I'm feeling much better today... thanks for all the kind comments, and I apologize for the shameless pandering (sham-pan, as Mattthew and I call it).
I was thinking this morning that one of the redeemable things about feeling down is listening to sad songs. There are many kinds of sad, of course, and sometimes listening to sad music is the last thing you want. But I find that listening to sad songs when I'm down can have an opposite effect -- sometimes it just feels good, like pressing on a bruise. It hurts, but in a proud sort of way.
So, in that spirit (and because i LOVE making lists), I decided to put together a list of ten of my favorite sad songs. Of course this list could be pages long, and I'll probably think of five better ones tomorrow, but I thought this might be a good starting point for some discussion.
Without further ado, ten sublimely sad songs.
1. Don't You See That Train? - The Delmore Brothers
My friend Greg put this on a mix CD for me several years go, and I've put it on several since then. The idea of a train is sad enough -- the moan of the whistle as the train slowly (not even mercifully quickly!) pulls away with someone you love. The concept, coupled with the perfect harmonies of these two real-life brothers, makes the song nearly too much to bear.
"Don't you see that train, dee-dee-dee / See that train, hey hey / She's leavin', she's leavin' on that train / And I'll never see my sweetheart again."
2. So Lonesome I Could Cry - Hank Williams
I could have simply spun a wheel to pick a Hank Williams song -- they're all sad. My friend Toby accurately described his voice as "like the wailing wall." And the accompanying guitar always sounds both drawn out and ploddingly on-rhythm, as if Hank is willing himself, through song, to keep going.
"The silence of a falling star / Lights up a purple sky. / And as I wonder where you are / I'm so lonesome I could cry."
3. Long Black Veil - Johnny Cash
I'll be the first to admit that I'm a sucker for the narrative song, particularly if it involves death. Although Johnny didn't write this one, his rendition has a particular poignancy because of his relationship with June Carter. The (dead) narrator in the song hangs for a crime he didn't commit because his only alibi -- "I'd been in the arms of my best friend's wife" -- would destroy the two people he loves the most. He describes how she visits him "in a long black veil," both of them keeping their secret beyond the grave.
Sad yet?
4. You Will Miss Me When I Burn - Palace Brothers
From one of the saddest albums of all time, Days in the Wake, this song is so quiet, yet so packed with Biblical-proportion vengeance. I never realized the extent of its wrathful goodness until years ago when a friend listened to it continually during a particularly bad breakup. Consider the mere mention of wolves in the following:
"There is absence, there is lack / there are wolves here, abound / You will miss me when I turn around."
I'm not sure about this, but I would swear Mr. Oldham is willing someone to be torn apart by wolves.
5. Out in the Streets - The Shangri-Las
Lesser known than the oldies radio staple, “Leader of the Pack,” the Shangri-La’s “Out in the Streets” is another example of the subgenre of Bad Boy Songs particularly popular in the late 50s and early 60s. But instead of the “I love him, but he’s so bad,” or “I love him because he’s so bad” themes, “Out in the Streets” adds yet another, more nuanced twist: “I love him because he’s so bad, and that’s why I have to let him go.”
This song even starts sad, with a chilling drawn-out “ooooooh,” followed by a pulsing bass line lurking under the vocals that confide, “He don’t hang around with the gang no more. / He don’t do the wild things that he did before.” Instead of celebrating a conquest, though, she knows that his heart is "out in the streets."
I think I must be attracted to acts of sacrifice in my expressions of sadness (see "The Long Black Veil" above). That this girl will let this guy go because she doesn't want him to change just breaks my heart every time.
6. Which Will - Nick Drake
In this song, the narrator is asking someone he loves to make a classic choice -- him or me. But he seems to know all along that the person isn't going to pick him: "Which will you dance for / Which makes you shine? / Which will you choose now / if you won't choose mine?"
