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Goodnight travel well.
Literally about passing on and the grief of those left behind. I vote for this one.
Yes, but the song also ends with a triumphant pivot into acceptance. It's not all sad.
That is true, but that does not mean it is not a sad song. And it's not triumphant. The song goes through the stages of grief, so it ends with acceptance end moving on.
True! I was just thinking that it didn't stand out as being the MOST sad song because there are some other songs that seem a bit more sad without any line of triumph (half of Pressure Machine, lol)
This, no contest.
“Goodnight, Travel Well”. I would also like to add the Brandon Flowers solo song “On The Floor” as an honorable mention
“The Clock Was Tickin’” too by Brandon Flowers
Some kind of love.
BF wrote the song for his wife to help her through her depression and suicidal thoughts. At the end of the song you can hear their sons singing "Can't do this alone, We need you at home, There's so much to see, We know that you're strong". Makes me emotional every time I hear this.
Quiet Town always gets me.
It's BF solo but definitely Clock was Ticking. 😥
Yes, it sounds like a happy song, but it’s so heartbreaking. 💔
Yeah, the bridge of the song changes everything about it and makes it so sad
I've listened to this song maybe 3 total times because it is emotionally draining. Agreed - definitely the saddest (for me).
Quiet Town always brings me to tears, especially the part where he reminisces about seeing his parents in the prime of their lives, and their unconditional love.
Dude talking about parents burying their kids is so brutal. I don't think there's any topic that touches it in any of their lyrics
Man making my eyes water just thinking about that part
I would like to add A Dustland fairytale to the list. And ‘Playing with fire’ from BF solo.
“Is there still magic in the midnight sun, or did you leave it back in ‘61?”
Playing with fire ended well ….
The thing that makes it sad for me is the whole sentiment of the song. Him being so young, only 15-16 years old, the feeling that he can’t stay in Utah but had to go back to Vegas. The talk with his dad… I can relate to that, maybe that’s why it makes me emotional and I see the sadness in this song. ☺️
And I usually feel sad listening to that song because I had not achieved anything in this life.
Terrible Thing
I always thought that Smile Like You Mean It was a sad song.
Joel the lump of coal
Pressure Machine
In the Car Outside for me. The sheer vibes of the song would do it, but the story it tells seals the deal. The narrator didn’t find happiness in cheating on his wife, he just ends up right where he was before, “in the car outside,” having accomplished nothing but further damaging their marriage. And holy shit the outro just elevates the song to umpteenth degree, I find myself getting teary eyed every time I get to it it’s just so damn powerful.
In another life
Spaceman is sad for me, I read it as a battle with depression and everyone telling you it’s all in your head. Just makes me think of the internal battles people struggle with and are told the same, with no help other than institutionalization. Not sure what the real meaning in the song is but it did help me through a dark time, as I felt seen.
I didn’t know that, I’ll have to listen to it with that in mind. The way he writes songs about that topic is sadly comforting. Like Rut
Have all the songs been written is so beautiful and sad
Be still
I’m sure you already know this, but he even played that song at Harry Reid’s funeral
West Hills or maybe Miss Atomic Bomb. For very different reasons.
I legitimately cannot listen to goodnight travel well because it makes me cry every time without fail. I have to actively avoid it lol !
Besides Goodnight, travel well another one that gets me is oneof Brandons solo songs. Playing with fire. Bit of a slow burn (no pun intended) but the part when he sings "im not afraid of you no more" hits me hard
“Oh daddy I’m not gonna tell you that I’m sorry, there ain’t nothing you can do to change my mind”
Fucking fantastic
Spaceman
Be Still gets me every time
I find Have All the Songs Been Written so sad. He sounds so vulnerable and desperate, questioning everything around him, everything he might've done and been and just wants to make it all right, for his wife to be happy. And the way he holds this somewhat naive idea that this one song that he's struggling to write will somehow be that breakthrough. There’s an edge in his voice when he sings the bridge that brings a lump to my throat.
That song is my vote. Desperation throughout.
Miss atomic bomb 💣
Just another girl
I'm torn between Terrible Thing, Desperate Things and Be Still.
Why do I keep counting?
Some kind of love is their saddest song imo. I’d say Be still too even though the lyrics aren’t sad.
Terrible Thing and Goodnight, Travel Well.
I Can’t Stay
Quiet Town Here with me
Terrible Thing, it's not one of my favorite songs, but the ideation and isolation from the kid who is LGBTQ+ in a small town he feels he's trapped in, it's very sad
Where Is She (Soft Surrender) always seemed like their saddest song because of how it desperately calls for answers from a murderer. Terrible Thing, though, is obviously the most depressing.
Runaways
Runaway Horses
The clock was ticking. I know - it’s Brandon’s solo …. But still….
My List
Rut and for some reason fire in bone
Digging Up the Heart
Idk if Runaway Horses is their saddest but it’s worth a mention. Leaving dreams behind has such a melancholy feel to it.