What's the world's saddest song?

Ask and answer questions about Leonard Cohen, his work, this forum and the websites!
Don G
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Post by Don G »

"I hung my head"
Early one morning with time to kill
I borrowed jeb’s rifle and sat on the hill
I saw a lone rider crossing the plain
I drew a bread on him to practice my aim
My brother’s rifle went off in my hand
A shot rang out across the land
The horse he kept running, the rider was dead
I hung my head, I hung my head

I set off running to wake from the dream
And my brother’s rifle went into the stream
I kept on running into the salt lands
And that’s where they found me, my head in my hands
The sheriff he asked me why had I run
Then it came to me just what I had done
And all for no reason, just one piece of lead
I hung my head, I hung my head

Here in the courthouse, the whole town is there
I see the judge high up in his chair
Explain to the courtroom what went through your mind
And we’ll ask the jury what verdict they find
I said I felt the power of death over life
I orphaned his children, I widowed his wife
I beg their forgiveness, I wish I was dead
I hung my head, I hung my head

Early one morning with time to kill
I see the gallows up on the hill
And out in the distance a trick of the brain
I see a lone rider crossing the plain
He’s come to fetch me to see what they done
We’ll ride together til kingdom come
I pray for god’s mercy for soon I’ll be dead
I hung my head, I hung my head
Myfair
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Location: Chonburi, Thailand

Slender Threads

Post by Myfair »

by Peter Hammill

I saw your picture in the Evening Standard,
you were wearing your battle dress.
I really must confess
that I shed a silent smile for you--
it had really blown my mind.
I wonder, are you still so kind?
Are you still so pure?
There are other rhymes around here somewhere,
but I'm not too sure how they fit....

Jenny, penny for your thoughts,
I wonder how you're thinking now;
I hesitate to visualise;
our worlds are much too different,
that's a sign of the times.
Time was when I read your cards
and wrote the numbers in the dust;
I can't remember what they were but, anyhow,
I missed the cusp.
So, so long, and so, goodbye.
Do you think I'd recognise you by your hair or by your mind now?

We start out together
but the paths all divide;
when there are no more crossroads
I open my eyes
and find I'm walking on alone
through the snowy cold....
I wonder if I'll make it through the night?

I'm an author and an actor too;
you're a model in the zoo...
I'm just thinking on which side of the bars
I'm looking through.
If I prophesied an avalanche
would you wait and call my bluff?
If I gave you just a little song
would that be enough
to save your life
or is the knife already turning in my hand?
Ender Dace
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Joined: Mon Mar 28, 2005 4:31 pm

Sad songs.

Post by Ender Dace »

Just a note on 'Pub with no beer', it was written by Slim Dusty, and was his first and main hit.

I think one of the saddest songs I've ever heard is 'The Wrong Child' by R.E.M. :

I've watched the children come and go
A late long march into spring
I sit and watch those children
Jump in the tall grass
Leap the sprinkler
Walk in the ground
Bicycle clothespin spokes
The sound the smell of swingset hands

I will try to sing a happy song
I'll try and make a happy game to play
Come play with me I whispered to my new found friend
Tell me what it's like to go outside
I've never been
Tell me what it?s like to just go outside
I've never been
And I never will

I'm not supposed to be like this
I'm not supposed to be like this
But it?s okay

Hey, those kids are looking at me
I told my friend myself
Those kids are looking at me
They're laughing and they're running over here
They're laughing and they're running over here
What do I do?
What can I do?
What should I do?
What do I say?
What can I say?

I said I'm not supposed to be like this
Let's try to find a happy game to play
Let's try to find a happy game to play
I'm not supposed to be like this
But it's okay, okay

A song that's widely interpreted as being about the experience of life for a housebound disabled child, with its haunting refrain 'I'm not supposed to be like this, Let's try to find a happy game to play'
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Paula
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Post by Paula »

When I was a lad
And old shep was a pup
Over hills and meadows we`d stray
Just a little boy and his dog
We were both full of fun
We grew up together that way

I remember the time at the old swimmin´ hold
When I would have drowned beyond doubt
But old shep was right there
To the rescue he came
He jumped in and then pulled me out

