The Tear Jerker Thread (songs)

Subject: RE: The Tear Jerker Thread
From: JeremyC
Date: 23 Jan 07 - 04:42 PM

Haha, Kendall beat me on the 'emotional rape' comparison.

I like sad songs, but they have to come by it honestly. So there.

Subject: RE: The Tear Jerker Thread
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Jan 07 - 05:10 PM

I can't find myself moved to do anything but laugh, or groan, or throw up at most of the suggestions in this thread. I know a few of them are tongue-in-cheek, but most seem to be offered in all seriousness. I still think there's something in the American culture or temperament that I just don't get.

I agree, as stated before, that you've missed the way these are appreciated. I conjecture that the problem is the tone the voice in your head uses when reading most of these entries. Context is everything here. Were some of these songs played alongside the actual news of war, disaster, and mayhem in the world today, I'd be appalled. These songs are sung with the intent of generating a visceral response. I wouldn't call them "emotional rape." I think "emotional masturbation" is closer to the mark. :) Or if you want to sound scholarly, call it "emotional onanism."

SRS

Subject: RE: The Tear Jerker Thread
From: Slag
Date: 23 Jan 07 - 05:24 PM

You can't beat "Casey's Last Ride" K. Kristofferson!

Subject: RE: The Tear Jerker Thread
From: Beer
Date: 24 Jan 07 - 12:11 AM

Right on Slag.
Beer (adrien)

Subject: Lyr Add: THE GIFT OF THE SEA (Rudyard Kipling)
From: Mr Fox
Date: 24 Jan 07 - 12:28 PM

I'm amazed that Peter Bellamy never set this to music. Kipling writing Victorian melodrama in the style of folk song:

THE GIFT OF THE SEA

The dead child lay in the shroud,
And the widow watched beside;
And her mother slept, and the Channel swept
The gale in the teeth of the tide.

But the mother laughed at all.
"I have lost my man in the sea,
And the child is dead. Be still," she said,
"What more can ye do to me?"

The widow watched the dead,
And the candle guttered low,
And she tried to sing the Passing Song
That bids the poor soul go.

And "Mary take you now," she sang,
"That lay against my heart."
And "Mary smooth your crib to-night,"
But she could not say "Depart."

Then came a cry from the sea,
But the sea-rime blinded the glass,
And "Heard ye nothing, mother?" she said,
"'Tis the child that waits to pass."

And the nodding mother sighed.
"'Tis a lambing ewe in the whin,
For why should the christened soul cry out
That never knew of sin?"

"O feet I have held in my hand,
O hands at my heart to catch,
How should they know the road to go,
And how should they lift the latch?"

They laid a sheet to the door,
With the little quilt atop,
That it might not hurt from the cold or the dirt,
But the crying would not stop.

The widow lifted the latch
And strained her eyes to see,
And opened the door on the bitter shore
To let the soul go free.

There was neither glimmer nor ghost,
There was neither spirit nor spark,
And "Heard ye nothing, mother?" she said,
"'Tis crying for me in the dark."

And the nodding mother sighed:
"'Tis sorrow makes ye dull;
Have ye yet to learn the cry of the tern,
Or the wail of the wind-blown gull?"

"The terns are blown inland,
The gray gull follows the plough.
'Twas never a bird, the voice I heard,
O mother, I hear it now!"

"Lie still, dear lamb, lie still;
The child is passed from harm,
'Tis the ache in your breast that broke your rest,
And the feel of an empty arm."

She put her mother aside,
"In Mary's name let be!
For the peace of my soul I must go," she said,
And she went to the calling sea.

In the heel of the wind-bit pier,
Where the twisted weed was piled,
She came to the life she had missed by an hour,
For she came to a little child.

She laid it into her breast,
And back to her mother she came,
But it would not feed and it would not heed,
Though she gave it her own child's name.

And the dead child dripped on her breast,
And her own in the shroud lay stark;
And "God forgive us, mother," she said,
"We let it die in the dark!"

- Rudyard Kipling

Subject: Lyr Add: SHALL I BE AN ANGEL DADDY
From: terrier
Date: 24 Jan 07 - 03:48 PM

I've been into Victorian melodramatic parlour songs for many years, I just wish I could travel back in time to see what those people really thought about the songs? Try this one I found in a book called 'Prepare to Shed Them Now'.

SHALL I BE AN ANGEL DADDY

One day a father to his little son
Told a sad story, a heart breaking one
He took from an album a photo and said
"This is you're mother, but long she's been dead"
"You she has left me to cherish and love
She is an angel on high, up above"
The boy in an instant drew close by his side
And these are the worde that he softly replied...

