# 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:** 6
**Author:** ![Small\_Clanger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@Small\_Clanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Clanger)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2004, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-cant-listen-to-without-crying/234870/101 "2004-03-19T16:56:20Z")
Look guys I don’t cry. But the song that always “gets me right there” is The Beatles **In My Life** (good call **geogeek** ) It’s not actually a sad song, more wistful, but it definitely pushs my buttons. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2004, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-cant-listen-to-without-crying/234870/102 "2004-03-19T17:35:00Z")
> [@Dung Beetle](#): > > There are others, but they make me cry for personal reasons rather than the tearjerking qualities of the song itself. For me, that one is “Be Alone Tonight” by The Rays, from “School Daze.” A few friends in college did a skit singing this and one of them was killed in an accident the following year. Generally speaking: “Catch the Wind” by Donovan, so wistful and resigned Almost any ballad by Stan Rogers, as they’re all beautiful and there won’t be any more. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2004, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-cant-listen-to-without-crying/234870/103 "2004-03-19T17:48:17Z")
> [@Erik the Viking](#): > > “True Companion” by Marc Cohn would have been the first song at our wedding, but Mrs. Viking can’t listen to it without bawling. At least it’s happy tears. My “happy tears” one is Collin Raye’s “One Boy, One Girl”. Aaaawww. 😉 How could I have forgotten “Goodnight Saigon”, for itself and the madness of war in general. Now I need to leave work early to go home and listen to “Rent”!! ---
**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 19, 2004, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-cant-listen-to-without-crying/234870/104 "2004-03-19T19:05:42Z")
I love _By Way Of Sorrow_ as well. As long as we’re talking Cry Cry Cry, how about _Northern Cross_? _Old memories have faded Nearly all of them are lost Except for your face, shining 'Neath that northern cross_ I am also completely shattered by James Taylor’s _New Hymn_: \*Absolute in flame beyond us Seed and source of Dark and Day Maker whom we beg to be Our mother father comrade mate Til our few atoms blow to dust Or form again in wiser lives Or find your face and hear our name In your calm voice the end of night If dark may end Wellspring gold of Dark and Day Be here, be now\* ---
**Author:** ![Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2004, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-cant-listen-to-without-crying/234870/105 "2004-03-19T20:33:01Z")
> [@fiercesheep](#): > > ‘The Drugs Don’t Work’ by The Verve Interestingly enough, if you ever hear the original demo versions of this song, it was originally based on the band having used so many recreational drugs that they were no longer having any effect on them (which apparently contributed to their first split). It was only later that the song was reworded to make it about someone dieing and the medicines no longer being able to save them (possibly Ashcroft’s dad). [/offtopic] ---
**Author:** ![Katisha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bcef8e/32.png) [@Katisha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Katisha)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2004, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-cant-listen-to-without-crying/234870/106 "2004-03-20T01:14:23Z")
> [@lillalette](#): > > From Jesus Christ Superstar, [Could We Start Again Please?](http://www.stlyrics.com/songs/w/webberandrewlloyd4915/couldwestartagainplease213916.html) and [I Don’t Know How to Love Him](http://www.hottest-lyrics.com/w/webber-andrew-lloyd-lyrics-4915/i-don-t-know-how-to-love-him-lyrics-213923.html). The part that kills me is the reprise of “I Don’t Know How to Love Him,” sung by Judas before he hangs himself. “No One Is Alone” from _Into the Woods_ gets to me, too, as do a few songs that have been mentioned already – “Golden Slumbers,” and some of the Les Mis and Rent stuff. And there was a song we did in choir when I was an undergrad called “Mary Speaks” – it had a lovely text by Madeleine L’Engle – which was just heartbreaking. If we want to be highfalutin classical: the bit from the end of Britten’s _War Requiem,_ where the tenor and baritone sing “Let us sleep now…” and the choir answers with “In paradisum dedicant te angeli…” kills me dead. Every time. Actually, a lot of _War Requiem_ does that. That’s why I don’t listen to it very often. ---
**Author:** ![Spavined\_Gelding](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@Spavined\_Gelding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spavined_Gelding)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2004, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-cant-listen-to-without-crying/234870/107 "2004-03-20T03:29:27Z")
Nothing is sadder than Red Foley’s _Old Shep_. You can find it right here: [http://www.vaxxine.com/steveb/misty/oldshep.eht](http://www.vaxxine.com/steveb/misty/oldshep.eht) This is the reason we need a Constitutional Amendment to protect the relationship between a boy and his dog. ---
