Some Disney songs get us pumped, others make us sad. Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the most tear-jerking, somber tunes from animated Disney flicks.
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00 "I was almost there."
00:04 Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the most tear-jerking,
00:11 somber tunes from animated Disney flicks. We are including songs that were cut from their films,
00:16 if we've since heard them in places like special features or later editions of soundtracks.
00:21 Beware of spoilers.
00:23 "Remember me, don't let it make you cry."
00:31 20. I Will Go Sailing No More - Toy Story
00:34 Throughout most of the first Toy Story, Buzz is convinced he's a real space ranger,
00:39 not just a toy. But after seeing an action figure commercial, he's thrown into an existential crisis.
00:45 His pain is reflected as I Will Go Sailing No More plays over him. He was sure he knew
00:50 everything about himself, but now it feels like it's all a lie.
00:54 "Way beyond the moon, in my silver ship I sail, a dream that ended too soon."
01:07 In one last, triumphant effort, he tries to disprove everything he's been told,
01:11 only to literally come crashing down, reality finally sinking in.
01:16 The way Randy Newman captured Buzz's emotions in the music and the lyrics
01:20 helped raise the bar for Pixar's other emotional pieces.
01:23 "Clearly I will go sailing no more."
01:33 19. She Never Felt Alone - The Aristocats
01:41 During their journey back to Paris, Duchess recites a somber poem about how much she and
01:45 her kittens mean to their mistress, Madame Bonfamille. This moment is enough to move anyone
01:50 to tears, but the poem was originally planned to be part of a whole song titled She Never Felt Alone.
01:56 As a slow, melancholy melody plays, Duchess sings about how Madame was happiest with the
02:01 cats around, even in her ailing age. "We're the greatest treasure she could own.
02:10 Because with us she never felt alone." To her, the pets are the only family she has left,
02:17 so losing them is even more tragic. It's a shame this beautifully gloomy tune never
02:22 made it into the finished film, but at least soundtracks have kept it alive.
02:26 "We're the greatest treasure she could own. Because with us she never felt alone."
02:37 18. I'm Still Here - Jim's Theme - Treasure Planet
02:45 It's hard not to relate and sympathize with Jim Hawkins' rebellious nature,
02:48 given the hardships he's faced. Alternative rock artist John Resnick decided to reflect
02:53 Jim's difficulties with I'm Still Here. Taking inspiration from his own life, Resnick's song
02:58 paints a vivid picture of the character's struggle to fit into a world that misunderstands him.
03:03 "Yeah, you stand here on your own. They don't know me, 'cause I'm not here."
03:12 All the while, we see him learning his way around the ship and bonding with Silver,
03:16 along with heartbreaking flashbacks of his strained relationship with his biological dad.
03:21 It's appropriate that this song is labeled Jim's Theme, since it highlights his parallel
03:25 relationship with his fatherly figures, while also hearing his growing pains loud and clear.
03:30 "They're the ones that stay the same. I'm the one now, 'cause I'm still here."
03:39 17. Sally Song - The Nightmare Before Christmas - The Pumpkin King
03:43 Sally has had a bad feeling about Jack's Christmas plan from the start,
03:47 but it's far too late to talk him out of it. The only thing she can do now is lament the
03:51 situation through a melancholic tune. She fears for the Pumpkin King's safety, not just as a
03:57 friend, but as someone she cares about on a romantic level. "And does he notice my feelings
04:06 for him?" She has no idea if Jack will return her feelings, and if anything happens to him,
04:13 she may never get a chance to find out. It's a tragic two-for-one deal, but thankfully,
04:18 it's never too late and Sally and Jack enjoy a happy ending together.
04:22 They're definitely meant to be, considering they both sang their respective laments.
04:27 "As anyone can see, we're simply meant to be."
04:37 16. Our Town - Cars While out on a drive, Sally reflects on the
04:42 history of Radiator Springs during its heyday. During the flashback, we're treated to a slow
04:47 tune recalling a time when the town was bustling and friendly, always busy and thriving.
04:52 "Long ago, but not so very long ago, the world was different."
05:03 Unfortunately, time marches on, and things change with it. With the new interstate built,
05:09 business declined until the area practically disappeared from the map. Despite their town
05:13 being forgotten, the cars of Radiator Springs stick around because come what may, it's their
05:18 home. If this unfortunate history wasn't depressing enough, the song hits another
05:23 sorrowful note of feeling left behind in a world that never stops changing.
05:27 "No one seems to need us like they did before. It's hard to find a reason."
05:38 15. Aloha Oi, aka Farewell to Thee - Lilo & Stitch
05:45 It looks like it might be Lilo and Nani's last night together before they are separated.
