20 Saddest Songs of All Time

Guaranteed to make you weep, or at least dampen your mood, these are the saddest songs ever recorded. The 20 saddest songs in pop and rock music history:

1 – Seasons in the Sun (1974) by Terry Jacks, is a sad song about a dying man saying good-bye. The boyband Westlife re-recorded the song in 1999, but it's the original 70s songs that really hits the sound and pulls the heart strings. The Jacks 70s version hit #1 and topped the charts for several weeks back in 1974. It's also been called one of the worst songs ever. To each his own. Goodbye my friend, it's hard to die, when all the birds are singing in the sky

2 – Yesterday (1965) by the Beatles Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away, Now it looks as though they're here to stay...

3 – Tears in Heaven (1992) by Eric Clapton, written about the death of his young son.

4 – The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald (1976) by Gordon Lightfoot, tells the sad story of the true ship that sank and took its crew with it. When supper time came, the old cook came on deck sayin'

“Fellas, it's too rough to feed ya”,; at 7 P.M. a main hatchway caved in, he said

“Fellas, it's been good to know ya”

5 – Taxi (1975) by Harry Chapin, about two high school sweethearts who never reached their dreams. Harry also penned "Cats in the Cradle" a sad song about a cycle of family members not spending enough time together.

6 – The Final Cut (1983) by Pink Floyd, on the subject of suicide.

7 – One (1988) by Metallica, about a soldiers who is alive, but has lost his limbs, and use of his eyes and mouth, leaving his perfectly functioning brain trapped in his body. “Nothing Else Matters” actually has a sadder music to it, though.

8 – Where Do the Children Play? (1970) by Cat Stevens

9 – The River (1981) by Bruce Springsteen, about failed dreams, and losing hope.

10 – Slow Marching Band (1983) Jethro Tull

11 – The Quiet Room (1978) by Alice Cooper, about a man living in an insane asylum, and “How You Gonna See Me Now” also from the same LP.

12 – May it Be (2001) by Enya

13 – Eleanor Rigby by the Beatles. Ah, look at all the lonely people...

14 – Billy Don't Be a Hero (1974) by Paper Lace, about a young man leaving is fiancee alone to go off to fight, and die, in a war.

15 – Silvia's Mother (1972)  Dr. Hook.  Saddest phone call ever.

16 – Dead Man's Curve (1964) by Jan and Dean

17 – Waterfalls (1994) by TLC 

18 – Candle in the Wind (1973) by Elton John, about the death of Marilyn Monroe

19 – The Wounded Whale (1990) by Fairport Convention

20 – Desperado (1973) by the Eagles

Bonus Track: “He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother” recorded by the Hollies is meant to be uplifting, but really comes out sounding sad. “Mandy” by Barry Manilow is also fairly depressing.

I'm depressed just reading the list. 

It's time to cheer up, and for that we need to check out:

• TheTop 40 Feel-Good Songs of all Time

to clear the sad songs from your mind.