Mitski Miyawaki was born in Mie Prefecture, Japan, in 1990. Her family moved around a lot due to her father having a job at the US Department of State. As a youngster, she lived in Japan, Turkey, China, Malaysia, the Czech Republic, and Congo.
During school, she sang in the choir and composed her first piece of music on the piano at the age of eighteen. Initially, she wanted to study film after school. But, she soon realized that music was her true passion. So, she enrolled at SUNY Purchase College for a course in Studio Composition.
During her studies, she released her first two albums, which were very experimental. After graduating, she began to create fantastic conceptual pieces for which she would later be praised by critics and fans alike.
Since her start…
Mitski has released six studio albums, all of which have seen critical success. She has toured with international acts like The Pixies, and her music has also been featured in films. Her last album, Laurel Hell, was released in 2024 and was the highest-selling album in the US during its first week of release.
In this article, I’ll be looking at some of the saddest Mitski songs. So, grab some tissues, a teddy bear, and a bowl of ice cream as we explore some sad songs written by Mitski, starting with…
Top 50 Saddest Mitski Songs
1 I Want You
From Mitski’s lesser-known but still brilliant second album, Retired from Sad, New Career In Business, we have our first entry. “I Want You” is three minutes of a low-droning organ overlaid with Mitski’s sullen voice. The track paints a beautiful picture of someone who has reached the better end of a challenging relationship that came to a gradual and painful halt.
Most times, when we reach the end of a relationship, we feel hopeless since, in our view, we gave it our all. Yet we know that despite the pain we’ve endured, the precious moments shared with someone else always make it worth it in the end.
2 Townie
The 21st century has been marked by many changes in our society. Some of them are in the form of challenges against traditional views and doctrines. Gender is one of the most talked about social topics in the world at the moment. Mitski joined the conversation in earnest with this hard-hitter from her third album, Burry Me At Makeout Creek.
Social norms regarding women are shot down like fish in a barrel to the background of thunderous guitars, drums, and bass. The track might even feel upbeat when you first listen.
But, when you take the lyrics into context, it becomes a piece that can invoke strong contemplation and some sadness. “And I’ve tried sharing, and I’ve tried caring – And I’ve tried putting out – But the boys, boys, boys keep coming on for – More, more, more.”
Because of the subject matter…
This track deserves its place amongst Mitski’s saddest songs. Despite much hullabaloo on social media and pop culture, there is still a lot of unfairness being endured by the fairer sex. That being said, there are sprinklings of empowerment and optimism in “Townie,” so there is a silver lining there.
3 A Pearl
For her fifth album, Be The Cowboy, Mitski took inspiration from the image of a lone person singing on a stage in a very dark room. This concept sets the tone for the album. But it’s her conceptual thinking and writing that sets Mitksi apart.
This track fools the listener much like “Pumped Up Kicks” by Foster The People does. It’s one of Mitski’s few upbeat productions in terms of the music, tempo, and arrangement. But hidden in the lyrics is a painful metaphor.
The “pearl” represents foolish dreams of the future…
Things like loving relationships, spontaneous adventures, seamless success, and unfailing determination are like pearls. We see them around us and in our dreams. But, they are, in reality, unattainable and, even when attained, still fallible.
This one is great for those days when you’re hopeless and need to hit the road for a long while. Make sure to listen to it nice and loud because these lyrics can’t really be sung, only shouted.
4 Francis Forever
Unrequited love can be an excruciating experience, and it’s the feeling that sits at the center of this sad Mitski song. There are also hints of being invisible to others which add another layer of meaning to probably one of Mitski’s best tracks. It comes from the album Burry Me At Makeout Creek.
From a musical standpoint, simplicity makes the lyrical content of “Francis Forever” shine through all the more. There is little to distract you from the intoxicating groove created by Mitski’s overdriven bass and the crisp drums. This track speaks to a strong Pixies and perhaps even a Nirvana influence.
