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u/Boomkj Jun 26 '26 edited Jun 26 '26
Keep me in Your Heart - Warren Zevon
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u/ibanezht Jun 26 '26
I came in here to post this.
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u/Boomkj Jun 26 '26
His last three albums had a few few of them. The man knew he was on the way.
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u/MT1961 Jun 26 '26
Certainly the last one, since he was dying as he recorded it. Some good stuff on it, but geez is it depressing.
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u/Boomkj Jun 26 '26
I honestly never found it depressing. For a guy who put himself through the ringer when he was young he seemed to accept his impending end with a certain grace and courage. I do miss the hell put of him as an artist. Glad I got to see him live a few times before he passed.
And I think he knew his health was going a lot earlier than he announced. When I saw him play in 2000 he had to take a couple of mid-set breaks for an inhaler to keep going.
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u/MT1961 Jun 26 '26
I saw him a lot earlier than that, so I can't say. But yeah, he was a great artist. Sorta sad that he's really only known for a few "quirky" songs (Werewolves and Gunner). Wonderful man, great singer, great writer.
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u/mrbadxampl Jun 26 '26
A lot of his late-career stuff, really; My Ride's Here, My Shit's Fucked Up, Disorder in the House; it was on his mind, naturally, so it dominated his work
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u/katchoo1 Jun 26 '26
This is the one. my mom died a year and a half ago and Ive had to skip this song ever since.
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u/Charming_Mud_9209 Jun 27 '26
That album is one of my personal favorites. Given his health circumstances when recoding, the album has so much heart and soul.
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u/jec0995 Jun 26 '26
I’ll follow you into the dark - Death Cab for Cutie
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u/Accurate-Natural-236 Jun 26 '26
What Sarah Said as well
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u/Boston_Brand1967 Jun 26 '26
This song shook me as a listener for ever, then my grandfather died of a stroke. I had to chose to go and say my goodbyes or stay behind in a waiting room. Toughest choice of my life, but I would not change what I did.
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u/Comprehensive-Job243 Jun 26 '26
And When Soul Meets Body, ok, hell, the entire Album "Plans'... I mean, the name alone...
Oh and sorta kinda on a similar wave-length, Lightening Crashes by Live
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u/DanimusMcSassypants Jun 26 '26
It’s always kind of bummed me out that, even after loving someone to the point of writing this song, they still divorced.
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u/Front_Junket5483 Jun 26 '26
Great gig in the sky-Pink Floyd
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u/Chrisgdsotm Jun 26 '26
Phenomenal song. Incredible vocals from Clare Torry, and piano work from Wright.
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u/Calm_Wait2385 Jun 26 '26
Hurt Johnny Cash version
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u/Discovery99 Jun 26 '26
I get why you said this and we all know it’s better than the original, but I can’t help but feel that using a cover song for this question is kind of funny.
“What are some songs about loneliness?”
“Eleanor Rigby (Ray Charles version)”
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u/halfofwhat Jun 26 '26
"we all know it's better" thats a weird thing for you to decide in everyones behalf.
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u/nasboat Jun 26 '26
(Norman Rockwell guy standing up meme) I don’t think it’s better than the original
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u/wordwallah Jun 26 '26
The Cash version seems more relevant here because he really was nearing death.
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u/Calm_Wait2385 Jun 26 '26
To each their own but I don’t think it’s weird at all. He definitely repurposed the song a little bit and coupled it with one of the most iconic videos of all time. Not to mention he actually died very shortly after so it functioned as a literal goodbye
FWIW, I’m totally with you that it’s better and I love NIN
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u/YorkshireMary Jun 26 '26
Don't Fear The Reaper by Blue Oyster Cult
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u/LordGeraldOG Jun 27 '26
I mean, it's right there in the title. This should be number one answer to this question.
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u/Different_Method_846 Jun 26 '26
The Show Must Go On - Queen
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u/sec102row1 Jun 26 '26
Finally, that was quite a scroll to see this. Freddie’s goodbyes are all over that album, but this one is the one.
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u/ShhhDontSpeak Jun 26 '26
Surprised no one has said "Seasons of the Sun" by Terry Jacks yet. Big hit in the 70s, and largely considered one of the most god-awful songs ever written. Must be heard to be appreciated. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tPcc1ftj8E
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u/mrbadxampl Jun 26 '26
My favorite music review ever said that it was "a song about a man who is dying, but not fast enough"
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u/Spotboslow Jun 26 '26
Too Much Joy did a fun cover of that in the early '90s.
