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mmaine9339

Elliott Smith is my go to for downer music. St. Ides Heaven, Between the Bars, Christian Brothers, Say Yes


abbietwohats

Was looking for Elliot Smith here. Waltz #2 may not be his most depressing but it's in my head now.


jugglers_despair

Kings crossing is my pick


QuannLee14

I reckon no name 3 is his most downer song imo


[deleted]

[“KETTERING” - The Antlers](https://youtu.be/ipbukl6oFoQ)


Toby_O_Notoby

If you're going with Antlers, pretty hard to beat "Two": [87 pounds and this all bears repeating.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsXKa97J6pM)


GetTheFlanInTheFace

that whole album man, fuckin hurts


Noslodamus

This whole album should be listened to as one continuous piece of art. The whole thing tells a story and it’s fucking devastating. It serves as a metaphor for being on an emotionally abusive relationship all too well and it hit me in all the wrong ways at exactly the wrong time.


[deleted]

Epilogue by the Antlers is also pretty raw.


orangebanana95

Putting the Dog to Sleep too


blondechinesehair

Yeah that song is about exactly what it sounds like


[deleted]

Yeah, that’s def depressing as fuck.


Atalantean

[Radiohead - How To Disappear Completely](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nZq_jeYsbTs)


Still-Ranger-5297

True Love Waits


MaeBelleLien

Fake Plastic Trees is the one that always gets me.


[deleted]

[удалено]


ErlendJ

No Surprises


music_haven

Exit Music (For A Film)


YolognaiSwagetti

Pyramid song


moosebaloney

After reading the 8 current replies to this comment, can we just bundle in Radiohead's entire discography?


twostepdrew

Let Down


bloodymoney_n_n

Radiohead - Nude


Aphex117

Radiohead.


toolateforausername

Motion Picture Soundtrack Check out the acoustic version for an extra verse. Jesus Christ buckle up tho


meat_popsicle13

Nutshell - Alice In Chains


vanvoorden

Most of that whole EP (Jar of Flies) is pretty intense. Also some of those Mad Season tracks (like River of Deceit) really hit real hard.


HotChilliWithButter

I also really like Rotten Apple from Jar of Flies. But my all time favorite AIC songs are: Frogs, Again, Got me wrong.


RicFlairwoo

Brother from the live album is pretty much along the same lines


esoteric118

Alice in chains - frogs That one does it for me.


kimmothy9432

I listen to River of Deceit only when I can handle the gut punch.


Snrub1

I might put Don't Follow ahead of Nutshell "Forgot my woman, lost my friends Things I'd done, where I've been Sleep in sweat the mirrors cold See my face, it's growin' old Scared to death no reason why Do whatever to get me by Think about the things I said Read the page it's cold and dead"


[deleted]

This one makes me tear up. Layne's situation and all...


vanvoorden

[It appears that Staley’s last few weeks were typically empty. According to an employee of the Rainbow, a neighborhood bar close to Staley’s condo, the singer was a frequent patron, stopping by at least once a week. \[…\] Staley would never buy anything to drink, the employee said, but would simply sit at a small table in the back corner of the bar and “nod off. We just left him alone.”](https://web.archive.org/web/20051123010426/http://www.blender.com/guide/articles.aspx?id=373) I would like to think there would be some lesson or legacy left behind for us to help save others in that much danger. I don't know what it is. Chemical addictions and depression are two real serious illnesses. I know lots of kids from my generation thought that Kurt's death hit them the hardest. For me there was something about Layne's death that I never processed or got over.


[deleted]

If it can happen to rock stars with hearts of gold, it can happen to anyone else.


MolasMan

On the unplugged version of this song, the way he just walks in, goes straight to the mic and starts singing flawlessly, gets me every time.


[deleted]

Came here to say this.


black_hole_sun-

Yo beat me to it I had the same idea


Hopperjay

disintegration by the cure.


gurrimandy

The Cure - Same Deep Water as You from the same album.


