What do you think is the saddest song ever?

Seasons in the Sun - Terry Jacks
Landslide - Fleetwood Mac
A Day in the Life - The Beatles
Last Goodbye - Jeff Buckley
Bullet Proof - Radiohead
That's the Way I've Always Heard It Should Be - Carly Simon
Alone Again Naturally - Gilbert O'Sullivan

Love,
Billy

 

Clannad - Úirchill An Chreagáin

 

I always thought "Patches" was a tearjerker.

 

A Whiter Shade Of Pale, not in lyrics though or maybe, I can't figure them out but the song certainly gives off a very sad mood.

 

My Father's House- Bruce Springsteen
Wreck on the Highway- Bruce Springsteen
A Most Peculiar Man-Simon and Garfunkel
Echo-Tom Petty
Darcy Farrow-John Denver
If I Don't See You Again- Neil Diamond
Green Fields of France-Dropkick Murphys

 

Spaced Dye Vest - Dream Theater
Sara - Bob Dylan particularly the version he sings on the Rolling Thunder review in 1975 which was around the time his marriage was or had already fallen apart.

Bruce Springsteen - Downtown Train
Night they drove old dixie down.
Walk on By - Isaac Hayes, listened to this about 100 times getting over an ex, summed up everything perfectly.

 

Drive-By Truckers -- Loaded Gun in the Closet

 

As an FYI, instrumentals do not a song make. Songs, by their very definition, are sung.

I've made this point before and was questioned vehemently about my take. Would any of you proclaim that the 1964 1/2 Ford Mustang was the greatest motorcycle ever made?

Lexicon. Songs are sung.

 

Lou Reed's Caroline Says II certainly deserves to be mentioned here.

 

"Life in a Northern Town"

 

I don't know about saddest, but Prince's "Sometimes It Snows in April" always stops me in my tracks...

 

Brilliant song, and I agree.

 

There's a song by a 90s country artist named Tracy Lawrence called "I See it Now" and it's by far the one that has always hit me the hardest. I think regret is one of the worst things a man can feel and that song sums it up perfectly. Not a big country fan but nobody does sad songs like country artists. Another tear jerker is a song called "Bells" by the Rankins.

 

As an FYI, I chose to interpret the OP's use of the word "song" as being an informal reference to "a piece of music". Also, it just so happens that I was singing along to my instrumental choice in the shower this morning: "Daaaaaaaahhhhhh, dah, dah, dah, dah . . ."

 

"Oh My What A Shame" by Don McLean

 

Fair enough.

 

Add "Happy Boy" by the Beat Farmers, and "Fred" by Ray Stevens to that list.

 

Love Hurts Gram Parsons

 

I used to think that it was Clapton's River Of Tears, but now after all these events Bowie's Lazarus possibly takes the cake.
Also David's Slip Away from 2002 is pretty emotional. Also Queen's Mother Love is very sad. Also most of McCartney's Chaos And Creation In The Backyard is beautiful/sad. Also Stones had a nice song Out Of Tears from 1994. Marillion's Sugar Mice is beautiful too.

 

Joe Walsh's "Song For Emma". I just found out about this song when I bought the "So What" AF Gold CD. I can't imagine the deep sadness of losing a child. So when I listen to "Song For Emma" I think of the pain that Joe Walsh and his wife went through at that time. It's a beautiful song.

Bill

 

Good choice, lots of various references on this, JFK, The Beatles, and of course the song is referencing Nike Drake.

 

Winner Watch Jason Isbell’s Funny Commercial For “The Saddest Song Ever” »

 

Knock me out- Linda perry, grace slick

 

Ruby! A great Janice Ian tune from a terrific Marti Album, "Used Guitars."

 

Karan Casey also covers Strange Fruit masterfully.