**Author:** ![NinjaChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2004, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-cant-listen-to-without-crying/234870/108 "2004-03-20T04:26:55Z")
I’m not a crier, generally, but songs that give that feeling: **Cat’s in the cradle** **Runaway Train** by Soul Asylum. **Walkaway Joe** by Trisha Yearwood. **Hallelujah** by Rufus Wainwright **Damaged** , TLC Very recently, **I MIss You** by Blink 182. Probably more so than any of those: **Perfect** by A Simple Plan. > [@](#): > > Hey Dad look at me Think back and talk to me Did I grow up according To plan? Do you think I’m wasting My time doing things I Wanna do? But it hurts when you Disapprove all along [http://www.metrolyrics.com/lyrics/133373/Simple\_Plan/Perfect/](http://www.metrolyrics.com/lyrics/133373/Simple_Plan/Perfect/) ---
**Author:** ![Alto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Alto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alto)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2004, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-cant-listen-to-without-crying/234870/109 "2004-03-20T04:48:43Z")
> [@FisherQueen](#): > > Not to go all highbrow or anything, but the one piece of music that reliably makes me cry is ‘E lucevan le stelle,’ in _Tosca_. Oh me too. Just thinking about the opening orchestral bit makes me catch my breath. ---
**Author:** ![daere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e19b73/32.png) [@daere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/daere)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2004, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-cant-listen-to-without-crying/234870/110 "2004-03-20T06:49:18Z")
I agree with “Tears in Heaven”, “Puff the Magic Dragon”, and “This Woman’s Work.” I’ll add… REM - “Everybody Hurts” Tim McGraw - “Don’t Take the Girl” - corny, but it gets to me “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” “The House At Pooh Corner” Kate Rusby - “The Unquiet Grave” - the combo of her mournful voice & the lyrics Nino Rota - “What is a Youth” - From Zeffirelli’s Romeo and Juliet, 1968 - the music is so of surrendering and mournful _blush_ Moving Pictures - “What About Me” _deeper blush_ from when I was a kid, Dolly Parton’s “Me and Little Andy.” A little girl shows up on the singer’s doorstep with her dog, Little Andy, asking for a bed for the night. The part that got to me was that the dog dies too. _God knew little Andy Would be lonesome with her gone Now Sandy and her puppy dog Won’t ever be alone._ corny as hell… but I’m tearing up right now. ---
**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:** [March 20, 2004, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-cant-listen-to-without-crying/234870/111 "2004-03-20T13:45:41Z")
Try to Remember that kind of September is very hard to listen to post 9/11. Deep in December it’s nice to remember Without a hurt, the heart is hollow. ---
**Author:** ![MC\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c77e96/32.png) [@MC\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MC_E)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2004, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-cant-listen-to-without-crying/234870/112 "2004-03-20T14:11:23Z")
I have two: “Hurt” as performed by Johnny Cash, especially after seeing the video and how old age had caught up with someone who will always be one of the coolest/baddest men to ever live. (I know it was a cover, but his version is much more powerful to me) “At Last”, by Etta James. It reminds me of a time when I was involved in a budding relationship with a lady friend that we just couldn’t take any further. ---
**Author:** ![Caprese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9a28c/32.png) [@Caprese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caprese)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2004, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-cant-listen-to-without-crying/234870/113 "2004-03-20T15:31:09Z")
Warren Zevon’s **Keep Me In Your Heart** When you get up in the morning and you see that crazy sun Keep me in your heart for awhile There’s a train leaving nightly called when all is said and done Keep me in your heart for awhile ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2004, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-cant-listen-to-without-crying/234870/114 "2004-03-20T17:57:22Z")
Lots of Warren Zevon songs do it for me, including “The french inhaler” and “Hasten down the wind” Also “Lorelei” By the **Pouges** And almost all the slow songs off**Dave Alvin’s[** album _King of California_, especially the title song, “4th of July” and “Every night about this time” ---
**Author:** ![epepke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9de0a6/32.png) [@epepke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epepke)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2004, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-cant-listen-to-without-crying/234870/115 "2004-03-20T19:33:11Z")
I don’t generally cry at songs, unless I’m listening to them in a depressed mood and for cumulative effect. However, there are some songs that always get to me. “Hide and Seek” by Howard Jones. “The Barbara Song” from the _Three Penny Opera,_ especially the lyric-free Gil Evans version. “Night of the Swallow” by Kate Bush. “Land” by Patti Smith. The song cycle from “Society Pages” to “Any Downers” by Frank Zappa. ---