My friend Joni who first introduced me to Nick Drake handed me the CD with a sticky note attached that said, "By the way - he says 'tell me now,' not 'I don't know.'" Until I listened to the song, I didn't know what she meant, but at the end of each verse, he quietly insists, "Tell me now / which will you love the best?"
7. You Could Make a Killing - Aimee Mann
Aimee Mann is a slight guilty pleasure for me. I know, I know... some of her songs are overproduced, and she tends to be a little precious and overly clever with her love of a convoluted grammatical construction. But so can I! And I return time and time to this song when I'm feeling low, despite a) its inclusion on the Cruel Intentions soundtrack, and b) her own admission that she wrote the song about one of the whingey Oasis brothers.
Still, this song really captures what it's like to know something is so obviously shallow and bad for you and STILL WANT IT.
"I wish I was both young and stupid / Then I too could have the fun that you did / Till it was time to pony up what you bid / So you could make a killing."
8. Crazy Love, Vol. II - Paul Simon
The whole Graceland album could go on this list -- what part of divorce isn't sad? Unlike some of the other songs on the album (and on this list), however, this song doesn't really sound sad at all. It's got a lilting little melody with a lacy layer of steel guitar over it. Ah, but the lyrics.
The song describes "Fat Charlie the Archangel" who is going through a painful divorce. He strikes me as a man whose life has just been happening to him for years when he finds out everything he's put stock in -- his marriage -- has been a sham.
"She says she knows about jokes / This time the joke is on me. / Well, I have no opinion about that / And I have no opinion about me.
Somebody could walk into this room / And say your life is on fire. / It's all over the evening news / All about the fire in your life / On the evening news."
8. Ever Fallen in Love? - The Buzzcocks
"Ever fallen in love with someone you shouldn't have fallen in love with?"
But of course you have.
This song is fresh in my mind because we heard Lianne Smith sing a great cover of it at Tonic last Sunday night. Her voice is the perfect combination of sweet and salty to pull off a sad song, even a punk-rock sad song. (Thanks, Lianne!)
9. Don't Explain - Billie Holiday
Again, sacrifice as a cause of sadness. I first heard of this song years ago in the Saul Bellow novel Herzog, where the main character makes one of his girlfriends listen to it so she'll learn not to take the relationship too seriously. After I heard the song, I realized just how cruel an act that was. Later I also learned that "Don't Explain" was co-written by Billie and Arthur Herzog.
In one of the saddest songs I've ever heard, Billie urges her man not to explain where he's been, even though it's clear that she knows.
"Quiet, don't explain / What is there to gain / Skip that lipstick / Don't explain"
Billie could sing bubblegum jingles and forests would burn.
10. Our Town - Iris DeMent
This song is about a death of a town, not of a clown (which we would drink to, because it would be funny. And, ok, maybe a little sad). You can hear the mourning in Iris' voice, and you know that part of her is dying with the town, but she has to get out. Reminds me of the line from David Berman's "Tennessee" that says, "You know Louisville is death / We've got to up and move / Because the dead do not improve."
Please write in comments with your favorite sad songs. Sad days always come back 'round, and next time we'll be prepared.
these aren't 'sad songs', so much as they are 'sad songs that make me feel better.'
1. find the river - rem
i moved away from roanoke to winston salem with this ringing in my ears, and no idea at all what i had left or what i was going to. i just knew i had to go.
2. we all fall in love sometimes/curtains - elton john
i'm sorry, but you're kidding yourself if you say you don't like 70s elton john. 10 minutes straight of moping self-loathing harmonies piled on top of harmonies.
3. dumb dumb dumb - teenage fanclub
like so much of their music, it is a pure and crystalline as a really really pure crystal.
Fade to Black is like morphine. It collapses my chest. There was a half year when I listened to this song fifty times a day and almost nothing else. It's so sad it makes me feel nothing. I get angry as it builds, but that's swallowed by intense lonely desperation.
Posted by: neckbroke at March 18, 2004 12:52 PMTop ten sad songs. . . that's tough.
