The saddest songs ever known to man

[Bangkok Superpussy]

Too many threads in this section center around bands and genres, and not enough about the true purpose of music -- to move the listener and bring them into another world for just a few minutes. Let's rectify that.

What are some of the saddest, most moving songs that you've ever heard? Feel free to explain why each song affects you the way it does. Bonus points if they've moved you to tears, or prompted you to cut yourself or some shit.

I'm sure I could come up with many more, but for now I think a short list of five will suffice:

Hurt - Johnny Cash

A very moving song for a variety of factors -- like the state of Cash's life at the time he covered the song, the fact that his life came to an end just after he recorded it, the overall sound of the songs, the lyrics and the way he sings it, etc. Its difficult to describe exactly why it's such a gloomy song, but you know what I mean if you've heard it. Also, it's about a million times sadder when you watch the video for it.

Last Kiss - Pearl Jam

This song meant absolutely nothing to me until a friend of mine explained to me that it was a song he heard shortly after his daughter died, only days after she was born, and that it reminded him of her. I've never been able to hear it without getting a little bit emotional ever since, even though I think it's a really terrible song by a really terrible band.

Me and a Gun - Tori Amos

Very sad subject matter, and moreover her voice is just really haunting in this song. Lyrics are based on something that actually happened to her, and you just can't fake that sort of emotional investment into your music.

Hallelujah - Jeff Buckley

Off the top of my head this is probably the saddest song in a purely sound-related sense that I can think of. The lyrics aren't even very weepy - it just SOUNDS like the end of something beautiful.

Changes - Tupac

This is one of the best songs ever written, bar none. It's said that art is all about capturing the human condition, and this song does it perfectly. There is something vaguely uplifting about Changes, probably because there is a ton of hope in this song, but by and large the subject matter (racism) is pretty tragic.

[RememberRoxas]

Originally Posted by Sam

Changes - Tupac

This is one of the best songs ever written, bar none. It's said that art is all about capturing the human condition, and this song does it perfectly. There is something vaguely uplifting about Changes, probably because there is a ton of hope in this song, but by and large the subject matter (racism) is pretty tragic.

So true if only rappers today could do something like this.Now its all about money,girls, and cars.Even the fugly rappers act like they've met beautifull women.

[TheMuffinMan]

Hymn of the Medical Oddity - Youtube - The Weakerthans

I really have no particular connection to this song, but when I read the story of what it was based on it just gave me a lot of respect for the song. Hymn of a Medical Oddity is about David Reimer, who became a psychological experiment for Gender Identity after his penis was severed in a medical accident at a young age and subsequently raised as a Female until the age of 14. His life was filled with psychological examinations and surgeries/treatments until he committed suicide at the age of 38.

David Reimer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Fate of Heaven]

Originally Posted by Sam

Hurt - Johnny Cash

A very moving song for a variety of factors -- like the state of Cash's life at the time he covered the song, the fact that his life came to an end just after he recorded it, the overall sound of the songs, the lyrics and the way he sings it, etc. Its difficult to describe exactly why it's such a gloomy song, but you know what I mean if you've heard it. Also, it's about a million times sadder when you watch the video for it.

So true. It's a great rendition of NIN's original as well.

[Lycanthrope]

Brick by Ben Folds Five

While I am not a fan of Ben Folds, every time I hear this song I am reminded of why he wrote this song. It had to do with his girlfriend having to get an abortion when they were in high school.

Stay Together For the Kids by Blink 182

With the exception of the fact I am glad my parents are divorced, I can relate to this song. But, it always just reminds me of how much I detest my dad for some reason.

[TheMuffinMan]

The Funeral - Youtube - Band of Horses

Here is an example of a song that just sounds absolutely tragic. It doesn't really matter in what way you read into it because I hear differently from various people, whether they think it's about self-sabotaging relationships, an acceptance that at any point you or ones close to you could be the next Funeral, etc. There's just a really tragic sound to the song and lyrics.

Something Vague - Youtube - Bright Eyes

Conor Oberst's sort of signature shaking and quivering to his voice really makes this song for me, it practically sounds like he's going to break into tears in the middle of the song. The inconclusiveness to the song kinda makes the lyrics sit in your head, the song isn't really telling you anything, to me it's just purely expressions of all these unstable/unsure emotions.

Push Your Head Towards The Air - Youtube - Editors

I absolutely love the lead singer of Editor's voice, especially in this song, not many people have a voice like this in music now. I suppose for being on a list of sad songs this song seems to have more of a positive message about being there for another person, but in a more literal sense the song is about being there for someone in the last moments of their life. Regardless, the song sounds beautiful and I guess in a personal cheesy way it reminds me of how I felt/cared for this one girl when she was in an abusive situation and I wanted to be there for her, so it always sorta reminded me of those feelings.

