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! Heartbreaking Songs in Western Music — From Timeless Classics to the Newest Hits — (31–40)
You & IOne Direction
Speaking of One Direction, I always had the impression they had lots of poppy, catchy melodies that make you feel energized when you listen.
But they’ve also released such a gentle, tender ballad.
It’s a refreshing, easy-to-listen-to ballad.
I Eat DinnerRufus Wainwright feat. Dido
Rufus Wainwright’s singing amplifies the feeling of heartbreak to the utmost.
The melody is very quiet, overflowing with a truly sorrowful ballad-like atmosphere.
The lyrics, written about the grief of losing a loved one, make it an incredibly poignant song.
BreakevenThe Script
A single released in 2008 by the Irish pop-rock band The Script.
It reached No.
10 on the Irish charts and No.
3 in Australia, and also hit No.
1 on Billboard’s Adult Pop chart.
No OneAlicia Keys
Alicia Keys has a very husky, distinctive voice that becomes addictive.
The song condenses a sparkling melody and a richly crafted world.
She also appears in the music video herself, and her stunning looks are a highlight as well.
Rolling in the DeepAdele
This is the lead single from 21, the second album by Grammy-winning British R&B singer-songwriter Adele.
It was written by Adele and producer Paul Epworth.
The song is about taking revenge on an unfaithful man.
Tearjerkers! Heartbreaking Western Songs — From Timeless Classics to the Latest Hits — (41–50)
Without YouMariah Carey
This work is a masterful rendition of a classic 1970s rock ballad, delivered on a grand scale by Mariah Carey.
Released as a single from her third album, Music Box, in January 1994, it spent four consecutive weeks at No.
1 in the UK and also topped the charts across Europe, including Germany, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.
The lyrics portray deep grief and a heartfelt longing for a loved one, powerfully conveyed through her phenomenal vocal range and expressive delivery.
The surging emotion leading into the chorus, together with the dramatic soundscape woven by orchestra and piano, leaves a profound impact on listeners.
It’s a song I recommend when you want to reaffirm your feelings for someone important or when you’re in the mood for a moving, soul-stirring ballad.
Because of youKelly Clarkson
A song Kelly Clarkson wrote about her parents’ divorce, which she experienced when she was six years old.
It depicts her resolve not to repeat her parents’ mistakes and her anxiety about falling in love for fear of experiencing the same pain they did.
She had written the song even before she won American Idol.