Top 10 Best Songs About Death

I've already talked about this song a thousand times, so I'll give you the short version: this song rocks. The main character of the story is on death row, and he's looking back on life, asking if what he had done was worth it. Eventually, he has to go to the gallows pole and accept his fate.

Favorite lyric: "'Cause at 5 o'clock, they take me to the gallows pole. The sands of time for me are running low."

One of the greatest songs ever written and performed. All-time favorite.

Love the song! I prefer Machine Head's version.

I strongly agree with the list maker's choices! I'd still put this at number one though.

The solo makes me tear up every time.

Another Maiden track. It talks about an Egyptian who thinks he is immortal, but in the end, he is not. He begins to die and starts asking why, because he had proclaimed himself a god, and a god could not die, obviously. Well, he does anyway.

Favorite lyric: "And in my last hour, I'm a slave to the power of death!"

Freddie Mercury knew that he was dying, so he wrote this masterpiece. It explains that even with him gone, the "show must go on." It's very sad knowing that he knew his own fate, but instead of complaining about it, he accepted it, and even spent his last moments in life contributing to what he loved most: music. It's sad, but also very inspiring.

Favorite lyric: "My makeup may be flaking, but my smile stays on."

Amazing song with amazing vocals by Freddie.

I don't know many songs by Dream Theater, but what I have heard has impressed me. There are not many bands that are as good as them these days. I was bored one day, so I looked up the list "Top Ten Dream Theater Songs." Obviously, this song showed up. I listened to it, and, like their other songs, I was very impressed. Amazing song!

Favorite lyrics: "I used to be frightened of dying. I used to think death was the end. But that was before. I'm not scared anymore. I know that my soul will transcend!"

My favorite opening lines in a song ever.

This has been the only song to make me cry. I'm not very religious, but this song really hit home with me. The whole song is about a guy who threw his life away by drinking, smoking, and divorcing his wife and giving up his kids. He finds out that he is quickly dying and that he doesn't have much time.

He lies in bed all alone, looking back on his life and the mistakes that he's made. Eventually, he converts to Christianity. Now at peace with the world, he passes away with a smile on his face. This is one of my all-time favorite songs, and I recommend it to everyone.

Favorite lyrics: "I can smell the death on the sheets covering me. I can't believe this is the end."

It's speculated among fans what the meaning behind the song is, but most agree that it's about the death of Andrew Wood. Most fans listen to this song in remembrance of Layne Staley, who passed away.

Favorite lyric: "Into the flood again. Same old trip it was back then."

It's a suicide song, and the character is already in something like a coma: "They washed and dressed him, fed him by hand." The title says it all - Beyond the Realms of Death.

His thoughts come from this mysterious place between life and death. I guess he can still choose whether to live or die, and he chooses to die (he didn't want to be saved: "Yea, I will start again").

"Yea, I've left the world behind. I'm safe here in my mind. I am free to speak with my own kind. This is my life, this is my life, I'll decide, not you."

Musically, this song is a masterpiece, including the first solo. However, the song's message is controversial, and I want to tell future listeners: don't kill yourself, don't even try. Never, ever. This is a great song, but don't take it literally. Just don't.

The song is based on a true story where a high schooler in Texas killed himself in front of his entire class. Obviously, this is a pretty sad song. This is one of Pearl Jam's best and one of history's best songs.

Favorite lyric: "King Jeremy the Wicked ruled his world."

Such a beautiful message. Soothing song. I wish I didn't fear the reaper.

Although I'm a metalhead, this is still my all-time favorite song.

This song was written about the death of lead singer James Hetfield's mother. She was a Christian Scientist who believed that medicine is useless. As long as she prayed, her sickness would go away. Obviously, that wasn't the case, and she passed away. Hetfield was overcome with grief.

Favorite lyric: "The healing hand held back by the deepened nail. Follow the god that failed."

"These are my last words - I need to rest
In fear and anger, I'll lay down my head
A faithless spirit in a broken man
.. The hope became another lie
Like the non-existing Father-God
I'll close my eyes, goodbye
Don't wait for me on the other side."

The song is about McCartney's dead mother. Most agree that it is one of the Beatles' best, me included.

Favorite lyric: "Mother Mary whispers, let it be."

A sad and beautiful ballad about the enigmatic figure of Death and the process of dying. The singer is over the top, and the vocals alone make this song a must-listen.

The song describes a car accident and how a girl dies: "Her face was pale, her body smashed, her beauty's gone." Before the guitar outro, there's an insanely good scream - I think this is the last scream of the dying body. Then the soul leaves the body, and the pain goes away. The Fiddler talks to the girl: "Take my hand, just hold my hand, I'll take you THERE. Your pain will go away."

"The poor old Fiddler" takes the girl's life because, several days earlier, the Fiddler took a boy's life by mistake. These two kids were soulmates in this life. "I took him too early. Would you mind if I take you to be with him? He is quite alone here and still waiting for you."

This song is based on a true story - the singer saw two car accidents in one week at the same place, and two kids died. The album cover depicts this story.