The Saddest, Most Depressing Blues Songs Ever Recorded
In a discussion I've started elsewhere on this site, I offered that one of the biggest misconceptions outsiders have regarding the Blues is people think it to be a "depressing music."
While I was asking, "What is the Single Biggest Misconception People Have Regarding the Blues," three people who have posted have supported this claim.
Doing a search for saddest, most depressing songs, I came across one site which listed 382 songs titles and artists fitting this description. Although there were plenty of country songs, folk songs and even hip-hop numbers, I could not find mention of one Blues song which qualified.
What are the saddest, most depressing Blues songs you know of? I think my library of CDs, vinyl albums, cassette tapes, 45s and 78s, is somewhat limited. In mentally reviewing what I am familiar with, I could not think of many to fit this description.
Can you help?
While I was asking, "What is the Single Biggest Misconception People Have Regarding the Blues," three people who have posted have supported this claim.
Doing a search for saddest, most depressing songs, I came across one site which listed 382 songs titles and artists fitting this description. Although there were plenty of country songs, folk songs and even hip-hop numbers, I could not find mention of one Blues song which qualified.
What are the saddest, most depressing Blues songs you know of? I think my library of CDs, vinyl albums, cassette tapes, 45s and 78s, is somewhat limited. In mentally reviewing what I am familiar with, I could not think of many to fit this description.
Can you help?
Tags: Blues, DepressingSongs, Misconceptions, Music
Views: 3368
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by nekkidhead on -
Son House's "Death Letter" was also my number one followed closely by a hardcore version of "St. James Infirmary". I had forgotten "Strangefruit" but it certainly qualifies. "Cold day in Hell" (probably not the one you're thinking of) by Larry Carlton is a bitter kind of sad. Ry Cooder's instrumental "Feeling bad blues" with very little instrumentation but powerful melody lines strikes a very sad note with me. I can't really explain it but listening to it or playing it creates a profound atmosphere of sadness.
Blind Willie Johnson's "Dark was the night, cold was the ground" hits the same eerie nerve as Robert Johnson's "Hellhound on my trail" for me. I don't know if it's depressing or just graveyard creepy.
When I'm in the mood to vent my demons, it's "Whipping post" by the Allman Brothers that I turn to.
"Blues ain't nothin' but a lowdown shakin' chill"
nekkidhead
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Permalink Reply by Fitzgerald on -
Another one that makes me feel really sad is "Going Down Slow."
That line, "Would somebody please write my mother, and tell her the shape that I'm in...." really makes me sad.
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Permalink Reply by Chad Nordhoff on -
Not a blues song but one of the saddest ever: Hank Williams' "At the First Fall of Snow"
not one but two dead babies, that's sad
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Permalink Reply by TheArtist on -
Life is Hard by Johnny Winter
available over here-
http://beemp3.com/download.php?file=582262&song=Life+Is+Hard
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Permalink Reply by Otis Young on -
A number of good answers have already been posted, such as the Johnny Cash song. I also believe that RL Burnside's, "Hard Times, " is a good candidate for this category as well, in both lyrics and music.
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Permalink Reply by Chad Nordhoff on
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"Hard Time Killing Floor" by Skip James is the root of that song. R.L.'s story really brings it home.
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Permalink Reply by GuitarDan on -
The Bluest Blue - alvin lee and 10 years after. sounds sweety depressing, but a excellent song
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Permalink Reply by Twist Turner on -
Suicide Blues by Little Oscar Strickland
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Permalink Reply by Patti on -
The Bluest Blues ...I heard it with Alvin Lee ..I do not know the author by Lee owns it when he sings it.
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Permalink Reply by Julie M. R. on -
@Jim Chilson:
i think, you're right!
it's a very depressing, but very wonderful song...
really great song.
Julie
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Permalink Reply by David Gerald on -
I think my song 'Hell and Back' should be in the running. It's a pretty sad story. http://davidgerald.com. The song plays on my homepage. Just click on the songs name in the player. It's got my vote for sure ;-). Peace.
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Permalink Reply by Jeff Kallman on -
I'd have to give equal billing to . . . (in no order of preference) . . .
"The Thrill is Gone" (B.B. King); "Hellhound on My Trail" (Robert Johnson); "You Can't Lose What You Ain't Never Had" (Muddy Waters); "Death Letter" (Son House); "Hard Time Killing Floor Blues" (Skip James); "Dark Was The Night" (Blind Willie Johnson); "Natchez Burning" (Howlin' Wolf); "Decoration Day" (John Lee Hooker); "When the Levee Breaks" (Memphis Minnie); "Born Under a Bad Sign" (Albert King); "Back Door Friend" (Lightnin' Hopkins); "Send Me to the Electric Chair" (Bessie Smith) . . .
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