“Un Bel Di, Vedremo” from Madama Butterfly (especially as sung by Maria Callas). There is a very good English transaltion of this aria here.
Another one that gets the tear ducts working is “O Mio Babbino Caro” from Gianni Schicchi (Puccini again). There is again a good translation here.
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road by Elton John
Superman by Five for Fighting
Another vote for Crazy by Patsy Cline
Girl Shanty by Sons of the Never Wrong
(I couldn’t find the lyrics anywhere online but it is a truly amazing song… "My mom worked in a warehouse where she dreamed of writing prose/She told us girls pursue your hearts no matter where they go)
Frozen Flower from the anime Video Girl Ai (I believe the performer is Nav Katzu) Here are the lyrics, in Japanese and English
http://home.pacific.net.sg/~belldandy/frozen_j.htm
Oops I forgot '52 Black Vincent by Richard Thompson (and every other song of his I’ve ever heard, which is why I’m afraid to listen to too many)
Also Something by the Beatles, and the Souxsie and the Banshees cover of Dear Prudence by the Beatles (not that I prefer the cover, just that it’s very haunting and makes me choked up)
Another Perfect Day by American Hi-Fi
There’s a country song called “Don’t Laugh At Me”—I don’t know the artist. It’s about how we should treat each other…It gets me every time.
“I lost my wife and little boy
someone crossed that yellow line.
The day we laid ‘em in the ground
was the day I lost my mind
Right now I’m down to holdin’ this
little cardboard sign.”
Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning by Alan Jackson.
Concrete Angel by Martina McBride.
And forgive an ignorant American, but what are the lyrics to The Band Played Waltzing Matilda?
Amazing Grace didn’t use to make me cry, until after Sept 11 and they played it at all those police and firefighter funerals.
My Fathers House by Bruce Springsteen
Whats the Matter Here? 10,000 Maniacs
Louisiana 1927 Randy Newman
Another vote for What a “Wonderful World”.
Pop songs usually don’t get me, but hymns do–and I’m not a religious person, mind you. “Amazing Grace” can make me tear up, and I cannot hear “O Holy Night” without crying. The line, “A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices,” sends a shiver up my spine, and I know the waterworks aren’t far behind.
ivylass try here
OK! One last one. (BTW, I don’t just sit in front of the CD player with a box of Kleenex. I’ve got quite a bit of other stuff as well.)
Wise Up–Aimee Mann
It’s interesting to note how some songs developed strong associations after an incident or for personal reasons, and that changed how they felt about the song. I’ve also thought how the song could be interpreted by the artist could change the meaning and the emotional thrust.
Another thing worth noting is that I sometimes have had a tendency to reject something for sentimental reasons, and hate being manipulated emotionally, but sentiment is sometimes emotion expressed in an undiluted form. It’s too strong so it feels awkward to me. But sentimentality does seem to have a power, and that by itself can’t be ignored.
When Somebody Loved Me - from Toy Story 2. I love the movie, but the song breaks my heart. Even when they perfomed it on the Oscars, it made me cry.
Susan
Oh, God, I’m such a sap. “Candle in the Wind.” The original version. Sniff.
Wow, I didn’t expect so many responses!
I’ll ditto on “Crazy” by Patsy Cline, and “And The Band Played Waltzing Matilda,” also “Wise Up” by Aimee Mann…
“Tomorrow Wendy” by Concrete Blonde
Acetone- “Things Are Gonna Be Alright”
It doesn’t actually make me cry, but it’s so sad. The song is so nihilistic, and it’s ironically tragic that the it was one of the last songs they recorded before the singer’s suicide.
I also heard a song written by a preacher in Tennessee or Kentucky who was dying of some illness, and didn’t have time to make it back to his wife. This was sometime in the 1920’s, I believe. He penned this song to her, and also wrote a violin part to accompany, and despite his lack of formal musical instruction, it was utterly beautiful, and haunting.
I’m the same way. “Silent Night” gets to me as well.
Wing Beneath my Wings * -Bette Midler
Over the Rainbow * -only when sung by Judy Garland(I’m a big Judy fan)
Unchained Melody * -The Righteous Brothers
Puff the Magic Dragon, * for personal reasons
Also, * The Battle Hymn of the Republic. *
I have more but this is all I can think of at the moment.
I simply must add a note on the Over The Rainbow tear-jerking idea.
We attended the wedding of a friend we had met over the internet. A local band (The Wooten Brothers) provided reception entertainment. After their first set of everything from jazz, blues, R&B, reggae, Latin, even some country, they took an intermission.
The guitarist (Reggie Wooten) and the sax man (Roger Williams) began noodling around on some changes and I began to realize they were doing the verse to Rainbow. Really laid back and easy. Not many were in the dance area at the time and a few of us got in close to them just to groove on the way they were working.
In just a short time tears were all over my suit. Something about the lyrics (unheard of course) and their getting so into the tune was overwhelmingly moving. Even though Judy does/did have the way of milking all that’s in the song, these two guys get my vote for the way it ought to be played. Doubt if they’ve recorded it. You had to be there.
That one is mine! Related to my husband of 10 years, prior to our marriage. I heard it yesterday in a gas station … what a horrible, beautiful, sad song.
Angie by the Rolling Stones:
There ain’t a woman that comes close to you
Come on Baby, dry your eyes
But Angie, Angie, ain’t it good to be alive?
Angie, Angie, they can’t say we never tried
that one hurts. sob.