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Top 10 Sad Songs That Make You Cry

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Let’s get one thing straight: I’m a man. A tough-as-nails manly man who lifts weights and watches Sportcenter and kills spiders with my bare hands – unless, of course, I’ve just gotten my nails done. And I am secure enough in my manhood to publicly acknowledge that the following sad songs can make me sob like a jilted prom queen (but, you know, a manly prom queen). Here are my top 10 sad songs that make you cry. What other songs would you add to this list?

10. Way to Blue (Nick Drake)

“Have you seen the land living by the breeze?”


English acoustic brooder Nick Drake lived the kind of short, sad life that seemed designed to produce tear-jerking anthems, and Way to Blue brings on the waterworks like no other in his tragically slim body of work. With a less gifted singer at the helm, the results would have been a strings-laden sap-fest, tailor-made for early 70’s am pop; Drake takes us on a deeper journey – one that doesn’t spare us the scenic route of his broken soul.

9. Mother (John Lennon)

“I needed you. You didn’t need me.”


When the Fab Four parted ways at the close of sixties, the band’s chief frienemies John Lennon and Paul McCartney both saw their divorce as a liberation, a chance to pursue their true artistic callings. For The Cute Beatle this meant finding a home atop Billboard’s charts with a fun but forgettable series of silly love songs. Meanwhile The Smart Beatle sought a nobler path and created some of the most earnest, achingly humorless songs ever put to wax. I guess it’s true that the children (in this case, fans) suffer the most in divorce.

Still Lennon’s solo library is not without a few gems. Mother is not the feel-good hit of the summer, but good luck keeping the eyes dry during this searing ode to parental abandonment.

8. Angel of Harlem (U2)

“Lady Day got diamond eyes; she sees the truth behind the lies.”


Yes kids, before U2 became a bloated, self-important arena rock machine, they could deliver heartfelt, personal tunes, like this love letter to the legendary Billy Holiday.

7. Redemption Song (Bob Marley)

“Emancipate yourself from mental slavery; none but ourselves can free our minds.”


So powerful is the spell that Marley casts with this song of freedom that even his amusingly Jamaican syntax (“Old pirates, yes, they rob I; Sold I to the merchant ships”)
can’t distract us. Give I a hanky, mon. Me wants to cry.

6. Autumn in New York (Billie Holiday)

“So on this gray and melancholy day, I’ll move to a Manhattan hotel.”


Penned and recorded a half century prior to the nightmarish events of September 11th, Lady Day’s touching torch song was obviously not intended as an homage to the darkest Autumn day in New York’s history, but tell that to my (manly) tear ducts.

5. Card Cheat (The Clash)

With a card up his sleeve, what would he achieve?”


Is Mick Jones singing about an actual down-on-his-luck gambler or is there a surprisingly sophisticated metaphor at work here? You be the judge, while I get the kleenex… uh, yeah, there’s something in my eye, that’s all…

4. Already Dead (Beck)

“Days turn to sand, losing strength in every hand.”

This obscure cut from Sea Change (aka The ‘Beck Gets Sad’ album) best embodies its author’s efforts to escape the world of irony-driven dance pop. The broken-hearted Beck doesn’t just confront the grim reaper’s sullen stare; he’s already surrendered to it.

3. She Wanted to Leave (Ween)

“I couldn’t believe… she wanted to leave.”

This unapologetically dorky novelty band — best known for such cannabis-fueled tunes as ‘Touch my Tooter’ and ‘Push th’ little Daisies’ – are fairly unlikely candidates to contribute to this list of tear duct openers. Add to that the awkward fact that ‘She wanted to leave’ is about a pirate having his long-time captive stolen from him and you’d be right to question my sanity for including it. But who knows, maybe this tale of kidnapping on the high seas is really just a metaphor for the enslavement of the human spirit and the unleashing of —

Oh, who am I kidding? It’s just a sad song about pirates.

2. Everyone Says Hi (David Bowie)

“Don’t stay in a sad place where they don’t care how you are.”

What could be more truly heartrending than a cordially phrased open letter to a recently relocated friend, complete with obligatory greetings from all those left behind –especially when the letter’s unspoken subtext is something closer to please, please come back.

1. Big John Shaft (Belle and Sebastian)

“I won’t play another heavyweight; I won’t play another big John Shaft.”

Yes, it’s a song about that Shaft – the black private dick who’s a sex machine all the chicks. Well, kind of. It’s really a tale of a burned out actor fed up with being typecast as – among other things – a cat who won’t cop out when there’s danger all about (right on!).

I’ll never watch Superfly the same way again.

Written by Copper Smith

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373 Comments

  1. Sarah on

    Ok, so I know if you open this list up to country songs it would be a Top 100 list(and Im really not a huge fan of country music). However, there is a country song that makes me sob every time I hear it. Its called “Streets of Heaven” by Sherrie Austin. Anyone with kids would definitely understand.

    • R.Ivor.Pavlek. on

      man…no offense, but non of those are nearly sad enough…they don't touch me….

      my top whatever:

      David Bowie and M.J. Keenan-bring me the disco king

      NIN-great below, hurt, something i can never have, right where it belongs….

      the cure-lost…..

      joy division-she's lost control…

      korn-alone i brake…

      moby-extreme ways, natural blues…

      placebo-twenty years…

      radiohead-paranoid android, creep…

      slipknot- they are so deranged of sadness-scissors…

      staind-outside….

      and instrumental-clint mansell- requiem for a dream soundtrack, together we will live forever, the last man….

      tired of writing….get the picture??

    • debra on

      I am so, so sorry, I felt your pain as I watched your video. I too lost a child, and I feel your pain, the pain only a parent that has lost a child can feel. I will pray for you. God Bless

    • Jasmine H on

      oh my gosh i am sat here with tears STREAMIN down my face so beautiful 🙁

    • Hancock on

      1- turning pages by sleeping at last
      2- you were my everything- aviation
      3- mess i made- parachute
      4- drop in the ocean- ron pope
      5- Forever and always- parachute
      6- stay- blue october
      7- paper float- cassettes wont listen
      8- speechless- Lady Gaga
      9- so happy i could die- Lady Gaga
      10- why no me- enrique iglasis

      • Angie on

        umm…. Lady Gaga? Really? Have you ever heard whiskey lullaby by Brad Paisley? THAT is a sad song not enough to make you cry but really sad.

      • Melville on

        I’m shocked you’re the first person to mention Forever and Always by Parachute! In my opinion that is the saddest song of all time, hands down. I’m guessing most people just haven’t heard it, because I know it would place highly on these saddest song lists. Anyway, my point is I completely agree with you, and I’m very surprised that more people don’t!

    • Sameera on

      AHEM! Where’s The Scientist by Coldplay? It makes me cry all the time. We Might As Well be Strangers by Keane as well.

    • Stephen on

      The cutters lullaby- Tamara Minaoui (poem/ lullaby. Not a song)
      How to save a life- The Fray
      Welcome to the black parade- My Chemical romance
      If it means alot to you- A Day To Remember
      The last night- Skillet
      Drown- Three Days Grace

  2. Monica on

    You're missing one of the saddest songs of all time, Last Kiss by Pearl Jam. I cry BUCKETS all the time. It's sooooooo sad!

    • Justin on

      Yeah for sure this has to be in the top10, i first heard this song along time ago when i was a kid

      When i first heard this song not gonna lie i ccccryed my eyes out.. about 11,12 ;((

    • Brenda on

      Ummmm … This is a remake, the 1964 version by J Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers is much better. Pearl Jam mucked it up.

      • liberalchick on

        I knew J. Frank Wilson personally. I visited him the nursing home where he ended up passing away. And yes, you are right…his version is and will always be the best! Thank you for bring this to light! XOXO, libchick4

    • Lars on

      Don’t you mean Last Kiss by Dicky Lee? That’s the original and I like it way better 🙂

    • Ainara on

      Yes, this song is soo sad! But, in my opinion “Black” is even more heart breaking. There are loads of songs that make me feel emotional, but no song except this one has ever made me actually cry.
      But all Pearl Jam song are great and emotional, they’re just an amazing band 🙂

  3. CK on

    Even though it's from a cartoon (Toy Story 2), everytime I hear Sarah McLachlan sing "When Somebody Loves You" makes me misty-eyed. "Tears in Heaven" by Eric Clapton makes me sad too, especially after finding out why he wrote/sang it.

    • justice on

      omg i say this video and thought man this should be the song for people against abusing children i am only a teenager and have been abused and i thank god it wasnt horrible and i got out of it

      • sammie on

        I totally agree! and along with that (even though it's country) The Little Girl by John Michael Montgomery. It's about a little girl whose dad is an acholic and mom is a druggie. She hides behind their couch as her dad kills her mom, then himself and at the end Montgomery sings "She said I know that man up there on that cross I don't know His name But I know He got off Cause He was there in my old house and held me close to His side As I hid there behind our couch The night that my parents died"

  5. Will on

    Very surprised the Who's "Behind Blue Eyes" didn't make the list. Isn't that the ultimate sad song?

      • Wilde Finn on

        Tears In Heaven, Clapton only song that really got me.
        Last Kiss, and I Shall Believe by Sheryl Crow – but this one I relate to personal relationship experience

  7. Bradley Robb on

    No Leonard Cohen? No Smiths or even solo Morrisey? No Sullivan Street by Counting Crows? I, as a former music journalist, declare this list horribly flawed and thus, null and void.

    • That one Guy on

      …it's a top ten list you can't fit everything, it's also about sad songs….it's completely about opinion.

    • Chiyoe on

      Ok. I get the whole former music journalist thing but you should understand that not everyone is the same. Sure none of these songs actually touched my heart but it’s not a matter of personal preference. I love sad songs and these weren’t. But everyone has an opinion. I love for example
      “I Can’t Decide” by There For Tomorrow and my current favourite is “Pages” by 3 Doors Down. Both are amazing and I recommend them. Also no one has the right to criticize one’s taste or preference in music.

  8. JK on

    a list like this isnt complete without elliott smith

    when Wes Anderson needed a song to play during an attempted suicide he knew where to turn to

    and my favourite

    soaked pillow

    • Olympia on

      Great choices! Though I would have included “Last Call,” his most heart-breaking song… in my opinion.

  11. stav on

    The thing with music is that its very subjective. One mans tale of woe is another mans huge belly laugh. I doubt you could get two people in a room full to agree on exactly the same 10 songs!

  12. robyn on

    what about chrismas shoes? thats so sad. and theres this 9/11 song sung by a little girl who lost her father and she said she will always leave the hall light on until he returns i dont remember what its called but its so sad..

    • DeaZy on

      its the 9/11 tribute song im not sure who sang it but its a remake of bryan adams-heaven. The little girl is commenting throughout the song whilst another girl sings..an originally sad song emphasised by the tragedy of 9/11

      • Shawnsy on

        DJ Sammy – 9/11 Heaven – they just released an updated version for the 10 yr anniversary, the little girl grows up as the song goes along, very powerful and sad

  13. Barb on

    'Vincent' by Don McLean gets me everytime. That, to me, is the saddest, most heart wrenching song ever written.

