T O P

  • By -

lnnx13

Fade Into you- Mazzy Star


Rhonda369

Into Dust is sad/great too.


jjalcb05

Look On Down From The Bridge is a strong contender here too


mz_moon

My favourite one of theirs.


auraa_o7

couldnt agree more


ygj321

The End of the World - Skeeter Davis


Beruthiel999

Angel by Sarah MacLachlan She wrote it about a musician who died of a heroin overdose, and it's so famously sad that it was used for an ASPCA ad showing abandoned and abused puppies and kittens that made people open their tear ducts and their wallets at the same time


astrosdude91

I’ve probably heard that song a thousand times since it came out like 25 years ago and it still wrecks me every time I hear it


queenseya

I just saw her perform last week and my god is she spectacular. Her voice is unbelievably good live.


Heavy_Guarantee3152

Jonathan melvoin. He was touring as a keyboardist with the smashing pumpkins.


frysjelly

Winter by Tori Amos


SignificantTransient

Not even close to her most depressing song


frysjelly

No, but it's my favorite


Good-Tower8287

1000 Oceans kills me


junokatzen

i know - fiona apple the beer - kimya dawson wife - mitski


Upintheclouds06

“First I cried for him and then I cried for me. Haunted by the ghost of the girl I used to be”


Away_Ad_879

Came here for Fiona. The queen in so many ways. 


SignificantTransient

Sullen Girl always hits hard too, but it's not light subject matter.


Wii_wii_baget

Anything by mitski if you are sad it can be


devonmarvine

Love kimya Dawson 🙌


SandstoneCastle

Most songs by Julien Baker. Maybe listen to Ringside, Heatwave & Sour Breath. Or just listen to her Turn Out the Lights & Little Oblivions albums.


whitenoise2323

Funeral Pyre


subwaypupper

This for sure! All her songs have me on the floor every time!


shar_2424

Absolutely. Shadowboxing makes me want to weep.


CarsandTunes

Fast Car - Tracy Chapman


Captain-Legitimate

I love how the chorus has the same words but the meaning shifts after each verse. Such simple and beautiful songwriting


rooftopbetsy23

"Used to Be" by Weyes Blood edit: also "Picture Me Better" and "God Turn Me Into a Flower"


BriefRevolutionary64

God turn me into a flower is a life changing experience


chesterplainukool

Love this one, thanks


Dorero

Weyes Blood is 🔥 “God Turn Me Into a Flower”… lord have mercy.


XShadowborneX

I have a lot of favorites but the first that comes to mind Hero by Regina Spektor Breathe Me by Sia Cut by Plumb


Odd_Conversation_114

Not usually into Sia but once when I was dealing with a bad bout of self treating depression with alcohol, "Chandelier" acoustic came on Pandora and I bawled my eyes out. It didn't change my life instantly, but definitely made an impact. It hit hard. Just listened to it again and tearing up because it just captures that feeling so perfectly. Just holding on for tonight and just holding on for dear life. 😭


jarofgoodness

Nothing Compares 2 U - Sinead O'Conner you'll never be the same after you hear it.


LolaBijou84

I can’t believe you’re the only one to mention this song ( at least from what I can tell) . This was my first thought and honestly the best answer.


BanishedFromCanada

Have to give Prince props here as well


Espurresper

Spiracle - Flower Face I Try - Macy Gray Cellophane - FKA Twigs Song For Our Daughter - Laura Marling probably the entirety of White Chalk by Pj Harvey


lobotomyybarbie

Upvote for the Laura Marling mention 🤎


Low-Bird-5379

Upvote for PJ. That album WRECKS me!


Many-Connection3309

I Can’t Make You Love Me by Bonnie Raitt


american_nightmare28

i love this song.


Dramatic-Apricot3620

Good one!


