3 Depressing Classic Rock Songs That May Induce Tears

In general, the genre of classic rock is meant to make you happy. There’s a reason that every city around the country has whole radio stations dedicated to this type of music. When you’re driving in your car, you want something that will lift your spirits after a long, tough day. Between the buzzing guitars and the big drums, classic rock gets your heart racing! But occasionally, there are some songs in the sound that don’t bring you up. Instead, they can bring your spirits down. They might just even be totally sad. Here, we wanted to explore three examples of that. Indeed, these are three depressing classic rock songs that may even induce tears.

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“Tears In Heaven” by Eric Clapton from ‘Rush: Music From The Motion Picture Soundtrack’ (1992)

Did somebody say tears? This 1992 track from Eric Clapton might just have the saddest backstory of any rock song in history. The tune is a letter to Clapton’s young child, who died after falling dozens of stories from an apartment window. Anyone reading that—parents especially—certainly feel a shudder at the idea. To process the devastation, Clapton wrote this song about what it might be like to meet his boy one day in the afterlife.

“My Guitar Gently Weeps” by The Beatles from ‘The Beatles’ (1968)

Another song about crying, this iconic rock track from The Beatles was written by their lead six-string player, George Harrison. Coincidentally, it also features Clapton on guitar in parts, too. Lyrically, the song has Harrison looking around at the world and feeling tears welling. Both in himself and in his electric guitar. The instrument can’t help but cry at the state of things. Cry, that is, through Harrison’s talented fingers. If only there were more love in the world, Harrison implores.

“Money” by Pink Floyd from ‘The Dark Side Of The Moon’ (1973)

While this psychedelic song from the British-born band Pink Floyd isn’t explicitly about depressing things, crying, or tears, its lyrical content can surely bring some tears if you think a little about it. What, do people say, is the root of all evil? That’s right! Money. Of course, money seems as necessary a tool as any for societal function today. But what if… what if… we didn’t need it? Then all of the perils—and, yes, tear-inducing images—that Pink Floyd sings about on this track may depart, too.

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