# The saddest song in the world **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 3, 2002, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-saddest-song-in-the-world/126793 "2002-09-03T12:56:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2011, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-saddest-song-in-the-world/126793/221 "2011-06-16T05:28:10Z")
To Imago,[spoiler] > [@Imago](#): > > I’d definitely like to join the group! > > And that addition to what I’d already thought of on the song is amazing. It floors me how both fit and then when you match them up it’s something different from either- would it be fair to say that in a single line the lyrics translate to “hope abandons me from time to time, but I don’t abandon hope” on its most moderate level, with the parts about the sun as the direct presence of hope being more conscious than this and the parts about unreturned devotion being more unconscious than it? Awesome how she gave you such a detailed and honest reply- that takes guts for any artist. Here’s the [address of the Group](http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_6555976193¬if_t=group_r2j). I started a thread about Ra. Edit to add that you have to be approved by myself or the other admin so if we’re not around you’ll have to wait. I’m sorry but I can’t change that setting. Damn Facebook.[/spoiler] ---
**Author:** ![Imago](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/85e7bf/32.png) [@Imago](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Imago)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2011, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-saddest-song-in-the-world/126793/222 "2011-06-16T05:44:32Z")
[spoiler] > [@Equipoise](#): > > Here’s the [address of the Group](http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_6555976193¬if_t=group_r2j). I started a thread about Ra. Edit to add that you have to be approved by myself or the other admin so if we’re not around you’ll have to wait. I’m sorry but I can’t change that setting. Damn Facebook. Ah no worries, I don’t mind waiting. I’ve sent in a request to join- I’m the grinning woman flipping the bird.[/spoiler] ---
**Author:** ![Levolor\_the\_Blind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bc8723/32.png) [@Levolor\_the\_Blind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Levolor_the_Blind)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2011, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-saddest-song-in-the-world/126793/223 "2011-06-16T06:45:56Z")
This song always makes me tear up: [Take Away the Load - Sandy Denny](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7K3ir7bPKmY) ---
**Author:** ![Pitter\_Patter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/90db22/32.png) [@Pitter\_Patter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pitter_Patter)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2011, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-saddest-song-in-the-world/126793/224 "2011-06-16T07:17:07Z")
Hope I didn’t miss this earlier, but I would add “Girlfriend in a Coma” by Morrissey. Doesn’t get much worse than that. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2011, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-saddest-song-in-the-world/126793/225 "2011-06-16T12:20:23Z")
Nine years and five pages, and no one has mentioned [Ode to Billie Joe](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZt5Q-u4crc&feature=share)??? Hard to believe considering the multiple obsessive threads about this song on SDMB. ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2011, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-saddest-song-in-the-world/126793/226 "2011-06-16T22:54:19Z")
My nominee in “sad song” threads is always [Kilkelly](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsOA-5H_L2g). ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2011, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-saddest-song-in-the-world/126793/227 "2011-06-17T08:28:17Z")
[When You Go](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCH87-cbDpA) by Jonathan Coulton is deeply poignant. (This video, however, may induce eyebleeding. Really? You thought orange was the way to go with this?) ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2011, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-saddest-song-in-the-world/126793/228 "2011-06-17T14:29:20Z")
How about this, Chris Rea - Tell me there’s a heaven, [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cE1pT_DEfVs) Sandy Denny - I’m a dreamer, sadly this is not available on youtube, there is a Linda Thompson version which is creditable, but Sandy’s version is better. [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXFLBGglWjE) Johnny Cash - Hurt [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o22eIJDtKho) Rezso Seress - Gloomy Sunday - aka ‘The suicide song’, has quite a history and a number of lyrics changes, was even banned for allegedly being a contributor to a number of suicides. > **[Gloomy Sunday](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gloomy_Sunday)** > > "Gloomy Sunday" (Hungarian: Szomorú vasárnap), also known as the "Hungarian Suicide Song", is a popular song composed by Hungarian pianist and composer Rezső Seress and published in 1933. > The original lyrics were titled "Vége a világnak" (The world is ending) and were about despair caused by war, ending in a quiet prayer about people's sins. Poet László Jávor wrote his own lyrics to the song, titled Szomorú vasárnap (Sad Sunday), in which the protagonist wants to commit suicide following his ... [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAzJ_7CeWbc) This is a bit sad, [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qox4uMRcEd4) This should get a mention The Cars - Drive [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFZmRVjUJnY) Mike & the Mechanics - The Living Years [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/uGDA0Hecw1k/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AH-BIAC4AOKAgwIABABGFIgTihlMA8=&rs=AOn4CLA8ODKMG7eQOxGPvK0ko-AeKZ2u0Q "Mike & The Mechanics - The living Years") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGDA0Hecw1k) George Michael - You have been loved [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/PQF9lPE-Ii4/hqdefault.jpg "George Michael - You Have Been Loved") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQF9lPE-Ii4) ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2011, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-saddest-song-in-the-world/126793/229 "2011-06-17T14:44:33Z")