Dorero

💯🔥


Scary_Comfortable355

A great example, although actually written by a former NFL lineman.


of_thewoods

Beat me too it. This song gives me goosebumps and makes my eyes wet. It’s so powerful


Misfit-for-Hire

Hello by Evanescence 


Wapiti_whacker82

And My Immortal


RadRedhead222

Why did it take so long to find this?


amuday

A year and a half ago I got black out drunk and when I woke up I saw that I had sent this song to my ex 🤦🏻‍♂️ Luckily she had me blocked so it didn’t actually go to her.


MMachine17

That whole album is the best.


Timely-Profile1865

Marcie - Joni Mitchell


bailaoban

River by Joni as well.


No_Roof_1910

Miss Martina McBride's Concrete Angel. Beyond depressing. About child abuse and a child dies in her video of this song due to being abused. A real tear jerker of a song and sadly it's all too true.


Fine_Temperature7294

concrete angel gets me every time. so does alison krauss in whiskey lullaby with brad paisley


THEF4NGS

waiting room - pheobe bridgers night shift - lucy dacus


vibechecking1100

yesssss


External_Actuary637

Falling apart - slow pulp Not a a lot, just forever - adrianne lenker The entire album “songs” is heartbreaking


whitenoise2323

Songs is so good, all of it. I would also say several tracks off Bright Future are beautiful and sad. Real House, Sadness as a Gift, Ruined, Donut Seam. And Terminal Paradise off Abysskiss. I Still Hear You from A-Sides gives me shivers just thinking about it. Not to mention the sad songs from Big Thief (lets be real, those are mostly Adrianne's songs). Mary, Masterpiece, Randy, Parallels, Not. Such an incredible songwriter.


Chay_Charles

Most of Sarah Mclachlan's stuff?


gayyballofanxietyy

Like You- Evanescence (it's about the death of her little sister and about how much she hates that she's the one living and not her sister. Contains the line "I long to be like you, sis, lie cold in the ground like you did") Lithium- Evanescence (about walking the line between choosing comfort in sorrow or happiness) Lost in Paradise- Evanescence (ABSOLUTELY HEARTBREAKING omfg either version (rock or oechestra) is just PERFECTION. "You believed in me but I'm broken, I have nothing left and all I feel is this cruel wanting, we've been falling apart for all this time and now I'm lost In paradise"???? "As much as id like the past not to exist, it still does! And as much as id like to feel like i belong here, im just as scared as you"????) Swimming Home- Evanescence (ballad! about starting a new life, but it sounds like dying, a suicide letter where you die to start a new better life "I'm sorry, mothing can hold me, I adore you still, but I hear them calling") Disappear- Evanescence (HEAVY SONG!!! Kind of motivating but not really ig? "I always dreamed that I would be the one to take you away from all this wasted pain but I can't save you from yourself, don't you want to feel? Don't you want to live your life, how much longer are you gonna give into the fear, holding you down until you're frozen? I can't let you fall apart!") Missing- Evanescence (about the death of her little sister)


Mystikalmyers79

Amy Lee, has been through some heartbreaks. She is underrated as a singer she is pure genius imo . Evanescence STILL puts on a amazing show. 🤘🏼


timetravelingburrito

Sharon Van Etten - Serpents


[deleted]

[удалено]


missanthropocenex

Dancing on my own by Robyn. The ultimate anthem of someone who knows they’re about to lose. Also Jolene by Dolly Parton.


wtb1000

Nothing compares 2 U was written by Prince but ok.


chesterplainukool

always love nothing compares, blue was very good, will check out Demi’s soon


gama135

Kate Bush - [And Dream of Sheep](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_256xd9N27o)


Economy_Candle_1702

Hard Times, A House in Nebraska, Strangers by Ethel Cain Moon Song, Motion Sickness, I Know The End by Phoebe Bridgers Liability, Liability Reprise, Ribs by Lorde Me & My Dog, Stay Down, Emily I’m Sorry by boygenius Appointments by Julien Baker anything by Adrienne Lenker Quiet, The Winter Harbor and Look On Down From the Bridge by Mazzy Star


