What are some of the best sad songs you know?

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The discussion centers on the appreciation of sad songs, with participants sharing a wide array of tracks that evoke feelings of sadness, loss, and melancholy. Many songs mentioned feature themes of heartbreak, nostalgia, and emotional pain, including classics like "Tears in Heaven" by Eric Clapton, "Hurt" by Johnny Cash, and "Cats in the Cradle" by Harry Chapin. The conversation also touches on the emotional impact of music, with several contributors highlighting how certain songs resonate deeply due to personal experiences or the poignant lyrics. Genres range from folk and rock to country, with artists like Pink Floyd, The Mountain Goats, and Elliott Smith frequently cited for their ability to convey sadness through both sound and lyrics. The thread emphasizes the therapeutic nature of sad songs, suggesting that they can provide comfort and a sense of shared experience during difficult times.
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What are some sad songs??

I really like sad songs. Songs that either sound sad or which have lyrics that are sad, depressing or twisted.

So, what are some of the nice sad songs that you know??
 
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For love





About a dog that drowns

 
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Bloodrock - A Fantastic Piece of Architecture - an interesting tune, out of Fort Worth no less



Jethro Tull- Look into the Sun


Harry Chapin - Taxi


Harry Chapin - Cat's In The Cradle
 
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Dan Fogelberg - Gypsy Wind



Moody Blues - Forever Autumn

 
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Gordon Lightfoot - If You Could Read My Mind ('74)
 
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Jefferson Airplane - Today



Coming back to me



Roy Orbison - Crying



Jay and the Americans - She cried

 
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Dave Mason-We Just Disagree


Chicago - Wishing You Were Here
 
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  • Like
Likes edward
  • #10


Plumb Damaged
 
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  • #11


The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald



Buffalo Springfield - 04 - Expecting To Fly



This song touches me so deeply.

BTW, I own most of the records for all of the songs I've posted.
 
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  • #12


I Left Her Standing There.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uvKXEz2V3Q
 
  • #13


Iron Maiden:
"Strange World"
"Remember Tomorrow"

Pink Floyd:
"Dogs"
"Pigs on the Wing"
"Goodbye Cruel World"
Well really anything by Pink Floyd (as you probably know)
 
  • #14


Yesterday When I Was Young - Roy Clark


edit:
Just to add, this song was originally written and recorded by Charles Aznavour and Georges Garvarentz in 1961. I like both versions.
 
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  • #16


And here's one that just sounds sad:
In Our Tears - Secret Garden
 
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  • #17


Great song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvDQy53eldY
 
  • #18


Sarah McLaughlin songs are also sad, Angel:


So, I loved most of the songs here that I listened to. Gloria Estefan sounds really sweet and this was first time I heard of her :approve:

P.S. And here's Marley and Me:
 
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  • #19


What kind of sad? Acoustic sad? Beautiful sad? Just broke up sad?

I have so many songs, but I need a little more specification. :smile:
 
  • #20


rootX said:
I love Mountain Goats but this might turn out to be your favorite one.

You son of a bi*ch! I can't believe you got me with that! I only clicked on it because I love the Mountain Goats (saw them live a few years back = awesome) and I was curious to see if the video you linked would be "No Children."
 
  • #21


Also:

Elliot Smith is really depressing. He killed himself by stabbing himself in the heart.
 
  • #22


Kevin_Axion said:
Great song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvDQy53eldY

Wow.

Upon hearing the intro chorus, I did not see the whole white-dude-rapping thing coming. But man, he is awesome. Cinematography is awesome too. Not many white guys can pull this off, but he does it superbly.

Kevion Axiom: You should check out Sole if you have not already.
 
  • #23


Saladsamurai said:
You son of a bi*ch! I can't believe you got me with that! I only clicked on it because I love the Mountain Goats (saw them live a few years back = awesome) and I was curious to see if the video you linked would be "No Children."


:smile: It was only and only for micro :biggrin:


I also really love Mountain Goats though! "I want to say I'm sorry for stuff I haven't done yet" is another of my favorites song!

But, I find this song more of a hope song than a sad song :blushing:
 
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  • #24


rootX said:
:smile: It was only and only for micro :biggrin:


I also really love Mountain Goats though! "I want to say I'm sorry for stuff I haven't done yet" is another of my favorites song!

