Suicide is Painless in the first song I thought of when I saw the thread title. I like to play it on the piano and the music actually can be a very melancholy, pretty song but the versions I've heard sound a little too light and upbeat for the lyrics. Course the lyrics are amibiguous enough to allow for different interpretations.
They say that these are not the best of times But they're the only times I've ever known And I believe there is a time for meditation In cathedrals of our own
Now, I have seen that sad surrender in my lover's eyes And I can only stand apart and sympathize For we are always what our situations hand us It's either sadness or euphoria
So we'll argue and we'll compromise And realize that nothing's ever changed For all our mutual experience, Our separate conclusions are the same
Now we are forced to recognize our inhumanity Our reason coexists with our insanity And though we choose between reality and madness It's either sadness or euphoria
How thoughtlessly we dissipate our energies Perhaps we don't fulfill each others fantasies And as we stand upon the ledges of our lives, With our respective similarities It's either sadness of euphoria
And Timothy was written by Rupert Holmes, who went on to much better things. Harry Nilsson made a career out of writing upbeat tunes with downbeat lyrics, so much so that he was once dubbed the Pagliacci of Pop. Anyone who could yodel his way through a song called Goin' Down ought to be listed here. Also check out Together, Don't Leave me and Maybe from the early years. Warren Zevon is another one who could write great upbeat songs with dark lyrics.
By the way, for my money the bleakest song ever written, musically and lyrically, is Richard Thompson's End of the Rainbow (with Thompson's Killing Jar and Drowned Dog Black Night also in contention).
TIMOTHY - The Buoys. About being trapped in a mine.
Great song! Never heard before now...one of the great "lost" gems of those hallowed early '70s. I also learned about the Hudson Brothers recently; one of 'em's even the papa of Kate Hudson, so even Goldie Hawn couldn't resist them.
Depending on your definition of upbeat songs with downbeat lyrics, an episode of Roseanne makes a good point out of lyrics of some popular songs from the past: Take A Letter Maria by R. B. Greaves and Baby Don't Get Hooked On Me by Mac Davis
...and they play it at most WEDDINGS around these parts!!????
At first I was afraid, I was petrified, kept thinking I could never live without you by my side. But then I spent so many nights, thinking how you did me wrong, and I grew strong and I learned how to get along.
And so you're back from outer space. I just walked in to find you here with that sad look upon your face. I should have changed that stupid lock. I should have made you leave your key. If I'd had known for just one second you'd be back to bother me.
Oh go on now go, walk out the door. Just turn around now 'cause you're not welcome anymore. Were you the one who tried to break me with goodbyes? you think I'd crumble? you think I'd lay down and die?
Oh no not I. I will survive. Oh as long as I know how to love I know I'll stay alive. I got all my life to live and I got all my love to give. and I'll survive. I will survive. hey hey
It took all the strength I had not to fall apart. Just trying hard to mend the pieces of my broken heart. And I spent so many nights just feeling sorry for myself. I used to cry but now I hold my head up high. And you see me, somebody new. I'm not that chained up little person still in love with you. And so you felt like dropping in and just expect me to be free but now I'm saving all my lovin' for someone who's lovin' me.
Oh go on now go, walk out the door. Just turn around now 'cause you're not welcome anymore. Weren't you the one who tried to break me with goodbyes? you think I'd crumble? you think I'd lay down and die?
Oh no not I. I will survive. Oh as long as I know how to love I know I'll stay alive. I got all my life to live and I got all my love to give. and I'll survive. I will survive. oh...
go on now go, walk out the door. Just turn around now 'cause you're not welcome anymore. Weren't you the one who tried to break me with goodbyes? you think I'd crumble? you think I'd lay down and die?
Oh no not I. I will survive. Oh as long as I know how to love I know I'll stay alive. I got all my life to live and I got all my love to give. and I'll survive. I will survive.
