What are some of the best sad songs you know?

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SUMMARY

This forum discussion centers on the exploration of sad songs across various genres and eras. Participants share a diverse list of tracks, including "Taxi" by Harry Chapin, "Crying" by Roy Orbison, and "Hurt" by Johnny Cash, highlighting their emotional impact. The conversation reveals personal connections to these songs, with mentions of artists like The Mountain Goats and Pink Floyd, and the significance of lyrics that resonate with themes of loss and melancholy.

PREREQUISITES
  • Familiarity with music genres such as folk, rock, and country.
  • Understanding of lyrical themes related to sadness and emotional expression.
  • Knowledge of notable artists and their contributions to sad music, including Johnny Cash and Harry Chapin.
  • Awareness of song structures and how they convey emotional narratives.
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the discography of The Mountain Goats and their thematic focus on melancholy.
  • Explore the impact of Johnny Cash's cover of "Hurt" on contemporary music.
  • Investigate the lyrical content and emotional depth of songs by Pink Floyd, particularly "Dogs" and "Goodbye Cruel World."
  • Analyze the cultural significance of sad songs in different musical genres and their effect on listeners.
USEFUL FOR

Music enthusiasts, songwriters, and anyone interested in the emotional power of music, particularly those exploring themes of sadness and loss in songwriting.

  • #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.
 
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  • #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!
 
  • #52


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZt5Q-u4crc

Ode to Billie Joe...

I know of no sadder song.

:cry:
 
  • #53


Folk Songs:
He's Young, But He's Daily Growing (The Trees They Do Grow Green)
The Old Maid's Song (Give Me a Butcher or a Baker, . . . )

Billie Holiday: Strange Fruit

Nina Simone: I Love's You, Porgy
 
  • #54


"Seasons in the Sun"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLfRtK0oxYE
 
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  • #55


Of course, there are the very personal sad songs.

This one came out a very short time after my mother passed away.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsJ4O-nSveg

Lightning crashes.
 
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  • #56


Dirge. PLEASE LISTEN! :)
 
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  • #57


Wait. This song is sadder! Sea of Tears.
 
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  • #58


Pearl Jams version of Last Kiss always gets me.

 
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  • #59


Joy Division - Atmosphere
Bonnie Prince Billy - I see a darkness
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - the weeping song
Leakh - Storm
Radiohead - Creep
Deine Lakaien - Love me to the end
Deine Lakaien - Where you are

and of course:
Portishead - Roads
 
  • #60
Evo Child is very, very ill, so I'm needing some sad songs, unfortunately some of these links no longer work, so I'll have to see if I can find new ones, please feel free to add very sad songs.
 

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