Following on from the top 10 depressing scenes in movies, we have top 10 depressing rock songs. Light a few black candles, dim the lights, and weep!
10. New Order Leave Me Alone
New Order were an English rock group formed by members of Joy Division in the wake of their lead singer, Ian Curtis’ suicide. They were known for their minimalist aesthetic and melding of post-punk and dance.
Their 1983 album, Power Corruption and Lies truly established them as a new and original band, and helped them break free from the shadow of their predecessor. Despite the album’s electronic tinged tracks, it was the final song, the guitar led, sorrowful, Leave Me Alone that stood out the most.
9. Suicide Frankie Teardrop
Influential synth duo, Suicide, caused a stir with the release of their self-titled 1977 album, with its stand out track, the 10 minute Frankie Teardrop.
Composed of a simple drum machine beat and Alan Vega’s lacerating vocals, Frankie Teardrop tells the disturbing story of one factory worker’s murder/suicide. Best listened to at high volume and with lights out, the song’s raw and unique style sends shivers down your spine, up until its shocking climax which leaves you in a catatonic state of pure disbelief. You wont feel well after this.
8. Johnny Cash Hurt
Music icon Johnny Cash sadly passed away in 2003, but left a legacy of unforgettable music practically unrivalled by any other country music star.
His last hit was 2002’s Hurt, an unlikely cover of a song by industrial band Nine Inch Nails. The song’s poignant acoustic guitar and Cash’s fragile vocals have made the song arguably more popular than the original. Cash’s death shortly after it was released make the song even more tragic.
7. The Beatles Eleanor Rigby
All the lonely people, where do the all come from? The Beatles never got sadder than this examination of those lonely people that the world forgets. The song is entirely a string quartet arrangement and definite stand out track on their Revolver album, and helped transform The Beatles from a simple pop act to something much more special.
6. Metallica Fade to Black
Released on their Ride the Lightning album, this partly acoustic song was such a departure from the trademark thrash metal that fans originally deemed it a ‘sell out,’ although it has become a fan favourite now.
5. Dire Straits Brothers in Arms
Dire Straits’ war elegy appeared on their 1985 album of the same name. There are three version of the song, a long, medium and short version. The shorter version has been included here.
4. Jeff Buckley Hallelujah
Another cover that has outlasted the original, Jeff Buckley took Leonard Cohen’s biblical hymn and made it his own song about the futility and pain of love, stripping away Cohen’s synth and bass to replace it with a single high pitched guitar.
Buckley only produced one studio album in his time, accidentally drowning in a tributary of Mississippi River in 1997.
3. Elliott Smith King’s Crossing
Starting with a slow amalgam of seemingly random noise, Elliott Smith’s mournful tale of self-destructive drug addiction constantly changes harmonies and beats to reflect the characters constantly changing thought patterns. The wall of noise technique overwhelms the listener with feelings of distortion, and after it’s all over, Smith has one last epilogue to haunt you.
2. Radiohead How To Disappear Completely
The feeling of not wanting to be there, of being in a situation so painful that you wish you could tell yourself ‘I’m not here’ and be whisked away. Yorke’s meandering, dreamlike voice works wonders on this song, as the crescendo builds and builds to its emotional climax.
In a 2006 BBC interview, Yorke said that this was “the most beautiful thing we have ever done.”
1. The Smiths How Soon is Now?
The Smiths were an 80s rock band from Manchester, England whose jangly guitar riffs and depressing lyrics, courtesy of singer Morrissey, made them one of the most notorious band of the era.
Their undoubted masterpiece is this six and a half minute caterwaul of pure sadness. As Johnny Marr’s trademark guitar riffs are replaced with a chilling reverb effect, as Morrissey sings about those of us who long for love but don’t know how to find it. Perhaps it’s most despairing moment comes around the half way point, ‘There’s a club if you want to go/You could meet somebody who really loves you/So you go and you stand on your own/You leave on your own/You go home and you cry and you want to die.’
Contributor: JT
Need something from 'The Wall' – gaurenteed to ruin your day.
Comfortably Numb.
um… the whole album… but don’t drink when you’re listening to it. guaranteed to send you to rehab…
Nice list. All these songs make me wanna cry. I would have said that ‘She’s leaving home’ is more depressing than ‘Eleanor Rigby’ for the Beatles. Perhaps that’s just me.
I agree, Johnny Cash’s version of Hurt is far better than NIN.
Nazareth – Love Hurts
I would suggest:
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Evanescence- My “Immortal”
Queen- “Too much love will kill you” and “These are the days of our lives”
I don’t know why, but “What a wonderful world” by Louis Armstrong always made me cry… (I know, it’s not rock
As for spanish songs, I suggest
“Despídete”- by “Ella Baila Sola” and “La chispa adecuada”-by “Héroes del Silencio”
wow – great additions guys – thanks
Another omission would be Seventeen by Janis Ian
I’d say Elliott Smith’s “between the bars”, “twilight”, “see you later”, “miss misery” and “I didn’t understand” are all sadder than “king’s crossing”.