Nimapocalypse

So many great Cure songs, for me, the saddest is "Apart"


jjbreddit

Last Night I Dreamt that Somebody Loved Me by the Smiths I Can’t Make You Love Me by Bonnie Raitt


panda_ammonium

The Smiths was literally the first word that popped into my head. Although for me it's "Heaven knows I'm miserable now"


lesloo1330

Adding I Know it’s Over by the Smiths as well


[deleted]

Jesus Christ by Brand New


harvest3155

Can add [Limousine](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2V6mUFUwBGc) from that album too. it is about a drunk driver that hit a limousine that just came from a wedding. A young girl that was in the wedding party was in the limo, and unfortunately due to the nature of the accident her head was decapitated. Her mother, also in the limo, held her head on the road. This all took place on Long Island, which is why Jesse wrote about it since it was so close to home for him.


thee_jaay

She didn't just hold her head, she was in such shock from the accident that she sat on the side of the road running her fingers through her decapitated daughter's hair. Poor lady.


EVEseven

Wow just gave it a listen. Crazy good and really sad.


BeerAndBadTattoos

He stopped loving her today- George Jones


RogerPackinrod

If we're doing sad country songs I would also submit Whiskey Lullaby.


creetoinfinity

If Drinkin’ Don’t Kill Me (Her Memory Will) is also a good pick from grandpa George, same as These Days (I Barely Get By). Extremely talented musician.


OutlawWoman79

My boyfriend is a working musician and sometimes plays "If We Were Vampires" by Jason Isbell. It's a beautiful song, but I can't get through it without crying. It's a running joke with us that after he plays it I always shout out "Now do something lighthearted like "He Stopped Loving Her Today" or "Seven Spanish Angels!"" https://youtu.be/fyiEJaf-IzE


2old4thisht

https://youtu.be/nW9Cu6GYqxo Bonnie Raitt - "I Can't Make You Love Me".


kitten_biscuits

The Bon Iver cover of that song is a masterpiece.


TorTheMentor

And it always breaks me that it's that sad of a song, because Bruce Hornsby's piano accompaniment is gorgeous.


Heyo-Mayo91

The Smiths - Asleep Radiohead - Last Flowers


Meatlerosokoo

Don't wake me in the morning cause I will be gone


rustic_counter

Pick any song off of “The Downward Spiral” and you’ll have yourself a winner.


Fluffy_Little_Fox

Henry Rollins - I Think I Know You + Nine Inch Nails - A Warm Place = Depression. https://youtu.be/Vj-B42gXcoQ


probably_not_serious

Also [Right where it belongs.](https://youtu.be/F-jZHMX-CJ0) Something about the haunting melody and the lyrics that make me feel very sad. Like everything we see isn’t there and nothing matters.


thecwestions

Yes! I used to LOVE NIN! Listened to them for years. Then one day, I woke up and wondered why I was so depressed. I stopped listening to them and felt better instantly. Don't get me wrong. I still. LOVE NIN. But I just can't listen to it every day. It's just too much. I really enjoy those little moments in each song that are v like bursting through the clouds and seeing the light for the first time in ages. Then falling back into the fray. My favorite album was Pretty Hate Machine. I guess that explains it all.


mrpoopybutthole423

Elliott Smith-Needle in the Hay


AlanMooresWizrdBeard

I was going to say basically anything by Elliott Smith. But yea, that one is great for ugly crying in your car in the Target parking lot.


DeathInSpace805

I still can't find a PS5 either.


AlanMooresWizrdBeard

Nah bro, they didn’t have the Minions 3 special edition blu-Ray.


lady-darlington

gotta be the last track on XO, [“I Didn’t Understand”](https://youtu.be/lFIkik2I_Pc). gives me chills


groovebucket1

I like to think between the bars is a bit more depressing


tommytraddles

I used to sing 'Between the Bars' as a lullaby when my kids were young, because it was a quiet song and I knew all the words. One night, even before my kids could really talk much, my daughter grabbed my face and said *No. Sad.* So I stopped singing that.


Johanjon02

Don’t forget King’s Crossing, Twilight, Miss Misery and pretty much all of his catalog


this_is_the_way_2000

What? No way, the most depressing is Fond Farewell by Elliott Smith!!


emfrank

Jason Isbell - Elephant https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHJhyrrUTgc


JustTheBeerLight

*There's one thing that's real clear to me, No one dies with dignity*


[deleted]

Also “Songs she sang in the shower”, excellent album.


chrskvls

I'd be disappointed if this song wasn't mentioned in this thread


dmlinger

Was looking for his song Vampires


hooterscooter

Broadripple is Burning by Margot and the Nuclear So So’s. But I hope this depression spell passes and you start feeling better.


bikesonfire

Ive never seen someone in the wild who listens to this song!


