# What is/are the most depressing song(s) you've ever heard? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 13, 2000, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-are-the-most-depressing-song-s-youve-ever-heard/33027 "2000-09-13T15:15:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![monitorlizzard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@monitorlizzard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monitorlizzard)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2000, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-are-the-most-depressing-song-s-youve-ever-heard/33027/61 "2000-09-16T15:23:00Z")
There were times when my college dorm mates would have people over just a little too late to suit my tastes, so a good friend of mine created the “depression” tape to drive them out. The first two songs on the tape were “Patches” by Clarence Carter (about a poor sharecropper’s boy who daddy dies, if i remember correctly) and “The Wreck of the Edumund Fitzgerald” by Gordon Lightfoot…I forget the rest because they usually cleared out by the beginning of the second song…lol… I have a friend who is a professional musician who uses Frank Zappa albums for the same purpose ---
**Author:** ![xekul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/838e76/32.png) [@xekul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xekul)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2000, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-are-the-most-depressing-song-s-youve-ever-heard/33027/62 "2000-09-16T20:27:52Z")
``Georgia Lee’’ by Tom Waits. You’d have to actually hear him sing it, but… > [@](#): > > Well, cold was the night, and hard was the ground > They found her in a small grove of trees > And lonesome was the place where Georgia was found > She’s too young to be out on the street. > > Why wasn’t God watching? > Why wasn’t God listening? > Why wasn’t God there for Georgia Lee? > > Ida said she couldn’t keep Georgia > From dropping out of school > I was doing the best that I could > But she kept running away from this world > These children are so hard to raise good. > > Why wasn’t God watching? > Why wasn’t God listening? > Why wasn’t God there for Georgia Lee? > > Close your eyes and count to ten > And I will go and hide, but then, > Be sure to find me, I want you to find me > And we’ll play all over > We’ll play all over > We’ll play all over again. > > There’s a toad in the witch grass > There’s a crow in the corn > Wild flowers on a cross by the road > And somewhere a baby is crying for mom > As the hills turn from green back to gold. > > Why wasn’t God watching? > Why wasn’t God listening? > Why wasn’t God there for > Georgia Lee? ---
**Author:** ![Fernmeldetruppe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e99b99/32.png) [@Fernmeldetruppe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fernmeldetruppe)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2000, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-are-the-most-depressing-song-s-youve-ever-heard/33027/63 "2000-09-16T22:46:57Z")
I can’t add to “most depressing”. I am clearly not listening to the right music. For runners up I concur w/ Cat’s in the Craddle and add: One Tin Soldier Rainy Day’s on Monday’s (right name?) Killing Me Softly (preferably sung by Roberta Flack) ---
**Author:** ![Flymaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c4cdca/32.png) [@Flymaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flymaster)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2000, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-are-the-most-depressing-song-s-youve-ever-heard/33027/64 "2000-09-16T23:03:41Z")
No question, Cat’s in the Cradle and Leaving on a Jet Plane. ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2000, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-are-the-most-depressing-song-s-youve-ever-heard/33027/65 "2000-09-16T23:20:06Z")
I tried to pick a particular Joy Division song to quote lyrics from, but I couldn’t settle on one - they’re **all** the most depressing song I’ve ever heard! And yet, I love them … ---
**Author:** ![Malarky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b487fb/32.png) [@Malarky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malarky)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2000, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-are-the-most-depressing-song-s-youve-ever-heard/33027/66 "2000-09-16T23:48:32Z")
I totally think that NIN have performed some of the saddest songs I’ve heard, “Hurt” and “In the Great Below” come to mind…but that new one from Everlast, “Wonderful”, made me cry the first, second, and third times hearing it! Anyone from a divorced family will probably agree w/me ---
