In which I turn music into math equationsAugust 31st, 2007 @ 7:01 am
In an attempt to prove that I spend too much with my coworkers, I decided to list off all of their favorite movies to them. I wanted them to know that I knew about them. That I cared about them.
Whatever, I was proving a point. I don’t really care about them.
After I proved to all of them that I truly did know all of their favorite movies, my boss (the one that can see my computer from his desk and is probably watching me type this right now) asked me what the Saddest Song Ever was. Since I only had about 2 seconds to think of one, I failed. “I don’t know. What is the Saddest Song Ever?”
He said he didn’t know either. He was just asking to see if I had an idea.
I think most of us have been asked about our favorite movie, or our favorite book, and ever our favorite song enough times that we know what our answer will be if we’re asked to name them. (Sixteen Candles, The Drifters, Across the Universe, respectively.) But something like what we think the saddest song is, well, that’s a little harder.
After my boss asked me this, I scanned through my iTunes to see if I could see a sad song. Of course nothing really popped out at me. Until I remembered the Old 97’s song, No Mother. Especially the part that goes:
In the middle of the meadow I’m waiting
For mother and the other ones I love
There’s no good why this came to pass
There’s only just because
No no no mother should ever have to lose a son
No no no mother especially such a handsome one
This song is pretty sad, especially since it was written about a friend of the band who had died. So while this is a sad song, I doubt it’s the Saddest Song Ever.
My boss and I continued the quest for the Saddest Song Ever again this morning. He asked google what it thought the song should be. Google said that Tears in Heaven by Eric Clapton is pretty damn sad. I agree that it’s a pretty freakin’ sad song. But Eric Clapton also wrote Layla, which we all know is about him being in love with his best friend’s wife. So while Eric gets +2 for Tears in Heaven, he get -1 for Layla.
Another song that I think is sad is Fancy. You know, the song about a mom turning her daughter into a prostitute. Fancy had a rough life and a song reminding you of it is pretty sad. One of my other coworkers insisted that Look Away by Chicago was the Saddest Song Ever. Dude, Chicago gets -5 points because I got my first kiss at a Chicago concert years ago and it sucks ass. So Chicago, you lose.
When I asked Lizzy this morning over chat what she thought the Saddest Song Ever was, she responded back in like .02 seconds with Pink Moon by Nick Drake. A song I’ve never heard of, but will be downloading later today.
Lizzy went on to say “I mean, I guess it depends on how you define “sad”. like the songs that make cry? Every Time? music can evoke so many emotions in me: happiness, sadness, meloncholy… it’s just so personal and visceral, i don’t know how else to desribe it. good music oozes from my pores. when i get goosebumps, i know it’s good.”
Yes, it’s hard to define what makes a song “sad”.
I’m still not sure what I think the Saddest Song Ever is. I need more time to think about it. I need to listen to a few more songs before I decide.
So tell me, just off the top of your head, what do you think the Saddest Song Ever is?
—————
Don’t forget that even though I’ll be away on vacation next week, very exciting things will be happening here at hola, isabel.
Seriously, I’m very excited about it. Very excited. And you should be to.
Random · Addictions
Carrisa
said,
August 31, 2007 at 4:29 pm
There are so many songs that make me cry, but then because they are Christian songs they are so SAD so much because hello? Heaven isn’t sad. Mark Schultz is the best at making me cry with his songs.
I guess we could say that Taps is the saddest song ever since it’s played at funerals.
Frema
said,
August 31, 2007 at 4:30 pm
“How Can I Help You to Say Good-bye” by Patty Loveless is a song that makes me cry. And I don’t even have a daughter (yet). You may recall it was featured on the TLF soundtrack.
On the flip side, “The Greatest Man I Never Knew” by Reba McIntyre is a tearjerker about a daughter’s relationship with her dad. SOB, is all I’m saying.
“It’s Too Late” by Carole King is a sad relationship song. I always feel sorry for the poor couple that just couldn’t make things work.
Pardon me. There’s something in my eye.
super des
said,
August 31, 2007 at 4:31 pm
I’ve always said “Tears in Heaven.” Finding out your 4 year old son toppled to his death from a window while in your ex-wife’s “care” has gotta leave a lifelong sting. And it does make me cry.
