When I was in high school, this boy I knew made an amazing mix tape full of goth-y, brooding love songs for his then-girlfriend. I think she dumped him. I may have swooned and then asked for a copy of the mix tape for myself. He never did ask me out (HIS LOSS), but I fell deeply in love with the mopey and melancholy tunes. So, if you, too, enjoy the darker side of romance, here are a few of my favorites from the CPL collection:
Singles: This best-of collection from The Smiths includes two classics: "Girlfriend in a Coma" and "There Is a Light That Never Goes Out," the latter of which includes these perfectly romantic lyrics:
And if a double-decker bus / Crashes into us
To die by your side / Is such a heavenly way to die
And if a 10-ton truck / Kills the both of us
To die by your side / Well, the pleasure—the privilege is mine
Absolute Garbage: Shirley Manson serves up creepy stalker realness in "#1 Crush" by Garbage. If you are of a certain age, you will remember this from the Romeo + Juliet soundtrack.
American Recordings: "Delia's Gone" by Johnny Cash is just a fun little ditty about love and murder.
Murder Ballads: If the Johnny Cash song wasn't dark enough for you, check out "Henry Lee" or "Where the Red Roses Grow" by Nick Cave featuring PJ Harvey and Kylie Minogue, respectively. According to Wikipedia, the body count on Murder Ballads totals 65.
What am I missing (besides any music from the last decade)? Share your favorite dark love songs in the comments!
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