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Our article on the “10 Most Downhearted Songs in Rock Music” presents a list of tunes that capture those times when things aren’t going well. Everyone experiences rough patches. At one time or another, everyone feels discouraged, depressed, and blue. These emotions have fueled many great songs in rock and roll. When you’re feeling down and out, sometimes it’s songs like these that help you find a way out. It’s about not feeling alone; when you hear other people singing about the same issues and feelings you’re experiencing, there’s a sort of awareness that overcomes you, reassuring you that you’re not alone and that others are going through or have gone through similar struggles. These songs narrate tales of downheartedness, some with a sliver of hope to help you find your way out.
# 10 – Pictures Of You – The Cure
# 9 – Back to Black – Amy Winehouse
Continuing with our “10 Most Downhearted Songs in Rock Music” list is Amy Winehouse’s distressed song “Back to Black.” The song is a tale of woe about a woman losing her man back to his old lover. There is nothing worse than seeing your love go back to someone else. The song served as the title track to her 2007 album Back to Black.
# 8 – Dreamboat Annie – Heart
There are many different interpretations of this song and stories behind Ann Wilson’s intent in writing it. The title and melody suggest it all came from a dream. However, it’s in certain words like “Going down the city sidewalk alone in the crowd. No one knows the lonely one whose head’s in the clouds,” that the song captures the heartbreak of loneliness and feeling lost. The song served as the title track to Heart’s debut album, Dreamboat Annie. The album was released in 1976.
# 7 – Slip Sliding Away – Paul Simon
If you don’t pay any attention to the lyrics of this song, you probably will never think that this is a downhearted tune. It’s very deceiving. However, when you begin to listen to the words closely, you realize just how depressing this song is. It’s not just about being down and depressed; it’s about just as you think you are about to solve your problem, you simply give up at the last second. This is a song about hopelessness, which is probably the worst form of downheartedness that one could experience. And Paul Simon seems to sing it all with a smile, which is as scary as it gets.
# 6 – How to Disappear Completely – Radiohead
If the first four songs on this list didn’t get to you, this one will surely seal the deal. Radiohead’s song “How to Disappear Completely” is just one of those very sad songs in which the narrator simply wants to just disappear from life, or at least from the moment he or she is in. It’s also delivered in a very chilling manner. This is one of those songs where the music and lyrics fit so perfectly well together. It’s so sad, scary, and downhearted that I almost didn’t want to list it. If you’re in a good mood, don’t play this one, but if you’re curious, it is pretty emotional.
# 5 – Behind Blue Eyes – The Who
At the halfway point on our “10 Most Downhearted Songs In Rock Music” list is this classic song by The Who entitled “Behind Blue Eyes.” This has always been one of the most loved songs on one of the greatest rock and roll albums ever released. While the album contains powerful statements of rock and roll rebellion and celebration, this one was quite a downer. It’s also pretty interesting as Pete Townshend composed a song about how no one understands the emotions of the villain. Although it may seem a bit cinematic, what he’s really addressing is how people who are misunderstood and vilified as the enemy are often tossed out to pasture because they’re not seen as worthy of help. We could be talking about a marriage gone bad, a relationship gone sour, and people taking one side against the other, or just a young person misunderstood or any sort of variation of social issues. If you think about it, this one hits hard.
# 4 – Dust In The Wind – Kansas
Well, we all know this one. It’s one of the saddest songs I’ve ever heard in my life. It’s also pretty depressing. You can interpret it as you wish, but what I’ve always heard is this dude just sitting there, looking at all the wonder in the world, and thinking, simply, “You know what? Before you know it, it’s all over.” It can’t get any more downhearted than that. Thank goodness for all their other great music, like “Carry On Wayward Son.” But, geez, wow, what a depressing song this was.
# 3 – Shaman’s Blues – The Doors
# 2 – Nothing Compares 2 U – Sinead O’ Connor
While some people may prefer the original Prince version, there’s just no way that it trumps Sinéad O’Connor’s desperate, downhearted performance on this heartbreaking tune. The pain in her voice is so clearly defined that it resonated with millions of people, turning this into a massive hit single. It’s kind of bizarre when you think about it. How can songs so depressing, so downhearted, become such huge hits? It really says a lot about society.
# 1 – River – Joni Mitchell
We close out our 10 Most Downhearted Songs in Rock Music list with one of the most misunderstood songs in the classic rock songbook. Chances are that every year around Christmas time, you hear this one being played on the radio. Its variation on “Jingle Bells” and the piano introduction place it perfectly in the Christmas song rotation. However, this is as far from a happy-spirited Christmas song as one can get. It’s really not a Christmas song; it’s a song about lost love, a song of extreme guilt.
Yes, it’s Christmas time and all the people are happy, the bells are being rung, and the trees are being decorated, but through it all, Joni Mitchell is just wishing that she could find a river to skate away from all this joy because she ruined the best thing she ever had. She is extremely guilty of mistreating her man, and now he’s gone, and she’s feeling about as downhearted as one can get. That’s what this song is all about. It’s not a happy one; it’s pretty freaking sad. Of course, it’s also brilliant. Hope I didn’t ruin it for you, but I probably did.
Another consideration – “Just Between You And Me”, by April Wine.