For a long time now, listening to music has been my way of escaping stress. Over the years I’ve listened to probably thousands of songs on the radio, but there have only been a handful that have really hit close to home, or have made my emotions go in all different directions.
Below, I’ve decided to present some of my all time favorite songs. It would take me forever to explain why I love each of them, but for the most part they are all, to an extent, telling a sad story. I tend to fall for songs that are sad because they evoke deep emotions from the heart. For each song, I’ve chosen the part of the lyrics that I believe best capture the essence of each song. I hope you take a listen to these songs and find them as beautifully moving as I do!
1. “Story of Another Us”- 5 Seconds of Summer
I got a long-term plan with short-term fixes
And a wasted heart that just eclipses
And I push my luck from trust to dust enough
That’s the story of another us
One last ditch, a new beginning
So take this heart, put yourself in it
This surprise ending I’m depending on
2. “I’m With You” – Avril Lavigne
I’m looking for a place
I’m searching for a face
Is anybody here I know?
‘Cause nothing’s going right
And everything’s a mess
And no one likes to be alone
3. “How to Save a Life” – The Fray
Let him know that you know best
‘Cause after all you do know best
Try to slip past his defense
Without granting innocence
Lay down a list of what is wrong
The things you’ve told him all along
Pray to God, he hears you
And I pray to God, he hears you
4. “Clean” – Taylor Swift
There was nothing left to do
When the butterflies turned to dust that covered my whole room
So I punched a hole in the roof
Let the flood carry away all my pictures of you
The water filled my lungs
I screamed so loud but no one heard a thing
5. “Infinity” – One Direction
Down to Earth
Keep on falling when I know it hurts
Going faster than a million miles an hour
Trying to catch my breath some way, somehow
Down to Earth
It’s like I’m frozen, but the world still turns
Stuck in motion, and the wheels keep spinning ’round
Moving in reverse with no way out
6. “Nothing Without Love” – Nate Ruess
Three years at sea after the storm
On this sinking ship that love had put me on
God I wish a gust of wind would come and carry me home
But I, I got nowhere to go
Now here you show up with the force of a wave
And so I’m setting my sail, I’m headed for the empire state
Hey hey lord, I don’t want to lose this one, she make me feel whole
You know I am, I am nothing without love
7. “Dark Side” – Kelly Clarkson
Everybody’s got a dark side
Do you love me?
Can you love mine?
Nobody’s a picture perfect
But we’re worth it
You know that we’re worth it
Will you love me?
Even with my dark side?
8. “Stay”- Rihanna
Not really sure how to feel about it.
Something in the way you move
Makes me feel like I can’t live without you.
It takes me all the way.
I want you to stay
9. “It Will Rain” – Bruno Mars
Cause there’ll be no sunlight
If I lose you, baby
There’ll be no clear skies
If I lose you, baby
Just like the clouds
My eyes will do the same, if you walk away
Everyday it’ll rain, rain, ra-a-a-ain
10. “Secret Love Song” – Little Mix
We keep behind closed doors
Every time I see you, I die a little more
Stolen moments that we steal as the curtain falls
It’ll never be enough
It’s obvious you’re meant for me
Every piece of you, it just fits perfectly
Every second, every thought, I’m in so deep
But I’ll never show it on my face
11. “Young and Beautiful” – Lana Del Rey
I’ve seen the world, lit it up
As my stage now
Channeling angels in the new age now
Hot summer days, rock ‘n’ roll
The way you play for me at your show
And all the ways I got to know
Your pretty face and electric soul
12. “Boston” – Augustana
She said I think I’ll go to Boston…
I think I’ll start a new life,
I think I’ll start it over, where no one knows my name,
I’ll get out of California,
I’m tired of the weather,
I think I’ll get a lover and fly him out to Spain…
13. “Iris” – The Goo Goo Dolls
And I don’t want the world to see me
‘Cause I don’t think that they’d understand
When everything’s made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am
And you can’t fight the tears that ain’t coming
Or the moment of truth in your lies
When everything feels like the movies
Yeah, you bleed just to know you’re alive
14. “Chasing Cars”- Snow Patrol
Forget what we’re told
Before we get too old
Show me a garden that’s bursting into life
All that I am
All that I ever was
Is here in your perfect eyes, they’re all I can see
15. “Jar of Hearts” – Christina Perri
And it took so long just to feel alright
Remember how to put back the light in my eyes
I wish I had missed the first time that we kissed
‘Cause you broke all your promises
And now you’re back
You don’t get to get me back
16. “Safest Place” – Echosmith
Run straight through the valley
And end up where you’ve wanted to be
Swim past the shadows
And the words that echo off the street
If you’re looking for truth
Don’t come looking for me
You’re better off not knowing
Cause your own story
Is the safest place you’ll ever be
17. “Praying”- Kesha
Well, you almost had me fooled
Told me that I was nothing without you
Oh, and after everything you’ve done
I can thank you for how strong I have become
‘Cause you brought the flames and you put me through hell
I had to learn how to fight for myself
And we both know all the truth I could tell
I’ll just say this is I wish you farewell
18. “Nothing” – The Script
So I stumble there, along the railings and the fences
I know if we’re face to face then she’ll come to her senses
Every drunk step I take leads me to her door
If she sees how much I’m hurting, she’ll take me back for sure
19. “The Only Exception” – Paramore
I’ve got a tight grip on reality,
But I can’t let go of what’s in front of me here.
