137 Comments

Beautiful idea to use music to stimulate shared thoughts and writings. I had read once that emotions elicited by music were the memories of what we were doing at the time we listened to the song. Other than the Judy Collin’s song I had not heard the other two but all were very sad too. Truly a sad song list.

Expand full comment

Glen Campbell brought me to tears

Expand full comment

Chris Cornell covering Sinead/Prince is one of the most beautiful things, ever.

Expand full comment

Great songs. I have never thought of Both Sides Now as particularly sad, maybe because both Joni and I were so young when she sang that song and I heard it as covered by Judy Collins-- and the fact that Joni is alive and singing at all in 2022 is to me kind of a victory that neither of us would have foreseen in 1966. Blue, on the other hand .... (Also hysterically funny to me the idea that I would have thought I had seen "Both Sides Now" at the age of 16.)

Expand full comment

All three are so powerful I wouldn't dream of adding a thing. Thank you!

Expand full comment

The song by Joni Mitchell has always been a favorite of mine. This video rendition caused some seriously long overdue tears to fall.

Expand full comment

I'm not gonna miss you - he wrote and remembered the lyrics, and played beautifully, yet the irony of knowing what was around the corner - therein lays the heart-break. Glad he had lots of family around. Thanks for sharing all 3!

Expand full comment

Three great sad song choices by great artists.

When I really want to wallow in misery, Gregg Alexander/New Radicals like The World We Love So Much and Crying Like a Church on Monday always do the trick.

I also find pretty much every song by Travis Meadows to be sad. His voice and lyrics just touch my soul. And I'm not even a divorced father. https://youtu.be/SWi0mzM5D5Q?si=GNAjaQQJs8liXK9i

Expand full comment

I cry every damn time.

Yusuf (Cat) Stevens "How can I Tell You"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEsfQy1zy7Y

Expand full comment

You've Lost That Loving Feeling by The Righteous Brothers (1965)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOnYY9Mw2Fg

Expand full comment

Bruce Cockburn - Pacing The Cage

Expand full comment

Sparklehorse - It's a Wonderful Life

Alright, that Joni video had me bawling. Thanks Sherman

Expand full comment

Good songs, all three! The 'place' the song comes from is the key.

For example...please consider Flying Shoes - written by Townes Van Zant and performed by Lyle Lovett.

https://youtu.be/n3G-8vMX_N8?feature=shared

Lyrics start with "Days full of rain, sky is coming down again...." A song that I loved to play on acoustic guitar for folks on Vashon Island. However, the song took on new meaning when I moved to Austin, TX. The 'place' the song comes from is the key.

Expand full comment

Yes! Although it occurs to me that "funeral songs" should be a subset of sad songs. I have always thought the lyric "turn the green water into whites and blues" was about as good a metaphor for death as I have ever heard.

Expand full comment

I thought Joni Mitchell'd performance with Brandi Carlile was an absolute triumph!!!! So - only 2 of those performances qualify for sad!

Expand full comment