# Your Favorite Depressing Songs **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 23, 2009, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-depressing-songs/497421 "2009-05-23T21:11:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2009, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-depressing-songs/497421/21 "2009-05-24T04:56:52Z")
I love melancholy songs! Or songs that tell me I suck. “Loser” by [Z](http://eil.com/shop/moreinfo.asp?catalogid=349768) doesn’t actually depress _me_ as such. But it appeals to me as a depressive. People think I’m really weird. Also, I used to see myself as the horse in Shakira’s [“Poem to a Horse”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57f-9PcMGYs) even though I don’t smoke pot. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2009, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-depressing-songs/497421/22 "2009-05-24T04:57:33Z")
Bette Midler was Johnny Carson’s last guest ever. A copy of his brief introduction, her words to the audience and the lyrics just as she sang them that night are available. But I don’t think that I had forgotten one word of those breathlessly sad moments that she sang [One for My Baby](http://www.asklyrics.com/display/Bette_Midler/One_for_My_Baby_Lyrics/198893.htm). The lyrics by Johnny Mercer began as usual: Quarter to three. There’s no one in the place Except you and me. So set ’em up, Joe. Got a little story I think you should know. We’re drinkin’, my friend, To the end Of a sweet episode. Make it one for my baby And one more for the road. Got the routine. So drop another nickel In the machine. Oh, gee, I’m feelin’ so bad. Wish you’d make the music So dreamy and sad… ---
**Author:** ![Covered\_In\_Bees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ab992/32.png) [@Covered\_In\_Bees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Covered_In_Bees)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2009, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-depressing-songs/497421/23 "2009-05-24T05:05:24Z")
> [@](#): > > That’s just a sampling. Sad songs are some of my favorites, so the list goes on and on. Keep 'em coming man! Nothing like self-medicating your depression with depression songs right? 😃 Ironically, I’m quite happy with life right now, so I haven’t actually listened to any of the songs posted by you guys. No need to go and screw up my happiness. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Erdosain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/erdosain/32/7284_2.png) [@Erdosain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erdosain)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2009, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-depressing-songs/497421/24 "2009-05-24T05:55:21Z")
This topic was made for me! “I Know It’s Over” by the Smiths. Also, “There Is a Light That Never Goes Out” and “Sing Me to Sleep.” “Seasick, Yet Still Docked” by Morrissey. “Life Is a Pigsty” always gets me too. I’ll second Beck’s “Golden Age” and everything off his Sea Change album. ---
**Author:** ![madrabbitwoman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c37758/32.png) [@madrabbitwoman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madrabbitwoman)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2009, 8:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-depressing-songs/497421/25 "2009-05-24T08:40:13Z")
End of the world [http://www.lyricsbay.com/the\_end\_of\_the\_world\_lyrics-agnetha\_faltskog.html](http://www.lyricsbay.com/the_end_of_the_world_lyrics-agnetha_faltskog.html) I will follow you into the dark by DeathCab For Cutie [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9G8vnmvo-Kw](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9G8vnmvo-Kw) Bright eyes by Art Garfunkle [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a502RejLz8s](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a502RejLz8s) No surprises by Radiohead [404](http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/No-Surprises-lyrics-Radiohead/8FEE2A4C4CAC86ED4825686600102720) Pretty much anything by Evanescence ---
**Author:** ![Ximenean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/aca169/32.png) [@Ximenean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ximenean)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2009, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-depressing-songs/497421/26 "2009-05-24T11:01:14Z")
“Darkness”, from the Police album _Ghost in the Machine_. A real overlooked gem in their catalogue. At the time I thought Stewart Copeland must be a mind reader, because it’s almost like he was looking into my head when he wrote that song. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2009, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-depressing-songs/497421/27 "2009-05-24T11:59:50Z")
> [@](#): > > Gilbert O’Sullivan - Alone Again (Naturally) This is the one I was going to mention. Talk about [bleak](http://www.lyrics007.com/Gilbert%20O'Sullivan%20Lyrics/Alone%20Again%20(Naturally)%20Lyrics.html) - the singer starts out by saying he’s too depressed right now to commit suicide and then things go downhill. ---
**Author:** ![PapSett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@PapSett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapSett)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2009, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-depressing-songs/497421/28 "2009-05-24T12:53:35Z")
All By Myself… haven’t got enough caffeine in me to remember the singer, but it’s the story of my life and I cannot listen to it without crying. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2009, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-depressing-songs/497421/29 "2009-05-24T13:32:02Z")
**Joy Division** : _Atmosphere_ **This Mortal Coil** : _The Jeweller_ ---
**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:** [May 24, 2009, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-depressing-songs/497421/30 "2009-05-24T14:58:50Z")
Tom Paxton’s _Jimmy Newman_ A song about a guy trying to rouse his soldier buddy so they can catch the plane to go home. ---
