What's the saddest song you ever heard?

Question

Do you associate it with anything in particular - an event in your life?

Answer 1

It's so good to see your question, because a few hours ago I found a very similar one, spent at least *two hours* thinking about it and composing an answer (I was enjoying it so much), and when I clicked to submit, I saw she'd already chosen a best answer! Bummer. But then I found yours! Luckily I'd copied the whole thing, and will paste it with slight modifications to your question...

Like the other question, this got a lot of answers. What is it that intrigues us so, about sad songs, and got me thinking and singing for two hours... and reading every single answer by others?

OK... many songs choke me up just because they're so emotional to sing... from R. Dean Taylor's moldy-oldy "Indiana Wants Me" to Gordon Lightfoot's "Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" to Christina Aguilera's "Beautiful."

And plenty of songs have sad *memories* associated with them. (I said this to the other questioner, too, but you actually asked!) High on that category's list, for me, are "Say Goodbye" and "I Wish You," two beautiful songs by a beautiful person, Gloria Estefan, one of my favorite performers ever. They will forever take me back to her September 2004 concert in Washington, D.C. They were among the final songs of the show, and it was her final tour. The titles and lyrics are poignantly fitting, and hearing them now brings both goosebumps and tears, just as it did that night, as I realized it was over.

"Photograph" is another one. Co-written by Ringo Starr and George Harrison, it seemed appropriate to play, and sing, and cry to, the day George died... "all I've got is a photograph and I realize you're not coming back anymore."

Memories aside, here are some songs which I think are *inherently* sad...

The Eagles, "Last Resort" -- majestic and wise; to me it's about the hippocracy and self-righteousness of abusing and destroying the land in the name of God.

Harry Chapin, "Cats in the Cradle" -- a sad tale of a father who doesn't quite have time for his son, who becomes just like him.

"This Nearly Was Mine", from South Pacific -- passionately sad song of paradise and love lost.

Kansas, "Dust in the Wind" -- sobering reminder that nothing lasts forever

Elton John, "Ticking" -- innocence lost, violently -- or "Empty Garden" (which also has sad memories, for me, of John Lennon's death)

Cat Stevens, "If I Laugh" -- about love, obsession and missed opportunities

Bruce Springsteen, "My Hometown" -- melancholy reminiscing, and the changes life brings

But, trivial or silly as it may sound, my list-making stopped when this one came to me: Puff The Magic Dragon. I started tearing up within seconds of running it through my head, as it tells of childhood and innocence lost, and friendships abandoned...

"A dragon lives forever, but not so little boys. Painted wings and giant rings make way for other toys. One gray night it happened - Jackie Paper came no more, and Puff that mighty dragon, he ceased his fearless roar. His head was bent in sorrow. Green scales fell like rain. Puff no longer went to play along the cherry lane. Without his lifelong friend, Puff could not be brave. So Puff that mighty dragon sadly slipped into his cave..."

{sniffling} I simply cannot sing--or even imagine--that song without crying, a bit.

It's been told and retold to children over the years, including myself (which may make it that much more poignant). I remember seeing the story on cartoons or something on TV, and maybe sensing it was a little sad. But I became more wistful about it in adulthood.

So that would have to be my best answer, as you asked for just one song. There are probably a bunch I'm forgetting, but that one has to be very near the top, for me.

Answer 2

It was in a film and it was an old coloured man singing, thats all I can remember about it except some words to the song :

Gone are the days when my heart was young and gay,
Gone are my friends from the cotton feilds away.
Gone from this earth to a better land I know
I hear the gentle voices calling poor old Joe.

I'm coming,
I'm coming, for my head is bending low.
I hear the gentle voices calling poor old Joe.

Answer 3

I'd have to say "Whiskey Lullaby" by Brad Paisley & Alison Krauss. Watching the video is even more sadder though. I can't relate to it though.

She put him out like the burnin' end of a midnight cigarette
She broke his heart he spent his whole life tryin' to forget
We watched him drink his pain away a little at a time
But he never could get drunk enough to get her off his mind
Until the night

He put that bottle to his head and pulled the trigger
And finally drank away her memory
Life is short but this time it was bigger
Than the strength he had to get up off his knees
We found him with his face down in the pillow
With a note that said I'll love her till I die
And when we buried him beneath the willow
The angels sang a whiskey lullaby

(Sing lullaby)

The rumors flew but nobody knew how much she blamed herself
For years and years she tried to hide the whiskey on her breath
She finally drank her pain away a little at a time
But she never could get drunk enough to get him off her mind
Until the night

She put that bottle to her head and pulled the trigger
And finally drank away his memory
Life is short but this time it was bigger
Than the strength she had to get up off her knees
We found her with her face down in the pillow
Clinging to his picture for dear life
We laid her next to him beneath the willow
While the angels sang a whiskey lullaby

(Sing lullaby)

Answer 4

Korn - Pretty

Based on real life event when lead singer Jonathan Davis was working as a mortician about a baby girl he had to clean up.

So... so love.
Wait, but I don't realize.
Somehow, why lay?
Broke, the pain between her thighs
I see your pretty face,
Smashed against the bathroom floor!
What a disgrace!
Who do I feel sorry for?
Skin... so cold.
Could, could someone steal a life?
Save... the blame.
Wait, I got some **** to say.
I see your pretty face,
smashed against the bathroom floor!
What a disgrace!
Who do I feel sorry for?
Smashed and raped!
Not again. This is a real crime.
What a pretty face.
Who do I feel sorry for?
RAPE! Something...
NOW! Rips my...
HEART! And takes...
MY! Soul I...
WAIT! Too late...
NOW! I feel...
RAPED! Inside...
DEATH! My soul away....
Away....
I see your pretty face,
smashed against the bathroom floor!
What a disgrace!
Who do I feel sorry for?
Smashed and raped!
Not again. This is a real crime.
What a pretty face.
Who do I feel sorry for...

Answer 5

Miss u by westlife

I can't sleep, I just can't breathe

when your shadow is all over me, baby

don't wanna be a fool in your eyes

cause what we had was built on lies

And when our love seems to fade away

listen to me hear what I say




I don't wanna feel

the way that I do

I just wanna be

right here with you

I don't wanna see

see us apart

I just wanna say it straight from my heart

I miss you


What would it take for you to see

to make you understand that I'll always believe

you and I can make it through

and I still know I can't get over you


And when our love seems to fade away

listen to me hear what I say


Cause when our love always fades away

listen to me hear what I say

I don't wanna feel

the way that I do

I just wanna be

right here with you

I don't wanna see

see us apart

I just wanna say it straight from my heart

oh baby I miss you I do


i like this song coz it reminds me of my girl u stays miles away from me bt v r stil into relationship...

Answer 6

One sweet day by Mariah Carey

Answer 7

Valse Triste ! Associate...? Perhaps when dreams were kept beside my pillow.

Answer 8

50 cent candy shop

Answer 9

Never Gonna Be The Same- Sean Paul....it's so saaaad....i really cried....because it's so truth....it's never gonna be the same........wuaaaaaaaaaa

Answer 10

It Only Hurts When I Breathe by Shania Twain.

"It only hurts when I'm breathing,
My heart only breaks when its beating,
My dreams only die when I'm dreaming,
So I hold my breath, to forget..."