The Saddest Song Ever written

Subject: RE: The Saddest Song Ever written
From: GUEST,m
Date: 09 Apr 09 - 02:54 AM

The ruins on the shore, Nic Jones

Roll on the day, Allan Taylor

Subject: RE: The Saddest Song Ever written
From: Allen in Oz
Date: 09 Apr 09 - 02:09 AM

Lorena
Vacant Chair
Past Carin'

AD in Oz

Subject: RE: The Saddest Song Ever written
From: frogprince
Date: 08 Apr 09 - 11:31 AM

I listed a few, then went through the thread. All but two of my list have been mentioned more than once. I found just one mention of Steve Goodman's "Ballad of Penny Evans": "Now it's every month I get a check, from some Army Bureaucrat; and it's every month I tear it up, and I send the damn thing back". The one remaining on my list is "Touch a Name on the Wall", by Joel Mabus; nothing else cuts me to the bone in quite the same way: "God damn the liars and tin plated heroes who trade on the blood of such men. God give us the strengh to stand up and tell them...NEVER AGAIN."

As to "Teddy Bear" and "He Stopped Loving Her Today", to me the saddest thing is that people have bought into that level of manipulative maudlin drivel:
He stopped loving her last week;
What's that smell around his door?
Bring a baggy that won't leak;
He stopped loving her last week.

Subject: RE: The Saddest Song Ever written
From: GUEST,Southfolk
Date: 08 Apr 09 - 08:14 AM

How's about the traditional song "Fairyboy", heard a young lass sing it in a club tother night fair brought tears to me peepers.

Subject: RE: The Saddest Song Ever written
From: GUEST,kevin fletcher
Date: 08 Apr 09 - 08:07 AM

My wife always leaves the room when I play 'Put my little shoes away' as she says she can only take so much sadness. If you don't know it, check out the Everly Bros version from the album 'Songs our daddy taught us'

Subject: RE: The Saddest Song Ever written
From: mrmoe
Date: 08 Apr 09 - 07:00 AM

....from South Pacific - this nearly was mine

Subject: RE: The Saddest Song Ever written
From: Tug the Cox
Date: 08 Apr 09 - 06:44 AM

Anyone suggested 'Down by the Dockyard Wall, I will wait for you' by Shep Wooley, I always find the last verse difficult to get out.

Subject: RE: The Saddest Song Ever written
From: Phil Edwards
Date: 08 Apr 09 - 05:06 AM

Some songs I can hardly even think of without choking up. One is Richard Thompson, "Never again" - particularly as sung by Shirley Collins.

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

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)

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

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.

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!

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?

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.. :-)

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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!

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.

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!

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.

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.

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...

Subject: RE: The Saddest Song Ever written
From: Beer
Date: 02 May 07 - 07:45 AM

Good song Rog.

Subject: RE: The Saddest Song Ever written
From: Rog Peek
Date: 02 May 07 - 02:30 AM

Jimmy Newman by Tom Paxton - pretty sad!

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

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

Subject: RE: The Saddest Song Ever written
From: Jim Lad
Date: 01 May 07 - 07:13 PM

Daisy a Day

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

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:

Christmas comes but once a year for ev'ry girl and boy,
The laughter and the joy they find in each toy.
I'll tell you of a little boy who lives across the way;
This little feller's Christmas is just another day.

He's the little boy that Santa Claus forgot,
And goodness knows he didn't want a lot.
He sent a note to Santa for some soldiers and a drum;
It broke his little heart when he found Santa hadn't come.

In the street, he envies all those lucky boys,
Then wanders home to last year's broken toys.
I'm so sorry for that laddie;
He hasn't got a daddy,
The little boy that Santa Claus forgot.

These days I'd say it's Eric Bogles 'The Band Played Waltzing Matilda'

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

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".

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

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.

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.

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

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

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.