# What are the saddest songs you know? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 28, 2002, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-saddest-songs-you-know/106024 "2002-04-28T00:09:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![MrO](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/50afbb/32.png) [@MrO](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrO)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2002, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-saddest-songs-you-know/106024/41 "2002-04-28T14:03:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sam Stone \* > \*\ ***John Prine** : “Hello in There” \*\* This one is a good candidate. (“We lost Davy in the Korean War / Still don’t know what for / Don’t matter anymore.”) I know only Joan Baez’s version of it. Another sad one from that Baez album is “Jesse,” written by Janis Ian. (Yeah, “At Seventeen” is a sad one too.) I would also mention Rickie Lee Jones’ “Last Chance Texaco” and “Comin’ Back to Me” (which I think was a Jefferson Airplane tune originally). It’s interesting to me that many of my favorite songs are being mentioned here. Leonard Cohen? I love his old stuff; it always cheers me up. “Dress Rehearsal Rag” comes to mind especially. Tom Waits? Possibly my favorite musician on Earth. The Beatles? I like it all, but especially the dark stuff. But I’m a cheerful guy. Really. ---
**Author:** ![bobkitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c67d28/32.png) [@bobkitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobkitty)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2002, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-saddest-songs-you-know/106024/42 "2002-04-28T14:10:36Z")
“Bright Eyes” - Art Garfunkel. Yes, the one from Watership Down. ---
**Author:** ![dead0man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/edb3f5/32.png) [@dead0man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dead0man)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2002, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-saddest-songs-you-know/106024/43 "2002-04-28T15:29:59Z")
“Sunflowers”,“Queen of the Air”,“Pale Green Stars” and “the Twistinside” by Everclear (for the most part every Everclear song is depressing) “She’s Gone” by NOFX dead0man ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2002, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-saddest-songs-you-know/106024/44 "2002-04-28T16:46:09Z")
These songs always make me feel sad: **Sometimes it Snows in April** –Prince **Purple Rain** – Prince **Nothing Compares to You** –Sinead O’Connor (not the Prince version) **Funeral for a Friend** –Elton John **Stranger in Moscow** –Michael Jackson **I Willl Never Be the Same** –Melissa Etheridge **Descending** –Black Crowes **Moonlight Sonata** **Easy to Be Hard** –From the _Hair_ soundtrack **One** –U2 ---
**Author:** ![Jurhael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/cab0a1/32.png) [@Jurhael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jurhael)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2002, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-saddest-songs-you-know/106024/45 "2002-04-28T16:53:20Z")
Running to Stand Still–U2 Mothers of the Disappeared–U2 ---
**Author:** ![Sassafras](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a87d85/32.png) [@Sassafras](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sassafras)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2002, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-saddest-songs-you-know/106024/46 "2002-04-28T16:58:59Z")
I nominate: “He went to Paris” Jimmy Buffet “What’s the Matter Here” 10,000 Maniacs “Veronica” Elvis Costello ---
**Author:** ![mikeargo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/858c86/32.png) [@mikeargo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mikeargo)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2002, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-saddest-songs-you-know/106024/47 "2002-04-28T17:04:57Z")
The Cowboy Junkies version of Hank Williams “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” ---
**Author:** ![The\_Griffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@The\_Griffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Griffin)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2002, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-saddest-songs-you-know/106024/48 "2002-04-28T17:06:26Z")
Plume - Smashing Pumpkins ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2002, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-saddest-songs-you-know/106024/50 "2002-04-28T17:25:34Z")
Hey **mikeargo** , how about every single song on The Trinity Sessions by the Cowboy Junkies? “Misguided Angel”, “Sweet Jane”, “200 Miles”, “I Don’t Get It”, “Blue Moon”. Every single song is the saddest song ever written. My favorite album of all time, BTW. ---
**Author:** ![capybara](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/capybara/32/202_2.png) [@capybara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capybara)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2002, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-saddest-songs-you-know/106024/51 "2002-04-28T18:10:52Z")
Second vote for REM’s "Try not to Breathe’-- about an older person deciding that life’s been long enough and telling someone about his memory/existence. Like Rutger Hauer’s speech at the end of Bladerunner about the amazing things he’s seen (god, this is liek a double nerd reference). “Half a world Away,” I think, from the same album is great/depressing, too. Also the Cowboy Junkies’ entire oeuvre. Jeez. The entire album Trinity Sessions (I think it is called) just makes me go back to bed. Damn, Lemur, on preview, I note you feel the same way. Any version of “Stretched on your Grave” (or whatever the name of the traditional song with that lyric is) makes me feel like I’m about to go nuts. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2002, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-saddest-songs-you-know/106024/52 "2002-04-28T20:44:42Z")