I used to like INXS’s “Never Tear us Apart” as a sweet love song, until I learned that they played it at Michael Hutchin’s funeral. Then it took on a whole new meaning. Not Saddest Song Ever, but it makes me frown like I’m sad.
jessica
said,
August 31, 2007 at 4:37 pm
Pale Blue Eyes by The Velvet Underground. Super Depressing. No matter how good of a mood I’m in, as soon as I hear it, I’m ready to slit my wrists (not really of course). But it’s a great song, one of my favorites really. I’m twisted.
CPA Mom and Soccer Mom Angela
said,
August 31, 2007 at 4:51 pm
As listed in this entry:
http://cpamomva.com/2007/07/10/out-of-the-blue/
Emmylou Harris: I cried a river
Garth Brooks: When You Come Back to Me Again
Laura Pausini: One More Time
Kansas: Dust in the Wind
Also: Melancoly Blue by Trisha Yearwood
CPA Mom and Soccer Mom Angela
said,
August 31, 2007 at 4:53 pm
oh, and how about Amazing Grace, played on bagpipes, at a funeral. TEAR jerker.
Whitney
said,
August 31, 2007 at 4:54 pm
Dang it. Frema totally stole mine. It’s possibly the saddest song ever… Makes me cry every single time I hear it.
Nap Queen
said,
August 31, 2007 at 4:55 pm
I think “Let Me Let Go” by Faith Hill/Vince Gill is pretty sad. She has a great “sad” voice. “What Might Have Been” by Little Texas and “The Weekend” by Steve Wariner make me cry every time, but for personal reasons
Jura
said,
August 31, 2007 at 4:56 pm
Eminem’s When I’m Gone. I hate that sad songs that I can think of seem to have a bit too evident link to man-made reality.
Rachel
said,
August 31, 2007 at 5:00 pm
Since I suck big ass at html, I decide to just type the lyrics to the song I think is so very sad (ok, so I used cut and paste)
Sherrie Austin, Streets of Heaven Lyrics
Artist: Austin Sherrie
Song: Streets of Heaven
Album: Streets of Heaven
(Sherrie Austin/Paul Duncan/Al Kasha)
Hello God, it’s me again. 2:00 a.m., Room 304.
Visiting hours are over, time for our bedside tug of war.
This sleeping child between us may not make it through the night.
I’m fighting back the tears as she fights for her life.
Well, it must be kind of crowded,
On the streets of Heaven.
So tell me: what do you need her for?
Don’t you know one day she’ll be your little girl forever.
But right now I need her so much more.
She’s much too young to be on her own:
Barely just turned seven.
So who will hold her hand when she crosses the streets of Heaven?
Tell me God, do you remember the wishes that she made,
As she blew out the candles on her last birthday cake?
She wants to ride a pony when she’d big enough.
She wants to marry her Daddy when she’s all grown up.
Well, it must be kind of crowded,
On the streets of Heaven.
So tell me: what do you need her for?
Don’t you know one day she’ll be your little girl forever.
But right now I need her so much more.
She’s much too young to be on her own:
Barely just turned seven.
So who will hold her hand when she crosses the streets of Heaven?
Lord, don’t you know she’s my angel
You got plenty of your own
And I know you hold a place for her
But she’s already got a home
Well I don’t know if you’re listenin’
But praying is all that’s left to do
So I ask you Lord have mercy, you lost a son once too
And it must be kind of crowded,
On the streets of Heaven.
So tell me: what do you need her for?
Don’t you know one day she’ll be your little girl forever.
But right now I need her so much more.
Lord, I know once you’ve made up your mind,
There’s no use in beggin’.
So if you take her with you today, will you make sure she looks both ways,
And would you hold her hand when she crosses the streets of Heaven.
The streets of Heaven.
Operation Pink Herring
said,
August 31, 2007 at 5:02 pm
I don’t know if these are the saddest songs EVER, of all time, amen… but they resonate with me and make me cry every time:
“The Scientist” by Coldplay
“Everything” by Lifehouse
And about 5 Sarah McLaughlin songs…
Stephanie Z
said,
August 31, 2007 at 5:37 pm
Well, I think it depends on what your life experiences have been and for everyone, their sad song is different. For example, I was listening to “The way we were” the other day in the car and it made me bawl. But in a few months, it might not make me bat an eye. Its just that right now, I relate heavily to everything in that song. However, I have some time in the next few days to listen to my iPod and think about what song I think is the saddest, so I’ll get back to you while you’re enjoying the sites in DC. Have a great trip!
