[Just the Lyrics Make Me Cry] Tear-Jerking Songs That Touch the Heart
Even when we say “songs with moving, tear-jerking lyrics,” their themes vary widely—love songs, fight songs, farewell songs, and more.
Depending on the situation, you probably find yourself wanting to listen to a song that stays close to your heart.
So in this article, we’ll introduce plenty of timeless tracks with wonderful, empathetic lyrics that will resonate with you and offer support.
Each song explores a different theme, so you’re sure to find at least one that speaks to your heart.
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[Tears from Lyrics Alone] Heart-Piercing, Tear-Jerking Songs (1–10)
Motherkariyushi 58
It was released in 2006 as Kariyushi58’s debut single.
The song was written by vocalist Shingo Maekawa for his own mother, and the title “Anma” means “mother” in the Okinawan dialect.
It reflects on a past of causing trouble for his mother and expresses gratitude to her, making it a touching song that brings mothers to mind.
Just being alive is admirable.ReoNa
For those shedding tears over days that just won’t go right, this song might be the companion you need.
It’s a track by ReoNa, a singer known as a “despair-type anisong singer,” included on her fifth single, “Nai Nai,” released in 2021.
The lyrics and composition were created by the popular Vocaloid producer Tota Kasamura.
The lyrics, which spill out feelings straight from the heart, are so raw they tighten your chest just reading them.
The sorrowful piano and ReoNa’s on-the-verge-of-tears vocals really hit you right in the tear ducts.
budKobukuro
It was released in 2007 as Kobukuro’s 14th single.
The song was written as the theme for the Fuji TV drama “Tokyo Tower: Mom and Me, and Sometimes Dad.” Vocalist Kentaro Kobuchi composed it as a song dedicated to his late mother, and it won the 49th Japan Record Award.
[Tears from Lyrics Alone] Heart-piercing, Tear-jerking Songs (11–20)
globeYonezu Kenshi
This work was created as the theme song for a film directed by Hayao Miyazaki.
It carries an homage to Miyazaki’s works, which have influenced Kenshi Yonezu since childhood.
From the quietly opening piano tones to the gradually unfolding, grand soundscape, it feels as if it’s depicting the highs and lows of life.
The lyrics, symbolizing loneliness and connection, stir the listener’s heart.
Released in July 2023, it topped the charts across major streaming platforms and set a new all-time record for the most No.
1 digital singles among Yonezu’s songs.
It’s a track that leaves a profound afterglow, prompting reflection on the meaning of life.
Flower of loveaimyon
A gentle song by Aimyon, chosen as the theme for NHK’s morning drama Ranman, starring Ryunosuke Kamiki and Minami Hamabe, among others.
Aimyon shows a different side with each track, so it feels like each song has its own devoted fans.
The lyrics are exquisite, entrusting emotions to flowers and seeds, the blue sky and nature: “Both the feelings that reach someone and the ones that don’t—all feelings make a flower bloom.” Put into words, it may seem simple, but it makes you realize that people live “for the surely arriving brighter tomorrow.” The unadorned guitar sound is tender too, as if gently supporting the song.
It’s not a lie.NEW!Mrs. GREEN APPLE
This is a ballad that gently stays close to the unspoken truths and indelible pain we all keep hidden deep in our hearts.
While Mrs.
GREEN APPLE is known for their dazzling sound, their bittersweet love songs that quietly gaze inward are also exceptional.
The world they paint—where the raw emotions of heartbreak mix with a self-persuading sense of resignation—conveys sorrow with a quiet heat.
This track is an original song included on the acclaimed 2019 album Attitude.
When a lonely night leaves your chest aching with a sense of loss, listening to it will softly embrace those feelings that have nowhere to go.
Let’s go home.NEW!Fuji Kaze
Singer-songwriter Fujii Kaze captivates many with his unique sensibility and gentle vocals.
This work is a sublime ballad themed around life and death, and the act of letting go of attachment.
It carries a profound message about releasing all past pain and lingering regrets to return to your true self, and listening to it feels like your heart is being cleansed.
Included as the closing track on the acclaimed 2020 May release “HELP EVER HURT NEVER,” this song is the one I especially recommend to anyone who wants a gentle push forward when weighed down by hardship or everyday inner struggles.