Top 10 Songs to Listen to When You Need a Good Cry
#10: "When I Was Your Man" (2012)
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Bruno Mars One method that actors can use to make themselves cry in a scene is to think of something sad they’ve experienced. For many actors and non-actors alike, that get-the-tears flowing thought might focus on the one that got away. If you’re having any difficulties taking your mind to that place for any reason though, Bruno Mars can help. “When I Was Your Man” is a beautiful ballad featuring Mars, a piano, and some truly heartfelt lyrics about lost love and regrets. Even those who are in happy relationships will feel the pain just imagining the possibility of losing what they have. Either way, there will be tears.
#9: "All Too Well (10 Minute Version) (Taylor's Version) (From the Vault)" (2021)
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Taylor Swift When the 10 minute version of “All Too Well” was put out into the world as part of “Red (Taylor’s Version)”, we lost any composure we had! The original version of the tune is heartbreaking enough, but this one amps up the emotion in every regard. Now, every Swiftie knows who “All Too Well” is rumored to be about. But it doesn’t matter. Taylor Swift herself has talked about it being for everyone, saying “Every person out there might have someone they think of when they hear the song and that's what I want.” Ask and ye shall receive! Inserting our own memories of the peaks and valleys of a past relationship, well… bring on the waterworks.
#8: "Stay" (2012)
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Rihanna feat. Mikky Ekko There’s no hiding behind big beats or complicated instrumentation on this one. But there’s no need — the talent speaks for itself. Indeed, Rihanna and Mikky Ekko bare it all with “Stay,” and that raw emotion and vulnerability has the power to instantly hit listeners at their core. The song, about wanting - no, needing someone to stay - taps into feelings and emotions that we’ve either felt before or are still searching for. Wherever you are in your own personal life, it’s hard not to get emotional hearing Rihanna and Ekko movingly belt out words about not being able to live without a partner.
#7: "Someone like You" (2011)
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Adele Moving on after your heart gets shattered into a million pieces is never easy. But there are those songs that help us make sense of it all. Adele’s “Someone like You” is a perfect example of this. The vocalist was dealing with a heartbreak of her own when she and Dan Wilson crafted the ballad, and hearing the raw emotion in her voice helps us let our own feelings in, too. After all, the only way out is often through the pain. The song says it best: “sometimes it lasts in love, but sometimes it hurts instead.” Thankfully, we can cry to it if we find ourselves in the latter situation.
#6: "Hurt" (2002)
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Johnny Cash Johnny Cash had an amazing musical career that spanned decades. And his 2002 cover of Nine Inch Nails’ song “Hurt” is thought by many to be among his greatest achievements. It’s a deeply personal track that Trent Reznor penned during a rough period in his life. Yet Cash was able to deliver each lyric like it had been written for him, making us feel the meaning just as deeply - if not more so. And if you aren’t crying while listening to it, just watch the video. As Reznor himself admitted, the first viewing left him emotional — us too.
#5: “River” (1971)
Joni Mitchell Although the song has become associated with Christmas, “River” by Joni Mitchell isn’t a Christmas song. Granted, the events being described take place during the holiday season. But the track itself is about coming to terms with the loss of a relationship and trying to unravel the emotions of said loss. It’s a beautiful piece of art, but as Meg Ryan’s character points out in “You’ve Got Mail” - it’s also a sad one. That may sound like a simple description, but it tells you everything you need to know. We feel the devastation from start to finish, and that’s exactly why “River” is such a staple.
#4: "I Can't Make You Love Me" (1991)
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Bonnie Raitt Sometimes, a song’s title doesn’t really tell you what it’s about or how you’re going to feel when you listen to it. But that’s surely not the case with Bonnie Raitt’s 1991 hit, “I Can't Make You Love Me”. The idea of feeling so strongly for someone who just doesn’t, and never will, return those sentiments almost has us in tears. And that’s before a single note of the song even plays! Then we hear Raitt’s beautiful performance of the deeply poignant lyrics, and there’s no holding tears back anymore. Hey, sometimes you just have to let it all out.
#3: "Dance with My Father" (2003)
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Luther Vandross While broken relationships and lost love are sad and hard, those who’ve lost a parent know that there are few things that hit a person harder. The late Luther Vandross lost his father when he was only a kid, but never forgot him. Here, Vandross described the way he, his mom, and his dad would dance. The gorgeous track is anchored by those memories, and it’s stunning in ways words can’t describe. Even if you can’t relate to the specific circumstances at play, the song will have you reminiscing and appreciating the people who raised you. And if that doesn’t lead to a good cry, we don’t know what will.
#2: "Songbird" (1977)
Fleetwood Mac Stevie Nicks gets lots of completely merited attention when it comes to Fleetwood Mac, having given us tear-inducing tracks like “Landslide.” But the late Christine McVie is also more than deserving of praise, and “Songbird” is mainly her masterpiece. She penned four songs on the band’s iconic, mega-selling “Rumours” album solo, and it’s among them. The track is yet another example of the power of musical simplicity and the old adage that less can be more when it comes to striking at our emotional core. You just need the basics: straightforward instrumentation, really good lyrics, and a beautiful voice. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
"Breathe Me" (2004), Sia
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"Everybody Hurts" (1992), R.E.M.
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"Ex-Factor" (1998), Lauryn Hill
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"All of Me" (2013), John Legend
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#1: "Hallelujah" (1994)
Jeff Buckley There are many great versions of this song, including the original by Leonard Cohen. However, it’s the Jeff Buckley cover, with its intensity and emotion, that stands out. The song isn’t about a simple breakup or relationship. In fact, what it’s about depends on the interpretation of whoever is listening. But poignant lyrics aside, Buckley’s version of the song digs into our heart and souls, pushing tears out from within. We may not know exactly why we’re crying, but we are. That’s the power of the track — it reaches deep, eliciting a visceral response that never stops being cathartic.