“See you later” only really because of the way he sings the words “see you later” so many times, but we never will.
Morgaine: I second the Queen- how about “Who wants to live forever”? That’s one sad song
Good choices though.
Two words: Jugband Blues.
Hobolad: Sure it is
But not depressing, I think… just very beautiful..another one that makes me cry is “The show must go on”, really beautiful, too.
Morgaine: Good call! These all get even sadder considering what happened to Freddie
Who wants to live forever is depressing for like, the first half- then it gets kinda triumphant almost.
Those were the days of our lives though- ugh, that’d be my choice for saddest song ever, we can all relate to it (Who doesn’t wish they could be five years old forever with nothing changing and no one dying and always being that innocent
)
“Reflections of My Life” by Marmalade. The most depressing regretful 3 minutes of music ever recorded.
watch out with the johnny cash version being better than NIN. seen that comment cause some problems on another thread. i don’t care either way, but there are some strong opinions on the matter.
good work JT.
Hobolad: Another song meant to be happy (as “What a Wonderful world”)that makes the opposite effect is “It’s a beautiful day”…. how can a man consumed by his illness, as Freddie was, sing a song saying “it’s a beautiful day, the sun is shining, I feel good, and no one’s gonna stop me now”?
Major Tom by David Bowie is a great depressing rock song.
And virtually all songs from The Wall are pretty depressing. Goodbye Blue Sky, The Thin Ice, Vera, Don’t Leave Me Now, Comfortably Numb, Waiting For The Worms…and I could go on and on.
The title is Space Oddity, not Major Tom.
I got no complaints about the list, but I got a couple additions:
Perfect Day- Lou Reed
I Know It’s Over- The Smiths
Seasons In The Sun- (Don’t remember the artist. It’s tricky because it’s all poppy and sing-songy and rather cheesy, but the lyrics are very sad.)
The story told is Jane Says is pretty sad too…
Ya know, as an avid Beatles fan, I’d still have to go with Yesterday over Eleanor Rigby… but that’s just me. Oh, also check out Wheat Kings by The Tragically Hip, Everybody Hurts by REM, or even One by Metallica is, for me anyway, far more depressing than Fade to Black. Good list, as always!
some of these arent depressing enough-
i want to see the list after a few more iterations
Blue October – Hate Me
James Blunt – Goodbye My Lover
Both make me softly weep.
So sad. i love elenor Rigby though. Sad, but beautiful.
“Tears in Heaven” is scientifically proven to be the saddest song in the world.
Oops – I forgot to include the links – I have updated the list with links to the songs so you can actually HEAR them
Hazel O’Connor with Will You, from the film Breaking Glass – the saxophone solo just tears me up.
Wow, nothing by Bright Eyes OR Dashboard Confessional? I would nominate nearly any one of their songs. What about Mad World, not the Tears for Fears version but the one for Donnie Darko? THAT is a depressing song. I also find it hard to listen to Coldplay at all without getting overly emotional, but I guess that’s more related to personal experience. How about I Miss New Wave by the Matthew Good Band? That song is so sad…I’ve got a million of ‘em. But I would have to agree that Tears in Heaven is the most depressing song written of the face of the planet. =( And I LOVE Elanor Rigby! Beautiful song.
Good call on Mad World! I agree that the Tears for Fears version is not as sad as some of the covers (Gary Jules being that one that makes you die a little inside when you hear it).
Nice list!
Kelsi: I love Dashboard Confessional – a very worthy mention.
Gary Jules Version of MAd world from the Donnie Darko soundtrack
somthing I can never have bu NIN
The Freshmen by The Verve Pipe!!!!! Just listen closely to the lyrics, it’s quite sad.
Tie the Rope by The Format, those lyrics are damn depressing but the song is sung in a poppy upbeat style.
Oh – another one for me is “Can’t live if living is without you” – made doubly depressing in my mind since it starred as the background music in the suicide scene of Rules of Attraction!
‘That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore’ would’ve been a better Smiths selection and ‘Big Eyed Fish’ from Dave Matthews could be included as well.
A list of depressing rock songs which doesn’t include anything from Anathema?:O Anathema is The saddest and most depressing band of all, in my opinion. Check out songs like Lost Control, Flying, Regret, Angelica, Forgotten hopes, etc.. I mean the song How soon is now may have depressed lyrics, but thats nowhere not enough to make a song with such a cheery melody worthy of the title depressing.
‘Gloomy Sunday’ was reported to have caused numerous suicide. And you can’t get much depressive as that!
I would add to the list, ‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’ – Joy Division.
your music lists are horrible!!
I thought the song “seasons in the sun” was pretty sad but I’m not sure who it was originally by. I found a Nirvana cover of it on youtube though.
I think Melissa by the Allman Brothers is the most depressing song, not so much in the lyrics, but in the song itself. It was the first song that was written and recorded by Gregg Allman after Duane Allman’s death. You can really hear the sadness in Gregg Allman’s voice and makes lyrics like “Crossroads, will you ever let him go? Will you hide the dead mans ghost, or will he lie, beneath the clay, or will his spirit roll away?” even more depressing. Oh and “Alone Again (Naturally)” by Gilbert O’Sullivan always makes me really depressed too.
