| Author | Message | ||
     Little Keith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 1136 Registered: 03-2006 |
What's the saddest song you can think of? Here are some of my contenders: "Just a Memory" - Elvis Costello "A Song For You" - GP "You Won't Find It Again" - the GBs "Never Again" - Fairport Convention "I've Been a Mess Since You've Been Gone" - American Music Club "Who's Gonna Shoe Your Pretty Little Feet" - Richard Hawley "These Days" - Nico "Late for the Sky" - Jackson Browne "Our Time Has Passed" - Pernice Bros. "Good Morning Heartache" - Billie Holiday | ||
| Allen Belz Member Username: Abpositive Post Number: 82 Registered: 09-2006 |
"Angel Eyes" - Frank Sinatra In fact, the entirety of the "Frank Sinatra Sings for Only the Lonely" album. I told a friend once (during a happy time of my life, of course) that the album was a perfect evocation of sadness but it wasn't depressing because it was so beautiful. Then I put it on one solitary night at home during the biggest breakup of my life and only made it through the second song (the one above) before having to take it off. Its beauty only works at a distance... "Hot Burrito #1"'s a pretty great weeper too: "I don't want no one but you to love me." Indeed. More are floating at the back of my mind...let me give them some time to emerge. | ||
| Kurt Stephan Member Username: Slothbert Post Number: 861 Registered: 04-2005 |
Dive for Your Memory - Go-Betweens The Kids - Lou Reed (maybe more horrifying than sad) 11:59 - Scrawl Only Love Can Break Your Heart - Neil Young End of the Rainbow - Richard & Linda Thompson Pink Moon (entire album) - Nick Drake I'm sure I'll think of a few hundred better ones later. | ||
| Allen Belz Member Username: Abpositive Post Number: 86 Registered: 09-2006 |
"These Days (I Barely Get By)," "The Door," "He Stopped Loving Her Today" - George Jones | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 1124 Registered: 05-2005 |
Atmosphere - Joy Division Hurt - Johnny Cash | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 735 Registered: 03-2005 |
"Dark Side of Town" -- Grant McCl. "Days" -- Kinks "Smile" -- Timi Yuro | ||
| Allen Belz Member Username: Abpositive Post Number: 87 Registered: 09-2006 |
Good call on "Days"...I was sitting there thinking that I knew there was at least one Kinks song that fit the bill... | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 845 Registered: 05-2005 |
Tank Park Salute - Billy Bragg. | ||
| Charles Coy Member Username: Coy Post Number: 11 Registered: 10-2006 |
..Nine million rainy days- Jesus & Mary Chain Love Vigilantes....New Order ..and I dont know why but Horsebreaker Star, title track.. | ||
| jerry hann Member Username: Jerry_h Post Number: 311 Registered: 07-2005 |
Good one Padraig, Do you ever get that feeling of absent mindedness when trying to think of songs etc? | ||
| Kurt Stephan Member Username: Slothbert Post Number: 863 Registered: 04-2005 |
Pink Frost - The Chills Julia - The Beatles Hardly Getting Over It - Husker Du If You See Her, Say Hello - Bob Dylan The Wrong Child - R.E.M. | ||
| Allen Belz Member Username: Abpositive Post Number: 88 Registered: 09-2006 |
Dreaming of the Queen - Pet Shop Boys | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 846 Registered: 05-2005 |
Yes Jerry, I do, but that one came to me quickly once I'd set my brain the task! All of Kurt's list do it for me too. Especially Hardly Getting Over It. That song (about ageing if any of you don't know it) moved me when I was in my early 20s; what will it do to me now, four months shy of 40? I haven't played it in ages. Better rectify that soon. | ||
| Andrew Kerr Member Username: Andrew_k Post Number: 160 Registered: 04-2005 |
Hank Williams - Alone and Forsaken | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 939 Registered: 05-2005 |
The Smiths - Asleep The Smiths - Well I Wonder Nillson - Everybody's Talkin Terry Jacks - Seasons in the sun Richard Hawley - The Ocean Winston Tong - Reports from the heart GB's - Unfinished Business | ||
| Rob Brookman Member Username: Rob_b Post Number: 99 Registered: 08-2006 |
