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Readers' Sad Songs: No. 1

'Tears in Heaven'
Eric Clapton (1992)

How could any song be sadder than one written inspired by the death of his five-year-old son, who died falling from a hotel window. I cry every time I hear it. Heartbreaking tenderness and vulnerability. --Claudia Wolf, Bethany, CT

A father grieving the loss of a young child. There is nothing sadder. --Gary

Just the thought of that sweet child falling ... I cried for a day. I can remember what I was doing that day it was announced on the news. --Kym


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alullaby7

I dare you to listen to My Chemical Romance's Cancer and not feel the least bit sad.
"Turn away
'Cause I'm awful just to see
All my hair's abandoned all my body
Oh my agony
Know that I will never marry
Baby I'm just soggy from the chemo
But counting down the days to go
It just ain't living!"

December 25 2011 at 5:20 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Lisa K

Okay, I know this list is missing several sad songs:
In the arms of the angel- sarah mclauglan
I'll follow you into the dark- death cab for cutie
landslide- fleetwood mac
Mariah Carey's Can't live (if living is without you) also totally makes for a tear-jerker. The lyrics (and story behind the song) are devastating.

December 07 2011 at 9:59 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Nunya

Teddy Bear has got to be one of the saddest songs ever. You can't have a heart and not be bawling your eyes out by the end of that song. Throw in "Why" by Rascal Flatts and you will be dehydrated from all the crying.

October 08 2011 at 8:56 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Nunya

How can you not have the song "Why" by Rascal Flatts. The saddest song I have ever heard and makes me bawl every time I hear it.

October 08 2011 at 7:40 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
AmPaFe

"LAST KISS", Taylor Swift.
"SLIPPED AWAY", Avril Lavigne (to her grandfather, who's dead)
"GOODBYE", Avril Lavigne.

August 24 2011 at 2:43 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Pamela

What abot Reba McEntyre's "The Greatest Man I Never Knew"? or Patsy Cline's "Crazy"? Oh, and don't forget Willie Nelson's "You Were Always On My Mind".

August 18 2011 at 8:36 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Patrick

I would like to nominate Janis Ian's "Society's Child" to be one of the saddest songs. About an inter-racial couple who have to split up because the father demands she "sticks to your own kind." I understand it made such an impact it was banned by many southern radio stations. Janis's other sad song "At 17" is also pretty depressing.

May 20 2011 at 9:44 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Julie

"Goodbye Baby" by Fleetwood Mac does it for me. One of the saddest songs...hands down

November 25 2007 at 3:14 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jeff Lewis

I do not think I ever heard a song that has had as powerful an impact on me than Tom Waits' "Georgia Lee." It is brutally tragic and in all honesty it is so difficult for me to listen to that I have only heard the song in its entiretly a few times.

November 25 2007 at 3:03 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
neuroswipe

Try "The little girl" by John Michael Montgomery. That is a great song but brutally sad.

November 22 2007 at 3:46 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply