The 20 most heartbreaking songs of all time

Yahoo Music ^ | Nov. 20 2008 | The Lonely Hearts Club Banned

[TigersEye]

Oh, and “Knocking On Heavens Door” by Bob Dylan

[Caipirabob]

Here's an interesting one I first heard in the early 90's from Sergio Mendes' album: "Brasileiro". It's called "Chorado" and while this isn't the original version, it conveys the feeling of the song even without the mourn filled vocals.

You tube home video (not so bad)

I could only find this of the original:

30 seconds of track #13 of his album.

I really enjoyed that album until I loaned it and some other CDs to a namorada Brasileira I dated after my divorce. I got married again a couple of years later to someone else and the relationship "didn't translate" to "just friends" so I never bothered to get my CD's back. I wish her as much happiness as her life can bring her. She should stay away from track #13, though! :D

[djf]

As a man who slept next to, as a man who held and tried to protect, as a man who lost her and will forever dream and remember, I can only post this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pc3OnSQc48s

As a man who loved her eternally, I am lost...

[knarf]

My wife of 21 years went home to be with our Savior June 15, 2004.

She loved to dig up the newly sprouted acorns that fell from the huge oak tree in the front of our house, plant them in 5 gal. 'mud buckets' (formerly holding dry wall mud), and caring for them long enough to give away 2 - 3 ft trees she had nursed and nurtured.

All of our kids and friends have a "Mom tree"

Honey .. Bobby Goldsboro .. I bawl like a baby when I hear it, and I try not to hear it.

[crude77]

Don’t know who sang it-but, “Has anybody seen her”

Also “yesterday” by the beatles.

Chicago had some really good stuff too.

[VermiciousKnid]

Ah yes...”Tell Laura I Love Her”. Now THAT’S a sad song:

“As they pulled his body from the twisted wreck,
With his dying breath they could hear him say
‘Tell Laura I love her. Tell Laura I need her. Tell Laura not to cry; my love for her will never die.’”

Good stuff, that.

[truthguy]

Musical lists are always difficult. There is always a song you forgot about.

That said this list is faily bad. Most of the songs aren't that good. There are a ton of Irish Songs that are much heartbreaking than most of these songs.

How about "Leaving on your mind" Patsy Cline or
"Elenanor Rigby" by the Beatles. Very Sad songs.

[FairWitness]

You Don't Know Me

You give your hand to me
Then you say hello
I can hardly speak
My heart is beating so
And anyone can tell
You think you know me well
But you don't know me

No, you don't know the one
Who dreams of you at night
And longs to kiss your lips
And longs to hold you tight
Oh I'm just a friend
That's all I've ever been
'Cause you don't know me

For I never knew
The art of making love
Though my heart aches
With love for you
Afraid and shy
I've let my chance to go by
The chance that you might
Love me, too

You give your hand to me
And then you say good-bye
I watch you walk away
Beside the lucky guy
You'll never never know
The one who loves you so
No, you don't know me

[GOP Poet]

Alison Krauss. She is lovely. I saw her with Robert Plant this summer. This song is heart wrenching. Thanks for the post.

[TankerKC]

Otis Redding: "I've Been Loving You Too Long

I don't know if I'd call it "heartbreaking" but it is one of the most moving songs ever.

[GOP Poet]

Yep. That one gets me every time.

[SamAdams76]

Truly an awful list. However, lists like this are always subjective anyhow as they are dependent on a person's own experiences. For example, there are several songs that were popular when things went bad with my first girlfriend that will be always be sad songs for me (though others might think of them as happy songs).

For me, the saddest song was the one that played on the car radio as I took my dying dog to the animal hospital to have it put to sleep. "Time Passages" by Al Stewart.

[Right Wing Assault]

I’m sad. I’ve only heard four of them.

