Which piece of music tugs at your heart strings the most?

[coloradodem2005]

For me it is a tie between The Beatles-Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End from Abbey Road and U2-City of Blinding Light from How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb.

"And In The End
The love you take
Is equal to
The Love You Make"

[enigmatic]

1. "Closing Time"- Tom Waits

never fails to put a tear in my eye.

[Strawman]

2. Probably "Book of Love" by The Magnetic Fields

[LiberalinNC]

3. "Dance w/ my father"

When that song first was released a little neighbor boy (age 5) died from brain cancer in his father's arms. To this day I can't listen to that song w/out crying. :cry:

[quisp]

4. Leaving on a jet plane

even though I hate to admit it.

[Danmel]

5. Fields of Gold

By Eva Cassidy

You'll remember me when the west wind moves
Among the fields of barley
You can tell the sun in his jealous sky
When we walked in fields of gold

So she took her love for to gaze awhile
Among the fields of barley
In his arms she fell as her hair came down
Among the fields of gold

Will you stay with me will you be my love
Among the fields of barley
And you can tell the sun in his jealous sky
When we walked in fields of gold

I never made promises lightly
And there have been some that I've broken
But I swear in the days still left
We will walk in fields of gold
We'll walk in fields of gold

I never made promises lightly
And there have been some that I've broken
But I swear in the days still left
We will walk in fields of gold
We'll walk in fields of gold

Many years have passed since those summer days
Among the fields of barley
See the children run as the sun goes down
As you lie in fields of gold

You'll remember me when the west wind moves
Among the fields of barley
You can tell the sun in his jealous sky
When we walked in fields of gold
When we walked in fields of gold
When we walked in fields of gold


Her voice is just so beuatiful and she died in her 30s of melamona. So sad- I weep buckets every time I hear it.

[Patiod]

14. That gave me chills when Michelle Kwan skated to it

at the '02 Olympics, for the exhibition part after all the medals were awarded.

Though disappointed that she had won the bronze medal instead of the gold, she was amazing.

I'm glad I was home alone that afternoon, because I cried!

[Brotherjohn]

6. The guitar solo from the Blake Babies' "I'll Take Anything"

I know it's just a guitar solo, but you just HAVE to hear it.

Maybe it's just that it brings up thoughts of happy times for me, when I was discovering a lot of incredible music and coming into my own as an adult.

I agree about the Beatles Abbey Road bit. In fact, I just burned a copy of that CD from my wife's.

[billyskank]

7. "God Save The Queen" by the Sex Pistols

Well, ok, maybe not. :D

[bertha katzenengel]

8. Barber's Adagio for Strings

no question

[dxstone]

24. You got to it before me, Bertha...

There's just NOTHING more moving...
d

[bertha katzenengel]

35. You're right.

It was part of a concert I performed several years ago, an annual concert we put on to honor our dead of AIDS. I'd known the piece for many years before, but . . .

[vi5]

9. I Will Take You Home by the Grateful Dead...

It's the father daughter thing, coupled with the fact that the guy who wrote and sang it died shortly after it was recorded.

Also, I Hope That I Don't Fall In Love With You by Tom Waits.

[streblin]

10. ripple

[tjwmason]

11. Miserere Mei - Allegri

Musically it's actually fairly simple - but listenning to it carries one to an entirely different world.

[youspeakmylanguage]

12. "In Spite Of Me" by Morphine

Simply the most beautiful and haunting song ever written. (scroll down and click on the sample links...)

It was actually written and performed by The Pale Brothers (Mark Sandman and Jimmy Ryan) but since Morphine had a record deal they released it on the Morphine album "Cure for Pain".

