How can you mend a broken heart? With music that reminds you you’re not the only one who’s been down in the depths. Here are
10 songs guaranteed to cue the waterworks.
1. “She Even Woke Me Up to Say Goodbye,” Mickey Newbury That title. Taken from the saddest record I’ve ever heard, 1969’s “Looks Like Rain,” Newbury’s examination of why love went bad is timeless and achingly pure.
2. “I’ll Be Seeing You,” Billie Holiday It’s such a bittersweet sentiment: The relationship is over, but you’re taking from it beautiful memories that will last a lifetime.
3. “River,” Joni Mitchell Christmas is around the corner. You’re alone. The piano is playing a melody that sounds like a mournful approximation of “Jingle Bells.” And then Joni lowers the guillotine: “I wish I had a river I could skate away on / I made my baby say goodbye.”
4. “So Sad (to Watch Good Love Go Bad),” the Everly Brothers When the Everlys harmonize, it’s already enough to send shivers down the spine. When they’re mourning the loss of love, you might as well order one more before last call.
5. “Love in Vain,” Robert Johnson Covered by the Rolling Stones on “Let It Bleed,” this bluesman’s original lays his heart on the line with just his voice and guitar and the saddest train metaphor you’ll ever hear.
6. “Paloma Negra,” Chavela Vargas American blues has nothing on the melodrama and despair of classic Mexican ranchera music. Vargas tugs at every heartstring in this ballad about letting go of someone who torments you.
7. “For the Good Times,”Kris Kristofferson
Starting with its opening line (“Don’t look sad /
I know it’s over”), country heartache doesn’t cut any closer to the bone than this.
8. “Tell Me That It Isn’t True,” Bob Dylan We’ve all been here: “I have heard rumors all over town / They say that you’re planning to put me down / All I would like you to do / Is tell me that it isn’t true.”
9. “Someone Like You,” Adele Released last year — and promptly etched into your brain after hearing it every hour on the radio — “Someone Like You” will go down as this generation’s ultimate tearjerker.
10. “Adagio for Strings,” Samuel Barber Wordless, orchestral sweep that lifts you up only to drop you face-first onto the pavement.