Tear-jerking, moving songs in Western music
Western music has far more songs than Japanese music.
Among them, I think there are many tracks that can make you cry.
We’ve gathered a lot of songs you’ll want to listen to when you feel like crying.
I think a storm of emotions awaits you.
I hope you discover some songs you haven’t heard before!
Tear-Jerking, Moving Western Songs (1–10)
Bohemian RhapsodyQueen
This is a track that resonates like a grand, roughly six-minute tale, as if you’re watching a single film.
Created by Queen, the song’s structure is breathtaking as it whirls from a beautiful ballad to opera and then into fierce rock.
Yet behind its dramatic sound lies the anguished cry of a protagonist who regrets his sins and struggles against fate, tightening your chest with sorrow.
Released ahead of the landmark album A Night at the Opera in October 1975, it’s also known for its memorable use in the film Wayne’s World.
When you’re crushed by inescapable loneliness or despair, surrendering yourself to this vast sonic world will let emotions well up from the depths of your heart.
WonderwallOasis
It’s a song by the British rock band Oasis that captures a faint hope and a sense of loneliness—the feeling that someone might come to save you.
Sung over an acoustic backdrop, it conveys a heartfelt plea for a “wonder wall” of sorts, a presence that could rescue the singer.
The protagonist’s yearning for help from someone dear, even while burdened by anxiety and solitude, is something many can relate to.
Featured on the classic 1995 album (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? and released as a single the same year, the song’s music video won a BRIT Award in 1996.
When you’re a bit worn out by life or facing a vague unease at night, listening to this track might let its warmth seep into your heart and give you the courage to lean on someone.
Lover, You Should’ve Come OverJeff Buckley
This is an achingly beautiful soul ballad left behind by the legendary American singer Jeff Buckley, who died far too young at 30.
It sings of the helpless regret and burning longing after a breakup.
If you’ve ever let go of someone precious because of youthful mistakes, you’ll likely find this song deeply relatable.
Wishing “I wanted you to come see me,” only to realize it’s too late—those feelings with nowhere to go are truly painful.
The track appears on the classic album Grace and was also featured in the drama FlashForward.
Even decades after its August 1994 release, it continues to move hearts.
On a quiet night when you want to be alone with your thoughts, you might let yourself sink into this heavenly voice.
Summertime SadnessLana Del Rey
“Summertime Sadness,” a signature song by American singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey.
It’s an achingly beautiful track that sings of the radiant days of summer and the sense of loss brought on by a friend’s tragic end.
Lana Del Rey’s languid, dreamlike vocals match the song’s melancholic atmosphere perfectly.
The chorus, pleading “Kiss me hard before you go,” feels like the climax of a tragic film.
As you listen, happy memories resurface even as you’re confronted with the reality that there’s no going back—you may find yourself unable to hold back tears.
It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to YesterdayBoyz II Men
After parting with someone dear, have you ever felt your chest tighten with the thought that you can never return to the joyful “yesterday”? The song “It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday” by the American R&B group Boyz II Men is a classic that sings of longing for the past and the pain of farewell.
Precisely because it’s performed a cappella, without any instruments, the warmth and poignancy of their voices seep directly into the heart.
It’s as if the beautiful harmonies gently embrace the sorrow that overflows no matter how hard you try to hold it back.
This song feels like a warm presence that quietly stays close to a heart that has experienced a painful parting, allowing the tears to flow.
See You Again ft. Charlie PuthWiz Khalifa
This is a gem of a ballad infused with feelings of friendship that pierce the heart.
The moving collaboration by American rapper Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth beautifully sings of the sorrow of losing someone close and the hope of reunion.
Created in March 2015 as the theme song for the film Furious 7, it also serves as a tribute to the late Paul Walker.
The song set an astonishing record by topping the Billboard Hot 100 for 12 consecutive weeks, bringing tears to people around the world.
It’s especially recommended for those who have experienced parting from someone dear, or who wish to reaffirm the bonds with family and friends.
Not A Day Goes ByLonestar
The American country music band Lonestar released a single from I’m Already There in January 2002, a gem of a ballad that portrays profound sorrow and a sense of loss after losing a loved one.
Its gentle, resonant melody, rich harmonies, and deeply expressive vocals blend beautifully to convey both the pain of grief and the enduring love for someone dear.
The song touched many listeners, reaching No.
3 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart, and was nominated for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal at the 45th Annual Grammy Awards in 2003.
With its quietly consoling character, it has often been chosen to comfort those who have lost someone and for use in memorial settings—a heartwarming piece that offers solace.