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Subject: RE: The Saddest Song Ever written From: GUEST,cookieless bloke Date: 30 Apr 07 - 02:14 PM Sand and Water by Beth Nielsen Chapman, written after her husband died. Listen to it and don't cry, you ain't got heart. |
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Subject: RE: The Saddest Song Ever written From: Herge Date: 30 Apr 07 - 02:20 PM Jacob's dream from the new Alison Krauss CD - Boo Hoo Herge |
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Subject: RE: The Saddest Song Ever written From: Etan Date: 30 Apr 07 - 02:34 PM I've been indulging my masochism by reviewing this thread, and I'll indulge in a bit of sadism by adding to it. Some of my favorite sad songs have been mentioned several times ("No Man's Land", "The Dutchman", "Streets of London") but some are oddly missing. My nominations for the ten saddest songs of all time, in the not yet mentioned division, are ... 1) Molly, by Biff Rose (If you've never heard Biff Rose, this song deserves a listen.) 2) Angel Over Montgomery, by John Prine rec with Bonnie Raitt (Best version is the duet on the Steve Goodman benefit album.) 3) Freeborn Man of the Travelling People by Ewan MacColl (Is this actually a trad song 'discovered' by MacColl?) 4) Changes by Phil Ochs 5) Walking on a Wire, by Richard Thompson, sung by Linda Thompson 6) Brother Can Spare A Dime, Yip Harburg (You've got to hear him sing his own song to fully appreciate it) 7) Ashoken Farewell, Jay Ungar (You don't need words to make a song achingly sad.) 8) Rambling Man, by Hank Williams (Sung at an exquisitely painful slow tempo.) 9) Joe Hill, lyr Alfred Hayes, mus Earl Robinson (Not to mention Billy Bragg's reworking of it re Phil Ochs) 10) Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll, by Bob Dylan (also Percy's Song by BD.) I am now going to hunker down behind a conveniently located virtual stone wall, while the brickbats fly. -- Etan Ben-Ami |
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Subject: RE: The Saddest Song Ever written From: GUEST,Tunesmith Date: 30 Apr 07 - 03:15 PM "White Girl" by Peter LaFarge. Now, this is sad. It's about a Native American young man rejected by the white girl of the title. I used to perform the song back in the 60s. I learned the song from a copy of Sing Out mag ( I think it had Peter on the cover), and there was no tempo indication given. Years later, I heard Johnny Cash's version, and he seemed to sprint through it! |
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Subject: RE: The Saddest Song Ever written From: Ebbie Date: 30 Apr 07 - 03:29 PM There are so many. Sometimes on music night we'll get into the saddest mode you can imagine and at some point someone will order a round of "the happiest song you know". Otherwise we'd all slit our wrists... I agree that sometimes a tune is just as sad as lyrics; Campbell's Farewell to Red Gap' and 'Lament for the Reverend Archie Beaton' come to mind. The songs I think of as MOST sad are those that speeak of human frailties. For instance, 'The Fields Have Turned Brown' which has him roaming the world for years secure in the knowledge that when he went home again they'd be there waiting- and when he does, they have been dead for years... 'Kilkelly' is heartbreaking. 'No Man's Land' as sung by Collette Costa leaves me snivelling. |
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Subject: RE: The Saddest Song Ever written From: GUEST,Amanda (Emotinal Girl) Date: 30 Apr 07 - 04:32 PM Hmm... I Like Your Guardian Angel By Red Jumpsuit Apperatus And Your Call By SecondHand Serenade There Are Also Alot Of Sad Songs By Evanescence She Wrote A Song Called Last Song Im Waisting On You. And It Talks About Her Ex Boyfriend And How He Was An Alcohallic and he would always hurt her (as In Telling Her Stuff Like He Hates Her.) and then one day he Pined Her Down And Screamed That he Wanted Her To Die. |
