Happy songs with depressing lyrics

[Browser]

Any examples of the title ?

Mine is "Where you are" in the movie Moana.



It's this happy song upbeat song, but it's moana's father and community slowly convincing her that she is responsible for everyone's future by doing exactly what she does not want for her life, and in the end of the song she gets convinced while pining for life of freedom by looking at the one person who respects her dreams, her grandmother, who the village casts aside as being crazy. Every time I hear it I get sad and vow not to do that to my daughter.

 

[Bradbury]

The Mountain Goats Thread

 

[MechaX]

Depends on what you want to define as a "happy" song; the tone here is definitely... upbeat.

But the lyrics are... yeah...

 

[KingFrost92]

May be a little on the nose, but Komm Susser Tod is the first thing that comes to my mind. Chipper, epic melody with depressing, nihilistic lyrics, especially given the context if you've seen Eva.



EDIT: Dammit, beat me to it by two seconds haha

 

[Abicus]

 

[Z-Beat]

 

[DynamicG]

There are lots of 90s pop songs with this theme going on. My favorites are Run Around by Blues Traveler and lots of stuff from the Gin Blossoms, by Hey Jealousy in particular.

 

[Perzeval]

 

[Z-Beat]

 

[DoubleYou]

 

[Reverse Giraffe]

 

[ClickyCal']

Depending on how you interpret it.

 

[Bronx-Man]

I'm surprised no one's mentioned Pumped Up Kicks yet. That's the king of it.

 

[LewieP]

It's a cover but

 

[Pockets]

Hey Ya! Is the top of my list.

3000 got every motherfucker that attends a wedding shaking their ass to a break up song.

 

[Jombie]

Silver Jews discography.

 

[Jasup]

Let's get the obvious out of the way:


Basically, the 99 balloons that fly on the horizon are mistaken for an attack and it triggers a nuclear war that lasts for 99 years. Everything's shit.

 

[Peru]

The album

 

[Tezz]

Click to shrink...

Came for this.

 

[Xythantiops]

 

[Dali]

I literally clicked every YouTube link in this thread and they all except for Perzeval 's do not work as embedded. Fyi If your goal is to share a song you're fond of this isn't the way to do it.

Anyway my pick is doop doop doop, doo doo, doop doop:
https://youtu.be/beINamVRGy4
Third eye blind - semi charmed life

Song about getting fucked up and apparently getting high on meth and wanting to come down off your high. It's funny seeing people's reaction when I tell them this.

 

[Okabe]

 

[Deleted member 721]

 

[Browser]

Hey Ya! Is the top of my list.

3000 got every motherfucker that attends a wedding shaking their ass to a break up song.

Click to shrink...

This one is a classic for sure. And its weird thay its such a wedding song.

Let's get the obvious out of the way:


Basically, the 99 balloons that fly on the horizon are mistaken for an attack and it triggers a nuclear war that lasts for 99 years. Everything's shit.

Click to shrink...

Holy shit never knew this before. Just read the lyrics and im shook. In the end a survivor even finds a red balloon in a destroyed city.

 

[Mr Jones]

Isn't there a Cardigans song about a thirsty girl who is dumped by a dude but can't let it go?



EDIT: Y'know YouTube, stopping me from being able to view your videos on this site isn't a good look.

 

[Dr.Phibes]

Depends on what you want to define as a "happy" song; the tone here is definitely... upbeat.

But the lyrics are... yeah...

Click to shrink...

The title alone is a dead giveaway.

 

[Nameless]

Queen Kate - Suspended in Gaffa

 

[DanarchyReigns]

A jaunty little tune about... crystal meth addiction.

 

[Kaah]

?

 

[bigred50]

Definitely: Third Eye Blind - Semi Charmed Life

I had no idea that song was about overdosing on meth and blowjobs.

 

[skeezx]

A jaunty little tune about... crystal meth addiction.

Click to shrink...

came to post this one. all kinds of wtf listening to the lyrics, which i never really did until about 20 years after it was plastered on the radio

 

[Baha]

Upbeat song about crippling depression.

 

[lunarworks]

Today by the Smashing Pumpkins is about a guy who's decided to kill himself.

 

[BlackRainbowFT]

 

[RustyNails]

Foster the People - Pumped Up Kicks. It's about school shooter.

Robert's got a quick hand
He'll look around the room, he won't tell you his plan
He's got a rolled cigarette, hanging out his mouth he's a cowboy kid
Yeah found a six shooter gun
In his dad's closet hidden oh in a box of fun things, I don't even know what
But he's coming for you, yeah he's coming for you

All the other kids with the pumped up kicks
You'd better run, better run, out run my gun
All the other kids with the pumped up kicks
You'd better run, better run, faster than my bullet

Daddy works a long day
He be coming home late, he's coming home late
And he's bringing me a surprise
'Cause dinner's in the kitchen and it's packed in ice
I've waited for a long time
Yeah the slight of my hand is now a quick pull trigger
I reason with my cigarette
And say your hair's on fire, you must have lost your wits, yeah

All the other kids with the pumped up kicks
You'd better run, better run, out run my gun
All the other kids with the pumped up kicks
You'd better run, better run, faster than my bullet

Click to shrink...

 

[Volimar]

Definitely: Third Eye Blind - Semi Charmed Life

I had no idea that song was about overdosing on meth and blowjobs.

Click to shrink...

You must have only heard the radio edit. It gets pretty explicit with the jargon.

Another example in that vein is Lust For Life.

 

[Tortahegesztő]

 

[DiipuSurotu]

Of Monsters and Men - Little Talks

It's two lovers talking to each other, but one of them is dead.

 

[Deleted member 1481]

(Hard times)
gonna make you wonder why you even try
(Hard times) gonna take you down and laugh when you cry
(These lives) and I still don't know how I even survive
(Hard times)
(Hard times)
And I gotta get to rock bottom

Click to shrink...

 

[Accoun]

Does "fucked up" count as depressing?

 

[Perzeval]

 

[OG YOLOwen]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4-pexSVWzM

Enjoy.