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“The Night We Met” And 38 Other Songs That Wreck Folks Every Time They Hit Play
Have you ever heard a song and immediately felt like your soul’s been gently touched? Yup, same. Whether it’s a powerful ballad or a slow instrumental that plays like a love letter to your ears, music has this almost magical way of making us feel …everything.
One Reddit thread got really deep, really fast when someone asked: “What song breaks your heart every time you hear it?” From bittersweet classics to absolute sob-fests, netizens shared the tracks that leave them emotionally wrecked every single time.
More info: Reddit
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#2
Over the Rainbow / What a Wonderful World
Song by Israel Kamakawiwoʻole ‧ 1990
Heard in on ER when Dr. Green passed away from brain cancer. Which is how my mom had recently passed from, and I hadn't completely processed that yet. I just broke down crying when I got to that scene. And the song stuck with me. For years it could make me cry if I just heard it. And even now it makes me feel sad.
Glen Ellyn 4 months ago
Always top of my list of sad songs. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1bFr2SWP1I
Let’s be honest, we all sob to sad songs sometimes. It’s almost like music is the original therapist. No awkward small talk, no bills, just a few chords and suddenly you’re reflecting on your entire existence while staring out the window like you’re in a sad indie film. Yup, been there.
Whether it’s your go-to breakup anthem or that one instrumental that makes you cry and you don’t even know why, music is there, doing emotional damage in the best possible way.
#6
If you could read my mind- gordon lightfoot.
Gingersnap In Iowa 4 months ago
I had the honor of taking my Dad, huge Gordon Lightfoot fan, to see him in concert on Father's Day 2018. Front row seats. Truly a wonderful experience.
But why does music have this wild power over our emotions? Apparently, it’s got everything to do with our brains. If you want to get specific, it’s all in the limbic system, the part of the brain in charge of feelings, memories, and that full-body shiver you get when the chorus hits just right. At least that's what the pros say.
When we listen to music we love, our brain rewards us by releasing dopamine, that feel-good chemical. It’s the same stuff we get from chocolate, hugs, and falling in love. Delicious, right?
Sad songs often hit harder because they help us connect with our emotions in a safe, controlled way. They let us process grief, heartbreak, nostalgia, or longing without actually going through a full-blown crisis. Think of it as emotional cardio, just without the sweating.
#7
Cats in the cradle.
#9
Landslide by Fleetwood Mac
“Even children grow older” and then I ugly cry thinking about my kids.
You probably didn’t know this, but music has healing powers too. Studies have shown that listening to music can help reduce stress, boost mood, and even lower levels of cortisol, the stress hormone we’d all like less of. So, those sad bops? They’re not just turning on the waterworks; they’re helping you, too.
Of course, some songs just come pre-packaged with heartbreak, even if you’ve never lived the experience. Take “He Stopped Loving Her Today”—you don’t need to have lived through the loss of a spouse to feel that emotional devastation.
#10
Time in a bottle. It sounds like a song from a partner that long misses their other half. I know that's the point but it never fails to tug at my heart strings. It always makes me cry.
#11
Everybody hurts, REM.
AtMostAFabulist 4 months ago
Night Swimming evokes such a wonderful feeling in me. It's like I am embracing the entire feeling of being out with friends in the country at night.
If you’ve ever found yourself ugly crying to a song and weirdly feeling better afterward, congrats—you have experienced one of music’s sneaky little superpowers. Sad songs can offer catharsis, clarity, and comfort. They remind us we’re not alone in feeling a little broken sometimes.
Whether it's a string quartet that takes you back to a friend's memorial or a folksy tune that reminds you of a love long gone, music is one of the few things that can totally shatter your heart… and still leave you feeling grateful for the wreckage.
#13
I know it's overplayed at this point, but Creep by Radiohead still makes me fight back tears.
#14
Iris by Goo Goo Dolls ♡
"And I'd give up forever to touch you 'Cause I know that you feel me somehow" 🥺.
#15
I can’t make you love me- Bonnie Raitt.
Janet Sparrow 4 months ago
“I can’t make you love me if you want, I can’t make you feel something that you don’t. Here in the dark of these final hours, I lay down my heart and I’ll feel the power, but you won’t.” LOVE her!!
So, next time someone says “It’s just a song,” you have permission to dramatically clutch your headphones and whisper, “You just don’t get it.”
Now, excuse me while I go listen to “Home” by Edith Whiskers and cry into my coffee.
#16
When She Loved Me - Sarah McLachlan.
