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Some of you may remember the very popular top 10 depressing rock songs. This is our sequel! In the words of our submitter: Burn the incense, slip out the razor and get ready to cry your favorite shade of mascara–here are the real odes to frustration, depression, and subliminal agony.
A brilliant song. A beautiful voice. A genius set of lyrics. The most tender subject matter. Unless you commit suicide before it’s even over, this ultimate song of breakdown is the definite breakup song. And it’s pretty too.
For those still with us after depressing song number 10, this song is one of the most beautifully sad songs of all time on the subject of being filled with apathy towards the world around you.
Ian Curtis and his suicidal tendencies never had as much effect on any song as it did in this ode: “Here are the young men, a weight on their shoulders/here are the young men, well where have they been? We knocked on the doors of hell’s darkest chambers/Pushed to the limit we dragged ourselves in.”
You want alienation, mutilation, deprecation and annihilation? Look no further than Richey James Edward’s stream of consciousness tale about voyeurs and exhibitionists who “conceive a god on video” and “everyone I love or hated always seems to leave.” For further heartache, listen to the entire album, The Holy Bible.
The surreal, fantastic tale of a woman submerged in society’s darkness and her eventual, deliberate drowning to escape. Interpol’s dark atmosphere and esoteric lyrics have cemented their place as the new kings of goth pop. This song is part of the reason why.
“I am just a restless liar/I am just an imbecile/I will only complicate you/Trust in me and fall as well.” Guitars wail through this song. Maynard Keenan’s voice whispers of sullen depravity and then shouting in a merciful plea. This is all the metal paranoia one could ever possibly endure. And it is awesome.
The Cure have to be one this list. But of all their self-deprecating songs, this is the one that makes you sick to your stomach with anxiety about the future. “Over and over we die, one after the other.” And that’s not even the half of it. Any song that begins “It doesn’t matter if we all die!” isn’t going to be an inspirational hymn of any sorts. Listen without sharp objects in hand’s reach.
Teen love eventually equals teen angst, and no one ever got this more than Morrissey. The feeling of being buried in the rejection of a lover you never had is a tale wonderfully told all through its six minutes of sorrow. “Love is natural and real…but not for such as you and I, my lover.” Morrissey’s voice was never so pure and so submissive.
Lou Reed was never a subtle person, but on no song did he so emulate the pathetic beauty of Baudelaire than on this spiral into sweet addiction. Personal note: the first time I heard this song, I literally felt sickened. Oh, the power of confessional writing.
Trent Reznor, who has possibly the most bitter and horrendously fragile heart in rock, composed this farewell to the aspects of Love during the Fragile sessions, and was so personal and remorseful it wasn’t even released until a few years later on an Internet-only compilation. The music is faux-blissfully enchanting and allows itself to take you distantly to hell and back. The lyrics speak for themselves: “Please/take this/and run far away/far as you can see/I am tainted/and happiness and peace of mind/were never meant for me…in my nothing/you meant everything/everything to me.”
Contributor: F. McClure
September 15th, 2008 at 2:39 am
I adore all of these bands except Interpol… and I’m not a morbid person, honest…
September 15th, 2008 at 2:41 am
Wow! Great list!
Just one thing-it is spelt “imbecile” , isn’t it?
September 15th, 2008 at 2:43 am
Pretty much all of The Fragile makes me want to whip out the razors, especially the first song.
Thanks, Trent.
F. McClure, you have set the tone for my day.
I liked your list.
September 15th, 2008 at 2:46 am
i’m glad that jeff buckley made it on both lists, but i think that an elliott smith song deserves a place here somewhere, like “condor ave” or “last call”. nothing says downer like elliott smith acoustic
September 15th, 2008 at 2:58 am
eve – thanks for the correction – fixed
September 15th, 2008 at 3:14 am
These songs are depressing, but does it mean that they are emo? emo as in the make up wearing, wrist slitting, gay type.
September 15th, 2008 at 3:33 am
WHAT? No Welcome to the Black Parade!? (My Chemical Romance)
emo as in the make up wearing, wrist slitting, gay type.
You callin’ me a fag!?
September 15th, 2008 at 3:34 am
hmm floyd nice, well in all truth the whole album The Wall is actually rather depressing some more so then
Comfortably Numb
September 15th, 2008 at 3:39 am
Tool has a lot of really depressing songs if you listen to the words. “Pushit” might be the most of all. Of theirs, anyway…
September 15th, 2008 at 4:21 am
7. Denzell – WTTBP? Are you serious?! That songs about hope and isn’t even worthy of this list anyway.
Great that you included Interpol. Love them. But for a NIN song, I personally would’ve made number one ‘Something I Can Never Have’ or ‘A Warm Place’.
September 15th, 2008 at 4:22 am
Were is Frankie Teardrop from suicide??? it is the most depressing, disturbing and scary song ever made and it is not in none of the lists. Please listen if you can.
September 15th, 2008 at 4:30 am
The related lists section is showing “Top 10 British comedy songs”! A British comedy song is obviously no laughing matter.
Otherwise I can’t comment, because I don’t know any of these songs, and I don’t want to find out the hard way.
