Anyone remember any 70's songs that had tragic endings?

The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia - Vickie Lawrence
Billy Don't Be A Hero - Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods
Angie Baby - Helen Reddy

Emma-Hot Choclolate

If you could read my mind~Gordon Lightfoot

Without you~Nilsson

Seasons in the sun~Terry Jacks

Austin Roberts - Rocky {1975}

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVB7caV7GoM



Dan

Ode to Billy Joe - Diana Ross (I know she's not the original artist but I love her cover of this song)  and yeah it was 1968 but I heard it in the 70s



Last Time I Saw Him- Diana Ross

Released in November 1969 (cusp for 1970) The Deal ~ Pat Campbell

Released in November 1969 (cusp for 1970) The Deal ~ Pat Campbell


Not so much tragic ending, than tragic why anyone bought the thing!  :P

File alongside Bobby Goldsboro's 'Honey' (which somehow re-charted in Britain in the 70s) and Freddie Starr's 'It's You'...

Not so much tragic ending, than tragic why anyone bought the thing!  :P

File alongside Bobby Goldsboro's 'Honey' (which somehow re-charted in Britain in the 70s) and Freddie Starr's 'It's You'...
Now you are making me worried, I have two of these mentioned singles in my collection.

Now you are making me worried, I have two of these mentioned singles in my collection.


More worryingly, I have all three! But I ensure that they are buried deep in my untouched mountain of crap!

timothy by the buoys

Honey come back~ Glen Campbell

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

detroit rock city! kiss

Cats In The Cradle - Harry Chapin
Dunrobins Gone - Brave Belt
Indiana Wants Me - R Dean Taylor

American Pie - Don McClean  I guess the whole song is tragic.

^

Well if that is ... then by the same artist .. 'Vincent' ( 'you took your life as lovers often do' ) strikes me as pretty tragic.

"D.O.A." -- Bloodrock  1971

Hello, This Is Joanie (The Telephone Answering Machine Song) - Cant remember who sings it now.

But the song is about a guy who argues with his girlfriend and she leaves his house and is killed in a car crash, and the only way for him to hear her voice is to ring her answering machine over and over again.

Very sad.




AN

Hello, This Is Joanie (The Telephone Answering Machine Song) - Cant remember who sings it now.

But the song is about a guy who argues with his girlfriend and she leaves his house and is killed in a car crash, and the only way for him to hear her voice is to ring her answering machine over and over again.

Very sad.




AN
Paul Evans 

Thats his name...thanks.

I can never remember his name...and such a classic underrated song.




AN

^

Well if that is ... then by the same artist .. 'Vincent' ( 'you took your life as lovers often do' ) strikes me as pretty tragic.


I have always loved that song... Heres a link to a pretty interesting artist doing Vincent

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=DtBFCnnUCd0
If you haven't already Alan check this out

Thats his name...thanks.

I can never remember his name...and such a classic underrated song.




AN
The very same Paul Evans that had the big hit with "Seven Little Girls (Sitting in the Back Seat)" back in 1959.

Hello, This Is Joanie (The Telephone Answering Machine Song) - Cant remember who sings it now.

But the song is about a guy who argues with his girlfriend and she leaves his house and is killed in a car crash, and the only way for him to hear her voice is to ring her answering machine over and over again.

Very sad.




AN


I love this one

My phone rang and my heart sang.  My baby's called at last.  Instead it was a friend who said that Joanie's car had crashed

Here's the song...

Paul Evans -  Hello, This Is Joannie (The Telephone Answering Machine Song) {1978}

Composers: Paul Evans - Fred Tobias

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAZR4b5d8ZQ




Dan

Sylvia's Mother- Dr Hook

Not really a tragic song, but when I was 11 or 12 years old listening to this, it made me sad that he couldn't talk to his girlfriend before she left town to marry a guy. I think it gave me a feeling of hopelessness (if there is such a word). Along with the operator cutting in, saying to deposit 40 cents more for the next 3 minutes. Also, her mother wasn't cooperating either, made it even worse. I'm sure we've all been there.

Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen is tragic song.

David Geddes - Run Joey Run {1975}

(original video)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vaa0BJtt9jk



Dan

Lucky Man....ELP

I have always loved that song... Heres a link to a pretty interesting artist doing Vincent

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=DtBFCnnUCd0
If you haven't already Alan check this out


I DID check it out, Deb. Well thanks for the link  :) ... interesting to see HIM do that one. However, I think he should stick to his own stuff ... as great as a singer / voice he has ... it didn't do it for me ... sounded too cabaret / going through the motions .. and I'd always have to vote for Don's original ... which is infinitely better than this (much as I'm a fan of Mr. J ).