Self-explanatory:
Johnny Cash - Give My Love to Rose
John Prine - Hello in There
Traditional - Danny Boy
Not self-explanatory:
The Buggles - Video Killed the Radio Star. Because it reminds me of how much potential comes to the surface of any new medium, but is soon devestated by all the evil, money-grubbing, pornographic mediocrity. Think about the internet. Friendster anyone?
John Prine - Paradise.
This song changed my life. The last verse is the voice of God. I want this played at my funeral.
Dropkick Murphys - Caugh in a Jar.
Because our times are really caught in a jar, and madness and insanity have arrived. What's that you say? "I'm too pretentious and urbane to listen to a blue collar punk band from Boston." My apologies. I will try to unearth more esoteric art rock that no one has ever heard of for your bloated self-serving-sensibilities.
Pink Floyd - Jugband Blues
Because poor Syd is gone in this one. "And I'm wondering who could be writing this song." It perfectly communicates someone you love slipping away. The shell is still there, but the person you knew has left the house and not turned any lights on. The video is harrowing.
Joe Strummer & the Mescaleros - Silver & Gold.
Because Joe is gone, and he died young, and it's a good song, and that's enough.
Floggy Molly - Rare Auld Times.
This is one of my all time favorite songs. It is sad, because "Dublin keeps on shrinking, and nothing seems the same." They aren't afraid to be politically incorrect. Check it out.
Johnny Cash - The City of New Orleans.
It's not his song. It's a song written by an upper class Jewish boy, but god DAMN he pegged the lyrics, and Johnny does the best version I've heard.
Anything by Swivelhead.
Alician Simmon's voice is too sad.
What an amazing list!! The teapot knows…Ok, so this is my half-drunk list of sad songs…they would probably be different tomorrow or the day after…Most of them are self explanatory if you know me…they are in no particular order...
1. Bad Attitude--Lisa Germano
I know it’s an obvious song but…this song says it all for me…I can’t pinpoint one lyric…it’s all relevant…hahaha…
2. (Believed you were) Lucky—Til’ Tuesday
There are many Aimee Mann songs that make me sad…but this one still hits close to home…too many memories…
3. Island in the Sun—Weezer….I know it’s a happy song to most people…to me…it’s weird, happy, sad memories that I will cherish forever…
4. New Tricks—Mary Prankster
I want to do better, I really do! This song makes you know what it’s like to turn 30
5. Winter—Tori Amos
Saddest song ever.
6. How will you go?—Crowded House
This used to be our *theme song*…how sad…
This song still makes me want to sing and cry at the same time.
7. When You’re Old & Lonely—Magnetic Fields
Yeh…it’s a sad…sad..song…I just love it. And I want to hear it over and over again….this list is about sad songs, yeh?
8. In Spite of Me—Morphine—
Hearing his voice talking about a loved one is enough to make me shiver…I’m so sad he’s dead…
9. Hello in there—John Prine—
Sadness beyond belief…
10. Lafayette—Lucinda Williams
So many of her songs make me sad and happy (at the same time). I don’t know why this one is particularly sad…something about it…
anyway...that's my saddest songs at the moment...
Posted by: Ali at March 19, 2004 12:30 AM"(I Keep a) Close Watch" by John Cale; the version on Music for a New Society, not the one on Helen of Troy (that one's fine, but the re-do on Music... is just so spare and lonely).
Posted by: Jason at March 19, 2004 12:46 PMHmmmm, four of the five people who have posted sad songs have lived in the 'Noke at one point or another. It may not be statistically significant, but I still have to say "hmmmm..."