**Author:** ![TJdude825](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@TJdude825](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TJdude825)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2004, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-cant-listen-to-without-crying/234870/116 "2004-03-21T00:26:23Z")
“Piano Man” by Billy Joel not because of the song, but because of the memories it’s linked to. I’m a sophomore in high school, and I’ve been involved in 3 school plays. Just before curtain at every show, we gather into the dressing room and sing this song. I’ll never forget the last time I sang it with “the seniors,” whether it’s those who graduated last year, those that will this year, the current juniors, or… when all my friends and I graduate. ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2004, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-cant-listen-to-without-crying/234870/117 "2004-03-21T01:26:36Z")
Savage Garden’s Truly Madly Deeply, for sentimental reasons. Billy Joel: Leningrad and Goodnight Saigon… Both just hit me in that spot. Harry Chapin: Cat in the Cradle. Like a baby, man, like a baby. I’m no country fan but; Tim McGraw’s Don’t Take the Girl has me in tears every single time dammit. And I’ll never forget the day I was driving down the road, listening to the radio, and a song that I had heard many, many times before (with no significant emotional impact) came on. It was Collin Raye’s “I Think About You” ( I believe that’s the title?). Zooming down the highway, and I suddenly burst into tears. I was nearly inconsolable. To this day I have no idea why it hit me that way, but the song hasn’t had that effect on me again. Oh and his “One Boy, One Girl” also gets me teary, but in a nice way. ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2004, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-cant-listen-to-without-crying/234870/118 "2004-03-21T01:33:56Z")
I left off the most notorious one on my list. Teddy Bear, by Red Sovine. By the time it gets to: > [@Red Sovine](#): > > Mom has to work now to make ends meet > And I’m not much help with my two crippled feet. I’m just wasted. What’s great though is it brings my big, grizzly, gruff dad to pieces too 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Second\_Star\_to\_the\_Right](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3bc359/32.png) [@Second\_Star\_to\_the\_Right](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Second_Star_to_the_Right)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2004, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-cant-listen-to-without-crying/234870/119 "2004-03-21T01:47:04Z")
Wow, glad to see I’m not alone on _Puff the Magic Dragon._ That’s probably the one song I can never get through without crying. - Wind Beneath my Wings\* and _I Think it’s Gonna Rain Today_ both by Bette Midler. _Over the Rainbow_ mostly because of sentimental value. Oh yes, _Into the West_ by Annie Lennox has been getting the waterworks going lately, mostly because of recently having to put down the family cat(had him for 14 years). ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Time\_Like\_Tears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/df705f/32.png) [@Time\_Like\_Tears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Time_Like_Tears)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2004, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-cant-listen-to-without-crying/234870/120 "2004-03-21T03:25:19Z")
I’ll have to second **Seven Spanish Angels** , **Wish You Were Here** , and **Lover, You Should Have Come Over**. I’ll add; **Winter** , by Tori Amos from _Little Earthquakes_ About a girl’s love for her father. The part right after the crecendo kills me, I get teary during the crecendo… "Hair is grey and the fires are burning so many dreams on the shelf you say ‘I wanted you to be proud of me’ I always wanted that myself He says ‘When you gonna make up your mind? When you gonna love you as much as I do? When you gonna make up your mind? Cause things are gonna change so fast all the white horses have gone ahead’ I tell you that I’ll always want you near you say that ‘Things change, my dear.’" **Europa** , by Santana That man’s guitar is heartwrenchingly beautiful. **Crawlin Back To You** by Tom Petty from _Wildflowers_ “I’m so tired of bein’ tired sure as night will follow day most things I worry 'bout never happen anyway” **The Dreaming Tree** by Dave Matthews Band from _Before These Crowded Streets_ “Standing here, the old man said to me ‘long before these crowded streets, there stood my dreaming tree’ … Mommy come quick, the dreaming tree has died I can’t find my way home there is no place to hide … Oh, if I had the strength to I would leave you up to your own devices will you not talk? can you take pity? I don’t ask much but won’t you speak, please?” And when **Van Morrison** did _Comfortably Numb_ with **Pink Floyd** …amazing. Sorry this is very long. I also took the lyrics right out of my head, so I may have a few words wrong. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-cant-listen-to-without-crying/234870.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-you-cant-listen-to-without-crying/234870.md?page=7)