Has a prog song ever brought you to tears?

A few times... always the same songs.  I don't cry, I just get moist eyes mostly.  I have cried when drunk and upset to one song though.

Van der Graaf Generator - Lost

I played it 4 times in a row once not long after I broke up with my ex-girlfriend.

Others that have hit me hard:

The intro to Man-Erg.  The piano is beautiful.
The sax solo on My Room (Waiting in Wonderland).

Then there's other artists:

Magma - the end of Theusz Hamtaahk on Retrospektiw I-II
Salle Gaveau - Arcos

Non-prog:

The Cracow Klezmer Band - De Profundis
One section of Osvaldo Golijov's opera Ainadamar

I've had moments of sheer joy.  This is usually when I giggle.  I giggle a little when I hear something amazing that just makes me extremely happy.

One tune that does this:

Elton Dean's Ninesense - Seven for Me


Edited by James - February 08 2009 at 19:06

If I do its rarely the song itself, but what the song makes me think of when I hear it.

paganinio wrote: as a proghead, I have never felt like crying because of a progressive song. I did cry listening to these: The Who "Won't Be Fooled Again", Guns'N'Roses "Sweet Child Ol'Mine", A-Ha "Take On Me", Ray Parker "Ghostbusters", Mortal Kombat theme and Commandos soundtrack DragonForce "Operation Ground And Pound", "Trail Of Broken Hearts" all of them have simplistic and powerful tunes. I think this is because: progressive rock is emotionally COMPLEX,  like classical music.  Popular music is more touching than classical/prog because it's SIMPLE, straight to the point. Of course it's just me; I'm sure the classical fans and some progheads will say the exact opposite.

I'm surprised not to see any mentions of Pain of Salvation yet.  A trace of blood has made me cry more times than any other song

The soft section of close to the edge, the last section of anesthetize, (porcupine tree) parts of storm static and she drempt... on LYSFLATH, and benighted by opeth. I cant thini of any more.

TheCaptain wrote: The climax of Supper's Ready did it once the first time I listened to it out of sheer beauty. I was told to lie in my bed in complete darkness while completely immersed in sound. That was probably the most emotional music has ever made me.

I second this. The very end of that song is just so overwhelming. I think listening to some of the lengthier songs while having headphones on heightens the experience.

not actual tears..but quite close..many prog songs made me 'emotional, reflective and feeling 'at peace'

I'm far too much of a man to cry at music..

Although, there are many prog songs that bring me close when I'm in a certain frame of mind, notably..

'One for the Vine' - Genesis ("He walked into the valley, all alone...etc") The little melody that Tony Banks plays after Phil's lines really stirs me.

'Blood on the Rooftops' never fails to move, as does 'Afterglow'

"Chamber of 32 Doors" I would say is Gabriels most emotional performance with the band. I love that song so much!

Van der Graff Generator have many moments too. 'Man ERG' 'Refugees' and 'Still Life' to name but a few.

Yes, probably too many moments to mention, although I should say, that 'Awaken' and 'Turn of the Century' have made me 'well up' before now.

Honoury mentions to The Enid, Pink Floyd, Rush, Renaissance, Kate Bush and Porcupine Tree.

There are lots of songs that can inspire the tears given the situation. I remember listening to "Open the door" by "World Trade" year ago and crying my eyes out.

So.... I just listened to it again and thought.. "must have had a bad day" because sitting here now.. there's zero humidity in the tear ducts. Dry as a dragons nostril!!!!

However.... I have cried when writing my own songs 

Q


Edited by Q6 - February 09 2009 at 04:58

A few times. Here's the ones I remember:

Robert Wyatt, side two of the Rock Bottom album (especially Little Red Robin Hood Hit the Road).
Peter Hammill: Wilhelmina
Pearls Before Swine: Use of Ashes
Pink Floyd: Jugband Blues (at the time around Syd Barrett's death)

None of these tracks are "progrock", but they are all in the archives. Happens more often with classical and folksongs, though. + early Joan Baez and Joni Mitchell.