Tear-jerking Western songs: recommended classics and popular tracks

Wish You Were HereAvril Lavigne

Avril Lavigne – Wish You Were Here (Official Video)

Is there any other song that so candidly sings about the loneliness of being without someone you love? It’s a track by Canadian singer-songwriter Avril Lavigne.

She breaks out of her tough shell to lay bare the earnest feelings of longing for someone far away.

Released as a single in September 2011, it appears on the album Goodbye Lullaby, which portrays a more personal world.

The music video drew attention for scenes of her setting a red flower on fire and singing through real tears.

Just watching those raw expressions is enough to stir your emotions and bring you to tears.

We all have times when we put on a brave face but deep down just want to cry and reach out for someone, don’t we? For nights like those, this song might be just what you need.

The One That Got AwayKaty Perry

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.

HallelujahJeff Buckley

Jeff Buckley – Hallelujah (Official Video – Live at Bearsville)

It’s a work by the Canadian singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen, but it’s a classic that has been sung by many different artists.

Owing in part to its use in foreign TV dramas, Jeff Buckley’s version is probably the one most widely known to the general public.

In Your FeelingsMariah Carey

Mariah Carey – In Your Feelings (Official Lyric Video)

Featured on the album “Here for It All,” released in September 2025, this track is an R&B number that delicately weaves shifting emotions.

Co-produced with Anderson .Paak, it achieves a soundscape where the warmth of the drums melds with the luster of the strings.

It sings of an inner journey—from moments of heart-flutter and loss to gradually reclaiming confidence in oneself.

Mariah’s signature delicate melisma and richly resonant lower register lend profound conviction to every word.

It’s a song that gently stays by the side of anyone feeling swept away by their emotions.

Without YouMariah Carey

Mariah Carey – Without You (Official Lyric Video)

This work is a masterful rendition of a classic 1970s rock ballad, delivered on a grand scale by Mariah Carey.

Released as a single from her third album, Music Box, in January 1994, it spent four consecutive weeks at No.

1 in the UK and also topped the charts across Europe, including Germany, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.

The lyrics portray deep grief and a heartfelt longing for a loved one, powerfully conveyed through her phenomenal vocal range and expressive delivery.

The surging emotion leading into the chorus, together with the dramatic soundscape woven by orchestra and piano, leaves a profound impact on listeners.

It’s a song I recommend when you want to reaffirm your feelings for someone important or when you’re in the mood for a moving, soul-stirring ballad.

BADU2

BAD – U2

A track included on “The Unforgettable Fire,” released following “War,” the album that catapulted U2 to fame.

In contrast to the dynamic previous record, this album features many introspective songs that invite contemplation, and on this track Bono’s quietly impassioned vocal delivery is absolutely stunning.

Bohemian RhapsodyQueen

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.