The saddest song ever

[fifths]

Gotta get "Casimir Pulaski Day" by Sufjan Stevens on the list. For a while after my Mom passed, this song was guaranteed waterworks for me


also honorary mention to Stephin Merritt whose Magnetic Fields song "1,000,000 Fireflies" begins
"I have a mandolin
I play it all night long
It makes me want to kill myself.."
SAD

[fscotte]

There's a difference between a sad song and a singer who pulls at your heartstrings. I don't find Eric Clapton's Tears in Heaven sad at all because of the sound of his voice. Now if Keith Whitley sang it, that'd be an entirely different song. Some singers were blessed or cursed, with that kindnof voice. Keith definitely had it.

And a little tidbit, Go Rest High On That Mountain was written by Vince Gil in honor of Whitley, however it wasn't finished until after Vince's older brother died.

[Astro]

OMG, Tears In Heaven, I forgot that one. I almost had to pull the car off the road the first time I heard that on the radio. I recognized his voice, new what had happened to his son, and almost lost it. Knowing the history and as a Clapton fan knowing his "happy voice, I respectfully disagree with only one detail of the above post. I think it saddest because its his voice. Not as sad when others do it.

[Austin Bob]

OMG, Tears In Heaven, I forgot that one. I almost had to pull the car off the road the first time I heard that on the radio. I recognized his voice, new what had happened to his son, and almost lost it. Knowing the history and as a Clapton fan knowing his "happy voice, I respectfully disagree with only one detail of the above post. I think it saddest because its his voice. Not as sad when others do it.

I too can remember the exact moment I heard that song for the first time. I was a business, and it came in over the radio they were playing. I stood there transfixed and listened to the whole song. I also recognized his voice and knew the back story.

[fscotte]

Don't get me wrong, I think the story behind the song is sad, but I just can't feel it through Clapton's voice.

With that said, if this isn't a nominee for saddest story behind a song, I don't know what is:

[pglasse]

Lyrically speaking:

Merle Haggard's I Must Have Done Something Bad should be in the running.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OH6CkD0uYag

...and also The Band's It Makes No Difference.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rP7r12Rg490

[brunello97]

...and also The Band's It Makes No Difference.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rP7r12Rg490

That's what I know, Paul. It's bound to make my top 10 sad songs year-in-year-out.

When I sing "stampeding cattle, they rattle the walls..." in the shower, I can't quite pull it off.

But I agree with fscotte....Rick Danko's voice breaks in all the right places on the song. Richard Manuel might have pulled it off. Levon Helm, likely not. Amazing that one band (other than the Beatles) could have three vocalists of such different range, style and suitability. And like Duke Ellington, Robbie Robertson knew just who to direct the vocal phrasing to.

"Time After Time" isn't quite "sad" but the simple power in the song is that it is emotionally provocative in the hands of performers as varied as Cindy Lauper and Miles Davis.

Mick

BTW, I'd love to draw i miei amici from bowlback world into this interesting and enjoyable discussion:
Jim, Martin, Bro' Eug, David B Kos, Bill K, John M. Y'all run a pretty nice and wide spectrum of musical interests and wear your happiness and sadness on your sleeves. Which is why I love you guys.

<Removed by Moderator. Take it elsewhere.>

Mick

[FLATROCK HILL]

<Removed by Moderator. Take it elsewhere.>

<Removed by Moderator.>

[brunello97]

<Removed by Moderator>

<Removed by Moderator>
Mick

[UsuallyPickin]

Sam Stone by John Prine
There's a hole in Daddy's arm where all the money goes . . . . . . .

[Bertram Henze]

But I guess they're not sad.

It's in the power of the singer to make any song at least pathetic, if not sad.

[MikeEdgerton]

Every now and then it's a good idea to simply re-read the Posting Guidelines. These guidelines are what keeps the Cafe the friendly site that it is. Take a minute to simply read through them again.

http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/faq.php

This thread has been alive since May-29-2007 without any real problems. Discuss the music here. Discuss your personal feelings at any of the other thousands of sites on the Internet. Carry on.

[Mandolin Cafe]

There is no room for dog whistle political comments. Make them at your own risk. Members that engage in this, we will not hesitate to boot you from this space. There really are a lot of places on the internet that welcome this type of crap. We don't need it here and we are not going to tolerate it.

You've been warned.

[Bertram Henze]

To quote a blues guitarist I used to know, "Don't listen to the blues if you're happy, it'll bring you down. But if you're totally sad, it can cheer you up".

This had me thinking for a long time. I am very much into Irish/Scottish songs, and people have said to me "why are these songs all so sad? why would anybody want to listen to that?"

My explanation is that these songs are in fact medication. Just like you shouldn't take medication if you don't need it, these songs are not for everyone. However, many people who need medication refuse to acknowledge the fact and prefer singing in the rain, as if the problem would go away by ignoring it. Sad songs show you where you are (in the lyrics) but also that there is a better, more beautiful world you should walk towards (in the music). And if they make you cry, that's good news because crying is relief; blocking such relief can make you ill (my wife often says that cancer are uncried tears).

I found the song has to belong to the right genre to work for me, i.e. the beauty/music part must connect. So Blues does not work for me, nor does Jazz*

(*) cool and elegant, but superficial and cold to the touch for me. As an example, this song has an intriguing musical perfection but fails to touch my heart. If it weren't for the expressive face of the singer at the end of the video, I'd not even identify the song as a sad one.

[The Past and The Curious]

Another vote for Sam Stone........but the song that never fails to bring tears to my eyes is "All Things Must Pass."

[Bonniej]

I think "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" by Bob Dillon. It was played at my best friend's funeral in December. When they first started playing it I thought "oh no here I go again with big sobs" but somehow it had a very calming and comforting effect on me although still a very sad song. I actually looked up the music for it after I got home and played it on my Mando. I had to quit playing it eventually because it gave me the Blues all over again.

[MikeEdgerton]

Everybody has one I guess.

[Petrus]

I haven't read every post so apologies if these have been mentioned already.

Almost anything by Townes Van Zandt ... especially his later stuff.



Almost anything by Nick Drake.



It always helps to be clinically depressive when it comes to writin' those sad songs you know ... personal experience and all that.

[lflngpicker]

"I started a Joke" -- Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb

[Al Trujillo]

Watch her eyes during the song....if you're not tore up by the end then you're just not living. Jennifer Nettle's (Sugarland) singing 'Stay'.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPG1n1B0Ydw

[FLATROCK HILL]

"I started a Joke" -- Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb

That's a good one that I hadn't thought of and I don't believe has been mentioned.
Not sure if the written words would carry the same weight, but those guys could really put some feeling into their songs.
And how exactly can you mend a broken heart?

[Jack Roberts]

I don't know about the saddest song ever, but the saddest one I play and sing is "Flow Gently Sweet Afton". I looked carefully at the lyrics and realize that on their face, they aren't sad, but I checked it out with an English Major, and she confirms that, yes, it has been a hanky-soaker since the days of Robert Burns.

It is the anniversary of Robert Burns' birthday on Wednesday, the 25th.

I don't do "Sweet Afton" as well as this:

[Jim]

Elephant, by Jason Isbell
https://video.search.yahoo.com/yhs/s...2487e41&action

[JeffD]

If this hasn't been mentioned, it should be. Limerick's Lamentation.

My favorite version is by Liam O'Flynn.

[David Kennedy]

"The Dutchman" sung by Liam Clancy. I can't remember who wrote it.