As the years fast roll
Old shep he grew old
His eyes were fast growing dim
And one day the doctor looked at me and said
I can do no more for your dog

With hands that were trembling
I picked up my gun
And aimed it at shep`s faithful head
I just couldn`t do it
I wanted to run
I wish they would shoot me instead

He came to my side
And looked up at me
And laid his old head on my knee
I had struck the best friend that a man ever had
I cried so I scarcely could see

Old shep he has gone
Where the good doggies go
And no more with old shep well I roam
But if dogs have a heaven
There`s one thing I know
Old shep has a wonderful home

I couldn't find the lyrics to Ebony Eyes ahh shame
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lightning
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Post by lightning »

Elvis Presley won his first prize as a boy at a County Fair for singing "Old Shep." It is a classic "tear -jerker" as is the Everly Brothers Ebony Eyes . Paula, is that the one you were looking for, not Stevie Wonder's Ebony Eyes? These aren't in the same league as French Chanson because of their lack of depth. I like the Everlys though.


On a weekend pass I wouldn't have had time
To get home and marry that baby of mine
So I went to the chaplain and he authorized
Me to send for my ebony eyes
My ebony eyes was coming to me
From out of the skies on Flight 1203
In an hour or two I would whisper 'I do'
To my beautiful ebony eyes
SPOKEN
The plane was way overdue so I went inside to the airlines desk and I said "Sir, I
wonder why 1203 is so late?" He said "Aww, they probably took off late or they
may have run into some turbulent weather and had to alter their course." I went
back outside and I waited at the gate and I watched the beacon light from the
control tower as it whipped through the dark ebony skies as if it were searching for
(my ebony eyes.) And then came the announcement over the loudspeaker?
?Would those having relatives or friends on flight number 1203 please report to the
chapel across the street at once.?


Then I felt a burning break deep inside
And I knew the heavenly ebony skies
Had taken my life's most wonderful prize
My beautiful ebony eyes
If I ever get to heaven I'll bet
The first angel I'll recognize
She'll smile at me and I know she will be
My beautiful ebony eyes
Shine
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Post by Shine »

Last night I dreamt that somebody loved me - The Smiths

Last night I dreamt
That somebody loved me
No hope, but no harm
Just another false alarm

Last night I felt
real arms around me
No hope, no harm
Just another false alarm


So, tell me how long
Before the last one ?
And tell me how long
Before the right one ?


The story is old - I KNOW
But it goes on
The story is old - I KNOW
But it goes on


Oh, GOES ON
And on
Oh, goes on
And on
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Paula
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Location: London

Post by Paula »

Thanks Lighting - it was the Everly Brothers version. It brings a tear to the eye :cry:
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lizzytysh
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Location: Florida, U.S.A.

Post by lizzytysh »

The innocence of animals always touches me somewhere deep inside. This verse is so impacting, and brings back the tears I cried when I listened to this song so many years ago:

"He came to my side
And looked up at me
And laid his old head on my knee
I had struck the best friend that a man ever had
I cried so I scarcely could see"

Imagining these lines in this context is almost unbearable:
"He came to my side
And looked up at me
And laid his old head on my knee"

Love,
Elizabeth
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Kush
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Location: USA

Post by Kush »

A sad song sung with passion...


Queenie's Song

- Guy Clark


Some S.O.B. shot my dog
I found her under a tree
If I hadn't loved that dog so much
It wouldn't mean nothin' to me

You son of a bitch I'll tell you what
I will not be deterred
I'll find you out and track you down
On that you have my word

Queenie's gettin' buried
It's time to dig the hole
New Year's Day in Santa Fe
Broke mean and it broke cold

I don't predict the world will end
I don't presume it won't
I don't pretend to give a damn
It it do or if it don't

Bet you got a gun for Christmas
That don't make it right
What in the hell were you thinkin'
With little Queenie in your sights

Brother Death and Father Time
Are almost loaded up
Headed for the border line
In a stolen pick-up truck

For old aquaintances not forgot
For old dogs left behind
I won't forgive and I can't forget
The year of '99
Screamin' Auld Lang Syne
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Paula
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Location: London

Post by Paula »

