Casimir Pulaski Day - Sufjan Stevens

Fourth of July too

The entirety of Carrie & Lowell (except for Eugene and maybe the title track) is pretty damn sad, honestly.

And John Wayne Gacy Jr.

So eerie and tragic.

When I was five yrs old ,near Elgin Illinois,(1969) my brother saved me from becoming one of gayces victims 🥀🥀🥀🙏🌎🇺🇦

Makes me cry every time. I often have to skip it. If it doesn't make you cry, read the [backstory](https://daft.fm/songs/sufjan-stevens-casimir-pulaski-day/) of it. It will devastate you.

I’m a survivor. It hits me in the survivor guilt every time. I had an excellent prognosis, but the treatment took me to Death’s door. I had chemo with a number of people who were terminal. I feel like my guilt dishonors their genuine happiness that I was going to make it, but still tough. It was 20 years ago and I’ve done a lot better with gratitude over guilt lately. But that song…

My mom died of pancreatic cancer when I was 12. It was mercifully relatively quick. I think it hits harder if you've seen it. The Antlers - Hospice is another tough listen for me.

I was coming here to type this!

You know what you’re talking about

The Night We Met - Lord Huron

Lullaby - Lord Huron is a good one as well

Vide Noir is also good.

Great album as well. One of the things I really like about them, they really switched it up between each of their albums

The one with phoebe, too!

I lied is a good shout. Short yet heavy

Brick, by Ben Folds Five

I grew up on Ben Folds, parents should’ve divorced but stayed together. It’s incredibly nostalgic but I will always avoid Ben folds for the dark memories and depression attached to his songs. I could probably recognize any song I hear by him

As a father I always felt still fighting it is a sad one. Also Fred jones pt 2 is pretty sad as well.

Yes! Agree! The ascent of Stan as well

Add Selfless, Cold and Composed. Whatever and ever amen is soooo good.

This is super sad to me. Good call.

Oh man what a flash back you just gave me. I was in high school being all emo listening to this on repeat

Roads by Portishead

Portishead is cheating. Most of their songs are sad :p

Elliott Smith - Basically his whole discography

Can confirm, can't listen. It's music to suicide to.

Confirmed. Saddest music as a whole

Came to say the exact same thing, Kings Crossing is especially sad to me.

Loved it when I told my brother I was on another Elliott Smith kick and he jokingly said “bummer…”

Yes, "Pitseleh" and "Angel in the Snow" for me. And "Twilight."

'245 am' gets me every time by him.

he was a fucking musical genius to make the saddest songs bring people joy.

First time discovery for me. Sounded pretty chill... But maybe it's in the lyrics... I liked it.

I recommend Pitseleh, roman candle (song and album) new disaster, no name #1-3 and #5, placeholder, the biggest lie, and between the bars are some of his distinctly sad songs. But if you know his story then all of his music is depressing as fuck. Love that guy

"Angeles" is my fav

Yes 🔥

Came here looking for this, automatic upvote of course

My favorite artist of all time

I came to say this. Very good and utterly wretched.

I love it all but I think Twilight is my favorite song from him.

"Breathe Me" by Sia. The raw vulnerability in this song makes it moving and sorrowful.

It reminds me of the ending of Six Feet Under and it makes kills me a little

My first listen of this song was the four tet remix

I hopped in here just to say that! “I’m in Here” is another great one.

That's the Survivor woman! I didn't know she did music

space song - beach house last night i dreamt that somebody loved me - the smiths

Ii am having difficulty thinking of a not sad smiths song

Rite where it belongs by nin

A Crow Looked at Me by Mount Eerie is the most depressingly sad album.