September 15th, 2008 at 4:32 am
A Tout Le Monde by Megadeth would have been a great addition to the list.
September 15th, 2008 at 4:35 am
Try ‘Casimir Pulaski Day’ (from ‘Come on Feel the Illinoise’) by Sufjan Stevens about the death of a childhood sweatheart and a subsequent crisis of religious faith…
It starts like this…
“Goldenrod and the 4H dome/
Are what I brought you/
When I found out you had cancer of the bone…”
September 15th, 2008 at 4:40 am
I’m not in total agreement with calling these songs ‘depressing’ – they’re sad and that can be a good thing.
Now the Jonas Brothers – that’s depressing.
September 15th, 2008 at 4:55 am
lol
the images of the And All That Could Have Been clip are actually from The Perfect Drug. But’s funny how well it fits.
It’s also funny that Trent Reznor appears in every depressing song list. This with Hurt itself (in the original list) and the Great Below are good examples of this kind of lyrics.
Nice list.
September 15th, 2008 at 5:20 am
Thanks for the support, guys. I forgot the Elliot Smith song Waltz No.2(X/O) which is equally depressing and beautiful as the rest, but these 10 are the ones that made me weep consistently for days.
Yes, it is imbecile. I was in a hurry, the bell was about to ring.
The best And All That Could Have Been clip is the one featuring Requiem for a Dream.
Oh yeah, and it’s “witless liar.” My bad.
September 15th, 2008 at 5:26 am
I used to lover her, but i had to kill her – Guns N Roses
September 15th, 2008 at 5:27 am
By the way…. isnt it ” Im just a worthless liar” in sober??? and what about these songs???
3libras – APC
Snuff – Slipknot ( really powerful song )
Passive – APC
Severed – Mudvayne
world so cold – Mudvayne
September 15th, 2008 at 5:33 am
Wonderful list. Excellent work. I would have thought The Jesus and Mary Chain should be here, along with Mazzy Star, but I don’t feel like quibbling today. Manic Street Preachers was a great choice, as was the ever-depressing Joy Division (but I was a fan of both bands back in the day).
September 15th, 2008 at 6:06 am
Some Candy Talking? Yeah, I should have used that.
Mudvayne is only depressing for people forced to listen to that kind of muck.
For the last time, it’s “witless liar.”
September 15th, 2008 at 6:13 am
A really depressing song I have heard recently is The Herb Girls of Birkenau by Rasputina. It contains everything that there should be in a sad song: wailing cellos, no solution and *sigh* just sadness:( But the subject matter is important. We must not forget history.
September 15th, 2008 at 6:21 am
Faces In Disguise
Sometimes
Both by Sunny Day Real Estate.
Fantastic list, the music lists on LV are always great!
September 15th, 2008 at 6:47 am
Anna-
Most of Rasputina is pretty depressing.
My Little Shirtwaist Fire is about girls burning to death.
They have an entire album called Oh Perilous World… you can imagine how happy it is.
September 15th, 2008 at 7:40 am
Brilliant list, There’s not much I could change but may I suggest just one song: Something in the way – Nirvana.
September 15th, 2008 at 7:45 am
Randall~
I was thinking the exact same thing about J&MC. thought I was the only one who truly enjoyed them…
what about Concrete Blonde or Poe? a depressing song doesn’t have to just have mournful riffs, you know.
like these lyrics from a fave Poe song…
“I dreamt tomorrow had a prettier face
I dreamt tomorrow would have better things to say
Than, “You look like shit, what’s your problem, bitch?
You’re legs feel like sandpaper, you can’t do anything right.”
‘Cause that day never should have taken place
‘Cause this day in my life still cannot explain
Why I listened in the first place
to you”
ouch. makes me want to go key some jerk-off ex-boyfriends car right now!(not that I would have, or ever have, committed blatant acts of vandalism… I’m far to conniving for that. I’m the gal who would just mail those picture we took of you in my underwear to your boss…)
rox
September 15th, 2008 at 7:54 am
Denzell is right, where are the emo bands?? they’re famous for being depressive assholes, you’d make a list of the worst emo songs, that’d be hillarious.
September 15th, 2008 at 8:53 am
great lists.. some other songs i find depressing
the end- the doors
november rain- g&r
changes- 2-pac
the calender hung itself…- bright eyes
and pretty much most songs by bright eyes, their still amazing though
September 15th, 2008 at 9:33 am
Manics rule!
September 15th, 2008 at 9:38 am
what about no surprises of radiohead? or pyraimd song?
or how about “untitled 1 the vaka song” from sigur ros?
great list
September 15th, 2008 at 9:56 am
Evanescence (aka The Amy Lee Show lol), semi-emo as they are, are really depressing. Tourniquet i can’t even listen to. “Hello”, also on the album, though not a rock song, is the most haunting piano song I’ve ever heard.
September 15th, 2008 at 9:59 am
Most Interpol fans know that Stella Was A Diver is about a blow job.
September 15th, 2008 at 10:19 am
During my recent move, I rediscovered Jeff Buckley’s Grace album. Such a beautiful voice!
