53 Songs About Being Alone & Feeling Loneliness

Sometimes it feels like every song you hear is about falling in love and all the happiness and pitfalls that go with it. However, if this has not happened for you yet or you just went through a bad breakup, all the focus on happily ever afters in music can make you want to throw something across the room.

Whether you need a song that better matches your mood, or you just want to mix up your listening, here is a list of the best songs about being alone and feeling lonely. Whatever your preferred genre or situation, this list has a song for you!

“All By Myself” by Eric Carmen

Song year: 1975

Is there a more iconic song about loneliness? It is doubtful. Just try to read the title of this song without singing it to yourself. “All By Myself” is the anthem for lonely hearts, and its only fault at this point is having become almost cliché because of its popularity.

“Eleanor Rigby” by The Beatles

Song year: 1966

This song may not scream loneliness in the title, but with a chorus that repeats the line “all the lonely people,” this song deals with the subject of loneliness, but from a different perspective than many other songs. Instead of focusing on the singer’s loneliness, “Eleanor Rigby” looks at the lonely people the world seems to forget.

“Lonely Avenue” by Ray Charles

Song year: 1956

This song focuses on the intense feelings of isolation experienced after a breakup. It describes common problems of being alone after a bad breakup, such as being unable to sleep. If you have ever been alone because of heartbreak, you can relate to this song.

“Alone Again (Naturally)” by Gilbert O’Sullivan

Song year: 1972

This may be the most depressing song on the list. It opens with a man contemplating suicide after being left at the altar. As if that wasn’t bad enough, over the course of the song, both of his parents die. It is not the type of song you would dance to in a club, but it eloquently captures the intense isolation that comes with severe grief.

“I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)” by Whitney Houston

Song year: 1987

This is not just about wanting to have fun. It is about a longing to find that special someone to have fun with, and thus, it is a fitting song for anyone tired of running solo.

Plus, it is a fun song you can groove to. There are not many songs about loneliness like that. This song explores the passion and desperation that can come from being alone instead of just melancholy.

“Only the Lonely” by The Motels

Song year: 1982

Instead of being about breakups or waiting for love, this song focuses on how you can feel alone when you are not with the right people or in the right place. Lines like “we kiss all together wrong” and “we live without each other” illustrate how lonely a failing relationship can be.

“Astronaut” by Simple Plan

Song year: 2011

“Astronaut” is about the desire to find other people out there like you. If that sounds a bit depressing for you, the music video, directed by Mark Staubach, has the astronaut finding a girl astronaut at the end, so it ends on a hopeful note that the song itself lacks.

“Boulevard of Broken Dreams” by Green Day

Song year: 2004

The repeated line of this song is “I walk alone,” which emphasizes both the loneliness and slow movement of a life lived in isolation. With other lines like “My shallow heart’s the only thing that’s beating,” this is a song about looking around and realizing you are alone. You have partied, but now the party is over, and you are alone.

“Only the Lonely (Know the Way I Feel)” by Roy Orbison

Song year: 1960

If you are feeling lonely but also want to keep your head up, this is one of the few songs about heartbreak and being alone that has a slightly hopeful ending. The ending looks forward to finding a new romance and acknowledges that trying to find love involves the risk of being lonely.

“Hello Sunshine” by Bruce Springsteen

Song year: 2019

If you are indulging in a lonely song marathon, then you should give Springsteen’s song a listen. “Hello Sunshine” is about the hypnotic appeal of loneliness. The narrator has purposely chosen to wander and enjoy isolation but now wants the sunshine back in their life.

“Drive” by The Cars

Song year: 1984

“Drive” emulates the ache of watching someone try to do things alone. It seems that the narrator is also feeling their own isolation in that they are unable to help this person. Sometimes you can feel almost secondhand loneliness when watching someone else refuse to let others help them, and “Drive” captures that in a melancholy yet beautiful tune.

“No Man Is an Island” by The Script

Song year: 2017

While most of the songs on the list have been about people who find themselves stuck in lonely situations, The Script’s take on being alone is about when people choose the path of loneliness instead of risking hurt in relationships.

“She Don’t Love You” by Eric Paslay

Song year: 2014

The song tells the story of a woman who is so damaged and lonely from so many failed relationships that she is unable to truly feel and give love. She stays in the relationship because she is lonely, but her loneliness also traps her and prevents her from feeling a real connection. This song is thus about the loneliness that comes from being unable to connect because of internal trauma.

“So Lonely” by The Police

Song year: 1978

This particular song about loneliness has a level of purposeful irony as the many repetitions of “so lonely” are sung in a rather upbeat manner. If you need a song to express your loneliness that won’t make you cry or even more depressed (because sometimes you just don’t need that), “So Lonely” by The Police is an excellent choice.

“The Outside” by Taylor Swift

Song year: 2006

Whatever you may think of Taylor Swift, you have to respect the fact that she was able to write “The Outside” at age 12. Since Taylor was younger at the time of writing this, the song focuses more on overall social isolation rather than romantic love. For anyone who was even slightly awkward in high school or middle school, this song hits home.