  14. Monica on

    Robyn…I don't know what the 9/11 song is either, but I know what you're talking about….first time I heard it….I balled like a baby!!!!!!!!!

  16. Ella on

    Ditto to Tears In Heaven. The song that personally makes me cry is Let Her Cry by Hootie and the Blowfish

    And there's a song by Josh Woodward, a little known artist, called I'll Be Right Behind You Josephine which I think is about a guy watching his best friend die and always makes me feel desperately sad. Just one line in it, "And Jesus Christ if you tore my heart out, the only thing I'd feel is less alone"

    • That one Guy on

      Yes! And Sarah Beth by Rascal Flatts. I don't like them much but that song is definitely a tear jerker.

  18. ArkZ on

    river by the boss himself mr bruce springsteen makes me tear up every time i listen to it

  19. Adrian on

    i listen to soul and R&B so the song that makes me tear up are "A million miless away" by rihanna and "Crush" by rosetta* (or something like that)

  20. Umi on

    there's "I will always love you", by Whitney Houston or Dolly Parton (i think Dolly's has more emotion), "Without you", "Breakdown" and "We belong together", by Mariah Carey, "Tears in heaven" by Eric Clapton, "The winner takes it all" by ABBA, "Nothing compares to you" by Sinead o'connor or Prince…

  22. Mike on

    Last kiss is not originally by pearl jam. They get credit for a song they stole.

    • Anuar Mora on

      I agree with you, and I can say so because I really love this song, I sang it so many times with the original, also I would like to say that some other sad songs are: Moody river, House of the rising sun, Ride on ( I have never seen this song on a list, What a shame). And this list is not bad, but too short. I like these songs as sad but it needs many others.

  24. Moo on

    Can I just add two more?

    Mad World by Gary Jules, and Your Ex Lover is Dead by Star.

    Also, Creep by Radiohead.

    • That one Guy on

      See, I don't know why everyone thinks Creep is sad. Not saying it isn't to other people, but for me, I like it. It describes me and I can level with it.

  25. amit on

    I think you should have included the song "One" by Metallica. It a sac song about a war injured man how lost his sight, his hearing, his legs and arms and his speech. he is breathing through a tube and longs either to die or to be in a freak show the show the horrors of war. the problem is he cannot communicate with anyone. it is the most sad song i have ever heard because i takes about a true story.

    • byroni on

      One isn’t based on any single story. It’s actually inspired by an anti war film called Johnny Got His Gun, which, again is based on a number of different incidents. The main character, Johnny, is eventually able to communicate through Morse Code, but otherwise still wishes for death. Not so much sad as epicly tragic.

    • Earl on

      The video ‘One” (and from what I’ve heard at least some of the inspiration for the song itself) is from the film Johnny Got His Gun which was directed by Dalton Trumbo, who also wrote the book. Not, as one commenter stated, based on “several” sources. Trumbo wrote the book in an attempt to keep the US out of WWII, then made the film during the 60s as an anti-war film about Vietnam. The book and the film are very powerful, and the history behind them are particularly interesting. Trumbo was one of the Hollywood people blacklisted by HUAC during McCarthyism because he was a member of the Communist Party.

  26. Bub on

    What about "Tears in Heaven" by Eric Clapton. One of the saddest songs about a Father losing his son as a small child.

  27. G on

    Another Auld Lang Syne…Dan Fogelburg

    Little Rosa…Red Sovine

    My Beautiful Heavenly Eyes…Everly Brothers

    Indian Lament…Elton John

    Everybody Hurts…REM

    • Baz on

      little rosa is amazing it’s so sad and poetic, red sovine deserves a shout on his own just for this song but the when you consider he did teddy bear and wrote teddy bears last ride the man knows how to pull the heartstrings

      • athanx on

        1.hiding inside myself.. – kenny rankin
        2.after all.
        3.time of your life – greenday
        4. beautiful in my eyes.
        5.now that ive found you. – krauss
        6.look after you. the fray
        7.what matter most. – kenny rankin again
        8.wind. – akeboshi
        well i think this is the worst song sad song playlist here… but it makes me sad and cry.

  28. nico on

    that song about 9/11 is called heaven dj sammy remix

    that girl lost her father in 9/11 and i cry every time

  29. Luke on

    yeah nico I think dj sammy's heaven remix should be on as well as tears in heaven, Everybody hurts by REM and i don't want to miss a thing by aerosmith.

  30. katie on

    the 911 heaven remix makes me bawl my eyes out.

    And Hide and Seek by Imogen Heap. Oh my god that’s a good one.

    And With Me by Sum 41.

  31. Nancy on

    I remember watching the Irish Tenors sing Only Our River Runs Free with tears rolling down my face.

  32. Austin on

    My top 10.

    1. "Alyssa Lies"- Jason Michael Carroll.

    2. "Angel" – Sarah McLachlan.

    3. "Concrete Angel"- Martina McBride.

    4. "Sissy's Song" -Alan Jackson.

    5. "Heaven"- Bryan Adams.

    6. "He Stopped Loving Her Today"- George Jones.

    7. "If Tomorrow Never Comes"- Garth Brooks.

    8. "Address in the Stars"- Caitlin & Will.

    9. "Tears in Heaven" -Eric Clapton.

    10."Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)"- Alan Jackson.

    • gelalila on

      very much. “freshman” is always the first i think of that makes me cry. what’s harder to take than listening to a song about ignorance that cost lives? goodness.

  34. Edgar on

    All interesting, and I'm sure heartfelt, suggestions. IMHO, the saddest songs are:

    10. Help Me Make It Through the Night (Kris Kristofferson original)

    9. Binary Sunrise (Orchestral instrumental, Star Wars IV: A New Hope Original Soundtrack aka Luke Skywalker gazing wistfully into the setting twin suns on Tattooine)

    8. Where Time Stands Still (Mary Chapin Carpenter)

    7. Both Sides Now (Joni Mitchell original)

    6. A Little Fall of Rain (Eponine and Marius in Les Miserables)

    5. The Winner Takes It All (ABBA)

    4. Separate Ways (Elvis)

    3. Send In the Clowns (Stephen Sondheim songwriter)

    2. I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry (Hank Williams, Jr. original)

    1. For the Good Times (Kris Kristofferson original)

    • Gen on

      Ok, I know this comment is 6 months past the actual post, but I never thought ANYONE would put down “A Little Fall of Rain”. Awesome! I cry every single time I hear that song, including the two times I saw the musical. Heartbreaking!!!

    • angel on

      I definetely think
      separate ways,
      don’t cry daddy,
      in the ghetto by elvis are some of the sadest songs I ever heard.
      Burton cummings had some sad songs as well
      timeless love,
      stand tall,
      tell them gently
      these eyes

      Angel

      • angel on

        Billy and Sue-B.J. Thomas
        Oh Girl-Chi Lites
        the most beautiful girl-Charlie Rich
        Daddy don’t walk so fast-Wayne Newton
        Ask the Lonely-the Four Tops

        These ones top my list as well!

  35. Person on

    My list would be:

    10. Never Say Never – The Fray

    9. Permanent – David Cook

    8. Glitter in the Air – P!nk

    7. Hello – Evanescence

    6. Iris – The Goo Goo Dolls

    5. Mad World – Tears for Fears

    4. Good Riddance – Green Day

    3. Sober – Kelly Clarkson

    2. Perfect – Simple Plan

    1. Wake Me Up When September Ends – Green Day

    • john on

      While I respect the fact that you have the right to your own opinion, I find these songs to be lacking true soulful expression and targeted toward an audience which has little appreciation for the complexities of music which cannot be achieved through the same three power chords played on repeat for three minutes. I would have to add that if you like Mad World, I find the version by Gary Jules to be much darker and reflective of what i believe the song’s intended meaning to be. There’s something about a synth band that doesn’t do a song of such great melancholy and self-examination justice.

  37. Miko on

    My list

    1.I can't make you love me- Bonnie Raitt

    2. Wrapped around your finger- The Police

    3. Careless whisper- George Michael

    4. Time after time- Cyndi Lauper

    5. What's Love Got to do with it?- Tina Turner.

  38. Billy Apple on

    why has no one mentioned Hallelujah, best version by buckly…. you should all be ashamed for not including it

      • smartalek on

        I agree that it’s not quite “sad” — but somehow it’s above and beyond sad.
        It’s like you’re hearing the voice of every man, woman, and child that’s ever ached in love, and God Himself saying, “there, there…” …but from a great distance, so you’re not even sure it’s Him you’re hearing. Maybe it was just the wind.
        It’s one of the best hymns ever written.
        I never understand how any performer can sing it all the way thru without losing it.
        Much as I love Buckley’s cover, nobody does it like Leonard himself.
        You.might also want to check out John Cale’s string trio arrangement, and kd lang’s version.

  39. CavScout on

    I'm not really into country myself but the song "Easy Come Easy Go" by Hayes Carll is truly sad. Really make you think about miss opportunities in your life.

    • Jimmy on

      Try "Teen Angel" by Mark Denning

      "Are you Lonesome Tonight" by Elvis

      "Untitled" by Simple Plan

      "The Dance" By Garth Brooks

      "Ireland" by Garth Brooks and "Last In Love" by George Strait

      • Ann on

        I saw the music video for “Untitled” and it made me cry. The music video has two teens get in a car accident after one of them is drinking and driving.

        • sarah on

          It by simple plan.
          The song doesn’t have an actual name but most know it as “Why did this happen to me?”

  41. bluerox4 on

    My list:

    1. Tracks of my tears- Adam Lambert (most emotional and beautiful cover ever!)
    2. Unbreakable- Westlife
    3. Apologize- One Republic ( i have history with this song)
    4. You'll think of me- Keith Urban
    5. The other side- David Gray
    6. Last kiss- Pearl Jam
    7. Everybody hurts- REM
    8. Almost lovers- A Fine Frenzy
    9. Dance with my father- Luther Vandross
    10. Fast car- Tracy Chapman

    and maybe even:

    11. I need to know- Kris Allen

  42. ifelicious on

    i'm just surfing around for different lists of sad songs and ran across your post. i really like your list. it's different than what i'd pick and that's what i like the most. i've enjoyed listening down your list and reading your commentary.

  43. Emma on

    YOu are missing one of the saddest songs of all time…

    Runaway Love by ludachris look it up ull be sad crying i was

  44. john on

    these are my 5 saddest songs of all time;

    10.I still miss someone-Johnny Cash

    9.Ride on-AC/DC

    8.I'm A Long Way From Home-Waylon Jennings

    7.Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want-The Smiths

    6.Stan-Eminem

    5.Perfect Day-Lou Reed

    4.Angel-Sarah McLachlan

    3.Hurt-Johnny Cash

    2.Partying Glass-Liam Clancy

    1.Last Kiss-Pearl Jam

    If you have nt got these 10 songs then get them i promise you you cant go wrong with them they are 10 fantastic songs and great when youre feeling a little down and need to listen to something sad

  45. abz on

    how can anybody leave out: Carry on my wayward son- Kansas

    One- U2

    Bittersweet Symphony- The Verve

    Breathe me- Sia

    Hide and Seek- Imogen Heap

    Tears in Heaven- eric clapton

    Mad World- Gary Jules

  46. Wolfgirl on

    I dont agree with these. My ten are the following.

