Anyone who’s ever lost a pet, a girlfriend, a job — or just had a really crap day — has their go-to Sad Song. You know, the one you put on repeat while you lie splayed on the kitchen floor, in the dark, slowly soaking the linoleum with your salty, salty tears. Now, a British scientist, Dr. Harry Witchel, has officially catalogued and ranked these songs according to their "tune trigger quotient" and announced his findings of the Saddest Songs Ever.
According to Dr. Witchel’s formula, which measures the listener’s heart rate, respitory response, and skin temperature, the all-time saddest song is… the Verve’s devastating 1997 dirge "The Drugs Don’t Work. (Though commonly misperceived as a song about recreational narcotics, it’s actually a tribute to singer Richard Ashcroft’s dying father. How’s that for sad?). The runners-up on this (admittedly very Anglocentric) list? Robbie Williams’ "Angels" and Elton John’s "Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word."
Americans undoubtedly have their own opinions; surely, many of us would choose from among the following: The Beatles’ "Yesterday," Eric Clapton’s "Tears In Heaven," Jeff Buckley’s version of Leonard Cohen’s "Hallelujah," U2’s "With or Without You", Roy Orbison’s "Crying," R.E.M.’s "Everybody Hurts"… and, for whatever reason, every classic wedding song with which the newly married choose to start their lives together (why is that?): Sinead’s "Nothing Compares 2 U," the Righteous Brothers’ "Unchained Melody," Whitney’s "I Will Always Love You."
Just by checking my iTunes playlist, I see I am something of aveil-of-tears afficianado; in my top plays: Elliott Smith (wellanything of his, really, but especially "Angeles" and "Fond Farewell toa Friend"), the Kinks’ "I Go to Sleep," " Antony & the Johnsons’"For Today I am a Boy," Bloc Party’s "Tulips," Bright Eyes’ "LandLocked Blues," Cat Power’s "Where Is My Love," Modest Mouse’s, "Bankrupton Selling," Love’s "Always See Your Face," Neil Young’s "Only Love CanBreak Your Heart" (and the St. Etienne cover too, for when I’m feelingEuro), Ratatat’s "Everest," Skeeter Davis’ "The End of the World,"Beck’s "Lost Cause," Sufjan Stevens’ "To Be Alone With You"… man. I’mstarting to think I might actually need some serious meds.
Still, I know I’m barely scratching the surface of Sad. There areartists, from Boyz II Men to Bette Midler, that I haven’t even touched(but for now, let’s just say the whole Smiths catalogue is implicitlyincluded). What’s your Sad Song playlist?
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For today I Am A Boy is sad, but if you really want tragic Antony and the Johnsons, listen to the opening track, “Hope There’s Someone”
Dying alone without anyone noticing may be one of the most depressing thoughts imaginable.
Sorry, this is an open and shut discussion. THE saddest song EVER…and I mean E-V-E-R: “Another Man’s Done Gone”, words by Woody Guthrie, music by Wilco.
Sometimes I think I’m gonna lose my mind
But it don’t look like I ever do
I’ve loved so many people everywhere I went
Some too much, and others not enough
Well I don’t know
I may go
Down or up or anywhere
But I feel
Like this scribbling might stay
Maybe if I hadn’t seen so much hard feelings
I might not could’ve felt other people’s
So when you think of me, if and when you do
Just say, “Well, another man’s done gone”
Well, another man’s done gone
I know it isn’t his song, but Johnny Cash’s “Hurt” is just about the saddest thing ever. I defy anyone to watch the video and not burst into tears.
Also, anything by Leonard Cohen.
James Blunt’s song “goodbye my lover” is pretty dang sad too.
“All At Once” by Whitney Houston is pretty sad, as well as “Didn’t We Almost Have It All”.
Lou Reed’s album (yes, I’m old) “Magic and Loss” is just devastating to listen to – not sure if I can pick a saddest song. Maybe “Sword of Damocles” because of the strings and the lyric “to cure you they must kill you”.
Without a doubt “Wind Beneath My Wings” is THE saddest song EVER! No matter who you are, it makes you nostalgic/sad!!!
“Must Have Been Love” by Roxette is also very sad, but not sure why.
Jim Croce’s ‘Operator’ about a man trying to find his gal’s phone number after she ran off with his ‘best old ex-friend’ is THE saddest song. At the end, when he gives up on trying to reach his lost love, and tells the operator ‘Thank you for your time. You’ve been so much more than kind. You can keep the dime.’ …the quiet despair in his voice gets me every time…
Lost by Sarah Mclachlan. The ending of the song says it all
I want it all to go away I want to be alone
Sympathy’s wasted on my hollow shell
I feel there’s nothing left to fight for
No reason for a cause
And I can’t hear your voice and I can’t feel you near
I wanted a change knowing all I could do was try
I was looking for someone…
Shannon- Henry Gross
Broken Hearted Me- Anne Murray
Luca-Susanne Vega
Every day is like Sunday-Morissey
Love Hurts-Nazereth
‘When Angels Cry’ by Janis Ian kills me everytime I hear it. I literally break into tears. In fact a lot of songs by Janis Ian are pretty sad. The other one that breaks my heart is ‘1000 Oceans’ by Tori Amos.
