Scapp70's Top 10 Tear-Jerking Songs Mar 15 '06 (Updated Feb 08 '08)    Write an essay on this topic. Tweet Popular Products in Music The Dirtchamber Sessions, Vol. 1 by The Prodigy From $11 Jersey Boys [Original Broadway Cast Recording] by Original Broadway Cast From $8 The Bottom Line Boo hoo There aren't many songs that make my eyes well; there are only a relative magical few that can do this. It's not always that the lyrics would be lovelorn, heartfelt or God-related. Sometimes, the lyrics just make an odd, clever perfect rhyme. Or sometimes, it is the melody attached to the words that tug at my heartstrings. I hope I remember most of them. I found this write off while perusing through some of kelly60's older epinions. Jesus Take the Wheel (2005) performed by Carrie Underwood. A huge song in the country charts, which is a respectful feat reached by an American Idol winner. The music is in the country and western genre and the lyrics tell the story of a near death experience that made a woman find her priorities in life. Written by Hillary Lindsey, Gordie Sampson & Brett James The lyrics: ♫She was driving last Friday on her way to Cincinnati On a snow white Christmas Eve Going home to see her Mama and her Daddy with the baby in the backseat Fifty miles to go and she was running low on faith and gasoline It would been a long hard year She had a lot on her mind and she didn't pay attention She was going way to fast Before she knew it she was spinning on a thin black sheet of glass She saw both their lives flash before her eyes She didn't even have time to cry She was so scared She threw her hands up in the air Jesus take the wheel Take it from my hands Cause I can't do this all on my own I'm letting go So give me one more chance To save me from this road I'm on Jesus take the wheel It was still getting colder when she made it to the shoulder And the car came to a stop She cried when she saw that baby in the backseat sleeping like a rock And for the first time in a long time She bowed her head to pray She said I'm sorry for the way I've been living my life I know I've got to change So from now on tonight Jesus take the wheel Take it from my hands Cause I can't do this all my own I'm letting go So give me one more chance To save me from this road I'm on Jesus take the wheel Oh, take it, take it from me Oh, why, oh♫ When Somebody Loved Me (2000) performed by Sarah McLachlan. This is off of the soundtrack of the Disney animated movie Toy Story 2. The song is about a doll named Jesse reminiscing about the girl who used to play with her until she grew older and forgot about her. The song is sad enough as it pertains to the film, but if you take away the movie plot, and view this song on its own, it becomes a heart wrenching song about a love lost between two people that used to be a couple. Each line in the lyric is tear jerking, and as a whole I dare you to stay dry-eyed. Written by Randy Newman The lyrics: ♫When somebody loved me everything was beautiful. Every hour we spent together lives within my heart. And when she was sad I was there to dry her tears. And when she was happy so was I. When she loved me. Through the summer and the fall we had each other, that was all. Just she and I together, like it was meant to be. And when she was lonely I was there to comfort her. And I knew that she loved me. So the years went by. I stayed the same, but she began to drift away I was left alone. Still I waited for the day when she'd say "I will always love you." Lonely and forgotten, never thought she'd look my way. And she smiled at me and held me just like she used to do. Like she loved me. When she loved me. When somebody loved me everything was beautiful. Every hour we spent together lives within my heart. When she loved me♫ Time in a Bottle (1973) performed by Jim Croce. This song was always a beautiful song with touching lyrics, and that's when I thought it was a love song between a man and a woman. While I was doing my Jim Croce research as I was writing my super amazing review of his Greatest Hits CD, Photographs and Memories, I learned that the lyrics were about him and his new born son. Jim Croce died a year later after releasing this song and it makes it all the more poignant. I think it's an amazing magical thing, when your new child comes into your lives, and there is an instant overwhelming love that takes you by surprise. Here are the lyrics: ♫If I could save time in a bottle The first thing that I'd like to do Is to save every day 'Til Eternity passes away Just to spend them with you If I could make days last forever If words could make wishes come true I'd save every day like a treasure and then, Again, I would spend them with you CHORUS: But there never seems to be enough time To do the things you want to do Once you find them I've looked around enough to know That you're the one I want to go Through time with If I had a box