeat in my head the whole time. “Coffee” by Chappel Roan gets me since it reminds me of a difficult time when my future wife and I were dating. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2025, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-you-have-an-intense-emotional-reaction-to/1021415/55 "2025-07-31T23:16:55Z")
“Memories” from _Cats_. Something about that song… looking back, the plaintive quality… it reduces me to tears if I can even make myself listen to it. Usually I’m just chicken and change the station. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanubv.2/32/3260_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUBv.2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUBv.2)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2025, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-you-have-an-intense-emotional-reaction-to/1021415/56 "2025-08-01T14:58:12Z")
Oy,Memory. Total tear jerker. It’s one of the many songs I heard for the first time on my alarm clock radio ( so, half asleep). I had no knowledge of Cats at the time, or at least didn’t know that’s where the song came from. It brought tears to my eyes and haunted me for days. You can imagine how hard I blubbed when I found out what’s It’s about/ who’s singing it. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2025, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-you-have-an-intense-emotional-reaction-to/1021415/57 "2025-08-01T15:43:21Z")
Love you, Sis. 😘 ---
**Author:** ![cieskokid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cieskokid/32/5374_2.png) [@cieskokid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cieskokid)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2025, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-you-have-an-intense-emotional-reaction-to/1021415/58 "2025-08-02T02:53:53Z")
Indeed, ‘specially the live versions. I used to sing this in the dark to 1of my past lovers so… [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/cIZ_tHZJjEs/maxresdefault.jpg "Dire Straits - Romeo & Juliet (Live At The Hammersmith Odeon, London, UK / July 1983)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIZ_tHZJjEs) ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2025, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-you-have-an-intense-emotional-reaction-to/1021415/59 "2025-08-02T12:28:34Z")
Randy Crawford’s _Fly Away_ It was a big hit at the time I happened to be dumped. A whole year later, I was on holiday abroad when it came in the restaurant I was in, and it was as if I’d been punched in the stomach [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/L8vAz3uqKig/maxresdefault.jpg "Randy Crawford - One Day I'll Fly Away • TopPop") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8vAz3uqKig) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-that-you-have-an-intense-emotional-reaction-to/1021415.md?page=2)