I’m working on a playlist of saddest songs by Christians or Christian artists. They could be sad but hopeful, sad but loving, sad due to losing a loved one, personal struggles, etc…., or just sad in general. I was wondering what are some of your favorite sad songs? Right now I keep listening to “Goodbye” by Plankeye.
Saddest Songs Written By Christians or Christian Artists?
By Jeremiah Holdsworth on August-27-2011 | Filed under News | Tags : music, sad, sad songs | Share 
About the author Jeremiah Holdsworth
I was born in Florida and currently reside in the Houston Texas area. I have a wonderful wife and two sons. I like all genres of music so I can't be boxed in. I listen to it all and review it all. View all posts by Jeremiah Holdsworth
| Lee Brown, 10m ago 
Hannah Rose
This City Awaits
Aquile (The Voice)
Victor Griffin and Jeff “Oly” Olson (IN~GRAVED)
Kingdom Band
RED
Tiffany Arbuckle Lee (Plumb)
Southbound Fearing
Matt Baird (Spoken)
CedEnough
Brian “Head” Welch (Love and Death)
Andrew Schwab
KJ-52
Lil’ Dre
The O.C. Supertones
A Past Unknown
Gideon
Memphis May Fire
Heath McNease
Belle Epoque
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all of Starflyer 59′s songs, shoegaze<3
“Gold and Silver” by Stavesacre has been mentioned a few times, but i find “Rivers Underneath” by them to be sad as well, more over mournful about the theme of addiction and struggle against opposing odds.
especially the “Live from Deep Ellum” version of “Gold and Silver”
Sad Song – Puller
Elle G – Newsboys
My Heartstrings Come Undone – Demon Hunter
Goodbye – Audio Adrenaline
Scum Sweetheart – Audio Adrenaline
Dare You to Move – Switchfoot
Open Wounds – Skillet
Lucy – Skillet
Would it Matter – Skillet
Carry Me Down – Demon Hunter
Some Seek Forgiveness, Others Escape – Underoath
This is a Call – Thousand Foot Krutch
If We Are the Body – Casting Crowns
The Way I Feel – 12 Stones
Thinking About Forever – P.O.D.
Save Me from Myself – Brian Head Welch
Gone – Tobymac
No New Kind of Story – Starflyer 59
Thief – Third Day
New Hope – Five Iron Frenzy
I still stand by “Center Aisle” by Caedmon’s Call as one of the saddest songs I’ve ever heard. I strongly recommend giving it a listen here: http://grooveshark.com/#/s/Center+Aisle/31cJK2?src=5
I recently made an “emotionally powerful” sort of playlist which included several (but not all… I only kept it CD length) of these songs that I find “sad”:
Emery- “By All Accounts (Today Was a Disaster)”
Jars of Clay- “Silence”
Steven Curtis Chapman- Beauty Will Rise album (It’s centered around the event of his adopted daughter’s death and his and his family’s ensuing recovery)
Jars of Clay- “Headphones”
Steven Curtis Chapman- “What I Would Say”
Gasoline Heart- “Eager Seas”
mewithoutYou- “I Never Said that I Was Brave (acoustic)”
The Choir- “Sad Face”
The Spirit That Guides Us- “Real Life Motion Picture”
Embodyment- “Halo of Winter”
Zao- “To Think of You…”
Zao- “If These Scars Could Speak”
The Tide- “Rest”
Switchfoot- “Don’t Be There”
Blenderhead- “Disengaged”
Blenderhead- “Cesspool”
PAX217- “What is Love”
Newsboys- “Elle G”
Newsboys- “Lost the Plot”
Johnny Q. Public- “P.K.”/”Preacher’s Kid”
Somehow I missed that song by Caedmon’s Call-incredible song.
