Songs that "lyrically and emotionally" grab your soul

I've always been a softie at heart when it comes to certain things I hold in my heart. Could be my son, my parents, my girlfriend, people that lost loved ones, etc etc.. I feel for them.

Of course, when it comes to music, I love ballads, very emotional songs that grab my heart and let me know I'm not the only one that feels these things.

All that being said, what are some songs that hit home or might describe something you've been through..

I've always loved Flaw and this song always hits hard because I moved away from my son (I just couldn't deal with his mother and her family anymore) but do the best that I can to set an example as far as priorities go. He is my world and this song just lifts me up whenever I'm really missing him...

"Alone You Breathe" and "St. Patrick's" by Savatage were a big part of helping me get through the death of a close friend from college who passed away in 1996. She was only twenty-seven years old so obviously it hit me and my "gang" of friends pretty hard... I swear I listened to those songs dozens of times a day for a while.

Way too many to list but the most recent one s Blaze Bayley & Thomas Swijsen-One More Step [Acoustic Version].

I guess since this is the non-metal section those are what I have to post, but wanted to state for the record that plenty of heavy metal does which is the reason I listen to it.. just to aggravate any metal haterz  

We probably mean something more morose or subdued in tone, so some of the stuff that pops in recently is...


Plumb - Boys Don't Cry
Van Der Graaf Generator - Man-Erg
Live - Lightning Crashes
Enigma - J'Taime Til My Dying Day
Mortal - muj0

Orion Crystal Ice wrote:

I guess since this is the non-metal section those are what I have to post, but wanted to state for the record that plenty of heavy metal does which is the reason I listen to it.. just to aggravate any metal haterz  

We probably mean something more morose or subdued in tone, so some of the stuff that pops in recently is...


Plumb - Boys Don't Cry
Van Der Graaf Generator - Man-Erg
Live - Lightning Crashes
Enigma - J'Taime Til My Dying Day
Mortal - muj0

Metal is welcome, the topic isn't just metal related so I didnt put it in there  

Pretty much most of Townes Van Zandt's stuff...

Not even for any personal reason. Just a really out there emotionally honest song, gets me every time.  

Wasted Time by Skid Row. Haunting and powerful, lyrics alluding to decay from substance abuse, very relative since I've had many friends succumb to the hard shit.



I still get goosebumps when listening to it (rarely do I cry to music). It also has to be their their best writing, musically and lyrically.

"Don't Close Your Eyes" by KIX. Always thought that was a powerful song.

bgsully wrote:

"Don't Close Your Eyes" by KIX. Always thought that was a powerful song.

Amazing song... I'm a sucker for those 80's early 90's sappy ballads...

By the way, Rob, sorry about your situation. Speaking as a father (of boys), that sounds like the worst situation anyone could go through short of a child's death.

I wasn't gonna touch it but yeah, that sounds tough. Especially the part about..................getting away from the *family*.  

That Time Of The Night by Marillion. It's a great song about the hard decision that has to be made in spite of the repercussions.




At least that is how I always took it......

Thanks guys.. I'm doing great, I just miss him.. His mother (which I don't wanna talk bad about) is just someone who I can't stand being around for more than 2 mins. One of those people who hate the world and everyone in it. Thinks shes better than everyone and talks bad about every and anything she can.. It is what it is and I'm glad I left  

My son is my world, greatest thing that's every happened to me. Was there for the birth of him, brought him up on my own, was his only means of support, but she ran me away from him. I didn't have the decency to take him away from those he loved, so I moved on with my life.

I am now in NJ and he is a little over an hour away in PA. I go down to see him as much as I can and he understands why I left. Im just soooo glad I left such a mark on him and he has my personality, not hers.

I'm just getting on my feet and when the time is right, I will go for joint or full custody as we have never been to court. He lives with his mom and her husband (who she met on an online poker room and he lived in the UK  ) Crazy crazy crazy.. I have NO REGRETS about leaving.. Im happier than I ever have been, I just wish he was here with me.

At least he's somewhat nearby.  Hope it all works out for you.  For dedicated parents thankfully it seems like things tend to work out okay.  Time with your kids is too valuable.

This one always gets me for a variety of reasons

Stretch- Write Me A Note
Magnum- Spin Like A Wheel
It Bites- Underneath Your Pillow

sums up the demise of my marriage and reminds me not to try that again anytime soon.

Metallica-Fade to Black

Fleetwood Mac - Songbird

makes me breakdown every time I hear it

This doesn't relate to any personal experience, but I feel that this song captures the loss of a loved one perfectly.

Crowbar - Through A Wall Of Tears. I won't go into why.

Here are a couple that for certain reasons just get to me every time





And on the subject of my kids, the one that makes me think of them every time is "I Walk the Line" because I want to think about how each choice that I make will affect them, for good or bad.

Boris2008 wrote:

Not even for any personal reason. Just a really out there emotionally honest song, gets me every time.  

Have you heard Roxy Music's version of "Jealous Guy" that came out shortly after Lennon's death?  It is beautiful. One of my all-time favorite cover songs.



As for me, this song always gets me.  It's the line "You used to smile when I walked in the door. Used to smile, not anymore." I don't know why it affects me. There is no specific experience or person that comes to mind. It's just the sentiment, I guess.

Ooo Jealous Guy is a good one.

Very few words but this is a song I listen to everyday now

Four years ago, my brother passed away unexpectedly. The next day, as I was running around town getting things taken care of before flying to Florida for the funeral, I had Thin Lizzy's "Fighting" in the car and this song came on. It has very special meaning to me now. Sounds cheesy, but at the time it felt like God was saying, "Your brother is fine. I have him."



"May the angels sing rejoice to you
That fateful day when your spirit slips away"

Beautiful.