[GodBlessRonaldReagan]

"Sweet Dreams" by Patsy Cline
"Caroline No" by the Beach Boys
"The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore" - The Walker Brothers

The article did get one thing right - "He Stopped Loving Her Today" by the Possum is the all-time champ ofsad songs - what a masterpiece!

[thompson]

This one makes people weep instantly

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5dnVlbKgoM

[sphinx]

I'd nominate Green Fields of France, Leaving Nancy, and Amazing Grace at any funeral.

[Caramelgal]

I agree with you. That list is pretty lame. I think there is a difference between a sad song and one that is truly heartbreaking. There have been so many great songs written out of very real heartbreak and loss. The only one in the list I really agree with is Bonnie Raitt’s “I Can’t Make You Love Me”. Eric Clapton’s “Tears in Heaven” should have been on that list.

I would add two by Evanescence/Amy Lee.

My Immortal

And

Like You

“Like You” was written about the sudden death of her three year old little sister and while more than a bit dark and morose, it’s just about as heartbreaking of a song as I’ve ever heard.

Stay low
soft, dark, and dreamless
far beneath my nightmares and loneliness
I hate me
for breathing without you
I don't want to feel anymore for you

grieving for you
I'm not grieving for you
nothing real love can't undo
and though I may have lost my way
all paths lead straight to you

I long to be like you
lie cold in the ground like you

Halo
blinding wall between us
melt away and leave us alone again
humming, haunted somewhere out there
I believe our love can see us through in death

I long to be like you
lie cold in the ground like you
there's room inside for two and I'm not grieving for you
I'm coming for you

You're not alone
no matter what they told you you're not alone
I'll be right beside you forevermore

I long to be like you, sis
lie cold in the ground like you, did
there's room inside for two and I'm not grieving for you
and as we lay in silent bliss
I know you remember me

I long to be like you
lie cold in the ground like you
there's room inside for two and I'm not grieving for you
I'm coming for you

[Peter Horry]

“Hank Williams, “I’m so Lonesome I Could Cry”

That would definely be on my list. Another would be Patsy Cline’s “Walkin’ After Midnight”
http://www.cowboylyrics.com/lyrics/cline-patsy/walkin-after-midnight-10481.html

[cajungirl]

Total Eclipse of the Heart.

[bert]

Wreck on the Hiway

Recorded by Roy Acuff

Who did you say it was, brother?
Who was it fell by the way?
When whiskey and blood run together
Did you hear anyone pray?

Their names I’m not able to tell you,
But here is one thing I can say:
There were whiskey and blood mixed together,
But I didn’t hear nobody pray.

I didn’t hear nobody pray, dear brother,
I didn’t hear nobody pray.
I heard the crash on the highway,
But I didn’t hear nobody pray.

When I heard the crash on the highway,
I knew what it was from the start;
I went to the scene of destruction
A picture was stamped on my heart.

Whiskey and glass all together,
Was mixed up with blood where they lay.
Death played her hand in destruction,
But I didn’t hear nobody pray.

I didn’t hear nobody pray, dear brother,
I didn’t hear nobody pray.
I heard the crash on the highway,
But I didn’t hear nobody pray.

I wish I could change this sad story
That I am now telling you;
But there is no way I can change it,
Somebody’s life is now through.

Their soul has been nursed by the Master,
They died in a crash on their way.
I heard the groans of the dying,
But I didn’t hear nobody pray.

I didn’t hear nobody pray, dear brother,
I didn’t hear nobody pray.
I heard the crash on the highway,
But I didn’t hear nobody pray.

Give up the game an’ stop drinking,
For Jesus is pleading with you. It cost him a lot in redeeming, Redeeming the promise for you.

Hit’ll [sic] be too late if tomorrow
You’ll fall by a crash by the way,
With whiskey and blood all around you,
And you can’t hear nobody pray.

I didn’t hear nobody pray, dear brother,
I didn’t hear nobody pray.
I heard the crash on the highway,
But I didn’t hear nobody pray.