Songs About Losing A Loved One, Ranked By Their Emotional Impact
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Vote up the songs that are tough to finish without tearing up.
Musical tear-jerkers, who doesn't love them? Whether it's associating a certain song with sad memories, a famous scene from a film, or even connecting to its sentimental lyrics - everyone has at least one song that pulls at the heartstrings and never fails to make them cry.
Some of the most gut-wrenching and relatable songs are about losing a loved one. A few noteworthy examples include Celine Dion's “My Heart Will Go On,” Avril Lavigne's “Slipped Away,” and the Beatles' “Let It Be.” Music can't bring back those who have passed, but the right song can sure trigger their memory in our hearts - and get our tear ducts going.
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127 VOTESGenre: Soft rock
What's It About: Eric Clapton wrote the acoustic ballad “Tears in Heaven,” part of the soundtrack for the 1991 film Rush, about the death of his 4-year-old son Conor, who tragically fell from a 53rd-story window. To help with his grief, Clapton co-wrote “Tears in Heaven” with Will Jennings.
Why It Makes You Cry: Clapton's raw emotions throughout the song are incredibly moving, especially when questioning whether his son would remember him when the time comes to join him in heaven.
Standout Lyric: “Would you hold my hand? / If I saw you in heaven / Would you help me stand? / If I saw you in heaven”
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221 VOTES'Angel' - Sarah McLachlan
Genre: Pop
What's It About: Sarah McLachlan felt inspired to write the heartfelt piano ballad “Angel” after reading about musicians who had been turning to heroin to help deal with the pressures of the industry. Most notably, McLachlan was singing about the Smashing Pumpkins keyboardist Jonathan Melvoin, who had died of an overdose in 1996, two years before the song was released.
Why It Makes You Cry: Many can relate to being lost and needing some escapism to heal their pain. This song hits the nail on the head for wanting to accept yourself for who you are.
Standout Lyric: “Oh, a beautiful release / Memories seep from my veins / Let me be empty / Oh, and weightless and maybe / I'll find some peace tonight.”
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Genre: Pop rap
What It's About: Charlie Puth originally wrote “See You Again” with his friend, Vail Cerullo, in mind. He had died three years before the release of the song in a motorcycle accident in 2012. However, “See You Again” reached a whole new meaning when it was chosen to be played at the end of Furious 7 in a scene when Brian O'Conner and Dominic Toretto part ways. Paul Walker, who famously portrayed Brian, tragically died at age 40 in a single-vehicle collision in 2013. At the time, he hadn't completed filming for Furious 7. “See You Again” is also considered a tribute to Walker.
Why It Makes You Cry: Knowing that the last scene between O'Conner and Toretto was more than just two fictional characters going their separate ways makes the lyrics behind the song hit harder.
Standout Lyric: “I'll tell you all about it when I see you again”
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Genre: Rock
What It's About: Green Day's iconic rock ballad “Wake Me Up When September Ends” was written by the band's frontman Billie Joe Armstrong. The 2005 song is about his father, who tragically died from cancer when Armstrong was only 10 years old.
Why It Makes You Cry: Although the overall song is incredibly sad, its music video took the emotional level to the next level. While Armstrong is referring to his father in the lyrics, the video displays loss in another way by showcasing a couple broken apart by the Iraq War. Some people associate it with the events of September 11, 2001.
Standout Lyric: “Here comes the rain again / Falling from the stars / Drenched in my pain again / Becoming who we are"
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521 VOTESGenre: Pop
What It's About: Paul McCartney revealed that he wrote the Beatles' 1970 single “Let It Be” about his mother, Mary Patricia McCartney, who died of cancer in 1956 when he was just 14. The idea of the song first came about after he had a dream about his mom during the creative process for the Beatles' 1968 self-titled album, also known as the "White Album.”
Why It Makes You Cry: McCartney reminiscing over his mother can also be related to other loved ones who are lost and missed.
Standout: “And in my hour of darkness she is standing right in front of me”
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- Titanic
- Paramount Pictures
623 VOTESGenre: Pop
What It's About: “My Heart Will Go On," sung by Celine Dion and featured during the end credits of the blockbuster 1997 film Titanic, was penned by Will Jennings. He told Songfacts he wrote it after thinking about a 101-year-old woman he knew who lived during the time of the ship. “So I wrote everything from the point of view of a person of a great age looking back so many years,” he said. In the film, characters Rose and Jack meet on the Titanic and fall in love. When the boat hits an iceberg, Jack sacrifices himself for Rose and dies from cold shock in the sea.
Why It Makes You Cry: It's a reminder of the tragic love story so convincingly portrayed by Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio, and captures the essence of remembering loved ones.
