Top 50 Songs That Make You Cry Every Time

Music has a remarkable power to evoke us, and certain pieces move us dead center in the heart. We’ve compiled in this list 50 of the most powerful tearjerker pieces in the English language – from the 1960s through the current day and across genres from rock and pop to soul and country – each selection deserves a spot because it touches us profoundly with gut-wrenching words, a haunting tune, or an emotional history.

A great many of these pieces were huge chart hits, but others earned a silent devotion over the years to be cult favorites loved for their heart-wrenching impact. It’s not a formally ranked list – each piece of music in itself warrants being a well-weller for listeners.

You’ll discover classic acts like Eric Clapton, Adele, and Johnny Cash on this journey along with a few unexpected inclusions (even a piece featuring a Muppet), proving music can take all of us down a peg.

We’ll note a piece’s major chart achievements or awards won where appropriate but more importantly describe the ways in which the music touches us on a human level.

From sadness-for-lost-love anthems and tributes for lost pals to anthems of hope even in despairing times, these pieces attest the strength of music to console us in times of turmoil and make us know us understood. We recommend you grab a box of tissues and dive in for 50 pieces of music which can possibly bring a sob out of you each time you hear them.

November Rain by Guns N’ Roses

For an excess-embracing hard rock band like Guns N’ Roses, November Rain was a surprising instance of real emotion in their classic 1992 power ballad. At a virtually 9-minute run, the song (with soaring guitars and strings) became a huge success peaking at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100. Its operatic-style arrangement and sentimental words about love and loss still choke the eyes of listeners even today.

One Sweet Day by Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men

One Sweet Day brought together Boyz II Men and Mariah Carey in 1995 for a song about mourning deceased loved ones. This powerfully soulful ballad, inspired by loved ones near them who died, resonated around the world. It reached a staggering 16 weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 – a measure of how much listeners responded to the uplifting theme of reuniting beyond this world.

Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want by The Smiths

This short 1984 song of The Smiths has a disproportionate amount of emotional impact even though it lasts less than two minutes. A sense of yearning over a sparse melody with Morrissey conveys a profound sense of yearning for a small amount of joy. Although initially a B-side and never a chart single, Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want became a classic cult favourite which leaves most listeners with tears in their eyes.

Black by Pearl Jam

Pearl Jam’s Black was never issued as a commercial single but became one of the band’s favorite songs. Found on their 1991 debut album, this raw ballad sees Eddie Vedder baring his soul over lost love. Fans often sway in tears live when “Black” hits the stage. Its honesty and heartache were felt far and wide even without a video or chart topping.

Sign of the Times by Harry Styles

In 2017, listeners were shocked with Sign of the Times – a grand, operatic-style ballad a far cry from his boy-band pop beginnings. Soaring vocals and heartbreaking lyrics (said to be inspired by a real-life tragedy) announced a new chapter in Styles’ career as an artist. It dropped at #1 in the UK and proved a contemporary pop icon can produce a sobs-inducing tearjerker.

My Heart Will Go On by Celine Dion

My Heart Will Go On became a classic sorrowful ballad of tragedy and romance with Celine Dion’s powerful voice. It became a soundtrack for the 1997 film Titanic and a huge global success topping the charts in thousands of countries. Its over-the-top song with a heartbreak ending still gives listeners spine shivers even these days. Even after decades, the song still represents sorrowful goodbyes and the power of romance over tragedy.

Here Comes Goodbye by Rascal Flatts

Country trio Rascal Flatts scored a #1 country hit in 2009 with Here Comes Goodbye, a ballad that captures the heavy-heart feeling at the end of a relationship. The song builds from a quiet piano intro into a soaring chorus full of ache. Its lyrics of farewell and regret, paired with Gary LeVox’s powerful vocals, have made many listeners reach for the tissues.

Adam’s Song by Blink-182

With their fast-paced punk sounds, Blink-182 became serious with the song Adam’s Song in 2000. A song for isolation and suicide, it was a very personal song for the band. Its honesty hit fans between the eyes. Not a huge pop singles hit but reaching #2 on the current rock chart, it demonstrated even a joke band could come out with a sincere tearjerking song.

