Songs that hit too close to home

Oh, well then "Ironic" by Alanis Morrissette.

 

In college, I dated a girl that was older than me and got way more into her than I needed to be. (Not in a stalker way, just in a "wow, I put that much effort into that relationship?" way). We broke up right before she graduated and I listened to Dylan's "Simple Twist of Fate" a lot and always was struck by the last verse.

People tell me it's a sin
To know and feel too much within.
I still believe she was my twin, but I lost the ring.
She was born in spring, but I was born too late
Blame it on a simple twist of fate.

Again, way more melodramatic than my 21-year-old self should have been, but there you go. Also, it's about time that someone was hit too close to home by a song that's actually good. (ducking)

EDIT: I actually dig that Tom Petty song, and the one about the huge dick sounds pretty awesome.

 

Change a couple of pronouns slightly, and here's the song that hits home when I think about my relationship with my mother:

 

My life's a lot better than it was a few years ago. But back in 2003 or so, this song from the alt-country band BR-549 used to haunt me.

"Lifetime to Prove"

My pockets are empty though my wife has sent me
To the store for some cigarettes and bread.
I started walking there, got as far as the square
Then the smell of beer went to my head.
The thing about beer it can make a man hear
Voices from days long since past.
And with every third drink it'll make you think
That your youth will always last.

CHORUS:
No matter which way you move it takes a lifetime to prove
To yourself I could have been more.
I got one foot in the door, I just want one more.

I thought of a time when my future was mine
It didn't matter what anyone said.
I was handsome and strong and when I walked along
I stood straight up and looked straight ahead.
But then I lost my fight, "goin' to" turned to "might"
Somewhere along the line I lost my will.
And now I'm sittin' here my life full of beer
And I try to pretend it's not real.

No matter which way you move it takes a lifetime to prove
To yourself I could have been more.
I got one foot in the door, I just want one more.

These days I barely survive on lot number five
In the Mobile Acres on the east side of town.
I swore this kind of life I'd never lead-
I guess I let too many things get me down.
If my pappy could see what they done to me
I swear he'd march down there and make it all right.
But he's long since gone and I'm old enough now
I should be able to fight my own fight.

No matter which way you move it takes a lifetime to prove
To yourself, I could have been more.
I got one foot in the door, I just want one more.

 

I love BR5-49, wi. Good call. Haunting song.

 

irish, you should check out a band called the Gear Daddies, and, in particular, a song called Statue of Jesus.

 

Consider it done. Glad to find BR-549 fans on the board. Always thought they were awesome.

 

I saw them perform at a record store in the basement of a shopping center in Lexington, KY once. The lead singer reminded me of Chuck Culpepper, though not in any way physically.

 

I love SportsJournalists.com because we can go from Alanis to Kris on the same thread.

Well I woke up Sunday morning
With no way to hold my head, that didn't hurt
And the beer I had for breakfast
Wasn't bad so I had one more for dessert
Then I fumbled through my closet for my clothes
And found my cleanest dirty shirt
And I shaved my face and combed my hair
And stumbled down the stairs to meet the day

I'd smoked my brain the night before
With cigarettes and songs that I've been pickin'
But I lit my first and watched a small kid
Cussin' at a can that he was kickin'
Then I crossed the empty street
And caught the Sunday smell of someone fryin' chicken
And it took me back to somethin'
That I'd lost somehow somewhere along the way

Chorus:
On a Sunday morning sidewalk
Wishing Lord that I was stoned
'Cause there is something in a Sunday
That makes a body feel alone
And there's nothin' short of dyin'
Half as lonesome as the sound
On the sleepin' city side walks
Sunday mornin' comin' down

In the park I saw a daddy
With a laughing little girl who he was swingin'
And I stopped beside a Sunday school
And listened to the song that they were singin'
Then I headed back for home and
Somewhere far away a lonely bell was ringin'
And it echoed through the canyon like
The disappearing dreams of yesterday.

Chorus:
On a Sunday morning sidewalk
Wishing Lord that I was stoned
'Cause there is something in a Sunday
That makes a body feel alone
And there's nothin' short of dyin'
Half as lonesome as the sound
On the sleepin' city side walks
Sunday mornin' comin' down.

 

In some ways, "Sometimes You Can't Make it on Your Own," by U2.

 

Probably the saddest song ever written.

He Stopped Loving Her Today is also on the list.

 

Oh yeah, and nobody sang it like Johnny did.

We had a thread a while back on great weepers and while it doesn't really speak to my personal experience, Sinatra's version of "Send In the Clowns" would be among the saddest songs too.