A playlist of timeless gems with piercing lyrics that will move your heart
There are so many wonderful songs in the world—love songs, anthems that cheer you on in life, songs that sing about the value of life—whose lyrics truly pierce the heart.
Many of you have probably had the experience of coming across lyrics that grab you so strongly that, as you listen to them over and over, tears start to flow or your heart feels lighter.
In this article, we’ve gathered timeless hits that captivate people with unforgettable, compelling lyrics from the very first listen.
From tear-jerking lines to words that give you courage, we’ve picked a wide range.
We hope you find that one song that speaks to your heart.
- [Songs with Great Lyrics] Masterpieces you’ll want to listen to while savoring the words that resonate with your heart
- [Tearjerker] Songs that make your heart tremble with tears & moving tracks with lyrics that touch the soul
- [Moving] Tear-jerking cheer song. A roundup of popular motivational anthems that resonate with the heart!
- The lyrics are profoundly good. The more you listen, the more it sinks in. Masterpieces of Japanese music, recommended popular songs.
- Encouraging songs: timeless masterpieces that resonate with the heart, recommended popular tracks
- [Just the Lyrics Make Me Cry] Tear-Jerking Songs That Touch the Heart
- [Classic and Contemporary Hits] Emotionally Stirring, Heart-Touching Songs
- [A Cheer for Myself] A pep song dedicated to you who are doing your very best
- The power of words. A special feature on Vocaloid songs with great lyrics
- Songs with powerful lyrics. Recommended masterpieces and popular tracks.
- Timeless songs that stay close to your heart when times are tough. Uplifting tracks with gentle lyrics that really sink in.
- [Unrequited Love] Heart-wrenching Love Songs | A Roundup of Tear-Inducing Crush and Breakup Tracks
- Songs that hit home when you're feeling blue: masterpieces of Japanese music
[Lyrics That Hit Home] A Gem of a Playlist to Move Your Heart (41–50)
Youth DiaryRyukku to soine gohan
Ryuuku to Soinen Gohan, the next-generation artists currently in the spotlight.
They formed their band when they were first-year high school students and have been dedicated to writing lyrics only students could write while creating their songs.
Their track “Seishun Nikki” (Youth Diary) captures the hopes and anxieties high schoolers feel about the future.
Specifically, it depicts the emotions of students on the verge of graduation.
The driving melody also seems to express their sense of urgency, matching the lyrics perfectly.
In particular, music fans of the same generation as Ryuuku to Soinen Gohan will likely find it highly relatable.
glowgurutamin
“glow” is an emotionally charged expression of the sorrow of losing someone dear.
This song is a collaboration between Vocaloid producer keeno and singer Gurutamin, and it’s also known as the theme song for the drama Aozora no Tamago.
It’s a passionate mid-tempo ballad that depicts someone gazing at a sunset while thinking of a loved one.
The dramatic rises and falls in pitch beautifully convey the wavering of the heart.
Another highlight is its intricate use of metaphor.
You know, that’s why.Ikuta Erika
A song where ephemerality and warmth coexist, it seeps deeply into the heart.
The melody woven by Erika Ikuta’s voice gives a sense of gentle closeness.
Included on her first EP “capriccioso,” released in April 2024, this gem was crafted by Ryota Yanagisawa of the rock band SUPER BEAVER.
The more-than-one-minute a cappella section is striking, highlighting Ikuta’s delicate expressiveness.
With lyrics themed around self-acceptance and compassion for others, it gently embraces hearts weary from everyday life.
On the journey to find a place where your heart belongs, this song may become your guiding light.
globeYonezu Kenshi
Kenshi Yonezu is a singer-songwriter whose presence has been so immense in the scene that he’s indispensable when talking about J-POP since 2010.
His 14th single, “Spinning Globe,” was written as the theme song for Studio Ghibli’s film “The Boy and the Heron.” The lyrics evoke images of the landscapes that unfold between the beginning and end of life, linking with both the film’s story and the song’s title, drawing listeners deeper into its world.
It’s a beautiful yet overwhelming number, with a sweeping arrangement that stirs the heart.
youyuzuki
One of the background music tracks from the work Higurashi When They Cry, which began as a computer game and was later adapted into a TV anime, is “you.” It was originally an instrumental piece with the piano carrying the main melody, but it was later sung by Yuzuki and gained great popularity as the image song for Shion Sonozaki, one of the characters.
The lyrics are heartbreaking, wishing that a loved one who has gone missing is safe somewhere under the same sky.
It’s a number that ultimately conveys the strength to keep living without abandoning hope, no matter how deep the despair.
FlowerFuji Kaze
“Hana,” the theme song for the drama ‘Ichiban Suki na Hana,’ was released in 2023 by singer-songwriter Fujii Kaze, whose genre-defying appeal has been drawing attention.
It features a warm melody centered on lively piano tones.
The song unfolds a one-of-a-kind worldview that likens life to a flower.
Riding on a rhythmic band arrangement, his cool vocals still convey gentleness and compassion.
With a touch of poetic charm, it’s a song that explores the theme of living true to oneself.
If I Could Paint LifeYOASOBI
A soul-stirring song that questions the meaning of life.
This track by YOASOBI was created as the theme song for the stage play “If We Could Draw Life.” Its lyrics portray parting from a loved one, self-sacrifice, and the purpose of living, powerfully resonating with listeners.
The distinctive YOASOBI melody and evocative imagery in the lyrics blend beautifully.
Released as a single in August 2022, the song is also included on their second EP, “THE BOOK 2.” It’s a piece I especially recommend to those who feel lost in life or are grieving the loss of someone dear.