I came across Eric Clapton’s 2005 live release with the most emotional song I have heard, and equally sad. “River Of Tears” has this epic ending where he just screams “How long, how long, how long is th…(unitelligible)”
He can’t even get out the words! Amazing.
September 15th, 2008 at 10:31 am
I can think of several other Nine Inch Nails songs that would qualify for this list, And All That Could Have Been wasn’t even one that I was thinking of! Something I Can Never Have would have been a good choice. Great job, Tool’s Sober was a good choice also.
September 15th, 2008 at 10:33 am
Heroin is one of my all time favorite songs. A true masterpiece by Lou Reed and the Velvets. “River of Tears” is a heartbreaker by Clapton, but “Tears in Heaven” and “Layla” should also get some consideration for most depressing songs. Not only does Layla have some of the best guitar work ever to be laid down, it has some of the most depressing lyrics you could ever hear in a love song. He’s essentially baring his soul for Patti Boyd Harrison for 7 wailing minutes with nothing to protect him except for is shredding guitar. Possibly the greatest and most depressing song of all time.
September 15th, 2008 at 10:36 am
Yay! One Hundred Years by The Cure.
That was my favourite song when I was 18. Happy days!
September 15th, 2008 at 10:40 am
How about cheesy depressing?
Alone Again, Naturally – Gilbert O’Sullivan
Well, it made me cry when I was a teenager and I played that damn 45 over and over.
September 15th, 2008 at 10:41 am
Someone has mentioned My Chemical Romance. Their songs “Helena” and “Mama” are very depressing indeed-but I love them
September 15th, 2008 at 10:42 am
For real misery try the album it’s from. Pornography….
one more day like today and i’ll kill you
a desire for flesh
and real blood
i’ll watch you drown in the shower
push my life through your open eyes
i must fight this sickness
find a cure
i must fight this sickness…
September 15th, 2008 at 11:06 am
I like the idea of a Top 10 Worst Emo Songs. Anyone else interested comment now. I’m working on one anyway…
September 15th, 2008 at 11:07 am
“Dancing with Mr Brownstone” from Guns and Roses(heroin addiction)
“Hit me with your best shot” from Pat Benetar
“Im goin to leave you” from Led Zepplin
“Janeys got a gun” from Aerosmith
They are all kick ass songs though except the first one!!!!
September 15th, 2008 at 11:18 am
i agree with tears in heaven.. after all its about his son dying
September 15th, 2008 at 11:37 am
@40. F. McClure
I can’t help you, but go on.
I saw an emo clip in a bar few days ago, of a song called “The Worst is still to Come”. I left the bar after reading that menace.
September 15th, 2008 at 11:46 am
Great list! I had to go 3 days without lists because of Hurricane Ike… man, I take you guys for granted! But, luckily I have my power back, and I can get my daily fix!
September 15th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
Gotta love a bit of The Smiths – there’s a song for every variant of “moody” on every album – Strangeways being my favourite.
September 15th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
Hey JabberingJanet-
If you’re going to suggest songs, at least get the titles right. It’s “Mr. Brownstone” by G&R, “Babe I’m Gonna Leave You” by Zeppelin, and “Jamie’s Got a Gun” by Aerosmith. And Pat Benetar sucks so her song shouldn’t be included anyway.
September 15th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
“one” metallica
September 15th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
Listen to “Vedrai, vedrai” (“You’ll see”) by Luigi Tenco
http://it.youtube.com/watch?v=BrW67O3HX48
he sang it at sanremo around 40 years ago, then committed suicide!
September 15th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
this list made me think of “black” by pearl jam.
September 15th, 2008 at 4:25 pm
And not a single Opeth song…
What kind of list is this without Opeth!?
September 15th, 2008 at 4:38 pm
i read number seven wrong and thought it was made by the band Yes
September 15th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
lol me too XD
September 15th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
1000 Oceans by Tori Amos always gets me. http://it.youtube.com/watch?v=AitJRzyjjJ4
September 15th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
i agree about “all that could have been”. so sad yet so beautiful.
September 15th, 2008 at 5:15 pm
i like some of these songs
September 15th, 2008 at 5:57 pm
Sodom South Georgia & Upward Over the Mountain by Iron and Wine both make me cry like a baby (You know, flail my arms, scream, poop my pants… sorry)
Also, although it’s on the other list, I think How to Disappear Completely by Radiohead should be on every incarnation of this list as number one. My best friend has had about five friends kill themselves, and she says she listened to that one song over and over every time, it was the song that most resembled how she felt. Now that’s depressing.
September 15th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
Hey didn´t you promise last week that you wouldn´t post depressing lists on mondays?
And the list is missing Mad World (REM version)
September 15th, 2008 at 6:19 pm
did you guys all here about Pink Floyd’s keyboardist dieing?
it apparently only happened an hour ago.