Yes that song is ridiculously sad. Caedmon’s is far and away one of the most underrated bands in Christian music.
mewithoutYou- “I Never Said that I Was Brave (acoustic)
that song is so ridiculously amazing
Besides Daniel – “Lake Michigan”, and also a beautiful/depressing song “A Divine Comedy.” This guy makes awesome music.
I went back through 30 years of CD’s for this playlist. So many great lamentations. God speaks through music to get us through hard times.
Casimir Pulaski Day-Sufjan Stevens
Frail-Jars of Clay
Eyes of God-Common Children
Contact-As Cities Burn
In Coma-Dead Poetic
The Soviet-Me Without You
Some Will Seek Forgiveness-Underoath
Unwinding Cable Car-Anberlin
Marianas Trench- August Burns Red
Butcher’s Mouth-Emery
Sick Cycle Carousal-Lifehouse
Broken-Twelve Stones
All of Us-Blindside
Merciful Eyes-The Choir
Bring Me To Life-Evanescence
Self Made Trap/Alone Together-The 77’s
New Year’s Day-U-2
Dust in The Wind-Kansas
Send The Pain Below-Chevelle
Gray Man-Copeland
Sun-Mae
Perform-Monarch
Secret of the Easy Yoke-Pedro The Lion
Within a Room Somewhere-Sixpence None The Richer
Rain Pours Down-Something Like Silas
Shaken Up-Delerious
Shaded Pain-LSU
Shadow on Me-Project 86
Low-The Violet Burning
Rest For The Weary-Cool Hand Luke
This Day and Age-The Bell and Hammer
Into the Dark-The Juliana Theory-
Emery – The Smile, The Face; From Crib To Coffin (& the others – saddest band)
Anberlin – Hello Alone (I woke up crying first time I listened to it)
As Cities Burn – The Widow (Cornerstone) (saddest performance)
Project 86 – Bottom Feeder (remarkable)
Relient K – I So Hate Consequences (Saddest with the most hopeful ending)
Search The City – Clocks & Time Pieces (Sad situation, I know)
Skillet – Open Wounds (‘Scream it at her face’ song)
Swithfoot – Don’t Be There (hurting song)
Third Day – San Angelo (very very sad)
Underoath – To Whom It May Concern (saddest underoath song)
I just wanted to add “Would You Think Less of Me?” by Bradley Hathaway. The song was written about his grandmother’s death.
“Free the Three” or now known as “West Memphis Three” by Zao, Oh, Sleeper’s new song Hush Yael, if no has mentioned it yet.
Bradley Hathaway – She Was Raised By a Man
Bradley Hathaway- The World Is Screaming
Copeland – Not So Tough Found Out
Josh Garrels – Ulysses
Lovedrug- Down toward the healing
Mat Kearney – Where We Gonna Go From Here
Watashi Wa – 2:57
Sufjan Stevens- John Wayne Gacy Jr.
i don’t know if all of these are considered sad, but they all invoke some heavier emotions for me when I hear them for sure.
That Bradley Hathaway album was really sad…I just found out that he has an Indie Gogo thing going for his new full length. He only has three days and is like $9000 away. http://www.indiegogo.com/bradleyhathaway
Brave Saint Saturn- Estrella
Brave Saint Saturn- Heart Still Beats
Grammatrain- Execution
Go Fish-Cry in the Rain
I See A Darkness by Johnny Cash is one of my favorite “sad” songs.
Jenny & Tyler-”Through Your Eyes”
“Asleep In the Light”- Keith Green
It’s not sad in the sense that it necessarily brings you to tears, but more so in the idea that it is a sad reality among Christians. We as Christians have a tendency to completely overlook the opportunities that God provides for us to share the Gospel with those who do not know Him. So often we get caught up in being content with the fact that we are saved that we completely cast aside the fact that there are people around us who are not. We turn a blind eye in their direction and continue skipping through life as if there is nothing wrong. I know I am guilty of this. It is amazing how selfish we are. It is our duty as Christians to proclaim the name of Christ to a world who does not know Him. I mean that is what Matthew 28:19-20 is all about right? We are called to “Go and make disciples of all nations”. And knowing this, we still shrug it off and expect someone else to do it. This song is the perfect reflection of this unfortunate reality within the church. And I don’t know about you, but that is one of the saddest things that I have seen about Christians. We are so full of ourselves sometimes, when it should be Christ that we are full of. So in that respect, I felt this song would be worth mentioning on here.
