Yer all gonna laugh at me: Puff the Magic Dragon. Yeah, I go for the literal interpretation.
I was in my car when Here Comes the Sun came on the radio the day we all learned that George Harrison had died. Mighty embarrassing to be bawling my eyes out at the stoplight.
And in general, I have a hard time singing hymns at funerals of people I was close to. Normally I love singing, no matter the context, but I can’t do it when my feelings get in the way.
I’m So Lonesome I could Cry–Hank Williams
Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song–B. J. Thomas
So play, play for me a sad Melody.
So sad that it makes everybody cry-y-y-y-y.
A real hurtin’ song about luv that’s gone wrong.
So I don’t have to cry all alone.
Another vote for “Don’t Give Up” and “Come On, Come On”.
Also:
Patty Griffin’s “Rain”
Antje Duvekot’s “Judas”
James Keelaghan’s “Cold Missouri Waters”
Michael Smith’s “Sister Clarissa”
Richard Shindell’s “Reunion Hill”
Beth Nielsen Chapman’s “Sand and Water”
Emmy Lou Harris’ “Red Dirt Girl”
Karla Bonoff’s “The Water is Wide” (traditional, but I like her interpretation best)
*“Another Train” * by Pete Morton/Sally Barker/The Poozies (they’re all good)
Time and Tide - Basia. It reminds me of a dearly departed friend. I probably haven’t listened to the song in about 5 years because I can’t make it through without blubbering.
I Wish I Could Be There - Marc Broussard
I Dare You to Move - Switchfoot, especially these lyrics:
I’ve always found k.d. lang’s version of Cole Porter’s So In Love for a compliation called “Red, Hot + Blue” (a benefit for AIDS research) very moving. In the video it becomes clear that the object of the lovesick song is a lover who has passed away. So haunt me, and hurt me / Deceive me, desert me / I’m yours 'till I die / So in love with you, my love, am I…
Mike + The Mechanics’ song The Living Years is another one, about a man finally coming to terms with his father, but only after his father has passed away.
I agree, Eric Clapton’s song Tears In Heaven is a tear-jerker for me now that I am the father of a 3-year-old boy. As is John Lennon’s song Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy), written about how much he loved and looked forward to watching his 3-year-old son Sean grow up, and recorded just a few months before his murder.
“In My Life” - The Beatles
“The Farmer’s Song” - it was played at my stepfather’s service
“You’ll Be in My Heart” - Phil Collins, especially the line “For one so small, you seem so strong” It reminds me of my daughter
“El Shaddai”- Amy Grant - The line “Your most awesome work was done
Through the frailty of your son.”
and lately, “Letters from War” - Mark Schultz
I’m just a big suck, obviously.
Kate Bush’s This Woman’s Work will make me tear up, so I usually skip it unless I’m in the mood.
All the things we should have done that we never did,
All the things we should have said that we never said.
::sniff::
I’ll see you those three and raise you “The Promise” by Tracy Chapman.
http://www.lyrics007.com/Tracy%20Chapman%20Lyrics/The%20Promise%20Lyrics.html
If I’m in the right mood, I can cry just thinking of that song.
Speaking of John Prine, I’m going to go with “Paradise”
And Daddy won’t you take me back to Muhlenberg County
Down by the Green River where Paradise lay
Well, I’m sorry, my son, but you’re too late in asking
Mister Peabody’s coal train has hauled it away
And also “Almost Blue” by Elvis Costello
And even though I’ve never been through a divorce (which I understand inspired the lyrics) I find “Why?” by Annie Lennox very moving.
And since that last selection might otherwise make me turn in my man card, I will trot out “Goodbye” by Steve Earle.
Finally, since I always like to have a bluegrass selection on these sorts of lists, I will add “There Is a Time” by The Dillards. (Some of you may remember these guys as The Darling Family that used to show up from time to time on The Andy Griffith Show.)
“The Wind” by Cat Stevens
“Long, Long Time” by Linda Ronstadt
“Percy’s Song” by Fairport Convention
Gorecki’s Symphony of Sorrowful Songs is the most profoundly moving piece of music I’ve ever heard. Turn out the lights, slip on some headphones, and turn up the volume – you’ll be engulfed by an austere yet passionate musical powerhouse. It was written as a protest against Soviet oppression, framed in a series of three songs depicting mothers and the grief of loss.
I recommend the Joanna Kozlowska recording (link), conducted by Kazimierz Kord.
A few more:
“Solo” and “Who Knows Where the Time Goes” - Sandy Denny
“Back In The High Life Again” - Warren Zevon
This is a little embarassing, but for me it’s the version of the Eagles’ “Desperado” on The Langely Schools Music Project CD, where’s it’s sung by an 8-year-old girl. I don’t like the original and I would usually regard something like this as kitsch, but there’s something about the longing she sings with – and the fact that I’m the father of a girl around her age – just makes it unbearably sad to me.
I find all Lennon’s songs from that record a little hard to listen to, but especially that one.
“Desperado” also makes me cry…mostly because my ex was that guy. My son was robbed of a relationship with his dad due to his desperado ways. Then he died. The ex; not my son.
No matter how many times I see the movie, I will always cry at When She Loved Me from Toy Story 2.
Susan
“Waltzing Matilda” by almost anyone.
“Goodbye” by Hootie and the Blowfish.
“Dream Weaver” makes me weepy in a nostalgic way. :o
For some reason Perfect Circle by REM always gets me. There’s one moment (I think it’s just before the final chorus kicks in, but I haven’t listened to it in a while so I can’t be sure), just a brief instrumental passage, that sends shivers down my spine.
Simon and Garfunkel mostly; Bridge Over Troubled Water always gives me a little heartstring tug, and The Boxer does as well, but the second one is more because of the associations that song has for me than any inherent property of the song*. I find some U2 quite moving as well, particularly Bad. Also Conte Partiro, by Andrea Bocelli.
*Well, you didn’t ask, but it used to be a favourite song of someone I knew, who drowned quite tragically at the age of 17. Couldn’t listen to it for quite a while without being overwhelmingly reminded of him.
Which leads me to ask: do you find that songs move you more because of memories, or just the way the song is?
Yeah, Paradise gets me too. My grandpa was a coalminer down in Muhlenberg County (not at Paradise though) and I remember the stories of the big shovel. He had seen it back in the day. Just makes me sad that he died before I really got to know him so that song tugs at the ol’ the heart strings.
Do you mean the Aussie “anthem”, or And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda? The latter really gets me in the guts. The lyrics of the last verse are unbearably sad, and when the song changes to the original it sends shivers up my spine.