# 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:** 6
**Author:** ![Jerrybear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8c91f0/32.png) [@Jerrybear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jerrybear)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2003, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-cry-topic-what-is-the-saddest-song/163630/101 "2003-04-04T14:12:49Z")
“Seasons in the Sun” is a strange one for me. I find myself tearing up when I hear it or think of it, yet at the same time I feel like I should not be. I think this is because this song is so over the top, and tends to be disliked by a lot of people. Therefore, I feel like I should be cynical about the song even though it does tend to get me weepy. One thing that has intrigued me about this song is that it is not exactly clear what the person is dying from, or how. When I was an angst-ridden teenager, I assumed it was a suicide song. In college, a friend interpreted it as being about a soldier who gets drafted (Vietnam?) and is mortally wounded in battle. Of course, another possibility is a terminal illness, or non-war injury like a car accident. ---
**Author:** ![belladonna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9fc29f/32.png) [@belladonna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/belladonna)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2003, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-cry-topic-what-is-the-saddest-song/163630/102 "2003-04-04T15:14:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by KCSuze \* > \*\*Also, _Sounds of Silence_ by Simon & Garfunkel kind of gives me a weird, sad feeling. \*\* That was the song that was playing as my son was born. It’s always been a misty favorite, and now even moreso. I can’t hear it without flashing back to seeing him for the first time, and hearing his cries. I’ll also second “Fire and Rain” by James Taylor, and add “Needle and the Damage Done” by Neil Young… \*I’ve seen the needle and the damage done A little part of it in everyone But every junkie’s like a settin’ sun. \* And as long as others have admitted to listening to sappy country songs, I’ll throw one of those in too. “Angels in Waiting” by Tammy someone or other, it was big about a year ago. The singer lost two brothers to Cystic Fibrosis, and the video was all home movies of them as children. Talk about tearjerking… ---
**Author:** ![Antonette](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4af34b/32.png) [@Antonette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antonette)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2019, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-cry-topic-what-is-the-saddest-song/163630/103 "2019-01-25T21:57:29Z")
The song “Brick” by Been Folds Five sounds just like Cat Stevens. There’s no mistakening it! It’s not a short note or two, it’s the same. ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2019, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-cry-topic-what-is-the-saddest-song/163630/104 "2019-01-26T04:06:39Z")
> [@belladonna](#): > > That was the song that was playing as my son was born. It’s always been a misty favorite, and now even moreso. I can’t hear it without flashing back to seeing him for the first time, and hearing his cries. > > I’ll also second “Fire and Rain” by James Taylor, and add “Needle and the Damage Done” by Neil Young… > \*I’ve seen the needle and the damage done > A little part of it in everyone > But every junkie’s like a settin’ sun. \* > And as long as others have admitted to listening to sappy country songs, I’ll throw one of those in too. > “Angels in Waiting” by Tammy someone or other, it was big about a year ago. The singer lost two brothers to Cystic Fibrosis, and the video was all home movies of them as children. Talk about tearjerking… Without going through all the answers right now. A Man Needs A Maid He Stopped Loving Her Today Father and Son And tons others, Im a big crybaby ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2019, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-cry-topic-what-is-the-saddest-song/163630/105 "2019-01-26T05:43:44Z")
[Zombie Love Song](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCVMuevcCvY), by Your Favorite Martian :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2019, 8:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-cry-topic-what-is-the-saddest-song/163630/106 "2019-01-26T08:21:47Z")
Two LOTR songs and y’all didn’t mention THE tearjerker?? [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvF31-2bVNE](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvF31-2bVNE) Into the West of course. Perhaps Phil Collins (though by Genesis) saddest song, dealing with divorce and their child is also mentioned. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGOMNwcdG2o](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGOMNwcdG2o) Please Don’t Ask Kate Bush, It’s association with “She’s Having a Baby” Makes it a tear-jerker [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TupvVpxY\_U](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TupvVpxY_U) This Woman’s Work Another Kate song about the end of a long relationship and how everything is colored by it. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPW1V9c6wUA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPW1V9c6wUA) You’re the One ---
**Author:** ![Ancient\_Erudite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Ancient\_Erudite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ancient_Erudite)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2019, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-cry-topic-what-is-the-saddest-song/163630/107 "2019-01-26T12:50:50Z")
Billie Holiday’s Strange fruit song is about a sad as they come. The lyrics are powerful. Her voice makes it haunting. A close second would be the Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. ---
**Author:** ![pullin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2019, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-cry-topic-what-is-the-saddest-song/163630/108 "2019-01-26T13:30:18Z")
“Green Green Grass of Home”, Tom Jones. “Brothers in Arms”, Mark Knopfler. Either of these cause the air to become suddenly dusty. ---
