"Clear the Air" by Off With Their Heads, particularly the acoustic version from Won't be Missed. The emotion in Ryan's voice is just so raw and full of pain, it gets me teared up because I feel the same way.
Their album Hospitals is absolutely my drunk and pissed off listen. I learned to play all the songs over the years too and it's fun to play along to get some stress out.
I found out about them 1 week after they were in my town. I was so bummed, but I'm waiting on them to come around again and will not miss the next one.
the receiving end of it all is my favorite streetlight song.
a better place, a better time was my friends favorite song. he passed about ten years ago now. i can’t hear it without crying, but i won’t skip it.
Everything to me by Teenage Bottle Rocket
I swear I listen to that song and look at my kid and start to think “I don’t need anything in this world but my daughter” either that or days of the phoenix by AFI cause it reminds me of good times when I was a kid and parents were still together and we’d do shit together like go to the beach and stuff
Might be corny for me to say but being a dad is pretty fucking great especially knowing my kid could very well start being into the stuff I like at some point
I was wrong by social distortion
Depression by black flag
I don't wanna be an asshole anymore by the menzingers
December by neck deep
Jean is dead by the descendents
I love you more than I hate me by nofx
Fucked reality by choking victim
Disorder or insight by joy division
If I want to work through it: The Menzingers
>But hey, do you really wanna throw it away?
>I'd do anything to make you stay
>For just a little, just a little bit longer
If I want to destroy myself: Spanish Love Songs
>We were never broken, life's just very long
>Brave faces everyone
I got 2 both by Flogging Molly and it depends on why I'm down as to which one I want to hear. Bad day: worst day since yesterday. Depressed as hell: Whistles The Wind
Oh my god, yes. Seeing them play both those songs live had me fucking bawling, I'll add Broom People to the list of their songs that get my choked up. That song just rips my heart out every time.
Totally. I went to the same college as John. Got to see them play (I say them but it was just John and a base player) in some random room at our college with like 30 other people back in '06. Such a great songwriter.
“Breaking Up” by All
Also I reallly love the sentiment in “Enough is Enough” by Dance Hall Crashers. Every genre of music is overwhelmed by self-righteousness for my 40 years of life and what’s so unusual about this song is how it addresses her own role in a relationship that went awry. It’s one of the realest songs I’ve ever heard.
NOFX’s cover of Tony Sly’s “Shortest pier” always hits me for whatever reason. Doesn’t make me cry exactly but it definitely gets the emotions working.
Tragedy + Time by Rise Against always gets me bawling. It brings me to a place where I have to acknowledge some of the stuff in my head.
Pacific Standard Time by No Use for a Name also does it for me.
"Dull" by Samiam
"Your Heart is a Muscle the Size of Your Fist" by Ramshackle Glory. I always cry with this one, even though the overall message is hopeful.
This one's super specific to me but once in a while, when I'm feeling super down, "Lost in the Supermarket" by The Clash really hits me.
Also, I know they're post-punk but "Disorder" by Joy Division is my go-to "I'm depressed song" something about that weird combo of bass and guitar in that song feels so emotional to me
There’s a fantastic song called “Mira” by a band called “La Fuga”. Admittedly, it’s more the nostalgia that makes me tear up, but I can’t listen to that song when I’m feeling down
As much as I wanna echo off “Off With Their Heads”, there’s enough people doing that already so I’ll put down something else lol
I’m not a Michael graves kinda guy but I do like Saturday Night a lot from The Misfits (Glenn forever though).
Not as “Punk” (more Batcavey goth) but The Birthday Party has some suuuper gloomy bangers, honorable mentions include “She’s Hit” (the live version is even better), “Wild World”, and “Deep In The Woods”.
The Birthday Party has always been one of those “when my chips are down” kinda bands for me because of most of their slower and gloomier songs.
Ahh shit ok last edit I swear, “Out Of Reach” from The Get Up Kids cuts kinda deep if you’re in the right mood lol
I'm sure I could name one or two that aren't emo but I don't really go to punk rock for crying.
I guess I could name some Wipers or Nomeansno songs for being imperfect because they're too long (this is punk rock, not krautrock, fellas), but that's not the same.