The Wolves (Act I & II) by Bon Iver

Indie folk man Bon Iver (Justin Vernon) achieves a sense of raw heartbreak with 2007’s The Wolves (Act I & II). Through sparse acoustic strums swelling into canyon-like echoing wails, the song is akin to an emotional breakdown crystallized into song form. Although never a huge commercial success, raw despair and soul-stirring repetition of “what might’ve been lost” has brought tears to the eyes of countless indie fans.

Rainbow Connection by Kermit the Frog

In this 1979 Muppet Movie lullaby, innocence prevails even now for many adult listeners who end up in tears. Performed by Jim Henson singing as Kermit the Frog, Rainbow Connection speculates about hopes and dreams with a sincere naivete. It earned an Oscar nod and even a Billboard Hot 100 chart berth. Several decades on, the song feels no less powerful for conveying a sense of youthful optimism that still raises deep emotions and wistfulness.

See You Again by Wiz Khalifa & Charlie Puth

See You Again exploded onto the global stage in 2015 for Furious 7’s tribute piece for actor Paul Walker. Combining Wiz Khalifa’s heartfelt rap verses with Charlie Puth’s inspirational hook, the song instantly became a tearjerker. It dominated the Billboard Hot 100 for 12 weeks at #1. Even outside the movie, its goodbye and friendship themes ring strongly, reducing listeners to tears.

How to Save a Life by The Fray

The Fray’s 2006 hit How to Save a Life is a somber reflection on trying to help someone in crisis and feeling helpless. Inspired by a real-life experience at a youth counseling camp, the piano-driven song struck a chord with its sincere, pleading chorus. It reached the top 3 on the charts and became an anthem for empathy, often bringing tears when listeners reflect on its message.

Father and Son by Cat Stevens

Written in 1970, Father and Son is a song dialogue between a parent and a child with conflicting views. Cat Stevens delivers the father’s soft counseling in a soothing voice and the son’s passions with deep emotion. Its heart-wrenching theme of intergenerational misunderstanding touched a chord deep within us all. Years later, the folk staple still is a tearjerker for parents and offspring contemplating changes in life.

Iris by Goo Goo Dolls

Composed for the 1998 movie City of Angels, Iris became the Goo Goo Dolls’ classic ballad and a ‘90s staple. Soaring strings were supported by the raspy voice of Johnny Rzeznik in a song about the desperation of never wanting to lose a person. It dominated the airwaves for months, dwelling at #1 on radio playlists and reaching the Billboard top 10. In a passionate crescendo, “Iris” still gets listeners singing along to every lyric.

Streets of Philadelphia by Bruce Springsteen

Bruce Springsteen’s Streets of Philadelphia, which he wrote for 1993’s Philadelphia, is a mutedly heart-wrenching song about sickness and isolation. Its mellow drum machine pulse and minor-key melody frame Springsteen’s soothing voice singing about a man “bruised and battered” from life. It won an Oscar and a top 10 single. But more significantly, it put into words the suffering of the AIDS plague, reducing many listeners to sobs.

Fire and Rain by James Taylor

James Taylor’s “Fire and Rain” (1970) is a contemplative folk song out of personal tragedy. It was penned by Taylor after losing a friend he frequently traveled with and suffering personally from depression. Its simple acoustic setting and candid speech about overcoming loss appealed to the universal public. “Fire and Rain” topped 5, and even today the candor about suffering leaves listeners in tears.

River by Joni Mitchell

Joni Mitchell’s River is a sorrowful song from her classic 1971 album Blue which has become an unexpected Yuletide classic for the solitary. Against delicate piano, Mitchell laments heartbreak and yearning for flight (“I wish I had a river I could skate away on”) at Christmas. Never a single, the song slowly became a recognized classic for a bittersweet blend of winter sadness which brings tears to listeners’ eyes.

I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing by Aerosmith

I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing oleh Aerosmith Rock power ballads don’t come much greater than Aerosmith’s I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing, which dominated the charts in 1998. Starring in the film Armageddon, it’s a heart-wrenching vow of devotion and love in the impending loss of a loved one. Steven Tyler’s uplifting voice turned this power ballad into a global sensation. To this day, it’s a classic for sentimental occasions, which frequently reduces listeners to tears.

I Will Always Love You by Whitney Houston

Produced and first released in 1974 by Dolly Parton, I Will Always Love You became an even bigger hit with Whitney Houston’s 1992 recording for the movie soundtrack of The Bodyguard. Its powerful voice and aching theme of a bittersweet farewell propelled it to a global #1 (14 weeks). Experienced as a sensitive farewell in a Dolly-esque manner or a powerful Whitney ballad featuring soul-stirring emotions, this song universally reduces listeners to tears about memories of romance.

Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol

Sometimes the simplest songs hit the hardest. Snow Patrol’s Chasing Cars (2006) is a gentle declaration of devotion built on a few repeating chords. Lead singer Gary Lightbody’s earnest delivery invites listeners to “just forget the world” and be in the moment. The song gained fame from a Grey’s Anatomy finale and became a top 5 hit. Its understated emotion continues to make people cry quietly along.

Dust in the Wind by Kansas

Kansas shocked fans in 1978 with Dust in the Wind, a somber acoustic ballad outside the band’s typical rock style. Lyrics (“all we are is dust in the wind”) reflect on the transitive nature of life and lasted in our consciousness forever. It hit #6 on the Billboard Hot 100, with haunting violin and guitar still prompting listeners with watery eyes to reflect on death.

Cat’s in the Cradle by Harry Chapin

Harry Chapin’s 1974 folk-rock song Cat’s in the Cradle is notorious for bringing tears to parents’ eyes across the globe. Its narrative lyrics detail a father and son who can’t find time for one another until it’s too late – a situation many can’t help but be painfully familiar with. Cat’s in the Cradle reached #1 on the charts. Years later, its chorus of missed chances between parent and child still shatters hearts and elicits promises to improve.

Bad Religion by Frank Ocean

Frank Ocean’s Bad Religion is a sentimental capper on his 2012 album Channel Orange concerning handling unwarranted love and individual suffering. Warts-and-all, soulful song features bare-boned introspection with Ocean baring his sorrow in a cab cab compared with being a “bad religion” which he is unable to abandon. Though left unreleased as a single track, raw suffering in voice and lyrics still hit a chord with fans who were left more powerfully impressed.

Yesterday by The Beatles

The Beatles’ Yesterday is a timeless ballad of heartbreak and nostalgia. Paul McCartney’s gentle voice, backed only by a string arrangement and acoustic guitar, longs for a lost love and a simpler time. Released in 1965, it became a #1 hit and one of the most covered songs in history. Its universal theme of yearning for yesterday’s happiness continues to bring a lump to listeners’ throats.

Landslide by Fleetwood Mac

Fleetwood Mac’s Landslide (1975) reflects on life changes and growing older in a way that hits listeners straight in the heart. Stevie Nicks wrote this acoustic ballad wondering if she can handle the “changes” life brings. Though not a big chart hit at first, its emotional power grew over time. Covers by others (like the Dixie Chicks) introduced “Landslide” to new generations, and it still prompts tears and reflection.

Dance with My Father by Luther Vandross

Luther Vandross sang from the heart in Dance with My Father, a song about cherished childhood moments dancing with deceased dad. Released in 2003, this R&B ballad became all the more bittersweet because it was a relatively early recording Vandross made prior to becoming ill. It won Grammy’s Song of the Year award. Most listeners, particularly those who have lost a parent, can’t help but cry listening to the song’s sentimental words.

Lazarus by David Bowie

Lazarus by David Bowie came out in 2015 as a haunting farewell from the rock icon. Out less than a week before Bowie died, the song’s words (“Look up here, I’m in heaven”) and sorrowful saxophone have a chilling, heart-wrenching quality. Although it modestly charted, fans were greatly touched because of the timing and the message. “Lazarus” can be considered Bowie’s final gift to the world and a song which cannot be listened to without tears being shed.

My Immortal by Evanescence

Evanescence’s My Immortal is a goth-rock ballad that lays bare the feeling of lingering grief. Amy Lee’s clear, sorrowful voice over a simple piano and strings arrangement conveys the pain of being haunted by memories of someone gone. Released in 2003, the song climbed into the top 10 in many countries. More importantly, its raw vulnerability has made countless fans feel understood in their own heartache.

Who Wants to Live Forever by Queen

Brian May of Queen penned Who Wants to Live Forever for a somber moment within the 1986 movie Highlander. Freddie Mercury’s powerful voice made it an imposing tearjerker. Underneath rich orchestration, the song ruminates on death and the agony of parting from loved ones. It didn’t become a very large chart success, yet following Mercury’s death, the song’s emotional impact increased. It is still a haunting listening experience which leaves most fans with tears in their eyes.