#17
~"You Are My Sunshine" (I sang it to one of my cats while I held him as he was dying)
~"Mockingbird" by Eminem.
Metalhead Turtle 🇺🇦 🇵🇸 4 months ago
You Are My Sunshine is my ringtone. I didn't know that it was a sad song. It was a way of me telling myself that I'm someone's sunshine. I can't bring myself to change it.
#19
He Stopped Loving Her Today by George Jones.
Papa 4 months ago
I remember reading about an interview he gave saying he hadn't wanted to sing the song, but was encouraged to by his agent (or maybe his record company; I don't remember) so he did it anyway, saying "Nobody is going to buy this morbid s****." It went on to become the top country song ever in many people's opinions.
#20
The Scientist by Coldplay. It was my first breakup song haha all the way back in 2006. I was on my bike with a massive mp3 player riding through a park. I can smell the park when I put that song on, it was early summer and it was sunny out.
#21
The show must go on - Queen.
Michael Largey 4 months ago
"Can you perform under pressure?" "I guess, but I'm better at bohemian rhapsody."
#22
Fade into you - Mazzy Star.
Sweaterpants Mandles 4 months ago
An ex said she loved this song because it, “reminded her of me.” We’d never heard the song together. I wonder who else she said that too.
#24
Nothing Compares to You - Sinead O'Connor
also the Chris Cornell version
Wrecked - Imagine Dragons
song was playing when I found out my best friend had suddenly died.
#25
Chasing Cars.
Michal Pifko 4 months ago
This is one of the very few songs that I can remember exactly when I heard it for the first time, back in 2006. Still one of my favourites.
#26
I’ll Follow You Into the Dark.
#27
The night we met - Lord Huron.
#29
Adam’s Song - Blink 182
This song came at a time during early high school where we lost a friend to s*****e. Great song tho.
#30
Kate Bush - This Woman's Work.
SweetCheesySpaghetti 4 months ago
I was looking for this one. I cannot hear this song (this version) without crying. If i try to sing it I will literally sob.
#32
One More Light by Linkin Park.
Luke Branwen 4 months ago
I was hoping I'll find this one here. I love the comeback with Emily, but Chester left too soon.
#33
Who Knew - P!nk.
#34
Fourth of July by Sufjan Stevens and Home by Edith Whiskers.
#36
When You Were Young - The Killers.
#37
Hate Me - Blue October.
Jenny Hornig 4 months ago
This Song Breaks me everytime. As a Person who has BPD and lived with abusic Parents and Partners i can do nothing but to Scream cry in my Car when IT Starts playing Ironically, my Father showed ne this Song when I was Younger.. the Man who used to Scream at me Till i cried and than sxreamed at me more for crying
#38
Landslide.
#39
Dance with my father again-Luther Vandross-I haven’t been able to listen to it since my father, my biggest supporter in my life-passed.
What do you think ?
Robert T 4 months ago
"Fields of Gold" by Sting. One of the kids my late wife babysat sang it at her funeral. It's now very hard for me to listen to, even after 17 years.
Janelle Collard 4 months ago
Oh swell - now I have to watch kitty + puppy videos to not be sad anymore. Thanks a lot, Monica!
Russell Bowman 4 months ago
"Desert rose" Sting and Cheb Mami ... a girlfriend of mine played it a lot ... now, every time I hear it ... takes me back.
Robert Beveridge 4 months ago
Most of mine I am entirely unsurprised they're not here, but three more popular ones not showing up blows my mind--Sarah McLachlan's "Hold On", Tori Amos' "Me and a Gun", and Better than Ezra's "A Lifetime".
jjt2tmm8mm 4 months ago
Lazarus- David Bowie. Hearing a song about coming to terms with mortality, from a man who knew that he only had months left to live is one of the most gut-wrenching things ever. The whole black star album still brings me to tears. RIP David Bowie, there will never be another like you
Major Harris 4 months ago
"empty garden" (hey hey johnny) by sir elton john, and "all those years ago" by george harrison, mccartney and ringo. both sings are tributes to john lennon. the first, elton and lennon were very close friends. they last met at elton's free concert in central park, just a few months before john's murder. the second, well obvious. but there is a line in there sung by george, "i always looked up to you." that just really just really hits.
James016 4 months ago
Two songs that get me every time are We Used To Wait by Arcade Fire and Set The Fire To The Third Bar by Snow Patrol.