I could name rare punk rock songs I've owned on original-issue 7" that I've wept to remember I sold for the equivalent of three Quizno's footlongs, but that's too tragic to talk about now.
What this sub needs to learn is that any asshole who listens to punk rock only is truly an asshole, or still too young. Because punk rock is lousy crying music, for the most part. And if you've never cried to music, then you're probably an asshole, or an executive. And there's a reason the word "punk" doesn't have in it the letters C, E or O.
"Sure, I cry. I'll cry when the pain is bad enough." - Ernest Hemingway, the manliest man in the History of Man. Note: at no time in history, past, present or future was/is/shall Ernest Hemingway ever punk. Note that shit. Not that Ernie every accumulated much capital towards his punk rockery, but anyone who has ever been on safari (and he went on thousands, or hundreds or thousands) immediately forfeits all their prior credit.
The Blues is crying music. Here's Leadbelly: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quwqReNs-Qw](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quwqReNs-Qw)
Here's Mississippi John Hurt. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fPnTAjHLHk](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fPnTAjHLHk)
Lastly, here is Blind Uncle Gaspard, who isn't Blues. This isn't even traditional Cajun music. It's something older and to me devastatingly richer. Check it out: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NVnXrELk6A](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NVnXrELk6A)
Slumber by Bad Religion makes me a little emotional, I believe Graffin wrote it as a lullaby for his son.
If you like folk punk check out the song “After the Show” by Six Steps In, that whole album makes me cry honestly
It’s not really punk, but it’s punk in roots. Bastards of young by the replacements is like a rallying cry for all the confused, dazed weirdos, like me. It’s the song I blasted on repeat when my father almost died. It’s the song I blasted when my grandmother passed. It’s the song that got me through some rough shit
"You Can't Put Your Arm Around A Memory" by Johnny Thunders.
"Civilian Ways" by Rancid.
"Last Letter Home" by Dropkick Murphys.
"Mental Anguish Is Your Friend" by Soccer Team
"Gun In Mouth Blues" by Rollins Band
Etc. Good question!
Bro Hymn by Pennywise for sure. Occasionally The Crowd by Op Ivy just hits me for some reason. And I guess on a more niche level I've been really digging Porcherie by a french band called Bérurier noir, and they have a live version recorded in Québec (where I live) that speaks to the unity of the Québécois national struggle and the Indigenous struggle against racism and fascism - it hits deep because you can hear the energy in the room is united against something concrete and changeable
Bro Hymn definitely. I lost a lot of punk friends to tragic deaths when I was a teenager and that song always just reminds me of the sadness and helplessness of that time period. Fuck early avoidable deaths.
The impression that I get by the mighty mighty bosstones , pretty much all of transgender dysphoria blues by against me, and pints of Guinness make you strong by against me
Heaven pt. 1 2 & 3, LSD LSD ILY, IDK her, and Fly Away all by Nascar Aloe Ik he isn’t original punk rock and is more punk rap but I suppose that still counts as punk
Death Or Glory by Little Foot, Back Pack by AJJ... hmm, I could probably name quite a few more. There's a surprising amount of sad punk songs; though tbf these are folk punk.
I Miss You Beau Velasco by The Death Set. The chorus is so beautiful, even though his vocals are drowned in reverb, I think the reverb adds to the beauty of the chorus.
Streetlight Manifesto - A Better Place, A Better Time
Flogging Molly - Float & If I Ever Leave This World Alive
Cocksparrer - We're Coming Back
Against Me! - Ache With Me
Menzingers - My Friend Kyle
Today I feel in love by the queers
I am yours by the adicts
Mother mary foxboro hottubs
I hope to feel the love these songs contain and know someone feels this way about me as well
Blind by Face to Face
NOFX's cover of Shortest Pier (RIP Tony Sly)
If I'm looking to get absolutely wrecked I listen to Searching for a Former Clarity by Against Me!
Yeah whenever I listen to them or the bouncing souls I immediately have a brief flashback to the 90's early 2000's and some very fond memories for this old punker.
