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!
- [2025] Moving Western songs that touch the heart: A roundup of recommended masterpieces
- Ranking of Tear-Jerking Western Songs [2025]
- Western songs about saying “goodbye” — perfect for bereavement or a departed lover
- When you’re hurting and feel like you want to disappear… timeless Western songs to listen to at times like these
- Hidden gems of tear-jerking Western songs. Recommended popular tracks.
- Top Cry-Inducing Western Songs Ranking [2025]
- Beautiful, lovely Western music. A roundup of recommended classic songs.
- Ranking of Melancholic Western Songs [2025]
- A Collection of Heart-Touching Western Ballads — From Classics to the Newest Hits
- Really dark... Classic Western songs | So dark that it may trigger depression—proceed with caution!
- Western songs used in commercials — tear-jerking classics and popular tracks
- A collection of emotionally resonant dark-themed Western songs—tracks with lyrics that deeply echo in the heart
- Emotional Western Music Special | Handpicked from All Generations
Tearjerkers! Heart-wrenching Western songs — from timeless classics to the latest hits — (51–60)
MapsMaroon 5
The music video for this song is quite provocative.
In it, a girl who witnesses her boyfriend cheating ends up dying in an accident, making for a very bitter aftertaste.
The song itself was written by the composers behind Payphone and Moves Like Jagger, so it’s very up-tempo.
I’m not the only oneSam Smith
“I’m not the only one” means “I’m not the only one,” but when I first heard the song, I thought it was about a man being cheated on by a woman.
After watching the music video, though, I realized it’s a story about a woman being cheated on by a man.
Sam Smith’s warm yet heartrending voice brings me to tears.
Tears In HeavenEric Clapton
Eric Clapton is a legendary singer-songwriter and guitarist whose name is etched in music history, continually creating timeless songs loved across generations.
“Tears in Heaven,” distinguished by its warm fingerpicked acoustic guitar and the mellow tone of a fretless acoustic bass, was released in 1992.
It became a hit as the theme song for the film Rush and is one of Clapton’s signature tracks, even earning a Grammy nomination.
The story behind the song is deeply sorrowful: Clapton wrote it in 1991 as a tribute to his young son, who tragically passed away in an accident.
With that in mind, reading the lyrics while listening to the song evokes the image of Clapton striving to overcome tragedy and move forward—something that is sure to bring listeners to tears.
When your goneAvril Lavigne
It’s said to be one of Avril’s breakup songs, but depending on how you interpret it, it can also be taken as a song about losing someone important to you.
Even after that precious person is no longer right in front of you, the song powerfully expresses the enduring feelings you have for them, and Avril’s strong vocals resonate deeply in the chest.
Tearjerkers! Heartbreaking Western Songs — From Timeless Classics to the Latest Hits — (61–70)
Eyes ClosedEd Sheeran
The lead single from Ed Sheeran’s 2023 album “-” is “Eyes Closed,” which reached number one on the UK Singles Chart.
The song is dedicated to DJ Jamal Edwards, a close friend of Ed’s who passed away in 2022.
Its lyrics about “losing someone close to you” really hit home.
The blue monster that appears in the music video is said to symbolize Ed’s grief.
When She Loved MeSarah McLachlan
A song used in a flashback sequence that explains Sarah McLachlan’s history.
It was written by Randy Newman, featured in the film Toy Story 2, and was nominated for Best Original Song at the 2000 Academy Awards.
It was covered by Michael Crawford on his 2012 album Light Up the World.
How can you mend a broken heartBee Gees
A song that became the Bee Gees’ first No.
1 hit on the U.
S.
charts.
It’s also known as a song Robin Gibb wrote effortlessly in about an hour.
Al Green covered it in 1972 on his album “Let’s Stay Together,” and his version was used in the 1999 film “Notting Hill.”