September 15th, 2008 at 6:36 pm
Wow, I seriously wonder what happened to Trent Reznor in his life. The Smiths were the kings of depression songs until NIN’s Hurt came out. He snatched that title and has never given it up. I’m kind of going through a crap and depressing time in my life, but after listening to #1 (which is an amazingly beautiful song, I’d never heard before, tyvm), I seem amazingly joyous compared to him. I’m constantly amazed at how beautifully he captures pain in his lyrics, videos and how clearly his emotions come across through his music. Thanks for this list.
September 15th, 2008 at 6:38 pm
25. caboose: Agreed- at least the Unplugged in New York version (is that the only one they did?)
53. Tim: “Me and a Gun” is even more depressing. It’s about Tori choosing whether or not to kill herself after she was raped.
I forget if I mentioned it on the other list (or even if it’s there- I’m being lazy) but the most depressing song I ever heard was “Flight Recorder from Viking 7″ by the Matthew Good Band. It’s basically the same concept as “Ground Control to Major Tom” by David Bowie, only very, very depressing. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0L5irMDG3Y is the song on youtube with a still picture (hard to find song).
September 15th, 2008 at 6:43 pm
Creep by Radiohead dont get much sadder. Also check out the cover version by Korn on MTV unplugged it will almost make you cry
September 15th, 2008 at 6:47 pm
OMG! These songs make me wanna slit my wrists!!!!1one
September 15th, 2008 at 7:19 pm
Joy Division is probably my favorite band of all time, glad to see them here. I know this is a list about rock songs, but Never Be Friends by the Game is pretty damn moving.
September 15th, 2008 at 7:23 pm
nimitz (58)What ??? Are you kidding me ? Richard Wright?? WTF Happened. I hadn’t heard at all
September 15th, 2008 at 7:23 pm
Don’t forget that “Anthem of Angst” from the baby boomer era
Janis Ian’s–At Seventeen
September 15th, 2008 at 8:07 pm
also how about adam’s song by blink 182?
September 15th, 2008 at 9:21 pm
one of pink’s floyd member’s died D:.
Nice list.
September 15th, 2008 at 10:07 pm
Although for a few songs I would have to comment:
Comfortably Numb: I never thought of it as a sad song. Just a really good tune to relax to.
I know it’s over: Sometimes it makes me a bit happier that I’m not the only one. lol
Heroin: Never was a sad song to me. But an extremely motivational one. It gave me the feeling that whatever stresses you were going through at the moment wouldn’t matter in the end. Hell, the drum beat made me wreck my house.
My sad songs:
Disorder by Joy Division
Love Will Tear Us Apart by Joy Division – I actually cried listening to this one.
Asleep by The Smiths – The first time you listen to it – it hits you. but to me it sadly lost effect over time.
September 15th, 2008 at 11:14 pm
Neither list mentioned:
Tears In Heaven; Eric Clapton
One More Suicide: Marcy Playground
The Needle & The Damage Done: Neil Young
“cos ev’ry Junkie’s like a setting sun…..”
Mother and Child Reunion: Paul Simon
maybe another list to come?
September 15th, 2008 at 11:41 pm
where are all the placebo songs?? they have got to be one of the most beautiful depressing bands i’ve heard.
also, Adam’s Song – Blink 182. very very sad and depressing.
September 16th, 2008 at 1:12 am
I think…
Adams Song by Blink 182
Black Dress by Kisschasy
Love Will Tear Us Apart by Joy Division
Tears In Heaven by Eric Clapton
Mad World by Gary Jules
The Nobodies by Marilyn Manson
Daddy by Korn
No, It Isnt by +44
September 16th, 2008 at 1:52 am
What??? No Nick Cave?
September 16th, 2008 at 3:29 am
listen to the second half of big stars third/sister lovers, you’ll be filling the bath and getting out the razor blades before the final song
September 16th, 2008 at 4:42 am
I miss “Lost control”, from Anathema´s “Alternative 4″ album. There´s nothing more depressive.
September 16th, 2008 at 5:24 am
Bands I forgot to mention: The Birthday Party, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, The Glove, Radiohead, REM…and “Dirt” by the Stooges was a close No.11.
Maybe I’ll get to them in another list if this one doesn’t cause a mass suicide.
Would a Worst Emo Songs or Best Emo Songs list be funnier?
September 16th, 2008 at 5:27 am
Nick Drake?
September 16th, 2008 at 5:34 am
What a fantastic list F Mac. I love nearly all these songs (never knew I was so morbid!) and there is something about a sad song. There are so many more… so dont worry if people are throwing around their own choices, because these are yours and you took the time to make it. I know how long a list can take to make so be happy (not depressed) that we can all enjoy it.
September 16th, 2008 at 6:12 am
I loved the first list of depressing songs, but not this second list. With the exception of Pink Floyd, all these songs are more boring than depressing. However, it is early in the morning and I’ve only been drinking coffee. I’ll listen againg tonight after a few drinks.
September 16th, 2008 at 9:07 am
Wow, I love this list, and the majority of the bands on it! holy bible and downward spiral are defs my top depressing albums, though if Something i can never have by NIN ever comes on at a party everyone tends to shut up and sink into catatonic depair…
I’d probably have a tune by Elliot Smith on my list, maybe needle in the hay, it rarely fails to bring on a bout of good ol introspective morbidity!
