Classic Western songs with tear-jerking lyrics. Heartfelt message songs from around the world.
With Western music, it’s easy to imagine the lyrics’ content just from the melody, but when you look up the meaning, you often find a world far deeper than you expected.
This time, we’ve gathered songs with lyrics that are especially moving.
Looking for translated versions is fine, but it’s also recommended to decode them yourself with a dictionary in hand—it deepens your understanding.
Masterpieces of Western music with tear-jerking lyrics: Heartfelt global message songs (1–10)
Thinking Out LoudEd Sheeran
This song, which sings about the wish to be taken to the one you love, naturally draws a lot of attention for its moving lyrics.
It’s also famous as a classic love song and is well known for being used in wedding productions.
Many people have surely been moved by its message.
Just The Way You AreBruno Mars
A song by Bruno Mars, a petite, playful romantic from Hawaii.
The lyrics themselves are classic to the point of being cheesy, but when carried by Bruno Mars’s voice, they overflow with a different kind of charm.
His husky, clear, soaring vocals make it sound like a straightforward, sincere love for his partner.
See You Again ft. Charlie PuthWiz Khalifa
This is a gem of a ballad infused with feelings of friendship that pierce the heart.
The moving collaboration by American rapper Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth beautifully sings of the sorrow of losing someone close and the hope of reunion.
Created in March 2015 as the theme song for the film Furious 7, it also serves as a tribute to the late Paul Walker.
The song set an astonishing record by topping the Billboard Hot 100 for 12 consecutive weeks, bringing tears to people around the world.
It’s especially recommended for those who have experienced parting from someone dear, or who wish to reaffirm the bonds with family and friends.
I Want It That WayBackstreet Boys
It was released as the lead single from the 2001 album Millennium.
The song is by the five-member American pop idol group Backstreet Boys.
While they had been popular in Europe, this track became the catalyst that ignited their popularity in their home country.
It’s a quintessential pop song of the ’90s that wistfully portrays the misunderstandings caused by differences in how men and women think.
You & IJohn Legend
A tastefully crafted song suffused with sorrow and wistfulness naturally brings tears to your eyes.
It’s a deeply moving, cry-your-heart-out track by John Legend, where the grand message and high-level vocal approach truly shine.
Since it’s in English, be sure to pay attention to the lyrics and look them up.
My Heart Will Go OnCéline Dion
A signature work by Canadian artist Celine Dion, released in November 1997 as a movie theme song celebrating eternal love.
Created as the theme for James Cameron’s film Titanic, it seamlessly blends James Horner’s sweeping composition with Will Jennings’s poetic lyrics.
Also included on the album Let’s Talk About Love, it achieved the remarkable feat of winning the Academy Award for Best Original Song and four Grammy Awards.
Its message—singing of the enduring power of love that lives on in the heart even amid the profound sorrow of losing a loved one—resonates with everyone who holds dear someone special.
All of MeJohn Legend
The ultimate love ballad that sings of unconditional love for a cherished partner continues to move the hearts of many.
This song, dedicated by American artist John Legend to his now wife Chrissy Teigen, portrays a deep affection that cherishes even a partner’s perfect imperfections.
Set to a simple piano melody, the lyrics express an ideal form of love in which two people fully accept each other, stirring listeners’ emotions.
Released as a single in August 2013, it became a massive hit, reaching No.
1 on the Billboard Hot 100 the following year.
Beloved by couples around the world, it remains a go-to song to enrich special moments with loved ones, such as weddings and anniversaries.