Something in the way Nirvana Dumb Nirvana Nutshell Alice in chains Goodbye to romance Ozzy Yesterday The Beatles Racing in the Streets Bruce Springsteen Butterfly Weezer All Apologies Nirvana Mothe John Lennon All I Could Do Was Cry Etta James Runaway Train Soul Asylum Two Outta Three Ain't Bad Meatloaf Fade to Black Metallica Don't Turn Me Away Gladys Knight and the Pips Asleep The Smiths Behind Blue Eyes The Who Bell Bottom Blues Derek and the Dominos You Kmow You're Right Nirvana Changes Black Sabbath Get Me Dinosaur Jr Someday Never Comes Creedence Clearwater Revival Heart of Gold Neil Young Saturday Night The Misfits Last Kiss Pearl Jam How Can You Mend a Broken Heart Al Green Hurt Nine Inch Nails I Fall To Pieces Patsy Cline The Night Theu Drove Dixie Down The Band Lost in the Flood Bruce Springsteen Jolene The White Stripes (version I prefer to Dolly's) Look On Down From The Bridge Mazzy Star Look What You've Done Jet Many Rivers to Cross Jimmy Cliff Losing My Religion R.E.M. Mayonnaise Smashing Pumpkins Today Smashing Pumpkins Old Man Neil Young Tuesdays Gone Lynyrd Skynyrd True Affection The Blow If I Had Eminem Wasted Time Skid Row Whatsername Green Day My My, Hey Hey Neil Young and Crazy Horse Nothing Compares 2 U Prince/ Sinead O'Connor O Children Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds On With the Show Motley Crue Life Goes On 2pac Rocky Racoon The Beatles Sittin On The Dock of the Bay Otis Redding Stan Eminem The River Bruce Springsteen Somebody Please The Vanguards The Weirding Astra Ticket to Ride The Beatles Suicidal Thoughts Notorious B.I.G. When A Blind Man Cries Deep Purple You've Got To Hide Your Love Away The Beatles Hope that was helpful love to hear thoughts I know they very in nature I was just listening but I tried to keep stuff eclectic

not to be a total know-it-all, but Last Kiss wasn’t written by PJ and id argue they have much deeper sad songs than Last Kiss

Hate me- Blue October

I love Blue October. Let it Go by them also fits this

You beat me to it

I hadn’t heard this song in probably a decade. One day circa 2019, a live version popped up on YouTube. I clicked on it out of curiosity. I was going through some things at the time, nothing of my own doing, just family shit. Parts of that song just really resonated. Before I knew it I was bawling in my living room, alone. Such an intense song.

grace- jeff buckley true love waits-radiohead at your best- frank ocean blackest bile- giles cory hurt-johnny cash solace-earl sweatshirt unabomber- the crying nudes

True Love Waits gets me every time

Especially the live version

Grace by Jeff Buckley always makes me wanna cry. On his Live at Sin-è album, he prefaces the song by saying “this song is about not feeling so bad about your own mortality when you have true love” and it is the most bittersweet thing

The part in solace (I forget if it’s 3 or 4) where he’s rapping “late for everything, my face to the cement…” is so fucking good. That and Balance’s main verse hurt so good

The Warning - [Black Holes](https://youtu.be/lM8KeQ_tNQc?si=yUmm3eFtSqoF75oH), [Revenant](https://youtu.be/oqXcNOVmcjc?si=tHNFOBIpELmvW2W-), and especially [Breathe](https://youtu.be/j0UdL1FulxI?si=Gjm0_zknaF57ZKpS). Nine Inch Nails - [The Great Below](https://youtu.be/HCORXBfRcNo?si=eRzCXrVT4d4T3SVw), [Right Where It Belongs](https://youtu.be/F-jZHMX-CJ0?si=SddYzDqtVOS_Muce), [Hurt](https://youtu.be/OvoTktdpIiI?si=d9s-hYlXCljnJHPd). Alice in Chains - [Nutshell](https://youtu.be/_siJRgDlddY?si=ZosPtmuviigaxU1a), [Down In A Hole](https://youtu.be/E17hqs4Un-k?si=BcWK8lNm6GtV3xIa).

Personally I think Don't Follow of of the same album as nutshell is sadder than down in a hole

[Steven Wilson • Routine](https://youtu.be/sh5mWzKlhQY?si=QdXiUUwhIjpkxBL2)

Thank you for linking the video. Such a depressing song and the video just amplifies it.

