Like Pamie, I'm hormonal, and so I'm sitting here listening to Natalie Merchant sing "Beloved Wife" and sobbing half-hysterically. Which makes me wonder: what songs make y'all cry?

-- Anonymous, January 14, 2000

Answers

Mia--

Yes! That's the song. Thanks for getting me all weepy at work. I was paraphrasing the damn song so I wouldn't get all sad. Dammit. Now I just see Charlotte withering away.

Oh, Christ.

I had come here because I had remembered a few more songs, until Mia shoved a damn knife into my heart...

Oh yeah. "Homeward Bound." I have a copy of Paul Simon doing it with George Harrison on guitar. It was the background music for a short Carl Reiner film on SNL filmed at an airport. It was just scenes of people saying goodbye and getting reuinited for five minutes while Paul sang and George strummed. Man, that had me bawling. BUCKETS!

This one is cheesy, but Madonna's "Oh Father" gets to me. Shutup, you know you cried at it too.

Sting's "Fragile" and "They Dance Alone."

-- Anonymous, January 19, 2000

A lot of Mary Chapin Carpenter's stuff: The Hard Way, He Thinks He'll Keep Her, It Don't Bring You and, especially, Something Of A Dreamer. Bonnie Raitt's I Can't Make You Love Me and that cheesy I Will Always Love You by Whitney Houston. But that last one has ex- boyfriend connotations so please forgive me.

-- Anonymous, January 14, 2000

Fire & Rain by James Taylor. Just The Two Of Us -- the Will Smith version. I could go on and on, but I won't :-)

-- Anonymous, January 14, 2000

There is something about that song "I will always love you" as sung by Dolly Parton that gets me deep within. The tenderness of her voice. And she wrote the song too. Whitney wishes she had half the soul as Dolly. When she does the rescitation I break down like a pilled-up housewife. TL

-- Anonymous, January 15, 2000

I'm gonna agree with Cathy on "I Can't Make You Love Me." So sad. But only when I sing along. Also, Puff the Magic Dragon by Peter, Paul, and Mary. I just can't help it. Poor Puff is all alone...*sniff*. And "Mama's Arms" by Joshua Kadison. Not exactly a popular song by any means, but a good one, just the same. I should start a list.

-- Anonymous, January 15, 2000

How could I forget Silver Wings by Merle Haggard. So beautiful it makes you cry. TL

-- Anonymous, January 15, 2000

Pale Blue Eyes, Velvet Underground or the REM cover.

Romeo and Juliet, Dire Straights or Indigo Girls.

Some songs are so good you can't mess 'em up if you tried.

-- Anonymous, January 15, 2000

If I am in the right mood, anything from Nirvana Unplugged will start me sobbing. That anf "Heroes" by David Bowie. I don't know why.

-- Anonymous, January 15, 2000

or how about Everybody Hurts by REM that one gets me every time.

-- Anonymous, January 15, 2000

"All of my Love," by Led Zeppelin. It was written by Robert Plant after his five-year-old son died.
Makes me all teary whenever I hear it.

-- Anonymous, January 15, 2000

November Rain by Guns'n'Roses. Slip Slide Melting by For Love Not Lisa. Gray Sky Morning by Vertical Horizon.

I'm a sap. I can't listen to any of those without tearing up.
-Meghan

-- Anonymous, January 15, 2000

Oh jeez.. That Lauryn Hill song "you let go.. and I'll let go too.."

and I tear up at weird political songs like "the Diggers" by Billy Bragg, and the fervour and life-and-death passion of it all.

And a lot of Otis Redding, especially "A Thousand Miles Away" and "Think About It", and Ray Charles "You Don't Know Me."

whew!

-- Anonymous, January 15, 2000

I agree with Andy about "Romeo and Juliet". That's the saddest friggin song. And "With or Without You" and "All I Want is You" by U2. I feel like crying right now.

-- Anonymous, January 16, 2000

Through The Years -- Kenny Rogers Love of My Life -- Michael W. Smith. I normaly do not listen to country or cross-over Christian songs, but both of these songs get me sobbing.

Butterfly Kisses -- by, um, that guy. My dad died two weeks to the day after that song came out, so I cry BUCKETS everytime I hear it.

windy

-- Anonymous, January 16, 2000

• "The Living Years," by Mike and the Mechanics.
• The end of Les Misérables, when Valjean, Fantine, and Eponine sing together.
• "Butterfly Kisses," by Bob Carlisle, as remixed by some utterly sadistic DJ, with snippets of dialogue between the lyrics.

-- Anonymous, January 16, 2000

Fields of Gold--Sting, and, um...crap, I know there's one more. There are only two songs that have ever made me cry, and I can only remember one of them. How's that for ridiculous?

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2000

Time in a Bottle - that one does it for me, because it says exactly what I feel.

Songs get to me more now that I'm older and understand love and life a little better. There are songs that I despised as a kid (You Don't Bring Me Flowers - Neil Diamond and Barbra Streisand: I thought it was the most horrible song ever and begged my mom to turn it off when I was little. Now, I'll listen to it and get all sad and stuff).

I'm hormonal right now too, so I actually got teary-eyed when I heard that Night Ranger song, When You Close Your Eyes (do you dream about me). Pretty pathetic, huh?

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2000

The theme from Love Story. Everytime. Every freaking time.

And for some strange reason, Secret Garden by Bruce Springsteen. It isn't really a sad song but it gets to me.

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2000

Her Father's Eyes, by Mercedes Lackey.

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2000

In the right mood, just about any song by Chicago can bring me to tears. But on the flip side, no matter what kind of a funk I'm in, if I hear the song Rollercoaster of Love by any of the 800 bands that did it, I am transformed instantly into a great mood, and can't help but boogie a little wherever I am. I think I'm partial to the Red Hot Chili Peppers' version.

Okay, enough posting. Lisa, get back to work! Geez!

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2000

A song by a Norwegian folksinger called "Himmel og Hav" (Sky and Sea), "Real Love" off the Beatles anthology- that one can tear me up every single time. And "Time in a Bottle" once made me cry.

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2000

"so real," jeff buckley. it's positively haunting.

love Laura

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2000

"And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda," the Pogues version. Gets me every time when he gets to the part about "a man needs two legs."

There's also an old song by Emmylou Harris, "To Daddy," that always leaves me sobbing. So I don't listen to it.

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2000

OK, the lyrics to this one are so stupid that Dave Barry cited them in his Bad Song Book, but the song "If" by .. Cream? or Bread. One of those food bands. It really makes me cry, especially the opening part where he's like "If a picture paints a thousand words, then why can't I paint you?" I think it's emotional for me because my grandma always used to play it on the piano.

Also, I always used to cry when "The Glory of Love" aka the Karate Kid theme song, came on, because of the part about "I am the man who will fight for your honor". I was always like "oh god, nobody will ever fight for my honor, I'm a big loser, waaah". You know, I really don't miss junior high.

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2000

First things: Jan - Its Bread...I've read that book like 50 billion times:)

Next. Right now I can only think of four:
"She Leaving Home" by the Beatles - gets me every single time. I have no idea why...I think its Pauls singing...
"Ohio" by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young - probably because I'm a freak and I can go on and on for hours about the Kent State shootings
"Here, There, and Everywhere" by the Beatles - my favorite Beatles song of all time. This is the reason why I bought Revolver...because I heard like, 3 seconds of this song and fell in love:)
"As We Go Along" by the Monkees - This is such an obscure song. Its off their 6th album (yes, they had 6 albums...about 13 to be exact), which is also the soundtrack to their movie _Head_. This song gets to me because of the guitar, and the singing and just...everything...especially when they play it i the movie and all the Monkees are walking by themselves... Its just too hard to explain...

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2000

Oh Robyn, that Merchant song is the saddest! It always upsets me to hear it. It's heart-breaking. It's not even a "I love you and I'll miss you but I'm OK" song. It's a "You're dead and I want to kill myself" song. I'm sniffling now.

Two songs that go in the former, more merciful category are "I Will Remember You" by Amy Grant, and "In Your Wildest Dreams" by the Moody Blues.

My newest favorite sad love song is "Light in Your Eyes" by Blessid Union of Souls. If I listen to it closely, it brings a tear to my eye.

Tom, are you sure "I Will Always Love You" was written by Parton? I know it's been re-made about 4 times.

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2000

I'm a country music person so... "Go Rest High on that Mountain" by Vince Gill, "Wayfaring Stranger" Trace Adkins' version, "What if Jesus Comes Back Like That?" by Colin Raye, "Love Me" by Colin Raye, "The Walk" by Sawyer Brown, "I Can't do that Anymore" by Faith Hill, "Is There Life Out There?" by Reba, I could just go on and on.

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2000

Oh, man. The one that always gets me crying is Wish You Were Here by ... I think it's Mark Wills. If you're not familiar with country music, it's about how this guy is getting ready to leave on a plane, and he kisses his wife goodbye and promises he'll call her when he gets there. On what I am guessing is a layover, he buys a postcard...

