It's a well-known fact that songs trigger memories in all of us; "The Macarena" was a part of every odd family get-together or family reunion, and "Sugar, We're Goin' Down" by Fall Out Boy brings us back to our angsty scene days of jumping around in our rooms and screaming into a hairbrush. As soon as that one song comes on the radio or blasts through our iPods, it immediately brings us back to the moment we first saw All Time Low in concert at Warped tour back in 2009. There's always been something about those emo-punk bands that made us fall in love with them; maybe it was the angst, the eyeliner, or that sexy hair-flip. But behind all those amped up headbangers, were those sad and hurt-filled ballads that never failed to always make us cry. They made us cry from relationships we never had, boys and girls that never noticed us, and just angst, so much angst. So, in no particular order, here are 12 emo-punk songs that absolutely made you cry in grade school.
1. "I Miss You" - Blink 182.
You already know this song made you miss someone that never even left; maybe they were in the next town over and you didn't get to see them in school today because they were out sick, or vacationing at their parents lake house in Wisconsin.
Most angst-filled lyric: We can live like Jack and Sally if we want, and we'll have Halloween on Christmas, and in the night we'll wish this never ends, we'll wish this never ends.
2. "Your Guardian Angel" - Red Jumpsuit Apparatus.
This one hit all of us hard; maybe you had lost someone dear to you, such as a family member or friend. I read that RJA is going on their 10-year-anniversary tour this year, and that's what basically sparked this article. Tickets are only $16. You're welcome.
Most angst-filled lyric: Seasons are changing and waves are crashing, and stars are falling all for us.
3. "Remembering Sunday" - All Time Low.
Do you remember pressing your head against the car window while it rained, and your parents were driving on a long road trip and all you had was your iPod and headphones as you pretended you were in a sappy romantic comedy movie? This was the song that was playing.
Most angst-filled lyric: I'm mixed up, I'll be blunt, now the rain is just washing you out of my hair and out of my mind.
4. "Ohio Is For Lovers" - Hawthorne Heights - Trigger Warning.
Trigger warning: mentions of self harm. Now this one is definitely a little older that the rest; it was released in 2004 but didn't really blow up for another few years. But nonetheless, it's extremely dark and sad. Probably more so than most.
Most angst-filled lyric: So cut my wrists and black my eyes. (Cut my wrists and black my eyes.) So I can fall asleep tonight, or die, because you kill me.
5. "Conspiracy" - Paramore.
This one isn't technically a ballad, but I had to include some Paramore. Haley Williams was everyone's first woman-crush. She was the first woman to really crash into the emo-punk scene, and she definitely left her mark.
Most angst-filled lyric: Explain to me this conspiracy against me, and tell me how I've lost my power.
6. "Cassie (Acoustic)" - Flyleaf.
I think I was just as surprised as most to find out Flyleaf was actually a religious-rock band. The acoustic version of this song is just much more beautiful that the original. It's still great, nonetheless. It's actually about a victim in the Columbine shooting; when asked if she believed in God, the victim named Cassie said yes, and the shooter took her life.
Most angst-filled lyric: Her last words still hanging in the air, in the air.
7. "Hero/Heroine" - Boys Like Girls.
Again, not really a ballad, but you know you had that one person on your mind while listening, and if you didn't have them, it hurt. I'm sure you're thinking about them as you listen to it now. You know I'm right.
Most angst-filled lyric: I feel like a hero, and you were my heroine, do you know that your love is the sweetest sin?
8. "Dear Jamie...Sincerely Me" - Hellogoodbye.
This one really got to me; something about having a fictional long-distance relationship just seemed so romantic to me.
Most angst-filled lyric: Dear Jamie this envelope will represent my heart, I'll seal it, send it off and wish it luck with its depart.
9. "The Only Exception" - Paramore
I told you I was obsessed with Haley, so much so that I included two Paramore songs. "The Only Exception" really made you think about that significant other that was (or wasn't) yours.
Most angst-filled lyric: Maybe I know, somewhere deep in my soul that love never lasts.
10. "So I Thought" - Flyleaf.
This is an unknown gem; you listened to this while standing in the shower for hours contemplating love and just exactly what it is.
Most angst-filled lyric: On my knees dim lighted room, thoughts free flow try to consume myself, in this.
11. "Yellow" - Coldplay.
I never knew what to think of this one, but it was sad. And I'm sure I cried to it. I cried at everything, OK?
Most angst-filled lyric: Your skin, oh yeah your skin and bone turn into something beautiful.
12. "Cancer" - My Chemical Romance,
My Chemical Romance left such a huge hole in all of us after they broke up in 2013. "Cancer" is quite literally about the disease and how it destroys lives, but listening to this constantly always managed to make me bawl my eyes out.
Most angst-filled lyric: I will not kiss you, because the hardest part of this is leaving you.
