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 — (51–60)
SonnetThe Verve
Originally, it seems that the band The Verve mainly focused on psychedelic music.
Although this song has the feel of a slightly pop-leaning ballad, their spirit of taking on various musical genres is truly admirable.
EverytimeBritney Spears
Britney has quite a few intense tracks, but this one is a relaxed ballad.
It’s also a heartbreak song that expresses the complex feelings of loving someone who won’t look your way.
I think it’s one of those songs that reaffirms that Britney really does have vocal prowess.
MapsMaroon 5
The music video for this song is quite provocative.
In it, a girl who witnesses her boyfriend cheating ends up dying in an accident, making for a very bitter aftertaste.
The song itself was written by the composers behind Payphone and Moves Like Jagger, so it’s very up-tempo.
Whatcha sayJason Derulo
This is the song that became famous during the well-known Tiger Woods cheating scandal.
Jason Derulo is said to have composed the song himself while imagining Woods.
Jason also made his debut with this track.
At first, his dancing wasn’t very good, but now he moves like a professional dancer.
Tearjerkers! Heartbreaking Western Songs — From Timeless Classics to the Latest Hits — (61–70)
When She Loved MeSarah McLachlan
A song used in a flashback sequence that explains Sarah McLachlan’s history.
It was written by Randy Newman, featured in the film Toy Story 2, and was nominated for Best Original Song at the 2000 Academy Awards.
It was covered by Michael Crawford on his 2012 album Light Up the World.
Love HurtsNazareth
Originally recorded in 1960 by the Everly Brothers, the song became a worldwide hit with the 1975 version by the Scottish hard rock band Nazareth.
It has since been covered by many artists, including Cher and Rod Stewart.
Depression (feat. Coconut Records)Ben Kweller
Have you ever experienced the kind of despair that feels like all the color has drained from the world after suddenly losing a beloved family member? “Depression” by American singer-songwriter Ben Kweller is a song that lays bare his feelings for his son, who died in a car accident.
The fact that he wrote it while listening to recordings his son left behind conveys, almost painfully, the heart-rending ache and deep love he feels as a father.
His voice, singing without hiding his despair, is sure to offer comfort to those carrying similar pain.
This song, which strives to find light from the depths of sorrow, may give you the strength to move forward.