Top 30 Songs That Will Make You Cry

Top-30-Songs-That-Will-Make-You-Cry

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the tunes that never fail to bring tears to our eyes.

#30: “Dust in the Wind” (1977)
Kansas
As soon as you hear that opening line, you know you’re in for a rough time. “Dust in the Wind” is dark, and focuses on the one inevitable aspect of all our lives – the end. The lyrics are reflective; pondering about how everybody’s dreams, fears, and secrets are all ultimately meaningless, dust in the winds of time. It’s a full existential crisis that plays out in the span of just over three minutes, and has an overall despondent mood that anyone can relate to. The harmonies and seemingly simple string instrumental add to the evocative vibe, making it impossible to not feel something as you listen.

#29: “Cat's in the Cradle” (1974)
Harry Chapin
Families can be a beautiful thing. But we don’t often discuss the unavoidable shift in the relationship between parents and their children as the latter grow older. “Cat’s in the Cradle,” however, beautifully encapsulates this change. It laments the passage of time, and all the important milestones the narrator missed while working. Still, his son takes it in stride and strives to emulate him. Unfortunately, that ends up becoming true in the most depressing way, with the father being cast aside by his child. It’s a gut-wrenching piece that will make any parent hug their kid a little harder.

#28: “Bad Religion” (2012)
Frank Ocean
Unrequited love is one of the most painful emotional experiences someone can go through. The feeling of caring deeply for another person just for them to not reciprocate is heart-wrenching. In “Bad Religion”, Frank Ocean details these complex feelings to someone he assumes will listen: a taxi driver. The track ends up being a cathartic release, where Ocean explains the often fanatic sensations that come with loving a man who doesn’t feel the same way. The repetitive lines help convey this even further, highlighting just how painful unresolved feelings can be. Regardless of your relationship status, it’s hard to listen to this without sorrowfully reflecting on the one who got away– or never even was.

#27: “Yesterday” (1965)
The Beatles
With a discography as vast as theirs, it only makes sense for the Beatles to have multiple solid emotional tunes under their belt. Whether they’re talking about letting go or singing about love, they capture the human condition in plenty of their hits. “Yesterday” is one of their most wistful. It focuses on a relationship that’s recently decayed, and how the narrator wishes he could return to a time when they were still happy. The straightforward nature of the number only adds to the devastation. Using just one vocalist and string accompaniments, the band paints a clear picture of heartbreak that always gets us in our feelings.

#26: “Landslide” (1975)
Fleetwood Mac
Crises can strike anyone, even rock stars. There was a time when Stevie Nicks was wondering if the path she was on was the right one. That, coupled with the fact that it was an uncertain time in her and Lindsey Buckingham’s career, led to “Landslide.” And lives were changed. The folk rock number details how it feels when everything comes crashing down around you, and you wonder if you can weather the storm. It also captures the fear of potentially losing the chance to achieve one’s dreams. To say that’s difficult, heavy stuff would be an understatement — but it’s real, which is why it continues to resonate so deeply today. Somehow, it almost hits harder each time it’s played.

#25: “Dance with My Father” (2003)
Luther Vandross
The memories we make with our parents are precious, but limited. Each one is made with the knowledge that eventually, the relationship will come to a natural end. However, the times we experience together never truly fade, and even affect us in adulthood. In “Dance With My Father”, Luther Vandross looks back on core experiences he shared with his late father growing up, like dancing with him and his mom. He reminisces on the pure love he felt, and wishes he could bring him back. It’s more than just a song. It’s a gut-wrenching plea for something that can never be fulfilled, and we can never maintain our composure when we hear it.

#24: “Lazarus” (2015)
David Bowie
While a track can be sad on its own, sometimes the context surrounding it amplifies that emotion. David Bowie’s career was long and illustrious, spanning decades and genres. He continued working until the very end, with his last efforts including his swan song, “Lazarus”. It’s extremely self-aware, with the legend reflecting on life coming to an end. While the content is bleak enough, it being released shortly before Bowie’s death twisted the proverbial knife. It’s undoubtedly harrowing, but there’s also a sense of freedom – like he’d come to terms with his fate and was ready to tackle it head on. It became a fitting piece to cap off his legacy.