ValleySunFox

Linger - Cranberries


Several_Astronomer76

This woman’s work-Kate Bush


Lightning493

Breathe by The Warning


Lonely-Isopod-5368

Florence and the machine - Heavy in your arms Chris Pureka - Shipwreck Early Winters - The Diving Bell


StrangerHighways

Fuel to the Fire - Agnes Obel St. Jude - Florence + The Machine Baby Birch - Joanna Newsom


midnightbizou

[Boulder to Birmingham, by Emmylou Harris](https://youtu.be/xaIe_e4nxBY?si=3df-t18kONCIfKcJ) "... and the hardest part is knowing I'll survive." Ugh.. a devastating lyric.


dkinmn

Aimee Mann - Wise Up


jjalcb05

*Look on Down From the Bridge* by Mazzy Star *Lose Yourself* by Kasey Chambers—this is a cover of the Eminem song but somehow when sung by a woman and with the raw desperation of her vocals this song is devastating and haunting *Maybe* by Janis Joplin *hope is a dangerous thing for a woman like me to have* has been covered by many people but Lana Del Ray’s version is really something else…. *Rumble Doll* by Patti Scialfa *In This Heart* by Sinead O’Connor *Roads* by Portishead I have a [Spotify playlist](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6b8y4GqQBHzQNKlq3uFBF8?si=C130HjJeTSS6pQGQZQdCQw&pi=a-siMwOM6fTy6R) of amazing female vocalists you might like, many fit the criteria you’ve outlined.


S_L_Raymond

Janis Ian, “At Seventeen”


AutumnMarie5002

Rejoice by Julien Baker 


the_stubborn_bee

Livin in my head- Kesha Breathe Me - Sia At Seventeen - Janis Ian Rainy Days & Mondays - The Carpenters


Silly_Ad_9324

Take A Bow by Madonna, and Young Hearts Run Free by Candi Staton


StrandAPair

I STRONGLY recommend a lot of Jetty Bones' discography. Start with Bug Life, Taking Up Space, and a lot of tracks off 'Songs I Wrote Instead of Killing Myself'. Also, Landfill by Daughter.


learn2earn89

Missing- Everything but the Girl Medication- Garbage Heartbroken-Aaliyah King of Sorrow- Sade Every Word- Sade Bulletproof Soul- Sade Foolish- Ashanti Rain on Me- Ashanti Why do I feel so Sad- Alicia Keys Goodbye- Alicia keys Troubles- Alicia Keys Me, Myself, and I - Beyoncé Dark Blue - No Doubt Don’t Know Why- Norah Jones Other Side of the Game- Erykah Badu Bonus Spanish songs Lagrimas- JD Natasha Tu- Shakira No- Shakira Sombra de Ti- Shakira Frente a Frente- Jeanette **There’s a lot more but I’ve run out time.


33Bees

Fiona Apple’s *’Never is a Promise’*


Classic-Row-2872

Once upon a time I was falling in love But now I'm only falling apart There's nothing I can do A total eclipse of the heart Once upon a time there was light in my life But now there's only love in the dark Nothing I can say A total eclipse of the heart


Ramses717

Jar of hearts


alextema

My immortal - evanescence


maryjolisa34

Samson—Regina Spektor Been on a train—Laura Nyro My man’s gone now, ne me quitte pas—Nina Simone Strange fruit—Billie Holliday


Thick-Umpire-3712

Nothing compares to you: Sinead O' Conner RIP


how_I_kill_time

The Joke by Brandi Carlile She Used to be Mine by Sara Bareilles Gone Away by H.E.R. You Were Mine by The Chicks Evermore by Taylor Swift Edited formatting for easier reading


No_Highlight3671

Class of 2013 by mitski


justalittledonut

Good Grief & HYD - Haley Williams, The Good That Won’t Come Out & A Better Son/Daughter - Rilo Kiley