September 16th, 2008 at 9:12 am
I never thought of Heroin as a sad song. Actually the first time I heard it, it was in a music history class and the rest of the class responded they thought it was the worst piece of shit they ever heard while I was the only one who was excited and really liked it.
September 16th, 2008 at 9:16 am
Ok, these aren’t ‘rock’ songs, but when I think of depressing tunes that I like I think of:
“He’ll have to go” by Jim Reeves
and
“Where have all the flowers gone” by the Kingston Trio
September 16th, 2008 at 9:41 am
What about “I Want To Be Alone (Dialogue)” by Jackson C. Frank?
September 16th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
60. Cedestra, hey there. I think of “Me and a Gun” as more of a tragic song, more than a sad one (although the two are not mutually exclusive). Also a minor correction. It’s not about Tori thinking about killing herself after being raped. The “gun” part was a metaphore for a knife (she was raped at knife point). I guess “Me and a Knife” didn’t sound as effective. But I agree it is a very powerful song. Sorry it took so long to get back to you…cheers!
September 16th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
Any list of depressive rock songs that doesn’t include Anathema can’t be taken seriously.
September 16th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
Half the songs people are suggesting don’t even fall under the category of “rock”… Good list, I liked the first one, too. But I definitely agree that “Tears In Heaven” should’ve been on.
And the people who call My Chemical Romance whiny emo music… Have obviously never actually listened to a My Chemical Romance song in their lives. They MAKE FUN of whiny emo kids, actually, and I’ve never heard a single song of theirs that has the message of, “my life sucks, I’m gonna kill myself.” In fact, they have a very anti-suicide message, as their songs about death are about illness or the people left behind. The only SELF-destructive songs they have are about drugs–just like all your “cool” bands.
September 16th, 2008 at 4:37 pm
i agree with “EP_GUN” -
Mudvayne’s – A World So Cold, should be on the list somewhere.
or my personal pick for number one which would have to be “whats in a Dream” by the River City Rebels
September 16th, 2008 at 7:07 pm
Perfect number one choice! And All that Could Have Been is a fantastically depressing song. Great list!
September 16th, 2008 at 7:18 pm
the whole of Lou Reed’s ‘Berlin’ is bloody bathtub-depressing. listen to it on a bright happy spring morning, not a grey fall night. seriously character-building.
September 17th, 2008 at 1:59 am
Gotta say, I always thought “Love will tear us apart” by Joy Division was more depressing than “Decades”… Don’t get me wrong Joy Division were fantastic and Ian Curtis had a great voice, but there was something about the moaning / slurring in that song… O_o
September 17th, 2008 at 6:43 am
Every single song written by emo bands would qualify.
September 17th, 2008 at 6:58 am
Emo isn’t depressing. Just nausceating. And metal songs from Mudvayne and such are more depressingly awful than tragic. If you guys weren’t even remotely oblivious to what makes a song truthfully sad you wouldn’t be whining about the list. You’d be making your own.
September 17th, 2008 at 9:49 am
I’ve seen NIN twice (three times this November!) and yeah, he has some of the most gut wrenching lyrics, but that’s what we love about him, right?
September 17th, 2008 at 10:53 am
Lucinda Williams – Sweet Old World
Nothing like a beatiful song about a friend wondering why another commited suicide.
“Didn’t you think anyone loved you?”
September 17th, 2008 at 11:36 am
YYEESSSSS!!!! This is a list that has actually mentioned Tool! Nicely done. I love Tool, and also Jeff Buckley (great music)
Tools videos you should check out if you want weird!
Nice list overall, Ive heard quite a few of these, hmm, what does that say about me…? :/
September 17th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
goodbye my lover- by james blunt lol
September 17th, 2008 at 5:56 pm
what about metallica fade to black
September 17th, 2008 at 7:50 pm
REM-”Everybody Hurts”
September 17th, 2008 at 9:22 pm
Half of Pink Floyd’s catalogue.
Suicidal Tendencies: “How will I laugh tomorrow, when I can’t even smile today?”
P.S. Avoid the IQ test link with the Einstein graphic and the text “the average IQ is 100.” I took this a while ago. Probably inaccurate and you’ll start to get around a hundred spam messages a day to your email. There are better more accurate tests on the web for the curious, and you won’t have to purge your spam box twice a day. be forewarned.
September 18th, 2008 at 1:09 am
I heard “Daniel” by Elton John a few hours ago and it made me feel like throwing myself down the stairs….. O.K. not really, but it isn’t exactly a party tune.
September 18th, 2008 at 1:21 am
Yeah, Goodbye My Lover by James Blunt makes me cry just about every time I hear it.
September 19th, 2008 at 8:30 am
25. caboose – September 15th, 2008 at 7:40 am
Brilliant list, There’s not much I could change but may I suggest just one song: Something in the way – Nirvana.
AGREED!!!!
and also, you should put the entire album of the wall on this list, cuz its a major downer, (however still musically brilliant and conseptually perfect) but sad.
September 19th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
Matthew Good has a lot of sad songs. Go listen to his Underdogs album.