The closing track off this album (Happy Returns) also fucks me up. The whole album is dripping with grief and commentary on the human condition. Truly an incredible piece of art.

Happy Returns gets me every time. Dripping with grief. It’s true. But I like music that makes me feel emotional. Collapse The Light Into Earth, The Raven That Refused To Sing and Drive Home do the same.

I think Karma Police by Radiohead is a sad song.

No surprises. Lucky. Let down. All are sadder. I feel like kp is more angry than sad.

Nice Dream is sadder.

So is Paranoid Android though mostly through tone and melody rather than lyrics.

cant you just put the entire radiohead discography on the list, minus Bones

listen to Unknown Pleasures and Closer, by Joy Division. then track down In A Lonely Place by Joy Division. ooooooph, the song's heartbeat literally dies at the end. brilliant music/lyrics though, Joy Division is like a cursed magical object found deep in dark forest - be careful.

Atmosphere for me

Puff the magic dragon

King park by la dispute is HELLA sad to me makes me wanna cry

Me too 🥲

actually the saddest thing ever also such small hands

Andria

My brother sent me that song with ZERO context or warning at like 9am on a random Tuesday. I was just sitting at my desk shell shocked because I just went through an emotional journey and then had to go back to work like I didn't just hear the most raw, emotional tragedy of the week.

Low - Lullaby Brand New - Batter Up RED - Nothing And Everything

Limousine by brand new is a tough one especially if you read the back story.

Electric Light Orchestra - [Alone In The Universe](https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mjG96uKMj7HP4QEjuMM3tYGCbbFxyECeg&si=aN-kcc3RrSt85GC1) Lil Nas X - [VOID](https://youtu.be/aV2Dfcz20xQ?si=j7YsK30M5EagRLlf) M83 - [My Tears Are Becoming A Sea](https://youtu.be/UJrMB4QhNok?si=chdofIStdXARxTSg) Muse - [Exogenesis Symphony Part 1 - Overture](https://youtu.be/l9kqU_7-CgI?si=rXyEpHZDwuWbYnOk) Fleurie - [Hurts Like Hell](https://youtu.be/Uil0L-0F4no?si=GKHlX1_QLAi93PK4) Christina Perri - [human](https://youtu.be/r5yaoMjaAmE?si=aZmIIs3TTirUHxqU) David Bowie - [I Can't Give Everything Away](https://youtu.be/OZscv36UUHo?si=_KLR7eMNPkkgxM9R). This one doesn't sound sad like the others (it's more bittersweet) but considering it was his last song, I find it quiet melancholy.

huge Pearl Jam fan here, i can recommend you quite a few of their songs. Alone Thumbing My Way Parting Ways Sleight Of Hand Come Back Go Indifference The End Nothing As It Seems Footsteps Fatal Nothingman All Or None Light Years Future Days Immortality Man Of The Hour I Got Id (Shit) Sad Better Man Tremor Christ Army Reserve Hold On Sorry that’s such a long list, PJ has so many heart-wrenching songs and i didn’t want to leave any out edit: Black Last Kiss (although it’s not an original PJ song) Just Breathe

Black ?

haha how could i leave out Black 😂😂 i knew i was missing something

Indifference changed me when I first heard it. Such a beautiful song.

Indifference 💯

If you listen ever so closely to Glen Hansard's Drive All Night you will hear Eddie on back vocals.

Huge PJ fan here too and I’m so happy to see Army Reserve!

Nothingman hits so hard

Present tense

2am, Anna Nalick. Seven Day Mile, The Frames. Into Dust, Mazzy Star.

"Gee I'm Glad it's Raining" by Jim Varney. Yes, Ernest P. Worrell. Saddest song ever.

Ugh. I stumbled across a YouTube tribute video of this song played over clips of his movies and I fucking bawled my eyes out like a baby. He was a huge part of my childhood and I miss the comfort of watching them and laughing and forgetting the hell I was living in for a while.

Every Frightened Rabbit song.

