# What are the most desperate hit songs? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 14, 2005, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-desperate-hit-songs/289962 "2005-02-14T03:41:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![easy\_e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/eb8c5e/32.png) [@easy\_e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/easy_e)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2005, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-desperate-hit-songs/289962/41 "2005-02-15T04:35:01Z")
> [@RancidYakButterTeaParty](#): > > A great desperate song, but not a hit, would be “_New Drink for the Old Drunk_” by **Crooked Fingers**. Lyrics like these make the point: > > “Well they kicked you around like a rodeo clown, > and it echoed through town they were beating you down, > and as they spread the word that you liked how it hurt, > all at one you were cause for a pitiful cure.” Yay, another Crooked Fingers fan! The first 2 albums are full of stuff like this. I think the most pathetic part of _New Drink_ are the opening lines, when you realizes its a wino begging for money at a bar so he can buy more alcohol: “Would you try– could you buy, a new drink for the old drunk? It’s no crime to resign misery with a bottle” ---
**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2005, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-desperate-hit-songs/289962/42 "2005-02-15T05:05:41Z")
“Heard It Through the Grapevine” by Marvin Gaye. You can hear the awful panic in his voice: _You could have told me yourself That you loved someone else… Instead I heard it thorugh the grapevine._ Ouch. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Big\_Cheese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@The\_Big\_Cheese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Big_Cheese)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2005, 10:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-desperate-hit-songs/289962/43 "2005-02-15T10:18:31Z")
C’mon, you’ve all heard it, admit it… **.How Am I supposed to Live Without You** - Michael Bolton! On a better note, \*\* Missing You\*\* - Everything but the Girl. ---
**Author:** ![Siege](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Siege](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siege)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2005, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-desperate-hit-songs/289962/44 "2005-02-15T10:37:36Z")
How about “ **Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad** ” by Meatloaf/Jim Steinman. > [@](#): > > I can’t lie. > I can’t tell you that I’m something I’m not > No matter how I try. > I’ll never be able to give you something > Something that I just haven’t got. > > . . . > > I want you. > I need you, > But there ain’t no way I’m ever gonna love you. > Now don’t be sad > Cause _Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad_ CJ ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2005, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-desperate-hit-songs/289962/45 "2005-02-15T12:18:52Z")
> [@Siege](#): > > How about “ **Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad** ” by Meatloaf/Jim Steinman. > CJ If you’re going to drag Steinman into this, you might as well add Bonnie Tyler’s “Total Eclipse of the Heart”. ---
**Author:** ![furlibusea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@furlibusea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furlibusea)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2005, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-desperate-hit-songs/289962/46 "2005-02-15T14:32:59Z")
[Maybe This Time](http://www.lyricsfreak.com/f/frank-sinatra/55977.html) Kander/Ebb > [@](#): > > Maybe this time, I’ll be lucky > Maybe this time she’ll stay > Maybe this time, for the first time > Love won’t wander away ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2005, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-desperate-hit-songs/289962/47 "2005-02-15T14:57:30Z")
I think it’s called “It Must Be Him”. I know the artist is Vicki Carr. I first heard of it in Dave Barry’s Book of Bad Songs, and have since run across it on the radio a few times (well, I listen to some odd stations). It. is. hilarious. It’s him, it’s him, it must be him, oh dear God! But it’s not him, and then I die… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2005, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-desperate-hit-songs/289962/48 "2005-02-15T15:02:46Z")
I know this is a bit late, but better L than N. **F U Shakespeare** , we do not allow posting the full song lyrics. We’re never sure whether it’s “fair usage” (ie, whether the copyright has run out), so we strongly encourage that you quote a stanza or so and provide a link to a site that has copyright. We’re stricter on copyright and “fair usage” issues than we might legally have to be. We don’t want folks reproducing our stuff, so we don’t reproduce anyone else’s. I now see that there are several other posts doing something similar, so I’m going through and editing. Look, I understand that some of you are trying to make a point in the lyrics you quote. If I edited your post down, and you would prefer to quote a different stanza than what I left, please email me. Be specific, give me the stanza you want to quote, and I’ll fix it. ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2005, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-desperate-hit-songs/289962/49 "2005-02-15T22:21:42Z")