On the front it just said 'Heaven'
With a picture of the ocean and a beach
And the simple words he wrote her
Said he loved her and he told her
How he'd hold her if his arms would reach
Wish you were here
Wish you could see this place
Wish you were near
I wish I could touch your face
The weather's nice, it's paradise
It's summertime all year
There's some folks we know, they say hello
I miss you so
Wish you were here...

Well, instead of a call from him, she gets a call from the authorities that tell her that his plane crashed and there were no survivors. But then she gets that postcard in the mail, and it sounds like he's writing her from Heaven... and dammit, I'm crying about it now. It's the sweetest song, and everytime it comes on the radio, I cry.

Others? The hymn How Great Thou Art makes me a little teary because it was my late grandfather's favorite. It's mostly country songs that get me, though. I went to a Tim McGraw concert in the summer and I was a basket case during and after he sang Don't Take the Girl.

On a related note, did anyone besides me cry during The Sixth Sense? I was a sobbing mess at the end and had problems regaining composure nearly a half-hour afterwards. No one else I've talked to seems to have the same response. Just wondering.

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2000

You're Gone by Diamond Rio is highly upsetting, as is Vince Gill's If You Ever Have Forever in Mind. I'm a big fan of depressing music.

There is a song that not a lot of people have heard called The Drugs Don't Work by The Verve (of Bittersweet Symphony fame). It's about this guy going to visit his girlfriend in a hospital.

Little sample of it for you...

All this talk of getting old
It's getting me down, my love
Like a cat in a bag, waiting to drown
This time I'm comin' down
And I know you're thinkin' of me
As you lay down on your side
Now the drugs don't work
They just make you worse
But I know I'll see your face again...

'Cause baby, if heaven calls
I'm comin' too
Just like you said
You leave my life, I'm better off dead...

Kind of the same idea as Last Kiss (Pearl Jam). That song would make me depressed, but ever since Pamie said Eddie sounded like Goat Boy, I stopped listening to it for the message and started bleating along... "Oh, whhhh-eeeeeeee-rrre, oh whhhh-eeeeee-rrre can my ba-aaaaa-aaaaby be..." :)

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2000

Well, shit. Sorry about that.

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2000

Dolly Parton definitely wrote "I Will Always Love You." She's written about a million songs.

I forgot a couple of particularly cheesy ones: "Wish You Were Here," by (gulp) Pink Floyd, and "Gun Shy" by Natalie Merchant. What can I say; I'm eclectically cheesy.

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2000

How much time do you have? Geez.

The biggest ones for me right now are: I Believe I Can Fly by R. Kelly, and only because I heard it the day that I found out my brother's best friend died. Buckets and Buckets of tears. Same goes for One Sweet Day by Boyz II Men and Mariah Carey.

As for music I actually listen to regularly? (=

Adam's Song by Blink 182. It's totally fast and jumpy, but if you listen to the words, you'll find it's about a boy (or girl?) that committed (or is going to) commit suicide. "Please tell mom this is not her fault..." Ugh! Buckets.

Foolish Games by Jewel, only because it reminds me of an ex-boyfriend (You spoke of your loved ones, as I clumsily strummed my guitar...)

Lots of Tori's song, several songs off the same album as Beloved Wife by Natalie Merchant (someone mentioned it earlier). Evaporated by Ben Folds Five: I poured my heart out... I poured my heart out... It evaporated.... See?

Return to Pooh Corner by Kenny Loggins.

And a huge one is From This Moment by Shania Twain. I hear it on the radio at work all the time, and even though I don't listen to country, this is a country song that I love. It sums up my feelings for Jake so damn well.

I'll stop now. (=



-- Anonymous, January 18, 2000

Geez I am a total newbie and I think I have posted to 4 questions already! Good golly.

Ok one song that always gets me is "This Woman's Work" by Kate Bush -- add in the touching scene of She's Having A Baby and I am a wreck.

"If You Came Back from Heaven" by Lorrie Morgan I think that's what it is. It plays at the end of The Brandon Teena Story and even though I usually don't like country music, it got me right away.

"Return to Me" by October Project. It's gorgeous and haunting and makes me think of when I was first dating my hubby.

-- Anonymous, January 18, 2000

That Natalie Merchant song is great, and also 'Misguided Angel' by ... my mind has gone completely blank. It will come to me. You know the band - one of their albums is called Caution Horses ... Cowboy Junkies! (sorry)

Also, that song by Live ... you know the one - the first one that made it really big for them ... buggered if I can remember what it's called.

I'm really sorry about this, my memory seems to have dribbled out of my ear while I was sleeping.

-- Anonymous, January 18, 2000

Lightning Crashes! (I just looked it up). Very sad because it was played at the funeral of a guy I was at school with.

-- Anonymous, January 18, 2000

We saw Colin Ray in concert over Christmas, and when he sang, "Love Me", I lost it. I was bawling all over my fiance. It's such a sweet song. Also, for some reason "Little Rock" by Colin Ray makes me cry. Its sorta hokey, but its a great song.

I also love "The Promise" by Tracy Chapman. It's a great breaking-up sad song, and I cry every time I hear it.

-- Anonymous, January 18, 2000

There are numerous songs that have moved me to some extent, but only one that really made me cry, at least for the past 15 years or so. It's by an Israeli singer called Noa and featured on her 1996 'Calling' album, released on Geffen. I believe the album was a commercial flop, but it was also an artistic triumph, at least in my book. Anyway, the song is called 'Mark of Cain'. It's about an Israeli girl who has been living abroad and returns to her homeland, only to get gangraped the moment she gets there. The largest part of the song sees her dealing with the dillemma of wether or not to keep the baby her oppressors left inside her. The song chills me to the bone every time I hear it, especially because it's so damn tender.

Aside from that, I think Noa has the best singing voice I've ever heard in my life.

-- Anonymous, January 18, 2000

Meridith.....totally forgot about Kate Bush. "This Woman's Work" makes me cry too. But I can listen to it over and over. Her voice is amazing.

-- Anonymous, January 18, 2000

'this woman's work'...kate bush 'strong enough'(?)...sheryl crow (after hearing it live) 'angel'...sarah m. 'crash'...dave matthews band 'rain'...grateful dead (after hearing it live) 'at last'...etta james

-- Anonymous, January 18, 2000

"daddy don't you walk so fast", i think it's by wayne newton. when that song was popular, my parents were getting divorced, so it really hit home. that song still breaks my heart.

-- Anonymous, January 18, 2000

Mia:

I completely lost it at the end of "The Sixth Sense". I sobbed all the way home and then went into the bathroom and cried some more (I didn't want my husband to see me crying). I can't explain why it made me cry so hard, but just thinking about it makes me tear up.

I'm so lame.

http://www.bitchypoo.com/bitchypoo.html

-- Anonymous, January 18, 2000

I didn't think I actually HAD any songs that made me cry, till I started reading and remembering...

Piper: Although I never actually HEAR it, "Puff the Magic Dragon" killed me when I was a little kid. I still get kinda moist-eyed when I hear it. Same for "You Are My Sunshine," cuz my mommy used to sing it to me. (I can be very nostalgic!)

Beth -- you mentioned two of mine, "Gun Shy" and "Wish You Were Here." The former because of when my brother joined the Army (of course he did it to afford college, but still), and the latter from when I was depressed enough to attempt suicide. It just summed up my feelings. Now I can't even listen to it.

Oh, and Mia, I, too cried at "The Sixth Sense," though probably not as hard as you. The movie it took me the longest to recover from was "Dead Man Walking." I sat in the car and sobbed uncontrollably for about a half-hour while my puzzled husband tried to console me. I just can't handle stuff about executions, I guess.

"Tenderness" (preferably the original [?] by Otis Redding, but that guy in The Commitments did a fine job as well) makes me cry because it's so beautiful. Otis's voice soars on that song. (And I particularly loved the way Ebby mangled it in "Bull Durham" -- "women get wooly...cuz of all the stress!")

Jeff Buckley's remake of "Hallelujah" sends me. Such a haunting song anyway (by Leonard Cohen, who can also move me like no one else), but hearing his heartbreakingly beautiful voice, and knowing there will be no more albums from him... oh man, I bawl like a baby. What a waste.

Anybody with a good voice singing "Danny Boy" can destroy me. Isn't that horribly, clichidly corny of me?

Same for "Ave Maria" -- remember when Holling sang it to Shelly on "Northern Exposure"? And I'm not even Catholic. "O Holy Night" is another Christmasy one that does it, especially when my mom's good friend used to sing it at candlelight services on Christmas Eve. I nearly puked when Jewel sang it on the "Today" show. Had to mute her.