> [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](#): > > My nominee in “sad song” threads is always [Kilkelly](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsOA-5H_L2g). Since it had been mentioned so many times, I decided to give this a listen just now. I was very moved but dry-eyed, until at the end of a song a big fat tear shot out of my eye unexpectedly and landed on the desk. How weird! ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2011, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-saddest-song-in-the-world/126793/230 "2011-06-17T16:06:08Z")
> [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](#): > > My nominee in “sad song” threads is always [Kilkelly](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsOA-5H_L2g). Just sent this to an (Irish) friend who replied: > [@](#): > > Jesus wept, I would have written Return to Sender on all those letters and totally de-friended him. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2011, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-saddest-song-in-the-world/126793/231 "2011-06-17T22:01:59Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > Just sent this to an (Irish) friend who replied:😃 And, another one goes straight to hell. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2011, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-saddest-song-in-the-world/126793/232 "2011-06-19T07:25:33Z")
> [@An\_Arky](#): > > Long Black Veil (many artists recorded this, don’t know who first) > > ?!? > [@Johanna](#): > > **An Arky** , “[Long Black Veil](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGA2U30KGok)” is so very old-fashioned romantic as well as Southern Gothic. They just don’t make 'em like that any more. [“Long Black Veil” and “Caleb Meyer”: Bluegrass gothic](http://johanna-hypatia.livejournal.com/174984.html) > [@](#): > > The whole song exists within an archaic setting of traditional chivalry, touched with deep mournfulness. After ten years, she still walks the hills to mourn alone at his grave, wearing a long black veil “at night when the cold winds moan,” watched over by the ghost. In answer to the question of who first recorded it: > [@](#): > > The same day she wrote it, she took it to the studio where she gave it to Lefty Frizzell; he recorded it that very night, with Wilkin on piano. It became an instant classic. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-saddest-song-in-the-world/126793/233 "2011-06-22T17:15:59Z")
I like Johnny Cash’s version on his live album. His voice really brings the haunting quality to the fore, even though he cracks up in the middle of it. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-saddest-song-in-the-world/126793/234 "2011-06-22T17:45:43Z")
Has anybody mentioned [Mr. Bojangles](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAkhyks0uRs&feature=related). I mean, it’s pretty sad when your dog up and dies. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-saddest-song-in-the-world/126793/235 "2011-06-22T18:15:35Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > Any and every song from my youth is the saddest song in the world. Damn, the years have flown, so many hopes and dreams unrealized. [Roy Clark](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEY4LxORCeo) has a song for you. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-saddest-song-in-the-world/126793/236 "2011-06-22T22:47:12Z")
Jud Strunk’s [“A Daisy A Day”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BB8G0SFmJ1g). No, it’s just the wind in my eyes, that’s all. ---
**Author:** ![K364](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k364/32/5_2.png) [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-saddest-song-in-the-world/126793/237 "2011-06-23T00:34:25Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Jud Strunk’s [“A Daisy A Day”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BB8G0SFmJ1g). > > No, it’s just the wind in my eyes, that’s all. Yep, me too. Just wind. Don’t look at me! ---
**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:** [June 23, 2011, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-saddest-song-in-the-world/126793/238 "2011-06-23T01:40:41Z")
Eliott Smith’s song to his mom, _Waltz 2_ kills me every time, as does Patty Griffin’s [Mary](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOxpvKuEruk). _“Jesus said, “Mother I couldn’t stay another day longer” flies right by and leaves a kiss upon her face while the angels are singing his praises in a blaze of glory Mary stays behind and starts cleaning up the place”_ ☹ ---
**Author:** ![JpnDude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/838e76/32.png) [@JpnDude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JpnDude)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-saddest-song-in-the-world/126793/239 "2011-06-23T04:09:32Z")
Elton John’s “The Last Song” The first time I heard it was before the end credits of the film “…And the Band Played On” about the start of the AIDS epidemic. It was played over a montage of AIDS-related images. Still makes me cry when I see the movie and/or hear the song. [Lyrics](http://www.eltonography.com/songs/the_last_song.html) [Video (from this film)](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlD_XNMCjuo) [Video (official?)](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXV_CTFPqCc) ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-saddest-song-in-the-world/126793/240 "2011-06-23T04:12:38Z")
A trifecta from Simon and Garfunkle, “Bridge Over Troubled Water”, “The Boxer”, and “Sounds of Silence”, all made me weepy when I first heard them on vinyl. I’ve kept up with technology over all these years so I can keep on tearing up well into my old age. “One Less Bell To Answer” by the Fifth Dimension. “Mad World” by, well, anyone. Tears For Fears, but Adam Lambert, too. “Things I’d Like To Say” - New Colony Six. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-saddest-song-in-the-world/126793.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-saddest-song-in-the-world/126793.md?page=13)