Listening to music has been my way of escaping stress for a long time. Over the years, I've probably heard thousands of songs on the radio, but only a few of them really touched me or made my emotions go in different directions.
Below I have decided to present some of my favorite songs of all time. It would take me forever to explain why I love each of them, but more often than not, they all, to some degree, tell a sad story. I tend to fall in love with sad songs because they evoke emotions deep in the heart. For each song, I chose the lyrics that I think best capture the essence of each song. I hope you listen to these songs and find them as exciting as I do!
1. "Story of Another Us" - 5 Seconds of Summer
I have a long term plan with short term solutions.
And a wasted heart that only outshines
And I've pushed my trusty luck to the dust far enough
This is the story of another us
One last ditch, a new beginning
So take this heart, put yourself in it
This surprise ending that I depend on
2. “I'm with you” – Avril Lavigne
I'm looking for a place
i'm looking for a face
Is there anyone here that I know?
because nothing is going well
and everything is a mess
And no one likes to be alone
3. “How to Save a Life” – The Fray
let him know you know best
Because after all you know better
Try to get past your defense
without conceding innocence
Make a list of what's wrong
The things you said to him all along
Pray to God, he listens to you
And I ask God to listen to you
4. “Limpo” – Taylor Swift
There was nothing else to do
When the butterflies turned to dust that covered my whole room
So I made a hole in the ceiling
Let the flood take all my pictures of you
The water filled my lungs
I screamed so loud but no one heard a thing
5. “Infinity” – One Direction
With your feet on the ground
Keep falling when I know it hurts
Going faster than a million miles an hour
Trying to catch my breath somehow, somehow
With your feet on the ground
It's like I'm frozen but the world keeps turning
Stuck in motion, and the wheels keep turning
Moving backwards with no way out
6. “Nothing without love” – Nate Ruess
Three years at sea after the storm
On this sinking ship that love has put me on
God I wish a gust of wind would come and take me home
But I, I have nowhere to go
Now here you come with the force of a wave
And so I'm setting sail, headed for the empire state
Hey hey mister I don't want to miss this one it makes me feel complete
You know that I am, I am nothing without love
7. “Black Side” – Kelly Clarkson
everyone has a dark side
You love Me?
Can you love mine?
Nobody is perfect
but we are worth it
you know we're worth it
You'll love me?
Even with my dark side?
8. “Stay”- Rihanna
I'm not sure how to feel about this.
something in the way you move
It makes me feel like I can't live without you.
This brings me to the end.
I want you to stay
9. “It Will Rain” – Bruno Mars
Because there will be no sunlight.
if i lose you darling
there will be no clear skies
if i lose you darling
just like the clouds
My eyes will do the same if you leave
Every day it's going to rain, rain, ra-a-a-ain
10. “Secret Love Song” – Little Mix
We keep it behind closed doors
Every time I see you I die a little more
Stolen moments we steal when the curtain falls
It will never be enough
It's obvious that you were made for me
Every piece of you fits perfectly
Every second, every thought, I'm so deep
But I'll never show it to my face
11. “Young and Beautiful” – Lana Del Rey
I saw the world, I turned it on
like 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've known
your pretty face and your electric soul
12. “Boston” – Augustana
He said I think I'm going to Boston...
I think I'm going to start a new life,
I think I'll start again, where no one knows my name,
I'm leaving california
I'm tired of time
I think I'll get a lover and take him to Spain...
13. “Iris” – The Goo Goo Dolls
And I don't want the world to see me
because I don't think they understand
When everything is meant to be broken
I just want you to know who I am
And you can't fight the tears that won't come
Or the moment of truth in your lies
When everything looks like a movie
Yeah you bleed just to know you're alive
14. "Chasing Cars" - Snow Patrol
Forget what they told us
Before we're too old
Show me a garden that is full of life
all i am
all i've been
It's here in your perfect eyes, they're all I can see
15. “Jar of Hearts” – Christina Perri
And it took me so long to feel alright
Remember how to return the light to my eyes
I wish I missed the first time we kissed
Cause you broke all your promises
and now you're back
you can't bring me back
16. "Safer Place" - Echosmith
Run straight through the valley
And end up where you wanted to be
Swim beyond the shadows
And the words that echo in the street
if you seek the truth
don't come looking for me
it's better that you don't know
because your own story
It's the safest place you'll ever be
17. “Orando”- Kesha
Well you almost got me wrong
He told me that I was nothing without you
Oh, and after all you've done
I can thank you for how strong I've become
Cause you brought the flames and put me through hell
I had to learn to fight for myself.
