[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 a loved one. Tracks to listen to while thinking of someone dear
- [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 and heartrending tracks that empathize with painful feelings (21–30)
On nights when I’m too lonely to sleepAimer
It has a slightly different taste from the other songs, but Aimer’s quiet voice resonates over the calm accompaniment.
And the lyrics are so heartrending they make your chest tighten…
The reason these words pierce the heart so deeply might be the mysterious power dwelling in her voice.
With its dark mood that sinks deep into your core, this is a song I want to listen to when I’m feeling down.
Words I will never forgetAjimine Kiwako
With its fantastical worldview and narrative richness, this gem of a track comes from Okinawan singer-songwriter Kiwako Ajimine and the group Future Ancient Orchestra.
A dreamlike melody that fuses classical, folk, and electronic sounds intertwines with Ajimine’s translucent vocals, evoking a poignant longing that seeps into the heart.
Released in July 2016 as the theme song for the smartphone game “Grimms Notes,” the piece transcended the game’s bounds with fairy tale–inspired lyrics and a beautiful melody that captivated many listeners.
Its ethereal atmosphere, as if you’ve wandered into a storybook world, makes it perfect for moments when you want a little distance from reality or time to sit quietly alone.
Our FailureMorita Doji
This is a hit number by Doji Morita that was used as the theme song for the 1993 drama High School Teacher.
The drama itself was quite shocking, so if you watched it at the time, you probably still remember it.
The song portrays a protagonist left behind alone with their youthful memories, and combined with Morita’s whisper-like vocals, it brings tears with its beauty and poignancy.
Among those feeling down, some may be trapped by unforgettable memories or the past, unable to move forward.
I would love for people like that to listen to this song.
vortexPorunogurafiti
A song that portrays the complexities of human emotions and mental states.
Its lyrics depict the warmth of physical connection and the inner struggles that arise when feelings become too intense, making it a striking piece that evokes different emotions in each listener.
Released in February 2003, the track was used as the opening theme for the TV Asahi drama “Sky High,” marking PornoGraffitti’s first drama tie-in.
It’s a recommended song for those who want to think deeply about what love is and the complexity of human desires and emotions.
It’s not that I want to die.Asanomachi
A song whose fleeting, translucent vocals almost bring you to tears.
Its lyrics—like the soft words that slip out in the stillness before sleep—gently embrace a lonely heart.
Asanomachii’s delicate production and KAFU’s crystal-clear voice blend beautifully, creating a work that deeply moves its listeners.
Released in August 2024 and included on the album “Yoi no Machi,” this track quietly stays close to those who feel life is hard or who struggle to find where they belong, and to those whose hearts are worn out by modern society.
It’s a song to lean on when you don’t want to force yourself to look ahead, but instead wish to face your feelings just as they are.
It’s true.Natsunose
A piece by Natsunose distinguished by its gentle piano melody and delicate strings.
Saku Hanamoto’s soft vocals tenderly envelop the small joys found in everyday life and the feelings we have for someone special.
Included on the album “What on Earth Happened?” and released in May 2024, the track sparked buzz mainly on social media and generated a major response, surpassing 3 million views on YouTube.
With a warm atmosphere that seems to quietly accept your pain, it will gently accompany those who wish to heal a wounded heart or face their own emotions.
Colorless Self-Harmnekobōro
This is a song that makes you reflect on who you are and what you live for.
It was released in 2013 by Nekobolo, a Vocaloid producer who also works under the name Sasanomaly.
The meaning of life and your own worth—things you didn’t think about as a child—can become sources of pain as you grow up, especially when you feel powerless, and many people may feel discouraged by that.
While this song expresses those feelings that are hard to share with others, it also offers a hopeful portrayal at the end, and I think listening to it when you’re feeling down will gently lighten your heart.