# Your most painfully beautiful song **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 31, 2008, 9:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-painfully-beautiful-song/435698 "2008-01-31T09:11:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Quint](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/76d3ee/32.png) [@Quint](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quint)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2008, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-painfully-beautiful-song/435698/121 "2008-02-05T07:50:42Z")
I’m not a religious person, but every time I hear **Alison Krauss** sing “Down to the River to Pray” I wish I was. ---
**Author:** ![Lucky\_13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucky_13/32/13209_2.png) [@Lucky\_13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucky_13)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2008, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-painfully-beautiful-song/435698/122 "2008-02-05T18:45:48Z")
[QUOTE=ThirdCultureKid] I was about 13 and feeling particularly low, so my dad sat me down on the couch, put on **Bridge over Troubled Water** by **Simon and Garfunkel** , and hugged me all the way through. And yes, I’m crying now, just thinking about it. [/QUOTE] I started to cry when I read your post. Also, a song I forgot to mention in my first post: “Con Te Partiro” by Andrea Bocelli. I know it was overplayed a few years back, but I still love it and find it moving. Lastly, the Wednesday I returned to work after a couple of days of being sick at home, the local country music station played “Love, Me” and “Where Have You Been?” within an hour of each other. I mentioned them both in my earlier post. Perhaps the programming director at KKGO is a Doper as well? ---
**Author:** ![TroubleAgain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e480ec/32.png) [@TroubleAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroubleAgain)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2008, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-painfully-beautiful-song/435698/123 "2008-02-05T18:58:04Z")
[QUOTE=ThirdCultureKid] I was about 13 and feeling particularily low, so my dad sat me down on the couch, put on **Bridge over Troubled Water** by **Simon and Garfunkel** , and hugged me all the way through. And yes, I’m crying now, just thinking about it. [/QUOTE] Dammit, I’m at work. You folks making me cry have to stop it! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![JonScribe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3be4f8/32.png) [@JonScribe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JonScribe)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2008, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-painfully-beautiful-song/435698/124 "2008-02-05T19:50:57Z")
Two that I don’t think have been mentioned: **Famous Blue Raincoat** by Leonard Cohen and **Take It With Me** by Tom Waits. ---
**Author:** ![Rico](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rico/32/3582_2.png) [@Rico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rico)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2008, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-painfully-beautiful-song/435698/125 "2008-02-05T22:00:43Z")
The oldies classic _Since I Fell For You_ can bring me right down. Al Jarreau’s version (with David Sanborn) is by far the best. ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2008, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-painfully-beautiful-song/435698/126 "2008-02-05T23:22:36Z")
Dead Can Dance’s _Host of seraphim_. Sarah McLachlan’s _Angel._ Melissa Etheridge’s _This War Is Over._ Pink Floyd’s _The Gunner’s Dream._ Just about any version of _Amazing Grace_ except the Dropkick Murphy’s. I like their version, but having it sped up and rocked out kind of takes away some of the emotional impact. ---
**Author:** ![The\_King\_of\_Soup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@The\_King\_of\_Soup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_King_of_Soup)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2008, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-painfully-beautiful-song/435698/127 "2008-02-06T05:33:20Z")
Richard Thompson, [“Bee’s-Wing.”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-K18xQgDS3U) ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2008, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-painfully-beautiful-song/435698/128 "2008-02-06T05:54:46Z")
[QUOTE=ThirdCultureKid] I was about 13 and feeling particularily low, so my dad sat me down on the couch, put on **Bridge over Troubled Water** by **Simon and Garfunkel** , and hugged me all the way through. And yes, I’m crying now, just thinking about it. [/QUOTE] You inspired me to you tube the song…haven’t listened to it in years. It really is nice, isn’t it? Thanks to\*\* King of Soup\*\* for introducing me to Richard Thompson. You Tube gave me lots on him. ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2008, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-painfully-beautiful-song/435698/129 "2008-02-06T13:16:49Z")
Regarding the song “Hurt”. [QUOTE=PoorYorick] Johnny Cash’s interpretation of this song as seen by an old man looking back at his regrets . . . it gets me every time, and the video is just powerful. [/QUOTE] Oh my god, yes. There’s a song by Alison Kraus that I don’t know I’d call painfully beautiful, but I do refer to it as achingly lovely: “I Will”. ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2008, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-painfully-beautiful-song/435698/130 "2008-02-06T13:17:53Z")
[QUOTE=ThirdCultureKid] I was about 13 and feeling particularily low, so my dad sat me down on the couch, put on **Bridge over Troubled Water** by **Simon and Garfunkel** , and hugged me all the way through. And yes, I’m crying now, just thinking about it. [/QUOTE] And now I’m tearing up at reading this. ---
