23 Songs About Friendship Ending

Friendship breakups are never easy. Some people become bitter and resentful, while others get a sense of regret or become depressed.

Turning a best friend into an ex-best friend is a heartbreaking and unpredictable experience. Whether you’ve lost a best friend due to an argument, or your friend's life was taken too soon, here are the best songs about friendship ending to help you through the separation.

“Complicated” by Avril Lavigne

Song Year: 2002

While this song is predominantly associated with complications of young love, Lavigne later elaborated that the song talks about people more broadly, as there are many two-faced individuals in the world.

Undoubtedly her most popular song, “Complicated,” informs listeners that people aren’t who they always seem to be and can become someone completely different in varying environments. Some people are “fake,” and it only complicates things in a relationship – whether friend or romantic.

“Bad Blood” by Taylor Swift ft. Kendrick Lamar

Song Year: 2014

While most of Taylor Swift's songs are about romantic relationships gone bad – which is one way  “Bad Blood” is interpreted – Swift revealed the song is about bad blood between her and another female artist who tried to sabotage her tour.

Friendship betrayals are just as hurtful if not more than romantic relationship betrayals. In her song “Bad Blood,” Swift relives how this ex-friend cut deep and how all the previous happy memories are now tainted, and the friendship cannot be fixed.

“Stronger” by Kelly Clarkson

Song Year: 2011

Kelly Clarkson offers listeners an empowering, upbeat song with a powerful meaning in “Stronger.” The popular phrase portrayed in the song is what inspired writer Ali Tamposi to compose the song after her mother laid the words of wisdom on her.

Clarkson took the song and ran with it, and it has now become one of her most popular songs as it is a testament to how adversity in relationships can only make you stronger.

“Ready Yet?” by Sasha Sloane

Song Year: 2017

Making a steady rise to fame, Sasha Sloane offers up “Ready Yet?” which is a near-perfect song to put all the emotions of a friendship breakup on the table.

Throughout the song, listeners discover the hurt one faces when a friend hurts them but is torn between forgiving the friend or continuing to hold onto the hurt.

“Bad Friend” by Rina Sawayama

Song Year: 2020

“Bad Friend” by Rina Sawayama is about exactly what you think it’s about. For a friendship to last, you have to have an effort from both parties. The lyrics of Sawayama’s song confirm that the ex-friendship is because she was a bad friend and failed to invest in the relationship.

Listeners pick up a sense of guilt as the song progresses, and she realizes that she is the reason for the fallout and how that realization leads her into a deeper hole.

“See You Again” by Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth

Song Year: 2015

Death is a part of life, but when it comes unexpectedly, it can become difficult to bear. It’s no secret that “See You Again” by Wiz Khalifa is a tribute from The Fast & The Furious cast for their dear friend Paul Walker who was part of a fatal car crash.

The mixture of Charlie Puth's softer voice contrasted with Wiz Khalifa’s style of music creates a song genre that pairs perfectly with the powerful lyrics. Grab your tissues before you hit play on the official music video for “See You Again,” as a wave of emotion will flood in and take over.

“Tell Me How” by Paramore

Song Year: 2017

Paramore captures the emotion associated with a friendship ending too soon in their song “Tell Me How.” The music is artfully crafted as it places a heavy emphasis on the vocals allowing lead singer Hayley Williams to control how listeners perceive the masterpiece.

The lyrics provide a sneak peek into the band's crossroads as they have to decide to move on or let the band die after losing a close friend and band member.

“Masterpiece” by Motionless in White

Song Year: 2022

Motionless in White captures the fight one has inside themselves when one knows they have messed up and can’t seem to get it right in their hit “Masterpiece.” The contradicting lyrics show that no matter how often you apologize, you can’t take back what you’ve done.

As the song progresses, lead singer Chris Motionless sings that no matter how many times he tries to make it right, he continues to make mistakes resulting in a doomed friendship.

“Lose You To Love Me” by Selena Gomez

Song Year: 2020

It is tough to admit that you may be better off without someone. In the song, “Lose You To Love Me,” Selena Gomez realizes that after dealing with the separation of someone close to her, she found herself.

Her lyrical excellence takes you on an emotional roller coaster, proving that in the end, we have a clearer vision of how toxic others can be only after we remove them from our lives.

“Old Friends” by Jasmine Thompson

Song Year: 2017

“Old Friends” by Jasmine Thompson is an emotional song about growing up and growing apart from your childhood friends. Those old friends know who you are as they witnessed you growing up and realize that your new friends don’t know you like your old friends.

This song takes a different take on friendships ending as there may not have been a falling out, but more so the inevitable of moving away from your hometown and leaving those friends behind.

“One More Light” by Linkin Park

Song Year: 2017

Even though there are billions of people in the world, individual life matters, and losing a close friend seems unbearable. Linkin Park captures this feeling in their song “One More Light.” While it is a sad song, the band's meaning for the ballad is to encourage listeners to appreciate the loved ones they have while they are here on earth. 

The song was inspired by the band's loss of a dear friend Amy Zaret and was released in May of 2017. “One More Light” soon became a way to remember the late band’s lead singer, Chester Bennington, after he took his own life in July of 2017.

“Drowning” by Chris Young

Song Year: 2019

When Chris Young first performed his ballad “Drowning” in front of a live audience, he failed to finish the song. However, he still received a standing ovation as concertgoers could sense the song had special meaning to Young.

“Drowning” hits close to home for those who have lost a best friend suddenly. Written for his best friend Adam, who lost his life in a car accident, “Drowning” is a song about a friendship ending that may be hard to swallow for some.