10 Emotionally Devastating Songs That You'll Never Forget

Have you ever been on the verge of tears and needed to listen to a sad song to unleash the waterworks? I've had moods like that, but corny, sentimental songs don't do it for me. Instead, I listen to the tracks on this list when I need to release some bottled-up emotions. These songs capture the depths of human grief without being cheesy--and they're also great tracks on top of that, so they deserve a spot on your regular playlists.

1. Julia With Blue Jeans On by Moonface

At the start, "Julia With Blue Jeans On" sounds like an elaborate piano ballad. However, as the story unfolds, it becomes clear that the narrator is singing about a specific person--and when the track breaks down near the end, Julia seems to come back to life as the vocals descend into anguished cries. Finally, the song trails off, leaving you to contemplate what you've just witnessed.

2. Soft Stud by Black Belt Eagle Scout

"Soft Stud" doesn't have any explosive moments, but its quiet, reserved nature is what makes the story so compelling. The narrator mourns the fact that her lover chose someone else, repeating "I know you're taken" like a mantra until "Need you, want you" takes over, her voice rising with desperation until the track dissolves into instrumentals. If you detected sapphic vibes, you're not wrong: the artist, Katherine Paul, described the song as a "queer anthem."

3. Passenger Seat by Death Cab for Cutie

When you read the lyrics, "Passenger Seat" seems to tell a happy story about a warm, loving relationship, but the somber music gives this concept a much darker tone. Delicate instrumentals and soft vocals create a melancholy tune that makes you think about times past--something that once existed and then disappeared from your grasp. On a personal note, this song triggers a lot of childhood flashbacks.

4. Marian by Empty Country

"Marian" tells the story of Joseph D’Agostino's grandmother, who tragically died when a drunk driver struck her vehicle in 1983. As the chorus laments, "She was a blue baby / Hole in her heart / From the start," it's clear that Marian is doomed by the narrative. However, this song adds depth by including a verse from the drunk driver's perspective, creating a haunting tale that couldn't have ended any other way.

5. I Have Never Loved Someone by My Brightest Diamond

From the first note, "I Have Never Loved Someone" captures the joy and tragedy of raising a child: you love this person you've created more than anything, but you also know that you'll eventually die and leave them alone. The narrator acknowledges that she'll "grow to be a poppy in the graveyard" before describing the ways she'll communicate through nature. Despite this optimism, the track has an undeniably deep, aching tone that could move anyone, even people who have no desire to become parents.

6. Casimir Pulaski Day by Sufjan Stevens

If you've ever lost a loved one, good luck getting through "Casimir Pulaski Day" without crying. Instead of resorting to cheap sentimentality, the lyrics vividly describe the situation and put you in the narrator's place as he watches his partner die from bone cancer--a tragedy that shook his religious faith to the core. In the end, he maintains his faith in God, but he can't forget about the pain his loved one experienced.

7. Golden Ticket by Manchester Orchestra

Promises mean nothing in "Golden Ticket," which follows a tumultuous relationship through the highs and lows until the narrator finally laments, "How I wish that you had sold me on all of those big goals / Of being a good father, not a careless liar." In the end, there's only one way to break the cycle: giving up on the offender for good. This hits particularly hard if you've ever had a difficult relationship with a relative--and, sometimes, staying is just as hard as letting go.

8. Contact by As Cities Burn

"Contact" is another song that deals with a religious crisis after a loved one's death. However, the narrator doesn't return to his faith at the end. Instead, he alternates between begging God for answers and wondering if his prayers are wasted energy, then finally concludes, "If there's a God, then he must be asleep." The dark, burning music emphasizes the vocalist's pain as he turns away from his former source of comfort.

9. Chapel Song by Augustines

"Chapel Song" distills the grief of watching your lover marry another person down to a single haunting scene: attending the wedding, forcing a grin and quietly suffering while the crowd smiles and applauds. At the end, the vocalist desperately cries, "Tear up the photograph! / 'Cause it's a bright blue sky." Afterward, the song trails off into silence, signifying the death of the narrator's hopes for a happy ending.

10. The Trial Of The Century by French Kicks

A quiet, thoughtful mood fuels the emotion behind "The Trial Of The Century" as the narrator ponders the end of his relationship. While he alternates between blame and gratitude, he dwells on memories of their time together and finally admits, "Yeah, you come to mind," repeating this line like he's owning up to it for the first time. Despite this song's subdued nature, you get the sense that he'd do anything to turn back the clock.

Did any of these tracks make you emotional? Which songs would you add to this list? Let me know in the comments.