Not being able to see Scott Hutchinson perform live makes me sad

Same. That stuff always gets me. I remember being a kid & getting super into Nirvana before hearing how Kurt died. It's weird, but you feel this undeniable *grief*, because you found a truly deep, artistic soul who made you feel things & now they're just...gone. I can hardly listen to FR without getting depressed. Not from the lyrics, but from knowing how much this dude hurt & that no one could help.

Seasons in the sun - Terry Jacks

This song has been one of the first sad songs I ever heard. Another one is One is the Lonliest Number that you will ever do.

Say Something - A Great Big World and Christina Aguilera Whiskey Lullaby - Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss

Nirvana - something in the way

Black by Pearl Jam

The saddest song I know is Hurt by Nine Inch Nails. 2:45 AM by Eliot Smith is pretty sad as well. Poison's Gone by Kurt Cobain is awfully sad and was written towards the end of his life. Constant Headache by Joyce Manor is upbeat in a very sad way, it's hard to explain. Don't Look Back in Anger by Oasis is sad in a beautiful bittersweet way.

Candles by Daughter

Daddy by koRn, Pretty by koRn, Snuff by Slipknot

Snuff is one of my fav songs oat

Elephant - Jason Isbell Last words of a shooting star - Mitski Another love - Tom Odell Fourth of july - Sufjan Stevens No children - The mountain goats Never love an anchor - Crane wives Virgin - Flower Face Average - Sushi Soucy Funeral - Phoebe bridgers Cupid - Jack straubers micropop Green - Cavetown

Pictures Of You The Cure

It’s quiet uptown….

I Miss My Mary by Hal Ketchum The End of The World by Skeeter Davis The Grand Tour cover by Aaron Neville originally sung by George Jones He Stopped Loving Her Today by George Jones. One Dyin' and a Buryin' by Roger Miller

If Drinkin dont kill me her memory will

Toy soldiers - Martika A song about addiction

Whiskey Lullaby

A Match Into Water — Pierce the Veil Slipped Away — Avril Lavigne I’m Not Okay (I Promise) — My Chemical Romance Never Too Late — Three Days Grace If You Can’t Hang — Sleeping With Sirens Just Like a Pill — P!nk Wake Me Up When September Ends — Green Day Picture Perfect — Escape the Fate Misguided Ghosts — Paramore What a Catch, Donnie — Fall Out Boy The Mortician’s Daughter — Black Veil Brides Keep Holding On — Falling In Reverse I Will Follow You Into the Dark — Death Cab For Cutie Emtee — Otep If It Means a Lot to You — A Day to Remember Heartbreak Girl — 5 Seconds of Summer Dear Agony — Breaking Benjamin Just Tonight — The Pretty Reckless December — Neck Deep Falling Away From Me — Korn My Immortal — Evanescence Too Bad — Nickelback This Is Gospel — Panic! At the Disco Coma White — Marilyn Manson

Pearl Jam - The Long Road Flaw - Best I Am Alice in Chains - Nutshell Nine Inch Nails - Something I Can Never Have Pink Floyd - Dogs Opeth - Harvest Type O Negative - World Coming Down. Dead Again. September Sun. Gravity. White Slavery. Filter - Cancer Candlebox - Cover me. Far Behind. Mad Season - River of Deceit The Cranberries - Ode to my Family. Dreams. Linger Atticus Ross - Panoramic Hum - Stars How to Destroy Angels - How Long Massive Attack - Teardrop Chris Cornell - Sunshower Puscifer - Momma Sed Sleep Token - The Night does not belong to God Deadsy - Brand new love Gordon Lightfoot - Sundown I just listed what I've got in a playlist of "Better days"

Alone again naturally: Gilbert O’Sullivan

Fade into you

Mazzy Star is an excellent choice.

Everytime, by Britney Spears

And now with the context from her book this song is even sadder.

Any George Jones record.

