Are you the type of person who feels all the feels to the soundtrack of your life? If so, we’re in the same boat! I play “Who Says” by Selena Gomez and The Scene whenever I feel blue.
The lyrics “Who says you’re not worth it, who says you’re the only one that’s hurting” comfort me. Besides this song, I listed other popular songs that hit harder when you understand the lyrics.
1. Ghost by Justin Bieber
“Ghost” by Justin Bieber is a track that reflects the aftermath of a breakup. The lyrics find Justin singing about how his ex-lover is still around even though she’s gone.
“I miss you more than life,” he sings as he wrestles with the memories of their romance and the emptiness they’ve left behind, one of the best lyrics in the song.
2. This Is Me by Demi Lovato
Demi Lovato’s “This Is Me” is a powerful song about self-acceptance. It is an anthem about owning your identity and not being ashamed.
The song’s emotional lyrics remind us to always be unapologetically ourselves. The lyrics “This is real, this is me, I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be now / I’m gonna let the light shine on me” hit hard.
3. Gift of a Friend by Demi Lovato
“Gift of a Friend” is a touching song about friendship and support and how having someone there for you when times are tough can make all the difference.
The lyrics, “Sometimes you think I’ll be fine by myself because a dream is a wish you make all alone” sum up how we’re not supposed to go through life alone and how valuable it can be to have someone to share our dreams with.
4. Rockabye by Clean Bandit (featuring Sean Paul and Anne-Marie)
“Rockabye” by Clean Bandit, featuring Sean Paul and Anne-Marie, is a pop hit that many say is what pop music (and society) needs. It is a message of single motherhood and the strength and sacrifice of a single mother to raise a child even when faced with adversity.
One of the most powerful lines of the song is, “She tells him, Your life ain’t gon’ be nothing like my life / You’re gonna grow and have a good life,” because she is going to make sure that her child’s life is nothing like hers.
5. Back to December by Taylor Swift
An emotional and heartfelt reflection on regrets and the desire for forgiveness and reconciliation, Taylor Swift’s “Back to December” perfectly captures the emotions of wanting to make things right for past wrongs.
The lyrics, “But this is me swallowing my pride, standing in front of you, saying I’m sorry for that night,” touch anyone who’s ever wished for the chance to go back in time and right a wrong in a relationship can understand.
6. Tears in Heaven by Eric Clapton
The song sounds haunting and pays a touching tribute to the guitarist’s four-year-old son, who passed away. “Tears in Heaven” was originally released in 1991 and remains a haunting part of Rush‘s soundtrack.
The opening line, “Would you know my name if I saw you in heaven?” never fails to touch anyone who lost a loved one.
7. Need You Now by Lady Antebellum
Lady Antebellum’s “Need You Now” is a country-pop ballad that portrays sadness and longing and captures the feeling of late-night loneliness and vulnerability.
“It’s a quarter after one, I’m all alone and I need you now,” the trio of co-lead singers belted without qualifiers about who they needed, why, or at what cost.
8. Jar of Hearts by Christina Perri
“Jar of Hearts” by Christina Perri is a piano ballad about a woman betrayed by her lover. It uses fresh and brutal imagery from the recently ended relationship.
These lyrics hit hard: “Who do you think you are? Running around leaving scars, collecting your jar of hearts.”
10. Everybody’s Got to Learn Sometime by The Korgis
“Everybody’s Got to Learn Sometime” is a bittersweet love story by British pop-rock band The Korgis, which grows from a beautifully aching ballad of loss into a celebration of change and growth.
The closing refrain is, “Change your heart, look around you. Change your heart; it will astound you.”
11. Who Says by Selena Gomez
Selena Gomez’s “Who Says” is empowering for anyone who needs a little bit of self-confidence.
Throughout the song, she tells people to be themselves and not let anyone’s opinion get them down. Everyone knows the lines, “Who says you’re not perfect? Who says you’re not worth it?” They help a heavy tear fall from even the coldest heart.
11. I Will Always Love You by Whitney Houston
“I Will Always Love You” describes love as a timeless emotion. It is beautiful in its strength and devastating in the truth of goodbye.
The song dips into the gentler corners of love’s soul, gracefully acknowledging the places where letting go of each other is the only right thing to do. “So goodbye, please don’t cry. We both know I’m not what you need / And I will always love you.” The song’s painful melody perfectly serves the lyrics.
12. The Show Must Go On by Queen
When “Empty spaces, what are we living for?” blasts through your speakers, you already know “The Show Must Go On” is where it’s at. It asks possibly the biggest questions in life about what it all means—life, death, and why we’re here.
It’s like a deep conversation with someone who prompts you to think about what you’re doing and why.
13. Fix You by Coldplay
This Coldplay tune is the ultimate hit when feeling down. It is all about hope and has the perfect lyrics for those who are uncertain about the future.
“Lights will guide you home and ignite your bones, and I will try to fix you“ reminds you to stay hopeful even in the lowest parts of your life.
14. Someone You Loved by Lewis Capaldi
“Someone You Loved” is about the pain of longing after a breakup.
The lyrics “Now the day bleeds into nightfall, and you’re not here to get me through it all” relate to people mourning the end of a relationship or the loss of a loved one.
15. Someone Like You by Adele
“Someone Like You” is about breaking up with a loved one. The ballad is about the raw emotion that can accompany the end of a relationship and the strength and love it takes to want the best for someone when your life together is over.
This tune is perfect for listening to during a breakup, and lyrics like “Never mind, I’ll find someone like you, I wish nothing but the best for you too” hit home for many.
16. Drivers License by Olivia Rodrigo
“Drivers License,” one of 2021’s breakout songs, is all about the emotional ending of a teenage relationship, something anyone who has ever had their heart broken can vibe with.
The line, “And I just can’t imagine how you could be so okay now that I’m gone,” really speaks to watching a former flame move on while you’re still smarting.
17. Rise Up by Andra Day
Play “Rise Up” when you need motivation to get through a rough patch. It’s about facing obstacles head-on.
“And I’ll rise up, I’ll rise like the day, I’ll rise up, I’ll rise unafraid” is the type of verse that holds you. By the end of the song, you can picture yourself standing up and facing your struggle.
18. Shallow by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper
“Shallow” speaks to the intense connection when you know someone authentically and intimately.
The deep chorus, “I’m off the deep end, watch as I dive in,” speaks to risk, jumping off the edge, and the danger of betting it all for love.
19. All of Me by John Legend
A soulful testament to devotion, “All of Me” is a tribute to the beauty of imperfection and the total acceptance that love requires.
With the tender lyric, “’cause all of me loves all of you,” the song’s sentiment reflects the depth of true love and adoration.
20. Hello by Adele
“Hello” expresses the intense emotion of reconnecting with an old flame. The line, “Hello from the other side, I must’ve called a thousand times,” begs the other person for closure and to acknowledge their shared past.
The Top 10 Saddest Songs of All Time
As I surfed the web for great music, I came across an interesting discussion: “What’s the saddest song you’ve ever heard?” Let’s examine the top answers, those with the most likes, and explore the tunes that have touched the hearts of many.
SEO Writer at Radical Fire, Blogger with expertise in SEO writing. She graduated from St. Paul College Foundation Inc. and has taken courses in freelancing and writing at FVA. She has over 100 articles across the web. Carina is passionate about reading nonfiction books, writing, and watching various documentaries about travel and economics. She has also written for an MSN publication.