just for wishes And dreams that had never come true The box would be empty Except for the memory Of how they were answered by you CHORUS: Repeat If I could save time in a bottle The first thing that I'd like to do Is to save every day 'Til Eternity passes away Just to spend them with you♫ Cats In The Cradle (1971) performed by Harry Chapin. Like Time In A Bottle, Cats In The Cradle is almost just as touching. Now, having a son for the past four plus years, there all of the sudden is a crop of new songs that tug at my heartstrings. Any songs like this, where the lyrics are about a relationship between a father and son just destroys me. I know how to play this on guitar, and I cannot sing these lyrics out loud as it tears me down to tears every time. I think the secret is that the words are true when Harry Chapin sings about how the son would say, "I'm gonna be like him..." because I see my son deliberately trying to copy every little thing that I do. He even shows me things about me that I didn't know about myself. I keep asking him where he gets this habit of sticking his tongue half-way out of his mouth and bites down when he pretends to play his guitar, and I told him to stop, yet he never would. He finally told me that it's because I do the same thing when I play my guitar. I thought he was crazy, and then I caught myself. It feels so natural, and I had no idea. How long did I do that for? Anyway, here are the lyrics: ♫A child arrived just the other day, He came to the world in the usual way. But there were planes to catch, and bills to pay. He learned to walk while I was away. And he was talking 'fore I knew it, and as he grew, He'd say, "I'm gonna be like you, dad. You know I'm gonna be like you." CHORUS And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon, Little boy blue and the man in the moon. "When you coming home, dad?" "I don't know when, But we'll get together then. You know we'll have a good time then." My son turned ten just the other day. He said, "Thanks for the ball, dad, come on let's play. Can you teach me to throw?" I said, "Not today, I got a lot to do." He said, "That's ok." And he walked away, but his smile never dimmed, Said, "I'm gonna be like him, yeah. You know I'm gonna be like him." CHORUS repeat Well, he came from college just the other day, So much like a man I just had to say, "Son, I'm proud of you. Can you sit for a while?" He shook his head, and he said with a smile, "What I'd really like, dad, is to borrow the car keys. See you later. Can I have them please?" CHORUS repeat I've long since retired and my son's moved away. I called him up just the other day. I said, "I'd like to see you if you don't mind." He said, "I'd love to, dad, if I could find the time. You see, my new job's a hassle, and the kid's got the flu, But it's sure nice talking to you, dad. It's been sure nice talking to you." And as I hung up the phone, it occurred to me, He'd grown up just like me. My boy was just like me.♫ CHORUS repeat Whenever You're Away From Me (1980) performed by Olivia Newton John and Gene Kelly. This song is from the Xanadu soundtrack. The song has that big band/swing type of feel. The lyrics are really nice, although a little cliché. They are sung by the two in a dialogue sort of way. The thing that chokes me up almost every time is that last note that Olivia sings. She has one of the sweetest voices that permeate with such ease. The notes just effortlessly float over the music, and here is the best example of her amazing whispered vocal. ♫No other face would take you off my mind You're so refined You're much too kind I have to warn you I'm never gonna set you free 'Cause I was born to Love you for eternity Whenever you're away from me Wherever you go You're never far away from me I want you to know I only have to close my eyes dear And suddenly I'm where you are You better never stray Cos I'll never be far away On every breeze I seem to hear your name My heart's aflame I feel the same I'd fall apart dear if you let the feelin' end Don't break a heart dear that nobody else could mend Whenever you're away from me Wherever you go You're never far away from me I want you to know I only have to close my eyes dear And suddenly I'm where you are You better never stray Cos I'll never be far away♫ O, Holy Night (1847). Performed by everybody and their mama at Christmas. There are many Christmas songs that choke me up, but I figured I would choose the mother of all of them to list here. This is one of those perfectly structured songs. The marriage between the melody, the lyrics and the emotion is perfected here. My favorite lyrics are, of course, the Fall on your knees.. part. I like the imagery the words portray with these words. "Fall on your knees" is a command to worship. I'm not sure when I had ever heard the whole song with all of the lyrics sung, most of the renditions usually only have the first