Classic Western songs to listen to when you want to cry: the world’s tearjerker songs and popular tracks for shedding tears

Under the bridgeRed Hot Chili Peppers

Red Hot Chili Peppers – Under The Bridge [Video]

Released in 1991, this song is included on their fifth album, known under the name Red Hot Chili Peppers (RHCP).

While the quietly sung vocals are striking, the chorus that comes in midway—combined with its melancholy melody—makes it an unforgettable track.

Just Want You to KnowBackstreet Boys

Backstreet Boys – Just Want You To Know (Official Video)

This song by the American group Backstreet Boys pours unspoken feelings for a former lover into a powerful sound.

Released in July 2005, it’s included on the acclaimed album “Never Gone” and reached the top 10 on the charts in the UK and Spain.

Stepping beyond their traditional pop image, the track shifts to a rock-tinged sound marked by memorable guitar riffs, revealing a new side of the group.

It portrays a bittersweet yet straightforward male perspective, wishing to tell someone they’ll never meet again, “There’s just this one thing I want you to know.” If you have lingering feelings about a past relationship, listening to this song might help you face your emotions.

Missing YouBackstreet Boys

“Missing You” – Backstreet Boys

The Backstreet Boys are a U.S.-born vocal group that dominated the music scene in the ’90s, and they’re also known for their 1999 album Millennium, which sold over 24 million copies worldwide.

This song is a hidden gem of a ballad quietly included on their classic 1997 release Backstreet’s Back, during the height of their fame.

The earnest longing to see a cherished person who has gone away is sung straight from the heart over a wistful melody.

The structure, with members taking turns as lead vocalists, and the beautiful harmonies woven by all five members are truly moving—simply mesmerizing.

It’s the kind of song that will gently comfort your heart when you want to bask in a bit of sentimentality at night or when an old love suddenly comes to mind.

It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to YesterdayBoyz II Men

Boyz II Men – It’s So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday

After parting with someone dear, have you ever felt your chest tighten with the thought that you can never return to the joyful “yesterday”? The song “It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday” by the American R&B group Boyz II Men is a classic that sings of longing for the past and the pain of farewell.

Precisely because it’s performed a cappella, without any instruments, the warmth and poignancy of their voices seep directly into the heart.

It’s as if the beautiful harmonies gently embrace the sorrow that overflows no matter how hard you try to hold it back.

This song feels like a warm presence that quietly stays close to a heart that has experienced a painful parting, allowing the tears to flow.

Love Is a Losing GameAmy Winehouse

Amy Winehouse – Love Is A Losing Game

This is an achingly poignant masterpiece by Amy Winehouse, the singer from England.

True to its title, “Love Is a Losing Game,” it sings of the futility of a love you know will never be rewarded, no matter how hard you try.

Even after giving everything, you’re left behind in the end, with a crushing sense of defeat and helplessness.

Anyone who’s worn themselves down in a barren, one-sided love will feel the sting of this hopeless situation all too well.

Her voice—deep and tinged with resignation—doesn’t console so much as it quietly stays beside the pain.

It’s a song that seeps into your heart on nights when you’re burdened with sorrow that has nowhere to go.

Don’t Cry, Put Your Head On My ShoulderTom Odell

Tom Odell – Don’t Cry, Put Your Head On My Shoulder (Official Music Video)

The new song released in May 2025 by British singer-songwriter Tom Odell is a truly exquisite ballad that resonates deep within the heart.

Its delicate, piano-centered arrangement is layered with his warm vocals, and the lyrics—centering on gentle comfort for those in sorrow—are profoundly moving.

Carefully crafted over a nine-month production period, the piece is positioned as the second single from the album “A Wonderful Life.” The music video, featuring his wife Georgie, has also drawn attention.

It’s the kind of track you’ll want to listen to alone on a quiet night—a masterpiece especially recommended for those facing life’s hardships or seeking emotional support.

Yesterday Once MoreCarpenters

Yesterday Once More

This classic song, which sings of love and nostalgia for music, is one of the Carpenters’ signature works, released in May 1973.

Created by the American brother-and-sister duo, it is imbued with deep affection and longing for pop songs of the 1950s and ’60s, beautifully balancing Karen Carpenter’s warm, tender vocals with Richard Carpenter’s delicate arrangements.

It reached No.

2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became a worldwide hit.

It’s a must-listen for everyone who loves music—and for those moments when you want to look back on your youth.