Tear-jerker Songs

Updated on June 21, 2010
L.G. asks from Austin, TX
49 answers

What is the one song that just makes you ball like a baby when you hear it?

Mine is " I Can Only Imagine " by Mercy Me.
That one song just makes me weep like you wouldn't believe.
I heard it at work on the radio and I had to go outside to wipe off my face, my eyes were all red from it getting to me. Hmmm, just weird.

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So What Happened?

Thanks for all the songs!! Some of them I knew and some I didn't....so I will need to check it out. :)

Update: WOW so many responses. Reading the stories behind your songs made me want to cry. Thank you ladies for sharing your lives with me.
I will have to listen to these songs over time, otherwise I'd be a weeping mess. With the song " I Can Only Imagine " for me.....I've listened it over and over, thinking I could be 'stronger' without tears, but ugh I can't even mouth the wording without balling. It makes me buckle every time.
-----------------------To Katie & Tracy~ WAHHHHHHHHHH . Reading the lyrics got me bawling like a baby. Now I just have to explain to my 7 yr old why I'm crying. :))

***

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M.K.

answers from Kansas City on

There's too many to name (post-pregnancy hormones, maybe?), but my two 'right now' favorites are 1) Sissy's Song by Alan Jackson (I think that's the name) and most recently, "This Ain't Nothin'" by Craig Morgan (I saw the video and bawled like a baby!)

3 moms found this helpful
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C.S.

answers from Las Vegas on

Songs have different meanings to each listener. Some songs are played in movies, so they relate to that specific scene.

We played Bridge over Troubled Waters at my Dad's funeral, so that song gets me a bit emotional because the relation it has and will always have.

Often what ever songs are used in editing certain photo shoots will get me worked up too. Ever year I shoot the Susan G Komen Race and what ever song is edited into the clips makes me cry. Here is a clip of the video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DCnqd7N3aE

So, a tear jerking song doesn't always have to be the one to make you cry.

2 moms found this helpful
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M.C.

answers from Washington DC on

When I get to where I'm going - Brad Paisley/Dolly Parton
Sarah's song - Rascal Flats
Alyssa Lies - Jason Michael Carroll
If You're Reading This - Tim McGraw

2 moms found this helpful

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J.C.

answers from Lake Charles on

" be not afraid" a church song (i am catholic)
" one more day" country song
" on eagle's wings" another church song

sometimes "the dance" by garth brooks
um... "greatest love of all" - whitney houston
and "wind beneath my wings" bette midler
"in my daughter's eyes" by martina mcbride
and i also love "god bless the usa"

4 moms found this helpful
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D.K.

answers from Washington DC on

You know what's funny....for me it's "Proud to be an American" lol! Guess I'm just the super patriotic type! :) And I did "stand up...to defend her still today" since I served in the military, so it's got special meaning for me.

__________________________________________________________

Oh yeah, the title of the song is "God bless the USA" I forgot that until I read another answer. Oops! Now I feel like a ding-dong. :)

3 moms found this helpful

P.M.

answers from San Antonio on

OMG! Let's see:

Sarabeth - Rascal Flatts (country)
He's My Son - Mark Schultz (christian)
If You're Reading This - Tim McGraw (country)
The Dance - Garth Brooks (I lived in OKC at the time of the bombing and this song was played at the memorial service)
Remember When - Alan Jackson (country)
Concrete Angel - Martina McBride (country)
What Faith Can Do - Kutless (christian)
Cinderella and Heaven is the Face - Steven Curtis Chapman (christian - he lost his 5 year old daughter in a tragic accident a couple years ago and these songs are about his daughter)

These are just a few...

3 moms found this helpful

K.C.

answers from Barnstable on

Ave Maria, sung my the Mount Holyoke College Choir during Christmas Vespers. Wow.

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D.B.

answers from Charlotte on

.

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C.T.

answers from San Antonio on

"the house that built me" by Miranda Lambert. after my mom died her house was buldozed to the ground, all thats there is the concret from the front porch. we used to sit their for hours. but the house where i grew up id GONE! I dont even have a picture if the outside. :-(

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J.P.

answers from Houston on

So glad you asked this.
It's all in the interpretation.

I Can Only Imagine (my #1 al-ltime favortie)

If I could dance with my father again - Luther Vandross
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLuP-4ZEhOE

think of my father when I hear this one, too
The Wind Beneath My Wings - Bette Midler
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-T1h7J0R-Q

not a tear jerker, but good for thought
Live Like You Were Dying - Tim McGraw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xSGLZd9Vg4&feature=fvst

more food for thought; fills up my heart
Broken Road by Rascal Flatts
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkWGwY5nq7A

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E.M.

answers from San Antonio on

The song that gets me every time is "I saw her first" by Alabama (I think?)
Having only one daughter makes me think the day she weds. My second favorite is "Daddy's hands" my father died so this song has a very special meaning to me. My last favorite is "In God's Hands Now" it's a very meaningful son.

Elisa M

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L.B.

answers from Stockton on

"Brian's Song", it's instrumental and makes me cry every time.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.M.

answers from San Francisco on

Darius Rucker, It Won't Be Like This For Long- makes me bawl every time!!!