Harry Nilsson - Don't Forget Me Has one of my favorite lines ever: "I'll miss you when I'm lonely/I'll miss the alimony, too." | ||
| Rob Brookman Member Username: Rob_b Post Number: 100 Registered: 08-2006 |
Oh, and Allen, ditto on "Only the Lonely." In addition to "Angel Eyes," "One for My Baby" always gets me. I can only imagine what it was like recording that album. Wow. Soundtrack for a divorce. | ||
| Little Keith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 1138 Registered: 03-2006 |
If I have my Sinatra lore correct, that was recorded right after his affair with Ava Gardner went belly up...she was, how to put it, a lot of woman, and clearly worth going on about in such fashion...I agree, btw - an astoundingly great record, as was that other heartbreak, saloon classic, "In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning"... Some of the other great entries above remind me of other great sad ones by the artists mentioned: Neil Young - Birds Beatles - For No One Billy Bragg - St. Swithin's Day and, also... Merle Haggard - Sing Me Back Home Tom Waits - Ruby's Arms Prefab Sprout - Bonny Tom Jones - Green, green grass of home Pancho & Lefty - Willie & Merle | ||
| Andy Robinson Member Username: Andyblue Post Number: 54 Registered: 03-2005 |
I'm really gonna have to think about this one! I'm not sure about Tank Park Salute, Padraig. It means a lot to people that I know and I know will do to me when my father (in his 80th Year now) dies. But I always saw the salute as a kind of celebration, like those military displays in Soviet Russia. For sure, right now, I think Hurt by JC but also If you Could Read My Mind from the last album. Incidentally I head a song called The Wood Carver on the radio today which I thought was "sad" in a different way. Also Cruel by Prefab Sprout and I Want You by Elvis Costello, both in a fractured relationship/stalker kind of way. I'll get back with some more! | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 852 Registered: 05-2005 |
The whole point of Tank Park Salute is that it's a celebration. | ||
| Stuart Wilson Member Username: Stuart Post Number: 21 Registered: 10-2006 |
The first song that jumped into my head was "Holocaust" - tho' I only know the Placebo cover, not Chilton's original. As for the GBs (I know it's boring, but I'm only listening to them at the moment! Listening to anything else just feels like a waste of time... I suppose this phase will pass, but I'm not in any hurry...)I had 16LL on again yesterday while I was tidying up round the house but when Dive for your memory came on I just had to sit down and listen to it all.. "I miss my friend" gets me every time. | ||
| abigail law Member Username: Abigail Post Number: 99 Registered: 06-2005 |
anything by hank williams waiting round to die - townes van zandt i am the cosmos - chris bell all of third/sister lover - big star anything by red house painters avalanche - laughing len cohen god, im depressed just writing this list | ||
| Michael Bachman Member Username: Michael_bachman Post Number: 306 Registered: 01-2005 |
Tecumseh Valley - Townes Van Zandt Everything's Different Now - Til Tuesday One of the most sad albums ever, documenting Aimee Mann and Jules Shear's break-up. | ||
| Wolfgang Steinhardt Member Username: Berbatov Post Number: 20 Registered: 09-2006 |
The Setters - Susan across the ocean and Let's take some drugs and drive around Jeanne Moreau - Jeanne la française and a lot of stuff by Jacques Brel as well | ||
| TROU Member Username: Trou Post Number: 56 Registered: 05-2005 |
C'est extra - Léo Ferré. The best ever french song. | ||
| Wolfgang Steinhardt Member Username: Berbatov Post Number: 21 Registered: 09-2006 |
... vraiement Trou? Despite Vesoul, La mèr et l'immortelle Tourbillon :-) Has here ever been a "Chanson-thread" so far ? | ||
| Kurt Stephan Member Username: Slothbert Post Number: 877 Registered: 04-2005 |
I was listening to RF's Danger in the Past album last night and realized that the title song deserves to be on this saddest song list. Also, I wish I had mentioned it on the "perfect album" thread, as there's not a track I would change on it. And I'm also adding Lou Reed's "Street Hassle" to my saddest song list. It's much more tragic than his too-obvious "Sad Song." | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 875 Registered: 05-2005 |