Sad Kermit
said,
August 31, 2007 at 5:54 pm
This one
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57ta7mkgrOU&mode=related&search=
Lizzy
said,
August 31, 2007 at 6:03 pm
“Fix Your” (Coldplay). No matter how very OVERPLAYED this song was (seriously: WAY too much airtime, this one), it’s heartbreaking. Chris Martin wrote it for Gwynnie after her father, Bruce, passed away.
Also, for me, it’s the anthem of my pregnancy. It made me cry Every. Single. Time. I heard it while pregnant with Henry. And I promised that I will always try to Fix Him when he needs it.
Audrey
said,
August 31, 2007 at 6:03 pm
I’m not in a good mood to be thinking about sad songs at the moment, so let me just say that i am SUPER excited to see what you have in store for us next week.
Have a wonderful vacation!
michelle de seattle
said,
August 31, 2007 at 6:27 pm
this is what my sweetie says:
In California / Neko Case
Between the Bars / Elliot Smith
See How We Are / X
Captain / Kasey Chambers
All Tomorrow’s Parties / Velvet UndergroundRich Man’s War/ Steve Earle
Dirty Boulevard / Lou Reed
I vote for Invisible Sun, -The Police, Sweetness Follows - REM, Maybe Sparrow - Neko Case, River Man by Nick Drake, Hurt -covered by Johnny Cash, Where did you sleep last night - covered by about a gajillion people. Zombie by the Cranberries makes me sad, inspired by real events.
Yeah, can you guess which year I graduated from high school, looking at this list?
Rhi
said,
August 31, 2007 at 6:50 pm
A couple:
Ben Folds, The Luckiest
Sarah MacLachlan, Full of Grace
and, I’m with Carrisa, on the Christian song point. But, still, Hold Me Jesus by Rich Mullins makes me cry like a baby.
Christar
said,
August 31, 2007 at 7:02 pm
The song I thought of instantly was “Hear You Me” by Jimmy Eat World. Every time I hear it, it gives me chills. So sad.
If you want to read the lyrics, they’re here: http://www.stlyrics.com/lyrics/outcold/hearyoume.htm
Rhi
said,
August 31, 2007 at 7:55 pm
Also, Girlfriend in a Coma by the Smiths.
It’s a personal fave.
Carrisa
said,
August 31, 2007 at 9:16 pm
Haha… anything by the Smiths is down right cutting material.
Although you have to give Morissey props for taking the most depressing lyrics and putting them to nice upbeat tempos. That way you are at least appearing happy when you cut yourself.
kerrianne
said,
August 31, 2007 at 9:41 pm
Without a doubt, for me:
Peter Gabriel’s “I Grieve.” It reminds me of my dad, every time I hear it.
Sample lyrics:
It was only one hour ago
It was all so different then
Nothing yet has really sunk in
Looks like it always did
This flesh and bone
It’s just the way that we are tied in
But there’s no one home
I grieve…
for you
You leave…
me
(Happy! not sad! weekend to you and yours.)
SJ
said,
August 31, 2007 at 10:57 pm
How about Season’s in the Sun by Terry Jacks.
Just a sample:
Goodbye my friend, it’s hard to die, when all the birds are singing in the sky, Now that the spring is in the air. Pretty girls are everywhere.
When you see them I’ll be there.
We had joy, we had fun, we had seasons in the sun. But the hills that we climbed were just seasons out of time.
I remember this song from when I was little, and whenever someone I know passes, I think of this song. I think it’s sad.
Anth
said,
August 31, 2007 at 11:06 pm
Evaporated by Ben Folds Five. Saddest song ever as in melancholy.
I can’t even take Eric Clapton’s Tears in Heaven seriously because he wrote Cocaine. Have you ever listened to that song? It will just make you laugh at every Clapton song you ever hear again.
Anth
said,
August 31, 2007 at 11:11 pm
Oh, and a little 70s pop flashback for y’all: Everything I Own by Bread. You listen to it, and it sounds like it’s about a girl, but no, the singer wrote it when his dad died. It’s very sad, and it always makes me think about my dad. (Who is alive.)
chilihead
said,
September 1, 2007 at 2:59 am
I have to say that Cat’s In The Cradle has always been sad to me.
meritt
said,
September 1, 2007 at 1:56 pm
I’ve never ever thought of Fancy as a sad song! She doesn’t sound at ALL sad about her life when she sings it - it’s more like overcoming adversity and how well she’s done for herself but her sick mother knew she was dying and worried what would happen to her kids so she did the best she could…
Hmm.
