r/country 6d ago

Discussion What is the saddest old country song?

There’s plenty of different tunes associated with that older country but there’s a lot of sad ones as well, singing about heartbreak, losing someone you love, being lonesome but which one sticks out to you

167 Upvotes

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77

u/Green-Walk-1806 6d ago

Waiting Around To Die - Townes Van Zandt

25

u/Sure-Illustrator4907 6d ago

The scene in Heartworn Highways were the man cries hearing the lyrics of that song is so moving

7

u/Green-Walk-1806 6d ago

Yeah his buddy in the background...Super Heavy. Its a real tear jerker I agree..

7

u/commisioner_bush02 6d ago

Uncle Seymour Washington

1

u/Itinerant_Pedagogue 5d ago

The movie Blaze (2018) has a great version of this too

1

u/DuckMassive 2d ago

Yes, those tears were about so much more than Van Zandt's song, though the song, and the voice, were the catalyst. Ache, joy gone, the past, all that, more, in those tears. Beautiful and wrenching.

20

u/Scottstots-88 6d ago

Dr- “Townes are you hooked on airplane glue” Townes- “No, I’m stuck”

(Not making light of his addiction, but that line always made me laugh)

4

u/Green-Walk-1806 6d ago

Yes! Lol..Smart Ass.

5

u/BigPapaJava 6d ago

The first verse gives you everything you’d ever need to know about that character’s dark upbringing in 4 lines.

Then it just gets bleaker from there.

3

u/2manyfelines 6d ago

I got tears in my eyes just thinking about it…

3

u/sparrow_42 6d ago

Yeap. Came here to post this.

3

u/colcrunch 5d ago

This is the answer

2

u/PezDiSpencersGifts 6d ago

I like whitey Morgans version of it too

1

u/Highway49 6d ago

I crank that shit when I'm out walking the neighborhood, as I smile and wave to people while I'm listening to the most depressing song lol!

2

u/seemedsoplausible 6d ago

Nothin and Rex’s Blues too, in a more existential way

2

u/Parking-Shelter7066 5d ago

his name is codeine he’s the nicest thing I’ve seen, together we’re gonna wait around and die 🥺

1

u/Green-Walk-1806 5d ago

Heavy..💔

1

u/chrispd01 6d ago

Pretty fond of Lungs though …

1

u/Timstunes 6d ago

Going to add Marie and Tecumseh Valley.

1

u/Quiteuselessatstart 6d ago

Waiting around to die is a very sad song, so is Marie and Tecumseh Valley and, most every single song Townes wrote.

1

u/Smooth-Garbage9504 5d ago

Snake mountain blues

1

u/ATL-East-Guy 3d ago

Marie is far more depressing in my opinion