7Luthor Vandross - Dance With My Father
Did you know?
Luthor Vandorss' final album, Dance With My Father, was the last to be released before his death on July 1, 2005. The album, especially its title track, was dedicated to his late father.
Moment you'll tear up:
If I could get another chance
Another walk, another dance with him
I’d play a song that would never, ever end
How I’d love, love, love to dance with my father again
6Passenger - Let Her Go
Did you know?
A single tear measures 0.5 millilitres. If the billion people who cried along to Let Her Go on YouTube each shed a single tear per eye (and let’s face it, we all know it’s way more than that) you’d have 100,000+ litres of water, enough to fill in a 10 meter squared pool that’s one meter tall.
Moment you'll tear up:
You see her when you close your eyes
Maybe one day you'll understand why
Everything you touch surely dies
5Johnny Cash - Hurt
Did you know?
Hurt was written by Trent Reznor, first released on Nine Inch Nails' 1994 album The Downward Spiral. In 2002, it was covered by Johnny Cash to critical acclaim; it was one of Cash's final hit releases before his death. Its accompanying video featured images from Cash's life.
Producer Rick Rubin, in an interview with Q Magazine, later said that he could not bring himself to listen to the recording for months after Cash died.
Moment you'll tear up:
I wear this crown of thorns
Upon my liar's chair
Full of broken thoughts
I cannot repair
4Sinead O'Connor - Nothing Compares 2 U
Did you know?
This song was originally performed by Prince, but it wasn't until O'Connor's cover that the song gained a much larger audience. This break-up song has, through many polls and surveys, become known to make men cry.
Moment you'll tear up:
It's been so lonely without you here
Like a bird without a song
Nothing can stop these lonely tears from falling
Tell me baby where did I go wrong
3Adele - Someone Like You
Did you know?
Adele wrote Someone Like You after breaking up with her boyfriend of 18 months. She believed that she would one day marry the 30 year old man (rumored to be photographer Alex Sturrock) but alas, she was left heartbroken and he would end up getting engaged just a few months later.
Moment you'll tear up:
But I couldn't stay away, I couldn't fight it.
I'd hoped you'd see my face and that you'd be reminded
That for me it isn't over.
2R.E.M. - Everybody Hurts
Did you know?
In the liner notes of the album In Time - The Best of R.E.M. 1988-2003, guitarist Peter Buck wrote,
"The reason the lyrics are so atypically straightforward is because it was aimed at teenagers."
In 1995, British emotional support listening service The Samaritans, in response to the high suicide rate but low crisis service take-up amongst young men, launched a UK press advertising campaign consisting solely of the lyrics to Everybody Hurts and the charity's hotline number.
Moment you'll tear up:
When your day is night alone, (hold on, hold on)
If you feel like letting go, (hold on)
If you think you've had too much of this life, well hang on
1Gary Jules - Mad World
Did you know?
Originally written and performed by Tears for Fears, this song was described by bassist Curt Smith as the following.
It's very much a voyeur's song. It's looking out at a mad world from the eyes of a teenager.
Gary Jules' version is a stripped down cover that appeared on the soundtrack for the film Donnie Darko. Melancholia at its best.
Moment you'll tear up:
Their tears are filling up their glasses
No expression, no expression
Hide my head I want to drown my sorrow
No tomorrow, no tomorrow
And I find it kinda funnyI find it kinda sad
The dreams in which I'm dying
Are the best I've ever had
Want more tears? Take a look at the top 35 heartbreak songs. If you simply want to say "I'm Sorry", we've also got the 25 best apology songs for you.
Had enough and want to cheer up? it's time to get back on your feet with our most motivational songs.
You can also listen to our list on Spotify. Note, not all songs are available on the platform.