I used to cry when I heard "My Sister" by Julianna Hatfield, or "Sister" by the Nixons, because my brother is not particularly demonstrative, and I liked to imagine him writing those songs about me. ("My Sister" is written from the point of view of her kid brother...or sister, now I forget which.)

And "Winter" by Tori Amos (who I haven't had a lot of use for on anything past "Under the Pink") -- the line her father says: "when you gonna make up your mind? when you gonna love you as much as I do?" just kills me.

I'm sure there are more, but those are enough for today, now that I've seriously depressed myself!

-- Anonymous, January 18, 2000

I just read some responses, and I have to say: "Strong Enough" can get me too:)

-- Anonymous, January 18, 2000

"She's Leaving Home," by the Beatles
"When We Recovered," by Toad the Wet Sprocket
"Come Back Down," by Toad the Wet Sprocket
"Fire and Rain," by James Taylor
"So Far Away," by Carole King
"(All I Have To Do Is) Dream," REM version
"Cats In the Cradle," by Harry Chapin
"My Sister," by Juliana Hatfield
"What's the Matter Here," by 10,000 Maniacs
"I Can See Clearly Now," by Johnny Nash
"(I've Got) Dreams to Remember," by Otis Redding
"Miss Otis Regrets," by Cole Porter
That song that Charlotte sings right before she dies in "Charlotte's Web."
"High and Dry," by Radiohead
"My Hero," by Foo Fighters
"Today," by Smashing Pumpkins
"The Crystal Ship," by the Doors

The last three are purely because of Boyfriend Nostalgia. Okay, and the second two. That "Fire and Rain" song has made me sob buckets ever since the ASPCA ran this "adopt a pet" ad where this happy, healthy dog gets euthanized because no one would adopt him. Jesus, I cried for days.

As you can see, family songs get me all weepy.

-- Anonymous, January 18, 2000

"I hope that i don't fall in love with you" Tom Waits ... and this other one where he's portraying a guy calling his old flame Martha ...

"Return to Me" October Project - haunting is such the right term!

the Kate Bush one where she turns on her computer and she's all alone, pressing execute ...

-- Anonymous, January 18, 2000

Recently I've been remembering the time, at the ending of high school, the beginning of college for me, Pere Ubu made an appearance on the Letterman show. He announced them as the band they wouldn't pay to fly in, so they had to raise the funds in their local community to make the appearance on the show. Then the the camera moved on this band of heavy-set geezers, and the singer did this remarkable song to his lover, because he was taken by a tidal wave, and was living on a raft looking for his way home. I'm not sure, but I think it's one of the most powerful and beautiful performances of anything I ever saw.

My current fascination with Pokémon is related to this, as one of the first episodes of the cartoon I saw involved the mysterious rescue of a pikachu from a raft lost at sea, to find its counterpart. They just did another episode of the show recently where they retired Brock from the show, as he decided to stay with a colony of Pokémon researchers, and they welcomed him, saying that until he arrived, they felt lost on a raft at sea.

Well, that's all I have to say about that.

-- Anonymous, January 18, 2000

Beth-- "Wish You Were Here" makes me want to cry, too. sniff.

Portishead almost always get to me, and "Sober" by Tool has my crying tears of fuck-it-all-I-suck.

-- Anonymous, January 18, 2000

Oh my god, I forgot: "Sand and Water" by Beth Nielsen Chapman. I'm tearing up already!

-- Anonymous, January 18, 2000

I just searched through this forum for any mention of the Pretenders or Concrete Blonde. Anyone moved by Back on the Chain Gang or 2000 Miles? Anyone moved by Joey or Someday? (Is that the name of the song?) Are the Talking Heads too weird to mention Heaven or This Must Be The Place? Or, if you're really brave, how about Jackson, Monk and Rowe by Elvis Costello and the Brodsky Quartet?

-- Anonymous, January 18, 2000

Oh yeah, I forgot... Change The World by Eric Clapton because it played at the exact moment it finally hit me - someone I wanted to marry had married someone else...

-- Anonymous, January 18, 2000

Speakng of Pretenders, how about the Platters? The Great Pretender? My Prayer? You'll Never Never Know?

-- Anonymous, January 18, 2000

Oh, and I can name a Randy Newman song before Mighty Kymm: I Just Want You To Hurt Like I Do (...and she calls herself a fan... where was she when randy needed her?)

-- Anonymous, January 18, 2000

Fuck, I can't stop.

More songs that encourage my heart to climb into my throat:

• Ta Mo Chleamhnas Deanta by Van Morrison and the Chieftains (Irish Heartbeat, an album I spent the last 2 New Year's Eves listening to)
• We Belong by Pat Benetar
• Graceland by Paul Simon (it's a sad song, in case you haven't noticed)
• Cremation by Lou Reed
• The 10^th, 12^th, and 13^th tracks of the second Cranberries album
• The Piano Exit to Layla
• They Can't Take That Away From Me by Irving Berlin (the Fred Astaire version)

Ok, that's more than enough enough to make any prison time I may spend exceptionally uncomfortable.

-- Anonymous, January 18, 2000

'Jackie's Strength' by Tori Amos gets me. I don't always tear up, but I get shivers every time I hear it. Also 'Throw your arms around me' by Hunters & Collectors is definately up there, as is 'Ana's Song' by silverchair every time I hear it played live.

-- Anonymous, January 18, 2000

Pamie, is the Charlotte's Web song the one that goes, "How very special our we, to be in (something) family... Mother Earth, and Father Time..." That's the most depressing song. I always fast-forward past that.

-- Anonymous, January 19, 2000

Mia, Robyn & Chickengrrl - I was there at 'Sixth Sense' too, sobbing my eyes out (with confused and caring, yet bewildered boyfriend going 'umm..are you okay?') 'Yeah..just let me cry in peace'. What really got me was how this amazing, sweet child was being bullied and ostracized by his peers, and I loved how real Toni Collette was as his mother, 'look into my face - I would never think a thing like that'. The part at the end really got me though, where they are sitting in the car and he tells how she makes his dead grandmother proud 'every day'. Oh, God..excuse me..

-- Anonymous, January 19, 2000

Another vote for the Pogues version of "Waltzing Matilda". Also, REM's "Nightswimming", Michelle Shocked's version of "Cotton-eyed Joe" and Blue Rodeo "Bad Timing".

-- Anonymous, January 19, 2000

Niki... oh, man, now I want to go see the movie again. I loved his mom in there. In the beginning, I was like, "Oh, she's going to be the slut in this one" but she was a fantastic actress. The thing that made me so sad in the movie is when Bruce Willis (can't remember his character's name) talks to his wife while she's asleep and she's like, "Why did you leave me?" That was really the part I lost it on. We took my car there, but Troy had to drive. I was a little too worked up.

-- Anonymous, January 19, 2000

the entire album the joshua tree, sweet baby james by james taylor, northern lad by tori amos, and in the hush before the heartbreak by the nields. and that's just this week.

-- Anonymous, January 19, 2000

Untouchable Face by Ani Difranco kinda chokes me up, but Black by Pearl Jam full blown tears.

-- Anonymous, January 19, 2000

Jeff Buckley's version of "Satisfied Mind" gets me every time.

Also, Maria McKee's "Has He Got a Friend For Me?"

-- Anonymous, January 19, 2000

Okay, let's *stop* talking about "The Sixth Sense", because it's making me cry. All last night, I'd be minding my own business and would think about the end of the movie, and start tearing up.

I can't *wait* to see it again.

-- Anonymous, January 19, 2000

Pamie:

"Oh Father" gets me, too. I'm not sure if it's just the song, or the song combined with my memory of the video, but it sure does get to me.

Johnny:

I once had a tape with nothing but Pearl Jam's "Black" on it, front and back, and I would lay in the dark when down and listen to it over and over again, and sob.

http://www.bitchypoo.com/bitchypoo.html

-- Anonymous, January 19, 2000

Sowwy, Pamie. :) Sowwy, everyone. I'm making everyone depressed.

I see dead people...

Hehehehe... :)

-- Anonymous, January 19, 2000

Mia - okay - now I'm feeling scared, not sad! I'd forgotten how scary it was too. Okay, no more S**** S****, I promise.

Sorry too

Niki

-- Anonymous, January 19, 2000

"Grace"- Jeff Buckley "One" and "All I Want Is You"- U2 "Sad Lisa"- Cat Stevens "Cooling" and "Winter"- Tori Amos "She Cries Your Name"- Beth Orton Some song by Elliot Smith, the chorus of which goes something like: "I'm never gonna love you now/ but I'm gonna love you anyhow." Anybody know what it's called? "Into My Arms"- Nick Cave "What a Wonderful World"- Louis Armstrong. It always reminds me of my late grandfather.

-- Anonymous, January 19, 2000

Oh, and: "You've Got a Friend" and "I Feel Fine"- James Taylor "Paranoid Android" and "Karma Police"- Radiohead "Four Seasons in One Day"- Crowded House "Teardrop"- Massive Attack

-- Anonymous, January 19, 2000

Aieee! Now you all must think I can't use punctuation. My first two posts didn't look like that when I typed them, I swear. Oy. I'm going now, I promise.

