Songs That Make You Cry: Heart-Wrenching Western Music—from Timeless Classics to the Newest Hits
There are times when, instead of listening to music to get pumped up or fired up, you deliberately want to listen to poignant or slightly sad songs and have a good cry alone, right?
Upbeat tracks that give you a push are great, but in this article we’ve researched and selected timeless, heart-wrenching English-language songs that empathize with listeners’ feelings, both old and new.
From classic standards to recent hits and the latest buzzworthy tracks, we’re bringing you a genre-crossing selection.
Try listening in whatever setting makes you feel most at ease—whether that’s in your bedroom or on a drive!
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Tearjerkers! Heart-wrenching Western songs—from timeless classics to the latest hits—(21–30)
PompeiiBastille
Listening to this song makes me wonder what life is all about and leaves me with a bittersweet feeling that, in the end, nothing really changes.
Despite its upbeat tempo, it’s quite a negative song, and when I looked into it, I found out it’s themed around the volcanic eruption in Pompeii, Italy.
HurtChristina Aguilera
This song makes you realize that it’s not easy to get back what you’ve lost.
What really mattered, what truly made you happy.
It conveys that unbearable, irreparable feeling of having hurt someone, and Christina’s powerful vocals resonate deep in your chest.
Tearjerkers! Heartbreaking Songs in Western Music — From Timeless Classics to the Newest Hits — (31–40)
If I die youngThe Band Perry
It begins with the opening line, “If I were to die young.
.
.” When I first heard it, I was surprised that a song like this existed.
It has a relaxed, upbeat country feel, but the lyrics—the heart of the song—reflect on life and on life and death.
Big girls don’t cryFergie
This is a solo song by Fergie from the Black Eyed Peas.
It might be her first breakup song since she started her solo career.
Fergie herself aims to be a strong woman and is quite disciplined, so I feel this song reflects the strength of not crying even after a heartbreak.
Say You Won’t Let GoJames Arthur
James Arthur, whose tattoo-covered look is striking, is a maverick singer-songwriter with a tumultuous past: he rose to fame as a musician, was knocked to rock bottom by scandal, and then clawed his way back to success.
His 2016 release “Say You Won’t Let Go” became the song that put his career back on track—a folky ballad that topped the UK charts.
Its very simplicity gives it a universal appeal; it’s a straightforward love song that leaves listeners feeling bittersweet yet warm.
It isn’t exactly sad, but its heartfelt melody and vocals are sure to bring a tear to your eye.
Depression (feat. Coconut Records)Ben Kweller
Have you ever experienced the kind of despair that feels like all the color has drained from the world after suddenly losing a beloved family member? “Depression” by American singer-songwriter Ben Kweller is a song that lays bare his feelings for his son, who died in a car accident.
The fact that he wrote it while listening to recordings his son left behind conveys, almost painfully, the heart-rending ache and deep love he feels as a father.
His voice, singing without hiding his despair, is sure to offer comfort to those carrying similar pain.
This song, which strives to find light from the depths of sorrow, may give you the strength to move forward.
Say SomethingA Great Big World ft. Christina Aguilera
It’s a song featured in the film “If I Stay.” It’s unbearably heart-wrenching, and just listening to it makes me feel like I’m about to burst into tears.
A Great Big World came to Japan in 2015, and at that time they collaborated with May J.
on this song.