**Author:** ![DummyGladHands](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/49beb7/32.png) [@DummyGladHands](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DummyGladHands)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2019, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-cry-topic-what-is-the-saddest-song/163630/109 "2019-01-26T14:33:15Z")
1979 Smashing Pumpkins, I have no idea why ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2019, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-cry-topic-what-is-the-saddest-song/163630/110 "2019-01-26T15:09:22Z")
Two from Tom Paxton’s Annie trilogy: Annie’s Going to Sing He Song Annie’s going to sing he song called “Take Me Back Again” It sometimes lasts the whole night long It depends on how long she’s been gone. I sit and look as hard as nails. She knows the damn thing never fails "When Annie Took Me Home Love can grow and love can go. Did she love me? I don’t know Though she often told me so I’ve never really known? Was I blind? I don’t mind. I think that life’s been more than kind Thanks to life there was a time When Annie took me home. ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2019, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-cry-topic-what-is-the-saddest-song/163630/111 "2019-01-26T15:25:20Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Two from Tom Paxton’s Annie trilogy: . . . Those are some good’uns. [Here’s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGgSA3S04Io) a real tearjerker from Ryan Adams. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2019, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-cry-topic-what-is-the-saddest-song/163630/112 "2019-01-26T15:33:28Z")
> [@Dale\_Sams](#): > > Two LOTR songs and y’all didn’t mention THE tearjerker?? [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvF31-2bVNE](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvF31-2bVNE) Into the West of course. > > Perhaps Phil Collins (though by Genesis) saddest song, dealing with divorce and their child is also mentioned. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGOMNwcdG2o](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGOMNwcdG2o) Please Don’t Ask > > Kate Bush, It’s association with “She’s Having a Baby” Makes it a tear-jerker [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TupvVpxY\_U](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TupvVpxY_U) This Woman’s Work > > Another Kate song about the end of a long relationship and how everything is colored by it. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPW1V9c6wUA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPW1V9c6wUA) You’re the One **Dale Sams** , please note that the thread is 15 years old, so “y’all” mostly aren’t still paying attention. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2019, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-cry-topic-what-is-the-saddest-song/163630/113 "2019-01-26T19:33:58Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > **Dale Sams** , please note that the thread is 15 years old, so “y’all” mostly aren’t still paying attention. 😉 And apparently Into The West hadn’t been released yet! ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2019, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-cry-topic-what-is-the-saddest-song/163630/114 "2019-01-26T20:16:54Z")
I made a potify list of best tearjerkers ever…it quickly devolved into “Songs personal only to me” Art Garfunkels “Bright Eyes”…Peter Gabriels cover of “Power of Love” Then I remembered musical songs and it blew up. Sunset Boulevard, Godspell, JCS. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2019, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-cry-topic-what-is-the-saddest-song/163630/115 "2019-01-27T06:08:10Z")
For the OP’s first type, I’d go with [Chopin’s Etude Op 10 no 3](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JS7KfOyMEIY) which my mom got pretty good at playing, just after the divorce (early 70s). Trying to get myself to sleep while she was practicing away has kinda made it, now, the most curbstomping thing I’ll ever listen to, by light years. For the second type: various passages in the [4th movement in Mahler’s 9th](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ag18Np_JInY) ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2019, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-cry-topic-what-is-the-saddest-song/163630/116 "2019-01-27T12:26:28Z")
> [@Dale\_Sams](#): > > I made a potify list… I did too, but mine’s all Grateful Dead. mmm ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2019, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-cry-topic-what-is-the-saddest-song/163630/117 "2019-01-27T20:29:19Z")
OK, here’s one for cat lovers who get depressed over the holidays! Break out the tissues for “The Cat Carol.” [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/yZ2sa3tyvkI/hqdefault.jpg "The Cat Carol (the official video)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZ2sa3tyvkI) ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2019, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-cry-topic-what-is-the-saddest-song/163630/118 "2019-01-27T23:48:02Z")
[quote=“california\_jobcase, post:117, topic:163630”] OK, here’s one for cat lovers who get depressed over the holidays! Break out the tissues for “The Cat Carol.” [/QUOTE] Okay, now I’m sitting here blubbering. Why did I watch that? ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2019, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-cry-topic-what-is-the-saddest-song/163630/119 "2019-01-28T01:08:25Z")
Here’s where I totally lose whatever respect I might have had on this board: “Bright Eyes,” sung by Art Garfunkel, from, **Watership Down.** Especially while I’m watching the Hazel-gets-shot sequence. ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2019, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-cry-topic-what-is-the-saddest-song/163630/120 "2019-01-28T01:17:07Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > Here’s where I totally lose whatever respect I might have had on this board: > > “Bright Eyes,” sung by Art Garfunkel, from, **Watership Down.** Especially while I’m watching the Hazel-gets-shot sequence. Ha! Beat you this time! l already mentioned that one! But if we’re doing tearjerkers associated with movies: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTZ5VpfzoW0](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTZ5VpfzoW0) Bless the Beasts and the Children [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-cry-topic-what-is-the-saddest-song/163630.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-you-cry-topic-what-is-the-saddest-song/163630.md?page=7)