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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Tearjerkers! Bittersweet Songs in Western Music—from Timeless Classics to the Newest Hits—(141–150)
Lead Me OnFLETCHER
Fletcher’s song, which portrays love and inner conflict, expresses the ache of unrequited feelings and a journey of self-discovery.
Hailing from the United States, she released the track on January 25, 2024.
It garnered attention as the lead single from the album “In Search of the Antidote.” The Paris-set music video also became a hot topic, captivating viewers with its innovative visual aesthetic that incorporates the art of shibari.
The work skillfully depicts the turmoil of a heart wavering within an unfulfilling relationship.
Fletcher’s powerful yet delicate vocals resonate deeply with listeners.
It’s a must-listen for anyone struggling with love or in the midst of finding themselves.
Heavy In Your ArmsFlorence & The Machine
A dark, moody track featured on the soundtrack of the 2010 film The Twilight Saga: Eclipse.
Performed by the indie rock band Florence and the Machine, it sings about the weight of love and how, at times, it can become a burden between two people.
This I LoveGuns N’ Roses
The very memorable piano intro draws you in with a full-on ballad vibe.
Axl Rose’s powerful, slightly shouted vocals, along with the gradually added rock elements as the song progresses, make it a cool, compelling ballad.
Fingers CrossedLauren Spencer Smith
The song that captured global attention in 2022 is a poignant ballad by Canadian artist Lauren Spencer Smith.
It spread rapidly on TikTok and sparked a huge response worldwide, topping the charts in countries like Ireland and Norway.
The track portrays the pain of a betrayed love.
The expression “crossing fingers” is especially striking, symbolizing the hollowness of love’s promises.
Spencer Smith’s soaring vocals beautifully convey the frustration and heartache of a breakup.
The song is included on her debut album, Mirror, released in July 2023, and it resonates deeply with anyone who has endured the bitter side of love.
Don’t Forget MeMaggie Rogers
The song released in February 2024 reveals a new side of American singer-songwriter Maggie Rogers.
Set to a sound that skillfully blends folk and pop, the lyrics vividly capture the joy and unease she feels through a friend’s wedding, as well as her own views on love.
The line “Love me, but when it’s time to go, don’t forget me” conveys complex emotions that are sure to resonate with many listeners.
It’s a track that makes you want to blast it in the car, evoking the start of a new season.
Especially recommended for those standing at a turning point in life.
In The Living RoomMaggie Rogers
This is a recommended song for anyone who wants to sink into the memories of a bittersweet love.
The new track released in October 2024 by American singer-songwriter Maggie Rogers is a sentimental piece themed around heartbreak.
As she recounts memories from the living room and the pain of parting, the way she reflects on a past relationship leaves a strong impression.
It’s her first new song since her third album, “Don’t Forget Me,” released in April of the same year.
Co-produced with her longtime collaborator Ian Fitchuk, it features a sound rooted in rock and alternative folk.
With an emotional guitar riff, it’s a nostalgic yet uplifting ballad—one I highly recommend to anyone trying to move past the pain of a breakup.
D-I-V-O-R-C-ETammy Wynette
This poignant country song, which became a No.
1 chart hit by Tammy Wynette, was written by the songwriting duo Robert Valentine “Bobby” Braddock and Claude “Curly” Putman Jr.
It is sung from a woman’s perspective about divorce.