One More Light by Linkin Park

One More Light is the title track of Linkin Park’s 2017 album, written as a tribute to a friend who passed away. Chester Bennington sings it with a gentle, aching delivery, asking, “Who cares if one more light goes out?” Initially it offered comfort, but after Bennington’s own tragic death, the song became even more heartbreaking, often reducing fans to tears.

What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong

The gravelly affection of Louis Armstrong in the rendition of What a Wonderful World (1967) can evoke tears of joy and sadness at the same moment. It gazes at the small wondrous things in life – “trees of green, red roses too” – with such sincere hope that many a person cries listening to it, more so when used in bittersweet movie moments. It reached #1 in the UK and became a timeless classic which shows us the value of life’s transient moments.

I Will Follow You into the Dark by Death Cab for Cutie

Death Cab for Cutie’s 2005 acoustic track I Will Follow You into the Dark is a gentle expression of love even beyond death. Ben Gibbard’s gentle voice and strip-guitar rendition give it a sense of a personal lullaby for a loved one, vowing not to abandon them even in the great beyond. Although the song didn’t reach the top of the charts, the personal message of the song has ended up being a contemporary funeral favorite along with other sad occasions.

Someone Like You by Adele

Not many new songs have brought about public tears like Adele’s Someone Like You has done. This 2011 piano ballad about learning to accept lost love featured Adele’s powerful voice in a very exposed light. It reached #1 globally. A noted live rendition even brought the song’s vocalist along with her listeners to tears. Its brutal honesty surrounding heartbreak still has listeners in tears but still at peace.

Lay Me Down by Sam Smith

Sam Smith’s Lay Me Down is a rawly emotional soulful wail for the loved one who is gone. It was originally released in 2014 as a first single for Smith but gained more popularity following their huge breakthrough hit. Its gospel-inspired formation with Sam’s rawly emotional voice convey deep sadness and longing. A later duet version with John Legend reached #1 in the UK for charity reasons. Lay Me Down can’t help but leave very little eyes dry.

Fake Plastic Trees by Radiohead

Radiohead’s Fake Plastic Trees (1995) is a sorrowful critique of false existences and thwarted longings. It’s said Thom Yorke himself cried upon recording the lead vocals. It gently opens but grows with dramatic feeling once strings rise behind the strumming electric guitar. Although not a major success upon initial release, in fan eyes this haunting song became a favorite because it frequently brought a tear with its lovely despair.

Nothing Compares 2 U by Sinéad O’Connor

Sinéad O’Connor shattered hearts across the globe with her 1990 recording of Nothing Compares 2 U, which was written by Prince. The bare-bones accompaniment centers O’Connor’s powerful voice and crying performance. In the classic video, a solitary tear travels down her cheek – a moment that speaks for itself. Nothing Compares 2 U became a worldwide #1 hit and an ultimate breakup anthem that can reduce anyone to tears.

Angel by Sarah McLachlan

Sarah McLachlan’s Angel (1997) is a soft piano ballad forever linked with tears times. McLachlan penned it following a peer’s overdose death, and the song’s soft strains along with her emotive singing convey suffering and solace at once. It reached the top 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and became famous for being used in advertising charity commercials. “Angel”’s otherworldly quality frequently leaves listeners softly crying but consoled at once.

Fix You by Coldplay

Coldplay’s Fix You (2005) is an inspirational but sorrowful anthem Chris Martin penned to soothe his then-girlfriend following her loss of her dad. It starts off with a minimalist organ piece and soothing words that “lights will guide you home,” but steadily escalates into a rousing conclusion with full band accompaniment and choir-like refrain. In no single instance did the song reach #1, but its uplifting message along with soaring conclusion have brought thousands of concertgoers to tears and singing along.

Wild Horses by The Rolling Stones

In 1971, with Wild Horses, The Rolling Stones showed a soft center with a tortured yearning ballad of feelings restrained. Mick’s weary voice mixed with Keith Richards’s gentle acoustic guitar for an impression of pulsing vulnerability. Regardless of peaking at no better than #28 on the charts, the track became a classic. Its hook (“Wild horses couldn’t drag me away”) carries a deep sadness and affection that even now prompts listeners to be brought to tears.