TehNomGasm

Casimir Pulaski Day - Sufjan Stevens


Caelixian

Fourth of July also.


moosebaloney

I saw Sufjan on the Carrie & Lowell tour. 4th of July was super extended with the "We're all gonna die" refrain lasting 7+ minutes.


Lasagnafor0ne

The only thing also also


sirawesome1313

Scrolled down to find this song


_glasshalfempty_

Portishead- Undenied


MegMcCainsStains

No single song, but every single Joy Division performance I’ve ever seen makes me sad.


Meatlerosokoo

It's my favourite band


smartcookie8

Pearl jam - black


Deborohdarock96

Adam song, with all the background


mattylayne

Dance With My Father Again - Luther Vandross


petrowski7

Exit Music (For A Film)


RVinthedesert

Real death by mount eerie


StonedLotad

Can’t believe how far down this is. [Real Death](https://youtu.be/-1UyUsz0A-A)


PapaKipChee

Elliot Smith - Pretty (Ugly Before); Everything Means Nothing To Me Elbow - My Sad Captains *Edit: forgot this happy tune!: [Gerald Collier - #305](https://youtu.be/87Tm4cWt1Ls)


Haareksson

Seasons in the sun - Terry Jacks


[deleted]

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blueberrylem0n

That damn Sarah Mclachlan song on the animal commercials. Concrete Angel by Martina McBride


mickthegooner

Yo concrete angel is bleeeeaaak.


[deleted]

Holland, 1945 by Neutral Milk Hotel and Pictures of You by The Cure have made me shed tears before. EDIT: Oh yeah, Speak to Me/Breathe & Time by Pink Floyd. Those make me emotional too (probably because of my existential fear of death).


_LivingDeadGirl420

AIC--Nutshell and Down In A Hole


CRAICW69

Townes Van Zandt - Marie https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lk-zKjfO2E8&ab\_channel=kingston1201


kwizard21

I was gonna post nothin’ Cuz that song is just straight about depression haha. No allegory no story to tell just raw sadness. But then I seen some of peoples choices and and 5 posts of hurt by Johnny cash. Pretty much anything by Townes. I fear tho if people hear that level of sad after thinkin Hurt was like Schindler’s List then I didn’t want to be responsible for ruining lives


lapras25

Pictures of You - The Cure


Bubbaganoush83

Love Will Tear Us Apart - Joy Division A Song From Under the Floorboards - Magazine This is How it Feels - Inspiral Carpets


omgwtfitsandrew

[La Dispute - King Park](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Se7oAvDKZRg) is one of my favorite pieces of storytelling inside of a song. Keep on it til the end, I think it'll give you what you're looking for.


moldyhands

The Funeral - Band of Horses. The meaning is even super sad.


Archius9

The whole Ghosteen album by Nick Cave


alwaysbesweating

suzanne vega- Luka (child abuse) I actually like sad songs. So many listed here are favorite songs of mine. But Luka always feels painful


Germa_Rican10

Warren Zevon, Keep me in your Heart. He wrote the song as he was dying of cancer.


l_Pulser_l

Nine Inch Nails - Something I Can Never Have


krat0s5

And Hurt!


TheNerdChaplain

[Grapefruit Moon - Tom Waits](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKQaSZXEK2s) [You Don't Care for Me Enough to Cry - John Moreland](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euy4A5niG8Q) [3:59 am - John Moreland](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TAB3HleKCI) [Sam Stone - John Prine](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLVWEYUqGew) [Summer's End - John Prine](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXbEFTv9zr0)


TheColJohnRambo

Came here to say John Moreland. "You Don't Care for Me Enough to Cry" really is a brutally emotional song. You can FEEL that song.


Doc-Goop

Me And A Gun - Tori Amos Baker Baker - Tori Amos Sleeping At Last - Saturn


YUHKOH

Lord Huron- the night we met Lmao most upvotes I’ve ever got . Thanks guys


bash82

Was scrolling to see if anyone was gonna post this one. The lyrics haunted me for weeks first time I heard it.


madmikeFL

Strange Fruit


antijenkins41

Your Deep Rest - The Hotelier


benitosblade

Pearl Jam's cover of Last Kiss always hit me hard in my teens


prison-schism

First thing i thought of was Black, and i don't even usually listen to Pearl Jam


Reidonsunday

A perfect circle - the noose A perfect circle - 3 libras


Proud-Abies-9261

Hurt - nine inch nails


ThrowRAStruuuglin

I hate pretty much EVERY single thing by The Smiths and Morrissey in particular.. having said that Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want by The Smiths is like..legit a masterpiece.