I know you’re leaving in the morning when you wake up.
Leave me with some kind of proof it’s not a dream.
Oh-oh-oh-ohhh.
20. “My Immortal” – Evanescence
You used to captivate me by your resonating light
Now I’m bound by the life you left behind
Your face, it haunts my once pleasant dreams
Your voice, it chased away all the sanity in me
21. “Therapy” – All Time Low
My ship went down
In a sea of sound.
When I woke up alone I had everything:
A handful of moments I wished I could change
And a tongue like a nightmare that cut like a blade.
In a city of fools,
I was careful and cool,
But they tore me apart like a hurricane…
A handful of moments I wished I could change
But I was carried away.
22. “Terrible Things” – Mayday Parade
Now, most of the time we’d have too much to drink
And we’d laugh at the stars and we’d share everything
Too young to notice, and too dumb to care
Love was a story that couldn’t compare.
I said, “Girl, can I tell you a wonderful thing?
I made you a present with paper and string.
Open with care now, I’m asking you, please.
You know that I love you, will you marry me?”
23. “Fix You” – Coldplay
When you try your best, but you don’t succeed
When you get what you want, but not what you need
When you feel so tired, but you can’t sleep
Stuck in reverse
And the tears come streaming down your face
When you lose something you can’t replace
When you love someone, but it goes to waste
Could it be worse?
24. “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” – Green Day
My shadow’s the only one that walks beside me
My shallow heart’s the only thing that’s beating
Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me
‘Til then I walk alone
25. “Sweet Creature” – Harry Styles
Sweet creature
Running through the garden, oh, where nothing bothered us
But we’re still young
I always think about you and how we don’t speak enough
And ohhhh, we started
Two hearts in one home
I know it’s hard, we argue
We’re both stubborn, I know
26. “Halo” – Beyonce
Hit me like a ray of sun
Burning through my darkest night
You’re the only one that I want
Think I’m addicted to your light
I swore I’d never fall again
But this don’t even feel like falling
Gravity can’t forget to pull me back to the ground again
27. “Breathe (2 AM)” – Anna Nalick
There’s a light at each end of this tunnel,
You shout ’cause you’re just as far in as you’ll ever be out
And these mistakes you’ve made, you’ll just make them again
If you’d only try turning around.
2 AM and I’m still awake, writing a song
If I get it all down on paper, it’s no longer inside of me,
Threatening the life it belongs to
28. “Collide” – Howie Day
I’m quiet you know
You make a first impression
Well, I’ve found I’m scared to know
I’m always on your mind
Even the best fall down sometimes
Even the stars refuse to shine
Out of the back you fall in time
I somehow find
You and I collide
29. “Drops of Jupiter” – Train
But tell me, did you sail across the sun?
Did you make it to the Milky Way to see the lights all faded
And that heaven is overrated?
Tell me, did you fall for a shooting star–
One without a permanent scar?
And did you miss me while you were looking for yourself out there?
30. “Two is Better Than One” – Boys Like Girls
I remember every look upon your face
The way you roll your eyes, the way you taste
You make it hard for breathing
‘Cause when I close my eyes and drift away
I think of you and everything’s okay
I’m finally now believing
31. “Impossible”- Shontelle
Falling out of love is hard
Falling for betrayal is worse
Broken trust and broken hearts
I know, I know
Thinking all you need is there
Building faith on love and words
Empty promises will wear
I know, I know
32. “Supermarket Flowers” – Ed Sheeran
Oh, I’m in pieces. It’s tearing me up but I know
A heart that’s broke is a heart that’s been loved
So, I’ll sing Hallelujah,
You were an angel in the shape of my mum
When I fell down you’d be there holding me up
Spread your wings as you go
And when God takes you back
He’ll say, “Hallelujah, you’re home.”
33. “Lay Me Down” – Sam Smith
And it’s hard
The days just seem so dark
The moon and the stars
Are nothing without you
Your touch, your skin
Where do I begin?
No words can explain
The way I’m missing you
34. “Haunting” – Halsey
I was as pure as a river
But now I think I’m possessed
You put a fever inside me
And I’ve been cold since you left
I’ve got a boyfriend now and he’s made of gold
And you’ve got your own mistakes in a bed at home
I’m hoping you could save me now but you break and fold
You’ve got a fire inside but your heart’s so cold
35. “She Will Be Loved” – Maroon 5
Tap on my window, knock on my door
I want to make you feel beautiful
I know I tend to get so insecure
It doesn’t matter anymore
It’s not always rainbows and butterflies
It’s compromise that moves us along, yeah
My heart is full and my door’s always open
You come anytime you want, yeah.
There are millions of other beautiful songs in the world, but I hope some of these were your favorites as well!
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