[In_The_Wind]

13. Jennifer Hanson's music

~Beautiful Goodbye~

It’s like the most amazing sunset you’ve ever seen
There’s never another quite the same
It just falls into some deep eternal sea
Like the end of a movie that makes you cry
You’re sad when it’s over but you’re glad you had
That moment that moved you deep inside

Beautiful goodbye, baby goodbye
I enjoyed the ride, we really had us a time
It’s a strange kind of high
A beautiful goodbye

An standin’ here watchin’ you drive away
We were so grown up about it all
But how will it look in the light of day?
I miss you already but don’t turn around
It’s funny how you know when it just won’t work
And how letting go can echo the sweetest sound

Beautiful goodbye, baby goodbye
I enjoyed the ride, we really had us a time
It’s a strange kind of high
A beautiful goodbye

So ironic, and so confusing
To do the right thing and be losing
I’m always stuck with choosing
And ain’t that just like life?
Hey yeah, hey yeah

Beautiful goodbye, baby goodbye
I enjoyed the ride, we really had us a time
It’s a strange kind of high
A beautiful goodbye

Goodbye, yeah
Na na nan na nan na, goodbye




~ All Those Yeaterdays ~

They say you can’t hold on
To time when it’s gone
But somehow I’ve saved
All those yesterdays

And they’re bittersweet
Every memory
Back when we both made
All those yesterdays

Threads of hope and sorrow
Wind around our hearts
While we’re waiting for tomorrow
It’s all those yesterdays
That make us who we are

Just know I won’t forget
The laughter or regrets
No, you’re never far away
You’re all those yesterdays

Threads of hope and sorrow
Wind around our hearts
While we’re waiting for tomorrow
It’s all those yesterdays
That make us who we are

They say you can’t hold on
To time when it’s gone
But somehow I have saved
All those yesterdays
All those yesterdays
Baby it’s ok I have
All those yesterdays
All those yesterdays

[GreenPartyVoter]

15. Depends on my mood. Low whistles and violas doing a mournful Celtic Dirge

get me pretty much every time, though.

[EC]

16. baker street and to sir with love... n/t

[Patiod]

17. "Nessun Dorma," the "Three Tenors" turned me on to it

Also, my dad is still alive (at 82 - go Dad!) but I get weepy when I hear "Tura Lura Lura", because he used to sing it to me to get me to calm down when I had bronchitis as a kid.

[FuzzySlippers]

18. Probably the Mozart "Requiem". n/t

[mark11727]

20. Indeed.

"Amadeus" got me into Mozart's music --- before that, it was mostly Bach, Beethoven, and a goodly sampling of pretty much mainstream classical/romantic composers. But Mozart is, was, and ever shall be my favorite composer.

[friesianrider]

30. Ahh...

Definitely.

[ismnotwasm]

19. Sweet Child 'O mine

Guns and roses. I understand Axel wrote it about his girlfriend, but when my oldest daughter was a teenager, we were going through troubled times, that became my song for her. I have songs for all my kids.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

25. check out Luna's cover

a completely different arrangement but absolutely beautiful and meloncholy

[Kenergy]

21. Find the Cost of Freedom by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young

Tears me up every time.

[BeTheChange]

22. Last Train- Arlo Guthrie

Last Train
by Arlo Guthrie

I want to hop on the last train in the station
Won't need to get yourself prepared
When you're on that last train to glory
You'll know you're reasonably there

Maybe you ain't walked on any highway
You've just been flyin' in the air
But if you're on that last train to glory
You'll know you've paid your fare

Maybe you've been Iying down in the jailhouse
Maybe you've been hungry and poor
Maybe your ticket on the last train to glory
Is the stranger whose been sleeping on your floor

I ain't a man of constant sorrow
I ain't seen trouble all day long
We are only passengers on the last train to glory
That will soon be long, long gone

I want to hop on the last train in the station
Won't need to get yourself prepared
When you're on the last train to glory
You'll know you're reasonably there


I saw him preform it with the Dallas Symphony and it was breath taking....

[orleans]

23. the most beautiful and poetic song i've ever heard

Since You've Asked
Words and Music by Judy Collins
Universal Music Corp. (ASCAP)/ The Wildflowers Company (ASCAP)
(Administered by Universal Music Corp.)

What I'll give you since you asked
Is all my time together;
Take the rugged sunny days,
The warm and Rocky weather,
Take the roads that I have walked along,
Looking for tomorrow’s time,
Peace of mind.

As my life spills into yours,
Changing with the hours
Filling up the world with time,
Turning time to flowers,
I can show you all the songs
That I never sang to one man before.

We have seen a million stones lying by the water.
You have climbed the hills with me
To the mountain shelter,
Taken off the days one by one,
Setting them to breathe in the sun.

Take the lilies and the lace
From the days if childhood,
All the willow winding paths
Leading up and outward,
This is what I give,
This is what I ask you for;
Nothing more.

[Carla in Ca]

26. Rachmaninoff's Concerto #2

n/t

[BlueJazz]

46. Absolutely Beautiful

[Skittles]

27. Bridge Over Troubled Water

it never fails to give me goosebumps

[xmas74]

28. Photographs and Memories-Jim Croce

We played it at my uncle's funeral. He was only in his early 30's when he passed away.
I cry every time I hear it.

[driver8]

29. There is a tv show from the 60's called "The Gallant Men"

Anyone ever see it? It is a great series about an army unit in WWII.

Anyhow, we re-mastered the series here where I work. The music that plays during the end credits is some of the saddest music I have ever heard. I used to tear up every time I heard it.

[hfojvt]

31. Dokken's "Alone Again"

naturally.
Check out Gibson-Miller's "What are you waiting for?" - haunting break-up song.
Garth Brooks' "Cowboy Bill" is one that I have trouble singing without having a "catch" in my voice.

[Heidi]

32. Don McLean's "Vincent"

how you suffered for your sanity

how you tried to set them free.
They would not listen
they're not
list'ning still
perhaps they never will.

[leftofthedial]

33. Something about "Tecumseh Valley" by Townes Van Zandt

chokes me up every time.

[Rabrrrrrr]

34. Mahler's Symphony No. 2

and that's a fact.

[Goldmund]

91. Resurrection

a bitchin piece.

[WindRavenX]

36. "Canon in D-Minor w/strings orchestra"

KILLS ME.

[Zuni]

37. God Only Knows

by the Beach Boys

[nytemare]

38. "World on Fire" Sarah Mclachlan, "Travelin Soldier" Chicks

I don't listen to too much country, but that one kills me everytime I hear it.

If you have never seen the video for "World on Fire" it is an example of all that is wrong and what can be made right in the world, a bit at a time. Here is the link. http://www.worldonfire.ca/

I would also agree with prior posters on "Vincent" and "Adagio". "Moonlight Sonata" is also a very intense piece.

[GOPisEvil]

39. Bonnie Raitt's "I Can't Make You Love Me"

Hits me close to home.

[nytemare]

40. That is a wonderful song!

I saw her in concert at Lilith Fair in 98. What energy she has!

[GOPisEvil]

44. It's wonderful, but it's hard to listen to.

At least for me. :)

Bruce Hornsby plays the piano on that tune, too. He may have even co-written the song.

[nytemare]

49. Did he do "Walking in Memphis"?

That song was a bit haunting.

[GOPisEvil]

50. No that was...ummm...something Cohen.

Bruce Hornsby and the Range did "That's Just The Way It Is", another fine song about racism.

[nytemare]

51. Oh that was a good song

:)

[redqueen]

85. Ouch... yeah.

That's a good one.

[no name no slogan]

41. Is it any wonder by The Chameleons

On the surface he seems sensible
But underneath the logic is crazy
Like a cat that walks with cruelty
Or a dog that always bites for no reason
I could feel the madness there
But I couldn't see the streets for the houses
And all the lies and fantasies
Were suddenly malicious and dangerous

With every passing day you put me through
What have I done to you?
Is it any wonder that I never close my eyes?

Sisters of normality
Collapse into convulsions of laughter
Knuckle walking animals
Are swaggering and spilling their anger
And they're almost walking upright
As they try to ape the madmen around them
But the slightest, kindest hint of love
Leaves them naked snorting like horses

If that's what's waiting for me on the ground,
I hope I never come down
Is it any wonder that I never close my eyes?

Here in this lullaby
We'll leave them all behind
Thoughtlessly wasting time
We'll be gone in the blink of an eye

Is this really where the story ends
For all those so called friends
Is it any wonder that they think I've lost my mind

If that's what they think then fine
We'll leave them all behind

Is it any wonder?