“You Are Alone” by The Flaming Lips

Song year: 2013

“You Are Alone,”; this as the name implies, is a bleak song, and the music itself only adds to this heavy feeling. If you have ever felt suffocated by your loneliness or felt alone in your own head, then it may capture that feeling you have not been able to put into words.

“Need You Now” by Lady Antebellum

Song year: 2009

Rather than being about a permanent state of loneliness, this song focuses on the overwhelming wave of loneliness that sometimes hits us, especially at night. Even though it may be bad in the long run, the narrator needs companionship so desperately at that moment that they are willing to call their ex.

“Tired of Being Alone” by Al Green

Song year: 1971

“Tired of Being Alone” is about someone who finds that the single life is getting to them, and they are trying to convince their baby to come back. Like many songs about loneliness, this song thinks about lost love.

“Visions of Johanna” by Bob Dylan

Song year: 1966

The length of the lyrics and the disconnect between different parts of the song only serve to heighten this lonely feeling. There is an aimlessness to “Visions of Johanna” that captures a spirit of loneliness. You may feel lonely after listening to this song, and for that, it deserves a spot on this list.

“Here I Go Again” by Whitesnake

Song year: 1982

Unlike most of the songs on this list that focus on how being alone sucks, “Here I Go Again” has a more ambiguous relationship with loneliness. The chorus repeats the phrase “like a drifter I was born to walk alone,” which seems to imply some embracing of loneliness.

“Walk Me Home” by P!nk

Song year: 2019

This song takes into consideration the loneliness of the modern world. P!nk sings about needing someone to be with her while the loneliness surrounds her and fills her mind. It is certainly a poignant testament to how society is feeling these days.

“Travelin’ Soldier” by The Chicks

Song year: 2002

Previously known as the Dixie Chicks, these ladies belt out the perfect anthem for the significant other of someone in the military. It perfectly captures the essence of waiting for a loved one who is deployed. Beware, though. In the end, he does not make it back home.

“Best I Ever Had” by Gary Allan

Song year: 2005

Singing about the loneliness of breakup, Gary Allen manages to make every syllable drip with emotional distress. If you are reading this list because you want to simply feel, this is the song for you.

“Somebody’s Chelsea” by Reba McEntire

Song year: 2010

This song combines the loneliness of losing a longtime love with wishing you had that kind of love in the first place. Quite possibly one of the most underrated songs of country music, this song will have you looking around to see who is cutting the onions.

“Lonely” by Justin Bieber and Benny Blanco

Song year: 2021

Whether or not you are a fan of “The Biebs” or cannot stand him, this song is undeniably powerful. It talks about how lonely things can be at the top when your friends are no longer your friends and how hard it is when you can not tell people’s motives for being around you.

“When Lonely Hits Your Heart” by Loretta Lynn

Song year: 1965

Loretta croons about how hard and lonely it is when the man you love does not care in the same way. When the priorities of the person you love shift away, it is tough to be left in the dust, wondering what went wrong.

“Song for the Lonely” by Cher

Song year: 2001

With her powerful and emotional voice, Cher sings a song that she has dedicated to the lonely people in the world. With a catchy tune, it can help lift you up while still acknowledging your feelings.

“Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely” by The Backstreet Boys

Song year: 1999

Heralding from the 90s, the Backstreet Boys croon out a song about the difficulties of a relationship where one person cares more than the other. With the somewhat vague lyrics, this song can easily be applied to many other lonely situations.

“When The Stars Go Blue” By Ryan Adams

Song year:  2001

Even if you do not recognize the title, you have probably heard this song before. It talks about the next steps when loneliness overwhelms. The ballad style is perfect for a lonely mood.

“Half A Heart” By One Direction

Song year: 2013

This song talks about what is missing in his life after a breakup. Everything is half as good and half as beautiful. Luckily for the subject of this particular song, his lost love misses him, too.

“I Miss My Friend” by Darryl Worley

Song year: 2002

Talking about lost love, Darryl focuses specifically on the friendship that comes with a good relationship. Definitely a tearjerker, this song could easily make your lonely mood even more melancholy.

“Cool Kids” by Echosmith

Song year: 2013

Being cool is not the most important thing in school, which is easy to figure out after you grow up. At the moment, though, it can be awfully lonely to be on the outside looking in. This song captures the essence of that schoolyard loneliness.

“Nobody Knows” by Kevin Sharp

Song year: 1996

When you are feeling lonely or missing a love, many people outwardly pretend that everything is okay, terrified of appearing vulnerable. This song captures that essence perfectly and talks about the public face versus what is underneath the surface.

“Hope You Get Lonely Tonight” by Cole Swindell

Song year: 2014

While this song is more about a one-night stand than it is about loneliness, it still captures the essence of needing human connection. Loneliness is brutal, and sometimes you just have to do what will get you by.

“Lonely Tonight” by Blake Shelton

Song year: 2014

In this song, Blake sings about how two lonely people can ease that feeling in each other. While there are some innuendos in the song, it is more versatile than that, applying to many different types of relationships.

“Are You Lonesome Tonight” by Elvis Presley

Song year: 1960

It’s hard to imagine a list of any type of song without Elvis finding his way on it somehow, and “Are You Lonesome Tonight” certainly fits the subject for this list.

