Heartbreaking Love Songs about Death: A Timeless Collection

As an empath and someone who embraces my full feelings of love, heartbreak, and the ultimate end to love, death, I have always had a penchant for songs that include all of these elements. While so many more songs could have been included in the list, my top ten heartbreaking love songs, including an ending with death, are timeless, beautiful, and addictive. Love songs often describe one-sided love, love gone wrong from cheating, undying love, and happiness, but the songs that can reach the listeners' hearts by exploring the death of a love are often the most memorable and can be a favorite sub-genre for many. Whether the subject dies from illness, battle, or suicide, these songs explore the pain of their loss in such an expert way and prove there can still be beauty in death. As it would be impossible to rank them from most to least tragic or otherwise, they are ranked by the year they were released, from oldest to newest.

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Ballad of the Green Berets, Sgt. Barry Sadler, 1966

Death of a spouse and war hero – battle

While most of the songs on this list address the love of a spouse or lover, Sgt. Barry Sadler's ballad brings light to the loss of a husband who was also a father, but above all, he was a hero, and the entire United States feels his loss. Out of 100 men who had tested to become Green Berets, he was one of only three who had passed the test to represent his country with such honor. The most tragic line in the song describes the reason the tragic hero lost his life: "he has died for those oppressed," with his last wishes asking his wife to support their young son in getting his Silver Wings and becoming one of America's best. Sgt. Saddler was a member of the Green Berets and wrote songs for his fellow soldiers after he was wounded and recuperating in the hospital, wanting to boost morale and offer Americans a more positive view of the fight in Vietnam.

The Ballad of the Green Beret

Ode to Billy Joe, Bobbie Gentry, 1967

Death of an unrequited love – suicide

Popularized by the 1976 movie of the same name, starring a young Robby Benson, this ode memorializes the death of a crush being discussed over Sunday dinner. "Billy Joe MacAllister jumped off the Tallahatchie Bridge" was mentioned almost as an aside, along with passing black-eyed peas and biscuits. As the song continues, there is more death and sadness, with Papa dying from a virus and Mama too depressed to bother with anything, but the memories of Billy Joe are prominent as flowers are picked and thrown off the Tallahatchie Bridge.

Ode to Billy Joe

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Honey, Bobby Goldsboro, 1968

Death of a spouse – illness or suicide

Bobby Goldsboro's hit about his love that was "kinda dumb and kinda smart" showcases the ups and downs of a loving relationship and how reflecting on the silly things that happen in a relationship can bring comfort when a loved one passes. Goldsboro's pain is evident as he repeats the chorus, "And Honey, I miss you. And I'm bein' good. And I'd love to be with you if only I could". The question remains since she had previously been crying when he arrived home and then ultimately passed when the angels came, and she was home alone, did she know she was sick, or did she die at her own hand?

Honey

Vincent (Starry Starry Night), Don McLean, 1971

Death of an artist – suicide

Undoubtedly the most famous death in this list, the story of Vincent Van Gogh's tragic and untimely death, is revealed in Vincent's lyrics by Don McLean. McLean's melancholy words describe Vincent's struggles with his sanity and his inability to live in a world with so much pain. Instead of blaming Van Gogh for his suicide, McLean offers a peaceful acceptance, singing, "You took your life, as lovers often do, but I could've told you, Vincent, this world was never meant for one as beautiful as you."

Vincent

Seasons in the Sun, Terry Jacks, 1973

Death of a loved one – illness

Possibly the most well-known on this list, Seasons in the Sun is also open to the most interpretation as to who has passed; with lines about saying goodbyes to friends, to "Papa," and to the little one "Michelle," this song could be about a parent, grandparent, friend or lover. The repeat of the chorus, "We had joy, we had fun, we had seasons in the sun," celebrates everything about life instead of focusing on the sadness and finality of death. While Jacks was not the first to sing Seasons in the Sun, it was initially the French song Le Moribund, which had a very different and much darker feel; the most popular version is this one.

Seasons in the Sun

Billy Don't Be a Hero, Bo Donaldson, 1974

Death of a lover and war hero – battle

Another song about the death of a hero, Billy Don't Be a Hero, highlights the excitement and passion of a soldier desiring to be a hero contrasted by the fear of the fiancée he has left behind. This narrative eloquently demonstrates the pride of American strength and the fear living inside of us of "but not my son ."As Billy's fiancée begs him not to go to war, her words are forgotten as he chooses to be a hero and rides off to bring back extra men, only to be killed. The fiancée is heartbroken when she finally throws away the letter proclaiming her Billy to be a hero.

Billy Don't Be a Hero

Rocky, Austin Roberts, 1975

Death of a spouse – illness

Roberts' tear-jerking ballad reflects on the entire journey of a young couple from meeting at 18 to buying a home together and fixing it up, the joy of having a baby, and ultimately, the death of the love of his life. The haunting chorus changes from never having been in love before, "don't know if I can do it," and "God knows if the world should end your love is safe with me," to the fear of having a baby and finally the fear of dying. As the song comes to a close, we are reminded of the love the couple shared with the chorus, "Rocky, you know you've been alone before. You know that you can do it, but if you'd like to lean on me, take my hand, and I'll help you through it (through it). I said, 'Baby, oh sweet baby, it's love that sets us free, and I told you when the world would end, your love was safe with me".

Rocky

Love, Me, Collin Raye, 1991

Death of a spouse – natural

Love, Me describes a 15-year-old boy's experience with his grandmother's death as he sees it through the eyes of his grandfather. The boy reads a note about the depth of love between his grandparents and realizes how painful that love can be when life ends for one of them. The note is sweet when written and demonstrates the best of young love, but it turns bittersweet when being read after the grandmother's death. "If you get there before I do, don't give up on me. I'll meet you when my chores are through, I don't know how long I'll be," is at first exciting, and the young lovers' plans are evident, but when read after she passes, it takes on a different meaning as it is interpreted she will wait for him to join her in the afterlife.

Love, Me

Maggie, Colin Hay, 2001

Death of a lover – suicide

While most of the songs on this list do not mention the cause of death, and some leave you wondering, it is clear Maggie has died of suicide in this 2001 tearjerker. The story of Maggie is told through the eyes of someone who loved her from a young age but saw her decline over the years and finally fell out of touch, though he never stopped loving her. When he runs into Maggie's mother after not seeing Maggie for years, she cries and can barely speak, but she hands him a note. Maggie writes, "Hey, darlin' boy, don't you cry for me. I am forever yours now that I am free," and with that, Maggie's gone.

Maggie

Whiskey Lullaby, Brad Paisley featuring Alison Krauss, 2004

Death of a lover – alcoholism

Whiskey Lullaby is possibly one of the most heartbreaking songs ever performed as unrequited love is often the case, with one lover feeling more strongly about the object of their affection than they will ever see returned. Having never recovered from the anguish over her breaking his heart, he drinks constantly to try and erase those memories until he finally "Put that bottle to his head and pulled the trigger." Eventually, she cannot live with the pain she has caused him, so she follows suit and also dies from alcoholism, and they are finally reunited beneath the willow tree.

Whiskey Lullaby

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