We'll leave them all behind
Hearing these words of mine

[Aristus]

42. The center section of "Jupiter", from Holst's "The Planets" suite.

It's based on an old English hymn. It's so beautiful it just makes you ache.

[nytemare]

58. The slower part??

The choral section at the end of "Neptune" is incredible as well.

[Aristus]

62. Yeah, the slower part, between the two "Star Trek" sections.

Well, that's what I call them. Listen to the ascending triplets on trumpet if you don't agree with me. See? Star Trek, right?

Anyway, yeah, 'Neptune' is good, too. I like the way the fade out suggests that there is nothing beyond. After all, Pluto hadn't been discovered at the time the piece was written.

[nytemare]

65. Yes, I remember the triplets, throughout the song.

"Mars" actually brings about thoughts of the "Imperial March" from Star Wars.

I never thought of Neptune that way! I also like the end of Saturn, with the strings and woodwinds sounding like a clock throughout, but sounding almost upbeat at the end, like an ascent.

[Aristus]

74. Hmm. Have you been going through my music collection?

I burned a CD once that had "Imperial March" right after "Mars" to highlight the similarity between the two.

John Williams sure love "The Planets", doesn't he? 'Saturn' reminds me of "Raiders Of The Lost Ark".

While we're on the subject, the Ark theme strongly resembles the leitmotif of the Tarnhelm from Wagner's "Das Rheingold". Check them out sometime; you'll see what I mean.

[redqueen]

86. John Williams should give Holst credit.

Seriously... it's that obvious.

[evlbstrd]

43. Joe's last imaginary guitar solo, "Watermelon in Easter Hay."

From Zappa's "Joe's Garage." Give all three records a listen in one sitting. He was dead on in 1983.

[BlueJazz]

45. Claire De Lune...very haunting...

[nytemare]

47. That is one of my favorite songs

I find it somewhat inspiring and relaxing, though.

[BlueJazz]

71. ...I find it inspiring and relaxing also..I meant haunting as in .....

...flowing in and through my emotions.. :)

[nytemare]

87. Yes, I can see that! I also like First Arabesque by Debussy as well

I love Debussy's music. It is timeless.

[Zen Democrat]

48. The Moody Blues -- Justin Hayward singing "Watching and Waiting"

Then there's The Beatles "You Never Give Me Your Money"

Dion's "Abraham, Martin and John"

[MN ChimpH8R]

92. Oh yeah!

That one has broken me up a few times. Hayward never over-sings a song, and that is one of the things I love about him.

Others:
Brahms' 4th Symphony (first movement)
Eva Cassidy singing "Fields of Gold"
Roger Waters' "Each Small Candle" from his live CD
Brian Wilson - "Dream Angel" and "Caroline, No"
Vaughan Williams "Five Variations on Dives and Lazarus" (especially the recapitulation at the end - it just gives me the chills. The words of the original song are quite appropriate for these trying times as well. Look upon these words, greedy stupid fundies and quiver in your boots:

As it fell out upon one day,
Rich Divès made a feast,
And he invited all his friends,
And gentry of the best.

Then Lazarus laid him down and down
And down at Divès’ door:
“Some meat and drink, brother, Diverus,
Bestow upon the poor.”

“Thou’rt none of my brothers, Lazarus,
That liest begging at my door;
No meat, nor drink will I give thee,
Nor bestow upon the poor.”

Then Lazarus laid him down and down,
All under Divès’ wall:
“Some meat, some drink, brother Diverus,
For hunger starve I shall.”

“Thou’rt none of my brothers, Lazarus,
That liest begging at my gate;
No meat, no drink will I give thee,
For Jesus Christ His sake.”

Then Divès sent out his hungry dogs,
To bite him as he lay;
They hadn’t the power to bite one bite,
But licked his sores away.

Then Divès sent to his merry men,
To worry poor Lazarus away;
They’d not the power to strike one stroke,
But flung their whips away.

As it fell out upon one day,
Poor Lazarus sickened and died;
There came two angels out of heaven,
His soul therein to guide.

“Rise up! rise up! brother Lazarus,
And go along with me;
For you’ve a place prepared in heaven,
To sit on an angel’s knee.”

As it fell out upon one day,
Rich Divès sickened and died;
There came two serpents out of hell,
His soul therein to guide.