Pushcake 4 months ago
"100 Years" by Five for Fighting - "I'm 45 for a moment..." "Amazing Grace" because I'll have to play it at my mom's funeral someday.
athornedrose 4 months ago
where does the good go? - tegan and sara, 26 - paramore, movie in my mind - particularly lea salonga's version
Michael MacKinnon 4 months ago (edited)
Because the Night by Patti Smith, because it was a favorite of my late sister's. Five Days in May by Blue Rodeo, just because. Love will Tear Us Apart, by Joy Division, for obvious reasons.
STress (I/me) 4 months ago
"Father and Son" by Cat Stevens. My father is still alive and I take care of him. But I've never been his son - I've always been his (botched) project.
Xandra 4 months ago
Nightwish - The poet and the pendulum. I think (feel) it's a musical masterpiece, and considering the backstory, it's even more touching.
Jessie Glodowski 4 months ago
Rise Above This by Seether. Written to be encouragement to his brother battling depression before his brother took his own life
Ban-One 4 months ago
"Walk The Line"...my Dads favorite songs. He's long gone...and I keep listening to it. Bittersweet memories. "My Heart Will Go On". Always hated it....then it's been played at my best friend's funeral. The best friend I've ever had...knew him since age 10. We were both 20 when he died. I can't listen to this song anymore...
Bored Trash Panda 4 months ago
Go Rest High on a Mountain - Vince Gill. Older country song, but it was my grandma's favorite and played at her funeral. I also got to go see him in concert and meet him with her when i was in like 2nd grade. Any song of his makes me miss her, but this one hits the most. She used to put him on when she was teaching me how to bake and we would dance around like crazy people. lol.
Theoretical Empiricist 4 months ago
"For a Dancer" by Jackson Browne (played at my wife's memorial service) "Goodnight, Saigon" by Billy Joel (ever since I returned from the first Gulf War)
Philip Cutler 4 months ago
"Gone Away" The Offspring, came out the same week my father passed.
Emilu 4 months ago (edited)
For me it's "Lithium" by Evanescence (was listening to that when I heard my nan had died) and "Things My Father Said" (I like the Black Stone Cherry version but there are several good versions out there). Also, "I Was Only 19", which I think if you've heard it you'll know why. Off to watch the music video for "It's Raining Men" now. Best/worst green-screen ever.
Robyn Hill 4 months ago
“The Dance” by Garth Brooks was the first song I heard that made me feel that overwhelming sadness. The lyrics, the piano - it hits hard every time. I haven’t been able to listen to Hozier’s “Take Me to Church” since I saw the music video … I bawled so hard. And though it’s not a single, “Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story” from Hamilton leaves me heartbroken every single freaking time.
Leg less In Minneapolis 4 months ago
Go rest high on that mountain by Vince Gill. Played this at my young sons funeral.
NoRestfortheQWERTY 4 months ago
I haven't heard every one of these songs, but I only like four of the songs listed here. Also, where's Prince's "Purple Rain?" Or anything else he did for that matter? Did somebody forget to mention Cowboy Junkies' version of the Velvet Underground's "Sweet Jane" on here? For shame!
Nikki Sevven 4 months ago
Monsters, specifically Iam Tongi's version. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_MAesZsnMk&pp=0gcJCfwAo7VqN5tD
Kim Bailey 4 months ago
Mine are Helium by Sia, Medicine by Daughter and Cough Syrup by Young the Giant…they remind my of my Dad who passed away at age 65 from COPD/Emphysema
Aimee Stilts 4 months ago
Say Something by A Great Big World First time I heard it, tears were streaming with the first line.
Fullerton D 4 months ago
What!? How did Gone Away - Offspring not make the list. The other one is Tell Lorrie I love her by Keith Whitley - have a Google and read about him before you listen… prepare for waterworks
Robert T 4 months ago
"Fields of Gold" by Sting. One of the kids my late wife babysat sang it at her funeral. It's now very hard for me to listen to, even after 17 years.
Janelle Collard 4 months ago
Oh swell - now I have to watch kitty + puppy videos to not be sad anymore. Thanks a lot, Monica!
Russell Bowman 4 months ago
"Desert rose" Sting and Cheb Mami ... a girlfriend of mine played it a lot ... now, every time I hear it ... takes me back.