    1.) Gods Will by Martina Mcbride

    2.) What Hurts The Most by Rascal Flats

    3.) Thunder by Boys Like Girls

    4.) Concrete Angel by Martina Mcbride

    5.) White Flag by Dido

    6.) For You I Will by Monica

    7.) Tonight I wanna cry by Keith Urban

    8.) When you're gone by Avril

    9.) My immortal by Evanescence

    10.) I'll Wait for You by Elliot Yamin

  47. Oceanchild on

    How could no one have picked "This Is Not Goodbye" by Melissa Etheridge, or "Fly" by Celine Dion. They make me bawl when I listen to them. The video for "Hurt" by Johnny Cash just stuns me as well

  48. Shtephers on

    An okay list, but if I had to add I would put:

    Dance with My Father – Luther Van Dross (first song ever to make me cry)

    Here Without You – 3 Doors Down

    I would also add way more songs, but some people already posted most, so I won't repeat them.

  49. Madge Hope on

    I've just recently stumbled across a guy called Barnaby Griffin on myspace who is unsigned but has some very sad and poignant songs. It's a shame he can't get them more professionally produced. My favorite is a story song called "Sad Eyes". It can be heard here, along with the rest of his sad songs.

  51. Thomas on

    Tears In Heaven – Eric Clapton

    Lover, You Should've Come Over – Jeff Buckley

    Last Goodbye – Jeff Buckley

    Hallelujah – Jeff Buckley

    Fast Car – Tracy Chapman

    Iris – Go Go Dolls

    Behind Blue Eyes – The Who

    Run – Snow Patrol

    More Than Words – Extreme

    Whistle To The Choir – The Fratellies

    I'll See You In My Dreams – Joe Brown

    Love Hurts – Gram Parsons

    Forget About Tomorrow – Feeder

    Just The Way I'm Feeling – Feeder

    The Scientist – Coldplay

    Fix You – Coldplay

    The Blowers Daughter – Damien Rice

    Cannonball – Damien Rice

    This Years Love – David Gray

    All You Want – Dido

    Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy) – John Lennon (Especially the line: I can hardly wait/To see you come of age/But I guesss we'll both/Just have to be patient)

    Stop Crying Your Heart Out – Oasis

    Wish You Were Here – Pink Floyd

    Under The Bridge – Red Hot Chili Peppers

    Everybody Hurts – REM

    Nothing Compares To You – Sinead O'Connor

    The Drugs Don't Work – The Verve

    For Lovers – Wolfman ft. Pete Doherty

    • zoe kasanoda on

      ::Agreed, TOTALLY !! no one ever mention david gray- this years love b4 u..man, dat could make waterworks runnin !!::

  52. Teac on

    My best sad song is

    Life after you-Daughtry

    and

    Through the eyes of a child-Reamonn

    🙁

  53. Dude on

    How about the song entitled achy breaky heart? Seriously though, the song tonight i want to cry by keith urban can really put you in a mellow mood.

  54. Graeme on

    I love what people consider a sad song. The songs are so varied. I imagine it has to do with the mood at the first time the song was heard.

    Here's a couple of mine.

    She speeds. By Straitjacket Fits

    Fishing for Lisa. By The Feelers

  55. Wilkov on

    1. Let It Go – Blue October

    2. Ain't No Reason – Brett Dennen

    3. The Son Never Shines on Closed Doors – Flogging Molly

    4. Fly Low Carrion Crow – Two Gallants

    5. I And Love And You – The Avett Brothers

    6. Lose You – Pete Yorn

    7. Alone Without You – The Nightwatchman

    8. Don't Let Us Get Sick – Warren Zevon

    9. If You See Her Say Hello – Bob Dylan

    10. Sweet Dream – Greg Laswell

    Just some more recent alternatives, not necessarily my top ten but some different ones to the others I've seen posted.

  56. Flo McAdow on

    I am trying to find a country song that talks about the guy setting around the table playing cards, drinking beer, having a good time, he gets news about his ill mother passing away. He leaves the game but; doesn't make it their in time.
    I want that played at my funeral….

    Also, i am trying to locate a song letting a daughter know I am sorry for all the bad times but; no matter what I still love you I need something similar preferably sang by a female and hope to see her in heaven when things will be all good.

    Thanks, I love this site. I am a 64yr. old women who is ill and need to start thinging about these kind of things for the right time.
    If I was suppossed to put my address at the top I am sorry.

  57. liz on

    what about snuff by slipknot,

    Now I adore country so this isn't slipknots norm kind of music.

    Also try i never told you by colbie callat

    and skin by rascal flatts

    or someday when I stop lovin you by carrie underwood

    or even porclen heart by barlow girl. I sang that song at my best friends memorial service becauase thatas what he loved to sing when i was broken hearted

  58. jeannie on

    How Do You Mend A Broken Heart – Bee Gees , Heart wrenching well I think so

  59. AMD on

    someof my fav sad songs would have to be

    My never – Blue October

    Hold on to you – Marjorie Fair

    Rest in pieces – Saliva i know the name is off putting but this song is awesome

    Fix You – Coldplay

    My heart – Paramore

    I definately agree with tears in heaven and last kiss aswell

  61. ToughGuysDontDance on

    Totally agree with alot of stuff mentioned, i'll throw in a few of my own:

    Hear You Me – Jimmy Eat World

    Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want – The Smiths

    Stop Crying Your Heart Out – Oasis

    Hurt – Johnny Cash

    Stand By Me – Ben E King

    I Don't Want to Miss a Thing – Aerosmith

    I Will Follow You Into The Dark – Death Cab For Cutie

    Dust In The Wind – Kansas

    Fields Of Gold – Sting

    Run – Snow Patrol

    Day Old Hate – City And Colour

    Outside – Staind

    Zzyxz Rd. – Stone Sour

    Wicked Game – Chris Isaak

    Disintergration – Jimmy Eat World

  62. Colleen on

    Needle and the damage done- Neil Young

    Jesus take the wheel- Carrie underwood

    Gloomy Sunday- Billie Holiday version

    Fire and Rain by james taylor is really sad, especially is you look up the back story to it

    Theres this song from the soundtrack of O' Brother where art thou called "O' Death" thats pretty sad

    It Ends tonight by the all american rejects really gets to me for some reason

    Where do my bluebird fly- The tallest man on earth

    and there was this really sad rap song a while ago about three different young girls but i cant remember the name.

    ***Beware I've been told I have a very strange taste in music so this list isnt for everyone lol . 😀

  63. cedric holden on

    1. If I could turn back the hands of time – R. Kelly

    2. Chain melody – Righteous Brothers

    3. Nothing Compares 2 U – Sinead O'Conner

    4. You are not alone – Michael Jackson

    5. She's out of my life – Michael Jackson

  64. Srzwa on

    Saddest:

    bittersweet symphony – the verve

    Oasis – Wonderwall

    Mike and the mechanics – looking back

    Chocolate genius – My mom

    coldplay – yellow, for you

    salif keita – tommorow

    lowkey – bars for my brother

    tupac – dear mama, changes

    vinnie paz – my dedication (original version)

    keane – everybodys changing

    eric clapton – tears in the sky

    elvis presley – in the ghetto

    Niel diamond – heart of gold

    eagle eye cherry – save tonight

    sade – hold you tight (dont know the name its something like that)

    greenday – when september ends

    puff daddy ( way before he called himself diddy) – ill be missing you

    diana ross – wishing on a star

  66. Jess on

    Not all of these necessarily make me cry, but they do make me sad:

    Passing Afternoon – Iron & Wine

    I Will Follow You Into the Dark – Death Cab for Cutie (I've listened to it so many times that I'm immune to it now, but I used to cry through the whole song)

    Mary – Noah and the Whale

    Symphonies – Dan Black

    Blue Skies – Noah and the Whale

    Cowgirls Don't Cry – Brooks & Dunn

    Still Fighting It – Ben Folds

    Under the Waves – Pete Droge

    A Good Day – Priscilla Ahn

    Let Go – Frou Frou

  67. Grace B on

    Somewhere Out There by Linda Rondstant and James Ingram gets me every time one moment when i got especialy emotional over it was I was 10 years old at summer camp one of the councilers was playing a mix cd that she made and Somewhere Out There was on it and i was a little homesick and i was jist bawling like crazy.

  68. TMJ-JJ on

    It isn't as sad, but I find something sad abour Dust In The Wind by Kansas.

    "Nothing lasts forever but the earth and sky"
    "All we are is Dust In The Wind"

  69. Anonymous on

    The only one on here that could probably make me cry would be “Mother” by John Lennon. The rest, particularly The Card Cheat by The Clash, I never even thought of as particularly tear-jerking… or, really, sad at all.

  70. Anonymous on

    Also,

    Song to the Siren – This Mortal Coil
    You Are Not Alone – Michael Jackson
    Gone Too Soon – Michael Jackson
    Philadelphia – Neil Young

    • Stella on

      This Mortal Coil, Michael Jackson, AND Neil Young in one post? Omg, will you marry me? Please!

  71. Grace B. on

    Other than somewhere out there a few other songs that make me cry are
    Goodbye Yellow brick road- Elton John
    Don’t cry for me argentina – Evita
    Speechless-Lady Gaga
    Someday- Rob Thomas
    If we hold on together – Diana Ross
    Slipping through my fingers- Abba
    Concrete Angel- martina Mc bride

  72. HaruHaru on

    Well, it’s a hard one.. but,:

    Mad world – Gary Jules
    Everybody hurts – R.E.M
    My immortal – Evanescense
    U2 – with or without you
    Avenged Sevenfold – Dear god
    Avenged sevenfold – Fiction
    Bullet for my valentine – Hearts burst into fire
    My heart will go on – celine dion
    BigBang (korean group – check them out on youtube seriously!) – Haru Haru
    BigBang – Lies
    BigBang – tell me goodbye
    Framing Hanley – Hear me now
    Framing hanley – alone in this bed
    Green day – wake me up when september ends
    Green Day – 21 guns (how has no one else said this!)
    H.I.M – Killing loneliness
    Labi siffre – Something inside (so strong)
    Michael Jackson (R.I.P) – You are not alone
    My chemical romance – Helena
    My chemical romance – I’m not okay
    the fray – how to save a life
    Rage against the machine – Vietnow (i would tell you to search the lyrics – it’s so sad)
    Rise against – Hero of war (SO sad!)
    Ron pope – A drop in the ocean
    Slipknot – Snuff
    Slipknot – Vermillion pt 1 and 2
    Stone sour – Wicked game
    The flying pickets – Only you
    The black eyed pees – where is the love
    Bullet for my valentine – Road to nowhere
    Enrique Iglesias – Somebody’s me
    Enrique Iglesias – Do you know (the ping pong song)
    Michael Jackson (R.I.P) – Stranger in Moscow

    Seriously.. if you haven’t heard some of these… check ’em out! C:
    And definatly check the lyrics for BigBang’s songs!!! .. so sad!

