What are some things that make you cry? A song, book, tv episode, movie, short story, poem. And if it’s a book, be SPECIFIC. What SPECIFICALLY moves you to tears? I am looking to be moved to tears?

Question

Shea · Answer

Big Thief - Mary: The heartache and childhood imagery in this song hits me every time:

What did you tell me Mary
When you were there so sweet and very
Full of field and stars
You carried all of time
Oh and, heavens, when you looked at me
Your eyes were like machinery
Your hands were making artifacts in the corner of my mind

Dubya_Dee · Answer

The Wild Robot: The animation is incredible, writing enjoyable, and story is very moving. I was not anticipating to bawl as much as I did.

Maggie Knight · Answer

Alisa Liu Skating to Laufey's Promise: I cry absolutely every time I watch this routine.... her fluidity plus this beautiful song. Hack your cry and watch this...

Elena · Answer

The Forgotten Beasts of Eld by Patricia McKillip: This story has stayed with me since reading as a child, when I fell in love with every mythical creature Sybel calls to her castle’s crystal observatory. Forever dreaming of the liralen.

Elena · Answer

Bear by Julia Phillips: Not the most famous Julia Phillips but the one that I have loved the deepest. My sister and I grew up reading the story of Snow White and Rose Red, and would often play make believe that we had won the heart of a monster. I wouldn’t change anything about this book or how it made me feel, and yet the story haunts me still.

Elena · Answer

The Lost Carving by David Esterly: Encountering this book was a magical experience. I walked up to a library shelf at random, closed my eyes and pulled it. It found me at the perfect time and inspired me deeply.

Esterly found carving in a similar way, stopping to see the hyper realistic Grinling Gibbons carvings from 1600s in a church and coming out struck by fate and a determination to emulate this form of the craft.

Later in his career he undertakes a project to replicate some of Gibbons’ works after they were damaged or destroyed in a fire. As he does he is haunted by the shadow of Gibbons (his hero) as he tries to live up to it, and to himself.

The book is slow, the writing poetic, and the read is meditative. After I read this book I imagined reaching out to David Esterly but always chickened. He has since passed away and I regret not sending the email. So this rec is also one to send the email!

Elena · Answer

Reliquia by Rosalía (and the whole LUX album): Not to be dramatic but this album is transcendent. I cried listening to it the first time, and seeing her perform it live was genuinely a spiritual experience which also brought tears 🥲. Every time I listen I cannot help but dance like I’m possessed. She sings in THIRTEEN languages on this album! The music is deeply stirring and the lyrics are profound. Rosalía wants us to never forget that the sacred and the profane are the same.

Elena · Answer

I Have Considered The Lilies by Connie Converse: A perfect song.

A lot to say about Connie Converse but if you appreciate this you should look into her more yourself.

Elena · Answer

The Gift: A stunning Turkish tv show which can be watched on netlix, it starts by following a painter in Istanbul who recognizes symbols she has been painting for years in a newly unearthed discovery at the ancient site Göbeklitepe. Many lovable flawed characters in this archeological magic/mystery with portals, past lives and thought provoking questions about cycle breaking. The show has three incredible seasons that land you in a completely different place than you began.

Elena · Answer

Violet Evergarden: So melancholy, soothing, tender ahh so many feelings for this show that I have seen again and again.

Elena · Answer

They Can’t Kill Us Until They Kill Us by Hanif Abdurraqib: Brilliant human, brilliant poet, brilliant writer, brilliant music appreciator, brilliant mind, brilliant heart of brilliance, there is no one like Hanif!!

An ode to the music that gets us and gets us through life. He made me cry reading an essay on Fall Out Boy.

Gave this to my partners dad who hogs the aux and he LOVED it.

Elena · Answer

My Old Ass: One of the best films of the last decade, so hilarious, heartwarming, and wise

Elena · Answer

Swiss Army Man: I may die alone on this weird lil hill but I love this movie so much it makes me laugh and cry and it’s just so absurd and wonderful.

Mikayla · Answer

Portrait of a lady on fire: just really devastating and an incredible movie. will bring you to tears for sure

Tim Sondrup · Answer

Ice Cream Van by Glasvegas: You don’t hear it, you feel it.

Tim Sondrup · Answer

The Quiet Girl (2022): Such an empathetic and delicate movie.

Dylan · Answer

Sorry for Your Loss (2018): This is such an underrated gem of a show that i discovered sometime around covid lockdowns when i was fresh into the grief of my mum's recent death.

A realistic portrayal of the complexities that follow the loss of a loved one, the things you discover after they're gone and the struggle to find your place in the world again.

I really rate Elizabeth Olsen's acting & the supporting cast is amazing!

Dylan · Answer

Manchester by the Sea (2016): I was not prepared for how dark this got. A devastatingly raw and authentic portrayal of grief and complex trauma. The writing and acting were so outstanding that I felt empathy towards even the most unlikeable characters.

