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Songs which make you cry

(157 Posts)
Stansgran Mon 02-Nov-15 18:37:09

I'm going through a rough patch at the moment and the bu****s on the radio have just played Ground control to Major Tom and Luther Van Dross Dance with my father And I'm a wreck. Why do they do this? They're only pop songs from another life time. Any one else have this problem?

Elrel Mon 02-Nov-15 20:58:18

Ella 'They Can't Take That Away From Me', I know why, and who.
'Mr Tambourine Man', no idea why. Les Mis, Welsh Male Voice Choirs, Pipes and Drums, far too many Bryn Terfel recordings! 'Puff the Magic Dragon', 'Penny Lane', 'Love Me Tender', lots of The Eagles.

'Shenandoah', 'Danny Boy', 'Forever Autumn', 'Fields of Gold', 'Sailing', 'Where Do You Go To, My Lovely?', 'I've Never Been to Me', 'The Tide is High'.
Whoa , I shan't even start on my adored Leonard Cohen ... 'Hey That's No Way To Say Goodbye', 'Sisters of Mercy', 'Alexandra Leaving'. Stop indulging, woman!!

Maybe I just like crying!

Luckygirl Mon 02-Nov-15 21:18:06

1. Richard Strauss: "Morgen" from Vier Letzte Lieder;

www.youtube.com/watch?v=J50__QuNwV8

2. Rodgers and Hammerstein: "Come Home" from Allegro:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=WO9szsrqLe0

3. Richard Strauss: "Im Abendrot" from Vier Letzte Lieder:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlCNhD5D32E

4. Mahler: "Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen":

www.youtube.com/watch?v=p77JoONFX8U

Now you've got me started!

merlotgran Mon 02-Nov-15 21:27:24

Mahler's Kindertotenlieder sad

Luckygirl Mon 02-Nov-15 21:30:37

But so very beautiful merlot.

merlotgran Mon 02-Nov-15 21:39:38

Almost unbearably so.

janeainsworth Mon 02-Nov-15 22:02:21

When we lived in Hongkong I had an LP 'A Festival of English Music' - the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, conducted by Neville Marriner.
Vaughan Williams' 'Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis' would induce waves of homesickness and I couldn't listen to it without crying.
It still makes me feel emotional.

Luckygirl Mon 02-Nov-15 22:08:22

I looked up "Always There" Galen - a lovely song.

Nelliemoser Mon 02-Nov-15 22:24:30

For all you Welsh male voice choir fans cop this. It's what jerks my tears every time

Myfanwy, every time.

These are the English words but it really needs to be sung in Welsh.

Get your tissues ready. sad sadsad

www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsJmLHpJ2lI

Why so the anger, Oh Myfanwy,
That fills your [hollow] darkened eyes?
Your gentle cheek now, Oh Myfanwy,
No longer blush beholding me?
Where now, the smile that shone your beauty
Which fuelled this fool's devoted love?
Where now the sound, of your sweet utterance,
That left my heart behind you, in your wake?

What have I done now, Oh Myfanwy,
To earn the scald of your sweet burning cheek?
Was it sport for you now, Oh Myfanwy,
This poet's burning flame for you?
You belong to me, through rightful promise,
Too much for you to keep your word?
I long no more, your hand, Myfanwy,
Unless it offers too your heart.

Myfanwy, may your life entire
Bathe in the midday sunshine's glow,
And on your cheeks, may blushing roses
Dance to your health a hundred years.
I free you from your words of promise
Made to the one who loved you well,
Give me your hand, my sweet Myfanwy,
But one last time, to say "farewell".

Nelliemoser Mon 02-Nov-15 22:35:24

This is another one! Bizet's Carmen with Placido Domingo.

It is essentially the exact same story line as in Myfanwy.
unrequited love.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHnl29pnSuc

More tissues.

Jomarie Mon 02-Nov-15 22:39:13

That is beautiful....

I have many songs which make me cry or at the least have a lump in my throat but just the thought of "I'll take you home again Kathleen" let alone the singing of it does it for me. 'Catch the wind' by Donovan is another one (played at my little sister's funeral) - there are loads. Just a sentimental old fool, that's me.