verse. ♫O holy night, the stars are brightly shining; It is the night of the dear Savior’s birth! Long lay the world in sin and error pining, Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth. A thrill of hope, the weary soul rejoices, For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn. Fall on your knees, O hear the angel voices! O night divine, O night when Christ was born! O night, O holy night, O night divine! Led by the light of faith serenely beaming, With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand. So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming, Here came the wise men from Orient land. The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger, In all our trials born to be our Friend! He knows our need—to our weakness is no stranger. Behold your King; before Him lowly bend! Behold your King; before Him lowly bend! Truly He taught us to love one another; His law is love and His Gospel is peace. Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother And in His Name all oppression shall cease. Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we, Let all within us praise His holy Name! Christ is the Lord! O praise His name forever! His pow’r and glory evermore proclaim! His pow’r and glory evermore proclaim!♫ Blurry (2001) performed by Puddle of Mudd. I like this song a lot, and I think the lyrics are cool, but they don't make me cry. The thing about this song that gets me every time is the video. The lyrics enhance the drama of the video as well, so it's not really cheating for listing this song here. Puddle of Mudd is a band that came around in the year 2001, sounding an awful lot like Nirvana, but nowhere near as depressing. I say this so you know what kind of song this is, a grunge song released post-grunge. The video is about the lead singer, Wesley Reid Scantlin, getting custody of his son, who looks about nine years old here, for about two hours on the weekend. The kid's parents are broken up, and his life at home with his mom is very stressed, as she hooked up with a smoking, drinking, mafia-wannabe, sunglasses-wearing in the house, tough guy who is emotionally and physically abusive. When the kid gets those couple of hours of release each weekend, to be happy, play and fool around like a kid with his dad seems so happy, only so it could be taken away from him again so quickly. As I write this description, the imagery pops into my head and it chokes me up again. Well, not that they matter much on their own, but here are the lyrics: ♫Everything’s so blurry And everyone's so fake And everybody’s empty And everything is so messed up Pre-occupied without you I cannot live at all My whole world surrounds you I stumble then I crawl You could be my someone You could be my scene You know that I’ll protect you From all of the obscene I wonder what you're doing Imagine where you are There’s oceans in between us But that’s not very far CHORUS Can you take it all away? Can you take it all away? When ya shoved it in my face? This pain you gave to me Can you take it all away? Can you take it all away? When ya shoved it in my face? Everyone is changing There’s no one left that’s real So make up your own ending And let me know just how you feel 'Cause I am lost without you I cannot live at all My whole world surrounds you I stumble then I crawl You could be my someone You could be my scene You know that I will save you From all of the unclean I wonder what you're doing I wonder where you are There’s oceans in between us But that’s not very far CHORUS repeat Oh, Nobody told me what you thought Nobody told me what to say Everyone showed you where to turn Told you where to run away Nobody told you where to hide Nobody told you what to say Everyone showed you where to turn Showed you where to run away CHORUS repeat ♫ Waiting (Reprise) (1990). Performed by George Michael. This is the closing song on his second solo album, Listen Without Prejudice. ♫Well there ain't no point in moving on Until you've got somewhere to go And the road that I have walked upon Well it filled my pockets And emptied out my soul All those insecurities That have held me down for so long I can't say I've found a cure for these But at least I know them So they're not so strong You look for your dreams in heaven But what the hell are you supposed to do When they come true? Well there's one year of my life in the songs And some of them are about you Now I know there's no way I can write those wrongs Believe me I would not lie you've hurt my pride And I guess there's a road without you But you once said There's a way back for every man So here I am Don't people change, Here I am Is it too late to try again Here I am♫ Ricochet (1995). Performed by Faith No More. I wish everybody would give a listen to a band like Faith No More. They are one of the very few bands that existed that had that consistent quality of songs album after