#23: “My Immortal” (2003)
Evanescence
With Amy Lee’s ethereal voice and melancholic production, Evanescence created a ballad that’s impacted the lives of millennials everywhere. “My Immortal” captures the feelings of unrelenting grief, and how it never seems to fade despite how much time has passed. From detailing the pain that comes with loss to attempting to accept it, the stirring tune encapsulates what it’s like to be stuck in the mourning process. The natural crescendo into the bridge is also gorgeous, ushering in an emotional peak. It’s one of the most recognizable and well-loved ballads of the 2000s, and it’s clear to see why. It’s nearly impossible not to sing along and shed a tear as you listen.

#22: “Who Wants to Live Forever” (1986)
Queen
While it may have been created for “Highlander,” this power ballad has become so much more. The orchestra-backed tune is gorgeous, and asks a simple yet existential question. Is living forever worth it without the person you love? While it’s always been melancholic, it was made even more sorrowful by Freddie Mercury’s passing in 1991. Suddenly, the lyrics took on a new, somehow even deeper message – and he and Brian May trading lines on the album version seemed extra fitting. The posthumous context has helped “Who Wants to Live Forever” endure beyond its soundtrack beginnings, cementing it as one of the most haunting and poignant entries in the band’s catalog.

#21: “One More Light” (2016)
Linkin Park
It’s hard to believe that one song can be so soaked in sadness. Written after the death of a friend, “One More Light” is centered around grief and letting your nearest and dearest know how you feel. The words and melody cut deep, but the pain goes beyond them, which is saying a lot. Indeed, the ambient ballad was notably performed as a tribute to Chris Cornell after his death. It was also among the last songs Chester Bennington recorded with Linkin Park before his passing. These events further amplify the raw hurt that permeates the number. Not only does “One More Light” make anyone who’s grieved feel understood, it also serves as a tribute to those we’ve lost.

#20: "What a Wonderful World" (1967)
Louis Armstrong
Here’s an inspiring, uplifting, intensely emotional song that's never likely to be forgotten! Louis Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World" is considered by many to be the soundtrack to the twentieth century - despite the bloody conflicts that dominated the period! A piece of music that puts everything into perspective, it brings a tear to the eye because it pits the miracle of life against the waste of war... The world would be a better place if we all just listened to these lyrics, and actually put them into practice.

#19: "I Will Follow You into the Dark" (2006)
Death Cab for Cutie
The afterlife is often a tricky topic to tackle, but Death Cab For Cutie's Ben Gibbard talks us through with such brilliant tenderness, it's all but impossible not to well up! "I Will Follow You" is one man, one voice, one acoustic guitar and one simple, splendid ideal that we might meet our closest loves once again, when our life on Earth has ended. An outwardly depressing subject matter is turned into an incredibly hopeful moment, as this song has us all take stock of ourselves, and of the people who we care for most!

#18: "Someone Like You" (2011)
Adele
Probably the most popular modern break-up song to make today's countdown, "Someone Like You" is still a signature tune for Adele, despite the countless hits that the UK singer has had before and since. A touching almost-tribute to an ex-boyfriend of hers, she lays it all on the lyrical line with this one, and almost every music listener respects her for that. Adele wears her heart firmly on her sleeve, while we without a doubt wear our tears on our cheeks.


#17: "Lay Me Down" (2013)
Sam Smith
We could have gone with Sam Smith's "Stay With Me" for this spot, but "Lay Me Down" will make you cry just a little bit harder. The lead single from Smith's Grammy Award winning debut album In The Lonely Hour, "Lay Me Down" was built around many of the same themes that are found on the album, specifically unrequited love. The video alludes to Smith's ongoing hope that equal LGBTQ+ rights will one day be a worldwide reality, while the singer’s powerful voice will haunt you and force you to bawl your eyes out.

