[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
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- [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 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.
nonsenseHitsuji Bungaku
There are times when you feel vaguely empty or your spirits sink, right? The song I want you to listen to at such times is “Kudaranai.” It’s a track included on the album “our hope” released by Hitsujibungaku.
Moeka Shiotsuka, the band’s vocalist, sings about the emotional fluctuations she felt through her music activities.
Because it focuses on negative feelings that anyone can relate to, it’s easy to empathize with and appealing in the way you can listen while reflecting it onto your own experiences.
IDASKA
The worldview, as if set in an unknown Asian country or somewhere beyond time and space, is captivating.
The lyrics and melody are dreamy and tinged with a certain sadness.
For those who long to travel to a country no one knows and be free, this is a song that could let you escape in your mind.
[Lyrics You Can Relate To] Dark Songs to Listen to When You're Stuck in Heartbreak or Relationships (81–90)
I don’t mind being unhappy for the rest of my life.mafumafu
Sung by singer-songwriter Mafumafu, this piece candidly portrays a deep sense of despair and self-denial.
The lyrics feature expressions like apologizing for being born and being trapped in an unending loop of nightmares, leaving a powerful impression on listeners.
For Mafumafu, who returned from about a one-year hiatus in June 2022, this song holds a special meaning.
It’s a track I especially want those who’ve been hurt by heartbreak or troubled relationships, or who struggle to find their own worth, to hear.
It will surely stay close to your heart.
People who hate meKazuki Koucha
Kazuki Koucha’s music centers on self-loathing and complex romantic feelings, marked by emotive lyrics like “the person who hates me most is myself.” It vividly portrays anxiety, inner conflict, and self-denial in love, with strikingly delicate emotional nuances.
This piece, released in September 2024, is a self-produced work that Kazuki created from songwriting and composition to the jacket design.
True to her popularity on TikTok, she leverages her social media influence to reach a broad audience.
It may be the perfect song for those who struggle to accept themselves or feel instability in romantic relationships.
Effeminate; overly sentimental; being clingy/whiny (context-dependent)Gōruden Bonbā
A heart-tugging, feel-good song that comically portrays a man’s bittersweet lingering feelings after being dumped.
This gem wraps zippy comebacks to the one he can’t forget, tender affection, and regrets over letting himself be overlooked in quirky performances and a poppy sound.
It skillfully captures the panic of heartbreak in a dance tune that fuses kayōkyoku with Eurobeat.
Released in October 2009, it was later featured as a House Foods commercial song in March 2011.
From daydreaming about holding hands and dancing together to aching at the memory of sweet nothings once shared, this Golden Bomber signature track resonates deeply with anyone who can’t move on from a breakup or can’t help wondering how their ex is doing now.
Single AgainTakeuchi Mariya
It’s the theme song of a suspense drama, and its wistful melody is striking.
The lyrics capture a woman’s honest feelings upon hearing through the grapevine that the ex who dumped her has now been dumped by his new partner.
Though the words are calm rather than emotional, they clearly convey how heartbreaking the farewell was.