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Readers' Sad Songs: No.15

We launched our 25 Most Exquisitely Sad Songs in the Whole World on a lonely Friday night ... and then the crying really began. Not just from the weepy ballads we cued up for you, but from the ones we left off ("No Gilbert O'Sullivan?!?").

To show you, our cherished readers, that this is not a one-way pity party, we've tallied up your comments and assembled a list of your top 15 write-ins. Warning: You guys are way sappier than we are.


'Tell Laura I Love Her'
Ray Peterson (1960)

Tommy raced his car at the track to get the $1,000 prize to buy Laura a wedding ring. Only he died on the track:
"As they pulled him from the twisted wreck/On his dying breath they heard him say/'Tell Laura I love her/Tell Laura I need her/Tell Laura not to cry/My love for her will never die."
I cry every time I hear this song. --Trisha Pritchard, Lancaster, PA

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347 Comments

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Datah

Sylvia's Mother

Sunday at 1:15 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Lisa

Hands down! The saddest song in the world is sung by Billy Joel titled And So It Goes.

December 01 2012 at 4:04 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Tom

"Hurt" by Christina Aguilera can bring me to tears some times. A child with haunting regret for a lost parent and lost opportunities... so sad...

Oh, I'm sorry for blaming you
For everything I just couldn't do
And I've hurt myself by hurting you

October 12 2012 at 1:05 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
melissascott19

"Never is a Promise" by Ms Fiona Apple

September 20 2012 at 12:35 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Squishy Don

Limousine- Brand New.

A girl killed in a car accident by a drunk driver

Saddest moment:
"I saw our sad Messiah.
He was bored and tired of my laments.
Said, "I died for you one time, but never again'"

August 08 2012 at 8:28 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Brooke Nemeth

"Terrible Things" by Mayday Parade.

March 21 2012 at 11:18 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Larry Dreifke

Just listened to Keith Whitley sing "Don't Close Your Eyes". Kills me every time.

March 12 2012 at 5:44 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Maegan

What about "Whiskey Lullaby?" Really? I still cry at that song...

December 15 2011 at 8:36 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
bkelevra

A couple thoughts on additions:

Eels - It's a ************
Harry Nilsson - Don't forget me

December 15 2011 at 1:10 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
David A Wynter Jr

How is Gilbert O'Sullivans "Naturally" (Along Again) not included on this list? I like some of the list, but its almost like the author was a bit short-sighted

June 17 2011 at 4:42 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply