Top Tearjerker Western Songs Ranking [2026]

PayphoneMaroon 592rank/position

Maroon 5 – Payphone ft. Wiz Khalifa (Lyric Video)

Even people who don’t listen to much Western music have probably heard the name Maroon 5.

In their hands—usually singing breezy songs about adult romance—even a breakup song becomes something refreshing and full of crisp coolness.

There’s nothing clingy about it even after being dumped; it’s truly refreshing.

How Do I Say GoodbyeDean Lewis93rank/position

Dean Lewis – How Do I Say Goodbye (Official Video)

Dean Lewis is a singer-songwriter from Australia who has earned international acclaim for his emotionally rich lyrics and deeply resonant melodies.

This track, released in September 2022, was created based on his experience when his father was diagnosed with a serious illness.

The lyrics, which express the fear and love surrounding the inevitability of having to say goodbye to someone precious, offer a deeply relatable reflection on family.

The structure is also superb, unfolding from a quiet piano- and strings-led intro into a gradually intensifying climax.

Check it out when you want to reflect on your relationships with family or revisit your feelings for someone important to you.

MapsYeah Yeah Yeahs94rank/position

Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Maps (Official Music Video)

Erupting from New York’s art-punk scene with overwhelming presence, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs stand out.

Despite their fierce image, this is arguably the breakup song that has moved the most hearts.

Released as a single in September 2003, it appears on the classic album “Fever to Tell.” The lyrics are a desperate plea to a lover who’s drifting away, insisting, “No one loves you more than I do.” It’s said the song was born from the anxiety of growing distance from a partner amid the relentless pace of touring.

There’s even the story that the tears Karen O sheds in the music video weren’t acting but real—a detail that captures the song’s poignancy.

Rediscovered by younger listeners via TikTok in the 2020s, it became a revival hit—an eternal classic.

emails i can’t sendSabrina Carpenter95rank/position

Sabrina Carpenter – emails i can’t send (Official Audio)

Haven’t we all had experiences of carrying secret feelings in our hearts—things we want to say but can’t? “emails i can’t send,” sung by American artist Sabrina Carpenter, is a song that lays bare painfully honest truths, encapsulated in those very messages that were never sent.

Set to a quiet piano melody, it unfolds raw, deeply personal cries of the heart: tangled emotions toward family, the sting of betrayal, and more.

The lyrics feel like the very words buried deep inside have been turned straight into melody, tightening your chest as you listen.

For anyone holding feelings they can’t put into words, this song may become something special—a piece that speaks on your behalf and lets the tears fall, gently.

Story of My LifeOne Direction96rank/position

One Direction – Story of My Life

One Direction rose from a UK talent show to become a globally beloved group.

Released in October 2013, this track from their third album, Midnight Memories, showcases a mature sound that steps beyond their idol image.

The warm tones of the acoustic guitar, delicate strings, and the layered chorus featuring all the members are breathtaking.

The lyrics, reflecting on time gone by and memories with family, resonate not just as a love song but as a story of life.

The music video features the members’ real families, interweaving childhood photos with the present in a tear-jerking montage.

For those who discovered Western pop through YouTube or MTV, it’s a nostalgic piece that may well overlap with memories of their own youth.

Sing For The MomentEminem97rank/position

Eminem – Sing For The Moment (Official Music Video)

Eminem, who performs the song, is ranked 83rd on Rolling Stone’s list of the 100 Greatest Artists.

The song was released in 2003.

His rap—filled with irony and sorrow, characteristic of someone from a white working-class background—strikes a chord.

Bohemian RhapsodyQueen98rank/position

Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody (Official Video Remastered)

This is a track that resonates like a grand, roughly six-minute tale, as if you’re watching a single film.

Created by Queen, the song’s structure is breathtaking as it whirls from a beautiful ballad to opera and then into fierce rock.

Yet behind its dramatic sound lies the anguished cry of a protagonist who regrets his sins and struggles against fate, tightening your chest with sorrow.

Released ahead of the landmark album A Night at the Opera in October 1975, it’s also known for its memorable use in the film Wayne’s World.

When you’re crushed by inescapable loneliness or despair, surrendering yourself to this vast sonic world will let emotions well up from the depths of your heart.