# What makes you cry topic....What is the saddest song? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 23, 2003, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-cry-topic-what-is-the-saddest-song/163630 "2003-03-23T22:23:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-cry-topic-what-is-the-saddest-song/163630/41 "2003-03-24T15:03:53Z")
_John Doe No. 24_ by Mary Chapin Carpenter. ---
**Author:** ![CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crankyasanoldman/32/11670_2.png) [@CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrankyAsAnOldMan)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-cry-topic-what-is-the-saddest-song/163630/42 "2003-03-24T15:17:47Z")
Okay, country fans, I agree on “Don’t Take the Girl.” Winona’s “Is It Over Yet?” is a killer. Mary Chapin Carpenter has a big bunch of them that get me weepy. Her rendition of “10,000 Miles” kills me ever since I saw it in “Fly Away Home.” _sniffle_ “Only A Dream” reminds me of my two friends who are siblings and how close they are. _gropes for tissue_ “When She’s Gone” is such a good one about the indifference of an uncaring mate. Must go be sad somewhere now. ---
**Author:** ![hobbes730](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/97f17d/32.png) [@hobbes730](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hobbes730)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-cry-topic-what-is-the-saddest-song/163630/43 "2003-03-24T15:26:16Z")
I have to agree with you on **“10,000 Miles”** …that’s quite possibly one of the saddest songs I’ve ever heard. **Velvet Underground** has some pretty depressing stuff too. And of course just about anything by **Radiohead** is enough to make a normally manic person want to crawl into a hole and die…but maybe that’s just me 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Zumpel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/bb73d2/32.png) [@Zumpel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zumpel)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-cry-topic-what-is-the-saddest-song/163630/44 "2003-03-24T15:29:04Z")
There’s a song from “This Mortal Coil” sung from the perspective of a wee girl that died in Hiroshima… wait… ah yeah… “I come and sing at every door…”. Definite downer , that one. “Fade to black” from Metallica, though that is more of a “sturm und drang” kind of thing for teenagers. 😉 “Spring” from Vivaldis for seasons, cause that’s the song played in the church when we buried my brother. (Stupid mofu had to go and die on us, ruining that up-beat piece of classic… uch… got something in my eye… pass me that bottle of Jameson, will ya… 🙂 ) ---
**Author:** ![Bomzaway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e480ec/32.png) [@Bomzaway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bomzaway)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-cry-topic-what-is-the-saddest-song/163630/45 "2003-03-24T15:45:02Z")
**Brick** by Ben Folds Five. I think the line “6am, Day after Christmas” is one of the most descriptive yet brief lines ever written. As a father of two girls, I find Paul Simon’s song **Father and Daughter** to be quite poignant. Because it reminds me of a high school friend that commited suicide, **The Pass** by Rush. In particular, the following lyrics: It’s not as if this barricade Blocks the only road It’s not as if you’re all alone In wanting to explode Someone set a bad example Made surrender seem alright The act of a noble warrior Who’s lost the will to fight Last, but definitely not least, **The Star Spangled Banner**. (So shoot me, I’m very patriotic!) When they get to the line, “Oh say does that star spangled banner yet wave?” I get pretty choked up. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-cry-topic-what-is-the-saddest-song/163630/46 "2003-03-24T15:45:41Z")
I’ll add “I Married Her Just Because She Looks Like You” by Lyle Lovett. The title sounds like a parody of a country song, but it’s a sad song about love lost and the consequences of behavior. Lovett’s “Nobody Knows Me” is also up there among sad songs. Bernadette Peters’s rendition of “You Can’t Get a Man With a Gun” from “Annie Get Your Gun” is also extremely sad. Most people know the Ethel Merman version, but Peters slows down the tempo, changing it from a fun ditty to a sad song about how your own character can be a hindrance. ---
**Author:** ![tunabreath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/838e76/32.png) [@tunabreath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tunabreath)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-cry-topic-what-is-the-saddest-song/163630/47 "2003-03-24T16:27:50Z")
“Bronx Lullaby” by Tom Waits. I saw/heard this on IFC in a documentary, the song’s less than 2 mins long. It’s about a wanderer who’s singing to his dead baby who’s buried in the snow but now in heaven. and he’s be in some other town soon. Emerson, Lake and Palmer’s “Daddy” another song about a dead child. This one is a daughter that was kidnapped, they found the kidnapper/killer but the killer doesn’t remember where he burried the body. “Two Suns in the Sunset” by Pink Floyd. Roger Waters haunting voice singing/yelling “You have no recourse to the law any more” and the sound of a child yelling “Mommy! Daddy!” Roger Waters then sings/says “The rusty wire that holds the cork that keeps the anger in Suddenly gives way and it’s day again.” Roger Waters “Three wishes” Another song about the loss of children and loved ones. These songs (and others to be sure) have never failed. I would sob knowing that losing a child must be one of, if not THE, worst thing a person could live through. I wish I’d never found out just how right I was. ---