album. Their lyrics are often thought-provoking, even when they are silly lyrics, Cuckoo For Caca for example. Their lyrics often depict a slice of life, but someone else's very odd life. I chose Ricochet because it is one of the very few, or only songs from Faith No More that deal with love lost, or even the subject of love in general. I often credit Mike Patton with the genius of the lyrics, although I am totally unsure of who has input of the lyrics. I remember the first time I heard the words sung in this song, I was experiencing somewhat what the lyrics describe, and it did make me cry. I don't cry these days when hearing this song, but I'm still in awe how Faith No More create outside the box of the normal, and yet can still articulate human feelings and emotions that we all feel, yet cannot always express in this way. ♫ All of that thick time without you Has made me so thick and drunk "and it's okay to laugh about it" I said, "it's okay to laugh about it" Runnin' twice as fast to stay in The same place Don't catch my breath until the end Of the day And I'd rather be shot in the face Than hear what you're going to say One day the wind will come up And you'll come up empty again -And who'll be laughing then?- You'll come up empty again There's no reason - no explanation - so play The violins It's always funny until someone gets hurt... And then it's just hilarious! You beat me everytime you blink If only I did not have to think Think about you crackin' a smile Think about you all the while One day the wind will come up And you'll come up empty again -And who'll be laughing then?- You'll come up empty again There's no reason - no explanation - so play The violins On the ricochet - it's going to hit you It's always funny until someone gets hurt You can laugh at me - when it misses you♫ Someday We'll Know (2002). Performed by Mandy Moore and the guy from Switchfoot. These lyrics are definitely in my top 5 favorite. The lyrics were originally written by Greg Alexander of the New Radicals. Greg wrote a lot of great songs on that CD and then disappeared as far as I know. I like Greg's version too, but this version where it's a duet has a little extra magic. Mandy Moore's voice always sounds sweet, like a lullaby, and the guy from Switchfoot stays very true to Greg Alexander's original. I like the idea of a guy meeting God in the afterlife, he has all this opportunity to ask God the mysteries of the universe, and his one question, or at least his first question to the Almighty is, 'why wasn't the one I love meant for me?'. This is the most important question to him which emphasizes the great amount of love he feels for this woman. (sigh) ♫Ninety Miles outside Chicago Can't stop driving I don't know why So many questions Need an answer Two years later You're still on my mind Whatever happen to Amelia Earheart who holds the stars up in the sky? Is true love just once in a lifetime? Did the captain of the Titanic cry? (Chorus) Someday we'll know If love can move a mountain... Someday we'll know Why the sky is blue... Someday we'll know Why I wasn't meant for you... Does anybody know the way to Atlantis? Or what the wind says when she cries? I'm speeding by the place that I met you For 97th time...tonight (Chorus) Someday we'll know If love can move a mountain... Someday we'll know Why the sky is blue... Someday we'll know Why I wasn't meant for you... (yeah yeah yeah yeah) Someday we'll know Why Samson loved Delilah... One day I'll go Dancing on the moon... Someday you'll know That I was the one for you... I bought a ticket to the end of the rainbow, And watched the stars crash in the sea, If I could ask God just one question... Why aren't you here with me?...tonight (Chorus) Someday we'll know If love can move a mountain... Someday we'll know Why the sky is blue... Someday we'll know Why I wasn't meant for you... (yeah yeah yeah yeah) Someday we'll know Why Samson loved Delilah... One day I'll go Dancing on the moon... Someday you'll know That I was the one for you...♫ UPDATE ↕ Daffodil Lament performed by The Cranberries (1994) My wife introduced me to this song, the lyrics cut to the heart I think, but the delivery makes them alive. These are some of the saddest, yet happiest lyrics at the same time. ♫Holding on that’s what I do Since I met you And it won’t be long, would you notice If I left you And it’s fine for some Cause you’re not the one, All night long, I laid on my pillow These things are wrong I can’t sleep here So lonely, so lonely I have decided to leave you forever I have decided to start things from here Thunder and lightning won’t change What I’m feeling And the daffodils look lovely today Ol in your eyes I can see the disguise Ol in your eyes I can see the dismay Has anyone seen lightning Has anyone looked lovely And the daffodils looked lovely today Looked lovely♫

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