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Subject: RE: The Saddest Song Ever written From: GUEST,Art Thieme Date: 30 Apr 07 - 07:09 PM "Molly" by Biff Rose can be heard at his website. It is worth it!! He's still active. Back in the '70s I opened the show for Biff at Charlott's Web--a fine folk club in Rockford, Illinois. Art |
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Subject: RE: The Saddest Song Ever written From: 14fret Date: 30 Apr 07 - 07:21 PM Casey's Last Ride. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: MOLLY (Biff Rose) From: SINSULL Date: 30 Apr 07 - 07:41 PM Molly When I was a young man, I ran away from home. I went to join the circus. I went to see the cotton candy world And make me lots of money. On my own . . . For Molly. Oh, my pretty Molly. She's waiting all alone. Someday soon I will return to her. Then I made the big time, Bright lights show biz. I'm really in the circus. There's only one thing wrong . . . I haven't saved a penny On my own, For Molly, Ah, my pretty Molly, But she's writing every day; Molly understands so it's OK Ride a windy boxcar And see a thousand children, Young and old. Oh, that greasepaint smile Can hide your soul. Here comes the carousel; Guess which town it is; Feel the thrill. Greasepaint covers everything But winter's chill. I'm reading Molly's letter. The ink is fading And the page is turning yellow. Long ago I promised Molly, Don't you know I will close my eyes and go to her. |
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Subject: RE: The Saddest Song Ever written From: GUEST,Art Thieme Date: 30 Apr 07 - 07:51 PM You can hear MOLLY and other things at: www.anzwers.org/free/biffrose/music.html Art |
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Subject: RE: The Saddest Song Ever written From: CET Date: 30 Apr 07 - 08:02 PM I would have to vote for Myfanwy, although I don't speak Welsh. The tune makes grief seem tangible, especially the last, drawn out "ffarwell". Also, Sins, I'm amazed you haven't mentioned the great "Poor Kitty Popcorn." Edmund |
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Subject: RE: The Saddest Song Ever written From: SINSULL Date: 30 Apr 07 - 08:11 PM I would have but a few people here moan and look at their watches whenever I bring her up. Poor Kitty Popcorn Is buried in a snowdrift now... It's the MEOOWW ow ow ow owwwwww that seems to bring out the worst in people. |
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Subject: RE: The Saddest Song Ever written From: GUEST,Dbgrate Date: 30 Apr 07 - 09:51 PM John Prine's "Six O'clock News",as sung on his "Souvenirs" album I find very moving. |
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Subject: RE: The Saddest Song Ever written From: Celtaddict Date: 30 Apr 07 - 10:47 PM Etan, I admire your 'not yet mentioned' category, as some (Tecumseh Valley, Ellenmore) are rarely mentioned, but no one has brought up Anach Chuain (sung in the Irish; about a sunken boatload of young people from one small village) The Brean Lament (which is also on my Most Beautiful Tracks Ever Recorded list) Hard Road to Peacham Lullaby Behind the Lines |
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Subject: RE: The Saddest Song Ever written From: Arkie Date: 30 Apr 07 - 11:02 PM The mention of He Stopped Loving Her Today reminded me of another song, by Cal Smith, I think, "She Used to Talk A Lot About Texas". |
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Subject: RE: The Saddest Song Ever written From: GUEST,Warwick Slade Date: 01 May 07 - 04:20 PM Puff the Magic Dragon made me cry when his green scales fel like rain |
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Subject: Lyr Add: THE LITTLE BOY THAT SANTA CLAUS FORGOT From: Rog Peek Date: 01 May 07 - 06:26 PM when I was a small child, my Dad used to sing me to sleep on occasions, God rest his soul. the song I most requested was:
THE LITTLE BOY THAT SANTA CLAUS FORGOT.