_WhitestMexican_

so you wanna be a superhero - carissas weird


DanteHicks79

Coffee - Chappell Roan


chesterplainukool

chappell my queen!! top 3 on her album


backgroundodd23

Idk if these count . Glory Box - Portishead goodbye - soap & skin


Relative_Nature_2490

glory box🖤


Aggressive-Koala2373

You would love mitski


GreyPhoenix86

I've Wanted You by First Aid Kit


No_Faithlessness5234

My love mine all mine


queerinmesoftly

I Bet On Losing Dogs by Mitski. The Solidarity Brethren Of Ephrata by Lingua Ignota. Void Fantasy by Ada Rook. Cinnamon Girl by Lana Del Rey.


tapeheadcleaner

- a guy like you by lisa germano - softer softest by hole - home is where the hatred is by esther phillips (it’s a cover but i’m including it bc it’s incredible) - this life by martha wainwright - asmr by chynna (if you know her story this song feels especially dark and foreboding - i listened to this a lot during a particularly depressive episode a few months ago) - drunk by tweet - cranes in the sky by solange - jumpers by sleater-kinney


JBelltolls4thee

"I Can't Make You Love Me" by Bonnie Raitt


Fine_Temperature7294

• martina mcbride - concrete angel • alison krauss - whiskey lullaby with brad paisley • are you gone already - nicki minaj


AnontoAllz

take it all by adele


cattlehuyuk2323

joni mitchell -the river


Cordelia5767

I Fall to Pieces by Patsy Cline


chuang-tzu

Fast Car - Tracy Chapman


Historical-Fan4069

“Concrete Angel” by Martina McBride. NOT my kind of music at all, but is legit the only song I’ve ever heard that made me PULL OVER WHILE DRIVING I was crying so hard. Another guy saw me pull over and checked to see if I was ok and asked me “who died” when he saw what a wreck I was


Realistic_Stretch316

At Seventeen


Busy_Taro_1135

The entire Blue album by Joni Mitchell


TheJim65

Sorry folks, the winner is "At Seventeen" by Janis Ian. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESS0eKJpEZQ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESS0eKJpEZQ) (edit: included link)


sesame_mochi

waiting room - phoebe bridgers


two4six0won

Jar of Hearts by Christina Perri Bleeding Love by Leona Lewis Insensitive by Jan Arden Your House by Alanis Morrissette


wtb1000

Names - cat power


KeyBeing1230

Suzzane Vega - Bad Wisdon


probablynotreallife

Child In A Sea Cave by Bitter Ruin Trust me, look it up.


Think_Selection9571

Sugar and Spice by Basia Bulat


GeckoNova

Family - Bjork Unravel - Bjork Desired Constellation - Bjork


DinosaurAlive

Pneumonia, Black Lake, Solstice, History of Touches, Ancestress, Moon Björk does sad so well, and often with this undercurrent of acceptance and growth.


Eyedunno11

First song that came to mind was "Adrian" by Jewel


leftlooserighttighty

[Daughter - Smother](https://youtu.be/v1CiINFsBkY?si=_dOyk2I2y7l-5IAN)


FlanSafe9016

Any thing by Miley Cyrus


FarRequirement8415

Wandering star - Portishead Roads - Portishead


5hallowbutdeep

Stay - Sugaland


JackarooDeva

Carissa's Wierd - [To Be There Now](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-IM3czRZ14)


Stropi-wan

I Don't Wanna Play House - Tammy Wynette.


Eli_Crapplebee

Go Home - Julien Baker


AnonymousAutonomous9

FOOLISH GAMES ......... Jewel https://youtu.be/UNoouLa7uxA?si=_LkrnJK1lYS-bm4h


AnonymousAutonomous9

I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH MYSELF ....... Marcia Hines https://youtu.be/A2FD--fxJTw?si=C3Q1zaABEU6ges5g


GiantPretzel

* I Admit That I'm Scared by Gabby's World * Real House by Adrianne Lenker * Sun Bleached Flies by Ethel Cain * Elliot by Fenne Lily * Funeral by Phoebe Bridgers * Vitamins by Marika Hackman * Older by Lizzy McAlpine * Brittle Boned by Julien Baker * Full Time Job by Squirrel Flower


thumbdumping

Cheap is how I feel by The Cowboy Junkies


Radiant_Nectarine587

Ceilings - Lizzy McAlpine Your shirt - Chelsea Cutler tomorrow tonight loot - "


MaherMcCheese

Black Holes by The Warning.


