20 songs guaranteed to make you cry (2024)

Music has a way of bringing out different emotions in people. Whether it's the lyrics or the production, listeners typically have that one song that puts them in their feelings.

While some songs can lead people to feel happy, calm, and/or celebratory, some songs have a way of making listeners feel sad. Here is a list of some of the saddest songs that can bring any listener to tears.

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Mac Miller’s 2018 track “Come Back to Earth” is always somewhat of a difficult listen considering how tragic the rapper’s life ended with an accidental overdose. On the track, Miller reflects on dealing with stress and depression at times, with hopes of getting back to his true self. As he says on the first verse, “I wish it was nice out, but it look like rain / Grey skies are driftin,’ not living forever / They told me it only gets better.”

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Kirk Franklin’s 2005 track “Imagine Me” is a song about self-love, healing, and trusting in a higher power. The piano-driven track is all about people letting go of any hurt, insecurities, and fully accepting themselves for who they are. As the gospel choir sings, “Imagine me being strong / And not letting people break me down / You won’t get that joy this time around (No, No) / Can you imagine me / In a world (in a world) where nobody has to live afraid.”

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“One Sweet Day” by Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men is one of the most successful songs in Billboard chart history. It’s one of those timeless classics that people tend to play when they’re grieving the loss of a loved one. On the track, the singers reflect on dealing with a loved one’s passing, but also realizing how they took life for granted, so now they wish they had more time with them.

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In Adele’s earlier discography, it was known among fans that the singer would make a song that could put any listener in their feelings. Adele’s hit song “Someone Like You” is no different. On the track, Adele is reflecting a on a past relationship; her ex-lover has moved on, but she’s wondering if there’s a chance to rekindle what they once had.

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In 2002, Kelly Rowland released her heartbreaking song “Stole.” On the track and in the video, she reflects on different scenarios of young people having their lives stolen from them. Rowland touches on topics of bullying, depression, gun violence, and sūicide, and the video is even more sad as it coincides with the lyrics.

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In 2006, Christina Aguilera released her album Back to Basics, which featured the hit ballad “Hurt.” Written by Aguilera along with Mark Ronson and Linda Perry, Aguilera reflects on losing a loved one and feeling torn about how the last time they saw each other, they left on bad terms. As she sings on the hook, “Oh, I’m sorry for blaming you / For everything I just couldn’t do / And I’ve hurt myself by hurting you.”

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Although it wasn’t released as a single from Janet Jackson’s album Rhythm Nation 1814, “Livin’ in a World (They Didn’t Make)” is one of the singer’s saddest songs in her discography. She uses the track to highlight how children are born innocent, however, they meet a cruel world that’s supposed to be handled and protected by adults, but unfortunately, that’s not always the case. Towards the end of the song, Jackson uses audio from a news segment discussing a school shooting.

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In 1965, rock band The Beatles released their hit song “Yesterday.” On the track, the band sings of dealing with a broken relationship, and how much they wish they could go back in time to better days. As they sing on the bridge, “Why she had to go / I don’t know, she wouldn’t say / I said something wrong / Now I long for yesterday.”

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On Luther Vandross’ 2003 single “Dance With My Father,” the soulful singer reflects on his childhood and wishing he could’ve spent more time with his dad. He sings it from the perspective of someone whose father has passed away and wishes he could have just one more moment with him. As he sings on the hook, “If I could get another chance / Another walk, another dance with him / I’d play a song that would never ever end.”

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In 2015, pop band Lukas Graham released their hit single “7 Years.” On the track, the band reflects on the nuances of someone’s youth and getting advice from people about what they should do as they get older.

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Donnie McClurkin’s 2000 track “We Fall Down” is the type of song that repeats the same lines, but there’s a build-up that helps take listeners to another realm. On the song, McClurkin reflects on how people are going to constantly make mistakes, but it’s important how they get back up and do things differently.

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In 2005, rock band Coldplay released their third album X&Y which featured the somber single “Fix You.” Frontman Chris Martin wrote the organ-backed track as a way to help his then-wife Gwyneth Paltrow grieve the loss of her father. Martin knows that he will do his best to help and support his partner in her time of need.

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There’s no doubt about it that Babyface is one of the greatest songwriters of all time — he knows just how to pull different emotions out of a listener. It’s evident on “A Song for Mama,” a track he wrote and produced for Boyz II Men. On the track, the group reflects on the love and support they have for their mothers, and how much they’ll cherish them.

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On R.E.M.’s 1993 track “Everybody Hurts,” the band highlights how much people go through life, but it’s important to stand fast because there’s always a brighter tomorrow. As they sing on the first verse, “When your day is long / And the night, the night is yours alone / When you’re sure you’ve had enough of this life / Well hang on.”

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Everyone has to deal with losing loved one — it’s part of life. Beyonce reflects on losing a loved one on her 2013 track “Heaven.” Many people believe the song was written after Beyonce suffered a miscarriage, something she discussed in her 2013 documentary Life Is But a Dream. While it’s hard for people to deal with a loss, sometimes heaven needs the people more.

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Justin Bieber shows a more vulnerable and honest side on the Benny Blanco-assisted single “Lonely.” On the track, he reflects on his life in the limelight and how it could seem like celebrities have everything, but in actuality, it can be a sad and lonely world at times. As he sings on the hook, “What if you had it all but nobody to call? / Maybe then you’d know me cause I’ve had everything / But no one’s listening and that’s just f— lonely.”

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In 1995, rock band Nine Inch Nails released the song "Hurt." However, it was in 2002 when Johnny Cash released his successful, critically acclaimed cover. The track tells the perspective of the protagonist dealing with self-harm.

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Stevie Wonder produced and wrote one of the best love ballads on his 1973 track “All In Love Is Fair.” He highlights the different nuances of love, how people vow to be together, but sometimes time and fate changes things.

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People are probably most familiar with this 1998 tearjerker from hearing it in ASPCA commercials. However, the song was actually inspired by Sarah McLachlan reading about how musicians sometimes turn to self-harm when they feel like they can’t deal with the world. “Angel” reflects on a person finding some type of comfort and peace amidst the chaos.

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The Internet’s 2018 track “It Gets Better (With Time)” is the type of track a listener should play when they need a little pick-me-up. On the song, the narrator can tell that their loved one is feeling down and she stresses with a little hard love that there’s always a better tomorrow.