I completely agree with you on this one!
Joy Electric: Analogue Grand Diary
“You’re Like A Taxi” by Showbread is another one.
Baby Doe – Steve Taylor
River on Fire – Adam Again
Resplendent – Vigilantes of Love
Imminent Collapse – The Violet Burning
Healing Oil – Chris Lizotte
Writhe for Hearing – Chasing Furies
Paralyzed – Sixpence None the Richer
“Last Goodbye” Tedashii
I need a good christain song for a break up between me and my girl because we got to wrapped up in each other and there was alot of sexual temptation and we are pulling away from each other to fully focus on god… but its hard when you really loved someone
90% of Emery songs. Also, if you are more into rap, check out 116 Clique’s “Temptation,’ or KB’s “Open Letter.” Also, Beautiful Eulogy’s “Take it Easy.” Sorry to hear about the breakup though.
Locked Inside This Moment by the 77′s… or pretty much anything from Mike Roe’s “Safe as Milk” album.
disciple – things left unsaid is one of the saddest songs
its not fair – I Am Empire
A year and a half later I realize I left Sufjan Stevens completely off my list. He is, in my opinion, the master of sad songs and brings emotions out of me that few other artists can. Prime examples:
Romulus
Vesuvius
Futile Devices
I Want to Be Well
Casimir Pulaski Day
John Wayne Gacy Jr.
The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades is Out to Get Us!
For the Widows in Paradise, For the Fatherless in Ypsilanti
I nearly lose it when I hear every one of these songs.
The 77′s “Don’t, This Way” is sadness colored by sound, as well as “Cry Myself to Sleep” by Undercover.There’s also Dead Artist Syndrome’s “Hope”, “Double” by Aunt Betty’s Ford/L.S.U & Adam Again’s “Who Can Hold Us?” Poor Old Lu’s “Do I?” is just tragic. Julie Miller’s “Broken Things” has it’s share of sorrow. Sadness doesn’t get more lonely than on The Prayer Chain’s “The Hollow”. The Throes wistfully performed “Elizabeth” is felt more than heard. If one can find it, The entire “Spooky Loop” lp by Paloma (Gene Eugene lent his incredible talents to this all too little heard release) is worth a lifetime of listening. The entire “Into the Woods” album by the Call is definitely an experience in grief. Speaking of Grief, Sincerely Paul’s lp “Grieve” is definitely rife with it (“Shame Last Sunday” bleeds & bleeds). Like The Choir’s “Sad Face”, Delirious?’s “Summer of Love” came out of personal loss (Stewart Smith and his wife lost their unborn baby through a miscarriage). More recently (& also written after the loss of a friend’s stillborn child), Mike Mains & The Branches’ “Emma Ruth” just aches & aches & aches… and so does “Sleepless” by The Strive (written about the loss of a mother & wife). Both Mark Heard & Tonio K’s catologues are littered with confessions pain, with too many songs to cite individually.
