Top 5 songs about death...

[th3w01f]

Ok, I'm stealing this from the movie High Fidelity but my immediate response to the scene was 'The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" (it didn't come in till like #4 with them)... Not to mention, at 43 I'm kinda pissed I even heard the lyrics to "tell Laura I love her", I should have been spared that as a child. Not to mention the movies 'Threads and Das Boot' along with the accompanying tests my Dad made us take, but hey we deal with the cards we've been dealt.

I've come to replace my #1 with "Life fades away" but that's me.

All of the songs mentioned in the movie were old, are there any new ones that should be in the top 5 or even top 20?

Back to the Edmund Fitzgerald... I think this is the best lyric.

"When suppertime came the old cook came on deck sayin'.
Fellas, it's too rough t'feed ya."
At seven P.M. a main hatchway caved in; he said,"
Fellas, it's bin good t'know ya!"

[Ah Pook]

The only one I can think of right now.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwyg2YpxdrE

[OtterbatHellcat]

"Don't fear the Reaper"

[Irving]

I Googled the top ten saddest songs once. After 10 minutes on Youtube I was thinking, "Why in the world did I want to know this again?"
I never would have heard of the song Concrete Angel had I not been bored online that day.

[Great-Kazoo]

Bloodrock - D.O.A

Aphrodite's Child - 666

Jim Carroll - People who Died

[Great-Kazoo]

The only one I can think of right now.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwyg2YpxdrE

Thanks, i was typing while you were posting. Nice to see i'm not the only one who remembers that song, or album

[th3w01f]

The only one I can think of right now.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwyg2YpxdrE

Pretty hard core, never heard it before. I think if you'd ever been in that situation it would take on a lot more meaning.

[th3w01f]

I Googled the top ten saddest songs once. After 10 minutes on Youtube I was thinking, "Why in the world did I want to know this again?"
I never would have heard of the song Concrete Angel had I not been bored online that day.

Hey, I'm only here to help. It's going to take me a few min to listen and respond appropriately. Any post like this deserves a real response, like it, love it or hate it, it will be from the heart.

[Great-Kazoo]

Pretty hard core, never heard it before. I think if you'd ever been in that situation it would take on a lot more meaning.

If you weren't listening to fm radio in 71. you probably didn't.

[th3w01f]

If you weren't listening to fm radio in 71. you probably didn't.

I'm sure I was, second hand (you know that shit can kill) but it was probably Dancing Queen, Abba and some Kiss. Took till 74' before I got to heard this - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vST6hVRj2A

[blacklabel]

Here's one of my top 5.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MQDalWJKuE


They tell me that in time everything will be okay
Life goes back to normal
Like before you flew away
They tell me you can see me
So I'm trying not to cry
But sometimes I can't help it since Daddy learned to fly

[Irving]

I guess here is one of mine. I think it is more about loss, as only one verse is really about death.

FWlIEBPKl7M

[th3w01f]

Here's one of my top 5.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MQDalWJKuE

Never heard it before, and having some trouble relating to the lyrics. What does the song mean to you?

[Great-Kazoo]

After 9/11, for me this one took on a whole new meaning


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7maYpvzUqNc

same with this one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsJ4O-nSveg

[zteknik]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gO7uemm6Yo

[SAnd]

The first movie death song that popped into my head was "Knocking on Heavens Door" in the movie "Pat Garret and Billy the Kid". It was the background as Slim Pickens died.

The next song that came up was "Timothy" by the Buoys.

"The Wreck of the Edmond Fitzgerald" has always had a couple strong memories for me. I saw the ship while it was loading for it's last trip. Then I saw Gordon Lightfoot test the song to a small group of people in a coffee shop.

[th3w01f]

Ok, I kind of get this one, but not completely. My grandpa died after my grandparents had been married for 50 years and when we visited my grandma, she could only hold on to her kids; It was impossibly sad to try and show something beyond her vision of life. We were all just extra players at that point.

[th3w01f]

If I ever get a tag I want it to read "demented and sat, yet social"

[Irving]

Thought of another two. I don't have the vast musical knowledge of a lot of guys on here.

NJ3aiM8K6D0

I think this one is actually a cover.

46_Ynl1ARgM

[th3w01f]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJrENPTweM8 Another friend lost way to soon.

[th3w01f]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJrENPTweM8 Another friend lost way to soon.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdeSLxz5TTE - lets not forget Laura.

[th3w01f]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdeSLxz5TTE - lets not forget Laura.