Anniebach Mon 02-Nov-15 23:23:41

Nelliemoser , it is a magical song, been the lullaby in my family for five generations ,

Alea Mon 02-Nov-15 23:43:46

Just about anything played by a pipe band, "Highland Cathedral"," the Flo'ers o' the Forest" in particular. Mozart's Requiem, Ave Maria. Most of the anthems preceding World Cup/six nations matches, "away in a manger" sung by tiny children and apparently when I was a child, "O mein Papa" would have me in floods of tears!!

Eloethan Tue 03-Nov-15 00:03:29

I like a lot of the ones already mentioned, and also

From a Distance Bette Midler
Beautiful Boy John Lennon
Vincent Don McClean
The Lark Ascending Vaughan Williams
Going Back Dusty Springfield
Blackbird Paul McCartney
Macarthur Park Richard Harris
I think it's going to rain today Jack Jones
Empty Chairs and Empty Tables Les Miserables
It was a very good year Frank Sinatra
Easy Terms Blood Brothers

..... and dozens more

kittylester Tue 03-Nov-15 07:12:01

Lots of country music but especially Hurt by Johnny Cash, Little Sparrow by Dolly Parton and I wasn't expecting that as mentioned on another thread.

I'll be back later with more.

lefthanded Tue 03-Nov-15 07:56:00

James Blunt's "Goodbye My Lover".

www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVyggTKDcOE

Still reduces me to tears just thinking about it.

janeainsworth Tue 03-Nov-15 09:15:58

It's interesting that so many of us have a deep emotional attachment to music. I read that music is being actively used with dementia patients to calm them and improve cognitive function by using personal
Playlists of music that patients have loved all their lives, so perhaps these songs will help us in years to come!
Another one - Kathy's song, Simon and Garfunkel.
And Smile, Nat King Cole. My American DGD sang this to me in perfect tune at the age of two and I was in tears at the end. I do miss her.

kittylester Tue 03-Nov-15 09:55:26

I think it's interesting that some of us are moved by music and some by the lyrics. Lyrics are my thing but DH's preference is the music - preferably (very!) modern jazz which I can appreciate but I need a story!

On your point, Jane, we are trying to get some group singing for dementia sufferers started in the library. I notice if there is music and singing going on when I visit mum most of the residents join in automatically. There are of course the one or two who yell 'Shut the f**k up!' grin

Nelliemoser Tue 03-Nov-15 09:58:45

Anniebach Not Sospan Fach then?
Which I can still remember from Welsh lessons during two years in Cardiff in the 1970s .

KatyK Tue 03-Nov-15 09:59:29

Jomarie Yes Catch the Wind is another one - it was played at my sister-in-law's funeral sad

henetha Tue 03-Nov-15 10:19:48

Lots of songs make me cry, sometimes, - but the one which always does, because it brings back such overwhelming memories is Brian Adams
"Everything I do, I do it for You."... gulp...

Elrel Tue 03-Nov-15 10:39:03

Just remembered the first time I was moved to tears by 'Away in a Manger' - my first Christmas teaching, Camberwell, 1960, caught unawares by reception class in the Nativity play.
Since a grandson was a choirboy, then in time grew out of it, the King's College Carol Service has touched me even more than before.

KatyK Tue 03-Nov-15 10:56:03

I find Zadok the Priest very emotive

Also some 'pop' songs that bring back memories of unrequited teenage love -

Halfway to paradise and Last night was made for love but where were you - both by Billy Fury
When you walk in the room - The Searchers
Silence is Golden - The Tremeloes

Nonnie Tue 03-Nov-15 10:58:40

Quite a lot.

Anything bagpipes (as long as played properly) because my father who was not a great Dad but was a brilliant piper.

Bui-Doi from Miss Saigon because it is so true

Ebony Eyes by the Everley Brothers because it is so emotional

I don't want to think about any more as I am feeling sad and have enough sadness in my life right now.

gillybob Tue 03-Nov-15 11:09:28

My dad was a Glenn Campbell fan when I was a child and he used to play a particular song that always had me in floods of tears. I believe it was written by Sony Bono but I much prefer this version.

I was always afraid that one day he might sit my sister and I down and say the exact same thing. It still makes me cry today.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRSsbw1951s

inishowen Tue 03-Nov-15 11:20:46

It's Dance with my father for me too. My lovely dad was badly hurt during the war, yet her would swirl me round the lounge when some music came on the radio.