[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
[Relatable Lyrics] Depressive Songs to Listen to When Heartbreak or Relationships Have You Stuck (21–30)
I can’t stand that cute girl.narumiya
Set to a poppy, upbeat rhythm, this track vividly chronicles complex feelings like infatuation and jealousy.
It’s a single released by singer-songwriter Narumiya in September 2023, and it sparked a huge response mainly on social media.
Packed with possessiveness toward a crush and aching wishes, the more you listen, the tighter your chest feels.
Yet those disarmingly honest lyrics end up speaking for your feelings and lightening your heart.
Why not give it a listen when you’re struggling with unrequited love or wishing someone would understand your true feelings at night? If you let yourself sink into the up-tempo groove and let out the haze in your heart, you might feel a bit refreshed.
What do you want to become?Rozarīna
This is a song I want you to listen to when you suddenly feel like you’re losing yourself in the rush of everyday life.
Singer-songwriter Rozarina, whose name comes from a soothing herb, created this track from the struggles she faced during an extremely busy time.
It’s included on her first album, INNER UNIVERSE, released in January 2020.
Although it was initially slated to be left off the album, it made the cut thanks to her strong wishes—a passionate backstory.
On nights when you’re worn out from trying too hard for someone else, this song will gently stay by your side.
If being alive is painfulMoriyama Naotaro
It’s a ballad whose shocking opening line makes everyone doubt their ears—and then captures their hearts.
Sung by Naotaro Moriyama, who frames the world from a unique perspective, this masterpiece lays bare both the pain and joy of living.
The lyrics, written by poet Ochanomizu Kazu around 1997, were turned into a song after Moriyama happened upon them.
Released in August 2008 as his 16th single, it also drew attention as the CM song for Shuto Iko, Osaka Isen, and Nagoya Isen.
Its paradoxical wording delivers a message that affirms “living,” one that should especially resonate with those carrying deep worries.
Rather than forcing yourself to be cheerful, why not listen quietly on a night when you want to face your heart with calm?
Kiss me here.Shiina Ringo
Singer-songwriter Ringo Sheena, who enjoys immense popularity especially among women.
This song, one of her signature tracks, is—as the title suggests—packed to the brim with the aching tenderness the narrator feels for the man she loves.
Reading the lyrics, some people might think the love expressed is “a bit heavy,” but in reality, many of us feel this strongly about our partners.
It can be hard to convey those feelings exactly as they are, but when your emotions feel like they’re about to overflow, give this song a listen.
planetariumOtsuka Ai
Ai Otsuka, who had a major breakthrough in the 2000s and still continues to work energetically, is someone whose songs many longtime listeners can probably still hum along to today.
Thanks to her own personality, she’s often associated with bright, lively songs, but she also has tracks like this one that invite you to really listen—and they’re wonderful in their own way.
This song is said to be about a boyfriend who passed away, but of course it deeply resonates in more general heartbreak situations as well.
It’s a song I’d love anyone to hear when they’re feeling down after a breakup and carrying feelings they can’t quite let go of right away.
IslandRemioromen
A track by Remioromen that’s full of a different vibe than usual.
The intro features a slow, extended, and beautifully played passage, followed by a darker song.
Even though the lyrics can be read as backward-looking, the arrangement somehow conveys a sense of light.
The chorus feels wonderfully liberating, giving the impression of being led out from a dark place.
See you in the next life.8utterfly
Singer-songwriter 8utterfly, often called the queen of “yami songs.” This track also voices the feelings of a woman heartbroken after her boyfriend’s betrayal, and if someone is struggling in the very same situation, it’s sure to become a precious song that stays by her side.
Looking at the lyrics, you’ll find bravado, regret, gratitude, and lingering attachment… It portrays the many emotions a heartbroken woman carries, and there’s no doubt listeners will relate.