Tunes That Trigger Tears
I'm thinking the theme of these posts is something like "Pet peeves in music." I hope that's it, because I've got a few.
SONGS THAT BRING A LUMP.
These aren't necessarily BAD songs, but songs that make my throat feel like it's about to blow up, which is always a prelude to a crying jag for me. I'm not saying pain shouldn't be expressed in all forms of art, including music. But some songs just take it to the edge. Some Sad Songs that Say So Much include:
"Don't Cry Daddy" - Elvis Presley. This one's just so sad it's almost cruel. Atleast the title lets the listener know he's in for a downer.
TEAR JERKING LINE: "Daddy, you've still got me, Little Tommy/Together we'll find a brand-new mommy..." I mean REALLY!
"Shannon" - Henry Gross. Stories about losing a beloved pet shake me up every bit as much as those
about humans (more, to be honest) and this one just takes it too far.
TEAR JERKING LINE: "Finally the tears fill our eyes, and I know that somewhere tonight, she knows how much we really miss her." *sob*
"Cat's in the Cradle" - Harry Chapin. The always-relevant account of an absentee father who regrets missing out on seeing his son grow up. It's a running joke around here how that song gets to me. When my 12-year-old son wants me to do something with him and I say no, he starts going, "...And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon..." By the time he gets to the second verse, I'm grabbing my keys and grumbling, "I'm going, I'm going already!"
TEAR JERKING LINE: "He said, 'my new job's a hassle and the kids have the flu, but it's sure nice talkin' to you, Dad, it's been sure nice talking to you. And as I hung up the phone it occured to me, he'd grown up just like me. My boy was just like me." Oh MAN!
"Seasons in the Sun" - Terry Jacks. This cheery little number is in first-person by a guy apparently in his last days. He goes around to his loved ones to say goodbye to them, and the result is gut-wrenching.
TEAR JERKING LINE: "Goodbye Michelle it's hard to die when all the birds are singing in the sky. Now that the spring is in the air and the flowers everywhere...When you see them, I'll be there."
"Last Kiss" - J. Frank Wilson or Pearl Jam. Almost everyone can sing along to this saga of a young man's fiance' being accidentally shot by her father. In one verse, the singer asks "oh where oh where can my baby be?" Then he answers himelf two lines later with, "She's gone to Heaven so I've got to be good..." He is as confused as he is heartbroken, which only adds to the sadness.
TEAR JERKING LINE: "I held her close, I kissed her our last kiss, I felt the love that I knew I would miss. And now she's gone even though I held her tight, I lost my love, my life, that night."
"He Stopped Loving Her Today" - George Jones. Who wouldn't get a chill when they realize that the man has only given up on the girl because he dropped dead?
TEAR JEARKING LINE: I went to see my friend today, but I didn't see no tears. He was all dressed up to go away, first time I'd seen him smile in years."
Okay, those are the ones that popped into my head, how about you guys? What song or songs tug at your heartstrings?
Wow, I was in fine spirits when I began this post. But after remembering all these misery-inspired lyrics, I think I'd better just make myself a cosmopolitan and (drink myself silly)chill... *sob*
<w!>
P.S. You know, speaking of tragic songs (yes, I AM still on that morbid topic) there's one that was popular when I was in -- well, let's just say "in the 1970's" that also belongs on this list, but I can't think of the name of it. I ran into an old schoolchum of mine and we were talking about the music we liked in grade school, the 70's stuff, and neither one of us could recall the name or singer of this one. I'm hoping someone here will recognize it.
It was about a relationship (big shock, that) between a young married couple and it talked about their lives, how deliriously happy they were when they bought a house then had a baby... and then one of them dies and leaves the other with their little girl... anyone have any ideas? It wasn't the feel-good song of the year, but I think it was pretty popular. It's probably really corny, but it's just killing me that I can't think of it. That's all I can remember about it... anyone?
FREE THE WEST MEMPHIS THREE!