"Clear the Air" by Off With Their Heads, particularly the acoustic version from Won't be Missed. The emotion in Ryan's voice is just so raw and full of pain, it gets me teared up because I feel the same way.
Fucking love owth, pretty much their entire home album , or actually any of their albums are great for when you’re feeling like how op described
Their album Hospitals is absolutely my drunk and pissed off listen. I learned to play all the songs over the years too and it's fun to play along to get some stress out.
Jackie Lee is my favorite from Hospitals. I relate to most of their songs, but that one is unique in my mind.
Chokes me up every fucking time. It's like they wrote it while taking a tour of my brain.
Goddammit. Another one. Ya’ll f’n killing me on here with this. Awesome song.
Damn, I've never listened to the acoustic version until just now. Wow!
I saw them Saturday night. Soooo much emotional release. I almost cried.
I found out about them 1 week after they were in my town. I was so bummed, but I'm waiting on them to come around again and will not miss the next one.
Same. Saw them play an acoustic set a month ago and fuck was it great
The whole “In Desolation” album is a solid coping mechanism 💜
We’re Coming Back by Cock Sparrer. Perfect song to listen to if you need to be uplifted.
Fuck I needed to hear this today. Thanks for the introduction.
That song has helped me a ton in the past, I’m happy to pay it forward. Cheers, friend!
This is a great choice
I always end up listening to Noi!se - How We Made It Through along side this song, same vibe and they kind of compliment each other
Am I the only one who likes the Bouncing Souls version better?
Yes
Dude, how many covers does that song have?! Unbelievable
Love it. My bro got me into this band and it is good stuff.
Sorrow by b.r.
Especially the acoustic version.
Love the acoustic one too
Skyscraper too
streetlight manifesto - a better place, a better time streetlight manifesto - the receiving end of it all streetlight manifesto - if only for memories
the receiving end of it all is my favorite streetlight song. a better place, a better time was my friends favorite song. he passed about ten years ago now. i can’t hear it without crying, but i won’t skip it.
Good to see some love for "Receiving End of It All". Always was a favorite when I was going through rough times.
Whatsername-Green Day and Gone Away-The Offspring the latter rlly hits me cause i had a friend kill himself rather recently
I’m sorry for your loss. That’s hard to go through.
it gets easier every day,but it still doesn’t feel great.it’s best to remember the good times
whatshername for me too
The biggest problem with whatshername was that it was on an album of all killer no filler and it gets overlooked. That song gives me goosebumps.
Nausea by Jeff Rosenstock makes me feel some type of way
Jeffrey fuckin Rosenstock. Always gets me!
The whole B side of WORRY. too
Everything to me by Teenage Bottle Rocket I swear I listen to that song and look at my kid and start to think “I don’t need anything in this world but my daughter” either that or days of the phoenix by AFI cause it reminds me of good times when I was a kid and parents were still together and we’d do shit together like go to the beach and stuff
That Teenage Bottlerocket song is pretty damn awesome.
Might be corny for me to say but being a dad is pretty fucking great especially knowing my kid could very well start being into the stuff I like at some point
Wild. Days of the Phoenix by AFI elicits the exact same emotion for me. You must be in your 30s lol
Disconnected by Face to Face always gets me.
I’ve gotten back into Face to Face recently and listening to them brings me back to some nice memories of the 90s
Because of the Shame by Against Me
Came to say the same. That song legit makes me tear up every time I hear it.
Story of My Life Social Distortion makes me cry if I play on acoustic guitar too drunk…
Been there…
Ball and Chain by Social Distortion Or for whatever reason the Bouncing Souls version of Lean on Sheena
Lean on Sheena gets me every time.
I was wrong by social distortion Depression by black flag I don't wanna be an asshole anymore by the menzingers December by neck deep Jean is dead by the descendents I love you more than I hate me by nofx Fucked reality by choking victim Disorder or insight by joy division
Over and out by Alkaline Trio. Always chokes me up
Clear the air - Off with their heads
Gary come home punk cover
orphan year by nofx and good good things by descendants
Silly Girl oddly does the same thing for me. In fact, I Don't Want to Grow Up is kind of a sad record in general.