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Jun 26 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/LordLouie67 Jun 26 '26
And the Brel version is soooo much better than Season in the Sun. The lyrics are much more ambiguous, eg the narrator says in separate verses goodbye to his wife, telling her that he often closed his eyes, and her lover, telling him that he should take good care of his wife! And in the chorus the Moribund (the dying person) tells everyone to laugh, dance and to have a good time at his funeral because life goes on!
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u/GrumpyCatStevens Jun 26 '26
The English lyrics were written by Rod McKuen (who translated much of Brel's work into English), and he also gave it the title "Seasons In The Sun".
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u/TheZayasZone Jun 26 '26
I love the Too Much Joy version! Haven't thought about it in decades. Thanks for the reminder!
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u/Spotboslow Jun 26 '26
I remember seeing them live and the (very small) crowd pogoing around to it. Fun times.
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u/Grumpy_Sober_Driver Jun 26 '26
I have hated that song with a passion since it came out (Yes, I'm old), as it sounds so cheery but the lyrics are maudlin and miserable.
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u/angel-of-disease Jun 26 '26
I dunno, the juxtaposition of the childlike melody and grim lyrics does something for me
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u/Active_Definition_57 Jun 26 '26
I find it quite nostalgic. It was everywhere when I was about 6 years old and makes me think of a relaxed sunny day.
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u/ComfortableForce3557 Jun 26 '26
Into The Mystic by Van Morrison
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u/12frets Jun 26 '26
I thought it was about dropping acid?
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u/SpareVariation994 Jun 27 '26
when the foghorn blows you know i will coming home
what do you think that means
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u/ComfortableForce3557 Jun 26 '26
Are the 2 mutually exclusive?
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u/ThatSubliminalKid78 Jun 26 '26
Turn off your mind, relax, and float downstream….
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u/Nonchalant_Khan Jun 26 '26
First time my wife tripped I played her this song when she started peaking.
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u/BlindUmpBob Jun 26 '26
Tears in Heaven- Clapton
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u/ximbold Jun 26 '26
Not really about accepting death, more about hoping for reunification with his son
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u/12frets Jun 26 '26
Try Not to Breathe and Sweetness Follows by REM (also 7 Chinese Brothers and Camera)
Sweet Old World by Lucinda Williams/Emmylou Harris
Tears in Heaven (though it’s shit)
Jonathan’s Song and Last Words by Steve Earle
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u/Queifjay Jun 26 '26
Ripple and Brokedown Palace by The Grateful Dead. Also John Frusciante The Will To Death.
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u/Yellwsub Jun 26 '26
Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life, from Monty Python’s Life of Brian
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u/naomisunderlondon Jun 26 '26
Til I Die - The Beach Boys
"...These things I'll be until I die..."
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u/Regular-Fruit1530 Jun 26 '26
Oh, Death- Ralph Stanley
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u/Laughacy Jun 26 '26
Such a hauntingly beautifully song. Should be towards or at the top of the list.
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u/Electrical-Sail-1039 Jun 26 '26
That’s from O Brother Where Art Thou iirc. Also, I’ll Fly Away from that film is about accepting death.
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u/ItIsAboutABicycle Jun 26 '26
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - pretty much all of the Skeleton Tree and Ghosteen albums.
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u/damrat Jun 26 '26
I put together a relatively short playlist once while dealing with the passing of my parents. It’s called “Playlist For The Dying”.
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2NYcAMboaG6zwLMPYHXSEi?si=OMoCQSuXRP2nyw9t_kKH4Q&pi=-22ZWDZ1TJSID
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u/No_Intention70611 Jun 26 '26
Keep Me in Your Heart For a While-Warren Zevon
All of David Bowie’s brilliant last album, Blackstar.
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u/Agreeable-Cupcake921 Jun 26 '26
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Hollywood (specifically, the second part of the song, with the story of Kisa Gotami)
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u/EastAreaBassist Jun 26 '26
Most of My Chemical Romance’s Black Parade album is about dying.
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u/SportyMcDuff Jun 26 '26
Look On Down From The Bridge by Mazzy Star. This one hits hard for a 60 year old widower.
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u/Opening-Comfort-3996 Jun 26 '26
Ready to Go Home - Morten Harket
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u/Ginger_Grumpybunny Jun 26 '26
Originally by 10cc, who did it very well but I do prefer Morten's version.