Standout Lyric: “Near, far, wherever you are / I believe that the heart does go on”
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- Rosa Casapullo
- Wikimedia Commons
- CC-BY 2.0
722 VOTES'Slipped Away' - Avril Lavigne
Genre: Rock
What It's About: No stranger to an emo moment, Canadian singer Avril Lavigne wrote “Slipped Away" after her grandfather died while she was on tour.
Why It Makes You Cry: Lavigne bares her soul in a very direct way, stating in the chorus, “The day you slipped away / Was the day I found it won't be the same.” She even details how she was unable to see her grandfather before he died, singing with such guilt and regret.
Standout Lyric: “I didn't get around to kiss you / Goodbye on the hand”
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810 VOTES'One More Day' - Diamond Rio
Genre: Country
What It's About: In Diamond Rio's “One More Day,” the band tells the story of someone being granted a wish. Instead of wishing for something expensive or over the top, they wish to have another day with a loved one who is no longer with them.
Why It Makes You Cry: In the end, what is most important is our relationships with other people, and even a single additional day with someone we've loved and lost is worth more than anything else.
Standout Lyric: "One more sunset, maybe I'd be satisfied / But then again, I know what it would do / Leave me wishing still for one more day with you"
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911 VOTES'Just a Dream' - Carrie Underwood
Genre: Country
What It's About: On “Just a Dream,” Carrie Underwood details the story of an 18-year-old woman dressed up for her wedding. However, as the opening verse continues, listeners realize she's attending the funeral of her soldier husband who died. While saying goodbye, she wishes the funeral was a dream.
Why It Makes You Cry: Whether you relate to the song completely or not, everyone's been in a tragic situation they wish was all a dream.
Standout Lyric: “She heard the trumpets from the military band / And the flowers fell out of her hands”
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1011 VOTES'You're Still Here' - Faith Hill
Genre: Country
What It's About: On the touching ballad “You're Still Here,” Faith Hill sings about losing a loved one and how it continues to have a long-lasting impact on her.
Why It Makes You Cry: In addition to its heartfelt lyrics, Hill's voice gets more passionate as the song goes on, proving she means every word she sings.
Standout Lyric: “I had a dream last night / That you came to me on silver wings and light”
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1115 VOTES'One Sweet Day' - Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men
Genre: R&B
What It's About: Mariah Carey felt inspired to write her No. 1 smash “One Sweet Day” with Boyz II Men after her friend and past collaborator David Cole died. She wanted the song to pay respects to him and also the close ones her fans had lost.
Why It Makes You Cry: The song's powerful chorus emphasizes how deceased loved ones are still looking down on you while up above. It's a nice feeling to know the spirits of people live on.
Standout Lyric: "I know you're shining down on me from Heaven"
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1213 VOTES'If Heaven Wasn't So Far Away' - Justin Moore
Genre: Country
What It's About: In the ballad “If Heaven Wasn't So Far Away,” Justin Moore tells the story of a man who wants to be able to spend a day in Heaven so he can reunite with friends and family members who have passed: a cousin who died during the Vietnam War, his dog, three former schoolmates, and singers Hank Williams and Janis Joplin.
Why It Makes You Cry: The song's ability to paint a picture of someone else's life is moving, but it can also be adapted to similar personal experiences and leave you reflecting on loved ones who are no longer with you.
Standout Lyric: “Sit on a cloud and visit for a while / It'd do me good just to see them smile"
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1319 VOTES'Marjorie' - Taylor Swift
Genre: Pop
What It's About: Singer-songwriter Taylor Swift wrote her 2020 album track “Marjorie” about her maternal grandmother, Marjorie Finlay, who died in 2003. Swift credits Finlay for inspiring her to start a career in music.
Why It Makes You Cry: Swift details how she wouldn't be the person she is today if it wasn't for Finlay. Swift also expresses the guilt she felt over her grandmother while grieving the memory of her. To add that final touch to the moving song, Finlay's vocals are sampled as backing vocals.
Standout Lyric: “What died didn't stay dead / You're alive, you're alive in my head”
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1417 VOTES'Memories' - Maroon 5
Genre: Pop
What It's About: Maroon 5's popular 2019 single “Memories” is a direct song about loss and being reminded of all the memories made with those who have passed.
Why It Makes You Cry: A lot of songs about loss usually bring sad tears. However, in this case, Maroon 5 have listeners shedding happy tears about all the good times spent with people no longer with us.
Standout Lyric: "Now my heart feel like an ember and it's lighting up the dark / I'll carry these torches for ya that you know I'll never drop"
