# The saddest songs you ever heard **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 8, 2011, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-saddest-songs-you-ever-heard/581126 "2011-05-08T03:23:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Icerigger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icerigger/32/432_2.png) [@Icerigger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icerigger)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2011, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-saddest-songs-you-ever-heard/581126/61 "2011-05-08T21:45:51Z")
[QUOTE=MisterPeabody] “Superstar” by Carpenters [/quote] Indeed, tears come to my eyes everytime. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/SJmmaIGiGBg/maxresdefault.jpg "Carpenters - Superstar") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJmmaIGiGBg) ---
**Author:** ![jehan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f6c823/32.png) [@jehan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jehan)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2011, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-saddest-songs-you-ever-heard/581126/62 "2011-05-08T21:48:43Z")
Feed Jake [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5t2aL79_2e4) ---
**Author:** ![Sunshine\_and\_Smiles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Sunshine\_and\_Smiles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunshine_and_Smiles)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2011, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-saddest-songs-you-ever-heard/581126/63 "2011-05-08T21:56:13Z")
Chris Isaak - [Wicked Game](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oaHHrNQVrg) Casiotone for the Painfully Alone - [I Love Creedence](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkhoUStoka4), although it could just as easily have been 5 other songs by this guy. The Kills - [Black Balloon](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruc1jTK2H_s) The Brian Jonestown Massacre - [(David Bowie I Love You) Since I was Six](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWsYmVWI4I0) Okkervil River - [A Stone](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=me9MAS6ShMQ) Imogen Heap - [Hide and Seek](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYIAfiVGluk) :(:(:):(☹ ---
**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2011, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-saddest-songs-you-ever-heard/581126/64 "2011-05-08T22:13:16Z")
By definition\*, “The Saddest Song” from the musical BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON is the saddest song I ever heard. - “We have to bet on her! She’s named ‘She’s the Fastest!’” - Homer Simpson ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-saddest-songs-you-ever-heard/581126/65 "2011-05-09T00:04:42Z")
**This House is Empty Now, by Elvis Costello & Burt Bacharach** A little ditty about a man whose wife has left him: “Do you recognize the face Fixed in that fine silver frame Were you really so unhappy there You never said. This house is empty now There’s no one living here you have to care about This house is empty now There’s nothing I can do to make you want to stay So tell me how am I supposed to live without you” ---
**Author:** ![shellofmyformerself](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5f8ce5/32.png) [@shellofmyformerself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shellofmyformerself)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-saddest-songs-you-ever-heard/581126/66 "2011-05-09T00:07:46Z")
“How can I Help You Say Goodbye” by Patty Loveless Kills me every time. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-saddest-songs-you-ever-heard/581126/67 "2011-05-09T00:17:54Z")
> [@SeldomSeen](#): > > _Tears in Heaven_…Eric Clapton Wasn’t that about his son? And it was played at the memorial for the Murragh Federal Building victims. I remember the mother of two little boys who died doubled over in agony during that song. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-saddest-songs-you-ever-heard/581126/68 "2011-05-09T00:22:40Z")
“Alone Again, Naturally” by Gilbert O’Sullivan. Despite deceptively upbeat music this is one of the bleakest songs ever written. ---
**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:** [May 9, 2011, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-saddest-songs-you-ever-heard/581126/69 "2011-05-09T00:26:07Z")
> [@supervenusfreak](#): > > Kate Bush - This Woman’s Work I tend not to think of that as a sad song. It’s a very beautiful song, one of the most beautiful ever recorded, but to me it’s not too sad because it has a happy ending. Maybe it’s because I also associate it with the movie it was written for. I was a Kate fan for several years before the movie She’s Having A Baby came out, but that’s the context I first heard the song. [I love that the scenes leading to and including the song are on YouTube](http://youtu.be/9MZWrEfB_VM), which gives the song context even if someone hasn’t seen the movie. I hope it never gets taken down. My go-to sad song is [“The