[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.

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.

Playlist

[Masterpiece] Tear-jerking Western songs. The tears won’t stop… truly sad songs [2025]
	Title	Playlist	One point
1	Depression (feat. Coconut Records)Ben Kweller		A father's grief in accepting his son's death
2	Tears In HeavenEric Clapton		A father's lament recounting Connor's tragedy
3	Wish You The BestLewis Capaldi		A poignant ballad that conveys the heart’s cry through song
4	Summertime SadnessLana Del Rey		A sad masterpiece that sings of the sense of loss in summer
5	You Break Me FirstTate McRae		Tate McRae’s heartbreak song
6	See You Again ft. Charlie PuthWiz Khalifa		Paul: A moving masterpiece of a requiem
7	emails i can’t sendSabrina Carpenter		A heartfelt cry of truth embedded in an email that couldn’t be sent
8	All My Happiness Is GonePurple Mountains		A Cry of Loneliness Embedded in Country Rock
9	Strange FruitBillie Holiday		A moving masterpiece that sings of the tragedy of Black people
10	Only Love Can Break Your HeartNeil Young		The pain of heartbreak: timeless songs where love shatters the heart
11	Someone Like YouAdele		Adele’s poignant love songs: lingering attachment and letting go
12	Love Is a Losing GameAmy Winehouse		A poignant masterpiece that sings of love’s emptiness
13	Time After TimeCyndi Lauper		Cyndi Lauper's smash hit song
14	It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to YesterdayBoyz II Men		A timeless, heart-touching masterpiece that sings of the pain of parting.
15	Alone I BreakKorn		A cry from the heart portraying the loneliness of corn
16	Like a StoneAudioslave		Chris Cornell’s poignant vocals and timeless classics
17	Cruel SummerTaylor Swift		Depicting the fervor and anguish of a secret love
18	Fast CarTracy Chapman		A story of dreams and hopes entrusted to a fast car
19	PhotographEd Sheeran		Ed Sheeran's heartwarming coming-of-age story
20	the way things gobeabadoobee		A heartfelt ballad that sings of the pain of a broken heart
21	The TeacherFoo Fighters		Dave Grohl’s music and story of sorrow
22	White HorseTaylor Swift		Taylor Swift's sad classic song
23	F**k it I love youLana Del Rey		Lana Del Rey’s sad California love song
24	Viva La VidaColdplay		Grammy Award-winning British rock band
25	I Want It That WayBackstreet Boys		A classic masterpiece that sings of the missed connections in love between men and women.
26	The Show Must Go OnQueen		A classic song that sings about the importance of living
27	War is a GodJesse Welles		A singer from Arkansas sings questions about the conflict.
28	I Always Wanna Die (Sometimes)The 1975		The band’s signature song, a rock ballad imbued with complex emotions
29	AlwaysDaniel Caesar		A final farewell to an unchanging love for the one I parted with
30	Sing For The MomentEminem		Eminem shakes the soul with rap infused with pain
31	when the party’s overBillie Eilish		An introspective and delicate teenage singer, Billie Eilish
