Fast Car
Pumped Up Kicks
Flowers on the Wall
this post was submitted on 03 Sep 2025
178 points (97.8% liked)
Ask Lemmy
40168 readers
1502 users here now
A Fediverse community for open-ended, thought provoking questions
Rules: (interactive)
1) Be nice and; have fun
Doxxing, trolling, sealioning, racism, toxicity and dog-whistling are not welcomed in AskLemmy. Remember what your mother said: if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all. In addition, the site-wide Lemmy.world terms of service also apply here. Please familiarize yourself with them
2) All posts must end with a '?'
This is sort of like Jeopardy. Please phrase all post titles in the form of a proper question ending with ?
3) No spam
Please do not flood the community with nonsense. Actual suspected spammers will be banned on site. No astroturfing.
4) NSFW is okay, within reason
Just remember to tag posts with either a content warning or a [NSFW] tag. Overtly sexual posts are not allowed, please direct them to either !asklemmyafterdark@lemmy.world or !asklemmynsfw@lemmynsfw.com.
NSFW comments should be restricted to posts tagged [NSFW].
5) This is not a support community.
It is not a place for 'how do I?', type questions.
If you have any questions regarding the site itself or would like to report a community, please direct them to Lemmy.world Support or email info@lemmy.world. For other questions check our partnered communities list, or use the search function.
6) No US Politics.
Please don't post about current US Politics. If you need to do this, try !politicaldiscussion@lemmy.world or !askusa@discuss.online
7) No Hit-and-Run questions.
Please don't delete your post for no apparent reason. If you plan on deleting a question later, say so in the post, or if you feel that you have a good reason to remove it, message a mod beforehand. It's not fair to the ones who took their time to answer, and it's not in the spirit of the community.
Reminder: The terms of service apply here too.
Partnered Communities:
Logo design credit goes to: tubbadu
founded 3 years ago
MODERATORS
The Motown hit Keep Me Hanging On by the Supremes is the classic example of this.
It was even recognized for its pathos and turned into a sadder slow version by psychedelic band Vanilla Fudge
load more comments
(3 replies)
Charlie's Inferno is about an innocent man being tortured in Hell. It's a 50's style tune reminiscent of Mr Sandman.
That's like Paul Simon's entire schtick. Alongside downbeat songs with uplifting lyrics.
Little Foot Big Foot - Childish Gambino
Hey Jealousy by The Gin Blossoms comes to mind.
Brown Sugar
A lot of that album was pretty subversive but hidden behind upbeat rock. The olds didn't realize what the kids were listening to because they just heard pop rock.
Lots of great choices here - I'll throw in Moon Over Marin by Dead Kennedys.
Sounds like a bop, but is actually about the destruction of the environment.
Someone else mentioned this too, but if anyone is into Japanese songs: I think there are probably more songs (especially Vocaloid ones) with extremely messed-up (and convoluted) lyrics than those that do not... I don't think most of them are well-known outside anime/vocaloid circles though. Trying to think about the more "cute and depressing" ones I could find:
NSFL
- Iyowa - Kyu-Kurarin: song is extremely cute. Supposedly implies breakup and suicide
- MikitoP - Shoujo Rei: involves two girls and one of them killed herself
- Mili - Nine Point Eight: one of my all time favorited; the title is somewhat self-explanatory
These are just what I could think of for now... A lot of songs with mentions of depression, suicide, etc... Other forms of messup, Telecaster B Boy is about being trans & not fitting in society I believe (song is a banger)
And this one is not "depressing" as-is, but Senbonzakura (that super famous Japan-esque song sung by Hatsune Miku that everyone has heard of) is about Imperial/WWII Japan sooo... take that as you will
The entirety of hissing fauna are you the destroyer by of Montreal
Ruru's suicide stream ? Would that one count ? Damn it's like all the songs flew out of my brain the moment I read this question ahahahh
Love - Forever Changes. The whole album.
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lIfiGGgw0nJ6H3UcVvp1UbFhwr0LGPiBE
Like half of Fall Out Boy's discography. "Hum Hallelujah" gets a special mention for literally being about a suicide attempt. Also "Dance In the Dark" by Lady Gaga, "Stomach Vs Heart" and "Humor of the Situation" by Barenaked Ladies ("Angry People" as well), "Slip Slidin Away" by Paul Simon, "When I Come Around" by Green Day...suffice it to say, I enjoy this trope a lot :P
Boys of Summer is about toxic obsession.
Just Ain't Gonna Work Out - Mayer Hawthorne
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kkrb4h4weW4
I can probably put some more but this one has been on me for a while.
You’re Gorgeous
Renai circulation, from the monogatari series. It's super cute but hidden inside is a cry for help.
A lot of Elliott Smith songs.
Porcupine Tree - Blackest Eyes
Mew - She came Home for Christmas
Mmmmbop
Club America by The Cure