**Author:** ![CBCD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@CBCD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CBCD)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-cry-topic-what-is-the-saddest-song/163630/48 "2003-03-24T16:33:26Z")
**Dusty Springfield** singing **I Can’t Make it Alone** , on the magnificent **Dusty in Memphis** album. It is so heart-wrenching… I love it. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-cry-topic-what-is-the-saddest-song/163630/49 "2003-03-24T17:34:10Z")
A few more in the Country category: Michelle Wright’s “He Would Be Sixteen.” Middle-aged woman driving past high school during football game wonders what happened to the son she gave up for adoption when she was in high school herself. Especially poignant is the juxtaposition of Wright’s strong vocal on the line “Does he drive a car by now?,” followed by a small pause before she shakily whispers, “Has he been in love?” Kathy Mattea’s “Where’ve You Been?” Wife’s silly little question to husband when he gets home from work every day takes on a whole new meaning when they are both elderly, hospitalized, and in separate rooms; and the husband somehow manages to get to his wife’s room for one last visit. And yet another vote for Collin Raye’s “Love, Me.” ---
**Author:** ![ThePyroWeasel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/54ee81/32.png) [@ThePyroWeasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThePyroWeasel)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-cry-topic-what-is-the-saddest-song/163630/50 "2003-03-24T17:53:00Z")
“Heaven Better Save Some Tears” by Horace Loeb. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![look\_ninjas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b2d939/32.png) [@look\_ninjas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/look_ninjas)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2003, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-cry-topic-what-is-the-saddest-song/163630/51 "2003-03-24T18:07:42Z")
Ever since I watched the movie IMAGINE, the last chord at the end of “A Day in the Life” (Beatles, for those who don’t know) gives me a strange, strange feeling inside. ---
**Author:** ![Bjork](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9de0a6/32.png) [@Bjork](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bjork)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2003, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-cry-topic-what-is-the-saddest-song/163630/52 "2003-03-28T03:10:00Z")
Wow! This thread got even more replies than I expected, I made two pages! Some nice picks, it even urged me to download Cat People, I’ve never heard of them, but I definitly like it. Thanks guys 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Simbelmyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Simbelmyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simbelmyne)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2003, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-cry-topic-what-is-the-saddest-song/163630/53 "2003-03-28T05:43:19Z")
There were those who came to power Through domination They were bonded in their worship of a dead man on a cross They sought control of the common people By demanding allegiance to the Church of Rome And the Pope he commanded the Inquisition As war against the women whose power they feared In this Holocaust, in this age of evil Nine million European women, they died And the tale is told of those, who by the hundreds Holding hands together, chose their death in the sea While chanting the praises of the Mother Goddess A refusal of betrayal Women were dying to be free CHORUS Isis, Astarte, Diana, Hecate, Demeter, Kali, Innana * * * My fav version is by Christy Moore ---