#16: "Fake Plastic Trees" (1995)
Radiohead
Radiohead are well known for being a little brutal with their views on society, but this is surely the band's best, if not most depressing, take on the world around them... A scathing critique of the inescapable artificial nature of life in the '90s, it grows more and more relevant by the day! Although "Exit Music For A Film" is awfully melancholy in its own right, there's just nothing else as bleak or as brilliant as "Fake Plastic Trees". Listen to it, look at the world around you, and we defy you not to be moved.

#15: "Nothing Compares 2 U" (1990)
Sinéad O'Connor
One of the most instantly recognisable songs and music videos ever created, very little compares to this when it comes to tempting tears! "Nothing Compares 2 U" is easily Sinead O'Connor's greatest commercial success - not that the controversial performer got to enjoy much of the fame that it generated for very long... Originally written by Prince, this song is love, loss, and lots of emotionally effective close-up camera work! O'Connor's famous tear toward the song's end wasn't planned, but wow does it work! 'Nothing can stop her lonely tears from falling', or ours of course!

#14: "Angel" (1997)
Sarah McLachlan
A song originally written in relation to drug addiction and the spiralling psychology of those that suffer from it, this especially touching Sarah McLachlan number has subsequently been linked with teary-eyed topics of all kinds. The ambiguous, eponymous 'Angel' is an almost unknowable thing, designed to give hope or relief when times are hard... As McLachlan's piano plays softly in the background, her listener is invited to interpret her lyrics for themselves, and project the pain of her voice onto their own past experiences... A good cry that comes naturally.

#13: "Fix You" (2005)
Coldplay
By now even the toughest amongst you must have at least a little 'something in your eye', and if not then our next pick will set you sobbing, no doubt! Tackling love and loss like so many on our countdown before them, Coldplay turns the saddest subject matter into a tear-filled rollercoaster of a record with this song! The first half has us subdued; The second half has us singing along! And if that doesn’t have your eyes watering, just watch them perform it live.

#12: “Wild Horses” (1971)
The Rolling Stones
Exactly who this song was written for remains a mystery. Marianne Faithful’s the most likely, though it has also been linked to Bianca Jagger, and Keith Richards’ son, Marlon. What is clear is that with one quite simple hook, the Stones produced an ageless piece of music that has stood hairs on end for generations. Mick’s distinctive voice finds a perfect match, as this brooding, crooning, subdued song leaves the listener as lonely as the frontman.

11. “Wake Me Up When September Ends” (2005)
Green Day
While “Good Riddance” is a tear-jerking song we all love, our pick for Green Day had to go to this track from “American Idiot”. This rock ballad was originally written about lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong’s father who passed away from cancer when Billie was only 10 years old. But the song’s backstory became even more emotional after Hurricane Katrina struck in late August of 2005. Serving as a symbolic anthem for all the victims and families struck by the disaster, this track’s meaning was then further elevated by its accompanying music video that also served as a critique of the Iraq war.

#10: “The Sound of Silence” (1965)
Simon & Garfunkel
The opening lines to our next track are amongst the most recognizable in all of modern music. Written shortly after the JFK assassination, this song also became an accompaniment to the Vietnam War. It welcomes darkness, and is perhaps most effective when it’s played within it. The combination of vocals and the high tones are as haunting today as they were in the mid-1960s. While “Bridge over Troubled Water” is another contender, the legacy of “The Sound of Silence” is hard to beat!

#9: “Wish You Were Here” (1975)
Pink Floyd
The title track to their 1975 album, “Wish You Were Here” was written for Pink Floyd founder member Syd Barrett in response to his alleged battle with schizophrenia. The whole album explores the theme of detachment, and David Gilmour’s vocals retain a curiously absent quality as he pines for his friend. The whole track comes across as an effortless piece of music – a train of thought that is at once sad and beautiful in its simplicity.