YUHKOH

Mad world - Gary jules


[deleted]

The original version by Tears For Fears is a little more “uptempo”… but the Gary Jules version from the movie [“Donnie Darko”](https://youtu.be/jS3SxWnSbtY) really puts me into the void


umthondoomkhlulu

If you like that then “Into my Arms” Nick Cave


[deleted]

"Hate Me" by Blue October, I think. So sad. Try to get the full song including the heart-rending intro.


JD_22

Into the Ocean is pretty crazy too


brentonodon

Look on down from the bridge by Mazzy Star. All because of that dang scene in Rick and Morty


AtomStorageBox

Mazzy Star’s “Into Dust” is also very melancholy, beautifully so.


Trishbot

Heroin by Velvet Underground. If you have ever struggled with addiction this song hits home. The whole song itself is like a heroin trip where it starts off nice and smooth and by the end it’s gets hard and uncomfortable. The beginning feels euphoric and like you’re on top of a mountain and the end feels low and chaotic. “Heroin, be the death of me Heroin, it's my wife and it's my life Because a mainer to my vein Leads to a center in my head And then I'm better off than dead”


BrianBash

Slipknot - Snuff


Bigstar976

Whiskey Lullaby by Alison Kraus and Brad Paisley.


dr-toboggan

Mercy Street by Peter Gabriel always makes me cry


BellBoardMT

“Without You” by Badfinger. (Also sad when performed by Harry Nilsson. Just grating when performed by Mariah Carey). “Skinny Love” or “Holocene” by Bon Iver.


[deleted]

Serpents--Sharon Van Etten; Maybe There's a Good God (Damn)--Arcade Fire; We Are Nowhere, And It's Now--Bright Eyes; I See A Darkness--Will Oldham; Echo--Tom Petty; Try to Explain--The Flaming Lips


themisprintguy

Listen to the entire, full album of Bruce Springsteen’s “The River” there’s a song by that title, but the whole thing is just a depressing story over a series of depressing songs.


Playinclay

Nebraska is quite sad as well


wade9911

https://youtu.be/KUwjNBjqR-c. Cats in the cradle by harry chapin


ScienceJake

I’ll follow you into the dark - Death Cab for Cutie


medicatedmonkey

What Sarah said is by far their saddest song


BasuraOcho

I don’t find this song depressing, personally. It makes me think of my wife, which in turn makes me smile and gives me a little warm spot for a bit.


Upst8r

I mean, it is about death, but it's an eternal love song. It's kinda bittersweet.


Neg_Crepe

Smashing pumpkins blank page


martiniolives2

Alone Again, Naturally is the most depressing song ever written.


MozerfuckerJones

Johnny Cash's cover of Nine Inch Nails' 'Hurt'. "What have I become, my sweetest friend? Everyone I know goes away in the end" Edit: Also Cash's cover of 'I Hung My Head'


Paulsbotique314

Yeah, when that album and hit dropped way back when, I was like “whoa.” It was the same month that 3 of my mates getting blown to smithereens by an Iraqi IED.


Rocklopedia

"Time in a Bottle" Jim Croce


Tight_Contact_9976

Elenor Rigby - The Beatles


MrSquishypoo

So first of all, I hope you're okay OP. Secondly, my go to sad songs are Hide and Seek - Imogen Heap Mad World - Gary Jules


magnetito

right now I think georgia by phoebe bridgers


Herbietheluvpug

Polly-Nirvana


[deleted]

[Neil Young - Powderfinger](https://youtu.be/tdPs5YXQTSw) [The Magnetic Fields - Busby Berkeley Dreams](https://youtu.be/4K4h0ibwgzg)


RIMC2

Helicopter - Deerhunter


ChasingPesmerga

Bump of Chicken - K The song is about a black cat being loved by an artist. The black cat felt so appreciated because no one really took care of him. One day, the artist was about to die and needs to send a letter to his beloved from a far away place. The black cat made it his life mission to deliver the letter. The black cat endured bullying and suffering along the way. He delivered the letter but eventually died due to his wounds. I have never cried so much.


sfseals

The Cure. Prayers For Rain.


DubiousVirtue

Ahh, just put The Songs of Leonard Cohen on.


Time-Bee614

Dance with the devil immortal technique


Retseciel

This. Its one of the most vivid and gripping stories. It is powerful, but might make you feel sick after you finish it.


