10 Most Depressing Songs In Rock Music

Feature Photo: by Brian Kachejian 2024

We’re not trying to bring anybody down by writing an article full of depressing songs. However, as a classic rock history website, we aim to cover every aspect of music. Naturally, many songs have been written not just about depression but are inherently depressing. Many artists write these songs because they are in a depressed mood themselves or, like many of us, have experienced it at some point. Others may compose them as part of their craft or to maintain an image.

The question is, does listening to depressing rock songs make you feel better, or does it make things worse? Only you can answer that. Nonetheless, we will be careful with our picks for many reasons.

# 10 – The entire Wall Album – Pink Floyd

If I’m in a good mood, the last album I’m going to listen to is Pink Floyd’s The Wall. It’s not the only Pink Floyd album that depresses the heck out of me, but it is definitely the most depressing. Everything about this album is dark, from the lyrics to the production to the scary, creepy vocals by Waters and Gilmour that all seem to be a cry for help. I mean, this is probably the most successfully depressing album of all time. We picked the song “Don’t Leave Me Now” as a perfect example of depression mode 101.

# 9 – Fell On Black Days – Soundgarden

It wasn’t easy listing Soundgarden’s “Fell On Black Days” because of the loss of Chris Cornell and the way we lost him. But it’s also one of the reasons why we felt we had to include this dark song about depression. What everyone needs to recognize is that when they know someone who is going through it, they need to get them help, because the consequences can often be irreversible.

# 8 – Paranoid – Black Sabbath

Black Sabbath’s “Paranoid” is the perfect example of a song that talks about depression but sounds upbeat due to its melody, driving chord changes, and energetic production. This is one of the band’s most famous hits, but I think it could easily be argued that many people haven’t truly listened to the lyrics. If they did, they would understand that the song is about depression, sadness, and, of course, paranoia. Geezer Butler, who wrote the lyrics, has often said in interviews that the song is about depression.

# 7 – Down In A Hole – Alice In Chains

If there’s one topic that grunge music surely focused on when it began dominating rock and roll in the early ’90s, it was depression. We could have probably filled this entire list with songs from Alice in Chains, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden. With lyrics like, “Down in a hole, and I don’t know if I can be saved, see my heart, I decorate it like a grave,” it becomes quite evident what we’re talking about with grunge music.

# 6 – Something In The Way – Nirvana

We were hesitant to include any Nirvana songs on this list because of what happened to Kurt Cobain. However, it’s probably more important to include some of his music, as many of his songs seem to be a cry for help. Everyone loves his music because it was so genuine, so real, and so touching. And, of course, very depressing. There are many songs we could have chosen, but this one just hits hard.

# 5 – Cold Cold Ground – Tom Waits

There have been many interpretations of this song. Many people have written that they believe it’s about poverty, while others think it deals with a return to nature in its most simplistic form. Others, of course, believe it’s all about death. No matter your interpretation, the one common denominator is a depressing vocal performance about topics that aren’t usually great joys to talk about—unless you’re a history professor. Yeah, this one is pretty freaking depressing. You can’t hide it. The song was originally released on Tom Waits’ Franks Wild Years album.

# 4 – Paint It Black – The Rolling Stones

From the song’s opening haunting guitar notes through lyrics like “I want to see a red door and I want it painted black,” The Rolling Stones’ “Paint It Black” is indeed a dark look into the pain of depression and the severity of all that comes with it. In everything Mick Jagger sings, he wants to turn it into darkness to match the feelings he is experiencing. The creepiness of the song’s melody and its lyrics defined its suitability in many horror movies for its cinematic qualities.

# 3 – Without You – Harry Nilsson

While this is definitely one of the saddest breakup songs ever written, it’s very depressing in the same way that Harry Nilsson explains he just can’t go on living without the person he’s singing about. There is always great pain in losing someone you love, and Harry Nilsson showcases that pain in his vocal performance better than almost anyone else I’ve ever heard, singing with such sadness and despair.

The song was originally written by Pete Ham and Tom Evans, members of the band Badfinger, who released it on their album No Dice. It has been covered by many artists—almost 200 different versions exist—with the two most famous being Harry Nilsson’s 1971 version and Mariah Carey’s 1994 number-one hit. However, surrounded by Paul Buckmaster’s stirring strings, Gary Wright’s haunting piano, and the guitar work of Klaus Voormann and John Uribe—all brought together by Jim Keltner’s drums—Harry Nilsson’s Without You stands as one of the saddest and most depressing recordings of all time.

# 2 – Yesterday – The Beatles

Only Paul McCartney could write such a sad, depressing song with such a beautifully sweet and warm melody. It’s quite possible that this is the best-selling depressing song of all time. Does it get any more hopeless than lyrics like, “Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away, now it looks as though they’re here to stay”? Yes, this song is all about a breakup or loss of some kind. Yet Paul seems to imply that it’s all over—game over. It doesn’t get much more depressing than that. The song “Yesterday” first appeared on the original UK edition of Help!. It was later included on the US Capitol Records release Yesterday and Today.

# 1 – The River – Bruce Springsteen

While many critics and fans have regarded Bruce Springsteen’s The River as a party album that supposedly showcases how he sounds live, the fact is the album contains some of the most depressing songs Springsteen has ever written. Of course, there is a party aspect to the album, with songs like “Crush on You,” “Two Hearts,” “You Can Look (But You Better Not Touch),” and “The Ties That Bind.” However, even “Hungry Heart,” though it has a happy, Beach Boys-like melody, is more of a depressing song hidden beneath its upbeat sound.

Ultimately, there are a lot of depressing songs on The River that we could have included on this list—songs like “Drive All Night,” “Point Blank,” “Stolen Car,” “Fade Away,” and even “The Price You Pay.” Yet the album’s most depressing piece of music stands out because it features some of the most genuine lyrics Springsteen has ever penned. When The River was released in 1980, times were hard. We were in the middle of a recession, and finding work was not easy. I remember searching for months before finally landing a job at a supermarket. Springsteen addresses these economic struggles in the song.

But the most heartbreaking aspect of “The River” is the failed marriage at its core. It tells the story of people getting married far too young—a common narrative for his generation and the one before. The marriage is often the result of a pregnancy, as it is in this song, and eventually, everything falls apart. Toward the end of the song, Springsteen reminisces about the early days when life was beautiful between them, and what makes it so deeply depressing is how those memories haunt him in the present. That sense of loss and regret is inescapable.

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