quote:

Originally posted by ericg75:
"Without You" by Harry Nillson is pretty damn depressing.

That was originally by Badfinger.

I can't say I bawl due to songs frequently so I guess I'll just list beautifully sad songs

Syd Barrett's Vegetable Man (don't know but this is eerily sad to me. Same with Jugband Blues)
Legendary Pink Dots - I Love You In Your Tragic Beauty
Leonard Cohen - Seems So Long Ago, Nancy (The Traitor too)
Robert Wyatt - Sea Song
Richard Thompson - 1952 Vincent Black Lightning
Kinks - Uncle Son
The Animals' cover of It's All Over Now, Baby Blue
Screaming Trees - Sworn & Broken (specifically for the Wurlitzer solo by Benmont Tench. Tugs at your heart)
Loudon Wainwright III - Sometimes I Forget
Blind Willie Johnson - Dark Was the Night, Cold Was the Ground (the daddy of all in my book)

surely something from the smiths should be included here??

back to the old house
asleep
i know it's over etc etc
oh yeh and clapton 'tears in heaven'

I think just about everything from the Smiths could be included in here. I spent a year listening to nothing but the Smiths and Depeche Mode, very depressing. Here's a list of my current favorite depressing songs.

Alessando Nivola-Shade&Honey(Laurel Canyon soundtrack) His voice(and looks) are simply amazing.
Live-Lightning Crashes
Mazzy Star-Halah and Fade Into You
Radiohead-Fake Plastic Trees
Big & Rich-Holy Water....I'm not a big counrty music fan, but this one pretty much sums up my life.

�Shine On You Crazy Diamond� by Pink Floyd

Not so much for anything in the lyrics (although they are quite beautiful and sad given the back story). But when I let myself get swept away in those keyboards I feel a single tear welling up in the corner of my eye.

pink floyd though a very good band has many depressing songs...such as comfortably numb, don't leave me now, and goodbye blue sky

Gotta be "I Can't Make You Love Me" recorded by Bonnie Raitt. Another great one: Unfaithful Servant by The Band. Robbie Robertson is a master of the sad song - there's certainly another 10 beside Unfaithful Servant I could name as contenders.