**Author:** ![partlycloudy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/partlycloudy/32/3114_2.png) [@partlycloudy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/partlycloudy)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2009, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-depressing-songs/497421/31 "2009-05-24T18:19:24Z")
> [@Covered\_In\_Bees](#): > > Keep 'em coming man! Nothing like self-medicating your depression with depression songs right? 😃 > > Ironically, I’m quite happy with life right now, so I haven’t actually listened to any of the songs posted by you guys. No need to go and screw up my happiness. 😛 Alright, ya ready? 😉 Man of the World - Fleetwood Mac Tears of Rage - The Band Tears in Heaven - Eric Clapton (no one’s mentioned this one yet?!) Baba (Father) - Andy Palacio & The Garifuna Collective Falling Awake - Gary Jules Aubrey - Bread Both Sides Now - Joni Mitchell Trouble - Cat Stevens Riverside - John Gorka I Shall Not Walk Alone - (I think a few people have covered this, I think the saddest version I’ve heard is the Blind Boys of Alabama version) Leader of the Band - Dan Fogelberg Someday Never Comes - Creedence Clearwater Revival Some Devil - Dave Matthews Oh, and my most embarrassing admission: “Carrie” by Europe (what?! It IS sad!) Now, I’m a pretty happy person in general myself, but I love listening to sad songs. I don’t know how or why, but that’s how it is! ---
**Author:** ![enomaj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/59ef9b/32.png) [@enomaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enomaj)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2009, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-depressing-songs/497421/32 "2009-05-24T18:26:18Z")
How is ‘depressing songs’ beating out ‘feel good songs’? What’s with you guys?! ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2009, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-depressing-songs/497421/33 "2009-05-24T18:33:05Z")
> [@](#): > > And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda, here by the author. One of the most cutting antiwar songs. Here with some of the poor bastards who fought at Gallipoli. Speaking of Eric Bogle, [Willy McBride (No Man’s Land)](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OjxMQHYo3U) always gets me crying. As does [Killkelly, Ireland](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaHhNi-f2G4). The music’s by Peter Jones; the lyrics are a set of letters he found sent to one of his ancestors, after he came to America. ---
**Author:** ![eclectic\_wench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ac91a4/32.png) [@eclectic\_wench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eclectic_wench)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2009, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-depressing-songs/497421/34 "2009-05-24T18:38:51Z")
Wait, WHAT?!! This thread is at over thirty posts and no one has mentioned Tom Waits?! ‘Green Grass’ alone can kill at ten paces. If I even _think_ about it too hard I’m gonna cry. And then we have ‘Hold On’, ‘Cold Cold Ground’, ‘Georgia Lee’, ‘Ruby’s Arms’… I could just keep going. Another vote for Radiohead, too - specially ‘Exit Music’ and ‘No Surprises’. Also Jerry Fish and the Mudbug Club, ‘True Friends’. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2009, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-depressing-songs/497421/35 "2009-05-24T18:48:07Z")
> [@LoganDear](#): > > Now, I’m a pretty happy person in general myself, but I love listening to sad songs. I don’t know how or why, but that’s how it is! Well it’s because… \*If someone else is suffering enough to write it down When every single word makes sense Then it’s easier to have those songs around The kick inside is in the line that finally gets to you and it feels so good to hurt so bad And suffer just enough to sing the blues They reach into your room Just feel their gentle touch When all hope is gone Sad songs say so much\* ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2009, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-depressing-songs/497421/36 "2009-05-24T18:56:26Z")
Let’s get someting straight, here: there’s depressing songs… and then there’s Billie Holiday. [Strange Fruit.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4ZyuULy9zs) ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2009, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-depressing-songs/497421/37 "2009-05-24T19:11:15Z")
At Seventeen by Janice Ian (Janis Ian?) Loving Her Was Easier (than Anything I’ll Ever Do Again) by Kris Kristofferson Sunday Morning Coming Down Sung by Johnny Cash but written by Kris Kristofferson The Living Years by Mike and the Mechanics ---
**Author:** ![Fuji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a9a28c/32.png) [@Fuji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuji)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2009, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-depressing-songs/497421/38 "2009-05-24T20:00:42Z")
Joan Osborne’s [_St. Teresa_](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqoA_yYKuOY). ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2009, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-depressing-songs/497421/39 "2009-05-24T20:51:01Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Let’s get someting straight, here: there’s depressing songs… and then there’s Billie Holiday. > > [Strange Fruit.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4ZyuULy9zs) I was going to mention that. Along with _Eleanor Rigby._ ---
**Author:** ![partlycloudy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/partlycloudy/32/3114_2.png) [@partlycloudy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/partlycloudy)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2009, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-depressing-songs/497421/40 "2009-05-24T21:09:18Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Let’s get someting straight, here: there’s depressing songs… and then there’s Billie Holiday. > > [Strange Fruit.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4ZyuULy9zs) And on that note (pun! :D): There’s a really good, live version Billie Holiday sings of “I Cover the Waterfront.” It’s on the _Seven_ soundtrack. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-depressing-songs/497421.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-favorite-depressing-songs/497421.md?page=3)