Yeah ... if you can't match or better a song ... I think you should leave it alone ... unless you want to sully your rep. He has NO need to lower himself to inferior covers  :-[  :(

David Bowie - Space Oddity {1972}

(1973 Video)

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



Dan

I DID check it out, Deb. Well thanks for the link  :) ... interesting to see HIM do that one. However, I think he should stick to his own stuff ... as great as a singer / voice he has ... it didn't do it for me ... sounded too cabaret / going through the motions .. and I'd always have to vote for Don's original ... which is infinitely better than this (much as I'm a fan of Mr. J ).


Yeah ... if you can't match or better a song ... I think you should leave it alone ... unless you want to sully your rep. He has NO need to lower himself to inferior covers  :-[  :(


True but I thought it was interesting. I also prefer the original version.  I think  Forever Autumn  and One lonely room will always be my fav solos from him.

Here's something you don't see everyday, in fact it's a first for me...Rod Stewart playing an instrument  :o 

This is Mandolin Wind from the album Every Picture Tells A Story and it's a song with a tragic ending  :\'( 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xlo1NvEdAw&feature=related


.........I had to post a link for the studio recording since the above live performance didn't include all the sad lyrics

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lo98FiusiRE

Styx - Renegade 

Gilbert O'Sullivan - Alone Again (Naturally)

Barry Manilow - Copacabana

"Only Women Bleed"- Alice Cooper

Rod Stewart - The Killing Of Georgie

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQyp83jWuvc



Dan

Here's something you don't see everyday, in fact it's a first for me...Rod Stewart playing an instrument  :o 

This is Mandolin Wind from the album Every Picture Tells A Story and it's a song with a tragic ending  :\'( 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xlo1NvEdAw&feature=related


.........I had to post a link for the studio recording since the above live performance didn't include all the sad lyrics

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lo98FiusiRE


One of my all time favs, and the Killing of Georgie.

I Don't Like Mondays...The Boomtown Rats

The Homecoming Queen has a Gun..... oh wait that's 80s  ;D

Billy, Dont be a hero - Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods

Here's the excruciating lyrics, so sing along now! :o

Billy Don't Be A Hero
( Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods )

The marchin' band came down along Main Street
The soldier blues fell in behind
I looked across and there I saw Billy
Waiting to go and join the line
And with her head upon his shoulder
His young and lovely fiancee
From where I stood I saw she was cryin'
And through her tears I heard her say

Billy, don't be a hero, don't be a fool with your life
Billy, don't be a hero, come back and make me your wife
And as he started to go she said, Billy, keep your head low
Billy, don't be a hero, come back to me

The soldier blues were trapped on a hillside
The battle raging all around
The sergeant cried, We've got to hang on, boys!
We've got to hold this piece of ground
I need a volunteer to ride up
And bring us back some extra men
And Billy's hand was up in a moment
Forgettin' all the words she said

She said
Billy, don't be a hero, don't be a fool with your life
Billy, don't be a hero, come back and make me your wife
And as he started to go she said, Billy, keep your head low
Billy, don't be a hero, come back to me

I heard his fiancee got a letter
That told how Billy died that day
The letter said that he was a hero
She should be proud he died that way
I heard she threw that letter away ...

And this, my Seventies Friends, goes down as THE worst song of ALL time!   You heard it right:  THE worst!

(Things get a little easier) Once you understand - by "Think" 

Things get a little easier
Once you understand
Things get a little easier
Once you understand.....

I`ll be expecting you to
Get a haircut by Friday
(Forget it, Dad)
(That won`t change anything)
Forget nothing, you`ll do as I say
As long as you`re living in my house

He knows I`m not feeling well
And yet he doesn`t take one
Second out to help his mother
His only concern is for himself

(Come on, Ma)
(What do you want from me)
Don`t argue with your mother
Just shut up and listen

But, Mom, all my
Friends will be there
(I said, no, you can`t go)
But why
(I don`t want you
In that neighborhood)
Why, what`s wrong
With that neighborhood
(I don`t like the kind of
People living there)
Why, what`s wrong with them
(Nevermind)
(Some day, you`ll thank me)

Are you sure no one kept you
Company tonight while
You were babysitting
(What`s that supposed to mean)
Just curious
(Admit it, Mom, you don`t trust me)

Where are you going now
(To my friend`s house)
Don`t you have things
To do in the house
Don`t you have any homework
Why don`t you sit down
And read a book (oh, ma)

Don`t oh, Ma, me
You`re wasting your life
Away with the foolish things
(What are you talking about
How about your bridge club
And your ladies groups
And your parties and
Your daytime programs
What about all that)
That`s different

Ma, I`ll be home at eleven
(You better be home at ten or
Don`t bother to come home at all)

When I was your age
I was working twelve hours a day
Six days a week helping to pay
For the food and the rent
(I don`t understand, what`s
That got to do with me)
If you can`t figure that out
For yourself, you`re stupid

Hey, Dad
Did you see my new guitar
I joined a group
(Son, there`s a little bit more
To life than joining a group
And playing the guitar)
Yeah, Dad, what is there to life

Mister Cook (yes)
You have a son named Robert
Robert Cook, age seventeen (yes)
I`m sorry, Mister Cook
You better come down
To the station house
You son is dead (dead, how)
He died of an overdose (oh, God)

would Coward of the County - Kenny Rogers fit...