But, I find this song more of a hope song than a sad song :blushing:


Yeah, that's another great one. He was going through a divorce when he wrote that album, but when I saw him live, he said that they had since reconciled their marriage. So, you might be right about the 'hope' thing. :smile:
 
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  • #25


The first song that made me sad was "Jamaica Farewell" by Harry Belafonte. I was far too young to understand it at the time, so I thought that he was referring to child abandonment. It's still a beautiful piece of music, though.
 
  • #26


I really love this song right now, Skip James - Hard Time Killing Floor Blues

 
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  • #27


Loren Booda said:
Bill Withers -- Ain't No Sunshine

Bill Withers is The King <3
 
  • #29


Emerson Lake and Palmer, C'est la vie
 
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  • #30


All of 69 loves songs by The Magnetic Fields.


Parades Go By - The Magnetic Fields




Book of love




I don't want to get over you

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iqmd_t84O0A&feature=related


The Things We Did and Didn't Do

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOgxeuqsadk&feature=related


I Don't Believe in the Sun

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L85cillM6ME&feature=related


the one you really love

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62KEbW3nox0&feature=related


All My Little Words

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOHsgse29vY&feature=related

And this is my song

crazy for you but not that crazy



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTHoM9uD6nc
 
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  • #31


Evo said:
All of 69 loves songs by The Magnetic Fields...

yes. Yes. YES! I love Stephen Merritt. He has some other projects you should check out too. The Sixths and the Gothic Archies are coming to mind, but I know he has others.
 
  • #32


Mad World - Gary Jules
 
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  • #33


'All Out of Love' — Air Supply
I don't know whether or not this fits, because it's a 'feel good' song to me, but: 'You Don't Know What Love Is' — White Stripes

edit: Late addition, which has to be mentioned because of its title, but is actually the opposite of a sad song: "Sad Songs" — Elton John.
 
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  • #34


Almost all my music fits your criteria.

Sad: Ulver - Bergtatt-ind I Fjeldkamrene



Depressing: Katatonia - Rainroom



Twisted: Opeth - The Leper Affinity



Doubt many share my taste in music though... :wink:
 
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  • #35



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59BZxgohr9g
 
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  • #36


Anything by Happy Chapin.
 
  • #37


BobG said:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59BZxgohr9g


Now that's just sad :cry:
 
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  • #38



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-axr23-WP0E
 
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  • #39


This girl is amazing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUZ-TVjHEkA&feature=related
 
  • #40


BobG said:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59BZxgohr9g
Oh, I forgot that one. :cry:
 
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  • #41


Here's an oldie.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OreFuVSByE
 
  • #42


Darn, I should have thought of Honey myself. It's one of my mom's favorites.

Johnny Cash has a version of Sunday Morning Coming Down that I like better than the Kristofferson version.



Thanks for the Hank Williams tune Jimmy. It's been a long time since I've heard the original of that one. Since we're doing country music tear jerkers, we should not leave out this one:

 
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  • #43


Sorry, the pull to contribute to this thread was too strong. I mentioned this song before in a different context. The poignancy in this lyric is almost too painful to bear.

 
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  • #44


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwJxLEbI96Y
 
  • #45


"He Hit Me, (and it Felt Like a Kiss)"

Lyrics by Carole King, performance by the fabulous Crystals, production by Phil Spector.

Respectfully submitted,
Steve
 
  • #46


Matt Johnson was a clinically depressed genius of the early 80s. He was cured shortly after his international hit "Uncertain Smile," and his genius kinda dried up...
Still, here's from when videos were new, so don't watch too close.
The band is The The.
 
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  • #47


Most Elliot Smith is pretty sad:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Afq1ddP65Bk

and his band before he went solo (heatmeiser):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_UR61itZxo
 
  • #48


Are all of these contributions cheering you up, Micro ?

Rhody...
 
  • #49


Sound quality is crap in the video. Too bad! Absolute Torch and Twang is perhaps the best-engineered Country album of all time.

 
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  • #50


Jonny Cash's re working of "Hurt" -originally a nin inch nails song.

Godflesh - Circle of **** or Angel Domain in fact the entire album is pretty depressing but good.

Anything by Codiene is slow and depressing.

Tindersticks "My Sister" is pretty sad. In fact the music you like is my entire record collection!
 
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