Sad = “One Last Time” where the Dad is calling home as the plane is about to crash and he is telling his wife how much he loves her and then the phone goes dead in her hand as his plane crashes.
That one is pretty sad.
Fairly Odd Mother
said,
September 1, 2007 at 5:35 pm
My sister (who, HA!, does not have a blog and cannot retailiate) used to cry every time she heard a 70’s song called Wildfire. “She ran calling, Wiiiiiiiiiildfire. . .” I think it was about a horse.
I used to think Run Joey Run was pretty sad—it’s about a dad who tries to shoot a girl’s boyfriend but ends up shooting his daughter. That was a L-O-N-G time ago and doesn’t strike me as sad, but as campy, now.
I can’t ever, ever listen to Cat’s in the Cradle without crying, so I think that’d be my vote.
Trish
said,
September 1, 2007 at 7:47 pm
“Comfortably Numb” by Pink Floyd.
Lindsey
said,
September 2, 2007 at 3:57 am
Holy crap. Fancy is about a prostitute?!! I love that song, but I thought it was about a poor family who couldn’t afford for the daughter to have a dress for the prom, so she made one for her so she could go. Wow. I completely misinterpreted that.
Lindsey
said,
September 2, 2007 at 4:00 am
Oh and the song by Heartland, “I loved her first” gets me everytime. That song “Don’t take the girl” also makes me sad. Clearly, I love me some country music.
Christar
said,
September 2, 2007 at 4:19 am
Hmmm, I wonder why my post didn’t go through….
Anyways, the moment I read ’sadest song ever’ I immediately thought of “Hear You Me” by Jimmy Eat World. Just about every time I hear it, I cry. Seriously, you should really listen to the song. Reading the lyrics are ok, but to get the full effect, you gotta listen to it.
Have a great vacation!!!
Allycat
said,
September 2, 2007 at 7:47 am
Here are my top 5:
5) In the Ghetto - Nick Cave - its the vocals
4) The Day you went Away - Wendy Matthews
3) Honey - I don’t know who sung this - it’s an oldie
4) Ballad of Lucy Jordan - Marianne Faithfull
2) Letter to Heaven - Dolly Parton
1) Pale Blue Eyes - Lou Reed
And at christmas time, the littlest Angel of all by Bing Crosby always makes me shed a tear!
PS - Great post!
Jana
said,
September 3, 2007 at 2:16 am
Okay, I rarely comment, but I always read you. I may be one of the the few country fans here, but the song by Alan Jackson about Sept. 11. “Where were you when the world stopped turning?”
Get’s me everytime.
Loralee
said,
September 3, 2007 at 4:17 am
I know it doesn’t have lyrics but EVERY SONG by Kenny G. reminds me of some pyramid scheme telemarketing office with broken blinds at twilight. Makes me want to break out the razor blades and through Zoloft at myself…
Meredith
said,
September 4, 2007 at 1:58 am
While the Cats in the Cradle has no death or prostitution in it, it is still seriously sad. A Dad with no time for his son and then a son with no time for his dad. This is heart ache people!
Meredith
said,
September 4, 2007 at 2:00 am
Amen chilihead
KARA!
said,
September 5, 2007 at 1:06 am
My vote is for EVERY SONG by Nick Drake. I bought one of his CDs and only listened to it a couple of times before I connected that I only wanted to suffocate myself after listening to it. Haven’t listened to it in years. His voice is so unbearably vulnerable and melancholy. Great music if you really want to wallow in your own misery (which we all long to do from time to time).
Marriage-101
said,
September 5, 2007 at 5:35 pm
Ugh! Lindsey beat me. This whole time I was thinking “Don’t take the Girl” by Tim McGraw and I scanned thinking “yes, I’ll be the first one to say this!” and nope, I was beat. But the saddest song of all time for me would have to be Christmas Shoes. Seriously, check it out. The site plays the music so turn on your speakers: http://www.freedwings.com/christmasshoes.php
I don’t cry often, but that song gets me every freakin’ time.