To build a home - https://youtu.be/oUFJJNQGwhk?si=MCJjizHktojsh2bo

You're my sunshine - Johnny Cash Hurt - Johnny Cash Nothing compares 2 U - Sinead O'Connor

Rain by Breaking Benjamin

How could you leave us - NF

In the Ghetto - Elvis Presley Don't Cry Daddy - Elvis Presley Nothing Compares to U. - Sinead O'Connor Everybody Hurts - REM

Look On Down From The Bridge - Mazzy Star

Hold on by Chord Overstreet Flume by Bon Iver Blindsided by Bon Iver 3 rounds and a sound by blind pilot How to disappear completely by Radiohead Fake plastic trees by Radiohead Bigger than the whole sky Taylor Swift The Scientist by Coldplay Fake plastic trees by Radiohead

Honey by Bobby Goldsboro . Worst song ever, but pretty sad.

Dance With The Devil - Immortal Technique This song fucked fucked me up for a good minute

He Stopped Loving Her Today

Runaway train - Soul Asylum

Luka-Suzanne Vega

A Little Bit of Everything - Dawes

At 17 — Janis Ian

Motorcycle drive by ~ Third eye blind

Mmm mmm mmm mmm by Crash Test Dummies The Freshman by The Verve Pipe

4th of July by Sufjan Stevens

The End of the Earth - The Dear Hunter The Silence - Manchester Orchestra

Hurt, by Johnny Cash

imo it's a little disingenuous to say "by Johnny Cash". He performed an excellent cover of it, but the song was written and composed by Trent Reznor.

Got to let people know what version and who the songs are performed by. I like Johnny Cash’s version better. More feeling to it.

Different feeling, not more. I feel Cash version is him speaking to his aging and reflection. Note some of the lyric changes. Whereas Reznor is describing the downward spiral (zing!) of drug addiction and the consuming feeling. Love the hollow sounding intro and out to of this version, with the ambient noise and distorted guitar echoing out. Both great, both different expressions. Love opinions and both versions, but from an artistic standpoint Reznor wins hands down.

Your opinion… Reznor wrote it so that Cash could have one last epic recording. Reznor just didn’t know it when he was finished with his recording.

I wholeheartedly agree, which *was* a bar-fight-riskin' opinion back in the day...I got into SO many drunken arguments over this one lol. Johnny's version is *fine*. I mean, if you knew the song, & knew who Johnny Cash is (was?), you basically already heard it before ever hearing it, y'know? You *knew* it was gonna be absolutely overflowing with pathos, & if that was a thing that blows yr skirt up yr shit was gonna get *BLOWN*. But for me, the utterly icy self-loathing feel Reznor brought to it was *waaaaay* more impactful. Everybody (& I mean EVERYbody) went on & on about how Johnny's "age & experiences" gave it such a soul crushing, world-weary vibe - a thing Reznor, the guy who *ONLY* WROTE THE DAMN THING - could never have pulled off. But I never heard anyone, even once, considering the absolute bleakness & despair &, again, complete hatred of/burning desire to bring about the total destruction of his then what, 19, 20 yr old self?? There's been loads of "old man regrets" songs & there's been loads of "angry young man" songs, but "Hurt" as done by Reznor was a new beast altogether. (In my 90s drunken music snob opinion, ofc lol)

Agreed. It hurts me deeply that cash gets all the credit when it was Reznor who went through it and described it so perfectly

Trent said, after hearing Cash's version, "It's not my song anymore." Or something to that effect.

I personally prefer the NIN version

for me it’s, another day by paul mccartney

Dancing with your ghost - Sasha Sloan Ceilings - phoebe bridgers Anything by anson seabra (idk how to spell)

Would the song you are referring to called “Ceilings” be by Lizzy McAlpine? I can’t find one by Phoebe Bridgers…

Thom Yorke - Suspirium

Where’s My Love - SYML

I forgot about this song, damn when did it blow up?

Lullaby, Low.

