10 Tragic Songs Because of What We Know Now

You'll never listen to these songs the same way again. Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re looking at songs that have taken on a sadder meaning after their initial release. Our countdown of songs that are tragic because of what we know now includes artists like David Bowie, Queen, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and more! Which songs break your heart when you listen to them now? Let us know in the comments below.

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[WatchMojo]

Which songs break your heart when you listen to them now? Let us know in the comments below.

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[nathanjamesDewey]

In all honesty, LINKIN PARK probably saved so many teenagers in my generation due to the lyrics. He helped a lot of of us with stress and finding our own. But looking at the songs now he was telling us he was depressed and we just couldn’t see it. He saved so many of us but couldn’t save himself.

[PHSDM]

As someone who still battles with depression, Numb still hits differently.

[arvurebantra]

Honestly, there's so many Linkin Park songs that could be on this list. One More Light came out only a few months before Chester passed away, and it had the lyrics "Who cares if one more light goes out? Well I do".
The whole song was so emotional that people sang along with it. We will never forget you Chester.

[tremblingaspen]

I know it’s a cover, but Johnny Cash’s version of “Hurt” gets me every time.

[VJAllison]

"The Show Must Go On"... Hearing of Freddie Mercury's death was a huge punch to the solar plexus... That man had the most iconic voice in music and he died way, way too young.

[emmah]

Most lyrics by Chester are tough to listen to even more now. He was so open about his struggles, but hid behind a smile. Depression is so evil.

[MonMnkey]

Agree with Chester being the most tragic, but the song should've been Heavy or One More Light😢

[newskid]

Chester Bennington and Chris Cornell were the hardest goodbyes i have ever face and my deepest regret was never being able to see them live or in person.

[stygia]

My youngest son took his own life in 2018. Shortly after his funeral I started my car and Leave Out All the Rest was just starting on the radio and it just felt like something my son would say to all of us he left behind. To this day I get tears when I hear it.

[kessas.]

"So wake me up when it's all over
When I'm wiser and I'm older
All this time I was finding myself, and I
Didn't know I was lost" (Avicii)

[TCgamerboy]

Thanks to Chester's suicide, listening to ANY of the Linkin Park songs is a challenge when you finally realize what the lyrics were about.

[RaeneDroppe]

Chester's death is the only celebrity death I ever cried over and actually mourned. Words can't describe what their music meant to me.

[Trix]

“The Show Must Go On” always hit me hard in multiple ways. Not only because Freddie kept his AIDS diagnosis under wraps, but because of my own journey as an AuDHD person dealing with PTSD and multiple addictions and having to mask so much of my pain as I go through life.

He always wrote such relatable songs that resonated with me. May he rest in peace.

[JesonWu-zd]

Freddie, Michael, Chester… They may have died, but their music and spirit still lives on. LEGENDS NEVER DIE. ❤

[kurtvangogh]

For not only being a Linkin Park diehard fan does this get a like, but for using Chester as the clipart brings me joy. I've missed Chester since the day he passed. I lost two of my closest friends to suicide after Chester passed ( all three of us considered ourselves LPU Soldiers) and I found both of them. Not a day goes by I don't think of Chester and my two best friends. I sure as shit haven't been the same since

[xerospades]

I mean you could literally put Chester's entire catalog for number one. That dude saying all his struggles and every song he made. Saved a lot of kids and a lot of teenagers for sure.

[One-in-Herself]

Queen’s ‘Who Wants to Live Forever’ breaks my heart every time I hear it. Not only because of Freddie Mercury’s death, but because Queen was my mom’s favorite band, and she loved that song. I played it for her in hospice. Also, ‘Pretty Noose’ by Soundgarden is difficult to listen to after Chris’ death for obvious reasons. And pretty much just about any song from Joy Division’s ‘Closer’ cuts deep, because Ian basically chronicled all of the thoughts going through his mind leading up to his suicide.

[tanakasensei]

When Bowie died, I pulled up his discography on Spotify and hit shuffle, which is something my husband and I will do each time we learn of an artist passing. The first song that played was Lazarus, which is on the same album as Blackstar, and we both started crying when we heard what I'm pretty certain was a message from Bowie himself:

Look up here, I'm in heaven.

[justincanuelas]

honorable mention: You know you’re right by Nirvana. Kurt Cobain’s last recorded song and just listen closely to the lyrics