Saddest Songs, Take Two

12 Jul 00 - 12:11 PM (#256425)
Subject: Lyr Add: THE DADDY SONG (Bob Clayton)^^
From: Songster Bob

I'm starting a second section of the Sad Songs thread, 'cause 183 postings is enough!

Among the ones I didn't see mentioned are some intended to be tear-jerkers, like "Lightning Express" and "Mother's Lying Dead (In the Baggage Car Ahead)," and some more modern ones like Tom Paxton's "Jimmy Newman" and "Has Annie Been In Tonight?"

But the saddest for me is one I wrote, which I've only sung in public once, and I broke down in the middle of it. I didn't expect that reaction, and think it was the fact that I knew what was coming that got me. It also resonated with my own past, though I was much older than the protagonist in the song. Here is the lyric. The tune is the "Solid Gone" version of "Cannonball Blues," which some of you must know.

The Daddy Song

[Tune: "Cannonball Blues" ("Solid Gone")]

My Daddy left us, he left my Mom and me,
What a rotten thing to do to a little kid like me,
He's gone, my Daddy's gone.
Momma says my Daddy won't be coming back,
What kind of a man would treat a little kid like that?
He's gone, my Daddy's gone.

Cho:

I feel like crying 'cause he's gone,
So much like crying 'cause he's gone,
My Daddy's gone.

I hate my Daddy, I hope he goes to Hell!
I'm not supposed to say that word, so don't you go and tell.
He's gone, my Daddy's gone.
When I get all growed up, when I get real big,
I'll never, ever, ever do the same thing to my kid.
He's gone, my Daddy's gone.

Cho:

Dad said he would take me to the movies and the Zoo,
But when I saw him falling down, it scared me clear all through.
He's gone, my Daddy's gone.
The fireman and policeman came, and they took him away;
Now my Momma's crying, and there's nothing I can say.
He's gone, my Daddy's gone.

Cho:

I don't know what to think, like it's something that I did
To make him want to go away and leave his little kid.
He's gone, my Daddy's gone.
Now my Momma's crying, and I don't know what to do,
I might do it all again, and make her leave me, too.
He's gone, my Daddy's gone.

Cho:


Copyright © 1990, Bob Clayton


I wrote this at Pinewoods Folk Music Week, when Bob Franke, who ran the songwriting workshop, assigned me to write "an emotional song from a child's viewpoint," because I'd complained that my songs tended to be intellectual, and that I typically edited myself right out of writing anything. This is certainly what he asked for. Like I said, I couldn't finish singing it when I did it for the class the last day. An amazing reaction, I must say.

Bob Clayton

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12 Jul 00 - 12:32 PM (#256442)
Subject: RE: Saddest Songs, Take Two
From: sledge

Two that get my vote are a couple of Natalie Merchent songs.

The first is the "big Parade" dealing with the Vietnam memorial, the second is"beloved wife", about the loss of an old mans lifetime partner. Both these put lumps in my throat.

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12 Jul 00 - 02:12 PM (#256515)
Subject: RE: Saddest Songs, Take Two
From: Jim Krause

Some that get my votes are:

• Remember Me
• Anna On My Mind a composition by yours truly, as yet unrecorded
• Christmas In the Trenches
• Make the World Go Away recorded by Eddy Arnold
• 'Tis the Last Rose of Summer, tune trad, lyric by Thomas Moore (1779-1852)
• Gentle Annie by Stephen Foster

There are more, I'm sure, but that's enough to get me all chocked up.

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12 Jul 00 - 02:52 PM (#256537)
Subject: RE: Saddest Songs, Take Two
From: Naemanson

Daisy A Day by Jud Strunk

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12 Jul 00 - 02:56 PM (#256543)
Subject: RE: Saddest Songs, Take Two
From: GUEST

1913 Massacre
Ludlow Massacre
Little Joe
Put My Little Shoes Away

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12 Jul 00 - 04:14 PM (#256618)
Subject: RE: Saddest Songs, Take Two
From: Bagpuss

The one that always chokes me up is All God's Angels, by Kate Rusby. I'll post the words if anyone wants to see them.

bagpuss

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12 Jul 00 - 08:13 PM (#256824)
Subject: RE: Saddest Songs, Take Two
From: GUEST,Gervase

If you like Rusby's singing of All God's Angels, try the McGarrigle sisters - they sure do sad songs so beautifully. And I learned the only French song I know from one them.

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13 Jul 00 - 01:36 AM (#256948)
Subject: Lyr Add: SOMEONE ELSE HAS DIED (Keith Johnson)
From: Susan from California

The River by Bruce Springsteen was the first song to make me cry.

Broken Things by Julie Miller tears me up.

Babies in the Mill by Dorsey Dixon is darned amazing, and extremely sad.

My husband wrote one during the Gulf War called Someone Else Has Died that I like quite a bit... here are the lyrics...

Over there across the world they hear the blast of the big canyons, but over here we just hear banners, snappin' in the wind

I hear preachers pray for war, that bombs will fall straight to their marks. Then they can all come home again

Chorus:So lay down your helmet, lay down your gun, and rest your weary head. Close your eyes and drift and dream about some warm bed. 'Cause in the distance you hear the words that no one ever says "Someone else has died"

I never did believe the lie, the lie that we could win this fight, while we watch our children fall down lifeless, their children fall down too. I wonder if that bothers you, or if it bothers them.