I always thought that Johnny Cash’s “Hurt” was both sad and incredibly powerful. It’s one of the few songs that actually makes me stop whatever I’m doing and just listen to it.
“It’s so Hard to Say Goodbye”-Boyz II Men
Toss up between: Everybody Hurts, Luka and Fast Car.
“Feels like Home” org. by Randy Newman, but with a very powerful version by Chantal Kreviazuk always gives me goosebumps. However, its sort of a happy-sad. A real sad-sad song would have to be the “I’ll cover you (reprise)” from angel’s funeral in Rent. Now that can make anyone cry.
Fiona Apple’s “Never is a Promise” always puts me to tears. Plus Sarah Mclachlan’s “Full of Grace,” Garbage’s “It’s All Over But the Crying,” and Eisley’s “I Wasn’t Prepared.” I have a whole list of songs on my iTunes for those rocky days.
pretty much 90% of aimee manns catalogue especially “It’s not” from her Lost in Space album… also “wise up” which is featured in the movie Magnolia. her songs are just so hopeless, no matter how happy i am, i can just listen to her and start crying for no reason. she definately makes suicide music.
saddest song has to be soul ayslum’s runaway train, the psa from the year it came out with that song playing while showing pictures of missing children is forever burned in my brain and makes it the most tear-jerking song ever
Whenever I feel sad and hurt, I put on Tears for Fears’ The Hurting. I find it speaks to my angst. It did when I was in high school and it does now that I’m nearing (oh no!) 40…
“Say Goodnight” by Beth Nielsen Chapman is the saddest song I’ve ever heard. I’m not one for random crying, but this gets me every time.
I have to echo Johnny Cash’s cover of “Hurt” as sad…AND incredibly powerful. You can practically hear the years, and anguish in Cash’s voice…terrific.
A more offbeat choice…I think Randy Newman’s “I Will Go Sailing No More” from, yes, Toy Story is pretty sad. I know it’s almost more of an interlude in the movie, but whenever I watch that scene (you are a TOY, you can’t fly!) it breaks my heart.
It isn’t a “song”, but the melody of Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata” always moves me to tears because it is so beautiful.
How is there no country music on this list? Granted, a lot of the dying children/parent/lover songs are pretty manipulative, but I’ve got to give props to “Whiskey Lullaby” by Allison Krauss and Brad Paisley as the one that’s not only musically gorgeous but guaranteed to have you crying in your beer.
I recently put “The Drugs Don’t Work” on my iPod for those very sad days. I agree with Johnny Cash’s “Hurt,” even Trent Reznor says he can’t listen to his original version any more. Other sad Nine Inch nails songs are “Something I can Never Have” and “Right Where It Belongs.” But these sad songs are more for when you’re sad and angry.
Also “Mad World,” but not the Tears for Fears version, the acoustic one from Donnie Darko. It’s in the trailer for Gears of War and evry time I hear it I kind of have to stop and listen, it’s sad, beautiful and haunting.
Lots of great songs on this list and from the bloggers. My choice, and I’m not even Irish, is ‘O Danny Boy’.Kate Bush’s ‘This Woman’s Work’ is also a heart tugger.
this category begins and ends with one song: “He Stopped Loving Her Today” by George Jones. end. of. story.
Janet Jackson, “Again”
Wow, the lack of country in the comments is surprising, considering most of those songs are tailor-made for tears. For personal reasons, my sad song is “When I Get Where I’m Going” by Brad Paisley and Dolly Parton. However, just in general, I think “Amazing Grace” is one of the saddest songs ever. I always associate it with funerals.
This is an offbeat choice…but “Artifical Flowers” by Bobby Darrin tops my list….the lyrics are below. The saddest part is that the tune is this up-beat big-band number…but you listen to the lyrics and yikes…….
Alone in the world was poor little Anne
As sweet a young child as you’d find.
Her parents had gone to their final reward
Leavin’ their baby behind.
(Did you hear?)
This poor little child was only nine years of age
when mother and dad went away;
Still she brav-el-y worked
At the one thing she knew
to earn her few pennies a day.
She made artificial flowers, artificial flowers,
Flowers for ladies of fashion to wear;
She made artificial flowers, you know those artificial flowers,
Fashioned from Annie’s despair.
With paper and shears, with some wire and wax
She made up each tulip and ‘mum.
As snowflakes drifted into her tenement room
Her baby little fingers grew numb.
From makin’ artificial flowers, those artificial flowers
Flowers for ladies of high fashion to wear.
She made artificial flowers, artificial flowers
Made from Annie’s despair.
They found little Annie all covered with ice
Still clutchin’ her poor frozen shears
Amidst all the blossoms she had fashioned by hand
And watered with all her young tears.
There must be a heaven where little Annie can play
In heavenly gardens and bowers.
And instea-a-ad of a halo she’ll wear ’round her head
A garland of genuine flowers.
No more artificial flowers;
Throw away those artificial flowers,
Flowers for ladies of society to wear.
Throw away those artificial flowers,
Those dumb-dumb flowers,
Fashioned from Annie’s,
Fashioned from A-a-a-annie’s
Des-pa-a-a-air.
(Give her the real thing!)