Shall I be an angel, daddy
An angel in the sky
Will I wear the golden wings
And rest in peace on high
Shall I live for ever and ever
With the angels fair
If I go to Heav'n, please tell me, daddy
Will I see mother there.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE THREE BELLS (from The Browns)
From: Peace
Date: 24 Jan 07 - 07:22 PM

Not a tear jerker, but I felt a very touching combination of lyrics, melody and harmonies way back when I first heard it (1950s(?)). It's been my favourite song ever since.

The Browns
The Three Bells


[Originally a French tune written in 1945]
[Original French words by Bert Reisfeld]
[Music by Jean Villard]
[English words added by Dick Manning]

There's a village hidden deep in the valley
Among the pine trees half forlorn
And there on a sunny morning
Little Jimmy Brown was born

All the chapel bells were ringing
In the little valley town
And the songs that they were singing
Were for baby Jimmy Brown
Then the little congregation
Prayed for guidance from above
Lead us not into temptation,
Bless this hour of meditation
Guide him with eternal love

There's a village hidden deep in the valley
Beneath the mountains high above
And there, twenty years thereafter
Jimmy was to meet his love

All the chapel bells were ringing,
Was a great day in his life
Cause the songs that they were singing
Were for Jimmy and his wife
Then the little congregation
Prayed for guidance from above
Lead us not into temptation,
Bless oh Lord this celebration
May their lives be filled with love

From the village hidden deep in the valley
One rainy morning dark and gray
A soul winged its way to heaven
Jimmy Brown had passed away

Just a lonely bell was ringing
In the little valley town
Twas farewell that it was singing
To our good old Jimmy Brown
And the little congregation
Prayed for guidance from above
Lead us not into temptation,
May his soul find the salvation
Of thy great eternal love"

Subject: Lyr Add: KILKELLY (Peter Jones)
From: GUEST,Bardan
Date: 25 Jan 07 - 07:03 PM

It doesn't really fit with the other songs on here. But I have yet to sing it all the way through without crying

KILKELLY
(Peter Jones)

Kilkelly, Ireland, 18 and 60, my dear and loving son John
Your good friend the schoolmaster Pat McNamara's so good
as to write these words down.
Your brothers have all gone to find work in England,
the house is so empty and sad
The crop of potatoes is sorely infected,
a third to a half of them bad.
And your sister Brigid and Patrick O'Donnell
are going to be married in June.
Your mother says not to work on the railroad
and be sure to come on home soon.

Kilkelly, Ireland, 18 and 70, dear and loving son John
Hello to your Mrs and to your 4 children,
may they grow healthy and strong.
Michael has got in a wee bit of trouble,
I guess that he never will learn.
Because of the dampness there's no turf to speak of
and now we have nothing to burn.
And Brigid is happy, you named a child for her
and now she's got six of her own.
You say you found work, but you don't say
what kind or when you will be coming home.

Kilkelly, Ireland, 18 and 80, dear Michael and John, my sons
I'm sorry to give you the very sad news
that your dear old mother has gone.
We buried her down at the church in Kilkelly,
your brothers and Brigid were there.
You don't have to worry, she died very quickly,
remember her in your prayers.
And it's so good to hear that Michael's returning,
with money he's sure to buy land
For the crop has been poor and the people
are selling at any price that they can.

Kilkelly, Ireland, 18 and 90, my dear and loving son John
I guess that I must be close on to eighty,
it's thirty years since you're gone.
Because of all of the money you send me,
I'm still living out on my own.
Michael has built himself a fine house
and Brigid's daughters have grown.
Thank you for sending your family picture,
they're lovely young women and men.
You say that you might even come for a visit,
what joy to see you again.

Kilkelly, Ireland, 18 and 92, my dear brother John
I'm sorry that I didn't write sooner to tell you that father passed on.
He was living with Brigid, she says he was cheerful
and healthy right down to the end.
Ah, you should have seen him play with
the grandchildren of Pat McNamara, your friend.
And we buried him alongside of mother,
down at the Kilkelly churchyard.
He was a strong and a feisty old man,
considering his life was so hard.
And it's funny the way he kept talking about you,
he called for you in the end.
Oh, why don't you think about coming to visit,
we'd all love to see you again.

Surely a candidate for saddest song ever. Sheep's crook and black dog is good as well. As is the unquiet grave.

Subject: RE: The Tear Jerker Thread
From: GUEST,Bardan
Date: 25 Jan 07 - 07:10 PM

Oh and that australian one about WW1. You know the one that goes "and the band played walzing matilda"

Subject: RE: The Tear Jerker Thread
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Jan 07 - 07:17 PM

there's one by the Everly Brothers, I don't know the title but it concerns a boy travelling on a train without a ticket because he has no money....saying to the conductor, "I've got to get home to kiss Mother goodbye/Before God takes her away..."

there is also "Ebony Eyes", of course....

and Jim Reeve's monologue "Old Tighe"

Subject: RE: The Tear Jerker Thread
From: GUEST,Black Hawk
Date: 25 Jan 07 - 07:29 PM

Everley Brothers song is 'The Lightning Express' but have only heard it performed by bluegrass bands
'Two Little Orphans' is a tear jerker.
Many a lady has cried when I sing 'Bringing Mary Home' (but could be my singing).

