[Masterpiece] Tear-jerking Western songs. The tears won’t stop… truly sad songs [2025]
Music has a mysterious power to heal the heart and, at times, move us to tears.
In this article, we introduce timeless Western songs that transcend language barriers and resonate deeply with the soul—sad and heartrending masterpieces.
The bittersweetness of love, the sorrows of life, the pain of parting.
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We present a selection of exquisite melodies and lyrics that have touched hearts around the world, across genres and eras.
If you’re carrying something heavy in your heart right now, these songs will surely stay close to your feelings.
Please enjoy these treasured classics in the playlist here.
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Masterpieces: Tear-Jerking Western Songs. The Tears Won’t Stop… Truly Sad Songs [2025] (31–40)
OneMetallica
A song about soldiers fighting in a war.
It was inspired by Dalton Trumbo’s World War I novel, Johnny Got His Gun.
The track won the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance.
Wake Me Up When September EndsGreen Day
A song written by lead vocalist Billie Joe Armstrong about his father, who died of cancer on September 1, 1982.
It was originally planned for the 2002 compilation album Shenanigans, but since Billie Joe wasn’t in the emotional state to record it, it was later included on American Idiot.
So Far AwayAvenged Sevenfold
A song written by guitarist Synyster Gates to bid farewell to his friend after drummer Jimmy Sullivan died on December 28, 2009.
It was released as a single in 2011 from Avenged Sevenfold’s fifth album, Nightmare.
BeautifulChristina Aguilera
A song written by Linda Perry.
It is also known as a track embraced by the gay community.
Released as a single by Christina Aguilera in 2002, the song won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Performance.
ImagineJohn Lennon
This is a song released after John Lennon went solo.
It’s also the title of the album.
As a song that extols love for humanity and the preciousness of peace, it continues to be widely sung today.
In a 2002 poll by Guinness asking “What is the greatest song in British history?”, it ranked second.
[Masterpiece] Western songs that make you cry. The tears won’t stop… truly sad songs [2025] (41–50)
The greatestLana Del Rey
When it comes to Lana Del Rey, many of us strongly associate her with being a singer-songwriter who sings songs steeped in sorrow—so much so that she openly describes her own musical style as “sadcore.” This track is included on her August 2019 album, Norman Fucking Rockwell!.
Listening with the knowledge that Lana, a New York native, moved her base to California and found success there may inspire a range of feelings.
The sense of longing she expresses for a bygone America stirs a similar nostalgia in us Japanese listeners as well.
RetrogradeJames Blake
James Blake, who grew from a young rising star of post-dubstep into a singer-songwriter emblematic of his era.
This track is included on his second album, Overgrown, released in 2013.
Written right after a fight with his girlfriend, the song beautifully conveys the complex feelings he had toward her and the realizations that came with the break of dawn.
It’s not exactly a breakup song, but perhaps the sense of sorrow we feel comes from the sound and his voice…