-- Anonymous, January 19, 2000

THE CURE!!!!!! any cure song makes me sob, even the ones that aren't supposed to. 'specially "Friday I'm in love" and "Strange Attraction"

-- Anonymous, January 19, 2000

Yes, Jodie, I second All I Want is You, by U2. Let's see, what else:

Plainsong--The Cure, Please Let Me Get What I Want--The Smiths, Somebody--Depeche Mode, Marlene Dietrich song by Peter Murphy, I Only Have Eyes for You--The Flamingos, and one more by The Smiths, I think it's called The Lights. A line from it is: "Take me out tonight, because I want to see people and I want to see light. Driving in your car, I never, ever want to go home. Because I haven't got one." That was basically my theme in high school. *Sniff*

-- Anonymous, January 19, 2000

okay, sad songs... "china" and "me and a gun" by tori amos, "wish you were here" pink floyd, "stars over texas" traci lawrence (ex-boyfriend song), most of the music from RENT--especially when angel dies and mimi is about to, "stand by my woman now" lenny kravitz (in the hopes of said ex-boyfriend miraculously singing that song to me), a few george strait songs (country music in a depressed mood can summon tears you never knew existed), a tim mcgraw song about his wife's death..."who would leave a book unfinished at chapter 21?" or something like that, "spaceoddity" by david bowie (very emotional talk during that song on repeat), "the letter" natalie merchant, "i'll stand by you" the pretenders...can't write anymore, i have the urge to go listen to all of these. i'll be nursing a box of kleenex and listening to RENT.

-- Anonymous, January 19, 2000

Amy - I think it's 'There is a light that never goes out' I loved that one too.

Oh, to be 16 and morbid again!

Niki

-- Anonymous, January 19, 2000

OK, I answered once already, but someone reminded me of the sad songs in "Toy Story" and "Toy Story 2"--Buzz Lightyear's and Jessie's theme songs, essentially. Good weepy stuff!

-- Anonymous, January 19, 2000

God, I'm glad I'm not the only one who teared up at that "lost, sad, forgotten toy" song in Toy Story 2. I give in easily to my guilt about the stuffed animals up in the attic.

"Birmingham," off the new Ani Difranco album, and "Bury my Heart at Wounded Knee," by the Indigo Girls, because I'm a sucker for political stuff.

-- Anonymous, January 19, 2000

And how is it that NO ONE has mentioned:

"Trouble", by Cat Stevens? It doesn't help that I associate it with that really upsetting part of "Harold and Maude."

not to mention:

"Good Boy"--Barenaked Ladies "Running to Stand Still"--U2 "Kathy's Song"--Simon and Garfunkel "Blackbird"--the Beatles and another Ani Difranco (sorry): "Done Wrong"

-- Anonymous, January 19, 2000

Ever notice that when you break up with someone, EVERY song makes you cry? Even the STUPID, CHEESY ones? Yeah, that sucks.

-- Anonymous, January 19, 2000

the Kate Bush one where she turns on her computer and she's all alone, pressing execute ...

That's "Deeper Understanding" and yes it's an awesome song. Her version of "Wuthering Heights" gets me too. So many people have listed some great songs. I have to add "In My Life" by the Beatles, my brother sang it at my wedding and "Perhaps Love" by John Denver which is also sang at my wedding. At the end of Perhaps Love he started to cry and it made all of US start to cry -- so needless to say I can no longer listen to the sing with welling up!

-- Anonymous, January 20, 2000

This is kind of an odd song, but "Lucky" by Bif Naked made me cry the first time I heard it and listened to the lyrics. It reminded me of this summer & my ex boyfriend...all very sad...

-- Anonymous, January 20, 2000

I just thought of one that's not really a sappy song but always gets me. I think it was because I heard it right when I started college. Remember that song "Everything's Fine" ? The one where she's talking to her mother on the phone. "I hungry. I'm starving. I'm losing my mind. EVERYTHING'S FINE!" All the girls in the theatre class were loving it.

-- Anonymous, January 20, 2000

Music gets me, on so many levels its crazy...which is why there are sooo many songs that make me cry. Frist and for most, I can't believe noone has mentioned this one yet. Tears in Heaven Eric Clapton...just listening to the melody makes me bawl...and Blue Eyes Blue, becasue on friday night it was playing in the middle of a very emotional time I had with a close friend (and maybe more).

umm what else is there How'd we get from saying I love you...Great big sea Return to Pooh Corner...Kenny Loggins Stand by Me....Ben E. King I will Remember you...Sarah McLachlan...this was played as my grad song this year..(1999) and I ball everytime the opening strain comeson. Leaving On a Jet Plane...Chantel Kreviazuk or John Denver, cuase my dad used to travel a lot when i was little and he always sang it to my mom before he left. I don't Want to Miss a Thing....Aerosmith...old boyfriend song Patience...Guns N Roses With a Little Help from My Friends....Joe Cocker Thats what Friends are For Imagine...John Lennon What a Wonderful World....louis armstrong. Wish you were here...Pink Floyd That one by the beatles, that Chantel Kreviazuk just redid. I don't remember the title..but it goes

"there are places I remember, in my life, though some have changed Some for ever not for better, some have gone, but some remain...

blah blah blah I love you more.

I love it, makes me cry every time.

Feels like home, Chantel Kreviazuk Beautiful, Joy Drop

Im sure there are many others (I said there were a lot didn't I! *L*) But these will do Im listening to some now..and crying..look what you ppl made me do! Neways Im off Monica

-- Anonymous, January 20, 2000

i started welling up in the eye area the other day, b/c the buena vista social club soundtrack was so beautiful. if you haven't seen the movie, or heard the cd, you are truly missing out on some AMAZING music.

-- Anonymous, January 20, 2000

Pamie- The song you're thinking of is "Mother Mother" by Tracy Bonham.

I don't know that any songs make me cry, but here's a few that make me want to: "Hunting High and Low" - A-ha "Iris" - Goo Goo Dolls "Who Wants to Live Forever?" - Queen "One" - U2

And that song that's out now where the singer's pointing out that "He's everything you want, he's everything you need ... he says all the right things at exactly the right time but he means nothing to you and you don't know why."

-- Anonymous, January 21, 2000

Songs that make brie cry:

"Your Song" by Elton John, oh and "Daniel" too.

Also, on the "laid" cd by James, "Say Something" and the very last song (of course I can't remember the title) but it ends with something along the lines of "your memory's one-sided, the side that you choose, it feels nothing...it feels nothing at all...we feel nothing at all...."

Not to mention "Somebody" by Depeche Mode (yeah, me and practically every other girl in the universe!); "Until She Comes" by The Psychedelic Furs..."A Pirate Looks at 40" by Jimmy Buffett; "The Road to Ensenada" by Lyle Lovett (so pretty!)

Okay, whoa. That's enough for now. It's Friday! Must be happy! Somebody get me a happy CD, quick! Hurry!!!!

-- Anonymous, January 21, 2000

I just remembered another one, although it's not really the whole song. "Accidents Will Happen," by Elvis Costello. Mostly for the line, "It's the damage that we do and never know / It's the words that we don't say that scare me so." A lot of his songs can make me cry, because his voice is so amazing. "Alison" can even make me cry sometimes -- the first time I heard him sing it live I had tears streaming down my face.

Although I'm not a big fan of "Surfacing," almost anything on Sarah McLachlan's "Fumbling Towards Ecstacy" can get me where I live if I'm in the right state of melancholia. "Hold On" was overplayed, but knowing what it is about makes me well up anyway. "Fear" also kills me (and how in HELL can she sing that high? I can barely hit the notes when I sing an octave below her!). Some of the lyrics on that CD are unbelievably poetic and beautiful.

This is going to sound weird, but "Pretty Hate Machine" by Nine Inch Nails is also pretty moving to me. Maybe it was because I was in the depths of a pretty serious depression at the time I was listening to it the most, but it's all so sad and depressing! Trent can also really turn a phrase.

-- Anonymous, January 21, 2000

Damn, even more! I was watching that stupid countdown on VH1 of the alleged 100 greatest rock & roll songs of all time. I don't know who they got to vote on this crap, but I was reminded when they got to "Imagine" how much almost anything off John Lennon's "Double Fantasy" (yes I know "Imagine"'s not on that album; it was a tangent) can make me cry. Anything. It was around that time that I "discovered" the Beatles (mostly John), my freshman year of college, and someone clued me in to how awesome John Lennon was. I gained a whole new appreciation for The Beatles I'd never had before, as I'd been a wee bit too young (like in diapers!) to appreciate them when they first 'crossed the pond'. So I get heavily into The Beatles and especially John Lennon (and was even in a play based on Lennon's writings) when, while we were striking the set for "The Miracle Worker," the costume designer came out of her office looking white and stricken, and saying, "Oh, my God, John Lennon's just been shot." I felt like *I* had just been shot. Much grieving was done by the whole theatre department over the next few weeks, many drunken wakes were held... And then "Double Fantasy" came out around the same time (I honestly don't remember if it was before or after he was killed), and to this day I can't listen to any of it without an overwhelming feeling of sadness and loss. Particularly "Watching the Wheels," "I'm Losing You" and "Beautiful Boy." Plus there was that brilliant, beautiful Annie Liebovitz "Rolling Stone" cover (the one where John is nude and kissing a fully clothed Yoko); I still weep when I look at that picture, taken just hours before his death.