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J.G.

answers from San Antonio on

I can't think of many songs that make me cry a lot. But recently, on American Idol, I got a little teary eyed and got goosebumps when Crystal Bowersox sang during "inspirational week". She sang Curtis Mayfield's legendary "People Get Ready". I didn't know the name of the son, so if you Google "Crystal Bowersoz inspirational song" you get a youtube link first thing.

Oh - I LOVE "The Revelation Song" sung by many people.

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J.B.

answers from Atlanta on

"Cat's in the Cradle" is the biggie! It's cliche, but it will rip your heart out if you're a parent! So will "Sunrise, Sunset" from Fiddler on the Roof. Years ago Kodak used it in a commercial showing a little girl growing up, and they pulled it because of complaints from people who bawled every time it aired! I'm tearing up just thinking about it!

I'm not a religious person, but "Amazing Grace" does it every time.

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H.P.

answers from Houston on

"Don't Cry for Me" by CeCe Winans.

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K.G.

answers from Fort Wayne on

my little girl-tim mcgraw
clocks-coldplay
cannon in D - the christmas version

1 mom found this helpful

T.K.

answers from Dallas on

At my daughters graduation they had the all the kids sing to the crowd with the choir - Celine Dions song - "Because you love me." Oh I'm gonna cry right now thinking about it. I don't even like Celine Dion, but that song fit that graduation. I have copied the lyrics here so you can cry with me.

For all those times you stood by me
For all the truth that you made me see
For all the joy you brought to my life
For all the wrong that you made right
For every dream you made come true
For all the love I found in you
I'll be forever thankful baby
You're the one who held me up
Never let me fall
You're the one who saw me through through it all

You were my strength when I was weak
You were my voice when I couldn't speak
You were my eyes when I couldn't see
You saw the best there was in me
Lifted me up when I couldn't reach
You gave me faith 'coz you believed
I'm everything I am
Because you loved me

You gave me wings and made me fly
You touched my hand I could touch the sky
I lost my faith, you gave it back to me
You said no star was out of reach
You stood by me and I stood tall
I had your love I had it all
I'm grateful for each day you gave me
Maybe I don't know that much
But I know this much is true
I was blessed because I was loved by you

You were my strength when I was weak
You were my voice when I couldn't speak
You were my eyes when I couldn't see
You saw the best there was in me
Lifted me up when I couldn't reach
You gave me faith 'coz you believed
I'm everything I am
Because you loved me

You were always there for me
The tender wind that carried me
A light in the dark shining your love into my life
You've been my inspiration
Through the lies you were the truth
My world is a better place because of you

You were my strength when I was weak
You were my voice when I couldn't speak
You were my eyes when I couldn't see
You saw the best there was in me
Lifted me up when I couldn't reach
You gave me faith 'coz you believed
I'm everything I am
Because you loved me

I'm everything I am
Because you loved me

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K.Z.

answers from Houston on

ok I am a little late but the Christmas song The Shoes gets me every year!!
And the Elton John song The Last Song (I think thats it) about a Father being there for his Son dying of AIDS.

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D.F.

answers from Houston on

It made me tear up just reading all the songs everyone posted!!
I can Only Imagine by Mercy Me was my ring tone for my sister. She passed away last year. So that one really gets to me. One of her friends posted the words on her facebook page right after she passed and I just lost it. It is getting a little easier to hear 6 months down the road, but not that much!
Enough by Chris Tomlin is a great one.
Thanks for posting!

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E.C.

answers from Fayetteville on

The song "God Gave Me You" by Dave Barnes.

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J.T.

answers from College Station on

"Don't Take The Girl" I can't remember who did it. It is from the early 90s. Make me cry every time!

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T.H.

answers from Richmond on

"Never Would Have Made it" by Marvin Sapp, it was played at my cousin's funeral a year and a half ago, still can't listen to it!!

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M.O.

answers from Odessa on

Tears of Heaven- Eric Clapton
In my daughter's eyes- Martina McBride
Remember When- Alan Jackson
Dance with my father- Luther Vandross
Love, Me- Collin Raye
Holes in the floor of Heaven
B. Kisses
All these songs make me cry every time!

Another I just thought of is On Eagles Wings- it's a church song. It plays a lot at memorial services and also makes me cry, even when I'm just at a regular church service.

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T.M.

answers from Austin on

Remember When by Alan Jackson gets me every time and especially if I see the video with it! Of and of course The Wind Beneath my Wings from the movie Beaches. Music gets my emotions going whether it be happy or sad, makes you feel human.....

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M.M.

answers from Minneapolis on

I see Markassa wrote the very two I was going to.... I ball each time I hear them. During Christmas, I sometimes have to turn off the radio.
I like Brian McKinghts "Remember the Magic" as well. It makes me think of when my kids were babies and toddlers and life was not as busy running and the milestones they made.

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L.D.

answers from Albany on

"Who Am I" by Casting Crowns.

