Sad Depression Era Songs

[Flanders]

When I was a young gump (nee 1934) listening to the radio in the late 1930s I never heard the word melancholy, but every time I heard I’ll Never Have To Dream Again a sadness came over me that no other song triggered. To this day every time I come across the word melancholy I can hear Isham Jones’ rendition of his composition:

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Old-timers are invited to enter their choice in my little melancholy competition?

 

[AsianTrumpSupporter]

More epic than sad, but it has a bit of a sad tone:



I love pretty much all music in Danny Boyle films.

 

[Flanders]

I love pretty much all music in Danny Boyle films.

To AsianTrumpSupporter: Interesting but a little too surreal for my taste.

 

[HenryBHough]

This one long outlived the Great Depression:



Then, a few years ago, about five I think, there was a parody song about two brothers who lived in Africa. They were famed for abilities with spears but one had deteriorating eyesight (cataracts or just a sort of mental vision impairment?). One day a government army recruiter came to the village to see for him/her/it self the remarkable skills. Each of the brothers successively, with one chuck each, speared a silver dollars, a Kennedy half (they found that especially fun), a quarter and a nickel. Then the final contest! The older brother begged off due to his failing vision and called out to the younger : "Brother can you spear a dime?"

The brother came out of the hut, walked over to the target,grabbed the time and fled.

If anybody happens on that song please post a link.

 

[Hossfly]

 

[skye]

Billie Holiday - Moanin' Low (1937)

 

[skye]

Barbecue Bob- We Sure Got Hard Times

 

[konradv]

Sad, but pre-Depression.

 

[Michelle420]

Sad, but pre-Depression.

ok, deleted it.

 

[Michelle420]

 

[Flanders]

Nice entries from everyone.

Although the lyrics in this one are not about hard times the melody has an innate sadness to it:

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NOTE: Al Bowley, was killed in London in 1941 by a Luftwaffe parachute mine.

Singer Al Bowley​

https://tse3.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.d-q5vbeeFIH62PmvBh4aQAEsDh&pid=Api&w=240&h=181