"Don't Be Sad" is a song by alt-country

Alternative country

Alternative country is a loosely defined sub-genre of country music, which includes acts that differ significantly in style from mainstream or pop country music...

 band Whiskeytown

Whiskeytown

Whiskeytown was an alternative country band formed in Raleigh, North Carolina in 1994. Fronted by Ryan Adams, other members included Caitlin Cary, Phil Wandscher, Eric "Skillet" Gilmore, and Mike Daly. They disbanded in 2000, with Adams leaving to pursue his solo career...

, from their album Pneumonia

Pneumonia (album)

-Musicians:*Ryan Adams — Guitars, vocals, piano & harmonica*Caitlin Cary — Fiddle & backing vocals*Mike Daly — Guitars, pedal steel, lap steel, dulcimer, mandocello, mandolin, keyboards & backing vocals*Brad Rice — Guitars...

. It was co-written by Ryan Adams

Ryan Adams

David Ryan Adams is an American alt-country/rock singer-songwriter, from Jacksonville, North Carolina. Initially part of the group Whiskeytown, Adams left the band and released his first solo album Heartbreaker in 2000...

, Mike Daly

Mike Daly

Mike Daly is an American producer / songwriter / multi-instrumentalist who grew up in Roselle Park, New Jersey, United States. Daly attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston, graduating in 1994. Soon after, he joined the band Swales and recorded one album, What's His Name? for Bar/None Records...

, and The Smashing Pumpkins'

The Smashing Pumpkins

The Smashing Pumpkins are an American alternative rock band that formed in Chicago, Illinois in 1988. Formed by Billy Corgan frontman and James Iha , the band has included Jimmy Chamberlin , D'arcy Wretzky , and currently includes Jeff Schroeder Mike Byrne , and Nicole Fiorentino The Smashing...

 James Iha

James Iha

James Yoshinobu Iha b. March 26, 1968 in Chicago, Illinois) is a Japanese American rock musician. He is best known as having been a guitarist and co-founder of the alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins and for his eclectic musical projects of recent years, most notably being a permanent...

, and issued as a single to radio in 2001.

Ryan Adams

Ryan Adams

David Ryan Adams is an American alt-country/rock singer-songwriter, from Jacksonville, North Carolina. Initially part of the group Whiskeytown, Adams left the band and released his first solo album Heartbreaker in 2000...

 says this about the track: "I think there's a duality in that song. I think on one hand, it's saying, 'Hang on, we'll get through this,' but deep down, we know we're not going to get through it at all. I don't know. Damn, that song just kinda says it all, doesn't it?"

Track listing

Musicians

• Ryan Adams
  Ryan Adams
  David Ryan Adams is an American alt-country/rock singer-songwriter, from Jacksonville, North Carolina. Initially part of the group Whiskeytown, Adams left the band and released his first solo album Heartbreaker in 2000...
  
   — Guitars, vocals, piano & harmonica
• Caitlin Cary
  Caitlin Cary
  Caitlin Cary is an alt-country musician.Born to Hall Cary and Carol Campbell Thomas in East Cleveland, Caitlin Cary was raised with her half-brothers, Brian, Craig, and Keith Thomas, in East Cleveland and Cleveland Heights. She began playing the violin at age six. She attended the College of...
  
   — Fiddle & backing vocals
• Mike Daly
  Mike Daly
  Mike Daly is an American producer / songwriter / multi-instrumentalist who grew up in Roselle Park, New Jersey, United States. Daly attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston, graduating in 1994. Soon after, he joined the band Swales and recorded one album, What's His Name? for Bar/None Records...
  
   — Guitars, pedal steel, lap steel, dulcimer, mandocello, mandolin, keyboards & backing vocals
• Brad Rice — Guitars
• Jennifer Condos — Bass
• Mike Santoro — Bass
• Richard Causon — Keyboards
• James Iha
  James Iha
  James Yoshinobu Iha b. March 26, 1968 in Chicago, Illinois) is a Japanese American rock musician. He is best known as having been a guitarist and co-founder of the alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins and for his eclectic musical projects of recent years, most notably being a permanent...
  
   - Guitars & Backing vocals
• Tommy Stinson
  Tommy Stinson
  Thomas "Tommy" Eugene Stinson is an American musician best known for his work as the bassist for The Replacements and Guns N' Roses as well as the post-Replacements groups Bash & Pop, where he performed guitar duties, and Perfect...
  
   — Guitar & dobro
• James Jumbo Aumonier — Celeste
• Ethan Johns
  Ethan Johns
  Ethan Johns is a record producer, engineer, mixer, musician, and songwriter who has worked with such artists such as Ryan Adams, Kings of Leon, Ray LaMontagne, Kevin Prosch, Rufus Wainwright, Howard Eliott Payne, Emmylou Harris, Crowded House, Laura Marling, Luthea Salom, and Crosby, Stills and...
  
   — Drums, bass, mandolin, mandocello, keyboards, percussion & guitars

Production credits

• Produced by Ethan Johns
• Engineered by Trina Shoemaker
• Mixed & engineered by Ethan Johns
• Recorded at Dreamland Studios & House Of Blues Studios
• Mixed at The Sound Factory
  The Sound Factory
  The Sound Factory is a recording studio in Hollywood, California.The Sound Factory was built in the 1960s on Selma Avenue in Hollywood. At the time, it served as the home of Moonglow Records and the Moonglow Recording Studio...
  
  
• Mastered by Doug Sax & Robert Hadley at the Mastering Lab, Hollywood, CA