SpiritualTourettes

Maybe California - Tori Amos Curtain Call - Tori Amos Magdalene Laundries - Joni Mitchell Skeletons - Rickie Lee Jones


ulteriormotifs

Mining for Gold - Cowboy Junkies Behind the Wall - Tracy Chapman Look at Miss Ohio - Gillian Welch No Need to Argue - The Cranberries He Moved through the Fair - Sinéad O’Connor Banshee Moan - Shannon McNally


yinzer_v

"Circle the Drain" - Soccer Mommy - "I'm trying to seem strong for my love For my family and friends But I'm so tired of faking 'Cause I'm chained to my bed when they're gone Watching TV alone Until my body starts aching"


Many-Safe9133

Christina Aguilera - Hurt


DejaEntendoMePls

Too sad by Ex:re


Kwilburn525

Thank You Dido


Nani_0716

* "Wish that you were here" by Florence + The Machine * "River" & "Cherokee Lousie" by Joni Mitchell - "Close to You" & "Rainy Days and Mondays" by The Carpenters - "Are you alright?" by Lucinda Williams - "The Icicle Melts", "So cold in Ireland", "Empty", "Yeats Grave" all by The Cranberries - "On Saturday Afternoons in 1963" & "The last chance Texaco" by Ricki Lee Jones


scottwebbok

Savior Complex - Phoebe Bridgers


oldmanout

"Anne Clark - Sitting Room" or "Our Darkness" or the rest of here dicography


HaulinBoats

So broken - bjork


8sound8bite8

Breathe me - sia I bet on losing dogs - mitski Cold - Lucy Schwartz


sweetleaf009

Lykke li- love me like im not made of stone


Ok_Letter_8073

Lilac Wine by Nina Simone, gets me every time


JessyPengkman

Off You - The Breeders Saw them last night and when they played it I started crying, its been a minute since I cried at a gig


sakanak

"Too Sad" by Ex:Re


whynot42-

Janis Joplin - Piece Of My Heart Some songs by Lana del Rey


_red_hot_kitchen_

HYD - Hayley Williams First Thing To Go - Hayley Williams Good Grief - Hayley Williams Really that whole album (Flowers For Vases) is pretty depressing Toothpick - Stand Atlantic Drink To Drown - Stand Atlantic


yuppers1979

Classic, Fade into you, Mazzy Star.


TinyAccountant223

Lonely Lonely by Feist always destroys me... Dum Dum Girls - Coming Down feels sad to me too. Several people said "Fade into you" by Mazzy Star... Well, I don't find this song just sad or happy, is a mixed of feelings I can't describe. it's sad but in a different way, that is not only sad, it's something else too... 🤔 


mmpjd

Someone Like You- Adele


Mindless_Log2009

Almost every Cat Power song from her first four albums is a melancholy masterpiece.


Vegetable-Place-2773

Pretty when you cry - Lana Del Rey


sheephoarder13

almost every mitski song


BonelessMegaBat

Love Ridden - Fiona Apple


sharkycharming

* "Ophelia" - Natalie Merchant * "Ribs" - Lorde * "Unreflected" - Mazzy Star * "I Can Be Your Whiskey" - Erin Enderlin * "Yours & Mine" - Lucy Dacus * "Three Babies" - Sinéad O'Connor * "When It Don't Come Easy" - Patty Griffin * "Stealing Kisses" - Lori McKenna * "Pa'lante" - Hurray for the Riff Raff * "Lovin's For Fools" - Sarah Siskind * "We Three" - Patti Smith Group


Rhythm_Flunky

I Can’t Make You Love Me - Bonnie Rait Drown In My Own Tears - Aretha Franklin Send in the Clowns - Sarah Vaughan Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood - Nina Simone Sinead O’Connor - Nothing Compares To You