Street Hassle is fantastic isn't it? I love the uncredited Bruce Springsteen cameo on it. (Uncredited because of the legal troubles he had at the time). | ||
| joe Member Username: Dogmansuede Post Number: 13 Registered: 07-2006 |
spiritualized - broken heart morrissey - late night, maudlin street albeit, neither terribly subtle | ||
| Kurt Stephan Member Username: Slothbert Post Number: 885 Registered: 04-2005 |
I remember buying Street Hassle when it came out (showing my age, aren't I?) and listening to the title song, thinking "that sure sounds like Bruce Springsteen...but Springsteen on a Lou Reed album? No way." But sure enough it was Bruce. Genya Raven (anyone remember her?) sang on the song too. But, yes, Padraig...a great track, one he's since neutered live to remove the gay theme of the original. | ||
| Little Keith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 1161 Registered: 03-2006 |
Help us out, Lou Reed buff: what was the gay theme of the original?. I've not heard it lately and the lyrics were hard to suss out last time I did...I know there's some fairly nasty drug stuff going down in it... | ||
| joe Member Username: Dogmansuede Post Number: 19 Registered: 07-2006 |
sorry, showing my true colours here...but is this the same street hassle simple minds did on sparkle in the rain? i don't know anything pre-77. the new romantics on the other hand.... | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 883 Registered: 05-2005 |
It's been a long time since I've heard Street Hassle too, but I have to also confess not recalling a gay theme. Ok, just googled the lyrics. Maybe it is... was he a she for a walk on the wild side? Lou Reed - Street Hassle A) waltzing matilda Waltzing matilda whipped out her wallet The sexy boy smiled in dismay She took out four twenties cause she liked round figures Everybodys a queen for a day Oh, babe, Im on fire and you know how I admire your - - body why dont we slip away Although Im sure youre certain, its a rarity me flirtin Sha-la-la-la, this way Oh, sha-la-la-la-la, sha-la-la-la-la Hey, baby, come on, lets slip away Luscious and gorgeous, oh what a hunk of muscle Call out the national guard She creamed in her jeans as he picked up her means From off of the formica topped bar And cascading slowly, he lifted her wholly And boldly out of this world And despite peoples derision Proved to be more than diversion Sha-la-la-la, later on And then sha-la-la-la-la, he entered her slowly And showed her where he was coming from And then sha-la-la-la-la, he made love to her gently It was like shed never ever come And then sha-la-la-la-la, sha-la-la-la-la When the sun rose and he made to leave You know, sha-la-la-la-la, sha-la-la-la-la Neither one regretted a thing B) street hassle Hey, that cvnts not breathing I think shes had too much Of something or other, hey, man, you know what I mean I dont mean to scare you But youre the one who came here And youre the one whos gotta take her when you leave Im not being smart Or trying to be cold on my part And Im not gonna wear my heart on my sleeve But you know people get all emotional And sometimes, man, they just dont act rational They think theyre just on tv Sha-la-la-la, man Why dont you just slip her away You know, Im glad that we met man It really was nice talking And I really wish that there was a little more time to speak But you know it could be a hassle Trying to explain myself to a police officer About how it was that your old lady got herself stiffed And its not like we could help But there was nothing no one could do And if there was, man, you know I would have been the first But when someone turns that blue Well, its a universal truth And then you just know that bitch will never fuck again By the way, thats really some bad shit That you came to our place with But you ought to be more careful around the little girls Its either the best or its the worst And since I dont have to choose I guess I wont and I know this aint no way to