At the time, I couldn't imagine anything more sad and it always made me cry: |
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Subject: Lyr Add: A GOOD MAN IS HARD TO FIND (Springsteen) From: Dave'sWife Date: 01 May 07 - 06:52 PM OK for me: anything about dogs dying since my darling Puppers died in Sept '06 Click to see my darling, handsome Puppers So songs like Old Shep and 'Shannon" just can't be played in my house. Another very sad song for me is Springsteen's "A GOOD MAN IS HARD TO FIND" about a Viet Nam widow . My Aunt lost her fiancee in Viet Nam and I was just old enough to understand that and be horrified by it. Lyrics: It's cloudy out in Pittsburgh It's rainin' in Saigon Snow's fallin' all across the Michigan line Well she sits by the light of her Christmas tree With the radio softly on Thinkin' how a good man is so hard to find Well once she had a fella Once she was somebody's girl And she gave all she had that one last time Now there's a little girl asleep in the back room She's gonna have to tell about the meanness in this world And how a good man is so hard to find Well there's pictures on the table by her bed Him in his dress greens and her in her wedding white She remembers how the world was the day he left And now how that world is dead And a good man is so hard to find She got no time now for Casanovas Yeah those days are gone She don't want that anymore, she's made up her mind Just somebody to hold her As the night gets on When a good man is so hard to find Well she shuts off the TV And without a word Into bed she climbs Well she thinks how it was all so wasted And how expendable their dreams all were When a good man was so hard to find Well it's cloudy out in Pittsburgh Other really sad songs - anything on the Everly breothers album "Songs our daddy Taught Us"! Songs like: Put My Little Shoes Away Lightening Express |
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Subject: RE: The Saddest Song Ever written From: Jim Lad Date: 01 May 07 - 07:13 PM Daisy a Day |
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Subject: RE: The Saddest Song Ever written From: Beer Date: 01 May 07 - 09:51 PM The First Fall of Snow Molly Bond I Don't Remember Loving You After the Ball is Over Orphan Train How Will I Ever Be Simple Again Long Long Before Your Time |
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Subject: RE: The Saddest Song Ever written From: Stephen L. Rich Date: 01 May 07 - 10:06 PM Tom Dunde's "These Cowboys". Stephen Lee |
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Subject: RE: The Saddest Song Ever written From: Rog Peek Date: 02 May 07 - 02:30 AM Jimmy Newman by Tom Paxton - pretty sad! |
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Subject: RE: The Saddest Song Ever written From: Beer Date: 02 May 07 - 07:45 AM Good song Rog. |
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Subject: RE: The Saddest Song Ever written From: alanabit Date: 02 May 07 - 10:32 AM If it has been mentioned here at all, it has not been mentioned lately: Randy Newman's "I Think It's Going To Rain today." It sounds like a depressed man trying to give all the reasons why he ought to be more cheerful, but he hasn't got a chance. "If You See Her Say Hello", from Dylan's "Blood On The Tracks" is another real heartbreaker. Joni Mitchell's "Cactus Tree" is another one, which I love, but which you don't find on a lot of party hits albums... |
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Subject: RE: The Saddest Song Ever written From: Menno Date: 02 May 07 - 11:26 AM Hmm... Currently, the Tears for Fears song "Mad World" is going through my head... I may have to learn it. It even has a Wikipedia entry. But "The band played Waltzing Mathilda" is also a good one. Also, "Johnny has gone for a soldier". A few years ago, Billy Joel's "So it goes" hit exactly the right tone. |
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Subject: RE: The Saddest Song Ever written From: guitar Date: 02 May 07 - 01:21 PM There is a song by a guy called Ferlon Husky and it is called the drunken driver and it is the worst cowboy song ever written you laugh at it until you cry, the subject is about a drunken man who runs into his his two children and kills them. I mean who can anyone write a song like this, I know the subject isn't funny, but for some strange reason it is. |
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Subject: RE: The Saddest Song Ever written From: alanabit Date: 02 May 07 - 03:02 PM It's not fair, I know, but the image of "Country" among a lot of UK folkies, is that it is all about cod religious homilies and poor orphan boys (if possible with their one eyed, three legged dogs) being pursued by drunken fathers and getting lifts from big hearted truckers. If we are honest, we know damned well that there are plenty of excellent writers and players in country music. The image persists though and we find it hilarious! |