You folks must have a different concept of desperate than I have. I envision a more manic, urgent kind of feeling. And what can bring that out better than the psychedelic 60’s !!! By sheer title alone you can sense the desperation of the Electric Prunes’: **You Gotta Get Me To The World On Time** … My pulse is beatin’ faster And I’m headin’ for disaster Here I go (higher, higher) Here I go (higher, higher) Here I go Get me to the world on time You gotta get me to the world on time As the song ends, they are screaming the title and a slide guitar and God knows what else keep going higher up the scale. ---
**Author:** ![Maeglin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8baadc/32.png) [@Maeglin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maeglin)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2005, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-desperate-hit-songs/289962/50 "2005-02-15T22:41:33Z")
When it comes to desperation, I don’t think anyone beats Marc Almond. I do not want to overquote, but in this context it is difficult to pick and choose. The link is to Marc’s own website. From his highly disturbed album [Torment and Toreros](http://www.marcalmond.co.uk/backstage/lyrics.htm) we have such winners as: From _Your Love Is A Lesion_ [quote] With my limbs tied behind my back You forced me to love you Down on my knees, I lied My real self stays locked safe from you [quote] > [@](#): > > Blood smeared across my mouth > This love leaves me lost without you > But when will we tire of disease and desire? From _A Million Manias_ > [@](#): > > A million manias everyday > To keep my sanity at bay > A million manias to make me suffer > A million manias weigh me down > Neurosis forcing me to drown > This couldn’t happen to > Any-other dog or is mother, brother So much more. I would highly suggest reading all of the lyrics. It really is a magnificent album. From _Burning Boats_, on the album _Slut_. > [@](#): > > Hair-tearing/gut-dashing/ cut cutting/hit-hitting flecks of > soul-stuff/hit-hitting/hit-hitting > Powerless horrified (x 2) > Little lords of molten want > I rest, stare spared your powerless horrified in-trance > If it was nothing more we’d be on fire > Risking nothing you (x 6) > I’ll risk everything (x 6) > You risk nothing (x 2) > I’ll risk everything (x 2) > You risk nothing ---
**Author:** ![Susie\_Derkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47774/32.png) [@Susie\_Derkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Susie_Derkins)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2005, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-desperate-hit-songs/289962/51 "2005-02-16T01:18:52Z")
Bonnie Raitt–“I Can’t Make You Love Me” _I’ll close my eyes, then I won’t see The love you don’t feel when you’re holding me Morning will come and I’ll do what’s right Just give me till then to give up this fight And I will give up this fight 'Cause I can’t make you love me if you don’t…_ Makes me cry every time. ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2005, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-desperate-hit-songs/289962/52 "2005-02-16T01:25:34Z")
**We’re Just Friends** by Wilco - Over and over and over again I try to make amends For everything that I’ve done wrong My whole world just spins Make some coffee, hold me up Try to talk me out of giving up But I promise We’re just friends\* ---
**Author:** ![KSO](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@KSO](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KSO)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2005, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-desperate-hit-songs/289962/53 "2005-02-16T01:53:58Z")
Not a hit song, but Elvis Costello’s “I Want You” is up there in desperation: I want you It’s the stupid details that my heart is breaking for It’s the way your shoulders shake and what they’re shaking for It’s knowing that he knows you now after only guessing I want you It’s the thought of him undressing you or you undressing I want you He tossed some tatty compliment your way I want you And you were fool enough to love it when he said I want you snip I want to know the things you did that we do too I want you I want to hear he pleases you more than I do I want you I might as well be useless for all it means to you I want you Did you call his name out as he held you down I want you Oh no my darling not with that clown snip I’m going to say it once again ’til I instill it I know I’m going to feel this way until you kill it I want you I want you [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-most-desperate-hit-songs/289962.md?page=2)