treat a guest But why dont you grab your old lady by the feet And just lay her out on the darkened street And by morning, shes just another hit and run You know, some people got no choice And they cant never find a voice To talk with that they can even call their own So the first thing that they see That allows them the right to be Why they follow it, you know, its called bad luck C) slipaway Believe me, that its just a lie Thats what she tells her friends cause the real song, the real song Which she wont even admit to herself Beat narrow heart, the song lots of people know Its a painful song Itll only say the truth It lasts for sad songs Penny for a wish A wish wont make you a soldier A pretty kiss or a pretty face Cant have its way The tramps like us who were born to play Love is gone away And theres no one here now And theres nothing left to say But, oh, how I miss him, baby Oh, baby, come on and slip away Come on, baby, why dont you slip away Love is gone away Took the rings off my fingers And theres nothing left to say But, oh how, oh how I need him, baby Come on, baby, I need you baby Oh, please dont slip away I need your loving so bad, babe Please dont slip away | ||
| Kurt Stephan Member Username: Slothbert Post Number: 890 Registered: 04-2005 |
Well, the "gay theme" was the last section, with the "oh how I miss/need him baby" lines--rather pronoun-specific (probably about his tranny ex Rachel), and I recall an interview at time with Lou who said something like the "the gender is all-important; these are not heterosexual concerns in this song." It seemed to be Lou's coming out in the press. Of course, he got married to Sylvia soon after, so go figure. | ||
| Jerry Clark Member Username: Jerry Post Number: 483 Registered: 08-2004 |
... and I always thought Simple Minds wrote Stree Hassle Sad Songs 1. Bob Dylan - Ballad Of Hollis Brown 2. Nick Cave - Into My Arms 3. The Smiths - I Know It's Over 4. The Sundays - Here's Where The Story Ends 5. The Who - Love, Reign O'er Me 6. Babybird - Take Me Back 7. Conway Twitty - The Great Pretender 8. Pulp - Live Bed Show 9. Billie Holliday - My Man 10. Anything by McFly... sigh | ||
| Rob Brookman Member Username: Rob_b Post Number: 116 Registered: 08-2006 |
Did Simple Minds really cover "Street Hassle"? I can't imagine anyone pulling of the spoken-word middle part of the song except Lou. There are so many devastating lines in that section, like the cold-eyed way he deadpans, "But when someone turns that blue/Well, its a universal truth/And then you just know that bitch will never fuck again." I'm guessing Jim Kerr didn't even attempt that part... | ||
| joe Member Username: Dogmansuede Post Number: 23 Registered: 07-2006 |
poor simple minds...i listened to their version last night and i think it's just the middle bit. they don't sound like minds' lyrics....so i'm assuming it's a pretty amazing cover. your list is lovely jerry. i know it's over left me unable to leave my room on my 19th birthday. and i still wake up in the middle of the night and have to listen to large chunks, if not all of, the first sundays record before i can rest again. | ||
| joe Member Username: Dogmansuede Post Number: 24 Registered: 07-2006 |
oh and kurt...is 11:59 the same song off parallel lines? and what is it with me and my obvious penchant for covers!?!? | ||
| Kurt Stephan Member Username: Slothbert Post Number: 899 Registered: 04-2005 |
Joe, "11:59" by the Columbus, Ohio band Scrawl is not the same as the Blondie song (which I forgot about, actually). I'm a little biased in its favor because about five years ago I briefly worked with the band's singer/songwriter, Marcy Mays. It's a fantastic, underappreciated song. Great for New Year's Eve self-pity, if you're in that kind of mood. You know, Blondie should cover it! | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 1152 Registered: 05-2005 |
Kurt, is she the girl who sang the lead vocal on My Curse by The Afghan Whigs? If so, she's great. | ||
| Kurt Stephan Member Username: Slothbert Post Number: 901 Registered: 04-2005 |