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K.J.

answers from New York on

I see a lot of people put Live like you were dying so I'll go with My Wish by Rascall Flats. Put it to pictures of my son growing up, now I bawl like a baby EVERY time!
Lyrics below:
I hope the days come easy and the moments pass slow,
and each road leads you where you want to go,
and if you're faced with a choice, and you have to choose,
I hope you choose the one that means the most to you.
and if one door opens to another door closed,
I hope you keep on walkin' 'til you find the window,
if it's cold outside,
show the world the warmth of your smile,
but more than anything, more than anything,

My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
your dreams stay big, your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
and while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.

I hope you never look back, but ya never forget,
all the ones who love you, in the place you left,
I hope you always forgive, and you never regret,
and you help somebody every chance you get,
Oh, you find God's grace, in every mistake,
and always give more then you take.

But more than anything, Yeah, and more than anything,

My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
and while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.

My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,
your dreams stay big, your worries stay small,
You never need to carry more than you can hold,
and while you're out there getting where you're getting to,
I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,
Yeah, this, is my wish.
this is my wish
i hope you know somebody loves you
may all your dreams stay big

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C.J.

answers from Dallas on

100 years by five for fighting and Amazing Grace. Dopey, I know.

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B.N.

answers from Dallas on

"I'll Wait For You" by Joe Nichols

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S.R.

answers from Odessa on

"Imagine Me" by Kirk Franklin. Expresses the realization of being free from whatever circumstances or situations might have crippled you, but God. Enough said.

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N.A.

answers from Harrisburg on

It's called "Baby Girl" by Will Hoge...I GUARANTEE all you mommas that you will ball like a baby when you hear it. I think of my daughter everytime I hear it.

1 mom found this helpful
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L.K.

answers from Houston on

Dance with my Father again

1 mom found this helpful
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M.C.

answers from Detroit on

B. Kisses by Bob Carlisle
The Christmas Shoes

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C.F.

answers from El Paso on

"If I had only known" Reba McIntyre
"Dont take the girl" Tim Magraw
Tears in Heaven Eric Clapton

those always make me cry especially the first one since my high school sweetheart passed in a car accident at the age of 19.

1 mom found this helpful

C.M.

answers from St. Louis on

Pretty much any song about being a parent, seeing your children grow up, anything sentimental. Not sure if it's hormones or what but I'm pretty weepy fairly easily!!

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J.S.

answers from Tampa on

I know you have alot of answers, but I didn't see this one...
"Forever" originally by The Beach Boys, but Jesse from Full House redid it. I saw that episode last week, the same day I found out I'm having a boy, and the video had me bawling like a baby. It explains exactly how I feel towards my son and how I want our life together to be. :)

1 mom found this helpful

~.~.

answers from Tulsa on

I always tear up and/or flat out cry when I listen to Letters from Home by John Michael Montgomery, Traveling Soldier by the Dixie Chicks, and Three Crosses by Randy Travis. I used to date a guy in the Army and he was being sent to Iraq right when I found the first two songs and my dad is a preacher, so the last song always gets to me.

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M.M.

answers from Dallas on

This will sound corny, but I always tear up before a game when they play the 'Star Spangled Banner'.

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L.P.

answers from Pittsburgh on

Probably many, actually, but the one that comes to mind is "I Believe" by Diamond Rio. It's about the reality of angels in our lives. My son's grandfather passed away when he was just under a year old, and I did a photo slide show of all the pictures I had of the two of them together with that song. I am tearing up just thinking about it.

1 mom found this helpful
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L.L.

answers from College Station on

If you want a real tear-jerker song google Alan Jacksons song Sissy's song. It will certainly make you weep.

L.

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J.W.

answers from Houston on

Daddy's Hands does it for me as well and many of the songs in the other responses! This song makes me think of my earthly father and my spiritual Father!!!!

1 mom found this helpful
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L.D.

answers from Las Vegas on

Tears in Heaven by Eric Clapton

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N.M.

answers from San Francisco on

I know it's been a while since you posted your question, but I just had to add mine to the list.

"Heaven is the Face" by Steven Curtis Chapman
and
"Held" by Natalie Grant

I cry every time I hear those on the radio.

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K.C.

answers from Philadelphia on

Time After Time by Cyndi Lauper. I have no idea why, but it made me cry 20 years ago and still makes me cry today...

1 mom found this helpful
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E.T.

answers from Birmingham on

I love Brad Paisley's song "He Didn't Have To Be" - I had a step-dad that was my 'dad' - he wasn't my biological father - but anyone can be a father - takes someone awesome to be a Dad and he is that. He has brain cancer right now and it is really h*** o* us but God's Will.

I love I Can Only Imagine too - can't hear it without crying, but I love to listen to it.

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S.C.

answers from Austin on

The House That Built Me by Miranda Lambert. I cried everytime I heard it for the first 3 weeks I listened to it.

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A.B.

answers from San Antonio on

God Bless the Broken Road by Rascal Flatts. It has special meaning, as our family was formed through adoption.

B.C.

answers from Dallas on

You're beautiful by Phil Wickam is an AMAZING christian song. We just played it in a slideshow full of pictures of my 5 year old nephew who was killed last week.

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