Top Cry-Inducing Western Songs Ranking [2026]

MockingbirdEminem22rank/position

Eminem – Mockingbird [Official Music Video]

A track released in 2005 by the American rapper Eminem.

It samples the traditional 1939 folk song “Hush, Little Baby.” The track is inspired by Eminem’s relationships with his biological daughter, his wife, and his adopted child.

Stay With MeSam Smith23rank/position

Sam Smith – Stay With Me (Official Music Video)

Sam Smith’s biggest hit, “Stay With Me.” It’s quite a famous song, so many of you may already know it.

First of all, the melody is heartbreaking.

I recommend it to anyone looking for a deeply emotional tearjerker that distills sadness.

And if you read the lyrics, you might cry even more.

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Stay ft. Mikky EkkoRihanna24rank/position

Rihanna – Stay ft. Mikky Ekko

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.

Lucid DreamsJuice WRLD25rank/position

Juice WRLD – Lucid Dreams (Official Music Video)

A song that candidly portrays the pain of heartbreak catapulted American artist Juice WRLD to stardom.

Known as a landmark of emo rap, the track deftly expresses the complex emotions that follow a breakup.

Its melody, which samples a song by Sting, amplifies the poignancy of the lyrics.

Released in May 2018, the song reached No.

2 on the Billboard chart.

It’s recommended for those seeking to heal from heartbreak or to confront their own emotions.

You’re sure to resonate with the depth of Juice WRLD’s emotional expression.

The One That Got AwayKaty Perry26rank/position

Katy Perry – The One That Got Away (Official Music Video)

A deep regret over past love tightly grips the heart with a poignant ache.

It’s a song by American singer-songwriter Katy Perry.

Included on the classic 2010 album Teenage Dream, it became the sixth single from the record and started hitting big around October 2011, peaking at No.

3 in the U.S.

Looking back on the passionate days of youth, it sings of the sorrowful what-ifs—“What if I had made a different choice back then?” The tie-in video with the popular game The Sims 3: Showtime also drew attention.

Its story, where joyful memories intersect with a present sense of loss, will deeply resonate with anyone bearing the pain of heartbreak.

It’s recommended for nights when you want to quietly shed a tear alone.

It Will RainBruno Mars27rank/position

Bruno Mars – It Will Rain (Official Music Video)

A heartbreak song by Bruno Mars, a singer sometimes called the second coming of Michael Jackson.

As you listen, the lyrics can feel rather sappy and pathetic, yet many lines pierce the heart.

His masterful word choice and overwhelming vocal prowess are truly awe-inspiring.

The Heart Wants What It WantsSelena Gomez28rank/position

Selena Gomez – The Heart Wants What It Wants (Official Video)

A track that sings about troubles in a relationship with a boyfriend.

It was released by Selena Gomez in 2014 and became a hit in many countries around the world.

This track was performed live at the 2014 American Music Awards.