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Subject: RE: The Saddest Song Ever written From: GUEST,Pete Date: 02 May 07 - 03:16 PM I haven't read all 227 entries but I've seen The Band Played Waltzing Matilda a few times. Has anyone mentioned No Mans Land, sometimes called The Green Fields of France or Willie McBride, also by Eric Bogle. Apologies if they have and I've missed it. |
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Subject: RE: The Saddest Song Ever written From: GUEST,Tunesmith Date: 02 May 07 - 03:31 PM Are the people who think country music is all about blind orphans, drunks and prison, the same people who think the UK folk scene is all about arran sweaters and fingers in the ear! |
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Subject: RE: The Saddest Song Ever written From: GUEST,ib48 Date: 02 May 07 - 04:13 PM definately that one SEE THE TREE HOW BIG ITS GROWM, is it called honey,its bloody terrible. |
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Subject: RE: The Saddest Song Ever written From: cptsnapper Date: 02 May 07 - 04:29 PM " Valentino " as sung by Joanna Carlin. Also Gordon Lightfoot's " Song For A Winter's Night " but that's because someone heard me sing it & kept on asking me to repeatit. It transpired that his wife & children died the song summed up what he would have liked to have said to them. |
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Subject: RE: The Saddest Song Ever written From: GUEST,Puck Date: 02 May 07 - 04:30 PM I thlnk that sad songs can be very personal. Sleep on Beloved by Waterson Carthy does it for me. I wanted to sing it at my Mam's funeral but to my everlasting shame just could not manage to do so such was my grief P |
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Subject: RE: The Saddest Song Ever written From: emjay Date: 02 May 07 - 05:35 PM It's almost pointless to add to a thread as long as this one is, but I just found it and read through all the posts. And I had tears in my eyes just from reading the list. I started reading with just one song on my mind as the saddest, but so many mentioned others and I had to agree -- But with the all the mention of Eric Bogle's great songs, no one mentioned, "Singing the Spirit Home" and that made me think of "Grace." Both of those songs about someone who is executed. And Conor Makem's words to the tune of "Old Maid in the Garrett." His song is "Spanish Stars" and though no one dies, hope did die and it belongs on this list. Same for Marion Parsons' "What He Gave," about the cellist who played for Sarajevo in the market place after everything else was destroyed. In her song many poeple died. And all the others mentioned and not mentioned. |
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Subject: RE: The Saddest Song Ever written From: emjay Date: 02 May 07 - 06:45 PM I don't know why I think of Spanish Stars as a sad song. I guess it's the words, not the cheerful melody! Maybe it is a good one to listen to after all the death and dying. |
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Subject: RE: The Saddest Song Ever written From: SINSULL Date: 02 May 07 - 10:53 PM Dave's Wife, There was a maiden lady in my mother's ladies group. I can't remember her name but was always called "Miss and her last name". She lived with her mother - two ancient old ladies waiting to die. One day she confided in me that she had been engaged to a cavalry officer just before WWI. He died in battle and she never married. She went from pathetic and almost funny to broken hearted heroine over night. What a sad story. i will have to remember her name and write her story. |
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Subject: RE: The Saddest Song Ever written From: cptsnapper Date: 03 May 07 - 12:11 AM There's also " Where Did Loving Go? "by Sharon Fountain. |
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Subject: RE: The Saddest Song Ever written From: Megan L Date: 03 May 07 - 04:30 AM I guess for everyone the song that turns the tap is individual. for me it has to be Matt MaGinn's Ibrox Disaster one of those who as the song says died in flower o their manhood was a friend of mine his father had taken him to his first football match. |
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Subject: RE: The Saddest Song Ever written From: Mick Tems Date: 03 May 07 - 05:30 AM Bee's Wing by Richard Thompson - it still brings another lump in my throat! |
