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! Heart-wrenching Western songs—from timeless classics to the latest hits—(21–30)
Angels CryMariah Carey
A gem-like R&B ballad imbued with a heartfelt desire to mend a relationship on the brink of breaking.
Featured on the 2009 album “Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel,” a duet version with singer-songwriter Ne-Yo was released in January 2010.
Riding on luminous strings and resonant piano, Mariah Carey’s vocals are showcased to the fullest.
The longing to restore a bond with a loved one is woven through delicate harmonies, evoking a beauty like an angel shedding tears.
It’s a song to listen to when you feel uncertain about your relationship, or when you want to reflect on the bond you share with someone you love.
drivers licenseOlivia Rodrigo
This poignant love song by American artist Olivia Rodrigo uses getting a driver’s license for the first time as its theme to depict the pain of heartbreak.
Released in January 2021, her debut single captivated many listeners with its piano-centered, beautiful melody and relatable lyrics.
Evoking the feeling of lonely nighttime drives after a breakup, this track is especially recommended for young people experiencing the end of a relationship and personal growth.
It spent eight consecutive weeks at No.
1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and won a Grammy, making it one of her signature works—be sure to give it a listen.
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.
Someone You LovedLewis Capaldi
A poignant, heart-stirring ballad by Scottish artist Lewis Capaldi is capturing widespread attention.
Centered on themes of heartbreak and loss, the song is marked by deeply emotional lyrics and a powerful vocal performance.
Released in November 2018, it spent seven consecutive weeks at No.
1 on the UK Singles Chart and also reached No.
1 on the U.S.
Billboard Hot 100.
The music video, produced in collaboration with an organ donation charity, tells a moving story.
It’s a song that stays close to your heart on solitary nights or whenever you’re remembering someone special.
Consequences (Orchestra)Camila Cabello
We no longer need to introduce her as a member of Fifth Harmony—Camila Cabello has firmly established herself as a solo artist.
While many may associate her with a passionate sound rooted in her Cuban, Latin heritage, the song we’re featuring today, “Consequences,” is a beautiful ballad imbued with a melancholic atmosphere.
It not only reveals a different side of her but also showcases her outstanding vocal ability, and it’s said to be a song that holds special meaning for Camila herself.
As she tenderly sings about reminiscing on the wonderful days of being in love—along with what was lost, the wounds left behind, and the price paid—her voice is achingly sorrowful.
Anyone who has had a similar experience may find themselves moved to tears.
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.
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.