I haven't heard that song, Kevin, but I know she sang lead on an Aghan Wigs song and is friends with Greg Dulli, so that must be it. | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 1153 Registered: 05-2005 |
Kurt, I just checked and it is Marcy that sings on My Curse. Its on the album Gentlemen (now theres an album that should be in that Time top 100 list). Greg Dulli said he could not bring himself to sing that song because it was too painful, or something like that. | ||
| Kurt Stephan Member Username: Slothbert Post Number: 904 Registered: 04-2005 |
I really need to pick up Gentlemen, don't I? Somehow, that group flew under my radar screen because I didn't particularly like the one or two songs I heard of theirs. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 891 Registered: 05-2005 |
I just played My Curse the other night while making up a best of Afghan Whigs for my ex (she asked - I wasn't trying to send her a coded message or anything!). What a song, what a band. They were a bit disappointing live though, but I'd seen Pavement play an awesome show the night before in the same venue, so that must have coloured my opinion. I think the Whigs might have been having an off night too. | ||
| Rob Brookman Member Username: Rob_b Post Number: 123 Registered: 08-2006 |
I lived in Columbus, Ohio for a few years after college during Scrawl's heydey and knew them well. Used to see them a lot at an old club called Staches. They were a damn fine band. Dulli made a good choice giving her "My Curse." Kurt, where did you work with Marcy? I'd be curious what she's up to now. | ||
| Rob Brookman Member Username: Rob_b Post Number: 124 Registered: 08-2006 |
Talking about Marcy and work bring to mind another Scrawl memory. After I moved back to Chicago in 1990, I went to see the band play here. I got there just as they were going on and they looked strange for a reason I couldn't put my finger on. Marcy announced that the whole band worked temp jobs, so they decided to wear their office finery - staid and kind of frumpy suits. It was great to see this thrashy band looking like a bunch of paper pushers. Very funny. | ||
| Kurt Stephan Member Username: Slothbert Post Number: 906 Registered: 04-2005 |
To tell you the truth, Rob, I was born in Columbus! My dad was attending OSU at the time. The company I worked with Marcy at was called SingleSourceIT (SSIT), one of thousands of ill-conceived, doomed-to-fail dot-coms from first big dot-com goldrush. It was based in Columbus but opened up a San Francisco office, which I worked for. The SF staff went on a three-day trip to Columbus after our branch opened, and when I saw Marcy and was introduced to her, I made the connection (I had seen Scrawl live back in '89, I think, but only had one of their albums and hadn't played it in ages). Marcy was actually very cool and sort of unfriendly toward the SF people until I went up to her and said, "aren't you the Marcy who was in Scrawl?" Her eyes lit up and she said, "I still am!" And she was my pal the rest of the time we were in Columbus. She was fun while we were there, but after we went back, she went back to being unfriendly. I found out later she considered the SF office a threat to her job. It didn't matter; the whole company was folded in less than a year. And here's the last I heard about what Marcy's up to now: http://www.shortnorth.com/SurlyGirl.html | ||
| Matthias Treml Member Username: Matthias Post Number: 171 Registered: 05-2005 |
Now here's a thread for me. Good One Padraig: I've been trying to learn to how to play and sing Tank Park Salute at the same time. Very difficult for this now picker. What a tribute to his father. William Bloke stepped off his soap box! 1. Case of You - Joni but I like it covered by Tori Amos 2. Tea Merchants - the rachels' 3. This Night Has Opened my Eyes / Back to the Old House / Asleep - The Smiths 4. When I look in your eyes - Diana Krall 5. Civil War Lament - Jack Frost 6. If you go - Hothouse Flowers 7. Why Should I Cry for You? - Sting 8. River - Natalie Merchant 9. Forgiveness / Sanctuary - Luka Bloom 10. Fall at your Feet - Crowded House 11. Rowena's Theme - Edge 12. Sweet Lorraine / Poor Man's House / Top of the World - Patty Griffin That's off the top of my head... there's more. Gosh, I love to listen to melancholy. I need a shrink! | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 760 Registered: 03-2005 |