32	When You’re GoneAvril Lavigne		A heartfelt song about the pain of parting and the emotions of adulthood
33	You Know You’re RightNirvana		Nirvana’s final recorded song, a work completed before his death
34	Back To DecemberTaylor Swift		Taylor apologizes to Taylor Lautner in a song
35	The Day We Caught The TrainOcean Colour Scene		Ocean Colour Scene, a classic band from the '90s
36	OneMetallica		A famous metal song that sings about the misery of war
37	Wake Me Up When September EndsGreen Day		A memorial song filled with feelings for my father
38	So Far AwayAvenged Sevenfold		The friendship tribute song for Jimmy, 'So Far Away'
39	BeautifulChristina Aguilera		A Christina Aguilera song beloved by the LGBTQ community
40	ImagineJohn Lennon		A timeless song of peace that resonates in people's hearts
41	The greatestLana Del Rey		Nostalgia portrayed through a sadcore track
42	RetrogradeJames Blake		An emotional song by James Blake
43	Harvest MoonNeil Young		Neil Young is not very well-known in Japan.
44	VCRThe xx		Nostalgic youth woven in a delicate world of sound
45	Hunger of the PineAlt-J		Alt-J's distinctive musical world
46	Let’s All Make BelieveOasis		Japanese bonus track from Oasis's fourth album
47	22 (OVER S∞∞N)Bon Iver		An indie band's challenge to a new sonic world
48	Spanish SaharaFoals		Selected as NME’s Best Track, a signature song by Foals
49	All Things Must PassGeorge Harrison		An unreleased song by Harrison was commemorated
50	AngieThe Rolling Stones		A classic by the Stones that conveys hope and sorrow
51	Off At The Next ExitBeady Eye		A track where Liam’s vocals truly shine.
52	Stairway to HeavenLed Zeppelin		Legendary rock song, covered by many artists
53	Toy SoldiersMartika		A hit song draws attention again
54	Street Spirit (Fade Out)Radiohead		A strange and dark masterpiece whose source is a novel
55	SilhouetteOwl City		Music resonates in the heart across generations.
56	The Winner Takes It AllABBA		A song about the ABBA members’ divorces and heartache
57	Fix YouColdplay		A masterpiece that captures the essence of music
58	The Beat Goes OnBeady Eye		Oasis’s Liam sings a live show in heaven.
59	Five YearsDavid Bowie		Youthful memories with David Bowie's classic song
60	Car’s OutsideJames Arthur		A poignant long-distance love song that resonates with the heart
61	Rest Of My LifeJonas Blue, Sam Feldt, Endless Summer, Sadie Rose Van		A love song brimming with summer vibes, vowing eternal love
62	Forget MeLewis Capaldi		The pain of heartbreak, Capaldi’s heartrending song
63	Seasons In The SunTerry Jacks		A love poem that sings of life, death, and parting
64	The EndThe Doors		A moving song that portrays death, parents, and parting
65	AndromedaWeyes Blood		Myth and technology intertwine in a dreamlike music
66	MotherJohn Lennon		A classic song that sings about John's childhood pain.
67	cecilia and the satelliteAndrew McMahon		A song filled with love and hope for my daughter
