Along with 'Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me', it's the only Smiths song I'll ever agree can be described as depressing; I've blubbed to both before now. However, I think the term 'Exquisitely Sad' sums up the track better, because there's something to be said for identifying with a work of art to the point where it moves you to tears; you seem to come out the other side happier for having wallowed in your misery.
Has it been mentioned in the past that the opening line, "Mother I can feel the soil falling over my head", is similar to Keats' remark to Joseph Severn upon his deathbed: "He assured me that he seemed already to feel the flowers growing over him"?

I heard on QI that Billie Holiday's 'Gloomy Sunday' (was it #3 on this list?) is officially the most depressing song ever, as authorities have recorded more suicides associated with hearing that track than for any other song ... weird.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoe_ru7TocE

It's an interesting list that this chap Pernice has put together, obviously a totally personal one including many tracks I'm completely unfamiliar with.

Here's some I would have on my own list:

Janis Ian - At Seventeen
Ian Dury - My Old Man
Morrissey - Hold Onto Your Friends
Gordon Lightfoot - Time In A Bottle
REM - Everybody Hurts
Berntholer (ft. Drita Kotaji) - My Suitor
Gilbert O'Sullivan - Alone Again Naturally
Jody Reynolds - Endless Sleep
Inspiral Carpets - This Is How It Feels
Johnny Cash - Thing Called Love
Ricky Nelson - Lonesome Town
Sinead O'Connor - Nothing Compares To You
Barry Biggs - Sideshow
Al Green - So Tired Of Being Alone

This list is undoubtedly endless, so before I collapse of exhaustion in front of this computer, I'm off to climb into my very own EMPTY BED!!!

BARRY NEWMAN
(Norwich UK)

Whilst most sober-minded Moz Nuts would have I Know It's Over played at their funeral, Swallowneck has demanded for it to be written into his will that Ambitious Outsiders should be blasting out as his pink coffin is lowered into the ground, before being buried beneath the "sod"!