September 19th, 2008 at 7:44 pm
Pink Floyd: When the Tigers Broke Free
KenManiac (88) “Cancer in April” but I wouldn’t call anything by Lou Reed “rock” Maybe “blues”
September 19th, 2008 at 8:33 pm
blink 182 – Adam’s Song
asked for about 3 times on this list, about 7 times on the first depressing song list lol
while blinks one of my favorite bands, and while adams song is very depressing, the last chorus is so filled with hope it turns the song around so i dont know if it should be included on here lol
stay together for the kids by blink is sad though
September 21st, 2008 at 5:42 am
Why are all of these songs so God Damn long….
And if you want to talk about depressing….take any track from Lennon’s ‘Primal Scream’ album.
September 21st, 2008 at 6:23 pm
Another list omitting CURRENT 93,
SUICIDE (Frankie Teardrop),
TISM (Life Kills, Kill Yourself Now And Avoid The Rush),
DEATH IN JUNE (All Pigs Must Die)
and
SWANS (Raping A Slave, Failure, Turn TO Stone)!!
I agree with One Hundred Years. Why do you think this was their opening song for Live 8?? Particularly with that said opening line! More disturbing. This song isn’t as disturbing as their “Easy Cure” song ‘See The Children’. Look that one up!
September 22nd, 2008 at 6:19 am
i just noticed this from playing guitar hero, what about “paint it black” by the stones. sounds like mick had a pretty bad thing happen.
September 22nd, 2008 at 3:36 pm
having not read the whole series of comments , i must submit neil young’s “the needle and the damage done”..a song of anguish ,sorrow and a terminal hunger very rarely matched..also listen to the whole “tonight;s the night ” cd..the slow descent continued
September 22nd, 2008 at 3:51 pm
I would rather drown in a bath full of stale piss than listen to them again, truly awful rubbish….
September 22nd, 2008 at 5:33 pm
I think “Candidate” would have been a better Joy Division choice.
Choosing 1 excerpt was difficult, as the entire song is so tragically sad. But here’s a snippet:
Corrupted from memory,
No longer the power,
It’s creeping up slowly,
The last fatal hour.
The orchestration is pretty dark too, it just creeps in and is filled with lows and undertones.
Clip here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3VEbfA07yQ
September 22nd, 2008 at 5:35 pm
To Grubbanax:
I’d say a good 90% of Swans songs would qualify as depressing. At least, whenever Michael Gira sings. It sounds like he’s about to slip a rope around his neck at any given moment.
September 24th, 2008 at 10:34 pm
Grateful Dead’s Friend of the Devil is a poignantly sad song. I love the Counting Crow’s rendition more than The Dead’s to be honest: “got a wife in chino, babe, and one in Cherokee/The first one says she’s got my child but it don’t look like me.”
September 24th, 2008 at 10:35 pm
I “like” the Counting Crow’s rendition more than The Dead’s, to be honest.
September 25th, 2008 at 11:04 am
As much as I love the song Decades, I’d say that Atmosphere or The Eternal is a little sadder.
September 28th, 2008 at 11:00 am
A great list, but now I have the urge to throw myself under bus.
Eh, that requires actual effort. I’ll just climb back into bed and hide under the covers until the urge passes.
September 29th, 2008 at 8:25 am
I love the fact that The Cure are on here, but I don’t think One Hundred Years is depressing, and by no means their most depressing song. I’d say it’s more menacing. Try Apart, or To Wish Impossible Things.
November 3rd, 2008 at 1:21 pm
one song which should be on top of any depressing songs list has to be “gloomy sunday”.im not sure bout da total history of da song but im sure ppl after hearin it killed demselves and dis song was also banned.i was not originally recorded in english but der r many covers of this song.
November 19th, 2008 at 9:04 pm
lux aeterna ..the requiem for a dream soundtrack..
now thats depressing
January 6th, 2009 at 9:11 am
wow, i’m seriously impressed by number one. one of my favorite tracks of all time!
January 8th, 2009 at 9:55 am
Great that you put The Cure up (my favorite band)… that whole album Pornography is quite dark, here are some lyrics from another song on that same album called Siamise Twins
Leave me to die
You won’t remember my voice
I walked away and grew old
You never talk
We never smile
I scream
Your nothing
I don’t need you anymore
Your nothing
January 9th, 2009 at 4:20 pm
Styx’s “As Bad As This” from Serpent is Rising is pretty damn depressing. Maybe a good addition for a third list?
Another one would be the Monkee’s “Never Enough” from Justus.