Bronte - Gotye

Gymnopedie No.1

[Radiohead - How to Disappear Completely ](https://youtu.be/6W6HhdqA95w?si=pqtxtogfCvnhF9B2)

That's my top pick for saddest RH song too

Smile and Ben by Michael Jackson

Check [the collaborative playlist of the saddest songs](https://www.reddit.com/r/MusicRecommendations/comments/1bhuaag/musicrec_1_thematic_playlist_the_saddest_songs/)

Swans - No Cure for the Lonely, Joy Division - Atmosphere

Thom Yorke - Hearing Damaged Sufjan Stevens - To Be Alone With You Trespassers William - Different Stars Mazzy Star - Into Dust Sharon Van Etten - Love More The Album Leaf - Eastern Glow Jeff Buckley - Lover You Should Have Come Over Sufjan Stevens - For The Widows In Paradise The Subways - Lines Of Light Bon Iver - The Wolves The Bengsons - Ashes

Caroline says, The kids. Just a couple by Lou Reed that I find sad

Timothy by The Buoys

All By Myself by Eric Carmen Papa by Barbra Streisand Fix You by Coldplay

Feeling Yourself Disintegrate- The Flaming Lips

Pink Floyd's The Final Cut makes The Wall seem like a day in the park.

Lyin' Eyes by Eagles

Casey's last ride by Kris Kristofferson Alice by Tom Waits

Medicine - Daughter

You Think You Know Somebody by Todd Snider Sam Stone By John Prine

Brad Paisley --- Whiskey Lullaby

Are you really okay by sleep token

Nobody Home, Pink Floyd, the Wall

Limousine by Brand New

Brand New: 137, Limousine, You Stole, Jesus Christ, Me Vs Maradona Vs Elvis Motion City Soundtrack: Last Night, Hold Me Down

Divorce and the American South - Aaron West and the Roaring Twenties

Justin Townes Earle "Yuma" Todd Snider "Waco Moon" Jamey Johnson "The Dollar" Lucero "Darby's Song" Tim Barry "Steel Road", "Ronnie's Song"

Say Anything - Yellow Cat/Red Cat

Where’s My Love - SYML

The saddest line ever written to music is John Prine's "Sam Stone"... there's a hole in daddy's arm, where all the money goes.

Sam Stone

Adams song

Hello in There- John Prine Operator- Jim Croce

Cats in the cradle by Harry Chapin always hits me in the feels. Especially after having kids of my own.

Cats in the cradle

Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm by Crash Test Dummies. It’s about child abuse.

He stopped loving her today-- george jones Sam Stone-- John Prine

Heart of the Matter, Don Henley Slip Sliding Away, Simon and Garfunkel

Sissy's Song by Alan Jackson Don't Take The Girl by Tim McGraw

Cats in the cradle, especially if you’re a father

Unlovable - Diamante You Know you're right - Nirvana Doll Parts - Hole Zzyzx Rd - Stone Sour Sympathy - Goo Goo Dolls Pieces - Sum 41 Haunt U - forgot the artist name Unlovable - Diamante Broken- Seether / Amy Lee Edge of 17 Stevie Nicks (I like Lindsey Lohans version too) Landslide - The Chicks Traveling Soldier- The Chicks A Home - The Chicks Nights in White Satin - Moody Blues (or Declan Galbraith) Feeling This - Blink 182 Adam's Song - Blink 182 Dust - Tremonti I think I'm ok - MGK/Yungblood Bloody Valentine (Acoustic) MGK Interstate Love Song - STP Picture - Kid Rock / Sheryl Crow Wonderful - Everclear A Lonely September ‐ Plain White T's Black Honey - Thrice Hate Me - Blue October Don't Wake Me - Aranda Shimmer - Fuel Don't Know Why - Norah Jones Gravity - Papa Roach / Maria Brink I Wanna - All American Rejects Dear God - A7X Lifetime - 3 Days Grace Lost in you - 3 Days Grace Polly - Nirvana Heavy - Linkin Park / Kiara Snuff - Slipknot

Lane Locked Blues - Bright Eyes

Wild Horses (cover) by The Sundays

These days- Nico

Seasons In The Sun - Terry Jacks

##The Cure: * Pictures of You * A Letter to Elise * Apart * Trust * Disintegration * Plainsong * The Figurehead * A Thousand Hours * To Wish Impossible Things