Seasons in the Sun is by Terry Jacks
Everybody Hurts – REM
Not one Type O Negative song… lame bias lists…
Creep: it’s true – we actually planned this list especially to be biased against your own personal taste. We suck.
“The Kids” from Lou Reed’s album Berlin. Unmatched.
Mother – Pink Floyd
Never Too Late – Three Days Grace
Under the Bridge – Red Hot Chili Peppers
Just about anything by Depeche Mode
Scientific evidence shows that listening to these back-to-back will induce a psychosomatic response in the listener, causing blood to leak from their wrists, liprings to instantaneously appear, and dark mascara circles to appear under the eyes.
Okay, try this one for size: The song is about a fellow who is in love with a woman from a ‘rival’ family (I suppose a-la Romeo and Juliette) and as he goes to kiss her for the first time, right in the middle of the street, a bullet fired from her brother’s gun intent on killing the man misses and murders his sister… how’s that for depressing. The song is called Valencia and it’s by The Decemberists:
The video is so much different that the song, I kinda wonder why they chose it. Oh well.
Great list!
Another song I think is depressing is “Brick” by Ben Folds Five
I’m surprised that you didn’t include ‘Sunday Bloody Sunday’ by U2, and ‘Rockin’ In The Free World’ by Neil Young.
A few of these entries are good (#8. ‘Hurt’ made me say ‘well, duh’), but I’ve never heard of most of them, so I decided to make my own top ten lists. All of these songs make me cry when I hear them. In no particular order:
10. Placebo – Sleeping With Ghosts
9. The Smiths – Asleep
8. Pink Floyd – High Hopes
7. Johnny Cash – Hurt
6. Youth Group – Why Don’t The Buildings Cry
5. Tim McGraw – Already Home
4. Bird York – In The Deep
3. Dave Matthews Band – Some Devil
2. Vienna Teng – Blue Caravan
1. Amos Lee – Colors
Bonus: Vince Gill – Go Rest High on that Mountain (the song I want our preacher to sing at my funeral)
everything by Nickleback is extremely depressing to me, even if the songs not meant to be, maybe its just cause i cant stand them
This could so easily have been a top 100! Another addition: My name is Luca by Suzanne Vega
The Smiths- How soon is now? is my favorite song. I absolutly love it.
Type-o-negitive – Love you to Death (just for an example…many more good sad songs)
Harry Chapin- Cat’s in the Cradle (This song makes me cry every time I listen to it…saddest song I have EVER heard.)
Ben Folds Five- Brick (Another that makes me cry every time)
forever gone by marginal man
probably the most depressing
it’s only time by mark curry
divorce song by liz phair
i think that something in the way by nirvana should be on here. it always gets to me.
Bruce Springstein came out with some songs about 9/11 that were pretty darn depressing
I agree, evan. Or I’d include The River or Fade Away or Gypsy Biker by Springsteen.
Not really rock but “Sound of Silence” by Simon and Garfunkle.
MojoRisin: You’re not the only one. I also think “She’s Leaving Home” is more depressing than Eleanor Rigby. Both are great songs though.
And I’m glad FekketCantenel put “Asleep” by the Smiths on his/her list. It’s the second song I thought of after “Hurt” and I sure like my depressing music.
Look up the lyrics to Pink Floyd’s “Two Suns in the Sunset”.
or Dark Globe, from Syd Barrett’s first solo album, The Madcap Laughs.
Should be some Muse… uhh… pretty much any song
Mike: It is so good to see Muse mentioned somewhere!!! They are my all-time favorite band and so very, very talented. Matthew Bellamy’s voice is just amazing. They do have some sad songs (“Falling Away With You”, “Endlessly” and even “Starlight” are kinda sad) but they also have some really great upbeat songs too! Personally, I really enjoy all of their songs! Thanks for making my day by mentioning them!
My first thought when I saw the title of this list was “I Don’t Like Mondays” by Boomtown Rats. Remember that one? It was inspired by the true story of a 16-year old girl who killed some people and when asked why, she said it was because she didn’t like Mondays. Ouch. (My 1970s bias is showing again, jfrater!)
Id have to go with The Cure “The Same Deep Water As you”
Jugband Blues is a very sad song; that ending is one of the best ever: “what exactly is a dream, and what exactly is a joke?”
Also, I think there has to be some Nirvana: All Apologies, Dumb, Do Re Mi or Sappy. Another song that I think is amazing is Mom & Dad by Frank Zappa from the album We’re only in it for the money.
@Noah: That is a sad line. “When the Tigers Broke Free” just has the most heartbreaking end though “That’s how the high command took my daddy from me”.
There’s a few Dylan one’s that are sad: “Sara”, for his estranged wife is sad. “Joey” for his gangster friend who got shot. Oh, “Forever Young” is fair sad. None of these are really as sad as those posted though.
EDIT: Okay, I need to learn some more alternatives for the word “sad”