Same girl - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdeSLxz5TTE

[Irving]

Oh dear, how could I have forgotten?
RVMvART9kb8

[Katastrophic]

I think one of my top couple has to be this one: http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=yM3CYHZixmo

[th3w01f]

Ok, I guess I can just leave it at this - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMROeNtcnW4b

[zteknik]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m69ABJdR0s8
Could have been me if I kept the way I was....

[Bailey Guns]

George Jones:


http://youtu.be/VExw77xJsBQ

[babirl]

Beyond what's been posted and the Christian standards, I hope I'm not too off base.

Wow, pushing my limits for posting stuff and certainly hope it's not too messed up... ;)

B2

- TAPS (Yep, 'gets me always' and yes, there are lyrics: http://usmilitary.about.com/od/theorderlyroom/a/tapshistory.htm //)

- Johnny Cash's "cover/owning" of Hurt: (ETA: Guess I was thinking about the 'near dead' or whatever... I knew Cash was gone when this vid came out and it was pretty perfect for JC...)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmVAWKfJ4Go

- Harry Chapin's "Cats in the Cradle" often mistakenly attributed to Cat Stevens....:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-s5r2spPJ8g

- Mazzy Star "Into Dust":


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vO30b_SxLzE


I'm sure there are more that will come to mind... It's late/early and my schedule has been crazy!

[Great-Kazoo]

Johnny Cash's "cover/owning" of Hurt:[/B] (ETA: Guess I was thinking about the 'near dead' or whatever... I knew Cash was gone when this vid came out and it was pretty perfect for JC...)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmVAWKfJ4Go

I'm sure there are more that will come to mind... It's late/early and my schedule has been crazy!

To go with cash's swan song lets throw this cover in to the mix. Already mentioned and well placed background mus,c for slim pickens scene. The last album released not to long before he died Warren Zevon's version, brings the Dylan classic to life (right befroe death)
One of my favorite song writers, singers, producers, interesting guys.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3OOY7ndLdY


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

[flogger]

Elvis Costello, "The Angels wanna wear my red shoes"

[flogger]

And this one. Marty Robbins, El Paso http://youtu.be/kIHRgisdbeY

[Bitter Clinger]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUkoL9RE72o

[TFOGGER]

http://youtu.be/wSqT_PeiV0U

Has special significance after 9/11. The lyrics are especially poignant.

[Bitter Clinger]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfRY3SsozuM

[cofi]

http://youtu.be/s4M8GjgfG9k

Suicidal thoughts - biggie

I can't embed videos for some reason.

[TFOGGER]

http://youtu.be/JDUbLE7rT9c

[AirbornePathogen]

I've only got four. In no particular order-

"My Way" Frank Sinatra
"Arlington" Trace Adkins
"Whiskey Lullaby" Brad Paisley and Allison Krauss
"If You're Reading This" Tim McGraw

[Delfuego]

Jesus and Mary Chain - Reverence

Suicidal Tendencies - I saw your Mommy (and your Mommy's dead)

B.I.G. - Ready to Die

Oingo Boingo - Dead Mans Party

Warren Zevon - Things To Do In Denver When You're Dead


I could go on and on....[Beer]

[ray1970]

Two of my favorites. Might be a bit off from what some of you are posting but they are about death.

Johnny Cash, "Delia's Gone"


http://youtu.be/_pEHDcOVhts

The Misfits, "Last Caress"


http://youtu.be/9y2MyMqVD0E

[jerrymrc]

Thanks, i was typing while you were posting. Nice to see i'm not the only one who remembers that song, or album

That brought back memories, thanks.[Flower]

[blacklabel]

Never heard it before, and having some trouble relating to the lyrics. What does the song mean to you?

It's about a kid struggling with his dad's suicide.

[Bailey Guns]

Willie Nelson and Ray Charles...Seven Spanish Angels

[ray1970]

And here is another good one.


http://youtu.be/RqQn2ADZE1A

[Delfuego]

M.O.D. - Ode to Harry

Truly a great and "sad" song about death. Please listen if you've never heard it...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34D88cHBjy8

[anaphylaxis]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5JkHBC5lDs

[Ah Pook]

Thanks, i was typing while you were posting. Nice to see i'm not the only one who remembers that song, or album
My Aunt gave me the album when I was a kid. Didn't find out til much latter that they were a Ft. Worth band.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pYA46dyKh4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMlaDcsWRy0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xmRWj7gJEU

[palepainter]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukmobha2krYOne

[Ah Pook]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ph8AlodMnjk

[ZERO THEORY]

Metallica "Fade to Black"
The Smiths "Asleep"
Jedi Mind Tricks "Before the Great Collapse"
Immortal Technique "Dance with the Devil"
How to Destroy Angels "A Drowning"

If you don't make it songs purely about death, I can think of some songs that will really fuck you up. Trent and Kurt both have some songs that make strong allusions to suicide that probably shouldn't be listened to if you're feeling depressed or reckless. Maynard has some stuff that's pretty heavy as well, if you don't need explicit material and allegory will work.