January 10th, 2009 at 10:06 pm
i think johnny cash”s song hurt is so depressing and idc wht genre it is one of the greatest most emotional songs ever written
January 22nd, 2009 at 4:20 pm
at least you got number 1 right
January 22nd, 2009 at 4:24 pm
122. rose – since you kind of leave the impression of somebody who doesn’t know, Hurt is a cover. Nine Inch Nails was behind the original. no offence if you were aware
in fact when i think of it.. Nine Inch Nails could fill half of the top 10 in that list.. with songs like Something I Can Never Have, The Great Below, Zero-Sum, Right Where It Belongs
February 14th, 2009 at 12:19 pm
reall should have tiny tears by the tindersticks on here. the most gorgeous fcking downer of a song i ever heard
February 14th, 2009 at 12:19 pm
really
February 15th, 2009 at 7:25 pm
what about Suicidal Tendencies “Alone”, “Nobody Hears”,”How Will I Laugh Tomorrow the slow version”"Feel Like Sh*t/Deja Vu”
Blood for Blood “Redemption Denied”, The entire “Spit My Last Breath” album, well pretty much everything B4B did was about hate out of such defeat and depression
February 15th, 2009 at 7:28 pm
also knowing what its about The Boom Town Rats “I Don’t Like Mondays”
February 24th, 2009 at 12:00 am
35 – TimbB35
“Not only does Layla have some of the best guitar work ever to be laid down, it has some of the most depressing lyrics you could ever hear in a love song. He’s essentially baring his soul for Patti Boyd Harrison for 7 wailing minutes with nothing to protect him except for is shredding guitar.”
A lot of that seven minutes of “wailing” is actually what is called pianoforte or simply piano. And shredding would sound absolutely terrible in a song like Layla. Wait, what? This song isn’t even that depressing, WTF are we talking about?
February 27th, 2009 at 11:53 am
These weren’t on the earlier list of ten depressing rong songs but “The End of The Rainbow” by Richard Thompson has always been near the top of my list of most depressing songs.
“Life seems so rosy in the cradle, / But I’ll be a friend I’ll tell you what’s in store / There’s nothing at the end of the rainbow. / There’s nothing to grow up for anymore.”
Not one to play for a friend who’s had a particularly bad day. Competing with that is Roy Harper’s “October the 12th” with the cheery verse:
“Why throw flowers on my grave when I’m dead / Why paint pictures with the blood that I shed / Why try to copy any word of what I said / When I hated you all when I was living”.
March 6th, 2009 at 11:18 pm
Why isn’t “Exit Music (For A Film)” on either of these lists? The song is so powerful and sad. It starts out with a slow guitar and slow, heartfelt lyrics, and when the drums kick in and he really starts to belt it out I nearly cry every time:
“And you can laugh
A spineless laugh
We hope your rules and wisdom choke you
Now we are one
In everlasting peace
We hope, that you choke, that you choke…”
Another few depressing songs, in my opinion, would be “Showbiz” by Muse, “The Noose” by A Perfect Circle, “Sleeping With Ghosts” by Placebo, “Mad World” by Gary Jules (The original version, by Tears for Fears, is actually rather upbeat, which is strange considering one line is “I find it kinda funny, I find it kinda sad, The dreams in which I’m dying are the best I’ve ever had”) “Running up That Hill” by Placebo (Original song by Kate Bush) “No Surprises” by Radiohead (More depressing in subject matter than actual appearance) and “Deathblow” by the Deftones, which is not particularly depressing, but happened to be on the same playlist as the previously mentioned songs.
Awesome lists by the way!
March 15th, 2009 at 8:42 am
This Time Imperfect by AFI used to make me cry, not so much anymore, but it’s still a right depressing song. “Coma Black” “Coma White” “The KKK Took My Baby Away” And (as someone else listed) “The Nobodies” by Marilyn Manson are all good depressing songs. “The KKK Took My Baby Away” is actually by the Ramones, by MM sounds far darker than it’s original.
March 16th, 2009 at 11:38 am
there is another song called “100 years” by five for fighting. i don’t think it’s meant necessarily to be depressing, but i can’t even listen to it. “man in the mirror” by michael jackson makes me cry as well.
March 23rd, 2009 at 3:12 pm
I ADORE number 1…I love Nine Inch Nails and that was always one of my favorite songs. Its so sad and..just..beautiful in its own twisted way…
March 23rd, 2009 at 5:22 pm
What the.. Sober is on the list?
Tool-wise, 10 000 days is incredibly depressing, as is part one (Wings). Pushit is also considerably sadder, at least in tone and content.
But Maynard James Keenan has such a skill for making sorrow and other emotions come through his voice, it’s just amazing.
March 31st, 2009 at 5:35 pm
ah come on, where’s the Meat Loaf? Just listen to “Objects In The Rear View Mirror May Appear Closer Then They Are”. Just about makes me cry, and that’s the main reason he never sings it live, because he always gets all choked up due to the story, and how much of it actually applied to him.
I’m also surprised that “Jamies Got A Gun” and “Little Wing” didn’t make either list. I mean COME ON! Not including Little Wing?
April 1st, 2009 at 9:03 pm
Some good songs on this list but I feel like some songs are taken too much lyrically and not musically. Like to make a song depressing it shouldn’t just have depressing lyrics or be about a depressing topic but like the song should just make u sad totally I feel like Comfortably numb and sober are too upbeat to be considered top of the list depressing. Some I feel were left out:
Adam’s Song – Blink 182
Say Hello To Heaven – Temple of the Dog
Walk Away – Ben Harper
Linger – Cranberries
Only God Knows Why – Kid Rock
Nothingman – Pearl Jam
Under the Bridge – RHCP
April 2nd, 2009 at 9:34 pm
Yes nolod1207!!