  73. Natasha on

    i find it hard to cry, but whenever i feel down and need to let it all out i definately listen to these;

    Thats How I Knew This Story Would Break My Hear – Aimee Mann
    When You’re Gone – Avril Lavigne
    Corner – Allie Moss
    Vanilla Twilight – Owl City
    What Hurts The Most- Rascal Flatts
    Everytime – Britne Spears
    My Immortal – Evanescence
    Because Of You – Kelly Clarkson
    Far Away – Nickelback
    Dear Mr President – Pink
    Everybody Hurts – R.E.M
    Broken – Seether ft Amy Lee
    Untitled – Simple Plan
    Iris – The Goo Goo Dolls
    What If – Kate Winslet
    Hallelujah – Jeff Buckley
    Behind Blue Eyes – Limp Bizkit
    Heaven 9/11 Remix – DJ Sammy
    Tears In Heaven – Eric Clapton
    Possession – Sarah McLachlan (acoustic)
    Wake Me Up When September Ends – Green Day
    I Dont Wanna Miss A Thing – Aerosmith
    Dear God – Avenged Sevenfold

  74. Jodi on

    Ok, Jar of Hearts by Christina Perri. Not a tearer, but you definitely feel something. And Last Day on earth by Kate Miller-Heidke

  75. jax on

    i have over 100 sad songs that i could add so ill name a few i havent seen here

    1 pink-i have seen the rain
    2 terry jacks – seasons in the sun
    3 blue october- hate me
    4 garth brooks the thunder rolls
    5 air supply -all out of love
    6 daughtry- all these lives
    7 blink 182 – i miss you
    8 jon mclaughlin – beautifull disaster
    9 Oliver james – the distance
    10 Ashlee simpson -catch me when i fall
    11 fuel – shimmer
    12 fort minor – where’d you go
    13 Lianne rimes -how do i
    14 papa roach – scars
    15 Patrick Swayze – She’s Like The Wind
    16 saving Jane- girl next door
    17 Annabel fay -river
    18 Celine Dion – i remember LA
    19 Celine Dion- its all coming back to me now
    20 Celine Dion -MY HEART WILL GO ON -if titanic wasnst sad and this song didnt have the world crying nothing would

  78. Grace B. on

    I know i posted several songs already but this one realy gets me : “Never grow up” by Taylor Swift It especialy gets me because I am about to turn 18

  79. Observer-TheRealOne on

    Lots of good suggestions, but for my money:

    1. Two Little Boys – Rolf Harris (I dare any man with a brother to listen to this all the way through and not get misty)
    2. When She Loved Me – Sarah McLachlin (but only if you watch it with little Jesse getting dumped like that!)
    3. The Long And Winding Road – Beatles (P. McCartney)
    4. Vincent – Don McLean
    5. Everybody Hurts (Sometime) – REM
    6. Hallelujah – Leonard Cohen (but never k. d. lang’s overblown, show-off version!)
    7. Cat’s In the Cradle – Harry Chapin
    8. With Or Without You – U2 (only after you’ve broken up with the girl you can’t live without)
    9. The Little Drummer Boy / The Carol of the Drum – Katherine K Davis
    10. For No One – Beatles (P. McCartney) – See comment for #8

  81. victoria on

    Celine Dion;
    -Miracle**
    -if i could*
    -my hart will go on
    -sies of la
    -the reason i go on
    -i want you to need me**
    -im your angel
    -my love
    -surprise surprise*
    -a world to believe in ******
    -next plane out**************
    -the colour of my love**
    -come to me*
    -IN HIS TOUCH***
    -STAND BY YOUR SIDE**************(i cant listen to the whole song without crying)
    – the greatest reward********
    Michael Jackon;
    -gone to soon
    -lady of my life
    -you are not alone
    -hold my hand**
    -fly away**
    -keep your head up**
    -much too soon***

    be without you-mary j blidge
    sorry, put the blame on me- akon
    innocense- avril lavigne
    remembering sundy-all time low
    like youll never see me again- alicia keys
    the greatest love of all-whitney houston

  84. InsertNameHere on

    To me the saddest song ever is Taion by The GazettE its a tribute to this girl named Junko Furuta who was held captive for 44 days, brutally tortured, raped repeatedly and finally died from shock after they burned her. Then they dumped her into a 55 gallon barrel and filled it with cement. The men didn’t even get life in jail because they ‘technically’ didn’t kill her since she died from shock. People even KNEW she was there and no one said anything because of them was apart of the Japanese Mafia and they were scared for their own lives.
    Full story here:
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Junko_Furuta
    The live version of Taion you can feel your heart breaking because of Ruki’s performance and his screams of agony. They did a fantastic job on the song.
    Live Performance:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jL9rlj2JCHs
    I hope every time the men hear that song on the radio they feel sick and worthless.

  85. kimberly.hernandez on

    The saddest song for me would be. You stole My heart by mc magic, an. Forever by mc magic or. Superman by Brown boy this songs make me cry

    • chabbers on

      Honestly, I don’t find Diary of Jane as sad as I find Dear Agony. It just completely tears me up every time. And Red is amazing. Never Be the Same gets to me sometimes. Louder Than Thunder is pretty sad too. I think Let it Die by Three Days Grace is a pretty hard one to listen to sometimes. And don’t even get me started on Remember Everything by Five Finger Death Punch. But you definitely have good taste in music.

  90. Koe on

    Just in case nobody’s mentioned it already… 10000 Miles, by Mary Chapin Carpenter. This song is slow, it’s melancholic, it makes you cry within seconds…

  91. stine on

    Another You – Cascada. I love that song. Reminds me of break up. I dont really like Cascada, but this one is amazing.

  93. Shikha on

    Stop Crying Your Heart Out-Oasis and Don’t Cry-Guns N’ Roses.
    (Yesh, reverse psychology works on me real well.)

  96. Arash on

    None of these lists songs could make me cry,but these three could:
    1.The last song I’m wasting on you_Evanescence
    2.warmness on the soul_Avenged sevenfold
    3.Sail away_The Rasmus

  98. lauren on

    Damien rice- 9 crimes
    James Blunt- carry you home
    Pearl Jam- Black
    Jeff Buckely- Lover you shouldv’e come over
    The Smiths- i know its over/asleep
    Secondand serenade- Fall for you
    The red jumpsuit apparatus- Your guardian angel
    <333 all sadddd!

    • Jessica on

      Couldn’t agree more with Love You Should’ve Come Over. Jeff voice just touches my soul and gets the tears flowing. Have you heard his version of I Know It’s Over? The most beautiful thing I’ve ever heard, which added on to the fact that it’s as sad as hell makes me cry so much. If you’re looking for more sad songs, Jeff also does a gorgeous cover of Elton Johns; We All Fall In Love Sometimes. Breathtaking. And of course his flawless cover of Hallelujah. Thank you for regaining my hope in the musical tastes of others. Have a fabulous day.

  99. fobt90 on

    Different people have different opinions and I respect them all. But I was surprised to see some of you suggest “You are not alone” by MJ, “the Greatest Love of All” by Whitney Houston or even “Love in this club” by Usher (What? I bet you were kidding!). I guess the reason why you listed them here is because they somehow touched your heart and even brought you to tears… But guys, there’s an obvious difference between the so-called sad songs and songs that can make you cry. I mean, sometimes a song that can make you cry is not necessarily a sad song. i.e: A song like “the Greatest Love of All” by Whitney Houston can make listeners cry because it has a moving humanitarian message about spiritual strength and self-pride, not because it is sad (Both its melody and lyrics are not sad at all). So pls be clear about that and don’t place it on the list of sad songs just because it makes you cry.

    BTW, you guys all forget about instrumental songs. Some instrumental songs are even sadder than songs that have lyrics and vocals. Check out “Sadness and sorrow” (a song from Naruto anime) on youtube for example. Hope you’ll enjoy it 🙂

  100. fobt90 on

    Some more sad songs to mention:
    Gloomy Sunday – Billie Holiday
    I’m a fool to want you – Frank Sinatra
    Forever – Stratovarius
    I can’t make you love me – Bonnie Raitt
    Hurt – Christina Aguilera
    Don’t Speak – No Doubt
    It must have been love – Roxette
    Someone like you – Adele
    :'(

  101. Anna on

    Possibility ~ Lykke Li
    How to save a life ~ The Fray
    If I ain’t got you ~ Alicia Keys
    Tajabone ~ Ismael Lo
    Un giorno per noi ~ Josh Groban
    Fix you ~ Coldplay
    Maybe I’m amazed ~ Jem
    My love ~ Sia

  102. emma on

    My top 5 saddest songs:
    1. who am i to say – hope
    2. sorry – buckcherry
    3. last to know – three days grace (personal)
    4. because of you – kelly clarkson
    5. heave 9/11

    im only like 13 so yano.. hope yous like though:D<3

  103. Will on

    Ya’ll want sad songs, songs that will hit home along with the previous songs stated try these:

    Who You’d Be Today- Kenny Chesney (for all of us who have lost a loved one)
    What About Now- Daughtry
    Would It Matter- Skillet (pay attention to the lyrics)
    The Truth About Heaven- Armor For Sleep (read the lyrics)
    My December- Josh Groban (remake of Linkin Parks)
    Not Ready To Make Nice- Dixie Chicks
    Frozen- Madonna
    Pieces- Sum 41
    Superman- Five For Fighting
    It’s A Dangerous Business Walking Out Your Front Door- UnderOATH (read the lyrics)
    Cry- Mandy Moore
    Wonderful- Everclear (my own personal childhood)
    Lightning Crashes- Live
    Home- Daughtry
    Roses on My Grave- Papa Roach

    This last one though will hit you
    Save Him- Justin Nozuka (If you haven’t heard it go listen to it)

  105. Jon Holmes on

    well this is a fine list none of which I can disagree with as its your list and these things are so personal.
    On my list would also be Kentucky Avenue ( at the end of the song you find out the scamp is singing to his wheelchair bound friend who can’t get up to the schoolboy mischeif described in the song) and Soldiers Things ( the detritus of a man’s life sold in a yard sale, even his war medals) both by the very great and very sad Tom Waits x also there would have to be Bob Dylan’s, You’re A Big Girl Now… ” I know that I can find you, in somebody’s room, its a price I have to pay, you’re a big girl all the way…” way to go Bob, keep breaking my heart down the years, AND THEN AGAIN Leonard Cohen’s Famous Blue Raincoat. I defy anyone to remain dry eyed for any of these songs, though Kentucky Avenue gets me EVERY time, but its our own personal histories that impel us x thanks for your list

  106. samy on

    guys one of my favorites in sad song is-hey there delilah by plain whit ts,unglued by one call(must listen),when u love someone by brayn adams,goodbye-miley cyrus….love them..