Wow, man, didn't mean to get so heavy nor sound like such a hippie! (I was a punk, not a hippie, thank you!) But I remembered all that and had to share it here. Thanks for listening.

-- Anonymous, January 21, 2000

brie, is "Your Song" the one where the father is singing to his son, who is dying from AIDS? If so, that song makes me bawl like a baby.

-- Anonymous, January 22, 2000

Considering a gentle wind could make me cry, I could write a book on this topic, but here are a few that do me in consistently (some have already been listed.)

If- Bread (Remember that episode of The Hardy Boys where Shawn Cassidy was going to get married? Then his fiance died and in a dream sequence they used that song to recap all the gut-wrenching loss and stuff. So sad. Almost as sad as Parker Stevenson marrying Kirstie Alley) Romeo& Juliet- Dire Straits and Indigo Girls' version Mercy Street - "...dreaming of mercy... in her daddy's arms again..." Oof. "Don't Go" - Matthew Sweet "Thief" - Belly "Rocky Mountain High" - John Denver. It's pretty metaphysical, even for a country boy. Shoot, nearly anything by John Denver gets me in the throat. "Sunshine on My Shoulder," and esp. "Annie's Song." And plenty of broadway type stuff. Including "I Swear I'd Give My Life for You" from Miss Saigon. I'm not anyone's mom, but I bet if I ever have kids, this'll be even more tear inducing.

Oh yeah... and ever since I was a kid, Kermit the Frog singing "Rainbow Connection" has gotten me veklempt. Still does. I'm not sure why. A pretty melody, or just the fact that Kermit is technically dead now. *sniff*

-- Anonymous, January 24, 2000

oh boy. thanks guys. okay here's a short list : last goodbye - jeff buckley
hallelujiah - jeff buckley
nights in white satin - i know cheese, but a my first boyfriend, a musician naturally, used to sing this to me. hardcore when you're 16.
lie to me - sheryl crow - cry every time
the difficult kind - sheryl crow
love song - the cure
american pie - i always forget who does this!!!
now and forever - blue rodeo
julia - the beatles
with or without you - U2 - that guitar note, at the beginning - it makes my heart ache
all nick drake songs (see new cabrio commercial, run and buy his cd's)
forever young - alphaville
somebody - depeche mode - saw them here in seattle on their latest tour and oh oh oh! it was so beautiful!
there are two beth orton songs i love, i don't have the cd's here though - one is from the first album and it has that line "wish i never saw the sunshine, 'cause then i wouldn't mind the rain" and the one on the second album starts "you lose it, just to find it, and then you walk right by it"
also a whole bunch of natalie merchant songs - especially #5 on the latest album
scared - tragically hip
thompson girl - tragically hip
that slow desiree song from the romeo and juilet soundtrack
oh i'm sure there are oodles and oodles more. hope those br's work and don't show up. if they do - sorry folks :)

-- Anonymous, January 24, 2000

Jodie--

"Your Song" is a love song...all about he doesn't have anything to give to the person he loves but he writes this song...Oh shoot, here's all the words..

It's a little bit funny this feeling inside I'm not one of those who can easily hide I don't have much money but boy if I did I'd buy a big house where we both could live

If I was a sculptor, but then again, no Or a man who makes potions in a travelling show I know it's not much but it's the best I can do My gift is my song and this one's for you

And you can tell everybody this is your song It may be quite simple but now that it's done I hope you don't mind I hope you don't mind that I put down in words How wonderful life is while you're in the world

I sat on the roof and kicked off the moss Well a few of the verses well they've got me quite cross But the sun's been quite kind while I wrote this song It's for people like you that keep it turned on

So excuse me forgetting but these things I do You see I've forgotten if they're green or they're blue Anyway the thing is what I really mean Yours are the sweetest eyes I've ever seen

*** *sniff* God, it gets me right here. *sniff* Bernie and Elton are an amazing team.

-- Anonymous, January 24, 2000

Oops. I guess that breaks would have been nice there...SORRY!! It's Monday. Whaddya want from me?? =o)

-- Anonymous, January 24, 2000

Oh my god, this forum is HUGE!

Jeff, it's like you're reading my mind, man!

Okay, here's mine:
Radiohead: Exit Music (For a Film), Fake Plastic Trees (try listening to that one alone
U2: All I Want is You, So Cruel, With or Without You
Everything from Chris Isaak's "Forever Blue" album
Sarah Maclachlan: Good Enough
Madonna: Take a Bow, Bad Girl (more for the videos than the songs -- remember Christopher Walken as the angel? Suh-weet!)
Tori Amos: I saw her do "Me and a Gun" in concert, and I swear everyone in that theater cried a bucket. It was incredible. I get chills when I hear it now, and "Spark"
Cowboy Junkies: Misguided Angel, Angel Mine
Liz Phair: Go On Ahead
Mazzy Star: Her entire catalogue, I mean every damn song
Sting: Shape of My Heart
Johnny Hartman: Just about everything, especially the short album he did with John Coltrane, which is worth its weight in gold, if you ask me
Nine Inch Nails: Something I Can Never Have
Peter Gabriel: In Your Eyes
From Rent: One Song Glory
From Miss Saigon: Last Night of the World

Whew! That's a lot of tears...

o.

-- Anonymous, January 24, 2000

omar- i was just reading yours, and the cowboy junkies ALWAYS get me choked up. i saw tori in concert ages ago, and i didn't get teary at the concert, but ever since, when i hear almost anything off her early albums, i get all -upset?- that's not the right word. her songs are so beautifully technical and heartfelt. i think i'll have to turn off coltrane and put in tori now. hubby will just have to deal.

-- Anonymous, January 24, 2000

"Motorcycle Driveby" by Third Eye Blind.

"Shackled" by Vertical Horizon.

"Untouchable Face" by Ani Difranco.

"Santa Monica" by Everclear.

and

"Down in a Hole" by Alice in Chains...

-- Anonymous, January 24, 2000

Ooh... I almost forgot. This song makes anyone who hears it for the first time cry. I thought I was immune, but when I first heard it, the tears started rolling. It's the most Depressing song I've ever heard.

"Waiting on the Train" by the Floyds.

Does anybody else on here know of the Floyds?

-- Anonymous, January 24, 2000

Ooooooohh..."Rainbow Connection". Ugh. So sad. I used to know all the words, but now I only know parts. I love that song so much. Kermit was my first movie-star crush:) I still sleep with my stuffed Kerm from when I was born (I'm 17 now, and he's pretty ratty).

Another song thats sad for some reason: "Allison" by Elvis Costello. Even though I hate it because everyone insists on singing it to me (if you're gonna sing a "name" song to me, I'd prefer "You Can Call Me Al" by Paul Simon), its still kinda sad.

-- Anonymous, January 24, 2000

Omar- "Spark" gets to me every time. The combination of the subject matter (for the uninitiated- it's about Tori's miscarriage) and the melancholy sound (oh man, the bit with the piano at the the end, "How many fates turn around in the overtime..." gives me chills) just makes me sad.

Allyson- "Rainbow Connection" makes me a little teary, not so much because of the song itself but because whenever there is a telethon or TV special for sick, underpriviledged or disabled kids, they play it. *Sniff*

-- Anonymous, January 24, 2000

We should do a compilation tape. "Pamie's Forum of Depressing Songs."

"Under the Ivy," by Kate Bush. Oh, sob.

"Red Rain," by Peter Gabriel. This is learned response more than anything. I was in a play, and that song was played at the beginning of the second act, before I open the door of the fallout shelter and let the lot of we sorry characters die in the Afterblast. I had to cry onstage at the end of the act. Sob.

"What She Says," by the Smiths. I wouldn't have my youth back if it was handed me on a golden plate.

"Wild is the Wind," by David Bowie. "Within You," by the same -- the only reason I own the Labyrinth soundtrack.

"Under the Bridge," by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. I still remember how disappointed I was to find out, when I bought the album, that that was not, in fact, "their sound." I tell you, I cried all over again.

"God Bless the Child." I like Billie Holiday singing this. Pass the Kleenex.