“Rise up! rise up! brother Diverus,
And come along with me;
There is a place provided in hell
For wicked men like thee.”

Then Divès looked up with his eyes
And saw poor Lazarus blest;
“Give me one drop of water, brother Lazarus,
To quench my flaming thirst.”

“O, was I now but alive again
The space of one half hour!
O, that I had my peace again
Then the devil should have no power.”

[nytemare]

52. I forgot "Another day in Paradise" by Phil Collins

Oh, and since I am on a Genesis member roll here, "Living Years" by Mike and the Mechanics. They had to have one good song!

[nytemare]

53. "Biko" Peter Gabriel

Ok, that should be all for me...lol.

[Lauri16]

54. Wind Beneath my Wings

It's everything that my Mom was to me and my brothers.

[nytemare]

55. Oh that scene in "Beaches" where she sings it is a killer!

That is a 10 hanky scene.

[Lauri16]

60. That's probably my favorite part of the movie

That scene was amazing.

[nytemare]

66. It is on DVD now, I may have to buy it!

That scene had me crying even after the movie was over.

[deadparrot]

56. "Leader of the Band," Dan Fogelberg. nt

[kodi]

57. I sing “Fields of Gold” to my very old dog named Kodi.

....who I know will soon be gone and all I will have is memories of her.

She smiles at me when I sing it and it breaks my heart.

[Lowell]

80. Thats a good one

but Old Shep never fails to break me up, no matter who sings it.

Old Shep

When I was a lad
And old Shep was a pup
Over hills and meadows we'd stray
Just a boy and his dog
We were both full of fun
We grew up together that way

I remember the time at the old swimmin' hold
When I would have drowned beyond doubt
But old Shep was right there
To the rescue he came
He jumped in and then pulled me out

As the years fast did roll
Old Shep he grew old
His eyes were fast growing dim
And one day the doctor looked at me and said
I can do no more for him Jim

With hands that were trembling
I picked up my gun
And aimed it at Shep's faithful head
I just couldn't do it
I wanted to run
I wish they would shoot me instead

He came to my side
And looked up at me
And laid his old head on my knee
I had struck the best friend that a man ever had
I cried so I scarcely could see

Old Shep he has gone
Where the good doggies go
And no more with old Shep will I roam
But if dogs have a heaven
There's one thing I know
Old Shep has a wonderful home

Written by Foley and Westpar

[cedahlia]

59. "Bridge Over Troubled Water" and "Abraham, Martin, and John"

They never fail to bring me to tears.

There's also many Tori Amos songs that'll do it:

"Winter" (my "dad" song)
"Mother" (my "mom" song)
"Daniel" (my "brother" song...it's a haunting, beautiful, heart-wrenching cover of Elton's song)

And I can't forget "Yellow Ledbetter" by Pearl Jam...that always gets me too.

I'm very sensitive, so music can very easily get me all emotional...there really are too many songs for me to list!


***edited for spelling!***

[Canadian Socialist]

61. "Biko" by Peter Gabriel

I knew the man.

[nytemare]

64. Which did you know, Biko or Peter Gabriel??

Either way, quite extraordiny people. Cry Freedom was an excellent movie!

[Canadian Socialist]

67. Sorry, wasn't precise enough

I thought the past tense was clear enough, as Stephen Biko is dead, Peter Gabriel is not. I knew Stephen through correspondence back when I was the editor of a University newspaper in Canada.

Not that I'm being snarky. Because, I try to be polite.

[nytemare]

69. I figured it was Biko, but just wondered

by the "knew" if you possibly meant a prior association. Before that song, I did not know he existed. Sometimes, music can teach us. I am glad when it does.

:)

[spacelady]

63. Unchained Melody=Our wedding song & great Cheers episode. n/t

[markus]

68. Desperadoes Wating for a Train by Guy Clark

[dhinojosa]

70. "Georgia" Ray Charles.... nt

[jpgray]

72. Right now, Talk Talk's "New Grass"

That is some great understated guitar playing on that song.