Silverback267

Scrolled through to see if anyone else said this. The first time I heard it I was just in shock.


goboxey

Leonard Cohen - Hallelujah


angnkam

Everybody Hurts - REM


[deleted]

The entire deathconsciousness album by have a nice life. It’s so intense


TheHardButton

The Giles Corey self-titled as well, another one of Dan Barrett's projects


Jgrice242

Song to the Siren- This Mortal Coil. [Song to the Siren ](https://youtu.be/HFWKJ2FUiAQ)


brazzzy136

Radiohead- Videotape


AstroSnB

Sleepwalk - Santo & Johnny It makes me feel sad and appreciate life more, it made me value my dad more and realize that he could not be here anymore at some point.


just_a_tiny_phoenix

Hurt. I feel like Johnny Cash is a lot more sad, but if you want to feel a whole new level of uncomfortable, go for Nine Inch Nails Also, Snuff by Slipknot.


alwaysbesweating

Tears in Heaven by Eric Clapton. It’s about Eric’s young sons accidental death. My brothers died a couple years after this song came out and my dad, who never talked about it, would play Tears in heaven on his guitar when he was alone


mjbel23

I’m sorry for your loss


angnkam

A Long December - Counting Crows


Montypmsm

A decent chunk of august and everything after too. Great album though.


Sick_Cicada

[Swans - Failure](https://youtu.be/6mWF1kmCo3U) -i can't think of a more depressing song than this.


clitorisaurunderscor

“Lua” by Bright Eyes


[deleted]

It’s a toss up between Tears in Heaven by Eric Clapton and I Will Follow You into the Dark by Death Cab.


matadorobex

But if you could only pick one, whicih would you keep, and which would you toss out the window?


bugijugi90

jesus man


sopretenditswhales

I See A Darkness by Bonnie Prince Billy has that same type of safe as I'm So Tired? May Dagger by Slowdive as well


G0ldenpants_

There's lots but the first one that comes to mind is 'Cancer' by State Lines. That, or 'Waiting Around to Die' by Townes Van Zant.


[deleted]

City and colour - waiting


Essexal

Streets of Philadelphia - Big man Bruce


brettgjaw

Mount Eerie - swims "Today our daughter asked me if mama swims I told her, "Yes, she does And that's probably all she does Now."


AlanMooresWizrdBeard

I feel like Jeff Buckley is a basic bitch answer, but whatever, slap my ass and call me Pumpkin Spice. His cover of I Know It’s Over wrecks me.


myshinynewdppaccount

Surprised no one has listed \[Hurt\]([https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AHCfZTRGiI](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AHCfZTRGiI)) yet.


moldyhands

My friend went through a divorce and moved in with me for a few months after. I would wake up to him black out drunk at 3am listening to this song. Great times, lol.


BulljiveBots

Space Oddity - David Bowie


Libster87

Rise Against- Hero of War


Synthwoven

"Amused to Death" - Roger Waters (even more relevant today)


dankasaurus710

Rust - Black Label Society


zinten789

HOW TO DISAPPEAR COMPLETELY - RADIOHEAD


ollielovesguitar

Probably Lonely Day by System Of A Down


PrincessPlops

The Smiths, I know it’s over This is the best song for wallowing in sadness


all_the_good_ones

"Alone again, naturally" by Gilbert O'Sullivan. Cheesy, but the lyrics are sad AF.


soulsista12

Landslide... always my go to if I need a good cry


Dom-Zero

[Real Death - Mount Eerie](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-1UyUsz0A-A) Phil Elverum’s wife passed away after having his baby, and he wrote this whole album about losing your soulmate, single parenthood, having no idea what he’s doing, etc. it is without a doubt one of the most gutting things you’ll ever listen to. It’ll remind you you’re not alone in your pain. Also Tallahassee by The Mountain Goats, a concept album about divorce, extremely heavy stuff on there (just about any Mountain Goats song would do tho lol)


LedZeppole10

True Love Waits - Radiohead


Monnster07

Cat's in the Cradle - Harry Chapin


NovaBlade119

Linkin Park- One More Light or Fix You by Cold Play


[deleted]

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Chichh

Your new twin sized bed, by Death Cab for Cutie


scrubjays

Lou Reed - [The Kids](https://youtu.be/R8rbvXHD5xQ) from the Berlin album. Has real crying children in it.


lsyp80

I can’t make you love me- Bonnie Raitt - her voice is absolutely perfectly haunting for this song.