The 11 Best Sad Songs of 2022 (2024)

"Heat Lighting" is quite possibly one of the best sad songs you’ll ever hear in your life, until, well… the next Mitski song you hear. Beyond the song's solemn sound, "Heat Lightening" perfectly describes the feeling of being stagnant in sadness. "I've laid awake since one/And now it's four o'clock/Though I've held on/Can't carry it much longer," she sings. Later she adds, "Well, I've held on/But feel a storm approaching." Given that the American–Japanese singer dropped her highly anticipated sixth studio album, Laurel Hell, this past February, picking one song from the album to feature on this list was a real feat. Looking on the bright side, however, at least it wasn't picking the best sad song from her discography, because then we we would've been here all day.

Is it really a surprise that a song titled "Matilda" would deal with the complications of familial rejection? Harry Styles alludes to the story of Matilda, who was famously mistreated by her family, to express to an unnamed person that he understands their pain. But more importantly, that their pain does not have to last forever. "You can let it go/You can throw a party full of everyone you knowY/ou can start a family who will always show you love/You don't have to be sorry, no," he reminds us in the end.

We will not be weighing on the internet drama that engulfed poor Sabrina Carpenter, (who faced death threats and hate after rumors circulated that she was the 'other girl' mentioned on Olivia Rodrigo's Sour). But we sure will be weighing in on this vulnerable and emotional pop track (we love it).

Off their newest project, Pink Room, indie group, Wet tackles the heartbreaking feeling of not being enough for someone. "You get over someone else/But that was never me/I'm not her," lead singer Kelly Zutrau sings. Her voice is clear and crisp, yet incredibly heavy-hearted over a light piano sound. It's the perfect song to put on before getting in the bath and having a good cry.

Lost a lover? Was it your fault? Let Cian Ducrot guide you through those complicated emotions with "All For You." With only a piano in the background against Ducrot's raspy, strong, heartbroken vocals your feelings of regret are guaranteed to rise to the surface. "And I should have called/And I should have tried/And I should have walked you home every night," he sings. It might be emotional, but maybe this song will help you deal with the regret?

The reason SZA has in many ways because the voice of a generation is because of her ability to perfectly represent the inner turnmoil and insecurities felt by anyone that is coming of age. "Miles" is no different. In the short track off the deluxe version of her critically acclaimed album, CTRL, she tackles feelings of self-hate, comparison and the fear of time passing by over an acoustic guitar. "And why can't I be like everybody else?/Losin' my mind, think I look good when I'm really just high/Scared of my life, can a bitch get by?" she sings.

Perhaps one of the most popular songs of this year so far, Joji takes us through a journey in "Glimpse of Us." In the slow, piano lead track grapples with the heartbreaking realization that his partner will never measure up to a lost love. When he looks into his new lover's eyes, all he sees is the loved one he's lost. "Said I'm fine and said I moved on/I'm only here passing time in her arms/Hopin' I'll find a glimpse of us."

This bouncy track from FKA Twigs and The Weeknd differs a lot from many of the tracks featured on this list. Mainly because you want to dance to it... in a club... probably with tears in your eyes. This ladies and gentlemen is what we would describe as a true sad bop.

Long distance relationships of all kinds are hard and Holly Humberstone knows this. In "London Is Lonely" the up and coming singer song writer details the melancholies of moving to a new place and the loneliness that trails closely behind. She sings of drifting away from a loved one and feeling lost and isolated in a new place. If you have just moved far away from loved ones, listen to this song with caution. It might feel too real.

In this slow and groovy R&B track, the exceptional Sir croons over a mellowed out beat about the trials and tribulations of a toxic relationship. Sir tackles the feelings of wishing for things to get better, but they never do and yet, you stay together. "As much as I hope one day, things could still workWe both know the deal," he sings.

Another R&B crooner fit for this list is Lucky Daye. "Used To Be" is a heartbreak song in the most traditional sense. As you may guess by the title, things used to be one way and now they are not. In the case of this track, Lucky used to be someone's and now he is not and that hurts. With dreamy harmonies and instruments in the background, "Wish I would've known/That love would let us go'/Cause I used to be yours," he sings. If you want to put this on and cry about an ex, don't worry, we won't judge you.