**Author:** ![Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2000, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-are-the-most-depressing-song-s-youve-ever-heard/33027/67 "2000-09-17T00:11:59Z")
As I’ve been trying to find a song for my upcoming wedding I’ve been poring over my huge collection of CDs, vinyl, and cassettes to find one song that works without a negative or depressing message. I’m not finding one that isn’t depressing or drivel. Some of the rejects for depression are: 1. All The Man I Need by Whiney Houston My god … this is a co-dependant anthem only equaled by the Wind Beneath My Wings. 1. Missing by everything but the kitchen sink Yes, love lost and unrequited … what a lovely message. 1. Sweet Dreams Are Made Of This… Eurythmics Not an up tune. 1. Kissing A Fool by Gorge Michael More unrequited love and bitterness. 1. You Light Up My Life by Dippy Boonedoggle A sacharine and drippy co-dependant piece of drivel. 1. Save A Prayer - Duran Duran Duran Duran Duran A one night stand ditty — sort of pointless when you’ve done your future spouse more times than you can count. 1. I Just Died In Your Arms Tonight - Cutting Crew Necro love, woah-oh-oh, necro love. 1. Any song by Celine Dion or Barbra Streisand Bleh, bleh, bleh. All of their songs depress me either for the lyrics or that they are popular 1. How Soon Is Now by The Smiths Unrequited love, loneliness, and disaffection. My fiancee actually thought that this could work. 1. Someone To Watch Over Me - Sting Co-dependant. And a bit creepy. I don’t want someone to watch over me. I want and have someone to be with me. At this point, I’m just thinking of going for irony and choosing ‘A Fine Romance.’ At least our sense of humor about the relationship would be there. ---
**Author:** ![hypergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/49beb7/32.png) [@hypergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hypergirl)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2000, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-are-the-most-depressing-song-s-youve-ever-heard/33027/68 "2000-09-17T01:05:44Z")
I just thought of another. Last Kiss, by Pearl Jam. I know it’s a cover of a song done by someone else, but I’m not sure who. It’s about this guy who is driving with his girlfriend and they get into a car crash and she dies. And he spends the rest of his life loving her and trying to be good so he can be with her after he dies because she has gone to heaven. I have major issues with this song. But that’s another story altogether. ---
**Author:** ![Slarti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d26b3c/32.png) [@Slarti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slarti)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2000, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-are-the-most-depressing-song-s-youve-ever-heard/33027/69 "2000-09-17T01:15:43Z")
Humm…toss up, actually… Bob Seger’s original version of “Turn the Page” (not the metallica thinger) -or- The final track of the “Conan the Barbarian” soundtrack, which plays during the movie after conan cuts off JEJ’s head, and the people are filing by tossing their torches into the large pool below him. He just sits there, and the music is in this minor key…messes me up ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2000, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-are-the-most-depressing-song-s-youve-ever-heard/33027/70 "2000-09-17T01:31:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by hypergirl \* > \*\*I just thought of another. Last Kiss, by Pearl Jam. I know it’s a cover of a song done by someone else, but I’m not sure who. It’s about this guy who is driving with his girlfriend and they get into a car crash and she dies. And he spends the rest of his life loving her and trying to be good so he can be with her after he dies because she has gone to heaven. I have major issues with this song. But that’s another story altogether. \*\* “Last Kiss” was written and originally recorded by Wayne Cochran, but the most famous version was recorded by J. Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers. It was covered again in the 70’s by a band called Wednesday (I think). If you find the Pearl Jam version disturbing, you should hear Frank Wilson sing it. At least Eddie Vedder manages to sound _sad_, ol’ Frank sounds creepily chipper about the whole thing. He also does this irritating pseudo-Buddy Holly hiccup, and the backup vocals sound like they were performed by Munchkins. ---
**Author:** ![DRY](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a87d85/32.png) [@DRY](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DRY)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2000, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-are-the-most-depressing-song-s-youve-ever-heard/33027/71 "2000-09-17T11:45:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by screech-owl \* > \*\*Okay folks, I have read a couple posts about “Puff the Magic Dragon” with the conclusion that the kid died. There seems to be a vital line of the song that has been overlooked. > > The verse, with a minor brainburp (can’t remember the original word - X/X): > “Dragons live forever, > Not so little boys; > _Painted wings and flying things > make/give way for other toys_” > > Conclusion: the child grew up, put away childish things and abandoned the friend who kept him company for most of his young life. Of course Puff