**Author:** ![Rasa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rasa/32/3578_2.png) [@Rasa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rasa)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2008, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-painfully-beautiful-song/435698/131 "2008-02-06T20:13:30Z")
[Do You Realize?](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tRXO9Q8LkY) by the Flaming Lips [This God Damned House](http://www.myspace.com/lowanthem) by The Low Anthem [Perfect Circle](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmEfjfnjCBg) by R.E.M. How could I forget [Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jfBxfltYD0) by Willie Nelson? (I’m so not a Willie Nelson fan otherwise.) And [I Have Always Been Here Before](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Hns-UAPGdI) by Roky Erickson Old standards: Bridge Over Troubled Waters by Simon and Garfunkel, Amazing Grace on bagpipes, Mr. Tanner by Harry Chapin I could go on forever. ---
**Author:** ![RiverRunner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/977dab/32.png) [@RiverRunner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RiverRunner)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2008, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-painfully-beautiful-song/435698/132 "2008-02-06T20:41:07Z")
[QUOTE=Quint] I’m not a religious person, but every time I hear **Alison Krauss** sing “Down to the River to Pray” I wish I was. [/QUOTE] I am in a Gospel mixed quartet, and we started working this one up but we could never get it to quite gel, so we have left it alone for a while. I still hope we can pull it off. And, to whoever it was who mentioned Richard Thompson, right back atcha with _Dimmin’ of the Day_. RR ---
**Author:** ![maladroit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f475e1/32.png) [@maladroit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maladroit)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2008, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-painfully-beautiful-song/435698/133 "2008-02-06T21:53:42Z")
If It Be Your Will written by Leonard Cohen, performed by Antony I did cry the first and several subsequent times I heard this. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MDlMdu2gjw](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MDlMdu2gjw) link to Antony performance [http://www.seeklyrics.com/lyrics/Leonard-Cohen/If-It-Be-Your-Will.html](http://www.seeklyrics.com/lyrics/Leonard-Cohen/If-It-Be-Your-Will.html) ---
**Author:** ![LVgeogeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b19c9b/32.png) [@LVgeogeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LVgeogeek)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2008, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-painfully-beautiful-song/435698/134 "2008-02-06T22:18:45Z")
Return to Innocence by Enigma Nightswimming by R.E.M. Who Wants to Live Forever by Queen ---
**Author:** ![Scubaqueen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c0e974/32.png) [@Scubaqueen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scubaqueen)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2008, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-painfully-beautiful-song/435698/135 "2008-02-06T22:52:17Z")
paula cole’s, ‘where have all the cowboys gone?’ i don’t know why, since i’ve been lucky in relationships, but that one gets the tear ducts busy. another nod for mclachlan’s ‘angel.’ what a song. it results in my utter destruction each and every time i hear it. sting’s ‘fields of gold.’ played badly or played well: ‘taps.’ ‘amazing grace.’ nuff said. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Them](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/898d66/32.png) [@The\_Them](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Them)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2008, 9:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-painfully-beautiful-song/435698/136 "2008-02-09T09:44:57Z")
I’m too gutless to read the whole thread right now, so I know this may already have been mentioned: “Forever Autumn”, by the Moody Blues. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2008, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-painfully-beautiful-song/435698/137 "2008-02-09T18:38:49Z")
**Sweet Jane** , as sung by Cowboy Junkies. The entire Trinity Sessions CD would qualify, however. [Lost Cause](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ej8S0r6Jz8o) by Beck ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2008, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-painfully-beautiful-song/435698/138 "2008-02-09T18:52:43Z")
[QUOTE=Kizarvexius] _The Drinking Song_ by Moxy Früvous [/QUOTE] I used to be a much bigger Moxy Fruvous fan than I am now, but I still love that one. It might be the best use of their four-part vocal harmonizing skills, and it’s just so sad and wistful, and a little bit happy all at the same time. I especially like the little quote from “Goodnight, Irene” they weave into it. They get a little bit too “NPR-gimmick-goofball-folksy” for me, but “The Drinking Song” is really really nice. ---
**Author:** ![Made\_in\_Macau](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eada6e/32.png) [@Made\_in\_Macau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Made_in_Macau)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2008, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-painfully-beautiful-song/435698/139 "2008-02-09T19:30:29Z")
[QUOTE=GingerOfTheNorth] There’s a song by Alison Kraus that I don’t know I’d call painfully beautiful, but I do refer to it as achingly lovely: “I Will”. [/QUOTE] Have you heard the original Beatles version? On the White Album. Nice - a little faster than Krauss. MiM ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2008, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-painfully-beautiful-song/435698/140 "2008-02-10T00:11:48Z")
[QUOTE=Grammanaut] Dire Straits - \*Brothers in Arms \*. I’m really supposed to be too cool to like those guys, but I cry like a baby every time I hear that song. It can be embarrassing in public. [/QUOTE] Did I miss a memo? When did it become uncool to like Dire Straits? When I was younger Dire Straits were the height of cool. Maybe one step below Pink Floyd in the cool hierarchy. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-painfully-beautiful-song/435698.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-most-painfully-beautiful-song/435698.md?page=8)