[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 (41–50)

Because I like you.Yuika

Because I love you. / “Yuika” [MV]

Because I like you.Yuika

“Suki Dakara” by Yuika, which resonated deeply with young people and became a hot topic on social media.

The song is filled with lines that capture both the ache and the hope of unrequited love, moving the hearts of its listeners.

Its simple yet poignant melody, paired with Yuika’s warm, comforting vocals, feels as if it’s right there by your side.

It’s the kind of song you can’t help but get hooked on after just one listen, making it a must-recommend track for anyone swayed by love.

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March 9Remioromen

Remioromen – March 9th (Music Video Short ver.)

March 9Remioromen

The second single by the Japanese rock band Remioromen.

When we think of March, it’s a season swirling with the excitement of a new life just around the corner and a hint of anxiety.

There are still days when the air feels chilly.

In those uncertain times, having someone who’s always on your side gives you the greatest strength.

This song is a hopeful one, about enduring the present and eagerly awaiting the arrival of a new world to greet with someone precious.

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BeautifulSuperfly

Superfly『Beautiful』Music Video

BeautifulSuperfly

I feel like songs with great lyrics are overwhelmingly love songs, but “Beautiful” is about how to live your life.

It’s a song that makes you want to live strongly as yourself—without comparing to others and without needing to be the same as anyone else.

The lyrics are straightforward and powerful, like a charm you can carry with you.

Superfly’s powerful, soaring vocals make the already wonderful lyrics shine even more.

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LemonYonezu Kenshi

Kenshi Yonezu – Lemon

LemonYonezu Kenshi

Lemon was written as the theme song for the drama Unnatural starring Satomi Ishihara.

It’s a gentle ballad filled with a heartrending emotion that links to the drama’s storyline.

I often find Kenshi Yonezu’s lyrics beautiful in his other songs as well, but Lemon makes me feel that especially strongly.

The melody is also beautiful and utterly absorbing.

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useless machineHanbureddāzu

Hump Backers “Useless Machine” Music Video

useless machineHanbureddāzu

This is a striking song featuring lyrics by guitarist-vocalist Akira Mutsumuro, who writes both words and music, that radiate a deep respect for interesting culture and entertainment.

Since the 2010s, across music, film, novels, and TV dramas, entertainment has been pushed to be clearer and simpler—but this track conveys the idea that simplicity alone doesn’t make something good.

It brims with love for what you might call “interesting” culture in English—things that are intriguing and stimulating—and a strong desire to cherish that, even if it feels old-fashioned.

It’s a refreshing number that celebrates that spirit.

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Maximum reachSEKAI NO OWARI

SEKAI NO OWARI “Highest Altitude” ONE PIECE Lyric MV

Maximum reachSEKAI NO OWARI

SEKAI NO OWARI’s “Saikou Toutatsu-ten” (“Highest Achievement”) was released as a digital-only single on September 17, 2023, and was chosen as the opening theme for the Egghead arc of the anime ONE PIECE.

The song portrays a journey of overcoming past hardships to attain a new kind of strength.

Showcasing SEKAI NO OWARI’s remarkable expressiveness and creativity, it’s a work that makes clear it’s something special—not just for fans.

With a strong will to overcome adversity and reach the highest point, it’s recommended for everyone pursuing their dreams.

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threadNakajima Miyuki

Thread – Miyuki Nakajima (Full)

threadNakajima Miyuki

Miyuki Nakajima’s Ito squeezes encounters with people and their meaning into simple lyrics.

It’s also a classic song often sent at weddings.

It likens us to slender threads, singing of how they weave together vertically and horizontally.

I keep wondering how it can feel so deep while being so simple.

It’s a profoundly moving song I’d like to make an anthem for a long life.

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