I guess it has tragic beginning. The ending is only tragic if you are against the death penalty... or vengeance ;D

Jim Stafford - Swamp Witch {1974}

http://www.imeem.com/thompson/music/Vt4WoENm/jim_stafford_swamp_witch_hattie/



Dan

"Shannon" by Henry Gross. It's about a dog who swam too far into the ocean to catch a ball during a game of fetch and drowned.

"Shannon" by Henry Gross. It's about a dog who swam too far into the ocean to catch a ball during a game of fetch and drowned.


Really? I never listened to the words...I'll have to listen more closely.

Really? I never listened to the words...I'll have to listen more closely.


Here are the lyrics. Now that I see them I don't know where I got the idea of a game of fetch though. I guess someone told me. I hadn't heard that song since I was a child.

" ANOTHER DAY IS AT END
MAMA SAYS SHE'S TIRED AGAIN
NO ONE CAN EVEN BEGIN TO TELL HER

I HARDLY KNOW WHAT TO SAY
BUT MAYBE IT'S BETTER THAT WAY
IF PAPA WERE HERE I'M SURE HE'D TELL HER 

SHANNON IS GONE I HOPE SHE'S DRIFTING OUT TO SEA
SHE ALWAYS LOVED TO SWIM AWAY
MAYBE SHE'LL FIND AN ISLAND WITH A SHADY TREE
JUST LIKE THE ONE IN OUR BACKYARD 

MAMA TRIES HARD TO PRETEND THINGS WILL GET
BETTER AGAIN
SOMEHOW SHE'S KEEPING IT ALL INSIDE HER 

BUT FINALLY THE TEARS FILL OUR EYES
AND I KNOW THAT SOMEWHERE TONIGHT
SHE KNOWS HOW MUCH WE REALLY MISS HER 

SHANNON IS GONE I HOPE SHE'S DRIFTING OUT TO SEA
SHE ALWAYS LOVED TO SWIM AWAY
MAYBE SHE'LL FIND AN ISLAND WITH A SHADY TREE
JUST LIKE THE ONE IN OUR BACKYARD 

JUST LIKE THE ONE IN OUR BACKYARD"

So it may not be a dog after all? Could be a person?

How could we forget Wildfire?

I wish to submit an album here. It is a concept album that tells the tragic story of Pompeii, I give you...

Pompeii.....Triumvirat

The Songs:

The Earthquake 62 A.D. 

Journey of a Fallen Angel 

Viva Pompeii
 
The Time of Your Life

The Rich Man and the Carpenter

Dance on the Volcano   

Vesuvius 79 A.D. 
 
The Hymn 

One of my all time favs, and the Killing of Georgie.


In the same kind of vein as 'Georgie' (although not as successful), 'Under One Roof' by The Rubettes...

Very brave songs to release, given the climate of the times...

So it may not be a dog after all? Could be a person?

NO, It's definately a dog. I "Googled" Henry Gross and found a website where he talks of the dog he sings about.

NO, It's definately a dog. I "Googled" Henry Gross and found a website where he talks of the dog he sings about.


Poor dog, they threw the stick too far into the sea...he couldn't make it back.  :\'( :\'( :\'( :\'(

Maybe not tragic but sad. I will TRY not to repeat the ones already mentioned.


Mr. Bojangles-Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (which always made me cry)
Ohio-Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young (VERY tragic)
Daniel-Sir Elton John
WOLD-Harry Chapin
Taxi-Harry Chapin
Mandy-Barry Manilow
Midnight Train to Georgia-Gladys Knight & The Pips
It's Too Late - Carole King



Cat

Maybe not tragic but sad. I will TRY not to repeat the ones already mentioned.


Mr. Bojangles-Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (which always made me cry)
Ohio-Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young (VERY tragic)
Daniel-Sir Elton John
WOLD-Harry Chapin
Taxi-Harry Chapin
Mandy-Barry Manilow
Midnight Train to Georgia-Gladys Knight & The Pips
It's Too Late - Carole King



Cat



mandy?  oh cuz its a heartbreak song. I get it.






if you're going to include Midnight Train to Georgia  then you should also include Last Time I saw Him by Diana Ross.  :)

mandy?  oh cuz its a heartbreak song. I get it.



Have you seen the Sims 2 video of the song? It gives the song a slightly different twist.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUy4CrlEtvA

Have you seen the Sims 2 video of the song? It gives the song a slightly different twist.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUy4CrlEtvA



I'm so twisted that when the couple was fighting I thought he was going to kill her....now that would have been tragic.  ;)

Have you seen the Sims 2 video of the song? It gives the song a slightly different twist.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUy4CrlEtvA


:\'( :\'( :\'( :\'( :\'(

"Bermuda Triangle Blues" by Blondie. Plane goes down. Passengers killed.