And she has used it to perfection here…
The track was featured on an episode of the highly successful Cartoon Network show “Adventure Time.” It appeared when one of the show’s characters, Marceline, sings a part of the lyrics. The use of her middle name, “Francis,” in the song’s title could be for a myriad of reasons. And who is to say that Mitski won’t reveal it one day?
For many folks, it’s been an anthem of staying true to yourself despite wanting desperately to change for someone you are infatuated with. As a result, it’s one of the saddest Mitski songs ever.
5 A Burning Hill
The closing track on Mitski’s fourth album, Puberty 2, is easily the highlight of the album and one of the best songs she’s ever recorded. Like many artists, she’s capable of maniacal levels of self-criticism. And, with “A Burning Hill,” it shines through nice and strong. “And I am the fire and I am the forest – And I am a witness watching it.”
The track features the fantastic production skills of long-time collaborator Patrick Hayland, who has produced most of Mitski’s catalog to date. The gorgeous backdrop of a low-droning synthesizer and an acoustic guitar perfectly complements Mitski’s ice-cold voice.
The true highlight of this track is the writing and the performance. It’s one of her strongest vocal deliveries, and that aspect alone makes it one of her most enduring tracks. Even if you take away the instruments and leave just her voice, this tack will make your day go from blue to grey within the first few bars. So, it’s fair to call it one of the best sad songs by Mitski.
6 Brand New City
From her debut album, Lush, Mitski gives us a comprehensive introduction to her writing ability, vocal range, compositional skills, and emotional power as an artist. “Brand New City” is a gorgeous mashing of textures that come from seemingly opposite ends of the musical spectrum.
Mitski has said that Lush is her most experimental album. Additionally, she pointed out that “Brand New City” was almost a musical template for the more conceptual and focused work that appears on her later albums.
In her own words, “I think for the first record, I was trying all the different things I was thinking of doing in the future. So, I’d say “Brand New City” was, I guess, a precursor to the stuff I’m currently working on.”
Like many other compositions…
Mitski uses very melancholy subject matter juxtaposed with almost grungy instrumentation. With a heart-wrenching performance, she relates the feeling of being burnt out due to bad habits being practiced for too long, as well as the depression that comes with the realization that you had your chance and you blew it.
Then there is the foolish notion that if you just change your surroundings, you could change yourself and “start fresh” despite being past your prime. “But if I gave up on being pretty, I wouldn’t know how to be alive – I should move to a brand new city and teach myself how to die.”
7 Last Words Of A Dying Star
The closing track from 2014’s Burry Me At Makeout Creek is one of her simplest compositions but also happens to be one of Mitski’s most powerful tracks.
Musically, the track is nothing more than a well-recorded acoustic guitar playing a few fingerstyle chords and a bit of room sound. On top of that, there’s Mitksi’s emotionally potent voice imbuing the words with the power of a thousand broken hearts.
Exploring themes of death, alienation, and the mundanity of life is something she’s well accustomed to by now. The image of a passenger on a doomed plane, thinking of nothing other than the fact there their room is tidy, evokes haunting images of loneliness and estrangement.
Likewise, the words can be viewed as a downward spiral…
One that leads to a final psychological and emotional breakdown which sees the protagonist turning to the most selfish of solutions. “I couldn’t have changed anyways – I am relieved that I’d left my room tidy – Goodbye.”
However one chooses to interpret this achingly pretty song, the result remains the same, a very profound emotional and psychological reaction. That’s because it’s one of the saddest songs by Mitski.
8 Come Into The Water
Even something as seemingly wonderful as a romantic infatuation can be turned into something heartbreakingly beautiful. Especially if you give the reins to Mitski. She effortlessly weaves a vocal melody between the instruments. Then, she manages to choose words that make your chest swell.
“Come Into the Water” from the album Be The Cowboy could be describing the apprehension one feels when wanting another. But also being unsure as to whether there will be pain and heartache. Despite this, the desire to engage with this person compels one’s mind to fantasies of them making the first move and everything being okay.