And we both know all the truth I could tell
I'm just going to say that this is I want to say goodbye
18. “Nothing” – The Script
So I stumble there, over the bars and the fences
I know if we're face to face she'll come to her senses
Every drunken step I take leads me to her door
If he sees how much it hurts me, I'm sure he'll accept me.
19. “The Only Exception” – Paramore
I have a strong grip on reality,
But I can't let go of what's in front of me here.
I know you leave in the morning when you wake up.
Leave me with some kind of proof that it's not a dream.
Oh-oh-oh-ohh.
20. “Mi Inmortal” – Evanescence
You used to captivate me with your ringing light
Now I'm trapped by the life you left behind
Your face haunts my once pleasurable dreams
Your voice drove away all sanity in me
21. "Therapy" - Historical minimum
my ship sank
In a sea of sound.
When I woke up I only had everything:
A handful of moments I wished I could change
And a tongue like a nightmare that cuts like a blade.
In a city of fools
I was careful and nice,
But they tore me apart like a hurricane...
A handful of moments I wished I could change
But they took me.
22. “Terrible Things” – Mayday Parade
Now most of the time we'd have plenty to drink
And we'd laugh at the stars and share it all
Too young to realize and too dumb to care
Love was a story that could not be compared.
I said, “Girl, can I tell you something wonderful?
I made you a gift with paper and string.
Open it carefully now, please.
You know I love you, will you marry me?
23. "Fix You" - Coldplay
When you try your best but fail
When you get what you want but not what you need
When you feel so tired but you can't sleep
caught upside down
And the tears run down your face
When you lose something you can not replace
When you love someone but it goes to waste
It can be worst?
24. “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” – Green Day
My shadow is the only one that walks by my side
My shallow heart is the only thing that beats
Sometimes I wish someone would 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 are still young.
I always think of you and how we don't talk enough
And ohhhh, we started
two hearts in one house
I know it's hard, we argue
We are both stubborn, I know.
26. “Halo” – Beyoncé
Hit me like a ray of sunshine
burning my darkest night
You're the only one that I want
I think I'm addicted to your light
I swore I'd never fall again
But it doesn't even seem to fall
Gravity can't forget to pull me back to the ground
27. “Breathe (2h)” – Anna Nalick
There's a light at each end of this tunnel,
You scream because you're as in as you'll never be out
And those mistakes that you have made, you will make them again
If you would only try to turn around.
2 am and I'm still up, writing a song
If I put it all on paper, it's no longer inside of me,
Threatening the life where it belongs
28. “Collision” – Howie Day
I'm calm you know
you make a first impression
Well I found out I'm afraid to know
I'm always on your mind
Even the best fall sometimes
Even the stars refuse to shine
Off the back you fall in time
somehow i think
you and I collided
29. “Jupiter Drops” – Train
But tell me, have you sailed the sun?
You made it to the Milky Way to see all the lights out
And this heaven is overrated?
Tell me, did you fall in love with a shooting star?
One without a permanent scar?
And did you miss me as you looked around?
30. “Two are better than one” – Boys like girls
I remember every look on your face
The way you roll your eyes, the way you taste
You make it hard to breathe
Cause when I close my eyes and walk away
I think of you and it's alright
I'm finally believing now
31. “Impossible” - Shontelle
falling in love is hard
Falling into betrayal is worse
Broken trust and broken hearts
I know I know
Thinking that everything you need is there
building faith in 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 apart but I know
A broken heart is a heart that has been loved
So I'll sing hallelujah
You were an angel in the shape of my mother
When I fell, would you be there holding me?
Spread your wings as you go
And when God takes you back
He'll say, "Hallelujah, you're home."
33. “Lay Me Out” – Sam Smith
and it is difficult
The days seem so dark
the moon and the stars
we are nothing without you
Your touch, your skin
Where do I start?
There are no words that can explain
the way i miss you
34. "Creepy" - 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
Now I have a boyfriend and he's gold
And you made your own mistakes in a bed at home
I hope you can save me now but you break and bend
You have fire inside but your heart is so cold
35. “She will be loved” – Maroon 5
knock on my window, knock on my door
I want to make you feel beautiful
I know I tend to be so insecure
this no longer matters
Life is not always rosy
It's commitment that moves us, yeah
My heart is full and my door is always open
You come whenever you want, yes.
There are millions of other beautiful songs in the world, but I hope some of these are your favorites too!
If you would like to write to the Mount Holyoke campus, or if you have any questions or comments for us, please emailmt-holyoke@hercampus.com.
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