  107. Melissa~ on

    Thought I’d share some songs that always set me off~

    Iris – Goo Goo Dolls
    My Heart Will Go On – Celine Dion (Special reason, it was played at a boys funeral that I went to.)
    How to Save a Life – The Fray
    Just Be Friends – Vocaloid (It seems like a happy song, but read the English lyrics.)
    Angels on the Moon – Thriving Ivory
    My Immortal – Evanescence
    What Hurts the Most – Rascal Flatts version
    Mad World – Gary Jules
    Until We Bleed – Kleerup feat. Lykke Li (Cello version)
    Sallys Song – Amy Lee version

    There we go~

  109. anna baker on

    whiskey lullabey-?
    i wonder- kellie pickler
    aliza lied- ?
    what hurts the most- rascal flatts

    saddest songs ive ver heard. they are also great ones.

  110. Andrew "Pedro" King on

    Two sad songs I hear and love are
    “Mama I’m Comin’ Home”-Ozzy Osbourne
    “Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word”-Elton John

  112. James on

    i personaly think this is one of the saddest songs ever.
    Kenny Chesney- Who you’d be today

  113. Yank on

    Here are some of my favorite sad songs…
    These are not in any specific order.

    1. “Outlaw Shit” Waylon Jennings
    2. “Better Man” Pearl Jam
    3. “Turn The Page” Bob Seger
    4. “In My Arms Instead” Randy Rogers Band
    5. “Sounds Better In The Song” Drive-By Truckers
    6. “Lodi” Creedence Clearwater Revival
    7. “Past The Point Of Rescue” Hal Ketchum
    8. “Kaw-Liga” Hank Williams Sr.
    9. “Sing Me Back Home” Merle Haggard
    10. “Lift Him Up” Old Crow Medicine Show

    Those are just a few of my favorite sad songs.

  114. Sam on

    1.Sacrifice-Elton john
    2.A day in life-Beatles
    3.My Heart Will Go On – Celine Dion
    4.Gloomy Sunday-Billie holiday
    5.The messenger-Linkin Park(a thousand suns)
    6.21 guns-Greenday
    7.Wake me up when september ends-greenday
    8.i miss you-Blink 182
    9.far away-Nickelblack
    10.unforgiven 2-Metallica

  115. Aasha on

    lovely choices, i actually got teary, lol how embarrassing. here’s my list:
    * hoppipolla – sigur ros
    * Quelqu’un m’a dit – carla bruni
    * cosmic dancer – T.rex
    * 9 crimes – damien rice
    * just like heaven – the cure (it’s actually an upbeat song, but makes me feel sad for some reason)
    * breathe me – sia
    * here with me – dido
    * leap year – maria taylor

  116. orangeocean on

    my top sad songs:

    miraie
    gloomy sunday
    stairway to heaven
    tears in heaven
    earth song
    ben

    • samalama on

      Finally someone who put tears in heaven on their list. It’s by far the saddest song I know.

  117. angelsparks on

    1. Evanescence: My Immortal
    2. Grenade – Bruno Mars (Boyce Avenue acoustic cover)
    3. A Fine Frenzy- Almost Lovers
    4. The Fray- You Found Me
    5. Creed- 6 feet from the Edge

  118. Ryan on

    Her’es my top 10 list. It’s not necessarily a list of what I think are the 10 saddest songs, but rather, the top 10 songs most likely to make me cry or make me cry more, or whatever. 😛 Sorry if the songs are pre-dominately country songs, that’s just what I listen to most. After each song I provide a nice description of it for you in case you aren’t familiar with the song. 🙂

    10. “Whiskey Lullaby” – Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss. This song is about a man whose wife cheats on him, so he tries to drink to forget about her. When that doesn’t work, he ends up committing suicide instead. Feeling guiltiy for his suicide, his widow drinks every night for years trying to forget about him. When that doesn’t work, she, too, commits suicide.

    9. “Riding with Private Malone” – David Ball. This song is about a man who buys a car that used to belong to a soldier, but the soldier died in service and never made it home to his car. The man man is in a firey crash in the car, and the soldier’s ghost pulls him out and saves his life.

    8. “Skin” – Rascal Flatts, This song is about a teenage girl who is diagnosed with leukemia and has to undergo chemotherapy. Throughout the song, she dreams of dancing with her boyfriend at her prom. She wakes up one day and has no hair, and doesn’t think her boyfriend will take her to the prom. However, he ends up arriving at her house on prom night having shaved his hair himself and her dreams of dancing with him are fulfilled.

    7. “Just a Dream” – Carrie Underwood. This song is about a woman who is seemingly in denial about her husband passing away. She is going to the church for his funeral, but is wearing her wedding dress and thinking it’s the wedding. She’s telling herself that it’s not real, and all just a dream.

    6. “The Little Girl” – John Michael Montgomery. This song is about a little girl who doesn’t go to church. Her mom does drugs and her dad drinks. One night, her dad kills her mom and himself in a drunken rage while she hides. Her adoptive parents take her to church, where she sees a painting of Jesus and reveals that he was there the night her parents died, protecting her.

    5. “Concrete Angel” – Martina McBride. This song is about a little girl who is abused by her mother. When she goes to school, her teacher just ignores the bruises on her arms and doesn’t ask questions. One night her mom beats her to death as her neighbor friend watches. At her funeral, it is revealed that her friend was an angel so she can now go to Heaven with him, and be loved finally (her mom didn’t love her on Earth).

    4. “Alyssa Lied” – Jason Michael Carrol. This song is also about a little girl who is abused b yher parents, but a girl in her class notices something isn’t right and tells her dad. He was going to do something about it one day, but when he got to school he found out that she was beat to death by her parents. The dad then has to explain to his daughter what’s going on and why Alyssa isn’t at school anymore.

    3. “How do You get that Lonley” – Blaine Larsen. This song is about an 18 year old boy who commits suicide. The singer doesn’t realize how he was so sad, and how nobody notices. The singer doesn’t know what to blame his death on, but says he’s not blaming anyone for it. Suicide happens — he just doesn’t understand why.

    2. “Where were You (when the World Stopped Turning)” – Alan Jackson. This song talks about how on September 11, 2001 everybody across the United States was doing something different and all come from different walks of life, but it affected and impacted all of us. Everybody had a differnet response to what happened: mad, sad, stunned, shocked, scared, etc.

    1. “The Christmas Shoes” -NewSong. This song is about a boy who goes to the store on Christmas Eve to buy his dying mother shoes. He wants to make her smile before she dies, and he wants his mom to look beautiful (in the shoes) if she dies tonight.

    • Carrie C on

      I completely agree with almost your entire list!. I cried my eyes out, especially at #3. Our quarterback at my high school committed suicide our sophomore year in college….never saw it coming and that song summed it up. Thank You for posting!

  121. Christopher Sloan on

    I also love Michelle Branch “Goodbye To You” especially acoustic and Paula Cole’s “I Don’t Wanna Wait” both make me cry especially the second!!

  123. Tony Johnson on

    Eric Clapton’ s heart felt lyrics in River of Tears must rate high up there with the best. Written I believe after his son Conner fell to his death, it just pours out raw emotion with beautiful soulful guitar washing over you….. Blues at it’s best.

  124. Ed on

    Blink 182 – Adam’s Song
    Tears for Fears/Gary Jules – Mad World
    Hoppipolla – Sigur Ros
    Kesha – Harold’s Song
    The Smiths – I Know It’s Over
    Nine Inch Nails – Hurt. They did the original, Cash covered it.
    The Beatles – Eleanor Rigby
    The Verve – Drugs Don’t Work

    Surprised there’s no Floyd, Comfortably Numb could fit in there somewhere. I wouldn’t have Bob on my list, I don’t find Redemption Song very sad at all.

  125. Oboema on

    About heartbreak:
    Sinead o’ connor – nothing compares to you
    Annie Lennox – why
    Queen – love of my life

    About war:
    Guns ‘n roses – civil war

    About death:
    Jacques Brel – Ne me quitte pas

    melancholy about life past:
    Serge Reggiani – Ma derniere volonté

  126. Casch on

    If I die young by The Band Perry has to be one of the saddest songs I’ve ever heard.

  128. april on

    absolutly loveeee if i die young band perry its sõõõ sad :?( but i love it and i always cry when i hear it and sing along cuz i know all the words !!!!!

  131. furlynn on

    Just adding to some of the wonderful selections already posted:
    Promised Land- Queensryche
    Vermillion Part 2- Slipknot
    Far behind- Candlebox

    And my #1 all time sad song: 3 Libras- A Perfect Circle

  132. Jessica on

    Raymond by Brett Eldredge – it is so sad, it is about a man who works with Alzheimers patients and one of the ladies thinks he is her son.

  133. Lisa on

    A few that come to mind are:

    *that heaven remix about 9/11*
    *slipped away~avril lavigne*
    *I will remember you~ sarah mclachlan*
    *the rose~LeAnn Rhymes*

  134. Tanner on

    country songs make me like almost cry because they remind me of one of my best friebds who’s from texas or smile by Avril lavigne and together make’s me think of them and 1 2 3 4 by the plain white t’s really make me like break down for the same reason then any Miranda cosgrove remind’s of one of my friends who i just stopped talking to for no reason but they hate me now and those songs really make me cry because it was the most sad thing that ever happened to me and i’m a guy who never has cried

  135. jonathan on

    not really any specific genre or anything, but figured I’d add a couple to this list.

    the cat carol – meryn cadell (you were warned)
    makenai? – vanessa mae (it’s a japanese violinist, quite sad)

  136. English Songs on

    My Favorite Sad English Songs (Personally I Love These So Much)

    01. Grenade – Bruno Mars
    02. Sinead o’ connor – nothing compares to you
    03. Lift Him Up – Old Crow Medicine Show
    04. slipped away~avril lavigne
    05. My Heart Will Go On – Celine Dion
    06. Just Be Friends – Vocaloid
    07. Who You’d Be Today- Kenny Chesney
    08. last to know – three days grace
    09. I’m a fool to want you – Frank Sinatra
    10. Two Little Boys – Rolf Harris

    Regards:
    Koncrete Akon English songs

  137. Sad Songs on

    wow!! a very good list. my all time favorite is My Immortal by Evanscence. if anyone has not listen to this song yet, he needs to. Its a very good song. Its about a girl who died waiting for her boyfriend who did not return. After death her spirit is still lingering and weeps for his boyfriend. Its a very powerful song.

  139. olivejuice1987 on

    this is a list of all the songs that make me cry hardcore. the songs that affect me the most are at the top and then in decending order from there..

