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!
- Classic Western songs to listen to when you want to cry: the world’s tearjerker songs and popular tracks for shedding tears
- Tear-jerking Western songs: recommended classics and popular tracks
- [2025] Moving Western songs that touch the heart: A roundup of recommended masterpieces
- [Western Music] Ballads that resonate with the heart: Classic love songs
- Farewell and goodbye songs in Western music: A roundup of perfect BGM for farewell parties
- Moving Western songs: classic and popular tracks among the world’s most emotional songs.
- [Western Music] The ultimate collection of love songs: a roundup of timeless, heart-touching classics
- Tears for a heartrending story… Tear-jerking songs by women recommended for the Yutori generation
- Tear-jerking Western songs: The world's recommended weep-inducing tracks
- Hidden gems of moving Western songs. Recommended popular tracks.
- Songs That Make You Cry: Heart-Wrenching Western Music—from Timeless Classics to the Newest Hits
- Great songs, moving Western music. World-famous and popular songs that resonate with the heart.
- Emotional Western classics you’ll want to sing at karaoke: the world’s most moving songs
Tear-Jerking, Moving Songs in Western Music (21–30)
Story of My LifeOne Direction
The heartwarming ballad by UK-born One Direction is a gem that weaves a story of life.
Blending acoustic sounds with moving lyrics, it portrays bonds and memories with loved ones.
Released in October 2013 and included on the album Midnight Memories, the song became a global hit, topping the singles charts in Ireland and New Zealand, and was also used in Japan as the theme for an NTT Docomo commercial.
Cherished by many as a song that resonates deeply—especially during seasons of farewells and graduations—it continues to be loved.
Stay With MeSam Smith
A beautiful ballad that gives voice to aching emotions became a signature song for the U.
K.
-born Sam Smith.
Featuring gospel-tinged choruses and lyrics that resonate deeply, it portrays the loneliness that follows a one-night encounter.
Released in the U.
S.
in April 2014, it reached No.
2 on the Billboard Hot 100.
At the 57th Grammy Awards, it won two categories, catapulting Sam Smith to global fame.
It’s a song that comforts anyone who has experienced heartbreak or longs for someone’s warmth.
In August 2024, a collaborative version with Hikaru Utada was also released, showcasing a fresh appeal.
Lucid DreamsJuice WRLD
A song that candidly portrays the pain of heartbreak catapulted American artist Juice WRLD to stardom.
Known as a landmark of emo rap, the track deftly expresses the complex emotions that follow a breakup.
Its melody, which samples a song by Sting, amplifies the poignancy of the lyrics.
Released in May 2018, the song reached No.
2 on the Billboard chart.
It’s recommended for those seeking to heal from heartbreak or to confront their own emotions.
You’re sure to resonate with the depth of Juice WRLD’s emotional expression.
Chasing CarsSnow Patrol
A signature song by Snow Patrol that weaves a universally resonant story of love.
Released in 2006 by the Scottish band, this piece captivated many with its simple melody and candid lyrics.
Included on the album Eyes Open, it gained worldwide attention after being featured in the U.
S.
TV drama Grey’s Anatomy.
It remained on the UK Singles Chart for 111 weeks and surpassed one million sales in the UK in 2013.
Long cherished as a song that accompanies life’s significant moments—such as weddings and memorial services—it continues to be beloved.
Easy On MeAdele
Adele, the British singer known for her deep emotions and powerful vocals, released a song that symbolizes a turning point in her life as the lead single from her album “30” in October 2021.
Beginning with a gentle piano melody and gradually building in emotion, this moving ballad reflects on the turmoil following her divorce and her feelings for her son.
Looking back on the version of herself who was “still a child,” Adele sings with apologies and love for her son.
With lyrics and vocals that stir many hearts, the song dominated charts around the world.
It’s a track that quietly stays by your side when facing heartbreak or standing at a crossroads in life.
Beautiful ThingsBenson Boone
A soulful ballad that depicts beauty, gratitude, and the fear of loss has arrived from American artist Benson Boone.
Featuring a powerful chorus and his expressively rich vocals, the track made an immediate global impact upon its release in January 2024, reaching No.
2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and placing high on charts around the world.
Singing about the meaning of life, love, and the fragility of happiness, this song will resonate with anyone who cherishes something precious while living with the anxiety of losing it.
You’re BeautifulJames Blunt
This is a moving song about unrequited love by British singer-songwriter James Blunt.
Released in May 2005, it was inspired by his experience of unexpectedly seeing a former lover on the subway with a new partner.
Featured on the album “Back to Bedlam,” it became a major hit, reaching number one in 13 countries worldwide.
In Japan, it was used as an insert song for the Fuji TV drama “Kobayakawa Nobuki no Koi” and as a commercial song for the Toyota Vitz.
Although it may sound romantic at first, it actually conveys bittersweet feelings and complex emotions, resonating deeply with those who have experienced heartbreak or parting.