05:49 Nani decides to spend the night comforting her little sister,
05:52 while sadly singing the Hawaiian folk song "Aloha Oi."
05:55 "Aloha Oi, Aloha Oi."
06:06 It translates to "Farewell to Thee," and was reportedly originally written as an
06:10 apology from the queen to her people. In a way, it perfectly fits this scenario.
06:14 Nani feeling like she failed as a big sister, and having to part with the only family she has left.
06:20 Her soft, broken voice as she tearfully sings only tugs at our heartstrings even harder.
06:25 "Until we meet again."
06:35 We're relieved to say that the sister's story doesn't end there, but it's still gut-wrenching.
06:40 14. The Next Right Thing - Frozen 2
06:44 Things could be going better for Anna. Her loved ones appear gone,
06:48 and she's all alone in the darkness in an unknown place. The only thing she can think to do now is
06:53 sing about her sorrows, and slowly pick herself back up. With all the pain she's endured,
06:58 it'd be easy for her to just give up and fall into darkness' embrace.
07:02 "I can't find my direction, I'm all alone. The only star that guided me was you."
07:10 But she knows she still has a job to do, so she'll grieve a little,
07:16 regroup, and do the next right thing. The music's tone reflecting Anna's emotional shift,
07:22 from broken and sorrowful to triumphant and determined, is the icing on top.
07:26 "And with the dawn, what comes then? When it's clear that everything will never be the same again."
07:39 It makes it all the more satisfying when her perseverance pays off.
07:43 13. Proud of Your Boy - Aladdin
07:46 Originally, Aladdin was to feature our titular street rat's mother,
07:50 and a heartfelt song dedicated to her sung by her son. Throughout his life,
07:54 the protagonist has seen himself as constantly failing his beloved mom,
07:58 but all he wants is to do right by his parents, by any means necessary.
08:02 "Make good and finally make you proud of your boy."
08:13 Lyricist Howard Ashman was passionate about this number, and anyone who wants to make their
08:17 parents proud can easily relate to it. Tragically, this beautiful tune, and Aladdin's mother,
08:23 were cut from the final product, but at least we got the somber reprise of One Jump Ahead.
08:28 "If only they'd look closer, would they see a poor boy, no siree."
08:37 Miraculously, though, Proud of Your Boy was revived for the Broadway version,
08:42 and brought into the spotlight where it belongs.
08:44 "The reason that you should believe me not yet, I know but
08:51 someday and soon I'll make you proud of your boy."
08:56 Number 12. Very Good Advice - Alice in Wonderland
09:00 Alice has had enough of exploring Wonderland and wishes to go home,
09:04 but she's lost in the woods. So she sits still and sings a remorseful tune.
09:08 "Be patient is very good advice, but the waiting makes me curious."
09:18 She laments how she let her curiosity get the better of her and didn't listen to her own advice.
09:23 About halfway through the number, she breaks down in tears. Before long, the sympathetic
09:27 creatures of the forest listening in fade away, leaving poor Alice alone again.
09:32 "I give myself very good advice, but I very seldom follow it."
09:43 Seeing the young girl cry is hard enough, but the song hits even harder as adults when we
09:48 worry if we'll ever learn from our own mistakes.
09:51 Number 11. Goodbye May Seem Forever - The Fox and the Hound
09:55 We doubt there's a Disney fan alive who hasn't teared up while watching The Fox and the Hound.
10:00 Undeniably, one of the saddest moments in the movie comes during Goodbye May Seem Forever.
10:05 To set the scene, Widow tweeds neighbor is threatening her beloved fox, Todd.
10:09 "Yet from your sadness, our happiness grew. And I found out I needed you too."
10:18 To save Todd, Tweed has to make the hardest decision in her life,
10:24 abandoning and returning him to the wild.
10:26 The tune is mostly recited in Tweed's head, with a chorus taking over at the end,
10:30 but the absolute heartbreak of the moment is plain for all to see.
10:34 "But in my heart's a memory, and there you'll always be."
10:42 Even those who haven't had to say goodbye to a loved one will be
10:51 bawling like a baby after this one.
10:54 Number 10. Go the Distance - Hercules
10:57 "I have often dreamed of a far off place."
11:02 Hercules always felt like a fish out of water because of his uncontrollable godlike strength.
11:07 After one too many catastrophic spills, he laments his frustration with a somber piano melody,
11:13 wanting to find a place where he can feel like he belongs, no matter how treacherous the journey
11:17 seems.
11:18 "The voice keeps saying, 'This is where I'm meant to be.'"