    DJ Sammy – Heaven 9/11
    katy perry – thinking of you
    carrie underwood – just a dream
    rascall flats – what hurts the most
    brad paisley – whiskey lullaby
    sinead o’conner – nothing compares to you
    the motorhomes – into the night (so sad, about the first dog sent into space. they never planed to bring him back… tearing up just thinking about it)
    pearl jams version – last kiss
    chocolate genius – my mom
    sugarland – stay
    johnny cash – hurt
    blink 182 – adam’s song
    john michael montgomery – the little girl
    my chemical romance – ghost of you
    fort minor – where’d you go?
    michael buble – home
    shinedown – if you only knew
    avril lavigne – when you’re gone (i very much dislike her but its a pretty sad song..)

    looking at the ones that make me cry the most, can you tell i’m a military wife? ;o)

  141. English Songs 2012 on

    I Love These Songs Very much…

    1. Thunder by Boys Like Girls.

    2. Concrete Angel by Martina Mcbride.

    3. White Flag by Dido.

    4. For You I Will by Monica.

    5. A Fine Frenzy- Almost Lovers.

    6. The Fray- You Found Me.

    7. Creed- 6 feet from the Edge.

    8. Kaw-Liga Hank Williams Sr.

    9. Sing Me Back Home Merle Haggard.

    10. rascall flats â?? what hurts the most.

  142. MusicFreak on

    If you want a sad song, I know one…. It’s very touching when you think of people who are crippled, hungry, brutally sick, starving…. People who live in poverty.

    In the arms of an Angel – Sarah McLaughlin

  144. Abu on

    If you go away – Dusty Springfield
    Tears in Heaven – Eric Clapton
    Donna – Joan Baez
    Parachute – Sean Lennon
    Less than Perfect – Culture Club
    Mad World – Gary Jules
    Exit Music – Radiohead
    King of Sorrow – Sade
    Dust in the Wind – Kansas
    Wicked Game – Chris Isaak
    End of the World – Carpenters….

  145. Orlando on

    Sorry but I think you have never seen Scrubs 😉 Here you are something that really makes people cry :
    New Slang – The Shins
    Between the bars – Elliott Smith
    Needle in the hay – Elliott Smith
    Miss Misery – Elliott Smith
    In the Sun – Joseph Arthur
    Winter – Joshua Radin
    Dust In the Wind – Kansas

  149. Grace B on

    Wish you were here by Avril Lavigne it reminds me of a girl from my hometown who was killed in a 4 wheeler accident

  153. Andrew on

    I’ve spent literally hours and hours compiling this playlist, which I like to call “Songs of Consolation” and this takes into account my personal choice, and many of the suggestions from this page.

    Over 200 songs. I hope you like it.

    Michael Andrews feat. Gary Jules – Mad World
    Jeff Buckley – Hallelujah
    Queen – Who Wants To Live Forever
    George Michael – A Different Corner
    Mariah Carey – Without You
    Celine Dion – All By Myself
    Il Divo – Unbreak My Heart (Regresa A Mi)
    Alessandro Safina – Luna
    Guns N’ Roses – November Rain
    The Smiths – How Soon Is Now?
    U2 – I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For
    The Korgis – Everyboody’s Got To Learn Sometime
    Lighthouse Family – Lost In Space
    Spice Girls – Too Much
    Dionne Warwick – Walk On By
    Duffy – Warwick Avenue
    Amy Winehouse – Back To Black
    Paloma Faith – New York
    Eurythmics – I Saved The World Today
    Templecloud – One Big Family
    Adele – Make You Feel My Love
    Bryan Adams – (Everything I Do) I Do It For You
    Bon Jovi – Never Say Goodbye
    Aerosmith – I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing
    Foreigner – I Want To Know What Love Is
    The Cars – Drive
    Mr. Mister – Broken Wings
    Whitesnake – Is This Love
    Richard Marx – Right Here Waiting
    Bette Midler – Wind Beneath My Wings
    Wendy Moten – Come In Out Of The Rain
    Mariah Carey – My All
    Madonna – Frozen
    Michael Jackson – Earth Song
    Oasis – All Around The World
    Backstreet Boys – Incomplete
    Avril Lavigne – When You’re Gone
    Kelly Clarkson – Already Gone
    Beyonc̩ РHalo
    Alicia Keys – No One
    Craig David – Walking Away
    Lemar – Another Day
    R. Kelly – If I Could Turn Back The Hands Of Time
    Christina Aguilera – Hurt
    Evanescence – My Immortal
    Celine Dion – My Heart Will Go On
    Emiliana Torrini – Gollum’s Song {From Lord Of The Rings – The Two Towers}
    Danny Elfman – Theme {From Edward Scissor Hands}
    John Williams – You Are The Pan {From Hook}
    John Williams – Christmas Star {From Home Alone 2: Lost In New York}
    John Williams – Somewhere In My Memory {From Home Alone}
    Howard Goodall – Ecce Homo {From Mr Bean}
    Annie Lennox – Into The West {From Lord Of The Rings – The Return Of The King}
    Bj̦rk & David Arnold РPlay Dead
    Portishead – Sour Times
    Youssou N’Dour feat. Neneh Cherry – 7 Seconds
    10cc – I’m Not In Love
    Chicago – If You Leave Me Now
    The Hollies – The Air That I Breathe
    Barry Manilow – One Voice
    Simply Red – If You Don’t Know Me By Now
    Phil Collins – Against All Odds
    Chris De Burgh – The Lady In Red
    Bonnie Tyler – Total Eclipse Of The Heart
    Jennifer Rush – The Power Of Love
    Sinéad O’Connor – Nothing Compares 2 U
    Dido – White Flag
    Alanis Morissette – Thank You
    No Doubt – Don’t Speak
    4 Non Blondes – What’s Up?
    The Cranberries – Linger
    The Verve – The Drugs Don’t Work
    Radiohead – Exit Music (For A Film)
    Unbelievable Truth – Stone
    Foo Fighters – Walking After You
    Placebo – Twenty Years
    Limp Bizkit – Behind Blue Eyes
    Linkin Park – In The End
    Pearl Jam – Black
    The Animals – The House Of The Rising Sun
    Johnny Cash – Hurt
    Nickelback – Far Away
    Green Day – Wake Me Up When September Ends
    My Chemical Romance – Welcome To The Black Parade
    30 Seconds To Mars – From Yesterday
    Glasvegas – Daddy’s Gone
    P!nk – Family Portrait
    Goo Goo Dolls – Iris
    Pink Floyd – Wish You Were Here
    Creed – With Arms Wide Open
    Alter Bridge – Broken Wings
    Guns N’ Roses – Don’t Cry
    Kelly Osbourne feat. Ozzy Osbourne – Changes
    Bat For Lashes – Sad Eyes
    Faith Hill – There You’ll Be
    LeAnn Rimes – Blue
    Patsy Cline – Crazy
    Nilsson – Without You
    Simon & Garfunkel – Bridge Over Troubled Water
    Bee Gees – How Deep Is Your Love
    Simply Red – Holding Back The Years
    The Carpenters – We’ve Only Just Begun
    Judy Collins – Send In The Clowns
    ABBA – The Winner Takes It All
    Steps – One For Sorrow
    East 17 – Stay Another Day
    Five – Closer To Me
    O-Town – All Or Nothing
    Backstreet Boys – Drowning
    Leon Jackson – When You Believe
    Westlife – Queen Of My Heart
    B*Witched – To You I Belong
    MIKA – Happy Ending
    Adele – Someone Like You
    Will Young – All Time Love
    Des’ree – Kissing You { From William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet}
    Randy Crawford – Almaz
    Sade – No Ordinary Love
    George Michael – Jesus To A Child
    Natalie Imbruglia – Smoke
    Aqua – Turn Back Time
    Seal – Crazy
    Everything But The Girl – Missing
    Tasmin Archer – Sleeping Satellite
    Billie Myers – Kiss The Rain
    Backstreet Boys – Show Me The Meaning Of Being Lonely
    Art Garfunkel – Bright Eyes
    Eric Clapton – Tears In Heaven
    Roy Orbison – Crying
    Elvis Presley – Always On My Mind
    The Beach Boys – God Only Knows
    Chicago – Hard To Say I’m Sorry
    Percy Sledge – When A Man Loves A Woman
    Michael Bolton – How Am I Supposed To Live Without You
    Whitney Houston – I Will Always Love You
    Toni Braxton – Unbreak My Heart
    Eternal – Someday
    Michael Jackson – She’s Out Of My Life
    Another Level – From The Heart
    Boyz II Men – End Of The Road
    K-Ci & JoJo – All My Life
    Dru Hill – These Are The Times
    Babyface – Everytime I Close My Eyes
    Ne-Yo – Mad
    Usher – U Got It Bad
    Mary J. Blige – No More Drama
    Alicia Keys – A Woman’s Worth
    Kelly Rowland – Stole
    R. Kelly – I Believe I Can Fly
    Boyzone – Words
    Backstreet Boys – Shape Of My Heart
    *Nsync – I Drive Myself Crazy
    Savage Garden – Truly Madly Deeply
    Hanson – Weird
    Texas – Insane
    Annie Lennox – Why
    Roxette – It Must Have Been Love
    Elton John – Sacrifice
    Bruce Springsteen – Streets Of Philadelphia
    Prince – Purple Rain
    Cutting Crew – (I Just) Died In Your Arms
    U2 – With Or Without You
    The Calling – Wherever You Will Go
    Snow Patrol – Chasing Cars
    The Killers – All These Things That I’ve Done
    Simple Plan – Untitled
    Daughtry – What About Now
    The Fray – How To Save A Life
    Styx – Come Sail Away
    Daniel Powter – Bad Day
    Lucie Silvas – What You’re Made Of
    Delta Goodrem – Lost Without You
    Rascal Flatts – What Hurts The Most
    Avril Lavigne – I’m With You
    The Streets – Dry Your Eyes
    Athlete – Wires
    James Blunt – Goodbye My Lover
    David Gray – The Other Side
    Coldplay – The Scientist
    Damien Rice – The Blower’s Daughter
    Wolfman feat. Pete Doherty – For Lovers
    Robbie Williams – No Regrets
    Feeder – Tumble And Fall
    OneRepublic – Stop And Stare
    Radiohead – Street Spirit (Fade Out)
    Muse – Falling Down
    David Gray – This Year’s Love
    Ben E. King – Stand By Me
    Norah Jones – Don’t Know Why
    Eva Cassidy & Katie Melua – What A Wonderful World
    Lou Reed – Perfect Day
    The Beatles – Yesterday
    Extreme – More Than Words
    Air Supply – All Out Of Love
    The Righteous Brothers – Unchained Melody
    Gerry & The Pacemakers – You’ll Never Walk Alone
    Sarah Brightman – Time To Say Goodbye (Con Te Partiró)
    Eva Cassidy – Somewhere Over The Rainbow
    Blue feat. Elton John – Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word
    R.E.M. – Everybody Hurts
    Oasis – Stop Crying Your Heart Out
    Snow Patrol – Run
    Coldplay – Fix You

    • jaydeebee on

      Heh, I came here because I was looking for songs in a particular mood to help with a scene I’m writing (and found more than that, but that’s another comment). You posted this list on my birthday, and it’s a nice gift. I’m going to copy it off and check some songs out. Thanks, dude.