Subject: RE: The Tear Jerker Thread
From: terrier
Date: 25 Jan 07 - 07:31 PM

The train one I know is of a young girl who's father (who "worked upon the line")falls victim to a serious accident. The young girl, hearing one of his workmates say "He's bound for Heaven", goes to the railway station and asks the ticket clerk for a "ticket to Heaven".
Got a good chorus as well as a happy ending. What more could you want. I won't type the whole thing out unless somebody is desperate for the words.

Subject: RE: The Tear Jerker Thread
From: kytrad (Jean Ritchie)
Date: 25 Jan 07 - 08:48 PM

I guess no one here ever plays my records- but my tear-jerker from the album, "None But One," was the "Two Little Children," just named in Black Hawk's post ("Two Little Orphans"). The reason it's there is that our producer, Al Steckler, who when invited to produce the album, sent word that he would do it if, "Two Little Children" would be included! He had heard it on an older record of mine and was apparently captivated. I'll give just a verse or two:

Two little children, a boy and a girl
Sat down by the old church door;
The little girl's feet were as brown as the curl
That fell on the dress that she wore.

The little boy's coat was all ragged and torn,
A tear shone in each little eye.
Why don't you go home to your mama, I said,
And this was the maiden's reply

Mama's in heaven- angels took her away,
Left Jim and I all alone,
We've no one to love us since Papa's away,
And we have no Mama nor home.

And so it goes- you know it, some of you. My belief is that, amongst the church people (most of us in Eastern KY), if a song was not religious, in order for it to be accepted in the community it had to be about things held sacred- Motherhood, Orphans, Sailors lost at sea, train wrecks with good people aboard ("...Old # Nine, etc.) I don't know why happy endings couldn't be considered sacred! Or maybe emotions could only be allowed to be expressed at sadness and tragedy, and menfolks especially needed an excuse to shed tears. For whatever reason, the sad songs seemed to be the most popular kind, in that one era (Victorian times to the early 1920s I'd say, for our region). I suppose they were our version of broadsides, which were the newspapers of an earlier time. Tragedy sells; happy things don't.

Subject: RE: The Tear Jerker Thread
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Jan 07 - 08:50 PM

oh yeah and what about Rolf Harris's "Two Little Boys"....?

Subject: Lyr Add: LITTLE ALICE
From: Charley Noble
Date: 25 Jan 07 - 09:09 PM

When I was much younger I had the usual youthful arrogance about death. Songs like this from another age amused me, and I and my college friends competed to see who could come up with this most morbid one. This one made the top ten, probably because of its last three verses if you manage to plow through to them:

LITTLE ALICE
(In SONGS FOR THE LITTLE ONES AT HOME, published by the American Tract Society in the 1850's)

Dear little Alice has gone to rest,
Where never a sin shall stain her breast;
No trouble disturb her, no fear annoy,
No cloud overshadow her innocent joy.
She lived on this earth but a little while;
She died before we had seen her smile,
But she was our sister, and is so still;
Sweet Alice, we call her, and always will.

We think we are glad she's gone away,
Where her life will be all one pleasant day;
Where an unkind word she'll ne'er receive,
Nor speak one herself, our kind hearts to grieve.
For if she were here now, she would often cry,
And then she'd take sick, suffer and die;
But now death is over, and all the while
Her sweet little face may wear a smile.

For she'll never know, nor do what is wrong,
The angels in heaven will teach her their song;
Dear sister, we wish we could be there too –
Oh, when shall we come and join with you?

I forget the name of the gospel tune we set this one to; maybe it was "The Great Speckled Bird." Songs like this just make me sad today.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: The Tear Jerker Thread
From: GUEST,Scoville at Dad's
Date: 25 Jan 07 - 10:09 PM

Oh, I forgot about "Lightning Express".

Somewhere, I have dulcimer tab for "In the Baggage Coach Ahead", which features a Victorian mother traveling by train in the baggage coach, in her casket. I think it pulls pretty much every hearstring at hand.

Subject: RE: The Tear Jerker Thread
From: catspaw49
Date: 26 Jan 07 - 12:15 AM

Hey JennyO......Let me help you out. The next time "Honey" comes up (along with your lunch), just throw in this verse:

See the tree, it fell on you
Now you're gone, my balls are blue
I can't get laid.
So now I've started shagging sheep
And sometimes chickens in their sleep
But they want paid.
And Honey I miss you
I get huge morning wood
I think I'll dig up your body
Necrophilia'd be good.