Posted by: jennifer at March 19, 2004 12:54 PMhi misery fans! and here are my nominations:
Gloomy sunday - billie holiday
late for the sky - jackson browne
i know it's over - the smiths
the eternal - joy division
decades - joy division
Love hurts - roy orbison
wild mountain thyme - the byrds
Parcel of rogues - the dubliners
wont you miss me? - syd barrett
hi gang its me again! how are you? well i hope.
hey - i just thought of some more really sad songs! brace yourselves:
Suffer little children - the smiths
suicide is painless - theme from MASH
old shep - Elvis
4 stone 7 pounds - manic street preachers
(1st line: "days since i last pissed, cheeks sunken and despaired" yeah!)
And the band played Waltzing Matilda - the pogues
Into my arms - nick cave
anyone who wants to e-mail me about sad songs or swapping sad songs feel free to do so. ive got about a million. also i think we could also list really dark songs that arent neccessarily sad but for some reason uplift us. i will start.
the curse of millhaven - Nick Cave
stagger Lee - nick Cave
Love will tear us apart - joy division
come on people lets get it together!!!!!
Saddest songs of all time:
1. The Swans - God Damn the Sun
2. Ludwig Van Beethoven - Fur Elise
Yeah, those two do it for me.
Posted by: Bunky at April 29, 2004 11:48 AMi thought i'd make it 5 out of six...i'm in roanoke and perhaps a little ahem pensive sometimes:
1.hallelujah: leonard cohen via jeff buckley. fuckinig around with an l.c. song could very easily put a singer on my shit list. but sometimes it just works. i admit it, leonard cohen gets me off. perhaps the beauty of a grand leonard cohen cover comes from a performer willing to admit that too.
2.there's gold in them hills: ron sexsmith.
some sad songs are sad because of their hopelessness. this song concedes, indeed, happiness exists. this fact is a thousand knives of fire when you just can't access that happy place.
Never Had Noone / Asleep - The Smiths
When You Walked Out On Me - Mimi Parker
Broken Heart - Spiritualized
Martha - Tom Waits
Holbart Paving - Saint Etienne
Martha's Harbour - All About Eve
See Land - Neu!
An Ending - Brian Eno
My Sister - Tindersticks
Bird On A Wire - Leonard Cohen
Albatross - Fleetwood Mac
It's Over - Roy Orbison
I Know It's Gonna Happen Someday - Morrissey
Asleep - The Smiths
The medication's Wearing Off - Eels
Hurt - (performed by) Johnny Cash
Too Far Down - Husker Du
Kathleen - American Music Club
brand new-the no seatbelt song
lacuna coil-falling again
something corporate-konstantine
staind-epiphany and outside
goo goo dolls-iris
a perfect circle-orestes
stonesour-bother
me and a buddy are making a list, heres the top 25:
Police- walking on the moon
pearl jam- last kiss
REM everybody hurts
Don't Wanna Miss A Thing –Aerosmith
Wish you were Here - Pink Floyd
Wonderwall- Bryan Adams
killing me softly Fugees
tuesdays gone by lynard skynard
dust in the wind Kansas
dont think twice- Dylan
faint- ballad of the paralyzed citizen
sheila by the smashing pumpkins
heartbeat city by the cars
b 52s dead beat club
alkaline trios the exploding boy
Belle and Sebastian – The Chalet Lines
elliot smith, needle in the hay
boyz 2 men end of the road
under the bridge- RHCP
springsteen the river
marley no woman no cry
lost in the supermarket by the clash
ramones pet cemetery
weezer, holiday/the world has turned and left me here
one by u2
we all fall in love sometimes/curtains - elton john
late for the sky - jackson browne
i know it's over - the smiths
the eternal - joy division
I Know It's Gonna Happen Someday - Morrissey
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Posted by: poker at August 16, 2004 12:29 AMHave you all forgotten about the oldies?
Tell Laura I Love Her - Ray Patterson
(It's corny as hell, but it has the same appeal as Last Kiss)
speaking of which,
Last Kiss - I like the Pearl Jam version.
Then there's Philadelphia - Brude Springsteen
The most recent one to do it for me is
Broken - Seether with Amy Lee of Evanescence
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