[Must read] Songs with great lyrics. Moving songs you’ll want to listen to while reading the lyrics

DancerFukkun:)Tatsuki Fukuda
Primarily active in Tokyo, I have experience as a backup dancer for artists, a music video dancer, and a commercial dancer. I continue to work as a dancer while also engaging in article production. After discovering Michael Jackson in junior high school, I began dancing in my second year of high school. Since starting dance, in addition to the J-Pop and Japanese rock I had been listening to, I began exploring Western R&B, rap, alternative music, and other tracks commonly used for dance. In elementary school, I spent three years in a choir, and because I love singing, I often go to karaoke for fun. These days, I enjoy a wide range of music, from Japanese rock and rap to K-pop.
POPS writer/editorKEI
Since discovering music during my school days, I’ve mainly listened to Japanese and Korean pop. I have experience writing articles for sites like Utaten. 2000s J-pop and 2010s K-pop were especially the soundtrack of my youth. With the mindset that “good is good,” I enjoy music across genres. Thanks to past work environments and their influence, I was exposed to lots of classic rock and kayōkyoku (Japanese popular songs), which may have broadened the scope of what I love. At RAG MUSIC, I currently focus on K-pop and J-pop. I strive to edit with a feel for the scene and an eye for hit potential.

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.

[Must-read] Songs with great lyrics: Moving tracks you’ll want to listen to while reading the lyrics (11–20)

SubtitleOfisharu Higedan Dism

Official HIGE DANDism – Subtitle [Official Video]

SubtitleOfisharu Higedan Dism

“Subtitle” portrays someone trying to convey a love so tender it feels like it might melt away.

Released in 2022 by the nationally renowned band Official HIGE DANDism, the song captures a wintertime romance, tinged with a certain loneliness.

Many can relate to the poignant feeling of wanting to speak your truth but not quite being able to.

It’s a winter ballad with a sweeping build that nestles close to that heart-warming, burning feeling of love.

Listen closely to the message carried by Satoshi Fujihara’s clear yet powerful vocals.

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Daphne (winter daphne)DISH//

DISH// – Sweet Daphne [Official Video]

Daphne (winter daphne)DISH//

Jinchoge is a song that expresses gratitude and love that are embarrassing and hard to say out loud in everyday life.

It was released in 2021 by DISH//, a band formed around Takumi Kitamura, who is also active as an actor.

The lyrics and composition were handled by Hattori, the vocalist of Macaroni Empitsu.

Set to a warm band sound highlighted by the bright tones of a brass band, the song conveys gratitude to the parents who raised us.

No matter how hard things get, those special people who gently stay close to your heart become your support, don’t they? It’s a song that delivers honest words to those who have always been on your side and gives you the push to move forward.

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bouquetback number

back number – Bouquet (full)

bouquetback number

Wouldn’t the moment this song truly resonates be when it’s gifted to you by the person you love most? In this back number track, it portrays the desire to bundle up overflowing love for a precious partner—like a bouquet—and offer it to them, along with the wish to keep spending the future together.

It’s perfect as a present for a proposal or when you want to express renewed gratitude for your relationship.

Hearing the straightforward, sincere feelings—like those of the man in the lyrics—there’s hardly anyone whose heart wouldn’t be moved.

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treasure holderAina ji Endo

Aina the End – Takaramono [Official Music Video] (Theme song for TBS Sunday Theater 'Goodbye Maestro: My Father and My Appassionato')

treasure holderAina ji Endo

A song characterized by the warm tones and heartfelt lyrics woven by Aina the End.

Released in February 2024 as the theme song for TBS’s Sunday drama “Sayonara Maestro: My Father and My Passion,” Aina’s distinctive husky voice gently wraps feelings of gratitude, farewell, and stepping into the future.

It strikingly captures the bond with loved ones and the complex emotions that arise when standing at life’s crossroads.

With words that stay close to the heart and a warm melody, it will quietly give you a push when you face a turning point in life or experience a farewell with someone dear.

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rootKing Gnu

King Gnu – Root

rootKing Gnu

A heartwarming mid-tempo ballad that, while understated, powerfully captures the will to live.

This King Gnu masterpiece gently portrays the dignity of quietly persevering without seeking the spotlight and the feelings for a loved one through the symbolic motif of “roots.” Carried by beautiful piano and string melodies, it weaves in choir parts reminiscent of a nursery rhyme and oriental-inspired arrangements, brilliantly expressing the flow of time and values that never change.

Released digitally in October 2024, the song was written as the theme for TBS’s Sunday drama “The Diamond Sleeping in the Sea.” It’s a perfect track for anyone who wishes to be someone’s support and to walk forward together with someone precious.

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NonfictionHirai Ken

Ken Hirai “Nonfiction” MUSIC VIDEO (Short Ver.)

NonfictionHirai Ken

A heartfelt message song born from the experience of losing a close friend.

Ken Hirai’s powerful vocals portray the longing for a lost life and the wish to meet again, with a voice that stirs the soul.

Since its release in June 2017, this medium-tempo ballad has resonated with many.

Created as the theme song for TBS’s Sunday drama “Little Giant,” its delicate, acoustic guitar–based arrangement harmonizes beautifully with the drama’s worldview.

The lyrics probe deeply into the meaning of life and gently embrace life’s struggles and setbacks, woven with warm words that stay close to the heart.

This work will light a quiet beacon in the hearts of those standing at life’s crossroads or holding feelings for someone dear.

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[Must Read] Songs with Great Lyrics: Moving Tracks You’ll Want to Listen to While Reading the Lyrics (21–30)

Nameless PoemMr.Children

Mr.Children “Nameless Poem” Mr.Children “HOME” TOUR 2007 ~in the field~

Nameless PoemMr.Children

This is “Namonaki Uta,” Mr.Children’s 10th single, released in 1996.

It’s arguably one of their signature songs.

While it can be heard as a love song, it’s a track that invites many interpretations depending on the listener.

It has resonated with so many people that it still hasn’t lost its luster.

The swell of emotion right before the final chorus is especially moving.

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