Songs about death/dying

BigMonka

I’ve always had a weird fascination with songs about life & death, probably because everyone processes it differently so they can be really interesting. Here are three of my current favourites but I’d love to hear from you fine folks what else is out there.

Elephant by Jason Isbell, about a friend dying of cancer. Incredible storytelling from one of the finest lyricists of all time.
https://youtu.be/ClugMhMbrRg

Long live the Queen by Frank Turner, a twist on a friend dying to turn it more into a celebration of their life.
https://youtu.be/_RbNdwY4ujw

Waiting on June by Holly Williams, the story of her grandparents’ life. I first heard this after my last grandparent passed away and I loved the idea of their life together being captured in a song so it’s got a sentimental attachment for me.
https://youtu.be/wk79WIgb7ng

munckee

The black parade by my chemical romance is a whole story about a teenage kid dying of cancer. Some decent songs on there. 

Fuengi

Musical Box by Genesis.

Based on a Victorian style nursery rhyme created by Peter Gabriel, it tells the story of a brothers accelerated life after being decapitated by his sister during a game of croquet.

Incredibly dark, touching and at times incestuous. Also the inspiration for the Nursery Cryme album artwork. 

dindude

Brothers in arms 

tone1

Frank Sinatra ‘it was a very good year’ 

https://youtu.be/VHJ3iZpfBRI

Kittyfrisk

Nick Cave... take your pick.

CMW335

Moby When It’s Cold I’d Like To Die. I first heard in an episode of The Sopranos, very haunting 

west

Rocker

The Mercy Seat, Jonny Cash

merlin

Oh Death by Doc Boggs.

west

Acceptance .... X

digitalkettle

The album ‘Magic & Loss’ by Lou Reed.

Cranky

Van Morrison's "Into the Mystic"

Lady and Bird, "Suicide is Painless"

viz

Tchaikovsky’s 6th
https://youtu.be/KvGC8hZC29U

Jalapeno

On the Banks of the Deep End by Gov't Mule

phil_b

Kittyfrisk

What! no 'Delilah' (SAHB for me).

m_c

munckee said:

The black parade by my chemical romance is a whole story about a teenage kid dying of cancer. Some decent songs on there. 

That is one of my favourite albums.
I still find Cancer an absolutely brutal song.

Jalapeno

Dead Mans Curve - Jan & Dean/ The Carpenters

Terry - Twinkle (real music to slit your throat to)

blobb

Vin Garbutt - 'John you have gone'.

He explains the story in the pre-amble.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJsxnxzTEIA

...and seeing as you can never have enough of Vin, how about this one, which is more focused on the loneliness and isolation felt by an acquaintance, who ultimately took the only option available.

The mesmerising 'Leslie (A Lone Stick of Wheat)'  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKfyz0ctJZQ

ArchtopDave

The Living Years - Mike Rutherford (Mike and The Mechanics)

1952 Vincent Black Lightning - Richard Thompson