[Must read] Songs with great lyrics. Moving songs you’ll want to listen to while reading the lyrics
From among the many masterpieces Japan is proud of, we’ve carefully selected songs with outstanding lyrics to introduce to you.
We’ve gathered “once-heard-never-forgotten” message songs that speak straight to the heart, ranging from universally acclaimed classics to the latest hits.
If you’re looking to listen to music that will make you cry, move you, or lift your spirits—or songs that might even influence your life—these picks are perfect.
Please give them a listen.
I believe you’ll find songs that will stay by your side, encourage you, and become a source of emotional support when times are tough.
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[Must Read] Songs with Great Lyrics: Moving Tracks to Listen to While Reading the Words (171–180)
No NameASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION
Released in 2003, Asian Kung-Fu Generation’s first major full-length album, “Kimi Tsunagi Five M,” closes with the track “No Name,” a song that delivers a simple yet deeply resonant message.
Accompanied by phrases that symbolize the arrival of spring, it portrays the seasonal cycle shifting from endings to beginnings.
Its powerful words inspire listeners with a sense of fresh starts and hope, expanding into Masafumi Gotoh’s literary lyrical world.
It’s an emotional piece that makes you want to take a positive step forward while sensing the coming of spring.
I recommend it not only for students embarking on a new chapter, but also for adults looking to make a fresh start!
STARikimonogakari
If you’re looking to be soothed by gentle lyrics, STAR is also recommended.
This is Ikimonogakari’s first single as a duo.
Written as the theme song for the film Father of the Galactic Railroad, it’s a ballad that sings of a father’s unconditional love for his son and his wish for his happiness, all from the father’s perspective.
The lyrics are profound, prompting you to reflect on what love truly is.
Be sure to listen carefully so you don’t miss a single word.
Also, the way the sound swells toward the latter half creates a sense of openness—another highlight worth listening for.
The best unrequited loveTainaka Ayachi
This is a captivating song that contrasts Sachi Tainaka’s refreshing, cute, and translucent singing voice with the portrayal of a sorrowful unrequited love.
It’s a powerful ballad with the message that the best kind of one-sided love is when you understand your own feelings and elevate them into something ideal.
Song for…HY
“Song for…” carries a simple yet powerful message: the longing to see the one you love.
It was included on TRUNK, the album released in 2004 by HY, a Okinawa-born mix-genre band.
The song paints a heartwarming love story and depicts moments where honest feelings overflow.
Izumi Nakasone’s soulful vocals over a slow tempo convey straightforward, heartfelt love.
It’s a perfect match for TikTok videos that portray various emotions in love—like “we’re in love but can’t seem to meet” or “struggling with a long-distance relationship.”
YieldSound Horizon
It’s one of the tracks from a Sound Horizon album with a strong story-driven concept.
It sings of the fleeting yet passionate first love of a village girl sowing seeds in a field.
The desire to “be happy” is something everyone feels as long as they live.
So, what fate did she ultimately grasp?
[Must-read] Songs with great lyrics. Moving songs you’ll want to listen to while reading the lyrics (181–190)
Goodbye HappinessUtada Hikaru
A song that combines a pop sensibility characteristic of Hikaru Utada.
It seems to pack a lot of feelings into the lyrics.
The words flow like: after meeting you, I said goodbye to loneliness; after parting with you, I bid farewell to happiness.
Since she rarely makes negative remarks, it feels like she may even be singing about her own past relationships.
It’s a track that makes you want to pore over the lyric booklet.
My Adidas: Aspirations as a Human BeingTakehara Pisutoru
Takahara Pistol’s classic, “My Adidas ~Aspiration as a Human Being~.” It’s the song that rescued him when he was smoldering after going solo.
The piece is sung to Downtown’s Hitoshi Matsumoto, portraying Takahara’s resolve and respect toward him.
Speaking of Matsumoto, he’s known for a creative philosophy that prioritizes quality and originality above all else, and judging from the lyrics of this song, that same artistic conviction has clearly been passed on to Takahara Pistol as well.