Wake Me Up When September Ends by Green Day

Green Day’s Wake Me Up When September Ends (2004) is a sentimental song written by lead man Billie Joe Armstrong about the loss of his dad. The song begins gently but increases in strength for a rock conclusion, reflecting ripples of despair and renewal. It reached the top 10 across the world. Even now, fans still end up in tears at the end of the fourth chorus, reflecting on their losses.

The Sound of Silence by Simon & Garfunkel

Simon & Garfunkel’s 1965 classic “The Sound of Silence” captures emotions of isolation and disconnection. Composed in the aftermath of a national tragedy, its chilling music and lyrical first line (“Hello darkness, my old friend…”) struck a chord with listeners. Its hushed despair reached all the way to #1 on the charts, broadcasting its quiet agony far and wide. Years later, its melancholic introspection still moves listeners to tears.

Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd

Floyd’s Wish You Were Here (1975) is a poignant tribute to absent friends and lost innocence. Penned in part about founding member Syd Barrett’s mental deterioration, the song’s simple acoustic riff and sorrowful chorus (“I wish you were here”) qualify it as one of rock’s most emotional moments. Never a hit single but a fans’ favorite, even now it frequently induces tears in listeners commemorating someone they miss.

Mad World by Gary Jules

Originally by Tears for Fears in 1982, the song Mad World took on new life in 2003 when Gary Jules recorded a stripped-down cover for the film Donnie Darko. His piano-and-vocal version turned the ’80s new wave hit into a bleak, beautiful elegy for lost innocence. It reached #1 in the UK and became a modern classic for anyone feeling misunderstood or depressed, often moving listeners to quiet tears.

Fast Car by Tracy Chapman

Fast Car, which appeared in 1988, is Tracy Chapman’s masterful tale of wistfulness for a better life. Against a soothing folk-rock soundtrack, Chapman sings in the voice of a young woman who sees an exit from poverty with a companion of hers but watches these aspirations wither away. Fast Car topped 10 charts and earned glowing reviews from critics. Its sad tale of hopes raised and dashed more often than not leaves ears teary-eyed.

The Living Years by Mike + The Mechanics

The Living Years (1988) is a powerful ballad for anyone who has regrets concerning a parent. It was co-written by Mike Rutherford following the death of his dad, encouraging listeners to be honest with loved ones before it’s too late (“it’s too late when we die”). It reached #1 in the US at the peak of the song’s initial popularity and became a song of forgiveness and introspection. To this day, its chorus still reduces listeners to tears.

Candle in the Wind by Elton John

When originally penned in 1973 as a tribute song for Marilyn Monroe, Elton John’s Candle in the Wind gained even deeper meaning with a re-recording in 1997 in honor of Princess Diana. The classic piano ballad of a life gone too soon became an all-time largest selling single. Its emotional melody with reflective lyricism has made thousands of listeners teary-eyed remembering the gone too soon.

Hallelujah by Jeff Buckley

Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah (1984) had found an otherworldly interpretation in Jeff Buckley’s 1994 rendition. Buckley’s soaring voice and fragile guitar converted the song into a devotional experience filled with sadness and loveliness. Not an immediate success, it gradually attained global popularity and has now become a feature at melancholic occasions. Never has the word “hallelujah” been more anguished – Buckley’s rendition consistently leaves listeners speechless in wonder and tears.

Everybody Hurts by R.E.M.

R.E.M.’s Everybody Hurts is an anthem for anyone feeling down or alone. Released in 1993, this gentle rock ballad encourages listeners to hold on during hard times. Its straightforward, comforting lyrics and Michael Stipe’s emotive delivery struck a nerve worldwide. The song charted in the top 10 in several countries and remains a go-to track when people need a good cry of release.

Hurt by Johnny Cash

Country legend Johnny Cash provided a haunting performance of Nine Inch Nails’ song Hurt in 2002 which is considered by many to be sadder still than the original. Thin-voiced and contemplative, this performance of Cash sounded weeks before he died and whose music video introspectively looks back at his life. Although no great chart hit, this raw goodbye concert made millions of viewers cry.

Tears in Heaven by Eric Clapton

Eric Clapton embodied raw heartbreak with Tears in Heaven, which he wrote in 1991 after losing his infant son. This mellow acoustic song released in 1992 touched millions of hearts and became a massive hit for Clapton (#2 on the Billboard Hot 100). It also earned many Grammy Awards, and the impactful lines of loss and hope after death still evoke tears from listeners.