Songs about death/dying

Whitecat

Sufjan Stevens - Casimir Pulaski Day
Death Cab For Cutie - What Sarah Said
Arcade Fire - almost the entire ‘Funeral’ album
Sam Fender - Dead Boys

jmf1928

Not sure I can top this one:
https://youtu.be/v0nmHymgM7Y

Leonard Cohen’s You Want it Darker from his final album. 

UnclePsychosis

The entire Electro Shock Blues album by Eels is an utter masterpiece which deals with the death of E's sister by suicide and his mother's terminal cancer.

It is sad, touching, depressing, and yet ultimately uplifting. Frankly astounding that something so good could come from somewhere so bleak. Absolutely one of my favourite records. 

octatonic

In 1996 Aussie musician Stevie Plunder killed himself by throwing himself off a waterfall.
He was a lovely guy but very troubled.

His bandmate Tim Freedman wrote this for him:

sticker

Keep me in your heart - Warren Zevon

PolarityMan

horse

This one springs to mind - assume it relates to the death of the guitarist David Rosser:



Also:

Reverend

Rocker said:

The Mercy Seat, Jonny Cash

See @Kittyfrisk post above

HAL9000

Love is stronger than death - The The
Tears in Heaven - Eric Clapton
Outward Bound - Tom Paxton

fields5069

Kittyfrisk said:

Nick Cave... take your pick.

Seconded. All of Murder Ballads, along with more recent stuff after the death of his son.

fields5069

Seasons in the Sun. My god it chokes me up just thinking about it.

LastMantra

Hollowed be thy name. 

poopot

Dead skin mask - slayer

GavRichList

a very firm favourite 

ICBM

fields5069 said:

Seasons in the Sun. My god it chokes me up just thinking about it.

I loved that when I was a boy. I still like it, although it sounds a bit contrived now.

I think I must have been an odd child - the first 'pop' record I ever really liked was Bowie's Space Oddity, I must have been about five I think, and I remember my mum being a bit worried because I asked her whether she thought Major Tom dies at the end.

And on the subject of Bowie... Rock 'n' Roll Suicide.

Rocker

Reverend said:

Rocker said:

The Mercy Seat, Jonny Cash

See @Kittyfrisk post above

Sorry my friend but I don't understand your reply.


Other songs  that are about death or dying:

"The green green grass of home"

"Sunday morning comin' down", A song about a hangover that feels like dying 

Litterick

Pink Frost by The Chills.

RandallFlagg

jmf1928 said:

Not sure I can top this one:
https://youtu.be/v0nmHymgM7Y

Leonard Cohen’s You Want it Darker from his final album. 

Wis'd. I find this quite haunting.

"I'm ready my Lord"

thecolourbox

I would like to offer The Verve's "The Drugs Don't Work" which whilst attributed to being about drug usage at the time I believe has since been linked to being about his dad dying of a blood clot and his father in law dying of cancer. the words certainly make a lot more sense when thought of in that way:

All this talk of getting old
It's getting me down my love
Like a cat in a bag, waiting to drown
This time I'm coming down

And I hope you're thinking of me
As you lay down on your side
Now the drugs don't work
They just make you worse
But I know I'll see your face again

But I know I'm on a losing streak
'Cause I passed down my old street
And if you wanna show, then just let me know
And I'll sing in your ear again

If heaven falls, I'm coming, too
Just like you said, you leave my life, I'm better off dead

Whitecat

Also, if you want something more abstract, Hammock’s “Departure Songs” is themed around death and transcendence. Lots of instrumentals but a few with lyrics and you can surely hear what they’re getting at. A masterpiece of a post rock record IMO either way.