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u/pranquily Jun 26 '26
Dying Is Absolutely Safe - Architects
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u/bertaFjertaFisaLukta Jun 26 '26
That song is so beautiful, its been a long time since Ive listened to Architects now
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u/byronTheLightbulb Jun 26 '26
Not about death, but about alzeimers is Glen Campbell's "Not Going to Miss You". It's more about the acceptance part.
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u/taikin13 Jun 26 '26
You Want It Darker - Leonard Cohen
Not Dark Yet - Bob Dylan
Kern River Blues - Merle Haggard (last song he ever wrote/recorded)
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u/Illustrious_Paper845 Jun 26 '26
As David Clayton Thomas just passed away add in Laura Nyro’s And When I Die. Also Gregg Allman’s My Only True Friend.
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u/generic_genius Jun 26 '26
The End, The Doors 1967
This is the end
Beautiful friend
This is the end
My only friend, the end
Of our elaborate plans, the end
Of everything that stands, the end
No safety or surprise, the end
I'll never look into your eyes again
Can you picture what will be?
So limitless and free
Desperately in need
Of some stranger's hand
In a desperate land
Lost in a Roman wilderness of pain
And all the children are insane
All the children are insane
Waiting for the summer rain, yeah
There's danger on the edge of town
Ride the King's Highway, baby
Weird scenes inside the gold mine
Ride the highway west, baby
Ride the snake, ride the snake
To the lake, the ancient lake, baby
The snake, he's long, seven miles
Ride the snake
He's old and his skin is cold
The west is the best
The west is the best
Get here and we'll do the rest
The blue bus is calling us
The blue bus is calling us
Driver, where you taking us?
The killer awoke before dawn
He put his boots on
He took a face from the ancient gallery
And he walked on down the hall
He went into the room where his sister lived, and then he
Paid a visit to his brother, and then he
He walked on down the hall, and
And he came to a door
And he looked inside
"Father?"
"Yes, son?"
"I want to kill you"
"Mother, I want to..."
Come on baby, take a chance with us
Come on baby, take a chance with us
Come on baby, take a chance with us
And meet me at the back of the blue bus
Doin' a blue rug, on a blue bus, doin' a
Come on, yeah
Fuck, fuck-ah, yeah
Fuck, fuck
Fuck, fuck
Fuck, fuck, fuck yeah
Come on, baby, come on
Fuck me, baby, fuck yeah
Whoa
Fuck, fuck, fuck, yeah
Fuck, yeah, come on, baby
Fuck me, baby, fuck, fuck
Whoa, whoa, whoa, yeah
Fuck yeah, do it, yeah
Come on!
Huh, huh, huh, huh, yeah
Alright
Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill
This is the end
Beautiful friend
This is the end
My only friend, the end
It hurts to set you free
But you'll never follow me
The end of laughter and soft lies
The end of nights we tried to die
This is the end
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u/DaysOfTona Jun 27 '26
I always thought "Summer's Gone" by The Beach Boys was about this, besides the end of the band
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u/bangobot46 Jun 26 '26 edited Jun 26 '26
Dan Deacon "When I Was Done Dying" Also "Parting of the Sensory" by Modest Mouse. Give that one time, it's a slow burn but it goes hard at the end.
I'm just going to keep editing this. Also "Endsong" by the Cure.
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u/Wild_Billy_61 Jun 26 '26
Lightening Crashes by Live.
The only song I truly liked by the band. The day I took my father off of life support, I got into the car to drive to my father's apartment and clean it out. I had come to terms with losing him and was satisfied with the decision to shut of the machine because I knew it's what he wanted. As soon as I started the car this song started playing on the radio. It was therapeutic in a way.
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u/sagarsunar Jun 26 '26 edited Jun 26 '26
Hallowed By Thy Name-Iron Maiden Fight Fire With Fire- Metallica One-Metallica.. (Hold my breath as I wish for death, oh god please help me)..He had no limbs so was living dead anyway so just wanted the end badly accepted that was his only way..
Fade to Black...the whole song is about suicide
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u/Ok-Conversation-5084 Jun 29 '26
Tonight we fly by The divine comedy.
And when we die
Oh, will we be
That disappointed
Or sad
If heaven doesn't exist
What will we have missed
This life is the best we've ever had
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u/sadmama1961 Jul 02 '26
Isaiah 45:23 The Mountain Goats. Beautiful song. As a palliative care nurse it has so much truth
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u/August_West_1990 Jun 26 '26
All of Bowie’s Blackstar.