#8: “Mad World” (2003)
Michael Andrews feat.Gary Jules
Originally written by Tears For Fears in 1982, this song saw a big resurgence when it was showcased in the 2001 thriller “Donnie Darko”. With delicate piano notes and calming vocals by Gary Jules, this new version quickly overshadowed the original song, and resonated with listeners feeling helpless and intimidated by modern life. We’ve all needed a song to drown our sorrows in from time to time, and “Mad World” speaks to the difficult and uncertain journey we’re all taking in this life, allowing us to reflect on what true “happiness” might feel like.

#7: “Fast Car” (1988)
Tracy Chapman
One of the hardest things about growing up is figuring out who you want to be. This question is even more difficult to answer for those living in poverty and with the odds stacked against them. Tracy Chapman expressed this beautifully in the song “Fast Car”, the lead single from her debut album. In this track, Chapman describes a young woman desperately seeking out a better life for herself, but struggling to get there. Everyone deserves happiness in this life, yet without family or friends to help you get there, it can be difficult to achieve, and that’s what makes this song just downright heartbreaking.

#6: “The Living Years” (1988)
Mike + The Mechanics
This ‘80s ballad once again picks apart the question of life and death, and summarizes the conundrum in 6 short words: “It’s too late when we die.” A global chart hit, this song addresses an unresolved conflict between songwriter B.A. Robertson and his father shortly before he died. Specifically about the bond between a boy and his father, the idea is applicable to just about any relationship that we could have – that’s why it gets us singing along – even if it is difficult to do that and not shed a tear.

#5: “Candle in the Wind” (1974)
Elton John
Originally penned in memory of Marilyn Monroe, “Candle in the Wind” is also famously linked to Diana, Princess of Wales, after Elton played it at her funeral. Though the lives of its subjects have been tragically short-lived, the song itself has endured for generations – and rightly so! It’s emotional enough without context, but it’s a fitting tribute to two iconic women, and to celebrities in general, that die too young – an elegy of the highest order.

#4: “Hallelujah” (2007)
Jeff Buckley
This song was powerful when Leonard Cohen sang it originally… but when Jeff Buckley caressed his vocals around the lyrics, hairs stood on end and lumps formed in throats. It’s love that’s gone stale – so it’s relatable for many of us. There’s also anguish in his voice that is impossible to fake – he isn’t just singing the words, he understands them. A talent that was lost too soon, this song is his legacy.

#3: “Everybody Hurts” (1993)
R.E.M.
We defy anyone not to be moved by our first podium entry. “Everybody Hurts” has become a staple soundtrack to modern day life. Adopted by the Samaritans charity, it was originally written by the band for anyone struggling with severe depression. This song not only prompts tears, it saves lives! According to the lyrics, “we all cry,” and most of us do when we sing them! “Everybody hurts,” and after this song, everybody’s reaching for the tissues!

#2: “Hurt” (2003)
Johnny Cash
Originally penned by Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails, “Hurt” was taken on by the legendary Johnny Cash several years later. It brings the memories of his past under the cold, harsh spotlight of his present. Cash was very frail when recording the song, and he died seven months after its release. Relaying the unstoppable passing of time, its accompanying video is a memorial to one man, but something that we’ll all experience. It’s about as powerful as music can be.

#1: “Tears in Heaven” (1992)
Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton’s “Tears in Heaven” is an incredibly moving piece of music, made all the more impactful by the great personal tragedy Clapton experienced. When his 4-year-old son tragically passed away in 1991, we’d have understood if Clapton never picked up a guitar again. But he did, and was able to produce a record that’s as terrific as it is teary! Reminding us all of anyone who has passed, “Tears in Heaven” verbalizes what everybody else would like to say. It’s a tear-jerking tune that gets us every time!

What song never fails to tug at your heartstrings? Let us know in the comments below.