# Songs you can't listen to without crying **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 17, 2004, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-cant-listen-to-without-crying/234870 "2004-03-17T16:53:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2004, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-cant-listen-to-without-crying/234870/21 "2004-03-17T18:36:12Z")
_Guenevere_ from **Camelot** chokes me up every time. In that dawn, in that gloom More than love met its doom In the dying candle’s gleam Came the sundown of a dream Guenevere, Guenevere In that dim, mournful year Saw the men she held most dear Go to war for Guenevere Just something about it… ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2004, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-cant-listen-to-without-crying/234870/22 "2004-03-17T18:37:44Z")
**Puff, the Magic Dragon** and **The Circle Game** by Joanie Mitchell ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2004, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-cant-listen-to-without-crying/234870/23 "2004-03-17T18:41:42Z")
> [@pseudotriton ruber ruber](#): > > there’s also a James Taylor song, forget the title now, starts something like “Just yesterday morning, when they said you were gone…” that always makes me think of a specific loved one, gone these many years. That would be [Fire and Rain](http://www.lyrics007.com/James%20Taylor%20Lyrics/Fire%20And%20Rain%20Lyrics.html). Oh, and on preview, I also second both of the ones **MaxTheVool** mentioned, as well. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2004, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-cant-listen-to-without-crying/234870/24 "2004-03-17T18:49:30Z")
> [@Lady Venom](#): > > **Living Years** - Mike & The Mechanics > **Brick** - Ben Folds Five > > and **Tears in Heaven** - Eric Clapton. > > Tears in Heaven just breaks my heart. I could listen to it no problem before my Mom died. My fiance and I were getting ready to go out Friday night and this song came on the CD shuffle. I just sat there and cried. I have to agree with \*\*Tears In Heaven \*\* and **Living Years** , can’t even read the lyrics of Living Years without crying. They didn’t really get to me until I lost my father a couple years ago. Same goes for Clapton’s **My Father’s Eyes**. I’d probably cry over **Dance With My Father** , too, but I’ve managed to avoid hearing the entire song. I am going to add **Vincent** , either sung by Don McLean or Josh Groban but I much prefer Josh’s voice. The imagery in the words and the tribute to a tortured misunderstood soul just get to me. _Now I think I know what you tried to say to me And how you suffered for your sanity And how you tried to set them free They would not listen, they’re not listening still Perhaps they never will…_ ---
**Author:** ![FilmGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@FilmGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FilmGeek)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2004, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-cant-listen-to-without-crying/234870/25 "2004-03-17T18:52:55Z")
The Show Must Go On by Queen. Mercury was dying of AIDS related illnesses at the time. Also used to great effect in Moulin Rouge. Gets me going every time. ---
**Author:** ![Rubystreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2004, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-cant-listen-to-without-crying/234870/26 "2004-03-17T18:54:08Z")
_Wish You Were Here_ by Pink Floyd always chokes me up. In the right mood, _Sweet Thing_ by Van Morrison can also do it, and _Black_ by Pearl Jam. ---
**Author:** ![flight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbce88/32.png) [@flight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flight)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2004, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-cant-listen-to-without-crying/234870/27 "2004-03-17T18:55:38Z")
Music doesn’t make me cry. Well, that is except for one song. One song which I just cannot listen to. It is so sad, so appropriate to the situation I was in when I first heard it, and sung so well that even hearing it in my head makes me sad, “I Loves You Porgy” by Nina Simone. > [@](#): > > I loves you, Porgy, > Don’t let him take me > Don’t let him handle me > And drive me mad > If you can keep me > I wanna stay here with you forever > I’ve got my man ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2004, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-cant-listen-to-without-crying/234870/28 "2004-03-17T19:03:11Z")
“Starting Over Again” by Natalie Cole. Reminds me of a particularly harsh breakup from college. ---
**Author:** ![maddhatter717](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8edcca/32.png) [@maddhatter717](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maddhatter717)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2004, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-cant-listen-to-without-crying/234870/29 "2004-03-17T19:05:58Z")
How about “Whiskey Lullaby”…by Brad Paisley and Allison Krauss .Or “Seven Spanish Angels” by Ray Charles and Willie Nelson ---
**Author:** ![Queen\_Bee\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e480ec/32.png) [@Queen\_Bee\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Bee_1)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2004, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-cant-listen-to-without-crying/234870/30 "2004-03-17T19:08:51Z")
**Three Doors Down** : Here Without You. It got a lot of airtime last fall about the time I had to put my 18 year old cat to sleep. It was the hardest decision I ever had to make in my life, and I know it sounds goofy, but I was really attached to that gal, and I just bawled whenever I heard that song. Especially the part that says “…dreaming of your face” because my cat’s name was “Face”. ---
**Author:** ![yellowval](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/919ad9/32.png) [@yellowval](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowval)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2004, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-cant-listen-to-without-crying/234870/31 "2004-03-17T19:38:11Z")
There are many too many to mention them all here, but here are a few of the biggies for me: **Long December** by the Counting Crows. I heard this song driving home from my aunt and uncle’s house on the very first Christmas I ever spent apart from my father following my parents’ divorce. Needless to say, I bawled through the whole song. **Annie’s Song** by John Denver. **Your Song** by Elton John. (Both this and Annie’s Song are special to my husband and me). **Rock Bottom** by Eminem always gets me, too. I know, I know. But tell me these lyrics aren’t sad: [http://www.lyricsdomain.com/5/eminem/rock\_bottom.html](http://www.lyricsdomain.com/5/eminem/rock_bottom.html) The one that really gets me is: “My daughter wants to throw the ball but I’m too stressed to play, Live half my life and throw the rest away.” Anyway, I’ll stop there! ---