Elvis’s version was a major hit. It reached number one on the charts and stayed there for six weeks, and it will only take one listen for you to understand why. In the song, Elvis contemplates whether the girl who left him feeling lonely is also feeling lonely herself.

“Lovely” by Billie Eilish and Khalid

Song year: 2017

Billie Eilish is well known for her songs that speak right to the heart in a hard-hitting and sometimes brutal way. This song is no exception, as it speaks of living in a lonely situation while looking forward to getting out of it.

“Away From the Sun” by 3 Doors Down

Song year: 2002

This song is considerably dark, emotionally speaking. It speaks about going down the rabbit hole of depression and loneliness. Full of metaphors, it manages to say what most cannot quite put into words.

“Lonely at the Top” by Jamey Johnson

Song year: 2010

There is no doubt that Jamey is singing this song about his own experiences. It is a cliche mindset that being at the top can often lead to loneliness, but it is not less true because of that. Fame and money can change the people around you, and this song becomes the anthem for that particular hardship.

“Lonely Girl” by Charles Kelley

Song year: 2016

It is undeniably hard to watch the person you love suffer. This song speaks directly to that and is one man’s declaration of love for someone he knows is sad and lonely after a failed relationship.

“Blue Moon” by Beck

Song year: 2014

While this song is not the classic song by the same name that we all know and love, it is powerful in its own right. Beck laments about the hardships of feeling lonely. This is another song that is more versatile than simply lost love.

“Heartbreak Hotel” by Elvis Presley

Song year: 1958

There is something ironic about this particular song about being alone. While Elvis croons about being lonely in the first verse, the song goes on to talk about how all the people at the Heartbreak Hotel are lonely. The Hotel is “always crowded” with lonely broken-hearted people.

As isolating as loneliness is, it is a feeling that a lot of people experience. The idea of there being a hotel where people check in to have their lonely spells is quite fitting.

“Alone” by Heart

Song year: 1989

Loving someone from afar can be one of the most excruciating emotional experiences that a person can endure. Heart has clearly felt this for herself, as her lyrics cut straight to the heart. It also feels unusually modern for an 80s song.

“Leave Me Alone (I'm Lonely)” by P!nk

Song year: 2006

P!nk has an unusual take on loneliness in this song, where she sings about wanting to be left alone to be given the chance to miss someone. This is a good song if you are feeling a bit suffocated.

“Splendid Isolation” by Warren Zevon

Song year: 1989

Decidedly more cheery than most songs on this playlist, Warren Zevon takes the opposite approach regarding being alone. This song has the makings of a true anthem for introverts all over the world, as it speaks about craving quiet moments alone.

“Honk if You're Lonely” by Silver Jews

Song year: 1998

This song is perfect for a lonely night, cruising around and looking for something to do or someone to be with. Like many other songs on this list, the title of the song speaks for itself.

“I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” by Hank Williams

Song year: 1949

This song has stood the test of time largely for its potent and elegant lyrics. Lines like “the moon went behind a cloud to hide its face and cry” and “the silence of a falling star lights up a purple sky” can only be described as poetry.

Williams was originally going to keep this as a spoken word piece rather than a song but eventually set it to music, where it became one of his biggest hits.

“Friend, Please” by Twenty One Pilots

Song year: 2009

While this is one of Twenty One Pilots’ earlier songs, it is still full of the unusual metaphors and tricky lyrics that they are so well known for. Speaking directly to loneliness, you feel the raw emotion coming from each verse. Plus, it has a great techno-esque beat to it.

“Dancing on My Own” by Callum Scott

Song year: 2016

A redone version of Robyn’s hit song by the same name, Callum Scott, adds a whole new layer of emotion to this already sad song about watching a lover with someone else by slowing its tempo down. Accompanied only by a piano, he further complements it with his velvety voice that pulls you in.

“Tea for One” by Led Zeppelin

Song year: 1976

While this song is not as well known as most of their other music, Led Zeppelin still delivers with this one. It focuses on the heartache of letting someone go, then regretting that decision down the road.

“Quarantined” by Atlas Sound

Song year: 2008

Okay, so the lyrics are not anything special and are quite repetitious, but what could be more perfect in 2021? Of course, it could be argued that the monotony of the lyrics perfectly reflects the frustrations of quarantine that we are all so fed up with.

“Beautiful” by Eminem

Song year: 2009

Eminem has spent decades as the reigning king of rap, and this song showcases just how much he deserves that lofty title. Cutting right to the hardest of the hard, he sings about how difficult living in isolation is. If you are not prepared for his raw truth, this song is not right for you.

“What Hurts the Most” by Rascal Flatts

Song year: 2008

Loneliness is hard, but what is even harder is being near the person you love without being able to have them. This song takes that raw hurt and perfectly sets it to music. Few genres do loneliness better than a crooning country song.

Best Songs About Being Alone, Final Thoughts

Whatever you hoped to get from this list, I hope you got it. Being alone can be relaxing or refreshing, but it can also make you lonely. However you’re feeling, I hope you could relate to some of the above songs. We’ll add more songs about being alone in future.