**Ersatz Schmoe** said: > [@](#): > > Nine Inch Nails - “Something I Can Never Have” > R.E.M. - “Try Not to Breathe” & “Nightswimming” > Counting Crows - “Raining In Baltimore” > Radiohead - “Exit Music (For a Film)” …which are the exact same songs I was thinking of. Amazing. Add “Am I The Only One” by the Barenaked Ladies. Supposeldy about the death of Ed’s brother, but don’t quote me on that. ---
**Author:** ![rackensack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@rackensack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rackensack)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2002, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-saddest-songs-you-know/106024/53 "2002-04-28T20:49:03Z")
**The Band** , “It Makes No Difference”. Listen, then try to argue with me. **Lyle Lovett** , “She’s Already Made Up Her Mind” and “She’s Leaving Me (Because She Really Wants To)” from _Joshua Judges Ruth_ ---
**Author:** ![Dub56](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@Dub56](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dub56)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2002, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-saddest-songs-you-know/106024/54 "2002-04-28T21:10:41Z")
“Black Muddy River” by the Grateful Dead “Anxiety” by Goldfinger “Again I Go Unnoticed” by Dashboard Confessional Actually, anything at all by Dashboard can probably go on this list - that guy’s had some issues . . . ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2002, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-saddest-songs-you-know/106024/55 "2002-04-28T22:02:44Z")
2 Elton John songs - _Daniel_ and _Candle in the Wind_. Peter, Paul and Mary - _Leaving on a Jet Plane_. Glen Campbell - _Wichita Lineman_. Simon and Garfunkel - _The Boxer_. Number 1, no questions please, James Taylor - _Fire and Rain_. ---
**Author:** ![lel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8797f3/32.png) [@lel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lel)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2002, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-saddest-songs-you-know/106024/56 "2002-04-28T22:32:26Z")
Songs that always get to me: Lonestar - _I’m Already There_ Air Supply - _Goodbye_ REO Speedwagon _Can’t Fight This Feeling_ (I know this one isn’t technically a sad song, but I personally find it rather depressing.) ---
**Author:** ![Legomancer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/779978/32.png) [@Legomancer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Legomancer)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2002, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-saddest-songs-you-know/106024/57 "2002-04-28T22:35:02Z")
I’ll second “Bright Eyes” by Art Garfunkel. ---
**Author:** ![Siege](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Siege](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siege)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2002, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-saddest-songs-you-know/106024/58 "2002-04-28T23:06:48Z")
I think I’m about to post the same song in 2 threads back-to-back (the other is [If Life Is A Rock And the Radio Rolls Me](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?postid=2045444#post2045444)) but I once played _I Honestly Love You_ sung by Olivia Newton-John after my first case of puppy love ended. _BAD_ mistake! I couldn’t make it throug it without bursting into tears. CJ ---
**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:** [April 28, 2002, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-saddest-songs-you-know/106024/59 "2002-04-28T23:30:18Z")
There’s only one song that makes me cry — _real tears_ — every single time I hear it. That song is **[“The Journey On”](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000003YXP/qid=1020036272/sr=8-2/ref=sr_8_67_2/104-5570009-5283922)** by **Kate Price**. It isn’t so much that it’s sad (although it is), but the intense beauty of the lyrics makes me cry. So I don’t know if it’s the saddest song there is, but it sure is one the best sad songs ever. I also cried listening to Woody Guthrie’s songs “Hobo’s Lullaby” and “I Ain’t Got No Home in this World Anymore”. ---
**Author:** ![Daoloth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/82dd89/32.png) [@Daoloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daoloth)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2002, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-saddest-songs-you-know/106024/60 "2002-04-28T23:31:21Z")
“Gloomy Sunday” by Rezso Seress as performed by Paul White. The song contains such inspirational lines as: “Little white flowers will never awaken you, not where the black coach of sorrow has taken you.” and: “Angels have no thought of ever returning you, would they be angry, if I thought of joining you?” ---
**Author:** ![Farkle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9fc348/32.png) [@Farkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farkle)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2002, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-saddest-songs-you-know/106024/61 "2002-04-28T23:49:34Z")
**Strange Fruit** Billie Holiday _Southern trees bear a strange fruit Blood on the leaves and blood at the root Black bodies swingin’ in the southern breeze Strange fruit hangin’ from the poplar trees_ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-saddest-songs-you-know/106024.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-the-saddest-songs-you-know/106024.md?page=4)