11:22 For the last two verses, Hercules brings the tune up from an uncertain, quiet song to an
11:29 all-out triumphant declaration, more determined than ever to prove himself a hero and finally
11:34 live in a way where he can feel accepted.
11:37 "I can go the distance. I'll be there someday, if I can be strong."
11:44 You can't help but sympathize with his situation,
11:46 and cheer him on as he pushes himself towards his dreams.
11:50 "I would go most anywhere to feel like I belong."
12:01 Number 9. One of Us - The Lion King 2 - Simba's Pride
12:05 "Deception, disgrace, evil is plain as the scar on his face."
12:15 Kovu was already under fire for being an outlander, but after a horrible misunderstanding,
12:20 Simba has finally had enough and he exiles the young lion from the Pride Lands.
12:24 The other Pride Landers condone this decision by joining together in an angry choir as they
12:29 violently chase Kovu away.
12:31 "Morning breeze, breaks and aches, helpless to defy his fate."
12:40 Their views are made loud and clear. Kovu doesn't belong with them.
12:44 He's pure evil in their eyes, just like Scar.
12:47 While none of the main characters sing in this number,
12:49 Simba's short-sightedness was clearly a major influence for the lyrics.
12:53 He never gives Kovu a chance to explain himself,
12:56 and his distrust may have inadvertently doomed the circle of life as we know it.
13:00 8. Do You Wanna Build a Snowman - Frozen
13:13 "Do you wanna build a snowman?"
13:15 After accidentally hurting Anna with her powers, Elsa isolates herself.
13:20 But Anna still tries to convince her to come out and play for two uplifting verses.
13:25 "Do you wanna build a snowman? Or ride our bike around the halls?"
13:30 After the tragic death of their parents, however, those playful prods become tearful pleas in the
13:35 melancholy final verse, Anna begging her sister to let her in when they need each other the most.
13:40 "I'm right out here for you, just let me in."
13:45 Unfortunately, it's far too late. Elsa won't budge,
13:48 too afraid to go near her sister ever again.
13:51 This sob-inducing ballad was almost removed from the finished product,
13:55 but it ultimately won the staff over with its creative imagery,
13:58 steady story progression, and just how it subtly portrays a strong relationship fading away.
14:04 "Do you wanna build a snowman?"
14:07 [Music]
14:16 Number 7. No Way Out - Brother Bear
14:18 "Everywhere I turn, I hurt someone."
14:23 Kenai was transformed as punishment for killing another bear, but when he coincidentally ends
14:28 up befriending the late bear's son, Koda, he can't keep the truth hidden forever.
14:33 During his confession, a sorrowful, regretful Phil Collins number plays over the scene.
14:38 "I did something very wrong."
14:39 "Brother Bear, I let you down."
14:44 Some audiences didn't appreciate how this ballad drowned out the dialogue of an intense moment,
14:48 but they can't deny how it matches Kenai's inner struggle.
14:52 "Of all the things I hid from you, I cannot hide the shame."
14:58 He acted out of vengeance and betrayed the trust of someone who looked up to him.
15:02 If he could take it all back, he would for his new little brother.
15:05 Unfortunately, you can't undo the pain you caused, but you can atone for it.
15:10 "There's no way out of this dark place."
15:16 Number 6. Someone's Waiting For You - The Rescuers
15:20 "Be brave, little one. Make a wish for each sad little tear."
15:29 Poor Penny has been through a lot at such a young age. She ran away from the orphanage,
15:34 feeling like she would never be adopted, only to end up abducted by the despicable Madame Medusa.
15:39 Heartbroken by her hopeless situation, she silently cries into the night air as a
15:44 depressing melody plays over the scene.
15:46 "Someone's waiting for you."
15:49 Despite its somber tone, the song carries a hopeful feeling,
15:57 like a mother's voice reassuring her that things will get better.
16:00 It may not feel like much, but sometimes a little faith is all we can rely on.
16:05 "Have faith, little one, 'til your hopes and your wishes come true."
16:14 In Penny's case, it's faith that she'll be rescued and one day finally adopted.
16:19 Because both things might happen sooner than she thinks.
16:22 "Today, she's being adopted. And here she is with her new mother and father."
16:27 Number 5. Remember Me - Coco
16:32 We first hear the film's most important song as a ranchero-style folk ballad,
16:36 sung by the late Ernesto de la Cruz. It became his most popular song as he pleads to his fans
16:42 to remember him when he leaves them. "Remember me, though I've come to travel far, remember me."
16:49 In reality, Cruz's childhood friend Hector wrote the song as a lullaby for his daughter Coco,
16:54 wanting her to remember him when he's forced to leave her.
16:57 "I sing a secret song to you each night we are apart, remember me."
