Songs that deliver a gut punch

[IntelligentInputDarling]

Sorry for weird title.
Just wondering if there are any songs, when heard unexpectedly, has the power to hit you in the gut and render you an emotional wreck.
I heard Separate Lives (Phil Collins/Marilyn Martin) earlier today and the emotions it brought up are still with me now.

Songs eh. Powerful stuff.

Where ever you will go - The Calling.
First heard it in Coyote Ugly (Adam Garcia 😍)
We had acoustic version at our wedding.
Then my Mum said she'd want it played at her funeral. Didn't know it would get used so soon. Bittersweet as im glad she had a song she wanted.
Depending on my mood if I hear that song, ill either sing it passionately or sit in silence.

I should have known - Foo Fighters

The Subway by Chappell Roan. Her voice is so beautiful.

Fix you by Cold Play. It gives me chills

Slipping through my fingers and One man one woman by ABBA
Circle in the sand by Belinda Carlisle
Leaving on a jet plane by John Denver
Hold my hand by Lady Gaga
Soon you’ll get better by Taylor Swift

Billy Joel Lullabye. We sang it at choir and I never managed to get through without choking up. On the otherhand it did push me to get a long overdue smear test.

Fix you Coldplay instantly takes me back to having just given birth at 29 weeks and the dr gently telling me he was a very poorly boy and to go straight to him. 10% chance of survival. It was a guttural noise that came out of me I can’t ever really explain it but I get the feeling. I was soooo lucky. He made it. The nhs saved my life and his that day.

Time by Pink Floyd

Somewhere Over the Rainbow - my late mum used to sing it to me when I was a child and couldn’t sleep. My son’s year 6 production was Wizard of Oz - I had to really hold it together!

Dance with my father again…
I used to get embarrassed when my dad would get me to dance at parties etc but now I would give anything for one last dance!

Yes, this as well. Saw them live in the summer. Tried not to cry through this one …

The Boiler - Rhoda Dakar with the Specials. The first time I heard it, I was alone. Her screaming still haunts me and I’ve only played the record once since. It’s a ska classic.

Bright Eyes Art Garfunkel

Die Trying by New Model Army
'Winters storms and the snow flying
Razor wire and the gulls crying
Cross the water or die trying'

Love to Love by UFO - a majestic song to love lost

Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol - heard at a family funeral and I'd happily never hear it again.

That song is chilling.

Agree w Chasing Cars as well.

And going to add How to Save a Life by The Fray.

And one more / The Living Years - Mike & The Mechanics. Came out after my dad died. I was young.

How to save a life /The Fray

Here comes the sun - my mums funeral song

Iris - Go-Go-Dolls
And We danced - The Hooters
Love you do bad - Ezra Furman

I watched a live streamed Divine Comedy concert during lockdown. It kicked off with Absent Friends and I cried for the first time about the whole lockdown / covid situation - I was living abroad so very far from my family. Following that I lost two close friends to cancer in quick succession. Now whenever I hear it, it’s a total gut punch.

Absolutely this. Leaving my Dad after he died to go to my hotel room alone (my lovely family 5 hrs away) I stopped in a layby and cried myself silly listening to this over and over. I had just dropped my Mum back to her care home. I couldn't stay with her anymore because I was absolutely shattered and exhausted and...
This song was all about her and I'm thankful she was so far into Alzheimer's that by the time the wonderful care home staff ushered her into the lounge and made her a cup of tea she'd forgotten she'd just lost her beloved husband of 62 years.
For that I'm thankful.
She joined him 18mths later.(She had Alzheimer's and I had spent a week with her and her erratic behaviour. I didn't really sit down in that time.)

I Get Along Without You Very Well - such a beautiful sad song.

Everybody Hurts - REM

These are making me cry just reading the song titles. Music is such a powerful thing. There’s a song called Winter by Tori Amos that leaves me in bits as I used to listen to the album around the time my dad died. When she sings “ I put my hand in my father’s glove…”

Rock and Roll I Gave You the Best Years of My Life by Kevin Johnson when he says "she tried to help me realise I'd never be a star".

Hurt- Jonny Cash

Praying for time- George Michael

Stick Season- Noah Kahan

and most recent:

Blessings - Calvin Harris