I know this thread is supposed to be about sad songs for lovers but one of my favorite sad songs that seems to be more about existential collapse (my personal favorite topic!) or maybe just about a hangover is Peter Milton Walsh's "What's the Morning For?" | ||
| XY765 Member Username: Judge Post Number: 131 Registered: 01-2006 |
Crying - Roy Orbison | ||
| Little Keith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 1173 Registered: 03-2006 |
Actually Randy, since I started it, I can say the thread was meant to be about sad songs of any creed, color or religious affiliation. They don't have to be about lovers... The title of this thread, purloined from an album by the National, was just a convenient "handle"... I have to third or fourth, or whatever it's up to, the admiration for My Curse. Powahful...I'm not sure MM is technically a very good singer, but somehow what she does with it is damned effective. When I saw them a few years later, they had another female singer performing it, and though the substitute was also great, it wasn't quite the same. Btw, they were completely on and kicked ass in every possible way there is to kick ass...Greg Dulli may be about 4'8" but the wee little man is an incredible showman...A good friend of mine pushes his Twilight Singers stuff on me all the time, but it's never seemed quite as good, quite as focused, to me...However, the newest, Powder Burns, is an exception...the first since AW to match the power and songwriting force. | ||
| Little Keith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 1174 Registered: 03-2006 |
Randy, the hangover theme (there could probably be a whole thread on that theme) sparked a memory of a couple of incredibly sad and deeply beautiful songs, both written by Kris Kristofferson: Sunday Morning Coming Down - Johnny Cash (just one of many great versions) For the Good Times - Al Green | ||
| Rob Brookman Member Username: Rob_b Post Number: 126 Registered: 08-2006 |
Lou Reed used to be good for hangover songs back in his drinking days, songs like "Last Shot" and "Underneath the Bottle." | ||
| Little Keith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 1175 Registered: 03-2006 |
I'm reminded, too, of Costello's great "The Big Light", on that subject, with its great line about a "hangover that has a personality", and also, Squeeze's excellent "When the Hangover Strikes"... It also brings to mind Denis Leary's great bit about how a really bad hangover is when your liver's sitting next to you on the stool, saying "you're an asshole!"... Yuck. I try not to have them anymore - for me they often do feel synonymous with existential collapse... | ||
| Kurt Stephan Member Username: Slothbert Post Number: 913 Registered: 04-2005 |
You know you're getting old (and are fortunately not an alcoholic) when you stop after two pints to avoid anything resembling a hangover. I'm such a lightweight now compared to my younger days, but those hangovers just ain't worth it! | ||
| Andrew Kerr Member Username: Andrew_k Post Number: 166 Registered: 04-2005 |
Wolfgang, re: French chanson + cheery songs! Are you aware of Jacques Bertin? Certainly not many laughs there, but some beautiful songs. Check out 'Je parle pour celui qui a manqué le train' or 'L'enfant toussait de l'autre côté du mur' | ||
| Wolfgang Steinhardt Member Username: Berbatov Post Number: 25 Registered: 09-2006 |
Thank you Andrew - by chance I read your message before starting to a shopping trip across the border to France, I'm going to check out the local FNAC store. He is unknown to me like most of the contemporary scene besides that Biolay/Breut stuff ... Bon week-end to you anyway! | ||
| Allen Belz Member Username: Abpositive Post Number: 133 Registered: 09-2006 |
Not a love song in the usual sense at all, but a song that makes me tear up uncontrollably every time I listen to it is "Hold My Hand" by Kimya Dawson...tales from a former home-daycare worker and her battles with a social worker. |