17:06 While the backstory of the hit tune ends in tragedy, the song itself is a treasure,
17:12 helping people cope with multiple situations, such as unwelcome separation or even heartbreaking
17:18 loss. The message is the same, wanting to be remembered until they can be together again.
17:22 "Until you're in my arms again, remember me."
17:34 Number 4. Reflection - Mulan
17:41 "Look at me, I will never pass for a perfect bride."
17:48 After an embarrassing incident in town, Mulan takes a slow, unhappy stroll through her garden,
17:53 facing an identity crisis. She wants to make her family proud, so she pretends to be what
17:59 her culture considers the perfect woman. But that's just not who she is.
18:03 "Who is that girl I see, staring straight back at me?"
18:13 On the other hand, if she acts like her true self, she'll only bring shame to her family.
18:18 Overall, this melodious moment of self-doubt really highlights the uncertainties of who we
18:23 really are, unsure of what our reflections will show us. The deleted, extended version expands
18:28 on Mulan's frustration at having to hide her true self, when she really wants to set it free.
18:33 "Who is that perfect bride? It's not me, though I've tried. When will my reflection show?"
18:46 Number 3. God Help the Outcasts - The Hunchback of Notre Dame
18:52 "I don't know if you can hear me, or if you're even there."
18:58 After reluctantly taking sanctuary inside Notre Dame, Esmeralda prays a gentle hymn to God for
19:05 those who have been mistreated in the past. While others pray for wealth, fame, and other
19:09 materialistic things, this Romani woman asks for protection, not for herself but for all the
19:14 outcasts who have faced prejudice and racism, including her people and a certain hunchback.
19:20 This is inarguably one of Disney's boldest songs, with a heavy, powerful message enriched with
19:32 emotion in every line. This ballad also further cements Esmeralda as the selfless,
19:44 empathetic woman that Quasimodo loves. It's no wonder he can see heaven's light
19:48 after she shows him kindness. "I swear it must be heaven's law."
19:54 Number 2. When She Loved Me - Toy Story 2
20:01 Before Woody can leave to be with Andy again, Jessie reveals that she once had a special kid,
20:12 too, Emily. The two were inseparable and always there for each other.
20:17 But as Emily got older, Jessie became neglected.
20:20 "But she began to drift away, I was left alone."
20:27 And just when it seemed like their connection could be fixed,
20:29 the cowgirl doll was abandoned by someone she loved.
20:32 This emotional piece could drive anyone to tears, as it sheds light on Jessie's traumatic backstory
20:38 and abandonment issues. Some have even interpreted the tune as an uneasy love ballad, or a metaphor
20:43 for parents watching their children grow up and move on without them, feeling unloved and not
20:48 needed anymore. "Every hour we spent together lives within my heart when she loved me."
21:05 Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
21:09 Not in Nottingham - Robin Hood With Prince John in charge,
21:13 there's no such thing as happiness in Nottingham.
21:15 If I Never Knew You - Pocahontas A deleted song showing how glad
21:32 Pocahontas and John are they found each other.
21:39 Your Mother and Mine - Peter Pan Even the pirates are moved to tears by this song.
21:59 Noble Maiden Fair - Brave Merida recalls this childhood lullaby while missing her mother.
22:04 I'll Try - Return to Neverland It's hard to believe in anything when
22:16 you've lost most of your childhood. "All the world is made of faith and trust."
22:25 I'm so sorry. "And pixie dust."
22:30 Before we continue, be sure to subscribe to our channel and ring the bell to get notified about
22:35 our latest videos. You have the option to be notified for occasional videos or all of them.
22:41 If you're on your phone, make sure you go into your settings and switch on notifications.
22:46 Number 1. Baby Mine - Dumbo After a hard, mortifying week,
22:59 Dumbo pays a visit to his mother's cell. She can't leave the cart, but she can still hold
23:04 her child tightly with her trunk, rocking him back and forth for comfort. All the while,
23:08 a soothing, reassuring lullaby plays, as if Mrs. Jumbo herself was saying how much she
23:14 loves her little pachyderm. "Rest your head close to my heart, never to part, baby of mine."
23:26 What makes this scene so heartbreaking is how unfair this whole situation is.
23:30 A mother trying to protect her baby gets locked away for being a mad elephant,
23:34 leaving the child to face harassment and humiliation alone with no hope of seeing her
23:39 again until he finally hits the big time. "Baby mine, baby mine."
23:51 Do you agree with our picks? Check out this other recent clip from Ms. Mojo.
23:56 And be sure to subscribe and ring the bell to be notified about our latest videos.
24:07 (upbeat music)
24:10 you