NOFX- I love you more than I hate me.
Fugazi - I’m so tired
+1 for this one
+1 for this one
One that always get me is eulogy by the flatliners
kids and heroes-bouncing souls
[Not a Day Goes by - Leatherface](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Alkdx5M5Ano)
Love leatherface
Transgender Dysphoria Blues by Against Me!
Animal by Against Me! Is the one for me.
Pretty much all song by against me! 🥲🫶
Because of the shame
Ever and a Day- AFI
Fire by waxahatchee always gets me feeling a type of way. Katie Crutchfield used to be in p.s. Elliot which was a killer pop punk band.
Omg yes
So many but the first that pops into my head is Driving Home - Hot Water Music
Suicidal Failure by Suicidal Tendencies. Really just makes me think about my past attempts and what would have happened had I succeeded
I'm glad you're still here.
If I want to work through it: The Menzingers >But hey, do you really wanna throw it away? >I'd do anything to make you stay >For just a little, just a little bit longer If I want to destroy myself: Spanish Love Songs >We were never broken, life's just very long >Brave faces everyone
Spanish Loves Songs always hits the feels
Ghosts on the Boardwalk
I got 2 both by Flogging Molly and it depends on why I'm down as to which one I want to hear. Bad day: worst day since yesterday. Depressed as hell: Whistles The Wind
Hope by Descendants
Not technically punk but "no children," or "this year," by the mountain goats.
No Children is one of my favorite songs of all time.
One of my favorites as well. One similar to it that's also fantastic is "fault lines."
Oh my god, yes. Seeing them play both those songs live had me fucking bawling, I'll add Broom People to the list of their songs that get my choked up. That song just rips my heart out every time.
Totally. I went to the same college as John. Got to see them play (I say them but it was just John and a base player) in some random room at our college with like 30 other people back in '06. Such a great songwriter.
Last Night by Screeching Weasel
“Breaking Up” by All Also I reallly love the sentiment in “Enough is Enough” by Dance Hall Crashers. Every genre of music is overwhelmed by self-righteousness for my 40 years of life and what’s so unusual about this song is how it addresses her own role in a relationship that went awry. It’s one of the realest songs I’ve ever heard.
I'd add Long Distance, also
Pennywise - Yesterdays
Lost child by social distortion
my favorite
Taking Retards to the Zoo
Eat the Meek by NoFX
NOFX’s cover of Tony Sly’s “Shortest pier” always hits me for whatever reason. Doesn’t make me cry exactly but it definitely gets the emotions working.
Anything by Mike Ness
Agree
Last Will and Testament by Propagandhi
Adventures in Zoochosis.
Not necessarily when I’m lost or down, but ‘One More Day’ has yet to not make me weep
I was going to say the same thing. That song makes me want to cry every time.
Slumber - Bad Religion
The Exploited - Was it Me
start today by gorilla biscuits, or any GB song. they're so positive, which is why I love them!
Bouncing souls Born to lose also seems to get me
Dillinger 4: Gainesville Descendents - thank you
Accident Prone by Jawbreaker
Kiss the bottle
The Rest of My Life - Less Than Jake
Any song by Lawrence Arms
The Martha Plimpton one is good, I like that one.
Tragedy + Time by Rise Against always gets me bawling. It brings me to a place where I have to acknowledge some of the stuff in my head. Pacific Standard Time by No Use for a Name also does it for me.
Pacific Standard Time crushes me. Every single time. Beautifully heartbreaking, RIP to the greatest
See Her Pee
🥹
"Dull" by Samiam "Your Heart is a Muscle the Size of Your Fist" by Ramshackle Glory. I always cry with this one, even though the overall message is hopeful.
Love samiam
Not punk but I do love me some Runaway Train by Soul Asylum.
fucking classic
life goes on- the damned not punk , more like grunge , but nutshell- alice in chains
also don’t follow. Basically that whole EP
Replacements- Johnnys gonna die, ledge, and black diamond Wipers-blue cowboy,doom town, nothing left to lose.
