Songs with great lyrics: soothing tracks that linger in the heart and moving ballads

bento (boxed lunch)Hanbaato Hanbaato

bento (boxed lunch)

A husband-and-wife duo, Humbert Humbert, included this song on their 2010 album Sasurai-ki (Wanderer’s Chronicle).

While friends around them are grabbing fast food, the lyrics depict the scene of savoring a homemade bento that still tastes good even after cooling on the bus—a blend of wistfulness and warmth.

It reminds you that the most ordinary days are truly irreplaceable.

It’s a song you’ll want to listen to when you feel like pausing amid a busy day.

By your sideMirei Touyama

Mirei Touyama “By Your Side”

It’s a ballad that carefully expresses sincere gratitude and love for someone precious who’s always by your side.

It’s a song by Mirei Toyama, released in November 2016.

Chosen as a recommended track on TV Tokyo’s music program “Cho-Ryuha,” it was aired for about a month.

The gentle sound of piano and strings blends with Toyama’s warm vocals, creating a comforting feeling that seems to untie your heart just by listening.

The lyrics, which let go of bashfulness and evasiveness to convey feelings straightforwardly, are sure to move you.

It’s the perfect song for when you want to say a heartfelt “thank you” that you don’t usually express.

lamplightYuga

Yuga – Tomoshibi (Official Music Video) / Theme song for the TBS Friday drama “My Wife Is a Elementary School Student.” Sea of Light by Yuga

This song was written as the theme for the TBS Friday drama “Tsuma, Shogakusei ni Naru” (My Wife Is a Little Girl Now).

It delivers, on a gentle melody, the message that no one is ever truly alone—we live alongside the feelings of someone precious to us.

Many listeners will likely see themselves in the lyrics, which say that the presence of a loved one is a sure light illuminating the night road.

Please give it a listen when you want to once again feel the presence of someone important to you.

Embraced by the windTeshima Aoi

Aoi Teshima – Embraced by the Wind (Official Video)

Many people find that Aoi Teshima’s whisper-soft singing voice alone soothes the heart.

This track’s warm, classically tinged melody—woven from piano and strings—gently wraps around the listener.

And the lyrics’ determination to face forward despite inner conflict will surely resonate with many.

Scheduled for release in July 2025, it was originally a commercial song, and because its worldview aligned with the film “The Town with Storehouses,” it was also chosen as the theme song.

It’s a piece that lightens the heart when you’re feeling lost.

SmileT-BOLAN

T-BOLAN – Smile

A song with special meaning, created for the fans as the band reached a turning point.

Its message—overcoming hardship and pain, and still facing tomorrow with a smile—is conveyed through Arashi Moritomo’s husky yet warm vocals.

Many listeners may find courage in its unwavering stance of maintaining a forgiving heart and striving to be gentle, no matter the circumstances.

The track was included as an unreleased new song on the best-of album “T-BOLAN FINAL BEST ~GREATEST SONGS & MORE~,” released in December 1999.

It’s a song that offers a gentle push forward when you’re at a crossroads in life or feeling a bit down.

A hidden gem of a power ballad, overshadowed by classics like “Hanashitakunai.”

I want to be kinder.Saitō Kazuyoshi

Kazuyoshi Saito – I Want to Be Kind [Music Video]

This is a work by Kazuyoshi Saito, notable for its arrangement that opens with a guitar riff using delay.

Released in November 2011 and widely known as the theme song for the high-rated TV drama “Kaseifu no Mita,” it has reached a broad audience.

While feeling the emptiness of a self-centered way of living, the lyrics—wishing to make a loved one smile—portray a complex mix of melancholy and kindness.

Believing it’s not an era without love, the voice that clumsily yet earnestly cries out “I want to be stronger” pierces the heart.

When you feel frustrated with a reality that won’t go your way, this emotional rock tune is sure to offer warm companionship.

rainbowAqua Timez

Aqua Timez “Niji” Music Video (Theme song for the drama Gokusen Season 3)

A smash-hit number by the band Aqua Timez, who have earned support for their emotionally charged vocals and strongly message-driven songs that resonate with listeners’ hearts.

Its uplifting lyrics—encouraging you to stand up again no matter how many times you fail—offer comfort to those who are feeling down.