is going to be upset and hide from the world. Would you not be crushed if you were thrown over by someone you had considered to be your best friend for a new toy/friend/playmate with no warning at all? [OTOH, this song was a great teaching tool about considering other people’s feelings.] > \*\* For what it’s worth, I never thought the kid died–who cares about the kid, I felt sorry for the Dragon! It’s still a depressing song. Add “Paint It Black” to my list of depressing songs. ---
**Author:** ![Geek\_Mecha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecae2f/32.png) [@Geek\_Mecha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geek_Mecha)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2000, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-are-the-most-depressing-song-s-youve-ever-heard/33027/72 "2000-09-17T12:13:22Z")
Peter Gabriel’s “I Grieve” is up there on my list. You grow up associating him with “Sledgehammer” and “Big Time”, and not to mention the videos for those songs, and then you hear that song… I had shivers the first time I heard it. ---
**Author:** ![Kupek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/90db22/32.png) [@Kupek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kupek)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2000, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-are-the-most-depressing-song-s-youve-ever-heard/33027/73 "2000-09-17T18:39:03Z")
**Fade to Black** by Metallica Emptiness is filing me To the point of agony Growing darkness taking dawn I was me, but now He’s gone **Momma Said** by Metallica I need your arms to welcome me But a cold stone’s all I see **Nothing Else Matters** by Metallica so close no matter how far couldn’t be much more from the heart forever trusting who we are and nothing else matters **Unforgiven II** by Metallica Lay beside me, under wicked sky The black of day, dark of night, we share this paralyze The door cracks open, but there’s no sun shining through Black heart scarring darker still, but there’s no sun shining through **Elderly Woman Behind a Counter in a Small Town** by Pearl Jam my god it’s been too long never dreamed you’d return **My Life in the Knife Trade** by Boy Sets Fire trade my life for a barrel of gold find someone else before i get too old **Glycerine** by Bush i treated you bad you bruised my face couldn’t love you more you’ve got a beautiful taste **Good Riddance** by Green Day it’s something unpredictable but in the end it’s right I hope you had the time of your life ---
**Author:** ![hypergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/49beb7/32.png) [@hypergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hypergirl)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2000, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-are-the-most-depressing-song-s-youve-ever-heard/33027/74 "2000-09-17T20:51:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Kupek \* > \*\ ***Good Riddance** by Green Day > it’s something unpredictable > but in the end it’s right > I hope you had the time of your life \*\* I have to agree with this one too. not only are the words and the music depressing, but the times when they choose to play it are too. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2000, 9:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-are-the-most-depressing-song-s-youve-ever-heard/33027/75 "2000-09-18T09:26:47Z")
I heard a song on the radio a few months ago that very nearly made me cry at work. This is “The Wild Blue” by Christine Lavin, who’s a pretty popular folk singer. Usually she does (REALLY) funny stuff, but this is a major departure. It’s a song about a kamikaze pilot, which I assume to be true, because it’s complete with names. I searched for way too long to find the lyrics, and finally gave up, but I did find a site where you can [listen](http://music.christinelavin.com/christinelavin/) to part of the song. Unfortunately, it’s a pretty long song, and the RealPlayer ends before the really depressing part. The worst is a verse about how a kamikaze pilot crashed into an American ship, causing a lot of damage but not sinking it, and as a souvenier, an American sailor takes a bone from the Japanese pilot to take home. The chorus goes: “This was war, this is what men do.” It is just incredibly depressing. At the end, it’s revealed that the soldier who came up with the idea of the kamikaze ran away and changed his name so that he wouldn’t have to sacrifice his life as well. On his deathbed, he reveals to his children that it was his fault that so many young men killed themselves in the war, and the immense guilt he felt for causing this, and for not joining them. ---
**Author:** ![screech-owl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@screech-owl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/screech-owl)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2000, 10:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-are-the-most-depressing-song-s-youve-ever-heard/33027/76 "2000-09-18T10:53:28Z")
Yes, I liten to folk music. Except for Stan Rodgers’ “First Christmas” - 3 verses of people spending Christmas alone for different reasons. I have to fast-forward the tape every time. ---