**Author:** ![Largo62](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/45deac/32.png) [@Largo62](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Largo62)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2003, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-cry-topic-what-is-the-saddest-song/163630/54 "2003-03-28T07:30:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Simbelmyne \* > \*\*There were those who came to power > Through domination > They were bonded in their worship of a dead man on a cross . . . > CHORUS > Isis, Astarte, Diana, Hecate, Demeter, Kali, Innana > > * * * > > My fav version is by Christy Moore \*\* I guess it was inevitible. Some folks gotta “witness” no matter what forum it’s in. (Yeah, I know it’s not witnessing _for_ christ, but this is **Cafe Society** ya know?) Ah, hell, whatever makes ya sad I guess. Didn’t you ever lose a love, or see your dog run over, or stub your toe, or… ? Never mind me. I’m just bein’ a :wally . ---
**Author:** ![malkavia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malkavia/32/5621_2.png) [@malkavia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/malkavia)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2003, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-cry-topic-what-is-the-saddest-song/163630/55 "2003-03-28T07:50:39Z")
Oh my… so, so many tearjerkers that I keep on my winamp list. Ashes of San Miguel both by The Peacemakers. Its about him taking a ride from Arizona to Mexico with his best friends ashes riding shotgun in the car… seeing all the places they used to hang out at and he asks > [@](#): > > Give me a sign amigo, can you tell me? > Did you go down laughin’ when you finally fell? but there’s one part in particular that says > [@](#): > > Everything’s here, I’ve got pesos and beer but still aint no sign of your ghost. It reminds me so much of what it feels like to lose a friend… I’m getting a lump in my throat just talking about it. Hey Jupiter by Tori Amos gets to me > [@](#): > > If my heart’s soaking wet, boy your boots can leave a mess… Kept this cdon repeat for weeks after my hardest break-up. Bawled constantly. As far as country goes, Love, Me and Don’t Take the Girl are definitely at the top of the list. I also find Reba’s song, “If I Had Only Known” to be immeasurably sad. > [@](#): > > If I had only known, > I’d never hear your voice again, > I’d memorize each thing you ever said. Ooh! Honorable mention to Getup Kids for Valentine. > [@](#): > > Constants are so constant anymore. Okay… I’m going to go curl up and cry now. ---
**Author:** ![Thomas\_Stearns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Thomas\_Stearns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thomas_Stearns)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2003, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-cry-topic-what-is-the-saddest-song/163630/56 "2003-03-28T07:51:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ThePyroWeasel \* > \*\*“Heaven Better Save Some Tears” by Horace Loeb. 😃 \*\* I’ll miss you. . . me. . . By the way, songs are the keys that get our tears out of eye jail. ---
**Author:** ![Flymaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c4cdca/32.png) [@Flymaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flymaster)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2003, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-cry-topic-what-is-the-saddest-song/163630/57 "2003-03-28T08:25:16Z")
Cat’s in the Cradle is my number one saddest, but Circle Game by Joni Mitchell always brings a tear to my eye, too. ---
**Author:** ![ASD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c68b51/32.png) [@ASD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASD)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2003, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-cry-topic-what-is-the-saddest-song/163630/58 "2003-03-28T13:51:31Z")
I can’t make it through the cd _Christmas Eve and Other Stories_ by Trans-Siberian Orchestra without crying. Usually _Ornament_ gets to me, it’s a father singing about his daughter who has run away and his feelings of guilt about it. If I make it through that, two songs later is _Old City Bar_ and that gets to me every time. That’s in a feel good kind of way though. _Hallelujah_, the Jeff Buckley version. _You’re Still You_ by Josh Groban ---
**Author:** ![CBCD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@CBCD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CBCD)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2003, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-cry-topic-what-is-the-saddest-song/163630/59 "2003-03-28T13:51:47Z")
**Spoons** - good call on Where Have You Been - quite a moving song, written by Mattea’s husband, I believe. My favorite classical sad song is Richard Strauss’ **Beim Schlafengehen**. The first time I heard it I was driving in my car. I drove up to a toll booth, and toll taker looked at me oddly. I didn’t realize I had buckets of tears streaming down my face. ---
**Author:** ![djwalker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8edcca/32.png) [@djwalker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/djwalker)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2003, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-cry-topic-what-is-the-saddest-song/163630/60 "2003-03-28T16:07:09Z")
“There’s a Hole in Daddy’s Arm” and “The Band Played Waltzing Matilda” were great choices, I was ready to list them both but y’all beat me to it; both kinda apropos for what’s going on in the world today, as well. When I was a kid, “Seasons in the Sun” always depressed me. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-cry-topic-what-is-the-saddest-song/163630.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-cry-topic-what-is-the-saddest-song/163630.md?page=4)