# Survey: Songs that make you sad but you don't know why **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 12, 2008, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survey-songs-that-make-you-sad-but-you-dont-know-why/433228 "2008-01-12T02:17:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2008, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survey-songs-that-make-you-sad-but-you-dont-know-why/433228/21 "2008-01-13T00:36:30Z")
I’ll second “Angel” by Sara McLachlan and add “El Paso” by Marty Robbins, “Bullet The Blue Sky” by U2, “Space Odyssey” by David Bowie (not sure why, but for some reason I want that song played at my funeral), “Lucky Man” by ELO, “Angie” by the Stones and “Cat’s In The Cradle” by Harry Chapin. Honorable mention to “Last Kiss” by J Frank Wilson. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2008, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survey-songs-that-make-you-sad-but-you-dont-know-why/433228/22 "2008-01-13T01:17:34Z")
[QUOTE=uncle squeegee] I’ve never been to Alberta. [/QUOTE] Why not? Weather’s good here in the fall. 🙂 As for me, there are a number of sad songs I can think of, but I don’t think that’s what the OP is looking for. Still, at least two “non-sad” songs always bring me down a bit: “This Shirt,” by Mary Chapin Carpenter. “I Like Dreaming,” by Kenny Nolan. No idea why. ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2008, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survey-songs-that-make-you-sad-but-you-dont-know-why/433228/23 "2008-01-13T01:38:48Z")
I’m not a Christian, or in any way religious, but _Mary_, by Patty Griffin just kills me. _Jesus said, “Mother, I couldn’t stay another day longer”…_ \*weeps ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2008, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survey-songs-that-make-you-sad-but-you-dont-know-why/433228/24 "2008-01-13T01:43:50Z")
Nothing completely sad to the lyrics of _Desperado_, but it sounds so mournful. I know it used to be a favorite to play at biker funerals. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2008, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survey-songs-that-make-you-sad-but-you-dont-know-why/433228/25 "2008-01-13T01:53:08Z")
[QUOTE=Siam Sam] Nothing completely sad to the lyrics of _Desperado_, but it sounds so mournful. **I know it used to be a favorite to play at biker funerals**. [/QUOTE] That’s likely because the result of their death was that they never “came to their senses”! Badumcha… Try ze veel, I’ll be hier all zee veek…tvip your vaitress… ---
**Author:** ![Talon\_Karrde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Talon\_Karrde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Talon_Karrde)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2008, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survey-songs-that-make-you-sad-but-you-dont-know-why/433228/26 "2008-01-13T02:40:06Z")
[QUOTE=beanpod] Fields of Gold - Eva Cassidy or Sting (I prefer the Sting cover, myself. Perfect song when you just need a good cry.) [/QUOTE] Ooh, good one. I haven’t heard Sting’s version, but Eva Cassidy’s is hard to listen to because it makes me feel so emotional. ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2008, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survey-songs-that-make-you-sad-but-you-dont-know-why/433228/27 "2008-01-13T17:13:51Z")
[QUOTE=interface2x] Even the [Pet Shop Boys](http://www.amazon.com/Discography-Collection-Pet-Shop-Boys/dp/B000002UZ4/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1200166407&sr=8-2)? 😉 [/QUOTE] Except them ☹ ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2008, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survey-songs-that-make-you-sad-but-you-dont-know-why/433228/28 "2008-01-13T17:15:46Z")
“Walk on by (wait on the corner)” Leroy van Dyke An oldie, anyone remember it? ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2008, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survey-songs-that-make-you-sad-but-you-dont-know-why/433228/29 "2008-01-13T19:18:58Z")
Lord Tanamo - I’m in the Mood For Love It’s upbeat but I find it melancholy for some reason. ---
**Author:** ![Gail](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Gail](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gail)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2008, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survey-songs-that-make-you-sad-but-you-dont-know-why/433228/30 "2008-01-13T19:47:23Z")
_Back2Good_ by Matchbox 20 _Ten Years Gone_ by Led Zeppelin and…_Something’s Always Wrong_ by Toad the Wet Sprocket ---
**Author:** ![RunSilent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e0b2c6/32.png) [@RunSilent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RunSilent)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2008, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survey-songs-that-make-you-sad-but-you-dont-know-why/433228/31 "2008-01-13T21:03:34Z")
Judy Collins singing Amazing Grace. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2008, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survey-songs-that-make-you-sad-but-you-dont-know-why/433228/32 "2008-01-16T03:42:17Z")
“Over the Rainbow” as sung by the late great Israel Kanakawiwo’ole is the most beautiful version I’ve ever heard. If you saw _50 First Dates_, it was played at the end. I do know whay it makes me feel sad, though. Well, maybe not sad, but nostalgic for Hawaii. I thougt of it because unbelievably, a local radio station here in Bangkok played it this morning! ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2008, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survey-songs-that-make-you-sad-but-you-dont-know-why/433228/33 "2008-01-16T03:49:51Z")
“Take Five” by the Dave Brubeck Quartet. I’m not really sure why. ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2008, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survey-songs-that-make-you-sad-but-you-dont-know-why/433228/34 "2008-01-16T03:50:59Z")
[QUOTE=Siam Sam] Well, maybe not sad, but nostalgic for Hawaii. [/QUOTE] How do you feel about hearing “The Yellow Rose of Texas”? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2008, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survey-songs-that-make-you-sad-but-you-dont-know-why/433228/35 "2008-01-16T03:55:34Z")
[QUOTE=Koxinga] How do you feel about hearing “The Yellow Rose of Texas”? 😃 [/QUOTE] Must … not … bitch … anymore … about … Texas … Must … not … bitch … anymore … about … Texas … [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survey-songs-that-make-you-sad-but-you-dont-know-why/433228.md?page=1)