Another recent thread here got me thinking, what are the most tragic/depressing songs you’ve ever heard in the folk tradition? (Any “folk” tradition)
I’ll get things rolling:
The Ballad of Hollis Brown is one that comes to mind for me.
Loren
Kilkelly, Ireland
Bridget O’Malley always makes me cry, especially when I hear it done by Andy Stewart.
Definitely. I hate that song because it makes me cry every time I hear it.
The other song that I always found REALLY depressing was that song, “Fast Car” by Tracy Chapman.
Justine
Ooh, definitely another tear-jerker of a song. 
Speaking of Andy Stewart, Fire in the Glen also pulls at my heart…
Don’t know if this song has a name, but it starts out,
“Well it was rainin’ the day my Maw got out of prison…”
Kilkelly is certainly sentimental, but I don’t believe that it’s necessarily depressing.
Not depressing?
_Kilkelly Ireland, eighteen and sixty, my dear and lovin’ son John
Your good friend the Schoolmaster Pat McNamara, so good as to write these words down.
Your brothers have all gone to find work in England, the house is so empty and sad,
The crop of potatoes is sorely affected, a third to a half of them bad.
And your sister Bridget and Patrick O’Donnell, are goin’ to be married in June,
Your mother says not to work on the railroad, and be sure to come on home soon.
Kilkelly Ireland, eighteen and seventy, my dear and lovin’ son John
Hello to your missus and to your four children, that they may grow healthy and strong
Michael has got in a wee bit of trouble, I suppose he never will learn
Because of the dampness there’s no turf to speak of and now we have nothing to burn.
And Bridget is happy you named the child for her, although she’s got six of her own
You say you’ve found work, but you don’t say what kind, or when you’ll be comin’ home.
Kilkelly Ireland, eighteen and eighty, dear Michael and John my sons
I’m sorry to give you the very sad news that your dear old mother has gone.
We buried her down at the church in Kilkelly, your brothers and Bridget were there,
You don’t have to worry, she died very quickly, remember her in your prayers.
And it’s so good to hear that Michael’s returning with money he’s sure to buy land
For the crop has been poor and the people are selling, for any price that they can.
Kilkelly Ireland, eighteen and ninety, my dear and lovin’ son John
I suppose that I must be close on eighty, it’s thirty years since you’ve gone
Because of all of the money you sent me, I’m still living’ out of my own
Michael has built himself a fine house, and Bridget’s daughters have grown
And thank you for sendin’ your family picture, they’re lovely young women and men
You say you might even come for a visit, what a joy to see you again.
Kilkelly Ireland, eighteen and ninety two, my dear brother John,
I’m sorry I didn’t write sooner, to tell you that father has gone.
He was living with Brigid, she said he was cheerful and healthy right down to the end
And you should have seen him play with the grandchildren, of Pat McNamara your friend.
And we buried him alongside of mother, down at Kilkelly churchyard
He was a strong and a feisty old man, considering that life is so hard.
And it’s funny the way he kept talkin’ about you, he called for you at the end
And why don’t you think about comin’ to visit, we’d all love to see you again.
_
It’s depressing to me because I live far away from my parents and siblings, and I don’t get to visit as often as I’d like.
Gordon Lightfoot, Circle of Steel
fergul sharkey, it never happens to me. oh wait, that ain’t irtrad. 
neither is Gordon Lightfoot.
Okay, I’m guessing many folks won’t be familiar with a lot of the songs named, so I should have asked folks to post lyrics.
And by the way, doesn’t have to be Irtrad Amar.
Now, having seen the words to Kilkelly Ireland, it doesn’t seem all that depressing a song, now come on folks, you can do better…er, or is that worse?
Here are the lyrics for the Ballad of Hollis Brown (a Dylan tune, also done solo (in part) by Steven Stills):
"Hollis Brown
He lived on the outside of town
Hollis Brown
He lived on the outside of town
With his wife and five children
And his cabin fallin’ down
You looked for work and money
And you walked a rugged mile
You looked for work and money
And you walked a rugged mile
Your children are so hungry
That they don’t know how to smile
Your baby’s eyes look crazy
They’re a-tuggin’ at your sleeve
Your baby’s eyes look crazy
They’re a-tuggin’ at your sleeve
You walk the floor and wonder why
With every breath you breathe
The rats have got your flour
Bad blood it got your mare
The rats have got your flour
Bad blood it got your mare
If there’s anyone that knows
Is there anyone that cares?
You prayed to the Lord above
Oh please send you a friend
You prayed to the Lord above
Oh please send you a friend
Your empty pockets tell yuh
That you ain’t a-got no friend
Your babies are crying louder
It’s pounding on your brain
Your babies are crying louder
It’s pounding on your brain
Your wife’s screams are stabbin’ you
Like the dirty drivin’ rain
Your grass it is turning black
There’s no water in your well
Your grass is turning black
There’s no water in your well
You spent your last lone dollar
On seven shotgun shells
Way out in the wilderness
A cold coyote calls
Way out in the wilderness
A cold coyote calls
Your eyes fix on the shotgun
That’s hangin’ on the wall
Your brain is a-bleedin’
And your legs can’t seem to stand
Your brain is a-bleedin’
And your legs can’t seem to stand
Your eyes fix on the shotgun
That you’re holdin’ in your hand
There’s seven breezes a-blowin’
All around the cabin door
There’s seven breezes a-blowin’
All around the cabin door
Seven shots ring out
Like the ocean’s pounding roar
There’s seven people dead
On a South Dakota farm
There’s seven people dead
On a South Dakota farm
Somewhere in the distance
There’s seven new people born"
Now THAT is a depressing song.
Loren
You know, I don’t know if it’s so much the lyrics that make a song depressing or haunting, as it is the combination of the music and the lyrics… know what I mean?
This is starting to look like a list of my favourite songs…
Kilkelly sez more about the tragic effects of emigration than a library full of history books and Hollis Brown is a classic meditation on the despair of true poverty and the desperation that comes with it.
Great Art ain’t always a pretty thing to experience and I have always found these two songs extremely life affirming and inspirational.
Claptons well known dirge “Wonderful tonight” is one song that really depresses me. It’s a long,long way from that piece of mawkish crap to the passion of Layla.
Slan,
D. 
Loren
Whoa. I think that takes the title.
And now, in the Slightly Less Depressing Irish Tune Category … how about “My Youngest Son (Came Home Today)”?
bob dylans " north country blues " has always been a favorite, and the old fenian song, " wind that shakes the barley ".
Right,
If you want Depression check out the biggest selling Irish act in the world after U2. Daniel O’Donnell.
This guy creeps me out so much that just writing this is making me shake with rage.The most useless,untalented clown ever to get a recording contract.
There is an old gag floating around which asks “If you were stuck in a lift (elevator) with Maggie Thatcher,Saddam Hussein and Daniel O’Donnell and you only had two bullets in your gun,what would you do?”
The answer,of course,is “shoot O’Donnell twice.”
Slan,
D.
P.S.
Apologies to all for mentioning his name on the Chiff Board.