Spaw

Subject: RE: The Tear Jerker Thread
From: Slag
Date: 26 Jan 07 - 03:17 AM

Well, Spaw! That's quite a revamping (and improvement) of the original. I wanted to post that "The Green Green Grass of Home" was a pretty sappy tear jerker, but it's so hard when I'm laughing my head off!!!! LOL&ROG

Subject: RE: The Tear Jerker Thread
From: JennyO
Date: 26 Jan 07 - 04:05 AM

KAKSOD Spaw! You owe me another keyboard!

Subject: RE: The Tear Jerker Thread
From: Blindlemonsteve
Date: 26 Jan 07 - 05:15 AM

George Jones, He stopped loving her today.... the best sad dong i have ever heard, check it out, it makes my spine tingle everytime i hear it.

Subject: RE: The Tear Jerker Thread
From: Beer
Date: 26 Jan 07 - 07:56 AM

I Don't Remember Loving You. Artist ?? Would be considered a Country song.

Subject: RE: The Tear Jerker Thread
From: SINSULL
Date: 26 Jan 07 - 10:14 AM

Spaw - that is perfect!

Subject: RE: The Tear Jerker Thread
From: Scoville
Date: 26 Jan 07 - 11:04 AM

Loaded into iTunes on my office computer:

Kneeling Drunkard's Plea (the Carter sisters, recording by the Weary Boys)
Billy Gray & Girl I Left in Sunny Tennessee (Norman Blake)
Engine 143 (Sara Carter)
Wagoner's Lad (Buell Kazee)
St. James Hospital (Doc Watson)
Deux-Pas des Condamnés & Parting Waltz (Red Stick Ramblers. I know these are tear-jerkers even though they're in Cajun and I can't understand most of the words.)

Subject: RE: The Tear Jerker Thread
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 26 Jan 07 - 01:30 PM

Eric Clapton's "Tears in Heaven" is certainly a tear-jerker, even more so because it isn't saccharine like so many others. I can't play and sing "I Come and Stand at Every Door" even though I love the song, because I can't get past the line "I'm seven now, as I was then,when children die they do not grow".

Subject: RE: Is this a "tearjerker"?
From: frogprince
Date: 26 Jan 07 - 03:08 PM

When I wrote this song, I was thinking of it as decidedly happy, but I wanted it to come across as thoughtful rather than glib. I've been taken off guard by seeing a couple of people tear-up on hearing it. Some months back I asked one mudcat regular his reaction to it, and he referred to it (I didn't feel negatively) as a "real tear jerker". What do y'all think in that regard?
                                  Dean

Subject: RE: The Tear Jerker Thread
From: Slag
Date: 27 Jan 07 - 04:23 AM

Marty Robins did a really bizarre song in the early 70's called "The Chair" about a guy getting executed in the electric. It was in the first person so it really raised serious "narrator" problems. The last line goes something "Did I hear him (the Dr. in attendence, I assume) say, 'This man is dead?'" Ifelt like shedding a tear for Marty's carrer at that point.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE BLIZZARD (Harlan Howard)
From: Lin in Kansas
Date: 27 Jan 07 - 05:15 AM

Jim Reeves also did one called The Blizzard, where he and his horse are lost in the snow. Anyone who's ever seen or been out in a Great Plains blizzard can sympathize with his plight.

Lin
__________________________________________________

The Blizzard
By Harlan Howard

There's a blizzard comin' on
how I'm wishin' I was home
For my pony's lame
and he can't hardly stand

Listen to that northern sigh
if we don't get home we'll die
But it's only seven miles
to Mary Anne
it's only seven miles to Mary Anne

You can bet we're on her mind
for it's nearly suppertime
And I'll bet there's hot
biscuits in the pan
Lord my hands feel like they're froze
and there's a numbness in my toes
But it's only five more miles
to Mary Anne
it's only five more miles to Mary Anne

That wind's howlin' and it seems
mighty like a woman's screams
And we'd best be movin' faster if we can
Dan just think about that barn
with that hay so soft and warm
For it's only three more miles
to Mary Anne
it's only three more miles to Mary Anne

Dan get up you ornery cuss
or you'll be the death of us
I'm so weary but I'll help you if I can
All right Dan perhaps it's best
that we just stop awhile and rest
For it's still a hundred yards
to Mary Anne
it's still a hundred yeards to Mary Anne

Late that night the storm was gone
and they found him there at dawn
He had made it but he just couldn't leave ol' Dan
Yes they found him there on the plains
his hands froze to the reins
He was just a hundred yards
from Mary Anne
He was just a hundred yards from Mary Anne

Subject: RE: The Tear Jerker Thread
From: GUEST,Greycap
Date: 27 Jan 07 - 07:20 AM

Hank Snow recorded an entire album of tear jerkers called "When Tragedy Struck" - my personal choice of tj was "There's Little Box of Pine on the 7.29, bringing back the lost sheep to the fold" choke, sob,cry....

