sad album closers, against the current, the 1975, paramore, palaye royale
[Photos by: Against The Current, YouTube, the 1975/Wikimedia Commons, Paramore/Ralph PH, Palaye Royale]

10 album closers that ended the record on a dark note

You know when an album is all fun and games, then the last track has you existential? What is it that makes artists want to leave us down and out? Maybe it’s the fact that we can’t simply say, “That was fun!” and move on.

Sometimes, it might take a sad song to feel the full effect of an album and leave us in a state of reflection. Regardless of why they do it, we love records that pack a final punch straight in the gut, and we’ve gathered our top 10 sad album closers that do just that. 

Read more: 10 times bands switched the lyrics of some of their most popular songs

Waterparks – “I Felt Younger When We Met” 

On an album that’s already not so optimistic about love, Waterparks really bring it home with a downer track about losing sleep over lost love. Considering that their previous two albums end on a happy note with songs that would be aptly described as “lovey-dovey,” “I Felt Younger When We Met” is definitely a crash landing on FANDOM

The 1975 – “She Lays Down”

On their sophomore effort, I like it when you sleep, for you are so beautiful yet so unaware of it, the 1975 don’t shy away from ballads. However, the album also contains many upbeat pop tracks that play right up until the tail end of the album. We leave the happy, pink-sky vibes of “Paris” to be plummeted down to our darkest places with the two final tracks, “Nana” and “She Lays Down.” The former relays Matty Healy’s feelings regarding the passing of his grandmother, while the latter leaves us sympathizing with both Healy and his mother as he grapples with her struggle with depression.

Bring Me The Horizon – “i don’t know what to say” 

On the album that featured some of their most poppy songs to date, Bring Me The Horizon showed that no matter how much they evolve, they’ll never shy away from getting dark. amo’s closing track, “i don’t know what to say,” in which singer Oli Sykes deals with the raw emotions, from awkwardness to crushing sadness, he experiences after a close friend dies of cancer may just prove that the best of all.

Paramore – “Tell Me How”

Arguably, Paramore ended with a truly sad closer on their most recent album, After Laughter. While this album hosts plenty of pessimistic lyrics, they’re usually skillfully laid atop energetic instrumentals and experimental melodies. And then, they hit us with “Tell Me How.” No frills, no fun, just a truly devastating album closer about Paramore’s difficult band history. It’s really just about how to be when you lose a friend who was a part of you for so long. 

twenty one pilots – “Goner” 

 twenty one pilots are quite adept at devastating album enders (we’re looking at you, “Truce”). However, we’re here to talk about Blurryface’s final track, “Goner.” This closer gives us a peek inside singer Tyler Joseph’s head, where we may discover some thoughts and feelings that are relatable to us all. But don’t be fooled: This isn’t just some sweet and somber wrap-up. “Goner” swells into pained screams you can’t help but sing along to. It might just leave you a mess curled up on the floor. Proceed with caution. 

Nirvana – “Something In The Way”

Coming in after a loud and fun song you could dance around your room to, Nirvana’s most famous album Nevermind closes with a devastating track detailing an imagined experience of being sick and homeless over soft drums and stripped-down acoustic guitar. Your dance party ends here, and they’re not sorry about it.

blessthefall – “Meet Me At The Gates”

Akin to the 1975’s “Nana,” this album closer will definitely bring on the tears as singer Beau Bokan struggles to unleash his emotions following the close deaths of two of his grandparents. Though this track is packed with driving energy, it only makes it all the sadder as the music slowly drops away to a lull over aching, muffled vocals.

Against The Current – “Demons” 

On an otherwise optimistic and hopeful album, Against The Current definitely bring the mood down from the life-revering “Young & Relentless” and youth-reminiscent “Roses” to their final track, “Demons.” The closer to their 2016 album In Our Bones features a moody and slow rhythm as Chrissy Costanza eloquently relays her struggle with her own inner demons that prevent her from reaching her dreams.

Motionless In White – “Scissorhands (The Last Snow)”

Yep, it’s about the Scissorhands. On an album that explores various fictional narratives beloved by Motionless In White, this closer dives into the point of view of Edward Scissorhands and his unique complex of scaring away the very people he only wants to love. As it turns out, this problem isn’t so unique as the band parallel our own struggle of bringing the negative sides of ourselves to others in hopes that they’ll love them rather than run away. Like we said: real dark, real fast.

Palaye Royale – “Redeemer”  

On their new album, The Bastards, Palaye Royale go from their usual intense, energetic tracks to a final somber and muted slow burn about the death of rapper Lil Peep. In an interview last year, lead singer Remington Leith explained that he feels strongly about this final track written right after he heard of the rapper’s passing. Those strong feelings are undoubtedly evident in this song that carries steady, underlying darkness.