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(#10) The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald
- Gordon Lightfoot
The Gordon Lightfoot story-song isn’t a fanciful creation - it’s the story of an actual ship sinking. The SS Edmund Fitzgerald was a real iron ore carrier that traversed the Great Lakes carrying ore pellets to various ports of call.
Or she did, until she sank in a massive storm with the loss of her entire crew of 29 sailors - just like the song describes.
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(#4) Circus
- Eric Clapton
While "Tears in Heaven" is famously about the passing of Eric Clapton's young son, Conor, in 1991, it is not the only song about this subject matter. Another track, "Circus," from his 1997 album Pilgrim, was also written by Clapton about the tragic accident and is just as sad and forlorn.
The song is about the last time Clapton saw Conor, the night before the incident, when Clapton took him to the circus.
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(#14) Van Halen - 'Jump'
Van Halen's 1984 hit wasn't about a metaphorical jump, but someone actually threatening to take their own life in this way. David Lee Roth claimed he was watching the news and saw a live report about a man threatening to jump off the Arco Tower in Los Angeles.
The incident struck Roth with a fit of inspiration and he wrote the lyrics, turning it into a huge hit.
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(#8) I Wish It Would Rain
- The Temptations
Motown staff lyricist Rodger Penzabene wrote this heartbreaking ballad for The Temptations, and singer David Ruffin's impassioned vocals drove it to the Top 5 on Billboard's R&B chart. But while Ruffin's pain was a performance, Penzabene's was real - he reportedly wrote the song in a fit of anguish after learning his wife was cheating on him.
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(#9) Nena - '99 Red Balloons'
While German band Nena had a massive hit with the poptastic "99 Luftballoons/Red Balloons," few people stopped dancing long enough to figure out that the song was actually about the tensions between West and East Germany during the Cold War.
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(#12) Semi-Charmed Life
- Third Eye Blind
Third Eye Blind’s biggest hit, "Semi-Charmed Life," is both extremely upbeat and catchy, and brutally depressing. Written about the challenges of addiction and using other vices to reach an equivalent high, its impact was somewhat blunted by the fact that all of the actual references to substances were bleeped or back-masked in the radio edit of the song.
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About This Tool
Sad songs don't have to be based on real tragedy. But some hits speak the truth about the worst heartbreak things in life. Some of the most iconic songs of all time came about the real experiences of artists or bands. Breakups, divorce, friendships, betrayals, and mental health struggles are just a few of the life experiences that have inspired some of the most famous songs.
People rarely have a chance to know the intention of the songwriter or music artists. This page collates 14 entries, there is a collection of depressing stories behind some of the most popular songs in modern history. You can find more information.
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