You Are The Moon - Youtube - The Hush Sound

The fact that this song says so much with just a voice and softly playing piano keys does a lot for me. The song is such a poignant metaphor for a common yet devastating problem; how you feel as a person who knows someone so important and significant to you, looking up at the beauty of the "moon", and yet they feel so surrounded by darkness that all they can do is look down at their own scattered reflection, their imperfections, and how as that person all you want to be able to do is show them how clear and wonderful they actually are.

[Red Socks Pugie]

Stan - Eminem,

I thought it was pretty sad. Hell tragic story.

[Grace Assassin]

Originally Posted by Sam

Last Kiss - Pearl Jam

This song meant absolutely nothing to me until a friend of mine explained to me that it was a song he heard shortly after his daughter died, only days after she was born, and that it reminded him of her. I've never been able to hear it without getting a little bit emotional ever since, even though I think it's a really terrible song by a really terrible band.

Absolutely love that song. Just recently found out it was a remake.
YouTube - Last Kiss - J Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers

Doesn't seem to tug on the same heart strings, does it?

Only contribution I have in mind right now would be:
YouTube - Blue October - Into The Ocean

Just a great representation of the human condition.

[Massive Attack]

Candy Says by The Velvet Underground -
New bassist, Doug Yule sings it. It's about the Factory scene connected pre-op transexual, Candy Darling. She died five years after this song came out. Just before she died, she wrote a letter to the Factory scene, saying at one point "I am just so bored by everything. You might say bored to death.". It's weird to think a drag queen would be so down about everything. Anyway, the song is sort of an early document of her starting to tire of her life, with lines such as "Candy says I've come to hate my body, and all that it requires in this world", "I'm gonna watch the blue birds fly over my shoulder, I'm gonna watch them pass me by, Maybe when I'm older", "Candy says I hate the quiet places, that cause the smallest taste of what will be". Although I've never related to the sorts of people that want to leave the city behind them, maybe it's because most people I see who are like that are fat, old and English.


also Les Rallizes Dénudés' 'Romance of the Black Grief/Fallin' Love with/however many translations there are' on the Cable Hogue Soundtrack is a real downer, especially with the inclusion of what sounds like an organ.

I can't think of much else right now.

[Informal Gluttony]

Bankrupt on Selling - Youtube by Modest Mouse

I don't know what it is about this song, but it just seems so filled with sadness. And yet, there's hope. All of the Lonesome Crowded West is like Manic Drepression; it takes each emotion to the extreme, and then violently changes.

[Ryu]

Originally Posted by Sam

to move the listener and bring them into another world for just a few minutes

goddamn finally dares to mention the true purpose of music, for that I salute you sir.

Originally Posted by TheMuffinMan

Push Your Head Towards The Air - Youtube - Editors

I love you.

Editors - Well Worn Hand

this song seriously has me bawling like a baby every time I hear it, all I can say. Personal experiences and all that, plus who can say that this song doesn't make them want to start crying in a fetal position.

The Verve - Numbness

I don't think everyone will interpret this as a sad song, but to me it just generates this all-round feeling of sadness and desperation and what not. Solo at 3:02 just adds more to that.

John Mayer - Slow Dancing in a Burning Room (live)

one of my favorite sad love songs that is not an old classic.

Kansas - Dust in the Wind

amazing song, carries even more importance to me because of something my dad told me. Plus the entire song just covers one sad simple truth that nearly everyone can agree on.

[stephaknee]

These three songs are ones I liked years ago that still make me cry because of the emotions felt around that time. None of them are particularly good but they all mean something to me. :>

Bolder Thing to Do by Gregory and the Hawk (link)

Seven Years (acoustic version) by Saosin (but really just Anthony Green) (link)

More Adventurous by Rilo Kiley (no link because youtube is lame)

[Du Soleil.]

Ghosts II: XIII

YouTube - Nine Inch Nails - Ghosts II - 13

I don't even think the song's necessarily sad, but when I listen to it, I feel stuck in limbo between peace and extreme sadness. And even though this is so, it feels like it's the saddest song in the world, because it's a peace that might never be attainable. Sort of like looking through a glass ceiling. That in itself, coupled with longing and yearning, makes this a sad song.

[Mari]

Tears in Heaven by Eric Clapton.

[RememberRoxas]

Originally Posted by Red Socks Pugie

Stan - Eminem,

I thought it was pretty sad. Hell tragic story.

I love that song but i wouldn't call it sad.
Song called Uncommon Valor.A rap song.Not really sad but the last verse has detailed descriptions of the war,i guess that would be called sad.