"Cry Me A River." Julie London, of course. And I do. Hoo boy. Sixteen years old. His name was... well, never mind. Remember what I said up there about my youth? He turned out to be gay, anyway. Ah, what it is, to be sixteen and in love. "Come on...and... cry... me a river... Cry me... a river... I... cried... a river... over you." I could karaoke with Julie through the tears.

"Never Be Mine," Kate Bush. Years later, I finally realised he never was going to rediscover women and show up on my doorstep... boo hoo.

"Both Hands," Ani di Franco. I'd known for a long time that my relationship with my (now) ex was crumbling... but when I found him in bed with another woman, I knew it was over. Thing was, we just couldn't seem to break up... Where are my hankies?

"Falling Is Like This," Ani di Franco. Oh my God, I'm in love again. He never even speaks to me. He must hate me. (Fortunately, I was wrong. We're married now.)

"St. Lawrence River," by David Usher. Only if I sing along. I don't know why.

I think there are more. I'll spare you all.

-- Anonymous, January 24, 2000

omar; i can't believe i forgot mazzy star! 'fade into you' - that one does it for me every time. i get all spaced and enter that *other* place and then someone snaps me back and is start crying.

also - everyone talking about peter gabriel and kate bush - i love that song they do together. no clue what it's called - has that bit where she sings "don't give up, you still have friends..." poignant.

and the NIN song - number 14 on downward spiral (can you tell i carry my cd's in a big case, i never know the titles) "everyone, goes away... in the end..." so vivid.

-- Anonymous, January 24, 2000

Peter Gabriel & Kate Bush... "Don't Give Up," of course. I forgot about that one. Snif. Kate's "Night of the Swallow" always gets me at least a bit choked up, too.

And that lovely, lovely song that opens the movie "A Room With a View" ... "O Mi Bambino Caro"? I think that's what it's called. Leslie Garrett sings it beautifully.

How could I have forgotten "Willow, Weep for Me"? And "Maybe This Time" from Cabaret? My life as a loser in song.

-- Anonymous, January 24, 2000

Yes, definatly "She Can't be Really Gone" by Tim McGraw that one makes me think of my mom and "I Miss You a Little" by John Micheal Montgomery makes me think of my dad..."I miss you a little I guess you could say...A little too much, a little too often, a little more everyday..." ugh. Oh, and I believe Don McLean (sp?) wrote "American Pie".

-- Anonymous, January 24, 2000

"Waltz #2", "Miss Misery", and several other Elliott Smith songs "Never is a Promise" Fiona Apple "I Shall Believe" Sheryl Crow "Cooling" and "Baker Baker" Tori Amos the Mary Lou Lord version of "Polaroids"

I'm not really sure if these are sad, but they're just so beautiful that they make me want to cry.

-- Anonymous, January 25, 2000

Another one I'm sure you've just forgotten to add: Levi Stubbs' Tears by Billy Bragg. Oh, and Lever Street by Death In Vegas, and the song by Belle & Sebastian where a guy goes into space with his dad and his brother, I think it's called Space Boy Dream.

-- Anonymous, January 25, 2000

OH MY GOD. Y'all, I have to share something weird that just happened, what my friend Bitch and I call a "woo." I'm a little freaked. I had just found out the name of the guy (Nick Drake) who does the beautifully haunting tune in the Cabrio commercial ("Pink Moon"), so I'm listening to all the tracks Amazon has samples of from his box set, deciding if I want to order it. Meanwhile, I'm searching to find out all I can about him, plus reading Pamie's forum at the same time. (Plus about 10 other things, but that's another story.) So just about the time I find out that he died in 1974 at the tender age of 26, and click on the sample for "Pink Moon" (again), I scroll down toward the end of this very page, and see where Jennifer has posted her list...and lists the very song I am listening to! My heart almost stopped. That was just too weird, especially considering I JUST discovered this guy. Think I HAVE to buy that box set, now.

Thanks for reminding me about "Never is a Promise" by Fiona. That song makes me cry too, probably for the same reason it does you -- her voice is so beautiful on that song it hurts. The song itself makes me cry too.

Omar, I think you and I should get together for a beer next time I'm in town! 90% of what you've listed has the same effect on me. Plus you always crack me up. Whaddaya say?

I just remembered a couple more, albeit corny ones. How about "Crazy" by Patsy Cline? Man. Also, "In My Life" does it for me, too, but mostly because we used it in the play I was in based on John Lennon's writings. We used NONE of the Beatles' or John Lennon's music in the show (the director decided that was too "obvious"), but as a little "nudgenudgewinkwink" for the audience, in one scene where I'm miming burying my husband (with a trowel!), he had me sing the first verse and chorus of that song, entirely acapella. It's the only time I've ever sung onstage, alone, like that. The words in the song worked so well with that scene, it still makes me tear up to this day. Very poignant.

So who's going to burn us all a 15-CD set of all these melancholy songs? I'll certainly buy it if someone will do it!

-- Anonymous, January 25, 2000

I forgot about Sinead O' Conner!

"Jackie," and "Troy" from The Lion and the Cobra.

Fiona gets me kind of teary on "Shadowboxer." (Buy her new album. It's wonderful.)

-- Anonymous, January 25, 2000

Argh...so...sad...

This Woman's Work by Kate Bush. It only takes the very first sound out of her mouth to set me off. Saying Goodbye from The Muppets Take Manhattan. Oh, and I'm Going To Go Back There Someday from The Muppet Movie. And Keep Christmas With You All Through the Year, from A Sesame Street Christmas. The "I'll Cover You" reprise from the musical RENT. "Lion Tamer" from the musical The Magic Show. You Do What You Have To Do--Sarah McLachlan. Move On from Sunday In The Park With George. Danny Boy. What Are You Doing New Year's Eve. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas. I Can't Make You Love Me (Bonnie Raitt?) You Were Mine--Dixie Chicks. Make Them Hear You, New Music, Our Children, Back To Before from the musical Ragtime. Not A Day Goes By from the musical Merrily We Roll Along.

Okay, so I'm a big musicals geek. :-)

Melissa

-- Anonymous, January 25, 2000

This thread sure has stayed alive a while!

Chicken Grrl, I totally agree about Omar. Actually, I have a bit of a crush on him, truth be told. Omar, if you're watching, you should just consider yourself lucky that I'm married, or else you would have a stalker on your hands! Okay, so I'm not really the stalker type, but you do often write the things I would try to write, if only my brain worked as well as yours does.

On topic: The Beatles have a ton of songs that get to me. Ticket to Ride, Eleanor Rigby, Norwegian Wood...sigh. Now I have to dig up my 1962-1966 cd and make everyone at work mad because they thought I had finally taken it home. I have to keep it on hand for emergencies such as this.

And since no one else has admitted it (unless I missed it) I will fess up and say that My Heart Will Go On from Titanic used to tear me to pieces. I am better now, as long as when I hear it I don't think about what it's actually about.

Of course, We Are the World hits me right where it counts every Christmas. Whenever it comes on I have to restrain myself from whipping out the checkbook and signing away our life's savings to help feed a third world country.

And even if a song's lyrics don't hold any meaning for me, as long as there's a soulful melody, I can get misty-eyed about it. I'm a big ol' mushball. I used to be made of steel. As a child, I didn't shed a tear when Old Yeller died. Now, I cry when Michael J. Fox gets a standing ovation at the Golden Globes. I bawled like an idiot last night when we had to put our puppy in her cage so we could go to bed. I may have even cried harder than she did. I don't know how my husband can stand me. What a sap!

-- Anonymous, January 25, 2000

Chicken Grrl To me, Nick Drakes music is sacred. He has provided the heartbreaking soundtrack to much of my adult life. I was furious when I saw the VW commercial. It seems so Wrong so Sad that music that has touched me so deeply, has felt so personal, be used to sell cars. Buy the box set. Im sure youll love it.

-- Anonymous, January 25, 2000

Ugh, rough subject.

I confess, I cried to Whitney Houston's "I will Always Love You".

