[Dark Songs] A carefully curated selection of deeply dark tracks and heartbreaking songs that accompany you in tough times
There are times when something tough or sad happens and you just feel down, right?
In those moments, listening to overly positive songs like “Keep your head up!” or “You can do it!” can actually make things harder for some people, surprisingly.
So in this article, instead of upbeat tracks, we’ll introduce songs with a darker mood that gently sit with your more negative feelings.
By intentionally listening to songs with heavy or heartbreaking lyrics, you might find your feelings become just a little easier to bear.
- [Melancholy] For when you want to sink all the way. Masterpieces that depict various kinds of gloom.
- [Yami Song] Fight darkness with darkness!? Deep tracks that stay close to your pain
- Songs that hit home when you're feeling blue: masterpieces of Japanese music
- Masterpieces that sing of despair. Recommended popular songs.
- [For High School Students] Melancholy Songs That Stay Close to Your Feelings [Tough Times]
- [Songs to Listen to When You Want to Die] I want to disappear... A song to support you who feel that way
- [Tearjerker] Songs that make your heart tremble with tears & moving tracks with lyrics that touch the soul
- [Yami Song] A mental breakdown track that sings the true feelings of a melancholic heart
- [So touching it makes you cry] A heartbreakingly wistful and sad song that tightens your chest
- Hidden gems of yami songs. Recommended popular tracks.
- [Songs of Bereavement] Songs about losing someone dear. Tracks to listen to while thinking of a loved one.
- [Bereavement Song] To you whom I can no longer meet... Tear-jerking songs about death
- [Relatable Lyrics] Emo songs to listen to when you're stuck after a breakup or relationship troubles
[Dark Songs] A carefully selected list of deeply dark or heartrending tracks that empathize with painful feelings (71–80)
Someone, the sea.Aimer
This song, Dareka, Umi o (Someone, the Sea), was used as the ending theme for the anime Terror in Resonance.
The anime tells the story of boys whose future was unjustly taken from them as they strike back at society, and from this track you can feel the protagonists’ emotions depicted in the show—anger, despair, and resignation.
More than the lyrics themselves, I especially recommend the atmosphere of the song, which seems to accept your sinking feelings just as they are.
It’s sung by Aimer, a popular singer known for her distinctive voice.
When Someone’s Wish Comes TrueUtada Hikaru
A song that’s also popular among women with unrequited love is “Dareka no Negai ga Kanau Koro” (“When Someone’s Wish Comes True”).
It’s recommended for those who are feeling down after parting with someone important.
The song was also used as the theme for the film CASSHERN.
It evokes the image of a woman torn and sorrowful in a situation where if she wishes for her own happiness, someone else will suffer, and if she lets go of her own happiness, she’ll lose something precious.
In life—not just in love—there are times when we don’t know the right path.
In those moments, it’s painful that you have to choose one path even though any choice will leave you with regrets…
chernobylTHE NOVEMBERS
An incredibly beautiful song by THE NOVEMBERS.
Kobayashi’s vocals, crying out in anguish, tighten my chest.
The chorus line “I want to return to the sea, I want to return to the womb” is especially striking.
I find myself drawn into the thought-provoking, profound lyrics.
[Dark Songs] A curated selection of deeply dark or heartrending tracks that resonate with painful feelings (81–90)
HappinessSyrup16g
This song stands out for its thought-provoking lyrics and is cherished by fans as one of syrup16g’s masterpieces.
With acoustic guitar melodies, gentle vocals, and a sentimental, heartrending tune, it’s a bittersweet track that makes you feel as if you’re watching the sunset from a train.
street tree(s)Ozaki Yutaka
It was included on Yutaka Ozaki’s fourth original album in 1988.
While the lyrics convey a certain sense of hope and don’t necessarily feel all that dark, the melody is extremely somber.
Because of that, it ends up sounding like a very dark song.
My own crossF.Chiriāno
“My Own Cross,” sung by the Italian singer Cilliano.
It was the theme song for the popular detective drama Special Investigation Frontline, which began airing in 1977.
Starting with a guitar intro, this song is a masterpiece with a dark and dramatic tone and lyrics.
I don’t mind being unhappy for the rest of my life.mafumafu
Sung by singer-songwriter Mafumafu, this piece candidly portrays profound despair and self-denial.
The lyrics include expressions like apologizing for being born and an unending loop of nightmares, resonating deeply with listeners.
For Mafumafu—who returned in June 2022 after about a year-long hiatus—this song holds a special meaning.
It’s a track especially worth hearing for those who have been hurt by heartbreak or relationships, or who are struggling to find their own worth.