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!
- Top Tearjerker Western Songs Ranking [2026]
- Western songs about saying “goodbye” — perfect for bereavement or a departed lover
- When you’re hurting and feel like you want to disappear… timeless Western songs to listen to at times like these
- Hidden gems of tear-jerking Western songs. Recommended popular tracks.
- [2026] Moving Western songs that touch the heart: A roundup of recommended classics
- Top Cry-Inducing Western Songs Ranking [2026]
- Beautiful, lovely Western music. A roundup of recommended classic songs.
- Top 2026 Rankings of Melancholic Western Songs
- A Collection of Heart-Touching Western Ballads — From Classics to the Newest Hits
- Really dark... Classic Western songs | So dark that it may trigger depression—proceed with caution!
- Western songs used in commercials — tear-jerking classics and popular tracks
- A collection of emotionally resonant dark-themed Western songs—tracks with lyrics that deeply echo in the heart
- Emotional Western Music Special | Handpicked from All Generations
Tearjerkers! Heartbreaking Western Songs — From Timeless Classics to the Newest Hits — (11–20)
Fix YouColdplay
This song is memorable for its warm, empathetic lyrics and a melody that starts softly and gradually swells.
Released in September 2005 by the British rock band Coldplay, it carries a powerful message of healing and support for those who are hurt.
Included on the album X&Y, it also drew attention when it was performed at the Live 8 concert in 2005.
It’s a track that stands by anyone trying to overcome life’s harsher moments—such as heartbreak or loss—so why not give it a listen?
FlowersMiley Cyrus
It’s a powerful song carrying a message of self-love and independence.
Released in January 2023 by American artist Miley Cyrus, the track drew attention as a pop song infused with disco and funk elements.
Its lyrics, which emphasize the importance of valuing oneself without relying on past relationships, have resonated with many listeners.
It also achieved major commercial success, including 13 consecutive weeks at No.
1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Highly recommended for those who want to cherish time alone or boost their self-esteem.
Your SongElton John
Just from the intro that begins with a lyrical piano tone, you know it’s an achingly beautiful masterpiece bursting with emotion! It’s one of the early signature songs by Elton John, a singer-songwriter who will go down in music history, and in Japan it’s also well known by the title “Boku no Uta wa Kimi no Uta” (My Song Is Your Song).
In 2019, the autobiographical musical film Rocketman was released, which, much like Queen’s resurgence, gave younger generations a chance to discover John anew.
Featured on the Rocketman soundtrack, Your Song was released in 1970; it’s a perfect love song that needs nothing added, blending a folky texture with elements of jazz.
The lyrics are simple and easy to understand, and perhaps it’s nice, from time to time, to immerse yourself in such a sweet and gentle world and spend a moment shedding warm tears that are different from sadness.
someone like youAdele
Adele is the queen of breakup songs, and among them, “Someone Like You” is especially heartbreaking.
It expresses the unbearable feelings of a woman whose former love has married someone else.
She still can’t forget her ex and is trying to move on, but her fixation is so strong that she’s looking for “someone like him.” Some might even think it’s a bit of a stalker prelude—lol.
Stay With MeSam Smith
Sam Smith’s biggest hit, “Stay With Me.” It’s quite a famous song, so many of you may already know it.
First of all, the melody is heartbreaking.
I recommend it to anyone looking for a deeply emotional tearjerker that distills sadness.
And if you read the lyrics, you might cry even more.
Thinking Out LoudEd Sheeran
This song, with its strikingly beautiful music video that opens with a man and woman dancing, is a ballad that perfectly suits Ed Sheeran’s sweet vocals.
With a somewhat bright tone, it’s a track you’ll want to listen to during a late-night drive or when you’re alone with your partner.
Tearjerkers! Heart-wrenching Western songs—from timeless classics to the latest hits—(21–30)
PompeiiBastille
Listening to this song makes me wonder what life is all about and leaves me with a bittersweet feeling that, in the end, nothing really changes.
Despite its upbeat tempo, it’s quite a negative song, and when I looked into it, I found out it’s themed around the volcanic eruption in Pompeii, Italy.