What is the saddest song you have ever heard?

[JBC]

I thought it would be interesting to post some tearjerkers. Most of the time sad songs don't have much of an effect on me but every now and then something will come along that genuinely stirs up emotion. I live in the Southern US so I often hear the tired country music that probably came to mind when you read 'sad song', but because they always use the same conventions I find them ineffective. That isn't to say they are all bad, in fact there are a scant few country tunes I actually like. I won't pick one of those though because there are plenty of other sad songs from all genres across the world.

The saddest song I have ever heard is Cup of Coffee by Garbage. If I hear it in public I literally have to ignore it. I think it's sonically perfect like most of thier music and highly relatable, and very powerful. It has a slight 50's quality about it and you can never go wrong with Shirley Manson's voice.

[drauch]

Dude...Skeeter Davis - End of the World.

[rancor]

I know you said country songs don't do much for you, but the absolute saddest song I've ever heard is:

Highwayman - sung by Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, and Kris Kristoferson

The lyrics are so-so, but the music and atmosphere is what gets me everytime.. Johnny Cash even sings about flying a starfighter across the universe.

[JBC]

My friend Gerald had me listen to it recently, Rancor. One of the reasons I wouldn't dismiss country music. It's a damn fine song.

[Mortificator]

I came here to post another Cash song, Hurt.

Though right now, it's hard to choose between that and Yoko Kanno's Blue.

[EllertMichael]

"I Will Wait For You" by Connie Francis

Also, I can't listen to Regina Spektor. Not because I don't like her but because she turns me into a wuss.

[GaijinPunch]

Hard to say if it's the saddest I've ever heard, but a recent favorite is Blood by The Middle East.

[rancor]

I came here to post another Cash song, Hurt.

Yeah - that one really gets to me too. You could tell by the tremble in his voice and overall vocal weakness that Mr. Cash was not much longer for this earth.. The lyrics to that one aren't exactly uplifting either. Excellent choice.

[xbl0x180]

It's difficult for me to classify things. I listen to many sad songs because I like a different quality in each. The first band that came to mind was Mazzy Star, though

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUPyqnn-eDg


Runner-ups:

"Hunting High And Low" by A-Ha
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPAzwUhX ... re=related

"Sensitive" as covered by Mick Karn
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LsnHdjK ... re=related

"Summer Palace" by Misty Blue
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fr9pF1xxGwU

"Can't Wake Up" by Faye Wong
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlUIuu2mx8w


I dig Country/Western music, but it's gotta be that old 50s and 60s Heroin Country with really twangy guitar, lots of echoey reverv, and mellow vocals

[SuperPang]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUiTQvT0W_0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izQsgE0L450

[RGC]

A few songs by Joy Division...who I love.

Can't beat a bit of self-indulgence.

[shmuppyLove]

Neil Young - The Needle and the Damage Done

http://youtu.be/fi2XCsPKlY8

[neorichieb1971]

Imagine - John Lennon.

I suppose its what you read into it.

[SuperPang]

I read nauseating hypocrisy and the most overrated song ever.

[1up]

I came here to post another Cash song, Hurt.

+1

[GaijinPunch]

It's difficult for me to classify things. I listen to many sad songs because I like a different quality in each. The first band that came to mind was Mazzy Star, though

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUPyqnn-eDg

Love Hope Sandoval. Feeling of Gaze fits as a nice honorable mention in this thread.

Speaking of Sinead... Song to the Siren by Tim Buckley is not only a great tune, it's probably the only thing that's been covered as much as Love Will Tear Us Apart. The only difference is, it's been covered well.

Original by Tim Buckley
Cover by Robert Plant which is exceptional, and I'm no Plant fan in the least. This is rather recent I believe.
Re-imagined by This Mortal Coil but is really just The Cocteau Twins. Here's a shit copy of a great live version IMHO. And finally, Sinead O'Conner's version which is from 2010. It seems more of a cover of the This Mortal Coil version. All are quite good. This song has it's own fan club though... there's even a live version from George Michael on YT.

[Marc]

Pearl Jam - Thumbing My Way
Sunny Day Real Estate - The Shark's Own Private Fuck

[EinhanderZwei]

Testament - Falling Fast
Living Death - Wood Of Necrophiliac (for personal reasons)
Annihilator - Phoenix Rising
Sonata Arctica - Victoria's Secret

[PurpBullets]

Daniel Johnston - Some things last a long time

[Jon]

This Mortal Coil - Song To The Siren
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1LeXdP9 ... re=related

Brian Eno - An Ending (Ascent)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKw5mbcE7VY

Johann Johannson - The Sun's Gone Dim And The Sky's Turned Black
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iv4CuIIspdE

[evil_ash_xero]

Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMQbzLrvwlE

I Know It's Over
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sQPZ9dD9v8

Asleep
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1Ws0Hk8x20

All by The Smiths

Faith
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_mi_U11cTc

by The Cure

[rapoon]

Hard to say if it's the saddest I've ever heard, but a recent favorite is Blood by The Middle East.

Song is the tits. I don't really care for much else by them though.


I can't think of a single song that's the saddest but

Nine Inch Nails - A Warm Place
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1vxJb6MQ34


Modest Mouse - Edit The Sad Parts & Trailer Trash
DeVotchKa - Dearly Departed

lot of sad shit by Dead Can Dance.

Gorecki - Symphony of Sorrowful Songs prob takes #1 for me.

[moh]

Meshell Ndegeocello is a soul/jazz artist from the earlier 90's. Some of her recent stuff is really upsetting.

[undamned]

A lot of Cash love, here! Not sure who the original artist was, but Cash's cover of "I Hung My Head" makes me cry. About a kid who accidentally shot someone.
-ud

[Daigohji]

Mission - ELO
http://youtu.be/g0NSs3MnPr8 (not the official video)

Depending on how you interpret the lyrics, it's either about an alien observer sent to Earth, or it's the delusions and alienation of a homeless man.

[RGC]

This Mortal Coil - Song To The Siren
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1LeXdP9 ... re=related

God, it's been decades since I last heard this. F*cking amazing!


Edit: Any love for this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lOs32N9daU

?

I guess it works better in the context of the movie, but still...

[system11]

I came here to post another Cash song, Hurt.

Yeah - that one really gets to me too. You could tell by the tremble in his voice and overall vocal weakness that Mr. Cash was not much longer for this earth.. The lyrics to that one aren't exactly uplifting either. Excellent choice.

That one really is powerful stuff - I was going to post it myself when I saw the thread title.

A Letter To Elise by The Cure is another very sad song.

[t0yrobo]

Easily the saddest song I can think of
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtabHAAnZJM

[Vyxx]

Blind Melon - Mouthful of Cavaties

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WMY-n9MF6o

[rancor]

Mama Cass doing "Dream a little Dream of Me" gets a tear in my eye too. The whole package. The fact that she was a sad, fat woman with a shitty life soon to die in an embarrassing manner is at least 70% of the appeal for me. Actually, I think "appeal" isn't the right word. Is it ok to enjoy sad songs? haha..