Plankeye – Goodbye
The Classic Crime – The End
Demon Hunter – My Heartstrings Come Undone
Demon Hunter – Carry Me Down [Piano Version]
KB – I can’t Play the Background ft. Elijah Smooth
Stereotrap – Lonely
Stereotrap – Scream to God
Falling Up – Summer Song
The Classic Crime – The Precipice
Ascend the Hill – Even When I’m At My Darkest
Stars Go Dim – Seventeen (Acoustic)
Hillsong United – Search My Heart
Everyday Sunday – Here With Me
Bellarive – Shine On
Avalanche City – Love Don’t Leave
Andy Hunter – Raining Sunshine
Lakes – Back in Your Head
Further Seems Forever – New Year’s Project
Further Seems Forever – All Rise
Starflyer 59 – Dual Overhead Cam (or the whole Gold album)
The Glorious Unseen – Breathe Life Into Me
Jenny & Tyler – Carry Me
Jimmy Needham – Clear the Stage
Kari Jobe – What Love Is this
Kari Jobe – Love Came Down
Tim Hughes – My Jesus, My Lifeline
Chris Tomlin – I Will Rise
Lights – Drive My Soul
The Fear of God – Showbread
Timothy – As Cities Burn.
Pretty much all of Pedro the Lion’s It’s Hard to Find a Friend, as well as The Only Reason I Feel Secure.
But especially “The Bells,” “Secret of the Easy Yoke,” “The Longer I Lay Here,”… ah, just all of it.
Also, “Don’t Be There” by Switchfoot is a good one indeed.
I know I’m resurrecting a really old post, but I’ve really kind of been in the mood for sad songs lately. Been listening to the Caedmon’s call song a ton. Also checked out a lot of the other songs on this thread…any yet unmentioned song suggestions for me?
Some of these songs came out after this was posted and I believe none of the other songs were posted before. All these songs are sad in lyrics and/or vibe. Will pull at your spirit and soul.
Virgin Black – “…And I Am Suffering”
Sovereign Grace Music – Shine Into My Night
Orion Walsh – The First Shall Be Last
Everlasting Word Band – Day Of Wonders! Day Of Judgement!
Hands – Rescue
From Indian Lakes – The Man With Wooden Legs
Heath McNease – A Lesson Before Dying
Jane Marczewski – Our Time
Cool Hand Luke – Goodbye, For Now
Key Of David – Coming Storm
Needle – The Plan
The Hotshot Freight Train – Hadley
Callisto – The Fugitive
Elgibbor – Suffering Soul
Flyleaf – Dear My Closet Friend
Here I Come Falling – And So We’ll Be With The Lord Forever
Lauren Shera – Your Battle
Natalie Grant – Held
Orphan Project – Spooning Out The Sea
Pomegranates – Surfing The Human Heart
Shai Linne – Letter From The Grave
The Apprentice – Disease
The Lighthouse And The Whaler – Iron Doors
Thanks Jeremiah. I’ll be sure to check these. I really appreciate it.
Superchick’s new song “This Is The Time” is pretty emotionaal- I think it was the last song that Chase, their drummer, recorded before he passed away: https://soundcloud.com/maxwax-2/superchick-this-is-the-time
Dead Poetic- Vices
Showbread- the fear of god
As Cities Burn- the widow
Pretty much all of Eisley’s The Valley album
Copeland- Should You Return
A Rose By Any Other Name- Unfather
Jon Foreman- Somebody’s Baby
Emery- I Never Got To See The West Coast
This is not a Christian band, but All Get Out has a song called Let Me Go that’s definitely full of honesty, truth and is slightly redemptive. It’s a clean song if that concerns you too ha. It helped my brother (who is a Christian) get through a rough patch in his marriage.
Hands down – Anathallo: To Gary and Marcus: The Sovereignty of God Is Omnipresent
Lyrics:
I could not come this time and stand on my feet.
I just thought of you and sank.
“I’m tough, I’m tough,” I told myself…
but I fell apart.
Thin arms cling lightly to my sunken chest.
I hold my breath.
Your sad eyes droop with hopelessness,
and I feel like I’m dying with you.
And I hold your toothpick ribcage.
And I pray aloud into your ear,
“Lord what would you have of me?
To plead before You for this child?
Why does faith seem so foreign to me now?”
Every time I see your beautiful faces in my thoughts,
or in something I see, may faith stand firm.
Let it grow from grace I have received
and know that this grace abounds to you so far away.