Subject: Lyr Add: IRISH SOLDIER BOY
From: LukeKellylives (Chris)
Date: 27 Jan 07 - 02:06 PM

Irish Soldier Boy (copied and pasted from another site, sorry for any mistakes in it)

At[G] a cottage door one[C] wintery[G] night
As the snow lay[C] on the[G] ground
Stood a youthful Irish[C] soldier boy
To the mountains he was[G] bound
His mother stood[C] beside him saying
You'll win my boy don't[G] fear
And with her loving arms[C] around his[G] waist
She tied his[C] bando[G]leer
[2]
Goodbye God bless you mother dear
I hope your heart wont pain
But pray to God your soldier boy
Your son wou'll sea again
And when im out on the firing line
It will be a source of joy
To know that your the mother proud
Of an Irish soldier boy
[3]
When the fighting it was over
And the flag of truce was raised
The leaders ordered the firing to cease
All Ireland stood amazed
Some men came up to the cottage door
Containing news in sad detail
Of her Irish soilder boy
[4]
Goodbye God bless you mother dear
I'm dying a death so grand
From received in fighting
Trying to free my native land
And when im up in heaven above
In the land beyond the sky
You'll always be in the company of
Your Irish soldire boy

Subject: Lyr Add: COUNTRY BUMPKIN
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 27 Jan 07 - 02:23 PM

Country Bumpkin

He walked into the bar
and parked his lanky frame upon a tall bar stool
With a long soft southern drawl said
I'll just have a glass of anything that's cool
A barroom girl with wise and knowing eyes
slowly looked me up and down
And she said I wonder how
on earth that country bumpkin found his way to town

And she said hello country bumpkin
how's the frost out on the pumpkin
I've seen some sights but man you're somethin'

Where'd you come from country bumpkin

Just a short year later
in a bed of joy-filled tears and death- like pain
Into this wondrous world of many wonders
another wonder came
That same woman's face was wrapped up
in a raptured look of love and tenderness
As I marvelled at the soft and warm
and cuddly boy-child feeding at her breast

And she said hello country bumpkin
fresh as frost out on the pumpkins
I've seen some sights but babe you're somethin'
mommy loves her country bumpkin

Forty years of hard work later
in a simple quiet and peaceful country place
The heavy hand of time had not
erased the raptured wonder from my woman's face
She was lying on her death bed
knowing fully well her race was nearly run
But she softly smiled and looked
into the sad eyes of her husband and her son

And she said so long country bumpkin
the frost is gone now from the pumpkin
I've seem some sights and life's been somethin'
see you later country bumpkin
See you later country bumpkin

Subject: RE: The Tear Jerker Thread
From: Cruiser
Date: 28 Jan 07 - 11:49 AM

frogprince:

I very much like the lyrics and the nice melody of your song. Thanks for the all-important sound clip.

I would say it is a beautiful reflective song that some could call a tearjerker.

One small edit: (to) should be (too) in the following phrase:

"Entirely to good to be true;"

As Obie linked above there are 7 other threads about sad songs, one with 225 posts from the year 2000.

Subject: Lyr Add: QUICK AS DREAMS (Slaid Cleaves)
From: Scoville
Date: 28 Jan 07 - 12:15 PM

Seven miles in a blizzard on the plains? He might as well have tried to walk to Mongolia.

Slaid Cleaves wrote on based on a chapter from the book Seabiscuit:

Quick as Dreams
(Slaid Cleaves)

My name is Tommy Luther, I'll soon be eighty-four,
I'll show you a little picture I keep here in this drawer,
Sixty years ago, boys, I road for the Diamond team,
Sailing by, eight feet high, on horses quick as dreams.

Well, I joined up with the races when they came through Alabam',
They had a good young rider, just a boy, named Sandy Graham,
We were two kids run away from home when the world was breaking down,
Didn't stay to see the family sell the farm and move to town.

From Detroit to Tijuana to Annapolis we rode.
They called us rookies "bug boys", we were just sixteen years old,
We were worth a couple of saddles and two big bags of grain,
The big men owne the horses and they owned us just the same.

Sixty years ago, boys, I rode for the diamond team,
Sailing by, eight feet high, on horses quick as dreams.

Well, it's Winnipeg and it's raining but the track's not looking bad,
They gave me Irish Princess, Sandy rode on Vesper Lad,
We were flying down the backstretch, my horse was running proud,
I pulled ahead of Sandy, when a roar came from the crowd.

I crouched as Irish Princess thundered across the line,
And then I stood and turned around to see that friend of mine,
Vesper Lad was standing still, there must have been a fall,
And in the mud lay Sandy, looking lifeless as a doll.