**Author:** ![Falcon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/49beb7/32.png) [@Falcon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Falcon)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2000, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-are-the-most-depressing-song-s-youve-ever-heard/33027/77 "2000-09-18T13:28:11Z")
Kyla - I _love_ Christine Lavin! Which album is that song off of, do you know? Because I’d never heard it before. Her song about driving past the hotel where Lennon was killed was pretty depressing too. ---
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2000, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-are-the-most-depressing-song-s-youve-ever-heard/33027/78 "2000-09-18T13:31:57Z")
I remember Patches. My choice is undoubtedly D.O.A. by Bloodrock. I first heard it on Dr. Demneto’s radio show, a show of supposedly silly songs. Its a bout a plane crash, where the guy describes the horror, He looks over and his arm is gone. His voice is so creepy and the music so durgelike, I freaked out. I dont ever want to hear it again! ---
**Author:** ![conway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ec9cab/32.png) [@conway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/conway)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2000, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-are-the-most-depressing-song-s-youve-ever-heard/33027/79 "2000-09-18T18:26:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by screech-owl \* > \*\*Okay folks, I have read a couple posts about “Puff the Magic Dragon” with the conclusion that the kid died. There seems to be a vital line of the song that has been overlooked. > > The verse, with a minor brainburp (can’t remember the original word - X/X): > “Dragons live forever, > Not so little boys; > _Painted wings and flying things > make/give way for other toys_” > > Conclusion: the child grew up, put away childish things and abandoned the friend who kept him company for most of his young life. Of course Puff is going to be upset and hide from the world. Would you not be crushed if you were thrown over by someone you had considered to be your best friend for a new toy/friend/playmate with no warning at all? > > When I was a music teacher, and also did children’s concerts, I dreaded this song, knowing that somewhere in class or in the audience, some child (or parent) was going to burst into tears thinking that little Jackie had shuffled off this mortal coil. At the critical line noted above, we would all sing it with a little more emphasis. Explaining the song to a sobbing kindergartener was not one of the joys of my life or career. > > \*\* Hmmm…I think you may have disillusioned a bunch of kids, or at best, Jackie Paper is jerk who won’t even visit one of his supposedly best friends. Is that any better? At least if he died it wouldn’t have been the kid’s fault. Either way this song reeks of pain. ---
**Author:** ![PillEater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bcef8e/32.png) [@PillEater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PillEater)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2000, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-are-the-most-depressing-song-s-youve-ever-heard/33027/80 "2000-09-18T19:22:56Z")
[QUOTE] \*Originally posted by screech-owl \* \*\* > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Anti Pro \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > There was a song my mother used to play, I think it had a bit of a country ring to it. I believe the song was ‘The Three Bells’ having to do with when the church bells ring. Once for this guy’s birth, once when he got married, and then at his funeral. My mom used to listen to it when she felt like crying. > > > > For me: “In the Ghetto” by Elvis and “Daddy Don’t Walk So Fast” by Mac Davis. \*\* > > Ah yes, the “Three Bells” song. Can’t remember who sang the country version (Roommate took the tape, thank gawd), but it’s pretty and seems less depressing sung in French by Edith Piaf. [Of course, I’ll probably retract that statement once I can get the French lyrics translated.] > > :shudder: “Daddy Don’t You Walk So Fast” - forgot that one. Thanks for reminding me. ☹ > > Just for future information, Teddy Bear was done by Red Sovine, an extremely depressing musicmaker. If you don’t believe me, find one of his albums at your local library. All the songs that I remember him doing were of the same ilk as Teddy Bear. > > Have a nice day! 🙂 > > Add to my depressing song list: > > “Teddy Bear” - the CB/trucker ballad (by CW McCall?) IIRC about an ill little boy (cancer?) talking to truckers on the CB radio > > “Honey” by Bobby Goldsboro - as corny as that song is, it always used to make me cry. \*\* [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-are-the-most-depressing-song-s-youve-ever-heard/33027.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-are-the-most-depressing-song-s-youve-ever-heard/33027.md?page=5)