The protagonist is apprehensive about making a big decision in their life, and this causes them to stagnate when action is required. So, “Come Into the Water” means that you finally become sure of yourself as a person and start making decisions without hesitation. When it comes to the saddest Mitski songs, at least this one ends with a positive message.
9 Class of 2013
The closer from Mitski’s second album, Retired from Sad, New Career In Business, still contains a healthy dose of the experimental spirit she used to create her first record. She hadn’t yet crossed over into multi-instrumentalism. But her piano playing for the “Class of 2013” is brilliant.
Once more, we have very depressing subject matter contrasting a very jolly-sounding 3/4-time piano piece. Technically, this is not an easy tune. So, its effectiveness is a testament to Mitski’s ability not only as a singer but a musician. The Lo-Fi production on the piano also adds to the childlike image that Mitski tries to paint with her words.
Growing up can seem like a daunting thing for anyone…
“Class of 2013” perfectly captures the desperation of a child who wishes to remain in the pastures of the youth for just a bit longer and results in begging their mother to make it so. “And I’ll leave once I figure out – How to pay for my own life too.”
The vocal performance starts in a very reserved fashion. But, as the “tantrum” becomes more severe, Mitski’s voice undergoes a transformation and becomes that of a howling girl pleading with her mother to let her stay just a little longer. “Mom, am I still young? – Can I dream for a few months more?”
10 Humpty
“Humpty” is arguably one of Mitski’s most melancholic songs and most emotional performances. If there is one track from her early material that proved she was going to be taken very seriously in the future, it’s this one. This track comes from Retired from Sad, New Career In Business.
The main character wishes to live inside the bathroom of her disorganized and dirty apartment. That’s because the bathtub represents some part of their life that is clean. This image is combined with that of Humpty Dumpty from the popular nursery rhyme I’m sure we’ve all heard.
Like Humpty, who can’t be put together again…
The person in the bathtub knows that they are incapable of fixing the mess they’ve made of their apartment/life. Therefore, they long to remain with their other half inside this safe, and clean bathtub surrounded by self-inflicted chaos.
Musically, the track seems to float in free time. And the use of strings to accentuate the deepening of Mitski’s vocal performance is a superb use of instrumentation. Truly one of her most brilliant compositions.
11Nobody
12I Don’t Smoke
13Drunk Walk Home
14Your Best American Girl
15A Pearl
16First Love / Late Spring
17Texas Reznikoff
18Once More to See You
19Dan the Dancer
20Bag of Bones
21I Will
22Two Slow Dancers
23Strawberry Blonde
24Square (Live from Pitchfork Music Festival 2016)
25Washing Machine Heart
26Thursday Girl
27Last Words Of A Dying Star
28Townie
29Brand New City
30Come Into The Water
31Class of 2013
32Humpty
33Lonesome Love
34I Want You
35Geyser
36Blue Light
37Carry Me Out
38Square (2015)
39Goodbye, My Danish Sweetheart
40Francis Forever (Solo)
41First Love / Late Spring (Solo)
42Me and My Husband
43Happy
44Once More to See You (Solo)
45Geyser (Live at LPR 2018)
46My Body’s Made of Crushed Little Stars
47I Bet on Losing Dogs
48A Loving Feeling
49Circle
50Pink in the Night
Need to Find More Sad Songs?
If so, then check out our thoughts on the Saddest Rock Songs, the Best Sad Songs, the Saddest Taylor Swift Songs, the Saddest Kanye West Songs, and the Saddest Elton John Songs of All Time for more heartfelt song selections.
Saddest Mitski Songs – Final Thoughts
Across six albums, Mitski has crafted a catalog that makes even a killer robot from the future get a bit emotional. She’s the complete package of writer, performer, and composer. So, her future is sure to hold a wealth of songs just as great as the ones she’s already released.
Until next time, happy listening.
