What's the world's saddest song?

[Andrew McGeever]

In reply to Sandra,
It doesn't surprise me that the "saddest song" is not Leonard Cohen's.
Maybe it's something about his songwriting or the enthusiasm we forum members have for the man who denies us the opportunity.
The recent "pet sounds" posts (no offence to Brian Wilson) serve to reduce this thread to animal levels.
That's my last word on this thread: I stand by "Ne Me Quitte Pas" and "It's Over".
Andrew .
P.S. Both quoted songs have the advantage of being written about human beings.

[SWITZ]

Hank Snow did this one. Snow came out of Leonard's neighborhood.

The first fall of snow


I talked to a stranger so sad and forlorn
his garments were sack cloth all tattered and torn
he told me a story of sorrow and woe
his heart went to heaven at the first fall of snow
he spoke of his angel adear baby girl he loved every footstep
he loved every curl
but she went to heaven just one year ago
the angels came for her at the first fall of snow
he still had the dolly that she used to love
he held and caressed it and he gazed up above
he whispered my darling your're waiting I know
I'll bring you your dolly at the first fall of snow
and there as I listened my eyes fillled with tears
I knew she was part of his happier years
his frail body trembled he spoke soft and low
I'll be wtih you my darling at the first fall of snow
I just couldn't tell him how I felt inside
I patted his shoulder my feeling's too high
he smiled as we parted cause he didn't know
that we'd lost our darling at the first fall of snow.

[Anne-Marie]

Artist: Gary Jules
Song: Mad World

All around me are familiar faces
Worn out places, worn out faces
Bright and early for their daily races
Going nowhere, going nowhere
Their tears are filling up their glasses
No expression, no expression
Hide my head I want to drown my sorrow
No tomorrow, no tomorrow

And I find it kinda funny
I find it kinda sad
The dreams in which I'm dying
Are the best I've ever had
I find it hard to tell you
I find it hard to take
When people run in circles
It's a very, very mad world mad world

Children waiting for the day they feel good
Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday
Made to feel the way that every child should
Sit and listen, sit and listen
Went to school and I was very nervous
No one knew me, no one knew me
Hello teacher tell me what's my lesson
Look right through me, look right through me

And I find it kinda funny
I find it kinda sad
The dreams in which I'm dying
Are the best I've ever had
I find it hard to tell you
I find it hard to take
When people run in circles
It's a very, very mad world ... world
Enlarging your world
Mad world

[Insanitor]

Hey Anne-Marie,
the Gary Jules version of Mad World is so lovely. I don't know if you are old enough to remember the 80's version by Tears for Fears? (which is the original and the one I grew up on) - I could barely believe that the one sung by GJ was the same song, it is much more poignant than the TFF one.

ic

[September_Cohen]

I vot for The Doors' Indian Summer......a song to die to

[mdidier]

He Stopped Loving Her Today

Sung by: George Jones
Written by: Bob Braddock and Claude Putman, Jr.

He said "I'll love you till I die",
she told him "You'll forget in time"
As the years went slowly by,
she still preyed upon his mind

He kept her picture on his wall,
went half-crazy now and then
He still loved her through it all,
hoping she'd come back again

Kept some letters by his bed
dated nineteen sixty-two
He had underlined in red
every single "I love you"

I went to see him just today,
oh but I didn't see no tears
All dressed up to go away, first time
I'd seen him smile in years

He stopped loving her today
They placed a wreath upon his door
And soon they'll carry him away
He stopped loving her today

(Spoken)
You know,
she came to see him one last time.
Aww, 'n' we all wondered if she would.
And it kept runnin' through my mind
"this time he's over her for good."

He stopped loving her today
They placed a wreath upon his door
And soon they'll carry him away
He stopped loving her today

[Insanitor]

Hmm...shouldn't there be a verse ( or at least one line) with a long-distance telephone call in that song??