Robert Beveridge 4 months ago
Most of mine I am entirely unsurprised they're not here, but three more popular ones not showing up blows my mind--Sarah McLachlan's "Hold On", Tori Amos' "Me and a Gun", and Better than Ezra's "A Lifetime".
jjt2tmm8mm 4 months ago
Lazarus- David Bowie. Hearing a song about coming to terms with mortality, from a man who knew that he only had months left to live is one of the most gut-wrenching things ever. The whole black star album still brings me to tears. RIP David Bowie, there will never be another like you
Major Harris 4 months ago
"empty garden" (hey hey johnny) by sir elton john, and "all those years ago" by george harrison, mccartney and ringo. both sings are tributes to john lennon. the first, elton and lennon were very close friends. they last met at elton's free concert in central park, just a few months before john's murder. the second, well obvious. but there is a line in there sung by george, "i always looked up to you." that just really just really hits.
James016 4 months ago
Two songs that get me every time are We Used To Wait by Arcade Fire and Set The Fire To The Third Bar by Snow Patrol.
Pushcake 4 months ago
"100 Years" by Five for Fighting - "I'm 45 for a moment..." "Amazing Grace" because I'll have to play it at my mom's funeral someday.
athornedrose 4 months ago
where does the good go? - tegan and sara, 26 - paramore, movie in my mind - particularly lea salonga's version
Michael MacKinnon 4 months ago (edited)
Because the Night by Patti Smith, because it was a favorite of my late sister's. Five Days in May by Blue Rodeo, just because. Love will Tear Us Apart, by Joy Division, for obvious reasons.
STress (I/me) 4 months ago
"Father and Son" by Cat Stevens. My father is still alive and I take care of him. But I've never been his son - I've always been his (botched) project.
Xandra 4 months ago
Nightwish - The poet and the pendulum. I think (feel) it's a musical masterpiece, and considering the backstory, it's even more touching.
Jessie Glodowski 4 months ago
Rise Above This by Seether. Written to be encouragement to his brother battling depression before his brother took his own life
Ban-One 4 months ago
"Walk The Line"...my Dads favorite songs. He's long gone...and I keep listening to it. Bittersweet memories. "My Heart Will Go On". Always hated it....then it's been played at my best friend's funeral. The best friend I've ever had...knew him since age 10. We were both 20 when he died. I can't listen to this song anymore...
Bored Trash Panda 4 months ago
Go Rest High on a Mountain - Vince Gill. Older country song, but it was my grandma's favorite and played at her funeral. I also got to go see him in concert and meet him with her when i was in like 2nd grade. Any song of his makes me miss her, but this one hits the most. She used to put him on when she was teaching me how to bake and we would dance around like crazy people. lol.
Theoretical Empiricist 4 months ago
"For a Dancer" by Jackson Browne (played at my wife's memorial service) "Goodnight, Saigon" by Billy Joel (ever since I returned from the first Gulf War)
Philip Cutler 4 months ago
"Gone Away" The Offspring, came out the same week my father passed.
Emilu 4 months ago (edited)
For me it's "Lithium" by Evanescence (was listening to that when I heard my nan had died) and "Things My Father Said" (I like the Black Stone Cherry version but there are several good versions out there). Also, "I Was Only 19", which I think if you've heard it you'll know why. Off to watch the music video for "It's Raining Men" now. Best/worst green-screen ever.
Robyn Hill 4 months ago
“The Dance” by Garth Brooks was the first song I heard that made me feel that overwhelming sadness. The lyrics, the piano - it hits hard every time. I haven’t been able to listen to Hozier’s “Take Me to Church” since I saw the music video … I bawled so hard. And though it’s not a single, “Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story” from Hamilton leaves me heartbroken every single freaking time.
Leg less In Minneapolis 4 months ago
Go rest high on that mountain by Vince Gill. Played this at my young sons funeral.
NoRestfortheQWERTY 4 months ago
I haven't heard every one of these songs, but I only like four of the songs listed here. Also, where's Prince's "Purple Rain?" Or anything else he did for that matter? Did somebody forget to mention Cowboy Junkies' version of the Velvet Underground's "Sweet Jane" on here? For shame!
Nikki Sevven 4 months ago
Monsters, specifically Iam Tongi's version. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_MAesZsnMk&pp=0gcJCfwAo7VqN5tD
Kim Bailey 4 months ago
Mine are Helium by Sia, Medicine by Daughter and Cough Syrup by Young the Giant…they remind my of my Dad who passed away at age 65 from COPD/Emphysema
Aimee Stilts 4 months ago
Say Something by A Great Big World First time I heard it, tears were streaming with the first line.
Fullerton D 4 months ago
What!? How did Gone Away - Offspring not make the list. The other one is Tell Lorrie I love her by Keith Whitley - have a Google and read about him before you listen… prepare for waterworks
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