[Madeinhb]

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0FMfsT11pdA&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D0FMfsT11pdA

[jgang]

Tim McGraw: I'm Already home. Brings a tear to my eye every time I hear it. GIs will fully understand....http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2bkv2_tim-mcgraw-if-your-reading-this_music

[Aloha_Shooter]

I was wondering when someone would get around to posting "Suicide is Painless" and "The Long Black Veil" (I particularly liked the Chieftains' version -- see below).


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYE-x0Yje98

I'm surprised no one mentioned "American Pie" or "Live Like You Were Dying".

While it doesn't specifically say it's about death so much as old friendships, I always felt Keola and Kapono Beamer's "Only Good Times" was particularly relevant in remembering those who have passed:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvEDmPq4vTQ

I always felt "Cats in the Cradle" was about the relationship between fathers and sons rather than death itself but I played it a lot when my dad died. Even more specific to fathers dying was Mike & the Mechanics' "The Living Years":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGDA0Hecw1k

[blacklabel]

I was wondering when someone would get around to posting "Suicide is Painless" and "The Long Black Veil" (I particularly liked the Chieftains' version -- see below).

I figured Comfortably Numb would be the first song listed.

[Aloha_Shooter]

What about "The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia"?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVYYmZ2Epno

or "Don't Take the Girl"?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vn6QdqxK3g

[babirl]

[QUOTE=...[/QUOTE]

Totally forgot about Brothers in Arms and Mark Knopfler's superb guitar genius err, I'm sure inspired by Guinness...

[zteknik]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iypUpv9xelg

[jhood001]

Suicide Is Painless still makes my skin crawl.


Hey, man! Nice shot!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9mJ82x_l-E

[ZERO THEORY]

Suicide Is Painless still makes my skin crawl.


I'm not a Manson fan, but I think his cover conveyed suicide a lot better than the original.

AA9FAKYGiyw

[Aloha_Shooter]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdeSLxz5TTE - lets not forget Laura.

That was a good one, reminded me of


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYQZJ9NUzYU

[cmailliard]

Metallica - For Whom the Bell Tolls

"Take a look to the sky just before you die, it's the last time you will"

[Jeffrey Lebowski]

Edmund Fitzergald is particularly interesting, IMHO.
I think Gordon Lightfoot re-worked the song after it was recorded to make it more historically accurate.


Lightfoot wrote Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald as a tribute to the ship, the sea, and the men who lost their lives that night. When asked recently what he thought his most significant contribution to music was, he said it was this song, which he often refers to as "The Wreck". In spite of its unlikely subject matter, the song climbed to #2 on the Billboard pop charts and Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald remains one the most stirring topical ballads ever written and a highlight of every Lightfoot concert. See the song lyrics below.
Every year, on November 10th and the days leading up to it, there are commemorative services and other programs to remember the ship and the men who lost their lives. This year, 2012, marks the 37th anniversary of the shipwreck. You can find information about one of this year's events here (http://kdal610.com/news/articles/2012/nov/08/edmund-fitzgerald-tribute-saturday-at-split-rock-lighthouse/).
In 2010, Lightfoot changed one line in the lyrics of the song as a result of recent findings that it was waves and not crew error that lead to the shipwreck. See the lyric changebelow (http://gordonlightfoot.com/wreckoftheedmundfitzgerald.shtml#change), and read about the documentary by clicking on the link below the lyrics.


http://gordonlightfoot.com/wreckoftheedmundfitzgerald.shtml


Growing up in the upper Midwest, you'd see prints of the ship on the walls, and that was where I initially became curious about it.

Edit: Great song, too.

[Walker2970]

1.

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

2.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeJdPe2nUrw

3.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGzuvmut3Hs

4.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7g3RuoreRc

5.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2GI0PhRjD8

[Fentonite]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHJoj9IqeKg&list=PL67B7B992BC6D722E

[nynco]

Great music in here. When I think about songs about death I can't help but think of the song "O Death" which is a traditional tune that has been around for over 100 years I think. Here are a version that I like.


http://youtu.be/jLkWyuW2JTg

[nynco]

I also enjoy the traditional morbid songs of the Pogues. For those into Flogging Molly, the Pogues are the forerunners and the first band to really punkify (energy and give a crap attitude) into traditional irish music.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hp15C-CU5fY


http://youtu.be/cZqN1glz4JY