  154. Armen Cross on

    Chris De Burdh- Lady In red
    Michael Jackson- Whatever Happens
    Joe Strummer- Mondo Bongo
    James Morrison- Pieces don’t fit anymore
    Blue Feat. Elton John- Sorry Seems to be the hardest word
    Maroon 5- Out of goodbyes

  155. jaydeebee on

    Thank you for reminding me of Nick Drake. I stumbled across a piece about him a year or so ago searching for something else – something about his picture arrested me and I read about him, but I didn’t listen to any of his music at the time. Last week, while searching for sad songs to inspire my writing, I found this list. Even though the link here is broken, I hunted down Way to Blue, and I’ve been listening to him nonstop ever since.

    The only drawback is that I haven’t written anything since, LOL. I guess something in me needed this music at this time, and I can’t get enough of it. Thanks. I mean it.

  156. Kody Kennedy on

    MY TOP FIVE:

    1:Mad World (gary jules)

    2:A New Hope (Broken Iris)

    3:Mockingbird (Eminem)

    4:Space Bound (Eminem)

    5: Sing For The Moment (Eminem)

    • Kody Kennedy on

      MY TOP TEN:

      1(MAD WOLRD [GARY JULES

      2(A NEW HOPE [BROKEN IRIS

      3(MOCKINGBIRD [EMINEM

      4(SPACE BOUND [EMINEM

      5(SING FOR THE MOMENT [EMINEM

      6( LAMENT-WE ARE ODST [LIGHT OF AIDEN

      7(BRING ME TO LIFE [EVANESCENCE

      8(MY IMMORTAL [EVANESCENCE

      9(DELIVER HOPE [MARTIN O, DONNEL

      10(LIVE FOR ME [STEVE JABLONSKY

  157. Whinnie on

    i don’t think any kind of song about a relationship can be that sad , because most love portrayed in media nowadays is way too overrated and typical.
    however , this DID make me tear up …

    also , i believe THIS is the ultimate sad song ever … because it’s an instrumental and there are no words , you’re free to think about whatever you’d like .
    and even if it doesn’t cause tears to come to your eyes , it’s still one of the most beautiful things to have ever been heard , :’)

    • Whinnie on

      haha, failure … my links got blocked , ):
      but the first song i was referring to was Terrible Things by Mayday Parade while the second song was From the Heart by X-Ray Dog …

      please check them both out , or at least the second one if you’re pressed for time ! i have a feeling you won’t regret it , ^_^

  158. Garrick on

    What a crappy list. NONE of those songs are sad! Wtf!? Are you serious. This guy must only know a small handful of songs. Jeez dude, ever heard “You Were Meant For Me” by Jewel, or “I Can’t make You Love Me” by Bonnie Raitt? THOSE are slow, sad songs. Your list is a joke, the music is all fast and upbeat. Are you serious?

  160. yaankit on

    my fav r:
    here without you by 3 door down

    somebody’s me & why not me by enrique iglesias

    please forgive me so hard to love by brian adams

    siberia, i still & so me the meaning by backstreet boys

    lonely by akon

  162. Steff on

    When ever I listen to Untitled by Simple Plan I can’t help but cry. And I love every ones input by the way. Thanks 🙂

  164. Hannah on

    Concret angel -by martina mcbride (the saddest song ever!)
    Here comes goodbye -rascal flats
    Skin – rascal flats
    Your gardian angel – Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
    I’m Already There (With “messages from home”) – lonestar (i cryed my eyes out…. just a warning)
    And
    Wait for me – theroy of a deadman

  165. Lachlan on

    I still can’t listen to “Dance With My Father” by Luther Vandross even though I bought the CD.

    I first heard it after my mum died and then my brother 4 years later. That left my dad and me and I was living far away. I knew he would die some day too and tried not to think about it. Then I heard this beautiful song for the first time on the car radio and I had to stop the car. I just cried listening to the imagery and thinking of my dad, when his turn would come. It’s always been the same since. Well, my dad did die last year, leaving only me of the old family. I have my own family of course, my wife and two teenage children. But that song has a special place in my heart, so special it opens me up.

  167. Sarah Marinera on

    song to the siren- paula arundell
    hallejulah- jeff buckley
    paradise, x+y- coldplay
    no surprises- radiohead
    1992- blur

  169. helen on

    Has anyone heard Sugarland – stay. The video is on you tube. Supposedly the day she went to record the song her husband told her he was leaving her. The video shows such raw emotions and you can sense the heartbreak. Everytime I hear the song I can feel the tears coming. It’s a beautiful song and i would definatley suggest it if you haven’t heard it. 🙂

  170. Loserperson on

    Katy Perry-Not like the movies
    Ray J-One wish
    Lady Antebellum-Need you now
    Ed Sheeran-A team
    LeAnn Rimes-How do I live
    Adele-Turning tables
    Not sure if they are that sad but always gets me crying along with a few others already mentioned.

  171. aksilentsoldier on

    Last Kiss by Taylor Swift has got me crying every time I hear it. Just so you know I’m a 37 year old man and I can feel the pain in her song. Perhaps anyone who’s had a broken heart can. Then:

    2) Tears in Heaven by Eric Clapton
    3) I love you by Sarah McLachlan
    4) The Dance by Garth Brooks
    5) The Rose by Bette Midler
    6) Holding back the years by Simply Red
    7) Esther by Kenny G
    8) The first time ever I saw your face by Roberta Flack
    9) Wild Horses by The Sundays
    10) No one said it would be easy by Sheryl Crow

  173. King009 on

    Good bye my Lover – Jame Blunt
    Sad Eyes – Enrique Iglesias
    Give my love – Edward chun
    My heart will go on – Cellin dion
    Why did I fall in love with u – DBSK
    Last Kiss – Taylor swift
    Last kiss – Pearl jam
    With or without u – U2
    I wanna grow old with u and I’ll see u again – westlife

  176. Cody Kennedy on

    My top ten:

    10:My Immortal

    9:I will not bow

    8:A new Hope

    7:Mad world

    6:Davy jones lullaby

    5:Blow me away

    4:21 Guns

    3:We are young

    2:Boulavard of broken dreams

    1:Mockingbird

  177. Sally on

    Guaranteed to make me cry….Old Shep. No one with a heart or love of animals can listen to it and not shed a tear.

  179. Regina on

    1. On the Side of Me – Corrine May
    2. Hero – Regina Spektor
    3. You Could Be Happy – Snow Patrol
    4. Gravity – Sara Bareilles
    5. Fallen – Sarah McLachlan
    6. Samson – Regina Spektor
    7. Dreaming with a Broken Heart – John Mayer
    8. Broken – Lifehouse
    9. Never Say Never – The Fray
    10. Not Meant To Be – Theory of a Deadman

  180. Christian on

    To Forgive- The Smashing Pumpkins
    I Know It’s Over- The Smiths
    Over and Over- Three Days Grace
    The End- The Doors
    Not Too Amused- Sebadoh
    Lonely Day- System Of A Down
    Creep- Stone Temple Pilots
    Falling Away From Me- Korn
    Something In The Way- Nirvana
    How To Disappear Completely- Radiohead

  185. Chand on

    For me, this is my list of sad song :
    A1 – Like a rose
    A1 – walking in the rain
    Airsupply – Good Bye
    K-Ci & JoJo – all my life
    Savage garden – truly madly deeply
    rockwell – knife (cuts like a knife)
    Richard Max – right here waiting
    Enya – only time
    Creed- my sacrifice
    Declan galbraith – mama said
    Finch – letters to you (acoustic)
    George Benson – The greatest love of all
    Cold Play – Fix You
    Linkin Park – Leave out all the rest
    MLTR – you took my heart away
    N*sync – This I promise you
    Puff Daddy ft. Faith evans – I’ll be missing you
    Kenny G – Forever in love
    Westlife / Ronan Keating – In this Life
    Casting Crowns – Who am I

    you have to feel the song, I usually listen with my headphone.
    with songs we can free our mind and express our feel.

  187. Kelsey on

    Me and Little Andy – Dolly Parton makes me cry every time. Or A Brother’s Lament – Let’s Lumos for any Potterheads. So sad.

    • Baz on

      me and little andy bril but listen to letter to heaven or two little orphans proper sad

  188. Caitlin on

    My list is:

    Heaven by Bryan Adams
    I Don’t Want to Miss A Thing by Aerosmith
    Mad World by Tears for Fears
    The Scientist by Coldplay
    Fix You by Coldplay

  189. byron on

    1. Building a mystery-sarah mclachlin
    2 Iris-googoo dolls
    3. where have you been-kathy mattea
    4. the fool-not sure artist5.better than me-hinder
    6. schizofrenia-blue october
    7. the big parade-10,000 maniacs
    8. one-u2 /pride in the name of love-u2(when heard live, there is a chill in the air)
    9. paddy’s Lament-Sinead o’connor
    10. Ghost/love will come to you/romeo and juliet-indigo girls
    11. joey (accoustic)-concrete blonde

  190. Chris on

    look up “zoey’s song” by vayden……if it dont bring tears to your eyes….you’re dead inside 🙂 beautiful song tho…

  193. Brian on

    Clearly, nobody has every heard “Mama” by Nana Mouskouri. I dare you to listen to this song. All the other songs suggested are pick-me-ups by comparison.

  194. that guy right there on

    Rise Against’s The Approaching Curve made me cry. And I’m a man. A tough one. The song is narrated thought and sang at the chorus, but still poetic and sad.

  195. Baz on

    Wot happend to the real sad songs like teddy bears last ride or little rosa if u haven,t heard them check them out there proper heartbreakers make me cry everytime

  196. Baz on

    Carn’t belive no on-one has mentioned elvis two songs that sping to mind are you gave me a mountain and my boy both about a dad who just wants his child

  197. michelle cowie on

    here’s some songs that make me cry(might just be me):
    :dance with my father by celine dion/luther vandross
    :never had a dream come true by s club 7
    :concrete angel by martina mcbride
    :we dance on by n-dubz
    :goodbye by miley cyrus
    :goodbye my lover by james blunt
    :heaven by dj sammy
    :hero by enrique inglesias

  199. Ashley on

    A really sad song i know is never say you cant by bruno mars i swear it makes me cry everytime i hear it

  205. Donald on

    How Do You Get That Lonely- Blaine Larsen
    ^song about suicide
    Streets of Heaven- Sherrie Austin First Born-Iammarshall
    ^These songs have a deep effect on me after losing my baby girl… rip isabella
    Walk A Little Straighter- Billy Currington
    the song lyrics explain my reasoning…. rip dad
    Lonely Day- System of a Down
    ^First song I heard on the radio after I found out my dad died
    He Stopped Loving Her Today- George Jones

  206. Daniel on

    The saddest song i have ever heard of is
    Hero Of War by Rise Against

    an anti war song that really got me and i love it so much

  207. Darren on

    Wow! What great songs people have posted. I guess it makes a song sad especially if you have an emotional and a real life connection to it.

    Don’t think anyone has mentioned ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ my mum told me this came out the same week I lost my brother (before I was born) in a car accident in the 60’s. It really hits me every time I hear it.

  208. michael on

    luther vandross -dance with my father should be on the list when i was young i used to listen to this song and i used to keep crying when i heard it.

