C’mon. Everyone’s heard some songs in their life that has hit them in a “HOLY CRAP I’m Sad” Kinda way.
For me, I’d have to say that I’ve heard a lot of sad songs, but a couple stand out.
“Gloomy Sunday” (originally a Hungarian poem, I think) as covered by Diamanda Galas is 1000 times more depressing than by Portishead. Ditto for her cover of “My World Is Empty Without You”.
Moved from IMHO to CS.
Where the hell does my finger keep catching on this laptop keyboard?
Moved from IMHO to CS.
Moved from IMHO to CS.
Moved from IMHO to CS.
Moved from IM
Ah, on the J. Thank you for your patience.
Gilbert O’Sullivan’s Alone Again, Naturally is mighty depressing, despite its rather sprightly tune.
Hide and Seek by Imogen Heap and All Is Full of Love by Björk both leave me feeling very empty. Ditto for Poor Leno and What Else Is There? by Röyksopp.
And I think Heather Nova’s version of Gloomy Sunday is the saddest sounding one I’ve heard.
The River by Bruce Springsteen.
Ah, I see I’m the first this time around to mention “Willie McBride (No Man’s Land)”, most famously done by the Pogues.
Also, a number called “Kilkelly, Ireland”, a collection of letters from the family back in Ireland to an emmigrant to the New World, repeatedly asking him when he’s going to come home.
“End of the Rainbow” — Richard and Linda Thompson
Hide and Seek is sad. I like the cryptic kinda language used in it. It makes you think.
This comes up pretty often, search for sad songs.
“Something I Can Never Have” - NIN
“Lying Eyes” - The Eagles
“I Know You’re Married” - Patty Loveless, tons of other country/bluegrass performers
“Every Rose Has its Thorn” - Poison
“Hurt” - NIN, Johnny Cash
“My Immortal” - Evanescence
“Whiskey Lullaby” - Brad Paisley & Alison Krauss
Much of the work by Harry Chapin, including the famous “Cat’s in the Cradle” - but by no means limited to that one.
Picture by Sheryl Crow an Kid Rock. I love the song but it is a real downer.
(kid rock) livin my life in a slow hell
Different girl every night at the hotel
I aint seen the sun shine in 3 damn days
Been fuelin up on cocaine and whisky
Wish I had a good girl to miss me
Lord I wonder if Ill ever change my ways
I put your picture away
Sat down and cried the day
I cant look at you, Im lyin next to her
I put your picture away, sat down and cried today
I cant look at you Im lyin next to her
I’d have to say “Mr Tanner”, “They Call Her Easy”, and the saddest “A Better Place to Be”.
“Mr. Tanner” made me bawl the first time I heard it.
“The Rock” just makes my skin crawl. But it’s a different sad.
Why does this song make you feel empty? This precise song has brought me much comfort when I needed it badly.
Waltzing Matilda - Lou Reed
Every song on Lou Reed’s Berlin album, “The Kids” features actual children weeping, kind of hard to dance to.
Right on. I love that version.
Gloomy Sunday, a.k.a. The Hungarian Suicide Song has been covered by dozens of artists since it was first recorded in 1933. The original composer did, indeed, live up to the name of his most famous creation by jumping from his apartment window to a premature death.
Yes, I was going to mention this, especially the Cash cover, being so timely…
A friend used to say of Cowboy Junkies’ music “music to slit your wrist to”.
“When She Loved Me” from Toy Story 2.
I was coming in here to say that the Cowboy Junkies’ cover of “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” is the saddest song in the world.
James Taylor’s “Long Ago and Far Away” isn’t far behind.