Some songs do more than simply hit. They drag you emotionally, but not necessarily in a bad way, and it’s because of that one line & one memory they bring back. It stops you right in your tracks. Here are thirteen of the saddest songs of all time. What songs never fail to get you crying?
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock.com.
“Tears in Heaven” – Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton wrote “Tears in Heaven” after his 4-year-old son fell out of a New York high-rise. Tragically, Clapton’s son died. As such, the song isn’t a poetic metaphor, but rather a very real tale. The lyrics don’t dance around this either. They talk about whether Clapton and his son will know each other again “in heaven.” There’s pain in every word.
“Fast Car” – Tracy Chapman
Most people think that “Fast Car” is just a song about running away. But it’s more than that. The song is about getting out & realizing that your new life isn’t much better. It starts out hopeful and dreamy. Soon enough, though, life catches up. Chapman’s voice is probably the saddest part, since it stays calm throughout. It’s just so raw.
“Hurt” – Johnny Cash
Even though Johnny Cash’s “Hurt” is a cover, it doesn’t feel like one. It sounds like Cash is staring death in the face. And he kinda was. He recorded it shortly after losing his wife, and not long before he died himself. You can see this hurt in the video, too. How utterly tragic.
“He Stopped Loving Her Today” – George Jones
“He Stopped Loving Her Today” seems like it’s your typical country song at first. But then comes the reveal. The singer only stopped loving his wife when he died. Essentially, he carried his heartbreak to the grave. Jones himself wasn’t sober for the majority of the recording, either. Somehow, that makes it sound more broken.
“Cat’s in the Cradle” – Harry Chapin
“Cat’s in the Cradle” is another song that starts out rather sweet. A dad’s busy & life gets in the way, normal stuff. However, suddenly, the kid’s grown up, and now he’s too busy. The end of the song leaves you with a sense of real devastation. It gets worse when you realize Chapin got the idea from his wife’s poem. The saddest part? Nobody’s the villain.
“Elephant” – Jason Isbell
Cancer is never an easy topic to talk about, least of all in song. That’s why Isbell doesn’t sugarcoat it in “Elephant.” The song tells the story of a woman dying of cancer and what her friend does. They’re trying & failing to keep things light. However, the song has no chorus or build-up, just honesty. Each line hurts.
“Vincent” – Don McLean
Many people don’t know that this song is about Vincent van Gogh. Yes, really. After reading about him, McLean felt overwhelmed by how misunderstood van Gogh was. One of the most devastating lines is, “This world was never meant for one as beautiful as you.” How can you not cry to that?
“Nothing Compares 2 U” – Sinéad O’Connor
Time for another cover. While Prince wrote this, Sinéad owned it, and that pain in her voice wasn’t acting. She actually cried in the video. She was thinking about her mom, who died in a car crash. To make it even more heartbreaking, the instrumentation is sparse. It sounds like a woman unraveling, right in front of you.
“The River” – Bruce Springsteen
“The River” is entirely real. The story is about Springsteen’s sister & her husband, who married young. They had a kid and struggled to make it work. Throughout the song, Springsteen sings about lost dreams. But not with anger. It’s a real sense of tired sadness that really gets you. Ouch.
“All I Want” – Kodaline
“All I Want” tricks you at first. It begins like a breakup ballad, slow & soft, before things change. It becomes a massive tale of heartbreak, but without the dramatic screams. There are no long verses, either. It’s just simple phrases that sound like someone trying to hold it together. It’s so lonely.
“Whiskey Lullaby” – Brad Paisley & Alison Krauss
This is another story-song, and not a happy one. Simply put, the guy in the song drinks himself to death after a breakup. She does the same later on. The song features some rather haunting harmonies, along with kinda vague lyrics. They don’t explain anything. But you can feel the pain throughout.
“Candle in the Wind (1997)” – Elton John
Elton didn’t plan to sing this song again, as the original was for Marilyn Monroe. But Princess Diana’s team asked him if he’d do a version for her after she died. So, Elton agreed. He changed the lyrics & sang it once at Diana’s funeral. Pretty much everyone bought it after it was released.
“Amy” – Green Day
After Amy Winehouse died, Billie Joe wrote the song “Amy.” And that was even though he had never met her. He just felt the pain of her passing. The song has no big chorus or loud part, and it runs for just under two minutes. But that’s all you need to feel his sadness.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
Like our content? Be sure to follow us.