That’s why I suggested CURRENT 93 and SWANS.
Have a listen to EARTH COVERS EARTH, TIME TRYETH TRUTH or anything by Current 93. Or TURN TO STONE, FAILURE – SWANS.
Look ‘em up on seeqpod !!
April 9th, 2009 at 8:37 pm
Had tears in my eyes when I saw LYDHCO as number 10.
If it isn’t the story of my life, I don’t know what is.
April 13th, 2009 at 3:39 pm
I love another depressing song, the Marylin Manson cover of Suicide is painless. It totally make you wanna suicide.
April 20th, 2009 at 2:01 pm
Damn there are some great suggestions here. Black and Nothingman are two fantastic Pearl Jam examples. And you can’t overlook Mr. Young – not only are “Needle and the Damage Done” and “Tonight’s the Night” great choices, you could easily suggest “Cortez the Killer” as well. The guitar work on that song alone is enough to send shivers down your spine.
And just to weigh in – I think both versions of Hurt are fantastic, though the timing of Johnny’s version gives him the edge I think. Coupled that with the video and it’s no wonder Trent Reznor has been quoted as saying “that song isn’t mine anymore”.
Also – to 60. Cedera – I agree with your Bowie choice, but it’s actually called “Space Oddity”.
April 26th, 2009 at 5:32 pm
“My Immortal” by Evanessence
“Fall to Pieces” by Velvet Revolver
May 26th, 2009 at 3:00 am
Gloomy sunday?
June 10th, 2009 at 1:41 pm
November Rain by GUNS N ROSES
gloomy sunday has caused so many suicides it was banned by the bbc in britain for over 20 years
June 12th, 2009 at 8:27 pm
comforably is numb is beautiful, tragic, sad, numbing, bitter and total powerful. but i don’t think its exactley depressing.
June 26th, 2009 at 8:45 am
O_o iv always partied to NIN. never found them depressing. Always thought Reznor despised the pathetic humanity around him though. As for this tragic love thing. well its just the collective reaction to hormones and brain chemistry. nothing to write a song about. Then again i find humans illogical constructs of flesh and bone. im indifferent. Want depressing. how about the need for homo sapians to follow the latest fad without thinking or reasoning. THATS depressing. Oh and reptile is about my ex-gf.
July 1st, 2009 at 4:09 am
If u r looking for these type of songs then go for ANATHEMA-LOST CONTROL…U WILL KEEP LISTENING IT AGAIN N AGAIN N AGAIN N AGAIN N AGAIN…..
August 30th, 2009 at 10:31 am
the number one saddest rock song is got to be radiohead’s ‘how to dissapear completely’.
August 30th, 2009 at 7:40 pm
Everybody is forgetting the poetic and really sad, deppressing music from “the doors”. Songs such as “the end”, “when the music is over”, “Crystal ship”, and many more.
September 16th, 2009 at 10:43 am
if you don’t like this list go look at http://listverse.com/2008/11/21/top-10-most-overrated-bands/ LOL
seriously if they want these lists to be worth anything they need to put someone in charge of them that actually has T A S T E in this thing we love called music
September 18th, 2009 at 8:38 am
“Brick”, by Ben Folds Five. It’s sad too.
October 14th, 2009 at 1:37 pm
Stella was a Diver is about a blow job.
October 20th, 2009 at 4:17 pm
“Everything Dies” by Type O Negative
October 22nd, 2009 at 6:42 pm
Fade to Black…
Nick 13 said it best…
“Life it seems will fade away
Drifting further every day
Getting lost within myself
Nothing matters, no one else
I have lost the will to live
Simply nothing more to give
There is nothing more for me
Need the end to set me free
Things not what they used to be
Missing one inside of me
Deathly lost, this can’t be real
Cannot stand this hell I feel
Emptiness is filling me
To the point of agony
Growing darkness taking dawn
I was me but now he’s gone
No one but me can save myself
But it’s too late
Now I can’t think
Think why I should even try
Yesterday seems as though
It never existed
Death greets me warm
Now I will just say goodbye
The suicide song…yet it really gets you pumped up, because the guitar solo and the drums are one of a kind…one of the best songs ever, even if it is a ballad from a heavy metal band…it is truly a life changing song for me…one that plkays in the soundtrack of the movie about my life…in my own dreams…lol
October 24th, 2009 at 12:28 am
Right Mark! What kind of list is this without Opeth? Most songs are too mainstream anyway. Glad somebody suggested “Snuff” by Slipknot, “No leaf clover” and “Fade to black” by Metallica are worthy too. How about a list of the most euphoric songs in metal? Like “We are Motorhead”
October 26th, 2009 at 12:48 am
smashing pumpkins has a few rather depressing songs. check em out, listen and weep:
bullet with butterfly wings
spaceboy
disarm
crestfallen
once upon a time
most of their songs actually.
November 15th, 2009 at 10:30 am
Knocking On heavens Door – the Gnr cover.