[Tearjerker] From ballads that will make you sob to timeless classics—moving songs that touch the heart
A ballad filled with heartfelt feelings, moving lyrics, and a bittersweet melody.
Music has a mysterious power to stir our hearts and bring us to tears.
In times of hardship, sadness, or when words fail us, songs gently embrace our emotions.
In this article, we’ll introduce tear-jerking, soul-stirring songs that may move you to cry.
You’re sure to find a track that stays close to your heart.
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[Tearjerker] Heart-touching songs that will make you cry, from guaranteed-to-sob ballads to timeless classics (21–30)
Stay ft. Mikky EkkoRihanna
How about a heart-shaking ballad in which Rihanna, the songstress from Barbados, lays bare her vulnerability? Featured on her 2012 album Unapologetic and released as a single the following year, it pairs her with American artist Mikky Ekko to sing of aching emotions over a simple arrangement of piano and sparse strings.
The song conveys the turmoil of wanting someone even while knowing the relationship may be falling apart, and the desperate wish for them to stay by your side.
Many will be moved to tears by her trembling vocals, so different from her usual strong persona.
The understated performance she delivered at the 2013 Grammy Awards in February also became a talking point.
It’s the perfect song to listen to on a night when you don’t want to see anyone—soak in the bath and let the quiet tears fall.
a little bit of loveBrenda Russell
This is a hidden gem by Brenda Russell that portrays a bittersweet, fleeting love through exquisitely nuanced pitch inflections.
Though it sits within the soul-classic tradition, its evanescent atmosphere is striking, offering a song that lets you savor the understated elegance and deep, inward-reaching richness characteristic of old-school soul.
familyHubert Laws
A funk classic by Hubert Laws and a hidden gem that magnificently portrays familial love.
From the very first riff of the intro, it’s a cascade of melodies that could bring you to tears, and both the vocals and the track are so impeccably crafted that there’s nothing to fault.
surrenderDiana Ross
It’s a hidden gem by Diana Ross, the peerless disco diva.
The beautiful melodic lines and the exhilarating, soaring lift in the chorus are brought to life by vocals so powerful they verge on a primal scream, culminating in a sweeping, cathartic track that can move you to tears.
talk to herIndia Arie
This hidden gem features a moving melodic line that intertwines exquisitely with acoustic cutting guitar.
The robust vocals—modern yet reminiscent of old-school soul in the vein of India.Arie—are masterfully rendered, resulting in a magnificent, grand-scale production that’s powerful enough to bring you to tears.