Well, a crowd ran up to Sandy, they scooped him off the track,
They took him to the office with shattered ribs and back,
At the hospital the next morning, I sat by Sandy's side,
But the season would be ending soon and then I'd have to ride.

Just a couple days past Danville, word came down the line,
Sandy'd lost the struggle; we hung our heads and cried.
It was poor old Mother Harris from the boarding house in town,
Who paid for the little casket and laid him in the ground.

I sent a couple of dollars, it was all that I could save,
She drew me a little picture of the lonely rider's grave.
I've kept it in my bedroom drawer all these sixty years,
I still see that crumpled body now but I'm to old for tears.

My name is Tommy Luther ...

Subject: RE: The Tear Jerker Thread
From: fumblefingers
Date: 28 Jan 07 - 12:22 PM

"No Schoolbus In Heaven," Ralph Stanley & the Clinch Mountain Boys.

Subject: RE: The Tear Jerker Thread
From: GUEST,Allen in Oz
Date: 28 Jan 07 - 05:59 PM

Beer, I think that John Connolly sang " I Don't Remember Loving You"

Jenny G...." Vacant Chair" must come close to best tear jerker( we must sing it at Cursed Toongabbie one night

AD 1943

Subject: RE: The Tear Jerker Thread
From: Lin in Kansas
Date: 28 Jan 07 - 08:58 PM

Scoville,

That was always my reaction to The Blizzard, too...might as well have been a couple of thousand. But Reeves almost manages to pull it off anyway, with that golden voice of his.

Lin

Subject: RE: The Tear Jerker Thread
From: GUEST,Bardan
Date: 28 Jan 07 - 11:15 PM

I'll assume the 'rolf harris' comment was directed at me. Just listen to a decent recording mate. (Not 'waltzing matilda' mind, 'the band played waltzing matilda' is the one to look for.)

I have since remembered ae fond kiss, anachie gordon, she moved through the fair, black is the colour, my dreams have withered and died, ride on, farewell farewell.

So much depends on context though, like there's one or two songs make me think of my grandfather, or there's one my dad used to sing to my sister- the lyrics and tune become almost irrelevant next to context. Similarly sometimes a song will seem to speak for you perfectly at some point because it describes what you're going through (teenagy unrequited love angst, grieving, homesick, marriage falling apart... whatever). Few years down the line will it have the same effect?

Subject: Lyr Add: THE LITTLE BLUE MAN (Betty Johnson)
From: Slag
Date: 28 Jan 07 - 11:25 PM

OK, here it is, the jerkiest tear jerker of all times. Remember this?

The Little Blue Man
by Betty Johnson

One morning when I was out shopping
Though you'll find this hard to believe
A little blue man came out of the crowd
And timidly tugged on my sleeve.
      
       (Chorus)

"I wuv you, I wuv you" said the little blue man,
"I wuv you, I wuv you to bits."
"I wuv you." He loved me said the little blue man
And scared me right out of my wits.
       (repeat)

For weeks after that I was haunted
Though no one could see him but me
Right by my side was the little blue man
Wherever I happened to be.

One evening in wild desparation
I rushed to a rooftop in town
And over the side pushed the little blue man
Who sang to me all the way down

       (chorus)

I whispered "Thank goodness that's over."
I smiled as I hurried outside
But there on the street stood the little blue man
Who said with a tear in his eye,

"I don't wuv you anymore."



My baby sister bawled her eyes out when she heard it and made such a fuss that we could never play the radio whenever it was on. I think this was around 60 or 61.

Subject: RE: The Tear Jerker Thread
From: GUEST,ib48
Date: 29 Jan 07 - 02:38 PM

anything by westlife is guaranteed to make me cry,oh,and ronan keating as well

Subject: RE: The Tear Jerker Thread
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 30 Jan 07 - 11:23 AM

I have a number of tearjerkers in my repertoire, including

A Bird in a Gilded Cage
Please, Mr. Conductor
Hobo Bill

To my mind, No-one sings "Please Mr. Conductor" or "The Picture That is Turned Toward the Wall" better than our Ozzie friend, Joybell. Her singing projects (to my mind) a whole time when these songs were endemic, and without any smirking or overplay. Simple, affecting songs.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: Lyr Add: OLD SHEP
From: dianavan
Date: 31 Jan 07 - 03:52 AM

When I was a lad
And old shep was a pup
Over hills and meadows wed stray
Just a boy and his dog
We were both full of fun
We grew up together that way

I remember the time at the old swimmin hold
When I would have drowned beyond doubt
But old shep was right there
To the rescue he came
He jumped in and then pulled me out

As the years fast did roll
Old shep he grew old
His eyes were fast growing dim
And one day the doctor looked at me and said
I can do no more for him jim