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Subject: RE: The Saddest Song Ever written From: Dave'sWife Date: 03 May 07 - 04:35 PM Sinsull, that's an interesting story. I had a great aunt who never married. She was the younger sister and when her older sister (my Grandmother) married, she was expected to go live with her and help her out with her new baby. Well, 3 kids later, she finally was able to live her own life. The story goes that in 1940 she got a job at an insurance company (she worked there until retirement) and began dating a fella from Church. Well, we entered the war in 1941 and he joined up and got killed in D Day. She went back to live my Dad's family and never uttered another word about marriage or having her own life. She helped raise me in fact. She was my sister's godmother even. WE've tried to ask about it within the family but its a forbidden subject. There was a rumor that she was a lesbian and some of my family believe this too. I don 't think so. I got the feeling she had some terrible personal sorrow she was living with. She was so close to my Grandmother that every time something bad or good happened to Gran, my great-aunt would latch onto that as a reason to stay with her. When my grandfather died unexpectedly at the age of 64, it was a forgone conclusion that the two sisters would stay together until one of them died. I wonder how many maiden aunts have similar stories. |
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Subject: RE: The Saddest Song Ever written From: GUEST,Dartford Warbler Date: 03 May 07 - 07:34 PM Bad News Is All The Win Can Carry by Richard Thompson The words are sad enough and when you hear them with the tune.. :-) |
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Subject: RE: The Saddest Song Ever written From: HuwG Date: 04 May 07 - 03:10 AM On the BBC mock panel game QI, it was suggested that the song Gloomy Sunday took the title of the saddest song ever written. Stephen Fry: One man heard a beggar humming the song, immediately gave him all his possessions and jumped to his death off a bridge. Clive Anderson: That's great busking, isn't it? |
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Subject: RE: The Saddest Song Ever written From: GUEST,Gerry Date: 04 May 07 - 03:31 AM I don't think anyone has mentioned any of the many sad poems of Henry Lawson that have been set to music. Start with Past Carin'. Real music to slit your wrists by. |
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Subject: RE: The Saddest Song Ever written From: Mark H. Date: 04 May 07 - 05:21 AM Some to consider: Return No More, For Three Of Us, Fare Thee Well Sweet Mally, and Keepsake - all by Robin Williamson; Dominoes - Syd Barrett; Ballad of Hollis Brown - Dylan, as recorded by Nazareth; Hello God - Dolly Parton. For me, it's Keepsake, Dominoes or Hello God. |
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Subject: RE: The Saddest Song Ever written From: SINSULL Date: 07 Apr 09 - 11:03 AM Elizabeth Berrell was the lady who lived with her mother. It suddenly came to me this morning. |
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Subject: RE: The Saddest Song Ever written From: Crow Sister (off with the fairies) Date: 07 Apr 09 - 11:27 AM Bright Eyes... sob sob! Why do film makers love to make little children cry so much? |
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Subject: RE: The Saddest Song Ever written From: Banjiman Date: 07 Apr 09 - 11:43 AM saddest song? It's As If He Knows: Eric Bogle Blood Hell it's sad! |
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Subject: RE: The Saddest Song Ever written From: kendall Date: 07 Apr 09 - 12:21 PM There is a fine line between sad and maudlin. |
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Subject: RE: The Saddest Song Ever written From: topical tom Date: 07 Apr 09 - 02:41 PM From the Digitrad: "Put My Little Shoes Away". Click |
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Subject: RE: The Saddest Song Ever written From: SINSULL Date: 07 Apr 09 - 03:02 PM Another Songs Our Daddy Taught Us treasure. (Everly Bros) |
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Subject: RE: The Saddest Song Ever written From: GUEST,Guest from Sanity Date: 08 Apr 09 - 03:02 AM 'Hello in There'--John Prine http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1mlkLeITt8 'Bleak Midwinter's Night'--Mairead Nesbitt (First third of this video) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Vf6zgxle-g |
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