  210. Becky on

    Why by rascal flats is so sad!!!!
    Then there is concrete angel. oh my gosh, you HAVE to watch that music video.
    Theres Alissa lies, which I cant even sing without balling my eyes out

  212. shewolf on

    what about Runaway Love by Ludacris or You Can Let Go Now Daddy by Crystal Shawanda they both made me sad.

  213. Dana on

    My Top Ten depressing songs:

    10) “Wake Me Up When September Ends” -Green Day

    9) “Too Close For Comfort” -McFly

    8) “Forever” -The Beach Boys

    7) “Keep Holding On” -Avril Lavigne

    6) “Lithium” -Evanescence

    5) “A Bad Dream” -Keane

    4) “Anna” -The Beatles

    3) “Last Kiss” -Pearl Jam

    2) “Angel” -Sarah McLachlan

    1) “Fields of Gold” -Sting

  214. Katniss Everdeen on

    my top 10 songs are:

    1) i still cry- Isle Delange
    2) if i die young- the band perry
    3)Wake me up when september ends- green day
    4)Hero- Enrique iglasias
    5)evil angel- breaking benjamin
    6)let me go- 3 doors down
    7)you raise me up- josh groban
    8)Dead memories- slipknot
    9)blood brothers- ingrid michaelson
    10) mad world- gary jules

  216. Mike on

    Sarabeth (or Skin) by Rascal Flatts. Listen to it, cry, then if you can, find the girl in your life who has no hair and take her dancing.

  217. Matthew on

    10) The Cars – Drive
    9) Eric Clapton – Tears of heaven
    8) Mad World – Gary Jules
    7) The Drugs Don’t Work – The Verve
    6) Good Riddance – Green Day
    5) Hallelujah – Jeff Buckley
    4) The End – The Doors
    3) How To Save A Life – The Fray
    2) Something In The Way – Nirvana
    1) Daisy Lane – Stereophonics (not a very well known song but it is very emotional)

  218. John on

    It’s interesting reading some of these lists and checking the songs (if I don’t know the song). It seems most people pay more attention to the words of a song than to the quality of the melody to determine if a song is sad. For me it’s the opposite: The words could be gibberish but if it’s got a sad melody, then it qualifies as a sad song. Some of the songs people have posted, I can see how someone would think the song is sad because it’s got a sad topic, but the melody is so ordinary it just does nothing for me.

    It would be hard for me to come up with a comprehensive list, but here’s some songs I find really sad. In no particular order.

    * I Can’t Tell You Why – the Eagles
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6yyWKzPBCM

    * Someone above listed Don McClain’s Starry Night, but here’s one even sadder by Don McClain:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzoxFVWkgjw

    * Elton John’s first album contains a few real tearjerker masterpieces. THIS is what I mean when I say a melody is more important than the words.
    * First Episode at Hienton:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTuKDK9U0qg
    * The Greatest Discovery:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klQXQu-OpLw
    * I Need You to Turn To:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wA-9Joq549E

    James Taylor wrote a lot of sad songs. This one is sort-of a happy/sad song:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2hTQjK1Fa4

    Sad Lisa by Cat Stevens. Haunting melody and piano line:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDoRwRLlc3s

    And speaking of Cat Stevens, he was brilliant at writing songs which were simultaneously happy and sad at the same time:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cd2jXsmSaKc
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPazGVuBXmY

    Anyway my 2 cents.

  220. Wes on

    When you say “sad” songs, do you mean sorrowful, or deplorably bad? None of these made me even think of crying.

    Charley Pride – Missin’ You. That makes me cry. Dan Seals – Addicted makes me cry. But I think you and I define “sad” differently.

  221. Lilly on

    1. CHRISTMAS SHOES- Various Artists (its a christmas song DUH but if you heard it youd understand)
    2. Concrete Angel- Martina Mcbride
    3. It Hurts Me- Elvis
    4. Are You Lonesome Tonight- Elvis
    5. Whiskey Lullaby- Brad Paisley
    ~ <3

  224. Lindsey on

    You really want to hear a sad song? Look up dark was the night, cold was the ground by Willie Nelson. It’s so emotionally soul tearing that it was chosen to go on Voyager’s golden record to represent human loneliness… Damn.

  225. Andy Chang on

    You all should try “Kasih Tak Sampai” by Padi.
    Indonesian song but, both the music and lyric will break your heart.

  227. Connor on

    Eva cassidy – fields of gold
    Sarah mclachlan – Angel
    Simon and Garfunkel – bridge over troubled water

  229. When Pigs Fly on

    My top ten here!

    1. Dreaming with a Broken Heart (John Mayer)

    2. The Scientist (Coldplay)

    3. Concrete Angel (Martina McBride)

    4. Fast Car (Tracy Chapman)

    5. Shattered (Trading Yesterday)

    6. Who Knew (P!nk)

    7. Terrible Things (Mayday Parade)

    8. Lights Off (Jay Sean)

    9. She will be Loved (Maroon 5)

    10. 21 Guns (Green Day)

  231. angel on

    I also think of there are severa lother sad songs;

    Heavens got another Angel-Gordon Tru.
    Wild Flower-Skylark
    Green Green Grass of Home-Elvis
    Don’t it make your want to go home-Joe South

    These are some that everybody needs to hear, they will make you cry!

  233. Kenzie smith on

    All those songs that those people are telling me about touch me, but not enough to make me cry, now this song called “holes in the floor of heaven” written by steve wariner, on the other hand, makes me sob for a half an hour. Try to listen to it, bet you won’t even make it through the begging without even one tear. In fact, I just listened to it a couple of minutes ago and am crying right now. 🙁

    • angel on

      Kenzie:
      have you ever heard the songs, Don’t cry daddy by Elvis and Billy and Sue by B.J. Thomas?
      they always make me cry when I hear them played on the radio.

  235. Brad on

    I’ve read through this entire stream, every comment made, every song listed, and not one of them touches me or is as sad as ‘Famous Final Scene’ by Bob Seger. Think I’m lying? Give it a listen!

  236. Marbs2000 on

    Some of the saddest Ive ever heard were: Billy’s Christmas Wish by Red Sovine and
    Alyssa Lies by Jason Michael Carroll

  237. Rohan on

    HOW CAN YPU FORGOT GLOOMY SUNDAY 18 PEOPLE COMMIT SUCIDE AFTER LISTENING TO THAT SONG

  238. Zoe on

    1. Whiskey lulabuy – brad paisley
    2. Thunder rolls – Garth brooks
    3. Hello – evanescence
    4. My immortal – evanescence
    5. House that built me – Miranda lambert
    6. Stay – rihanna
    7. Stairway to heaven – jimmy Hendrix
    8. Cosmic love – Florence + the machine (that ones more of a personal connection to the song)
    9. Stan – eminem
    10. Nasence or apotheosis from the journey video game soundtrack – Austin Wintory

  239. chabbers on

    1. Dear Agony – Breaking Benjamin
    2. Faceless – Red
    3. Anthem Of The Angels
    4. Never Be The Same – Red
    5. Remember Everything – Five Finger Death Punch
    6. I Hate Everything About You – Three Days Grace
    7. The Fight Inside – Red
    8. Why – Rascal Flatts
    9. Breath – Breaking Benjamin
    10. Shadows – Red

  240. Unknown on

    Why dont u guys listen to Chet Atkins – I Still Can’t Say Goodbye!…(T_T)

  241. smartalek on

    Some possibilities from earlier generations:

    Linda Ronstadt: Long, Long Time
    Enya: Exile
    Alphaville: Forever Young
    Michelle Firestone: Coffee & Cigarettes
    Garbage: Cup of Coffee
    Marianne Faithfull: Ballad of Lucy Jordan
    Bette Middler: The Rose
    Patti Smith: Dancing Barefoot
    Janis Joplin: Summertime
    Odetta: All the Pretty Horses
    Dire Straits: Brothers in Arms
    Simon & Garfunkel: Bridge Over Troubled Water
    Fleetwood Mac: Brown Eyes
    Lou Reed: Perfect Day
    Joan Osborne: One of Us
    Natalie Merchant: Which Side Are You On
    John Lee Hooker / Carlos Santana: Things Gonna Change
    Donovan: Wear Your Love Like Heaven
    Mark Anthony: Vivir Mi Vida
    Heartland: I Loved Her First
    Metisse: Boom Boom Ba
    Wasis Diop: Everything Is Never Quite Enough
    Harry Nilsson: Without You
    Bliss: 100,000 Angels
    Pacific Gas & Electric: Are You Ready?
    The Grateful Dead: So Many Roads
    and Ripple
    and half of Leonard Cohen’s library (which has been called “music to slit your wrists to”), but especially:
    Who By Fire
    Hey, That’s No Way to Say Goodbye
    Sisters of Mercy
    Dance Me to the End of Love
    A Thousand Kisses Deep
    Here It Is
    Show Me the Place
    Suzanne

    Those are a few of the songs that always do it for me
    But music is such a personal thing — your mileage not only MAY vary, it absolutely will.
    Cheers.

  243. Riley on

    1. I Miss You- 5 Seconds of Summer cover
    2. Skinny Love- Birdy cover
    3. The Fault In Our Stars- Troye Sivan
    4. Moments- One Direction
    5. Welcome To The Black Parade- My Chemical Romance
    6. Give Me Love- Ed Sheeran
    7. Small Bump- Ed Sheeran
    8. The Call- Regina Spektor
    9. My Immortal- Evanescence
    10. Sally’s Song- Amy Lee
    11. I Dreamed A Dream- Les Mis
    12. A Little Fall Of Rain- Les Mis
    13. Little House- Amanda Seyfried
    14. Been A Long Day- Rosi Golan
    15. See You Again- Carrie Underwood
    16. Let her Go- Passenger
    17. Curl Up And Die- Relient K
    18. The Scientist- Glee cover
    19. I Will Follow You Into The Dark- Death Cab For Cutie
    20. Gone, Gone, Gone- Phillip Phillips

    These songs are real tear jerkers for me..

  246. Gus on

    I think the songs that everyone listed would make the perfect sad songs collection. Personally with me, I found that I associate songs with certain things and events that happened in my life, and crap I had to go through. I’m sure there are other people like that too. So looking at certain songs from that view point, I can understand how a song can make someone cry, but not the next person. But that is just my view point. Also, how about:

    Nickelback – Lullaby
    Adele – Set Fire To The Rain
    The Connells – 74 75
    Backstreet Boys – Incomplete
    Hoobastank – The Reason
    Kenny Loggins – Meet Me Halfway
    James Arthur – Impossible
    The Mission UK – Butterfly On A Wheel
    Staind – It’s Been A While
    Staind – So Far Away
    Counting Crows – A Long December
    David Grey – The One I Love
    Pink – Try
    O Town – All or Nothing
    Passenger – Let Her Go
    Pat Benatar – We Belong
    Peter Gabriel – I Grieve
    Phil Collins – Against The Odds
    Prime Circle – Turning In My Sleep
    Prime Circle – What I’ve Become
    Reamonn – Supergirl
    Richard Marx – Hold On To The Nights
    Bruno Mars – Grenade
    Heart – Alone