[2026] A roundup of dark Western songs I'd like middle schoolers to listen to
When we’re weighed down by melancholy, it’s the power of music that gently wraps around our hearts.
Sometimes we feel deep empathy by laying bare the darkness inside; other times we find encouragement amid despair—here are some classic Western songs that do just that.
Focused mainly on Gen Z artists, we’ve selected tracks that can stand beside the many kinds of emotional pain today’s middle schoolers (as of 2025) may face—heartbreak, friendship troubles, anxieties about the future, and more.
Listening while understanding the lyrics will make them resonate even more deeply.
Just be careful not to get swallowed by darkness that’s too deep—and by all means, try listening as you read the lyrics.
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[2026] A Compilation of Dark/Depressing Western Songs for Middle Schoolers to Listen To (61–70)
SymphonyClean Bandit feat. Zara Larsson
Speaking of autumn, it’s the season of the arts, so I also recommend a track like this with an orchestra.
The overall sound is polished and pop, but the occasional strings add a nice touch.
The music video, which depicts same-sex love, is also noteworthy.
YellowColdplay
Among the many Coldplay hit songs, this one is especially popular.
It’s a love song that says, “I was able to find you and reach you because you shine.” Describing shining colors with the word “Yellow” really shows the artist’s touch.
Middle school students, cherish your individuality and nurture your own color!
All of the StarsEd Sheeran
This song, created as the ending theme for the film “The Fault in Our Stars,” is a love ballad about longing for a distant lover.
With the autumn sky so high, it’s only natural to feel the distance between you and the one far away.
Both the performance and the vocals make it an achingly poignant track.
Wake me up when September endsGreen Day
The band Green Day, who sing this song, are from the United States, and the lyrics include the word “September.” In America, September marks the start of a new school year, and the music video for this song somehow evokes memories of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
There are various ways to interpret it, but the song’s content is about a boy’s feelings for his deceased father.
FallJustin Bieber
We also say “Fall” for autumn in English, and how about this Justin Bieber song that uses that word in its title? The title means “to fall in love,” and somehow the vibe of the song feels autumn-like, doesn’t it? I also recommend translating the lyrics into Japanese as part of your English studies.
LoveLana Del Rey
This is a song by Lana Del Rey, a singer-songwriter from New York, USA.
It’s included on her 2017 album, Lust for Life.
The grand sound is beautiful—like an autumn breeze sweeping through.
It carries a message of cherishing the one you love.
I recommend it to anyone who’s in love right now.
Littlest ThingsLily Allen
The atmosphere of the intro, the tone of the piano, Lily Allen’s way of singing, and even the content of the lyrics—all of it is expressed so poignantly.
The title can be translated as “Just a Little Thing,” and that’s exactly why the nuances of you that come to mind in everyday life feel all the more heartrending.