Crestfallen

"Crestfallen" is a track on The Smashing Pumpkins' 1998 album, Adore. Originally scheduled as the third single from the album, the song was instead released as a promotional CD in the US. It received moderate play on modern rock stations but did not chart. The single's artwork is by Yelena Yemchuk.

The song features Billy Corgan on piano and vocals, with James Iha on lead guitar. It was the first song to include Corgan playing piano live, the first performance of which took place during the band's gig in Nashville during the Adore tour in the summer of 1998. The band also performed the song at the VH1 Fashion Awards on October 23, 1998 (aired October 25). Billboard gave the song mixed reviews, but praised its ambient qualities.

The tune is a piano ballad (thru and through), despite my attempt here (and previously in demos) to electrify its sorrows. That said, I am partial to the song's cadence (even if I can't say why), as the melody embodies something not so easily found in my various searches in A minor. And though I will admit it is a bit syrupy, the lyrics as a whole are direct and at least represent the undaunted heart in an album where so much is broken.

In popular culture
"Crestfallen" was played at the end of the 2000 TV movie Homicide: Life Everlasting.

In 2006 Christian rock band The Evan Anthem covered "Crestfallen."

Meaning
The song's message is one of "Who am I?" to do this to you. According to Corgan, he was inspired by his mother's death by which he said "My mother's death helped me to refocus my priorities. It showed me the true value of my life."