Enough, enough I can't cope with all this sorrow. I have never heard of this song Kush but it is a heartbreaker.
Gideon
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Location: East Anglia, UK

Post by Gideon »

OK, Paula and Lightning, Ebony Eyes and Old Shep bring tears to my eyes because of the sentimentality. I am not putting them down because, if they had not been chosen already, they would have been two that I would suggest. However, the one that really gets me he is Lemon Haired Ladies by Dory Previn. She wrote this after her husband (André, of course), left her for a younger Mia Farrow. The lack of capitals is her choice, not mine.

lemon haired ladies

whatever you give me
i'll take as it comes
discarding self pity
i’ll manage with crumbs
i’ll settle for moments
i won’t ask for life
i’ll not expect labels like lover or wife
if showing affection
embarrasses you
i will not depend
and I will not pursue
for you are
younger than i
younger than i
younger than i
and i am
wiser than you
the one a.m. phone calls
you’re here then you’re gone
come when you need me
i won't carry on
i’ll simply accept you
the way that you are
unsure and unstructured
my door is ajar
those lemon haired ladies
of twenty or so
of course you must see them
just don't let me know
don't let me know
whatever you do
for you are
younger than i
younger than i
younger than i
and i am weaker than you
i’ll give you a year
maybe two
maybe three
then what will happen?
where will I be?
you’ll still be a boy
but what about me?
what about me?
what about me?
why must you treat me
with such little care
i’ve so much inside me
i’m aching to share
why am i constant
to someone like you?
children don't know
the meaning of "true"
those lemon haired ladies
why must you see them?
all that i want in your eyes
is to be them
time it on their side
that's all i lack
i wish you would just
go away
no
come back
come back
go away
come back
go away
what in hell can i do?
i'm supposed to be wise
for i am
older than you
older than you
you so self-centered
the games that you play
do as you please
you will anyway
of course you will see them
no use to pretend
for they are
younger than i
younger than i
those lemon haired ladies
and they will
win in the end.

James
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Paula
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Post by Paula »

James I love Dory Previn but I never thought that song was sad.

Jim Reeves - Old Tige

(Tige you were faithful faithful to the end
Tige now I miss you you were my best friend)
Three years of Army Service done and I was headin' home at last
I got to thinking bout my dog and things long gone and passed
How old Tige pulled me from a creek when I had no pulse or breath
How he saved me from the changin' bull that gored my Dad to death
As a kid I'd dream of bears and tremble to my toes
Till old Tige come up to my bed and nudge me with his nose
Then my fears would melt away and Tige would go lie down
I'd drift on back to sleep without another sound
The big bus stopped I got off it was awful dark and thick with fog
Then something gently nuzzled me and there stood Tige my dog
I wondered if my faithful dog had met the bus each day
And all the dreary winter nights since I'd been away
Have Tige meet me here like this I was I was really glad
Cause I hadn't needed Tige so much since the day they've burried Dad
Too long miles still lay ahead but what I didn't know
A giant Dam was being built where the old road used to go
I think the Lord was sending Tige and I followed where he led
Knowing well without his help that I'd be good as dead
Tige inched along this way and that going rough and slow
And I could hear the water a lappin' at the ledges far below
Then through the mist I saw a light and mother in her chair
And I reached down to pet old Tige but he wasn't there
I'm thankful Mom you had old Tige these three lonely years
I owe my life to him tonight I couldn't help my tears
You say you wrote me bout the Dam well God was sure with us
I didn't get your letter Mom but old Tige met the bus
I hate to tell you son she said but now you've got to know
When you left it broke his heart Tige died three years ago
(You were my best friend)
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Sandra
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Post by Sandra »

The saddest song is not Leonard Cohen´s then......!!!!!

lightning you can make a poll with some of the main chosen and we choose the saddest...... 8)
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lightning
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Post by lightning »

I'm surprised that the saddest songs seem to be about the loss of a pet. Reminds me of the Leonard line from Everybody Knows " Most people got that lonesome feeling like their father or their dog just died." People seem to miss their dog the most.
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Paula
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Post by Paula »

I don't find any of Leonard's songs sad. I find most of them quite uplifting.
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