Dylan · Answer

Aftersun (2022): More devastating the second time round, this film's power lies in the subtlety of what's not said or shown.

The tenderness between the two leads feels so natural, and the piecing together of memory fragments is such a painfully accurate reflection of what it's like to grieve someone. Guaranteed to quietly break your heart.

Reading this review of this film destroyed me.

Dylan · Answer

The Farewell (2019): "a gut punch and a warm hug at the same time" - letterboxd user

blurb from letterboxd:

Based on an actual lie.

A headstrong Chinese-American woman returns to China when her beloved grandmother is given a terminal diagnosis. Billi struggles with her family’s decision to keep grandma in the dark about her own illness as they all stage an impromptu wedding to see grandma one last time.

Dylan · Answer

Lykke Li - Unchained Melody: is this the saddest song of all time? maybe it's not sad to everyone. it's up there for me. lykke li's vocals are hauntingly beautiful.

original by the righteous brothers below (but i always mix it up and think it's roy orbison):

Dylan · Answer

crowd sourced crying (a playlist): BREAKING NEWS: crying is IN for 2026! when in doubt, cry it out!

⭒ crowd sourced from all your responses to my sad song request! being vulnerable is cool. thank you all for sharing ♡

⭒ let me know if i've forgotten any ♡ i will continue adding your songs to it as more recs come through :)

⭒ PS sorry i only have evil spotify but if anyone wants to make a playlist on other platforms please go for it! hugs ♡

~

cc: @Spines, Flicks, and Wax @S.P.A. QUEEN @Jess s @Rish @AMB @Samantha Culp @Meaghan @Leanh @Mary Kathryn Paynter @Evangeline @Going Analog @sam @jozef @Ginny Branch @Minna Kelly @Noah Morse @Daniel Menegaz @Lanh @Michael Bolognino @Steven Weill @Miranda @Guido @Lida Richardson @CITIZENACTUAL @Geren @Hannah @Neal Lindsay

Edit: wow i'm so overjoyed by how many of you responded to this request. heart is full. what a gorgeous collection of crying songs!!! i'll do my best to keep adding the new recs as they come through :) xx

Julie Gainer · Answer

wherever you are my love will find you: My six year old and I play a little game with this book… see how far mommy can get before she starts crying 🤣 she laughs while I try to choke my way through … have never got even halfway through

Maggie Mallette · Answer

The good stuff Kenny chesney: This feels pretty offbrand to me but I canNOT handle the story within the story. Gets me every. time.

BORSCHT BABY · Answer

The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown, 1942: A story of a young bunny who expresses his desire to escape and explore the world, seeking a sense of adventure and independence, and a gentle steadfast responding mother, reassuring him that her love knows no bounds, she will always be there, ready to follow him, shapeshifting to catch him in any form necessary.

A good read for anybody. A friend gifted it to me last year for my 30th birthday and I cried.

Illustrations by artist Clement Hurd. <3

Joey · Answer

Birds fly by imagine dragons the music video.: The story is sad and it pared with the music

Katie Degraff · Answer

“Seasons of Love” from Rent: Will sob when it comes on, no matter the situation or my mood.

heaths moon · Answer

every time coach taylor gives a pep talk: look. listen. i could not care less about football if i tried, but istg every time this fictional man opens his mouth to encourage his team, its waterworks over here. i can't explain it.

clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose.

Julie Gainer · Answer

come see me in the good light: Devastating and beautiful

Amanda · Answer

The Bear Season 2 ep 7 “Forks”: Incredible pay-off for a single episode of television. You come to feel such tenderness for a character that at first came across as abrasive and short-tempered. Also, the most perfect use of a Taylor Swift song I’ve ever encountered. I tear up just thinking about it.

Kate Beck · Answer

If We Were Vampires by Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit: I cry at a lot of things, but I remember hearing this for the first time while driving and nearly had to pull over because I could barely see through my tears. I went inside and told my husband (still through tears) that it should be illegal to play this song on the radio.

Alice · Answer

Kate Winslet's perfect scene in "The Holiday": The "I know how you feel scene" hits every time. Perfect acting, from a couch no less. Every time I watch it I feel less alone.

Elsa de Wolfe · Answer

My Dog Skip: I have never cried at any film as much as I cried at MY DOG SKIP!!

Hannah · Answer

Past Lives (2023): This made me ugly cry in the theater, and I didn’t even try to fight it. Made me feel nostalgia + grief for all the past, current, future versions of me that will never get to exist and all the people I’ll never get to love. While of course creating the feeling of love for the version that does exist. Beautiful movie 😭

chiarabelle · Answer

Lion (2016): Heartbreakingly and unbelievably sad. I saw this 10 years ago and am still haunted by its sadness.

Spiraling · Answer

Heartbreaking Hamilton Songs: I consistently cry at the following songs from Hamilton: Burn | Stay Alive — Reprise | It’s Quiet Uptown | Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story