With hands that were trembling
I picked up my gun
And aimed it at sheps faithful head
I just couldnt do it
I wanted to run
I wish they would shoot me instead

He came to my side
And looked up at me
And laid his old head on my knee
I had struck the best friend that a man ever had
I cried so I scarcely could see

Old shep he has gone
Where the good doggies go
And no more with old shep will I roam
But if dogs have a heaven
Theres one thing I know
Old shep has a wonderful home

Subject: RE: The Tear Jerker Thread
From: SouthernCelt
Date: 31 Jan 07 - 01:43 PM

Scoville, "Quick as Dreams" fits this thread but it's a good song, not too maudlin. I've put it in my miscellaneous songs set to do for general audiences.

SC

Subject: RE: The Tear Jerker Thread
From: GUEST,Scoville
Date: 02 Feb 07 - 11:39 AM

Oops--forgot I had this loaded into iTunes:

Cyril Tawney's "Sammy's Bar".



SouthernCelt: I'm just a hopeless sucker for a) horses, b) ballads. Complete and utter history fiend. Slaid Cleaves does a lot of ballads.

Subject: RE: The Tear Jerker Thread
From: sapper82
Date: 02 Feb 07 - 04:21 PM

Slag:-
Didn't Petula Clark record that song?

Subject: Lyr Add: TEDDY BEAR
From: bill\sables
Date: 02 Feb 07 - 07:23 PM

Teddy Bear
I was on the outskirts of a little southern town,
Trying to reach my destination before the sun went down.
The old CB was blaring away on channel one-nine
When there came a little boy's voice on the radio line.
And he said, "Breaker, one-nine, is anyone there?
Come on back, truckers, and talk to Teddy Bear."
Well, I keyed the mike and I said, "Well, you got it,Teddy Bear."
And the little boy's voice came back on the air.
"'Preciate the break. Who we got on that end?"
I told him my handle, and then he began:
"Now, I'm not supposed to bother you fellas out there,
Mom says you're busy and for me to stay off the air.
But, you see, I get lonely and it helps to talk
'Cause that's about all I can do. I'm crippled and I can't walk."
I came back and told him to fire up that mike
And I'd talk to him as long as he'd like.
"This was my dad's radio," the little boy said,
"But I guess it's mine and Mom's now 'cause my daddy's dead.
Dad had a wreck about a month ago.
He was trying to get home in a blinding snow.
Mom has to work now to make ends meet
And I'm not much help with my two crippled feet.
She says not to worry, that we'll make it all right,
But I hear her crying sometimes late at night.
You know, there's one thing I want more than anything else to see.
Aw, I know you guys are too busy to bother with me,
But, you see, my dad used to take me for rides when he was home
But I guess that's all over now since my daddy's gone."
Not one breaker came on the old CB
As that little crippled boy talked with me.
I tried hard to swallow, the lump just wouldn't stay down
As I thought about my boy back in Greenville town.
"Dad was gonna take Mom and me with him later on this year.
Why, I remember him saying, 'Someday this old truck'll be yours, Teddy Bear.'
But I know I'll never get to ride an 18-wheeler again,
But this old base will keep me in touch with all my trucker friends.
Teddy Bear's gonna back on out now and leave you alone
'Cause it's about time for Mom to come home.
But you give me a shout when you're passing through
And I'll sure be happy to come back to you."
Well, I came back and I said, "Before you go ten-ten,
What's your home-twenty, little CB friend?"
Well, he gave me his address and I didn't once hesitate
'Cause this hot load of freight was just gonna have to wait.
I turned that truck around on a dime
And headed straight for Jackson Street, 229.
And as I rounded the corner, boy, I got one heck of a shock--
Eighteen-wheelers were lined up for three city blocks!
Why, I guess every driver for miles around had caught Teddy Bear's call
And that little crippled boy was having a ball.
For as fast as one driver would carry him in,
Another would carry him to his truck and take off again.
Well, you better believe I took my turn at riding Teddy Bear
And then I carried him back in and put him down in his chair.
And, buddy, if I never live to see happiness again
I want you to know I saw it that day, in the face of that little man.
We took up a collection for him before his mama got home
And each driver said goodbye and then they were all gone.
He shook my hand with a mile-long grin
And said, "So long, trucker, I'll catch you again!"
I hit that interstate with tears in my eyes
And I turned on the radio and I got another surprise.
"Breaker, one-nine," came a voice on the air,
"Just one word of thanks from Mama Teddy Bear.
We wish each and every one a special prayer for you
'Cause you just made my little boy's dream come true.
I'll sign off now before I start to cry.
May God ride with you. Ten-four, and goodbye."