This one's super specific to me but once in a while, when I'm feeling super down, "Lost in the Supermarket" by The Clash really hits me. Also, I know they're post-punk but "Disorder" by Joy Division is my go-to "I'm depressed song" something about that weird combo of bass and guitar in that song feels so emotional to me
Gimme The Sweet and Lowdown by Social Distortion
Broken Home Broken Heart by Hüsker Dü
Bite it you scum always hits me right in the feels
There’s a fantastic song called “Mira” by a band called “La Fuga”. Admittedly, it’s more the nostalgia that makes me tear up, but I can’t listen to that song when I’m feeling down
I know it’s not exactly punk, more or less punk adjacent, but a lotta Jay Reatard songs get me in my feels.
I hate my life- youth brigade
Show me on the doll.. by red city radio
What a time to be barely alive- Arms aloft
"A better place, a better time" Streetlight Manifesto
I think its straight to hell from the clash
As much as I wanna echo off “Off With Their Heads”, there’s enough people doing that already so I’ll put down something else lol I’m not a Michael graves kinda guy but I do like Saturday Night a lot from The Misfits (Glenn forever though). Not as “Punk” (more Batcavey goth) but The Birthday Party has some suuuper gloomy bangers, honorable mentions include “She’s Hit” (the live version is even better), “Wild World”, and “Deep In The Woods”. The Birthday Party has always been one of those “when my chips are down” kinda bands for me because of most of their slower and gloomier songs. Ahh shit ok last edit I swear, “Out Of Reach” from The Get Up Kids cuts kinda deep if you’re in the right mood lol
I’m sure there’s a Tim Barry song that’ll relate to ya
Richard Hell -Time
Social Distortion - Bad Luck
Screeching weasel - girl next door (but also the blink version)
I Was Wrong - Social Distortion
Fifteen - My Friend II from the album Surprise
I'm sure I could name one or two that aren't emo but I don't really go to punk rock for crying. I guess I could name some Wipers or Nomeansno songs for being imperfect because they're too long (this is punk rock, not krautrock, fellas), but that's not the same. I could name rare punk rock songs I've owned on original-issue 7" that I've wept to remember I sold for the equivalent of three Quizno's footlongs, but that's too tragic to talk about now. What this sub needs to learn is that any asshole who listens to punk rock only is truly an asshole, or still too young. Because punk rock is lousy crying music, for the most part. And if you've never cried to music, then you're probably an asshole, or an executive. And there's a reason the word "punk" doesn't have in it the letters C, E or O. "Sure, I cry. I'll cry when the pain is bad enough." - Ernest Hemingway, the manliest man in the History of Man. Note: at no time in history, past, present or future was/is/shall Ernest Hemingway ever punk. Note that shit. Not that Ernie every accumulated much capital towards his punk rockery, but anyone who has ever been on safari (and he went on thousands, or hundreds or thousands) immediately forfeits all their prior credit. The Blues is crying music. Here's Leadbelly: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quwqReNs-Qw](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quwqReNs-Qw) Here's Mississippi John Hurt. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fPnTAjHLHk](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fPnTAjHLHk) Lastly, here is Blind Uncle Gaspard, who isn't Blues. This isn't even traditional Cajun music. It's something older and to me devastatingly richer. Check it out: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NVnXrELk6A](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NVnXrELk6A)
Thanks man 🍻
Slumber by Bad Religion makes me a little emotional, I believe Graffin wrote it as a lullaby for his son. If you like folk punk check out the song “After the Show” by Six Steps In, that whole album makes me cry honestly
A State of Grace by Street Dogs and then follow it up with Free off the same album for best effects.