Other songs... Peter Gabriel's "I Grieve" (off the City of Angels soundtrack), .38 Special's "Take Me Back", Tori Amos's cover of "Lovesong", Bjork's "All is Full of Love" (Stigmata soundtrack) and "Like Somebody in Love", Velvet Underground's "Pale Blue Eyes", Ben Folds Five "Brick", Black Crowes' "She Talks to Angels", Chris Cornell's "Sunshower", Depeche Mode's "Waiting for the Night" and "Somebody", The Doors' "The End", Mazzy Star's "Fade Into You" and "Mary of Silence", Des'ree's "Kissing You" (from Romeo & Juliet), Guns N' Roses' "Estranged", Jude's "I know" (again, off the City of Angels soundtrack), Counting Crows' "Raining in Baltimore", REM's "Nightswimming", "Everybody Hurts" and "Leave", Nine Inch Nails' "Hurt (quiet remix)", Lisa Loeb's "Stay" (Lover's in love, and the other's run away, Lover is crying 'cause the other won't stay.), Mariah Carey's "Til the End of Time" (One of her more obsecure ones and I like it that way), Natalie Merchant's "The Letter", Radiohead's "Creep" and "Fake Plastic Trees", The French Song near the end ("I will find you" by Clannad) from The Last of the Mohicans soundtrack, White Lion's "When the Children Cry", Boys II Men's "End of the Road", PM Dawn's "I'd Die Without You", Pearl Jam's "Black" and "Indifference", Vanessa Williams & Brian McKnight's "Love Is", Great White's "The Angel Song", The Cranberries' "Dying in the Sun", Harry Connick Jr.'s "Love is here to Stay" and "Promise Me You'll Remember", Jane Siberry's "It Can't Rain All the Time" from The Crow soundtrack, Roxette's "It must've been love", Filter's "One", Collective Soul's "The World I Know", Cowboy Junkies' "Sweet Jane", "We've Got Tonight" (Kenny Rogers & Sheena Easton duet), Eric Clapton's "Tears in Heaven", Queensryche's "Silent Lucidity", "Madama Butterfly" (Flower Duet) sung by Marilyn Horne and Leontyne Price, Motley Crue's "You're All I need", "Only You" by Portishead, Seven Mary Three's "Times Like These", Live's "Lightning Crashes", John Lennon's "Stand By Me", Jann Arden's "Time for Mercy", U2's "With or Without You", "One", "Running to a Standstill" and the intro to "Exit" still haunts me.

I think I've heard my share...

-- Anonymous, January 26, 2000

I was happy when "Pink Moon" was on the VW commercial because I hoped that it would introduce more people to his genius. Plus I smile whenever I see the commercial. I love me some Nick Drake.

-- Anonymous, January 26, 2000

On my way home from work on friday, I heard "Long December". I started crying. So add that to my list. (I'm from California and I am missing my family. That song just makes me emotional.)

I wasn't going to admit it, but "At this moment" by Billy Vera and The Beaters. Remember, on Family Ties, when they played that song? I always think about it.

-- Anonymous, January 26, 2000

Here are but a few songs that make me eyes water... Bob Dylan - "Girl from North Country" "Boots of Spanish Leather" U2 - "Still Havent Found", "One Tree Hill", "With or Without You", "Running to Stand Still", "Bad", "One"...

and dont laugh... "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" by Poison.. just for the fact that it reminds me of a group of guys i used to hang out with.. we used to make fun of the song, and sing it all the time.. when one of my friends got married last summer we all sang it together.. made us laugh and cry... the song may suck.. but it comes with some great memories!

Lots of others.. but i'm getting weepy here.. gotta go.. weepy at work is bad...

-- Anonymous, January 26, 2000

oh my. there is really nothing i like better than a song that makes me weepy, so i've compiled a glorious collection of bittersweet, starcrossed love songs. you should see my mix tapes-they are monuments to the sick at heart. tee hee. here's a quick list: 1. heal by catherine wheel...in fact, also black metallic and i want to touch you and judy's staring at the sun, and... 2. courage from the sweet hereafter soundtrack. an incredibly incredibly sad film and deliriously sad soundtrack 3. amen to the les mis (heart full of love kills me), the lyle lovett (also flyswatter blues), and the jeff buckley ("my kingdom for a kiss upon the shoulder") 4. my life is in your hands-an amazing gospel song that just builds and builds to this heartwrenching climax. i listened to it on the way to the wakes of several of my friends who died in a car accident last year, and it undoes me. 5. imaginary love by rufus wainwright, as well as what'll i do from the mcgarrigle hour cd thats enough. sniff sniff. i really need to blow my nose and rejoin the world. but thanks for an excuse to wallow!

-- Anonymous, January 27, 2000

some more from me - add counting crows' murder of one, raining in baltimore, st. robinson in his cadillac dream and long december to my list. soul coughing's circles, because it reminds me of a friend who i'm so close to and yet who i don't understand at all. the cardigans' song from the romeo and juliet soundtrack - love fool? all of automatic for the people.

-- Anonymous, January 27, 2000

Mia -- Ooooh, Mark Wills' "Wish You Were Here" gets me everytime. The first time I heard it this summer Tiffany's boyfriend turned it up and we all sat there quiet. And I started crying. Amazing song.

Allyson -- People never ever sing that song to me, but I was actually named for (I think it's the same song) "Allison", but sung by Linda Rondstadt. She mentions Allison/Alice in another song "Willing".

erin -- The Tim McGraw song is called "Can't Be Really Gone". That is definitely a tearjerker.

Others: "Time In A Bottle" - Jim Croce "Crawl" - This Way "This Woman and This Man" - Clay Walker "Freshmen" - The Verve Pipe "I'll Stand By You" - The Pretenders I know someday "What's This Life For" - Creed will make me cry buckets. Oh, yeah and I can't forget the handful of church songs that remind me of my late grandma. Those are some crying songs.

-- Anonymous, January 30, 2000

In "The Freshman" my old roommate used to think the words were "That we would die for thirty cents" She was like,"Freshman are poor but nobody dies for thirty cents. This is America."

-- Anonymous, January 30, 2000

So what *are* the words to that song? When I listen to it, all I hear at that point is "thirty cents" or "fourty cents". I know that doesn't make (ahem) sense, but I can't figure out the words.

I hate that song.

-- Anonymous, January 31, 2000

Ahem, ahem...The words to The Freshmen

When I was young and knew everything
And she a punk who rarely ever took advice
Now I'm guilt stricken sobbing with my head on the floor
Stop a baby's breath and a shoe full of rice
I can't be held responsible, cause she was touching her face
I won't be held responsible, she fell in love in the first place

For the life of me I cannot remember
What made us think that we were wise and we'd never compromise
For the life of me I cannot believe we'd ever die for these sins
We were merely freshmen


My best friend took a weeks vacation to forget her
His girl took a week's worth of valium and slept
And now he's guilt stricken sobbing with his head on a floor
Thinks about her now and how he never really wept he says
I can't be held responsible, cause she was touching her face
I won't be held responsible, she fell in love in the first place

chorus

We've tried to wash our hands of all of this
We never talk of our lacking relationships
And how we're guilt stricken sobbing with our heads on the floor
We fell through the ice when we tried not to slip we'd say
I cant be held responsible, cause she was touching her face
And I wont be held responsible, she fell in love in the first place

chorus

We were merely freshmen...
We were only freshmen...

Tada! We knew that I was good for something...

-Meghan

-- Anonymous, January 31, 2000

Meghan - You are awesome. For the longest time I only understood parts, but I still loved that song.

-- Anonymous, January 31, 2000

OK, thanks Meghan, that makes a little more sense.... But what's with the face-touching? I still don't get that.

-- Anonymous, February 01, 2000

Wow, I never realised just what a sappy wuss I was until this topic was started.

At the moment I'm semi-watching "Amadeus" (my all-time favourite film) and I realise that I always, absolutely without fail, cry through the Don Giovanni, the Confutatis and the Lacrymosa scenes. Probably because those scenes respectively depict Mozart's madness, death and funeral.

-- Anonymous, February 02, 2000

Oh, and, whatever you do, don't let me see the scene in Dumbo where his mother's locked up and "Baby Mine" is playing. Waaah!

-- Anonymous, February 02, 2000

P.S. Yeah, I know these are scenes, not songs. But they wouldn't be half as moving without the music. Ergo...

-- Anonymous, February 02, 2000

(a bit off topic)... this scene is from the first (and only good) The Land Before Time. right after the earthquake, when all the baby dinosaurs are separated from their parents, and he (baby brontosaurus) finds his mom dying, a song plays, but that scene when they are talking and crying...i have never watched that part without going and calling my mom to say how much i love her. Sometimes i need mom to say everything will be alright.

another very sad song, because of content and just her amazing voice-- tracey chapman 'last night i heard the screaming' (not sure of the exact title, but if you've heard it, you'll remember the song.)

i REALLY need to go listen to some violent femmes now--

-- Anonymous, February 02, 2000

I love music intensely, but nothing will make me cry without visuals. (Otherwise I'd never be able to leave the house, as some of the weepiest items in my collection are listed above.) Visuals for me can include printed words.

Put in a visual about an animal being lonely or unloved, or someone being kind to someone who has suffered unspeakably (Angela's Ashes, the book), or those damn telephone company commercials and I weep like a baby.

Otherwise, the most maudlin, miserable, weepy tune can still leave me functional. (Thank goodness)

M

-- Anonymous, February 22, 2000

::insert major sniffing:: you guys just get me so damn teary eyed. piper with that puff the magic dragon. i swear that song kills me every time, and all of you country fans out there, what about "dad he didnt have to be?" that song.. man, i cry my eyes out every time, man, i'm such a weepy chick. and fleetwood mac "landslide" and "silver spring" oh man, i had to whip out that cd and listen to those songs just to get all weepy, oh.. and wilson philips "release me" oh god! tears.. streaming tears.. and "fast car" tracy chapman. goodness gracious some people just know how to make you cry.