Subject: RE: The Tear Jerker Thread
From: Charley Noble
Date: 02 Feb 07 - 10:05 PM

Well, Bill, you certainly clinched this thread. There shouldn't be a dry eye in the house.

Oh, the tune for "Little Alice" for those that care is "Gathering Flowers for the Master's Bouquet."

Tearfully,
Charley Noble

Subject: Lyr Add: PRETTY PAPER (Willie Nelson)
From: GUEST,Bert
Date: 03 Feb 07 - 01:08 AM

Pretty Paper

Artist: Roy Orbison
Words & Music by Willie Nelson


Crowded street, busy feet hustle by him
Downtown shoppers, Christmas is nigh
There he sits all alone on the sidewalk
Hoping that you won't pass him by

Should you stop?, better not, much too busy
You're in a hurry, my how time does fly
In the distance the ringing of laughter
And in the midst of the laughter he cries

Pretty paper, pretty ribbons of blue
Wrap your presents to your darling from you
Pretty pencils to write "I love you"
Pretty paper, pretty ribbons of blue

(Interlude)

Pretty paper, pretty ribbons of blue
Wrap your presents to your darling from you
Pretty pencils to write "I love you"
Pretty paper, pretty ribbons of blue

Pretty paper, pretty ribbons of blue

Subject: RE: The Tear Jerker Thread
From: Lin in Kansas
Date: 13 Jun 07 - 11:44 AM

Bill/Sables, I am amazed! I would not have guessed that you would know Teddy Bear!

Charley, too right. At least my eyes aren't dry. Maudlin or not, that one always gets me.

One of the hazards of being raised on country music, I reckon. There are many, many tear-jerker songs.

Lin

Subject: RE: The Tear Jerker Thread
From: GUEST,Highlandman
Date: 13 Jun 07 - 02:53 PM

I admit that sometimes I'm a sucker for a tearjerker, but it depends on my mood, the context, and whether it strikes me as being _intended_ to be a tearjerker.
The older ones, like "The Vacant Chair," "All Quiet Along the Potomac," "Katy Wells," and many other war-related songs, usually get to me because they have (I think) a more authentic emotion about them. Modern stuff like "Honey," "The Christmas Shoes," and (sorry) even "Teddy Bear" just strike me as too formulaic, too calculated, to generate real emotion.
Understated songs like Jim MacLean's "Don't Cry In Your Sleep" sometimes catch me by surprise... the real emotion behind the words, can be much more powerful than anything worn on the singer's sleeve. Another one I just can't sing, tho' I really like it, is "Mama Look Sharp" from the musical "1776."

Subject: Lyr Add: GEORGIA LEE (Waits/Waits-Brennan)
From: Rain Dog
Date: 13 Jun 07 - 05:24 PM

Georgia Lee

Written by: Tom Waits and Kathleen Waits-Brennan


Cold was the night and hard was the ground
They found her in a small grove of trees
And lonesome was the place where Georgia was found
She's too young to be out on the street

Why wasn't God watching?
Why wasn't God listening?
Why wasn't God there
for Georgia Lee?

Ida said she couldn't keep Georgia from dropping out of school
I was doing the best that I could
Oh, but she just kept running away from this world
These children are so hard to raise good

Why wasn't God watching?
Why wasn't God listening?
Why wasn't God there
for Georgia Lee?

Close your eyes and count to ten
I will go and hide but then
Be sure to find me, I want you to find me
And we'll play all over
We'll play all over
We'll play all over
again

There's a toad in the witch grass, there's a crow in the corn
Wild flowers on a cross by the road
And somewhere a baby is crying for her mom
As the hills turn from green back to gold

Why wasn't God watching?
Why wasn't God listening?
Why wasn't God there
for Georgia Lee?

Why wasn't God watching?
Why wasn't God listening?
Why wasn't God there
for Georgia Lee?


This song has been covered by Kathryn Roberts & Sean Lakeman, Solas, Tim Grimm, The Cottars and there is an instrumental version by Joanna MacGregor & Andy Sheppard.

Of course songs have to stand on their own but you can read about the background to this song here

Georgia Lee

Subject: Lyr Add: ORPHAN CHILD (Gillian Welch)
From: GUEST,Rich (Bodhránaí gan ciall)
Date: 13 Jun 07 - 05:51 PM

Orphan Child by Gillian Welch

I am an orphan, on God's highway
but I'll share my trouble if you're going my way

I have no mother, no father, no sister, no brother
I am an orphan child.

I have had friendships, pure and golden
but the prize of kinship, I have not known it,

I have no mother, no father, no sister, no brother,
I am an orphan child

Oh Blessed Saviour, if you are willing,
walk beside me until I'm with them

Be my mother, my father, my sister, my brother
I am an orphan child

When He calls me I will be able
to meet my family at God's table

I'll meet my mother, my father, my sister, my brother
No more an orphan child