10 Sad Death Songs

Populating 10 sad death songs can be a struggle. Music has been around in some form or another since the beginning of time. With various genres of music combining through the years, we are given an array of artists who have performed songs about death over the years, and here are some of the best ones from Rock bands such as Warrant, Easy Listening stars James Taylor and Terry Jacks, Metal mavericks Pantera, and a few other types to round out the list.

1. "Fire and Rain" - James Taylor. This song was turned into a story by fans of Taylor about his then girlfriend dying in a plane crash in an attempt to surprise him while he was on the road. Taylor says it's not true and the song is really about three stages of his life; his old friend Suzanne, his arrival in the United States from Canada, and his time in drug rehab. No matter, “Fire and Rain” remains one of ten sad death songs.

2. "Heaven" - Warrant. With lyrics like “Heaven isn't too far away”, Jani Lane and company provides us with a look into the times when two people were together and the survivor is reflecting on the times they had together.

3. "Fade To Black" - Metallica. The boys in Metallica know a thing or two about death as their former guitarist Cliff Burton was killed on a tour bus in the 1980's. Some lyrics like “Growing darkness taking dawn, I was me, but now he's gone” let you know death is here for this human being wanting life to end. This is one of ten sad death songs and a grim reminder of what some people go through in their lives.

4. "Knockin' on Heavens Door" - Bob Dylan. With just 2 verses, Dylan paints a picture of helplessness and solitude as this individual is “knockin' on heavens door”. This song gets a top ten sad death song spot for the sheer grimness that it displays.

5. "I'm So Tired" - Fugazi. The last lyric finalizes his demand that he is done with life as he sings “ I'm not sticking 'round” as he plays a semi-funeral dirge in the background. This short but effective song claims a spot as one of ten sad death songs.

6. "Seasons in the Sun" - Terry Jacks. “Seasons in the Sun” is a upbeat yet last goodbye as it a song which is sung by a dying man, saying goodbye to his friends and family. This song gets a spot in the ten sad death songs list due to the content and the songs ability to be duplicated by scores of artists.

7. "Hate Me" - Blue October. Sung as an autobiography to his dead mother, the singer thanks and condemns his mother for things she has done while they were on good terms. This is one of ten sad death songs complete with a funeral and rain.

8. "Last Kiss" - Wayne Cochran and the C.C. Riders. This “oldie” is a tale of driving fast and vehicular homicide made into a love story. Completing this grisly tale is rain, sound effects and kissing a loved one as they die.

9. "Tears in Heaven" - Eric Clapton. Written for his son Connor, who fell from a 53^rd floor window to his death, Clapton's tear jerker is a flawless design of tender moments and thought provoking questions. Through the years, this song has played at countless funerals and that is why it is given a spot in our ten sad death songs list.

10. "Cemetery Gates" - Pantera. The unlikely death metal band to write and play a death ballad, Pantera plays “Cemetery Gates” beautifully. This is one of ten sad death songs that makes you think about death from the victims side of things.