Stolen Car gets me every time. The original is a Bruce Springsteen tune. The Patty Griffin cover is even more depressing. You can find it on the Springsteen tribute album ("Light of Day").
Here's a snippet of it from a live Patty Griffin show:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aiqhz7TEB2E
Springsteen live:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPobte6iqSU&feature=related
If this song doesn't hit you hard, you either have no soul or you haven't hit your 30s yet.
The The's
Love is stronger then Death
think of a lost friend every time I hear it...
The youngsters probably won't appreciate it, but...
Hello In There, John Prine
Songwriting at it's finest
my vote:
3 babies from Sinead O'Conner. I don't even have any kids but for some reason I cannot listen to this song without getting a tear in my eye.
papa steve wrote:
Townes is the king of sad, and good music.
Also, Casmir Polaski Day by Sufjan Stevens...gets me every time
another vote for Casimir Pulaski Day
A lot of good ones on here, nice work. I nominate "Pale Blue Eyes"
"Seasons in the Sun", hands down.
Mad World is probably my topic pick..
-Others that are depressing,
Counting Crowe's songs:
-Perfect Blue Buildings
-Raining in Baltimore
-Long December.
(Lead singer of County Crowe's is/was supposedly clinically depressed - songs reflect this.)
-Blink-182, Adam's Song: about their friend who committed suicide.
-Matchbox 20: 3AM - inspired by his mom's cancer.
-Natalie Merchant: My Skin
-Seether: Broken
-Sarah McLachlin: Fallen
-Evanescence: My Immortal
-The Fray: You Found Me
Lionel Richie - Hello
The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald - Gordon Lightfoot
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgI8bta-7aw
Song about a true shipwreck in 1975 that killed 29 men
I believe William Shatner is a fine actor. To me, however, the most depressing song is to hear him singing "Rocket Man."
I can't believe this thread has gone this far. Are we a bunch of sorry sappy arses on here?
"Just Like Heaven" by the Cure. The song itself doesn't sound that sad but when you listen to the lyrics, it is pretty dark.
Can't believe you've missed it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5oEYMGL0ZtA&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Really anything by Sad Kermit
Send "Oh Well, Okay" Ringtone to your Cell
Here's the silhouette, the face always turned away
The bleeding color gone to black, dying like a day
Couldn't figure out what made you so unhappy
Shook your head to say no, no, no
And stopped for a spell
And stayed that way
Oh well, okay
I got pictures, I just don't see it anymore
Climbing hour upon hour through a total bore
With the one I keep where it never fades
In the safety of a pitch black mind
An airless cell that blocks the day
Oh well, okay
If you get a feeling the next time you see me
Do me a favor and let me know
Because it's hard to tell
It's hard to say
Oh well, okay
Oh well, okay
Oh well, okay
"Oh Well, Okay" Elliott Smith
Chloroform Perfume by From Autumn to Ashes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUy1Hk1VhyA
Fine by Alkaline Trio
Another vote for "Alone Again, Naturally" by Gilbert O'Sullivan.
In the first 3 lines he says he's going to climb a tower and throw himself off.
There's been some good ones listed. But one of my favorites was the monster hit 'Billy and Sue', during the Vietnam War era.
"You Never Know" by Immortal Technique
Thug meets nice girl
Leaves her chastity alone
Goes to jail
Gets out and talks to Mom
Who has note from girl
who waited for thug
fell in with guy
and is now dead
from AIDS
but says she always loved him
man, I have to brace myself to listen 'cuz it's so damned sad...
"Galveston" by Jimmy Webb sung by Glen Campbell