[Donailin]

73. choral music gives me this unbearable sense of unfulfillable longing

esp. a song I heard in that french film, "The Chorus Singers"

[hippiechick]

75. Damien Rice "The Blower's Daughter" or Ray Lamontagne "Burn"

:cry: :loveya: :hug: :cry: :loveya: :hug:

[greeneyedpookie]

76. A New Day by Celine Dion

It was written after having her son, after so many heart breaks of trying to get pregnant. It has always gotten to me, for I have had many troubles also. Just recently miscarried again a couple of weeks ago.


A New Day

I was waiting for so long
For a miracle to come
Everyone told me to be strong
Hold on and don't shed a tear


Through the darkness and good times
I knew I'd make it through
And the world thought I had it all
But I was waiting for you


Hush, love


I see a light in the sky
Oh, it's almost blinding me
I can't believe
I've been touched by an angel with love
Let the rain come down and wash away my tears
Let it fill my soul and drown my fears
Let it shatter the walls for a new, new sun
A new day has...come


Where it was dark now there's light
Where there was pain now there's joy
Where there was weakness, I found my strength
All in the eyes of a boy


Hush, love


I see a light in the sky
Oh, it's almost blinding me
I can't believe
I've been touched by an angel with love
Let the rain come down and wash away my tears
Let it fill my soul and drown my fears
Let it shatter the walls for a new, new sun
A new day has...come


A new day has...come
Ohhh, a light... OOh

GEP

:bounce:

[SCDem]

77. Ave Maria - done best on the sountrack of The Mission

tears at my heart strings - the brutality that occurred alongside the Christianization of the Western world. ;(

[Justin54B20L]

78. Ashokan Farwell and Battle Hymn of the Republic - Ken Burn's Civil War

I can't help but cry when I watch the series.

[Bridget Burke]

79. "Kilkelly, Ireland"

As heard on "Green Fields of America: Live in Concert." Here's the source of the song & the lyrics:

www.hoganstand.com/general/identity/extras/roots/stories/kilkelly.htm

Others have mentioned Mozart's Requiem (& he wrote some other touching melodies). And Tom Waits, for such a grizzled soul, has written some touching tunes.

[noonwitch]

81. "The Flesh Failures/Let the Sunshine In" from "Hair"

It always makes me sad.

It also always pisses me off to hear the "Let the Sunshine In" part being sung as if it's a happy, upbeat song. It's not-it's about a kid who died in Vietnam.

[redqueen]

82. Pachelbel's Canon in D

[NeoTraitors]

83. Steve Goodman

'A Dying Cub Fans' Last Request' Do they still play the blues in Chicago, when baseball season rolls around?

[kmla]

84. Puff, the Magic Dragon - Peter, Paul, & Mary

When you have two young boys that are growing up way too quickly, this one kinda hits home....

[Goldmund]

89. Hahahaha

That's the ONE piece I can't stand!!! :rofl:

And they say "Stairway to Heaven" is overplayed...

[bigwillq]

88. "The Promise" by Tracy Chapman

For personal reasons.

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

90. Here Today by Paul McCartney. It's a tribute to John Lennon

written shortly after Lennon was killed.

"Here Today"
And if I said
I really knew you well
What would your answer be?
If you were here today.

Well, knowing you
You'd probably laugh and say
That we were worlds apart.
If you were here today.

But as for me
I still remember how it was before
And I am holding back the tears no more
I love you.

What about the time we met?
Well I suppose that you could say that
We were playing hard to get,
Didn't understand a thing
But we could always sing.

What about the night we cried?
Because there wasn't any reason left
To keep it all inside,
Never understood a word
But you were always there with a smile.

And if I say I really loved you
And was glad you came along,
Then you were here today,
For you were in my song
Here today.

[NMMNG]

93. All I Want is You, by U2

...You say you'll give me
A highway with no one on it
Treasure just to look upon it
All the riches in the night


You say you'll give me
Eyes in a moon of blindness
A river in a time of dryness
A harbour in the tempest
But all the promises we make
From the cradle to the grave
When all I want is you...

[Mojambo]

94. Neko Case's version of In California, off the Canadian Amp album.

It's such a lonely sounding song. It makes me feel far away from home every time I hear it.

Beautiful piece of music.