[Relatable Lyrics] Emo songs to listen to when you're stuck after a breakup or relationship troubles
Heartbreak, relationships, work, school—sad and painful things can happen in so many parts of life.
You might find yourself hating someone, lamenting your bad luck, or even feeling self-destructive at times.
Here are some “dark” songs to listen to in those moments.
Because these lyrics are written and sung by artists who have been through a lot, they’re raw and real enough to sit with your feelings—and I’m sure you’ll relate.
I’d be happy if listening to the songs I’m about to introduce helps lift your spirits, even just a little.
- [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
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- [Yami Song] A mental breakdown track that sings the true feelings of a melancholic heart
- [For High School Students] Melancholy Songs That Stay Close to Your Feelings [Tough Times]
- [Dark Songs] A carefully curated selection of deeply dark tracks and heartbreaking songs that accompany you in tough times
- [Tearjerker] Songs that make your heart tremble with tears & moving tracks with lyrics that touch the soul
- [Trash Songs] A carefully curated selection of tracks about the lowest, worst kind of loser—and hidden gems!
- My heart aches with bittersweet pain! Breakup songs I’d recommend to Gen Z
- [Female Heartbreak Song] A soul-stirring song dedicated to you, who loved with all your heart.
- A breakup song with great lyrics. A beautiful message that lingers in the heart.
- For When You Need a Good Cry: Soul-Soothing Tearjerker Classics — Life, Love, and Work
- Gently staying close to a wounded heart… A Reiwa-era heartbreak song
[Empathy in Lyrics] Depressing songs to listen to when you’re stuck in heartbreak or relationships (71–80)
Only HumanK
A dramatic ballad by K that shines a light of hope, telling us that “beyond sorrow lies a smile.” Chosen as the theme song for the drama One Litre of Tears, the piece portrays people who keep looking forward even as they face life’s hardships.
When you’re exhausted, when you stop and wonder if things are okay as they are, this song gently gives you a push.
Released in November 2005, it reached No.
5 on the Oricon charts.
It’s also included on the album Beyond the Sea and continues to be cherished as one of K’s signature works.
Its tender, enveloping vocals are sure to give you strength.
7 daysphatmans after school
This song delicately portrays the feeling of nearly losing sight of life’s meaning and one’s sense of worth, told through the course of a week’s everyday life.
Within its calm, narrative tone, a loneliness and isolation—like not being needed by anyone—quietly seep through, resonating deeply with listeners.
Released to the world as a track on phatmans after school’s double A-side single “FR/DAY NIGHT” in July 2015, it is also included on the band’s second album, “Unchronicle.” When you’re struggling in life and feel stuck, this song will surely stay close to your heart.
It’s a piece we hope those who feel doubt or anxiety about living will listen to.
Act like an adult.suisou gurashi
A bittersweet love song that portrays the complex emotions of a woman who goes to meet someone on the last train at midnight.
Released by Suisougurashi in March 2022, the song delicately captures the feelings of a woman swept up in an adult romance.
Set to jazzy sounds and a catchy melody, it vividly depicts her inner conflict as she keeps the relationship going by hiding her true self to suit the other person’s convenience.
With a clear, translucent vocal, it expresses a woman wavering between her straightforward affection and the anxiety of losing her sense of self.
A song that offers comfort to those hurting from unrequited love or heartbreak.
Only I liked it.suisou gurashi
A heartbreak song by suisougurasu that delicately portrays the ache and lingering attachment of love.
Eye’s clear, translucent vocals beautifully capture the painful feeling of being left behind while the other person moves on to their next romance.
Many listeners will relate to the lyrics, which depict how a casual message from the person you like can throw your heart into turmoil.
Released in September 2021, this song is sure to resonate with anyone who can’t forget someone they love or is suffering from a love they can’t let go of.
I can’t bring myself to hate (you/it).ren
A work that sings of emotions born in the space between loss and lingering attachment.
Even when cornered into a situation where they can’t help but depend on the other person, their love is so deep they can’t even bring themselves to hate them.
Ren’s clear, translucent vocals capture that aching feeling beautifully.
The lyrics vividly portray the subtle, complex emotions hidden deep in the heart, creating a worldview that truly resonates.
Released in September 2021, this piece is also known as Ren’s debut song.
Its delicate, acoustic guitar–driven arrangement enhances the poignancy of the vocals.
It’s a song that stays with you when you’re suffering from lingering attachment or obsession toward someone you love, or when you love them so much you can’t let go.
Love even your melancholyKoresawa
A heartwarming pop tune by Koresawa that delicately portrays the feelings of a girl living with the negative emotions everyone experiences.
Released in August 2020, this first single is a re-recording of a song long regarded as a legendary hidden gem.
Set to a gentle, acoustic guitar–driven sound, it conveys the strength to move forward while harboring vague anxieties and loneliness—and learning to accept them.
It’s the perfect track for anyone who resonates with the stance of not denying any feeling but choosing to love them, or for those who want to keep looking ahead even while carrying a touch of melancholy.
MindsetKamikita Ken
A ballad that evokes deep empathy, woven from tranquil acoustic guitar and delicate vocals.
In this piece, Ken Kamikita turns inward, expressing the emotions and conflicts that lie deep within his heart.
It portrays a heartfelt plea to have one’s existence acknowledged, the anxiety and confusion of searching for the meaning of life, and the complex state of finding a kind of solace in the world’s indifference.
Released in April 2017 on the mini-album “LAYERED” and unveiled alongside a concept book, the work drew attention as an ambitious project that fused music and literature.
When you face hardship and feel on the verge of losing your sense of purpose, this song will stay close to your heart and give you the courage to confront yourself.