Songs That Make You Cry: Heart-Wrenching Western Music—from Timeless Classics to the Newest Hits
There are times when, instead of listening to music to get pumped up or fired up, you deliberately want to listen to poignant or slightly sad songs and have a good cry alone, right?
Upbeat tracks that give you a push are great, but in this article we’ve researched and selected timeless, heart-wrenching English-language songs that empathize with listeners’ feelings, both old and new.
From classic standards to recent hits and the latest buzzworthy tracks, we’re bringing you a genre-crossing selection.
Try listening in whatever setting makes you feel most at ease—whether that’s in your bedroom or on a drive!
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Tear-Jerking! Heartbreaking Songs in Western Music — From Timeless Classics to the Newest Hits — (91–100)
Dancing On My OwnRobyn
This electro-pop ballad is the first single from Swedish singer-songwriter Robyn’s fifth studio album, Body Talk Pt.
It sings about the heartache of watching the one you love dance with someone else on the dance floor.
Yesterday Once MoreCarpenters
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.
Apologize ft. OneRepublicTimbaland
Starting with a romantic piano melody and Ryan Tedder of OneRepublic’s poignantly resonant vocals that tug at the heartstrings, this is a bittersweet love song.
Included on Timbaland’s 2007 September release Shock Value, the track is a gem of a ballad that portrays the fate of a broken romance.
The superb production by the American producer Timbaland breathed new life into the original song, propelling it to No.
2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and keeping it in the Top 10 for 25 weeks, sparking worldwide acclaim.
Also featured in the TV drama Cold Case, this song gently stays by your side when you want to heal the pain of a breakup or linger in memories of someone special.
Stuck with UAriana Grande & Justin Bieber
This is a joint single by Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber, two leading young stars in today’s pop music scene! Released on May 8, 2020 as part of a charity effort, its proceeds go toward grants and scholarships for the children of healthcare workers, EMTs, paramedics, police officers, and firefighters.
Watching the music video—featuring a wide range of people, from celebrities to everyday folks—paired with the nostalgic, oldies-style track, you can’t help but feel warmed and moved to tears.
Their calm, composed vocals are wonderful, and it’s fair to say this is a tear-jerking masterpiece born of these times.
This Ain’t A Love SongBon Jovi
The way it suddenly crescendos at the chorus makes it such a cool song that it hardly feels like a ballad, but if you listen closely to the lyrics, they’re steeped in the bittersweet tone of a ballad.
It’s so captivating that once you hear it, you’ll find it addictive.
Not A Day Goes ByLonestar
The American country music band Lonestar released a single from I’m Already There in January 2002, a gem of a ballad that portrays profound sorrow and a sense of loss after losing a loved one.
Its gentle, resonant melody, rich harmonies, and deeply expressive vocals blend beautifully to convey both the pain of grief and the enduring love for someone dear.
The song touched many listeners, reaching No.
3 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart, and was nominated for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal at the 45th Annual Grammy Awards in 2003.
With its quietly consoling character, it has often been chosen to comfort those who have lost someone and for use in memorial settings—a heartwarming piece that offers solace.
Leave Herd4vd
A song released in February 2024 by up-and-coming Texas singer-songwriter DeForVD.
It’s included on the album Withering.
The sound is marked by reverb-drenched guitar tones and a rock-inspired drum beat.
The lyrics explore the difficulty of clinging to past relationships and the need to discover a new self, expressing complex feelings toward an ex who reaches out in the middle of the night.
It’s a track that resonates with anyone facing heartbreak and a journey of self-discovery.