Playlist: pov it’s sad girl autumn but you’re driving in the car with your gen x hippie rocker dad

By Izzy Desmarais

My dad and I spend a lot of time together listening to music. We definitely have similar tastes, but there’s more of a cool hippie/stoner rock vibe to him. His favorite band is the Grateful Dead and, much to his dismay, they aren’t my favorite. My absolute favorite genre to listen to is ‘90s alternative, which my dad also likes because he’s a Gen X-er and got to live through what I consider to be the coolest decade in history. Using this as inspiration, here is a fall themed playlist that will not only meet all of your sad girl needs, but also make your dad say, “Hey! I know this song!” 

Linger by The Cranberries

This is the perfect song to start things off, since it’s slightly more upbeat than the other sad songs on this playlist but still packs a punch with some absolutely devastating lyrics. There’s just something about the weather getting colder that makes me crave a romantic relationship. This in turn makes me depressed because I am terribly alone and hate being perceived. A lot of songs by The Cranberries embody this feeling for me, and “Linger” is no exception. My dad actually got to see The Cranberries live with my mom while they were dating, which makes me even more sad than this song does because I will never, ever get to see The Cranberries live. 

State of Grace by Taylor Swift 

This is my dad and I’s favorite Taylor Swift song. Similar to “Linger,” it’s still more upbeat than most sad songs but will still make you mourn over that epic romance you like to fantasize about before you fall asleep every night. 

Pristine by Snail Mail 

Snail Mail hits me where it hurts. Every. Single. Time. This song especially. “Pristine” is the quintessential heartbreak song. The lyrics encapsulate these feelings of grief and insecurity so well that it can relate to any kind of fall out, whether it be with a romantic partner or a close friend. My dad likes it for the heavy guitar, which accompanies Lindsey Jordan’s voice beautifully throughout.

Don’t Change Your Plans by Ben Folds Five

The whimsical piano in this song just reminds me of leaves falling from the trees. I love it. 

A Little Less Sixteen Candles, A Little More “Touch Me” by Fall Out Boy

I’ll admit, this is a little bit of an odd choice, but just because it’s sad girl autumn that doesn’t mean every song on this playlist has to be overtly depressing. “A Little Less Sixteen Candles, A Little More ‘Touch Me’” has the same themes of heartbreak I think are synonymous with fall, it’s just expressed much more angrily than it is in other songs on this playlist. Anger and sadness also tend to go hand in hand for me, so I think this is a nice breath of fresh air to go in between your sob sessions.  

Allison by Soccer Mommy

I recently discovered Soccer Mommy and boy, have I been missing out. The ethereal sounding guitar in this song takes me somewhere else, allowing me to completely forget everything that’s happening around me. I can picture myself sitting on a bench somewhere in Cambridge, watching the leaves fall while bundled up in my knit sweater, and just zoning out. 

First Time by Lucy Dacus 

I want to put the entirety of Home Video on this playlist, but this one song will do. Nostalgia is a big theme on Dacus’ third studio album, and I think there’s something nostalgic about the beginning of fall. This might be because the beginning of fall soon turns into the holiday season and now that I’m almost an adult, Christmas just isn’t the same anymore, but I’m getting ahead of myself with the seasons here. This is just the perfect song to drive around to while you’re home for a long weekend and think about high school and try not to cry. 

The Vampires of New York by Marcy Playground 

I love how this song deglamorizes living in a city. When I was younger, I couldn’t imagine a future for myself where I wasn’t living in a city. Now that I go to school in Boston, I suddenly crave a quiet life surrounded by nature somewhere in Maine or Vermont. This is just a soft little song that gives me a sense of warmth, like the beginning of fall does just before the temperature starts dropping. 

Me & My Dog by Boygenius

This song gives a similar feeling that “Home Video” does. It’s definitely a song to drive and scream along the lyrics to, effectively scaring the other drivers around you while you’re stopped at a red light. 

First Day of My Life by Bright Eyes

This song reminds me of my boyfriend from high school so even just thinking about it will send me into a mini depressive episode. 

All Too Well by Taylor Swift

Another Taylor Swift song! Honestly though, how could I not include this one? Red in its entirety is the quintessential fall album, but I’ll argue that this is the track that hits the nail right on the head. It takes you through the entirety of a relationship, from the warm beginning to the bitter end. Similar to fall, which holds on to the glow of summer in September and turns depressingly dark by the time November rolls around. 

Bonfire by Josh Ritter

My dad is a big Josh Ritter fan. The Beast in Its Tracks is a raw and beautifully haunting album Ritter released following his divorce. “Bonfire” is one of the more upbeat tracks, but don’t be fooled. Underneath the fun and folksy guitar are some earth shattering lyrics about holding out hope for the woman you still love. 

Oxford Comma by Vampire Weekend

Vampire Weekend’s debut album is the epitome of a fall soundtrack. There is a heavy emphasis on the college experience throughout the tracklist and it’s especially apparent on “Oxford Comma.” Similar to Fall Out Boy, this is another angsty song to coincide nicely with your depression. It’s a little bit of a pretentious eff you song, but an eff you song nonetheless. 

No Surprises by Radiohead

I listened to Radiohead non stop when my mental health was at its lowest, so I feel obligated to put at least one song by them on this playlist. My dad was just happy that I finally listened to OK Computer after recommending it to me for years. (Dad, I know you’re reading this and I promise this last sentence is just a joke. You were very supportive during this time in my life and I love you.) 

Amoeba by Clairo

One more upbeat song before we finish off this playlist. I’m not a diehard Clairo fan, but I do love this track off her most recent album. It’s got a funky groove to it but the lyrics are still kind of depressing, and I am all about burying your real feelings in favor of  having a good time. 

Fight Test by The Flaming Lips 

I couldn’t think of a better song to end this playlist with even if I tried. A really mellow track, and if you don’t listen too hard, you won’t be able to tell how upsetting the lyrics are!