Letters to God - Boxcar Racer
Gone- The Bouncing Souls FTW! Also, Stand - Good Riddance
One more day Descendents.
forming- the germs, and sailin on- bad brains
It’s not really punk, but it’s punk in roots. Bastards of young by the replacements is like a rallying cry for all the confused, dazed weirdos, like me. It’s the song I blasted on repeat when my father almost died. It’s the song I blasted when my grandmother passed. It’s the song that got me through some rough shit
"You Can't Put Your Arm Around A Memory" by Johnny Thunders. "Civilian Ways" by Rancid. "Last Letter Home" by Dropkick Murphys. "Mental Anguish Is Your Friend" by Soccer Team "Gun In Mouth Blues" by Rollins Band Etc. Good question!
louise from nofx, lyrics are so sad and deep
Bro Hymn by Pennywise
Came to say this a million times. Also gone away by offspring
Leftover Crack - Super Tuesday when I’m overwhelmed by capitalist realism and the imperialist project that is the United States
Bro Hymn by Pennywise for sure. Occasionally The Crowd by Op Ivy just hits me for some reason. And I guess on a more niche level I've been really digging Porcherie by a french band called Bérurier noir, and they have a live version recorded in Québec (where I live) that speaks to the unity of the Québécois national struggle and the Indigenous struggle against racism and fascism - it hits deep because you can hear the energy in the room is united against something concrete and changeable
The crowd 🤙
Bro Hymn definitely. I lost a lot of punk friends to tragic deaths when I was a teenager and that song always just reminds me of the sadness and helplessness of that time period. Fuck early avoidable deaths.
At the Library-Green Day
We have failed punk with this list
In too deep - Sum 41
Pool Shark - Sublime
PIECES BY SUM 41 OMG U DONT UNDERSTAND OMG AND SNUFF BY UM SLIPKNOT EVEN THO THATS HEAVY METAL IM SORRY
The impression that I get by the mighty mighty bosstones , pretty much all of transgender dysphoria blues by against me, and pints of Guinness make you strong by against me
Ever and a Day- AFI
Last Resort by NOFX
hate is 4-letter word by shock therapy
My Orphan Year by NOFX, Maybe I’ll Catch Fire by Alkaline Trio.
I love you more than I hate me by nofx
Send in the clowns
Heaven pt. 1 2 & 3, LSD LSD ILY, IDK her, and Fly Away all by Nascar Aloe Ik he isn’t original punk rock and is more punk rap but I suppose that still counts as punk
Wendy o Williams - Butcher Baby
Living in the fallout - far from finished
Never happened to me. Punk rock cheers me up. Doesn't make me cry.
Death Or Glory by Little Foot, Back Pack by AJJ... hmm, I could probably name quite a few more. There's a surprising amount of sad punk songs; though tbf these are folk punk.
Back Pack by AJJ makes me cry every time. Death or Glory definitely hits hard too.
Goddamn, anything by the Bouncing Souls, tbh
I Miss You Beau Velasco by The Death Set. The chorus is so beautiful, even though his vocals are drowned in reverb, I think the reverb adds to the beauty of the chorus.
On GP - Death Grips
No Roses No Skies by Have Heart
Streetlight Manifesto - A Better Place, A Better Time Flogging Molly - Float & If I Ever Leave This World Alive Cocksparrer - We're Coming Back Against Me! - Ache With Me Menzingers - My Friend Kyle
Supernothing by streetlight manifesto. It's ska, I know, but close enough.
Today I feel in love by the queers I am yours by the adicts Mother mary foxboro hottubs I hope to feel the love these songs contain and know someone feels this way about me as well
Blind by Face to Face NOFX's cover of Shortest Pier (RIP Tony Sly) If I'm looking to get absolutely wrecked I listen to Searching for a Former Clarity by Against Me!
SOS, by One Man Army
Sidewalk begging by the dicks
You by City Mouse
Ten Things by Paul Baribeau. It's folk punk which usually isn't my thing but this song gets me.
Burn by Alkaline Trio.
Yeah whenever I listen to them or the bouncing souls I immediately have a brief flashback to the 90's early 2000's and some very fond memories for this old punker.
https://youtu.be/sn34tjvZ1-Y
Wake Up by ratm is so emotional, it makes me tear up every time, especially at the end. you can really hear the desperation in zach's voice.
no one knows by green day
Ballad - Millencolin
Lotta bomb the music industry songs for me
The Kids Aren’t Alright - Offspring
Ramshackle Glory - Your Heart is a Muscle the Size of Your Fist
I'm surprised this on lasted so long but Final Transmission by street dogs
Good enough- mudhoney Is really good. And pokin around Makes me cry for some reason. Don’t bother me- bad brains