Ch: So lay down your helmets, lay down your guns, rest your weary heads. Close your your eyes and drift and dream about some warm bed. 'Cause in the distance you the words that no one ever says "Someone else has died"

Over there across the world, I heard a million mothers weep. It woke me up, now I can't sleep. So I just stare out in the dark, and I think about the way we are how we watch our best years slip away, and our children go away too far.

Ch: So lay down your helmets, lay down your guns, rest your weary heads. Close your your eyes and drift and dream about some warm bed. 'Cause in the distance you the words that no one ever says "Someone else has died"

(Keith Johnson, All Rights Reserved, and all that legal stuff)

Although he wrote it during the (American) Gulf War, I think it works for any era.

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13 Jul 00 - 07:41 AM (#257001)
Subject: RE: Saddest Songs, Take Two
From: GUEST

Jeannie's Afraid of the dark. Old Gilbert

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13 Jul 00 - 09:33 AM (#257029)
Subject: RE: Saddest Songs, Take Two
From: Patrish(inactive)

The living years by Mike and the mechanics

but that Kate Rusby song about angels watching over her and her child always makes me angry - how can a chap who has had his wicked way turn round and tell her that his wife is twenty times better and that he would have nothing to do with a girl like her......
Gervase you are right it is sad...
Patrish

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13 Jul 00 - 09:40 AM (#257032)
Subject: RE: Saddest Songs, Take Two
From: Bagpuss

When I was little, I always used to cry when my grandad sang Trimdon Grange. Nothing like a good mining disaster to get the tears flowing.

Also - The Nobleman's Wedding (Altan and probably others) makes me sniffle a little.

Bagpuss

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13 Jul 00 - 10:09 AM (#257050)
Subject: RE: Saddest Songs, Take Two
From: A Wandering Minstrel

"Rosemary's Sister", by Huw & Tony Williams, gives me a lump in my throat every time. So does their song for "I can jump puddles"

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13 Jul 00 - 10:13 AM (#257052)
Subject: RE: Saddest Songs, Take Two
From: Sean Belt

For me, it's a toss up between "The Bay of Biscay", which I recently learned off of Waterson:Carthy's latest CD and "End of the Rainbow" by Richard Thompson. either one will bring a lumpt to my throat and a tear to my eye.

-Sean

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13 Jul 00 - 10:16 AM (#257053)
Subject: RE: Saddest Songs, Take Two
From: Patrish(inactive)

I have the words and music for this song(Rosemarys sister) but whenever I have tried to play it I end up crying perhaps Its because I have a daughter called Rosemary who has a sister, or perhaps its because I am over sentimental
Patrish

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17 Jan 16 - 01:10 PM (#3766331)
Subject: RE: Saddest Songs, Take Two
From: voyager

As David Bowie sang to us all - "Young Americans" -

Ain't there one damn song that can make me
Break down and cry?

Let me add U Utah Phillips - Going Away

Going Away Lyrics

Is that the moon I see, over there in the West,
Or the head-light gleam, C&O express?
I know she's gone, What ever I say,
it won't be long 'til I make up my mind
And Go away.

Is that the sun coming up on the eastern shore,
Or just the coal bed glow behind the firebox door?
I know she's gone, whatever I say,
But it won't be long 'til I make up my mind
And go away.
(bridge)

Did you see that fool he can't hear the whistle
Blind old man caught out on the trestle.
Can't go up and he can't go back,
Train kept coming brushed him off the track.

Other storms may blow and the wind may rise,
Still I long to go where the fast mail flies.
I know she's gone, whatever I say,
But it won't be long 'til I make up my mind
And go away.

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17 Jan 16 - 02:38 PM (#3766356)
Subject: RE: Saddest Songs, Take Two
From: Dave Hanson

You've all obviously never heard Lal Waterson's song, ' Red Wine Promises '

Dave H

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17 Jan 16 - 05:13 PM (#3766393)
Subject: RE: Saddest Songs, Take Two
From: GUEST,HiLo

Oh so many sad songs
Two by Kate and Anna McGarrigle...Gentle Annie and Heart Like A Wheel.
Bonnie Raitt, I Can"t make You Love Me
Etta James, I,d Rather Go Blind
Adele, Someone Like You
Van Morrison, Madam George
Joni Mitchell, River
Kate Bush, A Coral Room and Moments of Pleasure, Never Be Mine
Bruce Cockburn, Red Brother
Kate Rusby, My Young Man
Well, those come to mind instantly, but many others.

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17 Jan 16 - 09:50 PM (#3766440)
Subject: RE: Saddest Songs, Take Two
From: cnd

The Funeral, Red Sovine.

Or "Ballad of Teddy Bear" or "Billy's Christmas Wish," both also by Red Sovine.

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18 Jan 16 - 06:35 AM (#3766474)
Subject: RE: Saddest Songs, Take Two
From: GUEST,leeneia

"All my trials", lullaby from the Bahamas about a dying person taking care of a baby.

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18 Jan 16 - 06:47 AM (#3766480)
Subject: RE: Saddest Songs, Take Two
From: GUEST,Trecle Bolly

Dancing at Whitsun written by Austin John Marshall. Always brings tears.

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18 Jan 16 - 06:33 PM (#3766536)
Subject: RE: Saddest Songs, Take Two
From: GUEST,Arkie

I did not check to see if this was listed on the other related thread, but did not find it here. "He Stopped Loving Her Today" which was first recorded by George Jones.

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18 Jan 16 - 07:09 PM (#3766542)
Subject: RE: Saddest Songs, Take Two
From: beeliner

Two more recent ones:

"It Must Have Been Love" by Roxette

and "74 75" by the Connells.

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