Chariot”](http://youtu.be/5Qn5q8d26DE). I didn’t know what the song was about for years, I just loved how beautiful and strange and otherworldly it sounded. Then I found out, and it just kills me now, every time I hear it. There have been a lot of songs about child abuse (such as “Luca”) but this seems pretty unique to me. It’s a common situation, but I don’t know of any other songs about it. It’s from the point of view of a child from a horrifically abusive broken home. The non-custodial parent comes to take the child for visitation (the parent pulling up in their car is to the child like God coming down the street in a chariot). For a brief time during the visit, a far too brief time, the child feels safe, but then the time comes for the parent to take the child back to the abusive home. The child pleads with the parent not to take them back, but can’t come out and tell about the abuse, just give hints, which the oblivious parent doesn’t pick up on. The desperation and fear and disappointment is palatable, but not to the parent. Sorry for the long explanation but I think the song deserves the background. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-saddest-songs-you-ever-heard/581126/70 "2011-05-09T00:32:25Z")
> [@Sunshine\_and\_Smiles](#): > > Chris Isaak - Imogen Heap - [Hide and Seek](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYIAfiVGluk) > > :(:(:):(☹ [Maybe this version will cheer you up!](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3YWzVbRS-M) ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-saddest-songs-you-ever-heard/581126/71 "2011-05-09T00:36:41Z")
[Stay or Leave by Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2p_yNPBKVE) ---
**Author:** ![picker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/picker/32/13969_2.png) [@picker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picker)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-saddest-songs-you-ever-heard/581126/72 "2011-05-09T00:37:42Z")
[Lydia](http://www.cowboylyrics.com/tabs/cleaves-slaid/lydia-7054.html). It’s like getting punched in the soul. ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-saddest-songs-you-ever-heard/581126/73 "2011-05-09T01:42:14Z")
**Teen Angel** Ugh. ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-saddest-songs-you-ever-heard/581126/74 "2011-05-09T01:50:29Z")
Willie Nelson, “Always on my Mind.” Regret sucks. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-saddest-songs-you-ever-heard/581126/75 "2011-05-09T01:51:53Z")
_Crying_ -Roy Orbison ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-saddest-songs-you-ever-heard/581126/76 "2011-05-09T02:36:42Z")
“I’ll Be Alright Without You” - Journey. It’s the only Journey song I’m not sick to death of, but it’s very hard for me to listen to it for sentimental reasons. “Walk Away Renee” - The Left Banke, later covered by the Four Tops “Never Gonna Fall in Love Again” - Eric Carmen ---
**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:** [May 9, 2011, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-saddest-songs-you-ever-heard/581126/77 "2011-05-09T02:41:26Z")
[Old Shep.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3HInj7zw4I) It flat laid me out in a grede school assembly. Still does. ---
**Author:** ![Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7cd45c/32.png) [@Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Glory)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-saddest-songs-you-ever-heard/581126/78 "2011-05-09T04:09:36Z")
I’ll throw in Last Goodbye by Jeff Buckley. \* This is our last goodbye I hate to feel the love between us die. But it’s over Just hear this and then I’ll go: You gave me more to live for, More than you’ll ever know. Well, this is our last embrace, Must I dream and always see your face? Why can’t we overcome this wall? Baby, maybe it’s just because I didn’t know you at all. Kiss me, please kiss me, But kiss me out of desire, babe, and not consolation.\* ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-saddest-songs-you-ever-heard/581126/79 "2011-05-09T04:25:57Z")
Another vote for “When Somebody Loved Me”, and Cash’s version of “Hurt”. The [video](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmVAWKfJ4Go&feature=fvsr) still makes my heart break. Also, for particular personal reasons, “[In the Real World](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgiPmPtJmeU)”, by Roy Orbison. ---
**Author:** ![Niniel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/df705f/32.png) [@Niniel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Niniel)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2011, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-saddest-songs-you-ever-heard/581126/80 "2011-05-09T05:02:38Z")
Samuel Barber’s [Adagio for Strings](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KylMqxLzNGo). Undeniably one of the most sorrowful, heart-wrenching pieces of classical music ever composed. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-saddest-songs-you-ever-heard/581126.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-saddest-songs-you-ever-heard/581126.md?page=5)