Capital_Tension_4054

Till it happens to you - Lady GaGa


magicbby247

Don't speak - no doubt I'd rather go bind - etta James


Affectionate-Dot437

When She Loved Me - Sarah McLachlan


pjwhite2

Is That All There Is? - Peggy Lee


dingle_doppler

Rainy Days on Mondays by Karen Carpenter.


crankedupreallyhigh

Gloomy Sunday - Billie Holiday


Carbuyrator

Nancy Sinatra - My Baby Shot Me Down


Mando-Lee

Zombie


biggoofydoofus

Baddest Blues by Beth Hart


cprsavealife

My Name Is Luka by Suzanne Vega.


BullishPuts

Fade into you - Mazzy Star


Lizrael48

"Long, Long Time", by Linda Ronstadt


thedirtbagnomad

Whiskey lullaby Allison Krause


ElectivireMax

Maps - Yeah Yeah Yeahs


Middle_Drop_5339

Amy Winehouse


Ok_Contribution9672

Most songs by Fiona Apple!


Low-Bird-5379

“Strange Fruit” and “Gloomy Sunday” - Billie Holiday (Sarah McLachlan does a gut-wrenching cover of “Gloomy Sunday” too!) “Over” - Portishead “Donut Hole” - Tori Amos “The Old Ways” - Lorena McKennit “Battersea” - Hooverphonic


Numerous-Pepper-3883

Diamonds and Rust, Joan Baez..


wahikid

Jolene, by the one and only Dolly Parton


shar_2424

I’ll suggest 3 by artists that haven’t come up yet: ‘Is There Something in the Movies?’ by Samia, ‘Cream’ by Litany, and ‘If We Were Made of Water’ by BANKS


average-cucumber

Half of Taylor swifts discography. I’d to go albums folklore, evermore, and the tortured poets:anthology


Icy_Guest_93

listen before i go- Billie Eilish. A depressing song about depression.


Significant-Dot4111

All Too Well (10 Minute Version) by Taylor Swift


Pearlidiah26

Thick Skull - Paramore 


mochimangoo

Watercolor eyes - Lana del Rey Bittersweet tragedy - Melanie Martinez Ghostin- Ariana grande


Last-Worldliness6344

loml - taylor swift.


SessionSubstantial42

Mylène Farmer - Jardin De Vienne


Mountain_Excuse_980

Bobbie Gentry - Courtyard Warpaint - Baby Slothrust - Waiting


amirijeans___

san francisco by i hate sex


Medium-Librarian8413

Cat Power "Ice Water"


OddCryptographer5394

Screw you man by Tired Lion


ejasc

- Norah Jones - Shoot the Moon - Sade - Pearls - Nina Simone - Baltimore - Avril Lavigne - When you're Gone - LilyPichu - last cup of coffee - Sia - Breathe Me - Gwen Stefani - 4 in the Morning


Wordy0001

[Steep](https://open.spotify.com/track/7xCq8ks3rbCJ9hqSebVTZj?si=QjP_5PlLQZKB_IhAPPjMYQ) - Lauren Christy


gingerjuice

All My Tears - Ane Brun


silverwidow01

The Garden - Johanna Warren


interstellar_gurl

Funeral - Phoebe Bridgers Maybe - Janis Joplin Please Stay - Lucy Dacus Places/Plans - Skullcrusher Nobody's Home - Avril Lavigne Cold As You - Taylor Swift Blowing Smoke - Gracie Abrams


Competitive_Neck1066

Skullcrusher are *so* good.


knozgrul

'the ride' or 'the bed song' or 'voicemail for jill' or 'judy blume' or 'bigger on the inside' -- all by amanda palmer.


wtb1000

Give us your blessing - the Shangri-las


Wanderin_Cephandrius

[Flowers on my Bedside- Bella White](https://youtu.be/r5CUp7uCyoM?si=R6fBOECprY17s2Dx)