68	All MirrorsAngel Olsen		Angel Olsen's song of self-dialogue
69	The Way We WereBarbra Streisand		Love Requiem from the Film 'A Place in the Sun'
70	November RainGuns N’ Roses		GNR classic, shortened and released as a single in 1992
71	Leave Out All The RestLinkin Park		A song story that apologizes for past mistakes
72	HURTNine Inch Nails		A song with a strong message about living life wisely
73	Where did you sleep last nightNirvana		Kurt’s final masterpiece, a tragic posthumous work
74	FifteenTaylor Swift		An American artist popular among young women
75	I Will Always Love YouWhitney Houston		A song by Dolly, covered by Whitney
76	Till I Get Over YouMichelle Branch		Michelle’s love song that sings of adult emotions
77	DESPERADOThe Eagles		A song portraying a rock star's love and inner turmoil
78	You And MeLifehouse		Emotion-filled music heals the heart.
79	The RiverBruce Springsteen		Springsteen’s classic first performed at an anti-nuclear concert
80	Goodbye Never Felt So BadJames Bay		James Bay's iconic song that sings about the pain of heartbreak
81	Time to Say GoodbyeAndrea Bocelli & Sarah Brightman		Sarah and Bocelli’s masterpiece becomes a big hit
82	StrawberryfireApples In Stereo		An Indian-instrument band with a dream of conquering the world
83	Tears can be so softChristine&the Queens		The Power of Tears: The Allure of Music That Heals Sorrow
84	Our HouseCrosby, Stills, Nash & Young		Classic song by Crosby, Stills & Nash
85	How Do I Say GoodbyeDean Lewis		A tear-jerking song depicting a father's illness and farewell
86	Birthday CakeDylan Conrique		A hopeful song that encapsulates feelings for a loved one
87	Eyes ClosedEd Sheeran		A moving piece that sings of deep feelings for those we have lost
88	Wait For YouElliott Yamin		Elliott Yamin’s moving masterpiece
89	Empty Garden (Hey, Hey Johnny)Elton John		A song of tribute and friendship to John Lennon
90	RescuedFoo Fighters		A masterpiece that transcends sorrow and paints a light of hope
91	He Stopped Loving Her TodayGeorge Jones		Melancholic masterpiece wins grand prize
92	Happiest YearJaymes Young		A heart-touching song that sings of the pain of a broken heart and gratitude
93	Standing StillJewel		Jewel: A star is born with a smash hit
94	goodbyeKelly Clarkson		A powerful song about overcoming heartbreak
95	Breaking PointLogan Michael		A moving song that portrays the pain of heartbreak
96	This Used To Be My PlaygroundMadonna		The unreleased theme song of the film “League of One”
97	Used To Be YoungMiley Cyrus		A touching, bittersweet ballad that looks back on youth
98	Last NightMorgan Wallen		A moving song that sings of the pain of heartbreak and the turmoil of love
99	THE LONELIESTMåneskin		A gemlike ballad that portrays a heartrending love
100	Blonde on BlondeNada Surf		The appeal of indie rock bands
101	Nothing But A FoolNew Order		A sound that is youthful, perfect, and has a sad tone
102	early morning rainPaul Weller		Paul Weller's musical activities are worthy of respect.
103	Evil FriendsPortugal. The Man		From a sad intro to a bursting melody
104	This Is How It FeelsRichard Ashcroft		Favorite song, captivating and addictive
105	You Don’t Love Me YetRoky Erickson		Legendary vocalist of the 13th Floor Elevators
106	A Hazy Shade Of WinterSimon&Garfunkel		Simon & Garfunkel's classic winter song
107	Shape of My HeartSting		A poignant masterpiece sung by Sting
108	As Tears Go ByThe Rolling Stones		A masterpiece born from a title change
109	never had no one everThe Smiths		A collection of masterpieces born from artistic pressure
110	Feminine Effectsof Montreal		An emotional masterpiece with a beautiful melody
111	Ruthlesssomething corporate		Andrew McMahon’s emotional song
112	I’m With YouAvril Lavigne		Girls' rock, recommended by Avril Lavigne
113	Across The UniverseFIONA APPLE		Beatles classic, Fiona Apple’s divine cover
114	LoveKeyshia Cole		Kesha's moving vocals make their debut on the Billboard charts
115	Fingers CrossedLauren Spencer Smith		A touching song that portrays the pain of heartbreak
116	RunLeona Lewis		Rediscovering the appeal of universally beloved masterpieces
117	Moonlight Shadow ft. Maggie ReillyMike Oldfield		Mike Oldfield's elegy song
118	Against All OddsPhil Collins		Phil Collins's smash hit, number one in the U.S.
119	Hero Of WarRise Against		A song depicting the PTSD of returning soldiers
120	angelsRobbie Williams		A classic revival by Robby, selected as a funeral song
121	ShipbuildingRobert Wyatt		Unknown sad songs create the greatest emotion
122	BrokenSeether ft. Amy Lee		A love song about the pain of losing a comrade
123	Don`t dream it`s overSixpence None The Richer		A classic song by a Texas band with a heartrending vocal
124	Make MyThe Roots ft. Big KRIT		Introduce a sad rap song about roots
125	On Your OwnThe Verve		Richard Ashcroft's classic song
126	SadboyWolf Alice		Wolf Alice’s sonic evolution and powerful songs
127	Shine OnJet		A song of mourning and hope from brothers to their father
128	Celluloid HeroesKinks		A band with a uniquely British sense of humor
129	I Need To Be In LoveCarpenters		A classic hit by the Carpenters becomes a big hit in Japan
130	Small BumpEd Sheeran		Music is a wonderful art that connects across generations.
131	HallelujahRufus Wainwright		Only a handful are true artists with real talent.
132	BrielleSky Sailing		Adam Young’s bittersweet pop song
133	Un-Break My HeartToni Braxton		An emotional masterpiece that sings of the pain for a former lover
134	Little Lou, Ugly Jack, Prophet JohnBelle & Sebastian／Norah Jones		A song whose band’s charm heals people’s hearts
135	sad dayFKA Twigs		FKA twigs’ second album sings of hardship and loss