-- Anonymous, February 29, 2000

Brie, I finally heard "Your Song" and "Daniel". You are so right. I was especially moved by the bit where he sings "Your eyes are blind, but you see more than I. Daniel you're a star..." Beautiful.

Another teary ("Another one?!") is Bob Dylan's "Hurricane." The violin part... Augh, I'm all verklempt.

-- Anonymous, February 29, 2000

I don't feel anything when I hear the song by itself but... The opening scene of The Lion King, "The Circle of Life" is playing and the king holds up baby Simba to show all the animals in the pride lands... The tears just roll down my face.

-- Anonymous, March 01, 2000

Lots of my sad songs have been listed, but I'm going to list them anyway, as well as others!

- Footsteps, Black, and Indifference by Pearl Jam - only in this order... Alive, Once and Footsteps by Pearl Jam. It's a mini opera, and makes me all shivery.... - This Woman's Work by Kate Bush - Beautiful by Mojave 3 - Sweet Jane, Cowboy Junkies - Night Swimming, REM - Street Song, Radiohead - Me and a Gun, and Crucify, Tori Amos - I Won't Stay, Holly McNarland - Record Body Count, Rheostatics (but especially the last line) - The Wall, Tracy Chapman - Sleepless Commotion and Carry Me Home, the murmurs

and there's probably a whole lot more... "woodstock" as sung by Crosby, Stills, and Nash...

I'd better stop now...soon I will cry just thinking about all these songs...

-- Anonymous, March 05, 2000

There are two movie-music related moments that will bring me to tears every single time I see them...

The first is in "The Color Purple", when Shug is walking towards her father's chapel, and she's singing the gospel song "God is Trying to Tell You Something". Shug is walking and singing, with this huge entourage behind her, and the people in the church can hear her outside, until finally she just bursts into the church and there's this explosion of sound, and her father comes down from the pulpit... oh jeez.

The other one is (wierdly enough) from "Sister Act." The choir is completely sucky earlier in the movie, but then Whoopi takes them under her wing. And they burst out with this "Salve Regina" number that could just tear the roof off the building. I'm bawling, every time, there's just so much joy in that sound.

I never realized before that both of these moments are in a church. I have no religion! Its all about the music!

-- Anonymous, March 10, 2000

"Get here" by Oleta Adams..makes me cry so bad

-- Anonymous, June 03, 2000

With the "Netherwood Sparklettes," our school's girls singing group, we performed 3 songs: My Boyfriend's Back, You don't Own Me and One Fine Day. My boyfriend, whom I was completely smitten by, the gentlest, kindest person you will ever meet, sat in the front row by himself and watched me the entire time, stared right at me as I sang. I tried not to notice him, but I felt so wonderful in his gaze. Now that we've broken up, I can't even think the words to those songs without choking up.

-- Anonymous, June 07, 2000

Definitely "Beloved Wife" and "The Letter" by Natalie Merchant, and "Verdi Cries" by 10,000 Maniacs.

Several on the first Jewel cd, as well.

-- Anonymous, June 09, 2000

I can't listen to "Power of Two" by Indigo Girls without thinking of my wedding (best man sang it) and then I start crying because I just love my hubby so. (Sorry...I just read this entire thread and now I'm all sappy.)

"Find A Way To My Heart" by Phil Collins--my favorite resident in the nursing home I worked at was very ill and I was constantly driving to the hospital to see him and I'd always play this song on the way. He eventually died and just hearing the opening to this song makes me burst into tears.

"Danny Boy"--I come from 100% Irish stock, and I had a brother named Danny who died on St. Patrick's Day...way before I was born...but I grew up knowing that when this song came on, everyone cried, even me.

Someone really needs to stop me...

My brother told me once that when he dies, he wants John Mellencamp's "Check it Out" played at his funeral...so now whenever I hear it, I sob, imagining my healthy brother's oneday funeral.

I cry a lot. It's almost embarrassing.

Church songs! Oh! Don't get me started.

-- Anonymous, June 10, 2000

Gods, I read the songs you all listed and they come back and I start crying again. Especially the Charlotte's Web song...saw the movie like 500 times in a row when I was about 6, and it gets me every time.

Ok, it's not exactly a song, but you know the scene in Lady and the Tramp, when Lady gets put in the dog pound and all the dogs start howling and the puppies are crying? Oh, man...I just start bawling. I've seen it eight million times, since I was two and it still affects me. People, GET YOUR PETS NEUTERED! Thank you.

Bette Midler's Wind Beneath My Wings. Yeah, hideously sappy, I know...but I always think of it in terms of the Xena/Gabrielle relationship, with the bard always standing by her warrior, the inspiration for all the good Xena's done and...excuse me, I think I have something in my eye! *sniff*

Phil Collin's You'll Be In My Heart, or whatever that stupid song's called. Again, the Xena/Gab relationship (yes, I'm an obsessive fan, I have a Xena forum up if you wanna see it), only with a bit more of a "subtext" approach to it. What can I say, I'm a sucker for a good romance. :)

The Beatles I Will, because it reminds me of a current situation with a "friend" of mine. Also You've Got To Hide Your Love Away...same artists, same reason.

I think that's about it. Pamie, I really enjoy your forum...lots of interesting subjects going on. Keep up the good work. Oh, and I cried at the end of The Sixth Sense too.

-- Anonymous, June 26, 2000

it cant rain all the time, by jane sieberry, main reason being, i was talking to my cousin, and he was telling me about how his life had no meaning now that his soulmate had died. and this song was playing, and god...i dont know, listening to it and i started crying. lol. now ive made a total fool out of myself. heh

-- Anonymous, August 06, 2001

I challenge ANYONE to find any songs that even come close to the power of these two songs.

When I heard these songs I was reduced to tears and I still am every time I hear them. I haven't found any other songs quite like them.

"Song to the Siren" by This Mortal Coil "Sanvean" by Dean can Dance

Any offers? - Get back to me !

Cheers!

Alex.

-- Anonymous, August 16, 2001

And so it Goes - Billy Joel Father and son - Elton John 10,000 Miles - Mary chapin Carpenter Promise - Tracy chapin Bette Milder - The Rose Eternal Flame - Bangles

They get me everytime............ : (

-- Anonymous, October 13, 2001

I'm not sure if anyone put the full lyrics up to Mother Earth and Father Time, nor do I know if anyone cares to read them. However, after searching for them (I can't help it, it got in my head after I saw it mentioned on here, briefly), and not coming up with anyone who had more than a few lines, I found the song in it's entirety. I don't think the lyrics are stupid at all, but sweet. Anyway, here they are, for anyone who wants them:

How very special are we for just a moment to be part of life's eternal rhyme. How very special are we to have on our family tree Mother Earth and Father Time.

He turns the seasons around, so she changes her gown. But they always look in their prime. They go on dancing their dance of everlasting romance, Mother Earth and Father Time

The summer larks return to sing Oh, what a gift they give! Then autumn days grow short and cold Oh, what a joy to live . . .

How very special are we for just a moment to be part of life's eternal rhyme. How very special are we to have on our family tree Mother Earth and Father Time.

I, personally think Tears in Heaven is tearjerky. Probably others if I cared to think of it.

-- Anonymous, November 20, 2001

Romeo and Juilet by dire straits always makes me cry. I think it summarises how a person may feel after a breakup. I broke up with my boyfriend after 10 years, one day I was in the kitchen when this song came on the radio. I thought I was well over him, but I started crying and knew that it wasnt over between us. We are back together now. Another song that makes me very emotional is "On a bus to St. Cloud" by Trish Yearwood its brill.

-- Anonymous, January 13, 2002

Reading most of these answers made me realize we can all be a bit drippy when it comes to music. Most definately " Tears in heaven"...especially when i seen clapton perform it live the first time. The most recent tear jerker being "wonderful" by everclear. I guess I heard to much of what I was living in that song,bad marriage and 2 little boys....the song made me think and realize what they were hearing. Tore me up.

-- Anonymous, January 16, 2002

"Path of Thorns", Sarah Mac...a great Canadian and a great tearjerker. "I will Remember You" is just as good at making me feel like crawling into the fetal position, and yet I love it. Guess I'm a sap too. Many more but wanted to give credit to a great Canuck. Thanks for a great read all, depressed as all hell now and loving it for some reason.

-- Anonymous, January 18, 2002

Call me the biggest sap in the world, but I end up crying EVERYTIME I watch Snoopy Come Home with my kids. Its when charlie Brown sings that sad song about missing snoopy - I think it was called something like "Why does everything have to change?" or something like that. I cannot hear even one measure of that song without tearing up. I am pathetic eh?

-- Anonymous, January 19, 2002

"Simon," by Lifehouse. *sniffle*

-- Anonymous, February 17, 2002