**Author:** ![kung\_fu\_lola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f4b2a3/32.png) [@kung\_fu\_lola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kung_fu_lola)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2004, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-cant-listen-to-without-crying/234870/32 "2004-03-17T19:55:32Z")
Dar Williams’ _It Happens Every Day_: \*Well, life is as hard and as easy as they say Walking the steps we’ve chosen on this day Some will be outrageous, some have rarely shown Some will walk in couples, some will walk alone As I think about the world I see They stare and smile at me, at me It happens every day at the crossing of the street Walking out to see what’s new and what is just the same And the only word for love is everybody’s name And that will always stay It happens every day And every day will happen without you\* It always makes me think of _BtVS_. Maybe I should do a tribute video. 😉 Whenever I sing [For The Beauty Of The Earth](http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/f/b/fbeautye.htm), I get choked up with emotion. I sing the Unitarian version though, which omits verses 5, 6 and 7 and substitutes “ **Source** of all” for “Lord of all”. Everyone will be singing it at my wedding, so I better have waterproof mascara on. ---
**Author:** ![verbenabeast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/c4cdca/32.png) [@verbenabeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/verbenabeast)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2004, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-cant-listen-to-without-crying/234870/33 "2004-03-17T20:24:47Z")
Johnny Cash singing “We’ll Meet Again” “The Baby” – Blake Shelton… I weep openly and bitterly… ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2004, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-cant-listen-to-without-crying/234870/34 "2004-03-17T20:32:55Z")
Cheryl Wheeler’s [So Far to Fall](http://www.cherylwheeler.com/songs/sftf.html#beg) > [@](#): > > And I know we’ve had hard times > But I thought we’d still try > Didn’t we both intend > To see this through thick and thin > It wasn’t just sink or swim this time > > Well this ain’t the love you swore to me > And this ain’t the life it’s supposed to be > And I don’t know just how to hold on now > And it’s so far to fall > From the warm light in your eyes > To nothin’ at all Sniffle. If you need me I’ll be huddled in the corner with a bottle of wine. ---
**Author:** ![lightingtool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/57b2e6/32.png) [@lightingtool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lightingtool)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2004, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-cant-listen-to-without-crying/234870/35 "2004-03-17T20:43:37Z")
I’m glad to see I’m not the only one who gets all teary listening to **Puff, the Magic Dragon**. Tom Waits’ **Ruby’s Arms** also gets me going off “Heartattack and Vine.” Complete lyrics [here](http://www.officialtomwaits.com/music/m_solo.htm) under the Heartattack and Vine album. ---
**Author:** ![Lazlo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lazlo/32/9678_2.png) [@Lazlo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lazlo)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2004, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-cant-listen-to-without-crying/234870/36 "2004-03-17T20:52:22Z")
[Travelin’ Soldier](http://www.letssingit.com/dixie-chicks-travelin-soldier-br2pdkk.html) by **Dixie Chicks** [Love, Me](http://www.letssingit.com/collin-raye-love-me-p9fggwh.html) by **Collin Raye** [Dear John](http://www.lyricsdepot.com/styx/dear-john.html) by **Styx** Dammit, now I’m all misty. ---
**Author:** ![pool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pool/32/4152_2.png) [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2004, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-cant-listen-to-without-crying/234870/37 "2004-03-17T21:17:27Z")
Songs don’t really make me cry but some are pretty sad Alice in Chains - nutshell, there are not a lot of words but they are sad, especially since layne staley is dead now, some of the lyrics…We chase misprinted lies We face the path of time And yet I fight And yet I fight This battle all alone No one to cry to No place to call home Another sad song is “bother” by Stonesour Wish I was too dead to cry my self affliction fades stones to throw at my creator, masochist to which I cater ---
**Author:** ![fiercesheep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8491ac/32.png) [@fiercesheep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fiercesheep)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2004, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-cant-listen-to-without-crying/234870/38 "2004-03-17T21:25:30Z")
‘The Drugs Don’t Work’ by The Verve ---
**Author:** ![Dragon\_Phoenix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@Dragon\_Phoenix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragon_Phoenix)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2004, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-cant-listen-to-without-crying/234870/39 "2004-03-17T21:29:15Z")
Until half a year ago, I would have said none. Then I heard _Nur zu Besuch_ by Die Toten Hosen. And played it again. And again. It is now one of my all-time favourite songs, and every time I hear it, I still get tears in my eyes. [My translation of the lyrics in English](http://www.lu-art.com/Music/Nurzubesuch_translation.html). ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2004, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-cant-listen-to-without-crying/234870/40 "2004-03-17T21:33:35Z")
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