Sad Songs That You Don't Realize Are Sad At First

I got into a discussion with my friend the other day about Jimmy Buffet's "Margaritaville". I mentioned how sad of a song it is if you listen to the lyrics, but you don't realize it listening to the music. I mean, the song definitely sounds like something you'd play at a beach party, and many of the mindless pop whores I know will play this song at such events.

But when listening to the actual song, he's talking about drinking away his sorrows. He starts the song off talking about wasting time on his porch, playing his guitar and watching the sun bathers. The next verse is about a tattoo he got when he was wasted. He then talks about making a margarita which helps him hang on.

And I realized that there's a lot of songs like this in classic rock. Pretty depressing songs that are popular and I don't think many of the listeners actually realize it, especially those who are the kids of the people that listened to these songs.

Thoughts? Comments?

Maybe "today" by smashing pumpkins

I didn't realise "Perfect Day" was sad until I was about 12 or something.

"Girlfriend in a Coma"

1999 by Prince.

People dance around to that at parties, discos etc, not realising the song is able to be interpreted as a man who is partying because he is about to die.

-AC

Originally posted by Bardock42
"Girlfriend in a Coma"

I think of it the other way round. Superficially 'sad', but funny.

I'd go with 'Only in Dreams' by Weezer.

Sea Anemone by Jets to Brazil. At first its a smooth, relaxing song. But once I paid attention to the lyrics I realized there's a lot of pain in them.

Originally posted by Victor Von Doom
I think of it the other way round. Superficially 'sad', but funny.

I'd go with 'Only in Dreams' by Weezer.

Yeah, but did you consider that you are wrong?

Originally posted by Bardock42
Yeah, but did you consider that you are wrong?

Momentarily, but precedent convinced me otherwise.

Originally posted by Victor Von Doom
Momentarily, but precedent convinced me otherwise.

Precedent shmecedent....

Anyways, I replied to it in this way:

Melody is all..haha
Lyrics are all...haha, she's dying..haha...that's actually pretty sad.

Of course only if you can feel sadness.

I always found the tone to be light. Despite the subject matter, which of course is partly what makes it funny.

Yeah. I always thought of it as very typical Morrisey to put such grim lyrics with that music in such a quirky and bold fashion to get a kick...who really knows though. I think just he meant it to be ambiguous and intriguing.

Polly - Nirvana

Originally posted by Victor Von Doom
I always found the tone to be light. Despite the subject matter, which of course is partly what makes it funny.

...yet sad?

I mean, there is humour. No doubt about it. But the humour comes from it being...well, sad. Or so I assume. Not understanding British humour at all.

Originally posted by Bardock42
...yet sad?

I mean, there is humour. No doubt about it. But the humour comes from it being...well, sad. Or so I assume. Not understanding British humour at all.

Well, what do you interpret the narrator's position as? I don't personally see a sad element in it, at least not directly enough to call it a sad song.

Originally posted by Victor Von Doom
Well, what do you interpret the narrator's position as? I don't personally see a sad element in it, at least not directly enough to call it a sad song.

Well, i wouldn't say the narrator is sad. I think from an outside perspective the whole thing is sad.

Though I guess you could say some sort of sadness is apparent.

"Do you really think
Shell pull through ?"

"but you know, I would hate
Anything to happen to her
Would you please
Let me see her !"

"Let me whisper my last goodbyes"

A bit as if the narrator is too shocked to understand, yet. Maybe he thought she would be fine and now that doesn't .... seem to be the case.

Now, assuming that generally guys kinda like their girlfriends...and that girlfriend dies...it seems sad. Though, in that particular case it might be different. I wouldn't say it is a very happy song. Though I've seen it happen, in other people's lives.

Originally posted by Bardock42
Well, i wouldn't say the narrator is sad. I think from an outside perspective the whole thing is sad.

Though I guess you could say some sort of sadness is apparent.

"Do you really think
Shell pull through ?"

"but you know, I would hate
Anything to happen to her
Would you please
Let me see her !"

"Let me whisper my last goodbyes"

A bit as if the narrator is too shocked to understand, yet. Maybe he thought she would be fine and now that doesn't .... seem to be the case.

Now, assuming that generally guys kinda like their girlfriends...and that girlfriend dies...it seems sad. Though, in that particular case it might be different. I wouldn't say it is a very happy song. Though I've seen it happen, in other people's lives.

I don't read it that way, I see it as the narrator has been complicit somehow, and is checking that she won't recover, while being falsely concerned.

Though, why did you not realise (your reading) was sad at first?

The song is called 'Girlfriend in a [****ing] Coma'.

Originally posted by Victor Von Doom
I don't read it that way, I see it as the narrator has been complicit somehow, and is checking that she won't recover, while being falsely concerned.

Though, why did you not realise (your reading) was sad at first?

The song is called 'Girlfriend in a [****ing] Coma'.

...you..monster. No seriously, how do you read that into it. Why would he not want to see her at first then? Also...why would he say that there were times that he could have murdered her?

Don't understand sentence. Go on.

Hehe, no it's not, you added the "[****ing]".

Ahh. Now that song's stuck in my head!

Originally posted by Bardock42
...you..monster. No seriously, how do you read that into it. Why would he not want to see her at first then? Also...why would he say that there were times that he could have murdered her?

Guilt, ennit.

Originally posted by EPIIIBITES
Ahh. Now that song's stuck in my head!

There are worse songs for that.