51 Songs About Heartbreak That You’ll Unfortunately Be Able to Relate to
When a relationship ends, it can be a harrowing time. You wonder what went wrong and how it could have been different. If you were betrayed by someone you loved, it can be even more difficult.
Having songs you can (unfortunately) relate to can help start the healing process. Here are the best songs about heartbreak that you will, unfortunately, be able to relate to.
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“Somebody That I Used to Know” by Gotye featuring Kimbra
Song year: 2011
When you break up with someone you want to believe you can remain friends, but sometimes that is not possible. Yet, you still get caught blindsided by how they pretend they do not know you.
This song by Gotye made the charts ten years ago, and it is still a powerful song that is loaded with sadness. This song also presents both sides of the breakup.
“Don’t Speak” by No Doubt
Song year: 1995
When you realize your relationship is ending, there is a moment everyone dreads. The moment when the heartbreak begins. This song is from the perspective of someone who knows their relationship is ending.
They feel like they are losing a friend. He is trying to break up with her, but she does not want to hear what he has to say because she already knows the end result.
“You’re Not Sorry” by Taylor Swift
Song year: 2008
When you have been betrayed, you may want to believe the person when they apologize. However, they will probably hurt you again and again.
In this 2008 song by Taylor Swift, she realizes that she needs to cut away from him because he is not really sorry about what he did to end the relationship. She even says she will not answer the phone if he calls, so he should not bother.
“Shake It Out” by Florence + The Machine
Song year: 2011
Heartbreak and feelings of betrayal can be difficult to forget. You may want to move on, but the darkness is just too much for you. This song by Florence + The Machine is a dark, sad song about heartbreak. She likens heartbreak to a devil on your back.
Yet, the chorus says that you need to shake the devil off so you can move forward. When you want to move beyond the sadness, listen to this song and relate to it.
“Sandcastles” by Beyonce
Song year: 2016
As Beyonce points out, relationships are like sandcastles. They are fragile and can be washed away easily. In this 2016 song, she realizes her relationship is toxic and wants out.
A recurring theme is that you may make a promise to stay together forever, but the promise you make can be broken. So, when you feel betrayed or heartbroken, listen to this tune to help move on.
“You Give Love a Bad Name” by Bon Jovi
Song year: 1986
Not all songs about heartbreak and betrayal need to be sad, as this 1986 Bon Jovi song can attest to. When your partner is not who they seem, you will feel betrayed. It may make you angry, so be sure to blast this song.
The song is about how when a partner plays games and lies then it is not really love anymore. Many people can relate to this, unfortunately.
“How to Save a Life” by The Fray
Song year: 2005
The moment your heart is broken is when the relationship ends. Everyone knows about the talk that usually happens when a relationship is about to terminate. This 2005 song by The Fray tells how that talk goes down.
It is always difficult, and you do not want to believe it is happening. However, if you have recently been heartbroken, try listening to this song to gain some perspective.
“I Heard It Through the Grapevine” by Marvin Gaye
Song year: 1968
This classic song has been covered numerous times, including a famous rendition by Creedence Clearwater Revival. This soulful track is about being betrayed by the woman you love.
In the song, Marvin Gaye sings about finding out that his girlfriend was cheating on him and all he wants to do is cry, though he thinks he should not. If you have ever been cheated on, this is the song for you.
“Heartless” by Kanye West
Song year: 2008
Heartbreak is a depressing thing to go through, and Kanye West explains how heartless a person can be who breaks up with you.
He describes getting angry and feeling things he did not know he was capable of. He decides he will ignore her, too. You will be able to relate to this song as you hear Kanye describe how cold and heartless a breakup can be.
“I Don’t Wanna Live Forever” by ZAYN and Taylor Swift
Song year: 2017
After you have broken up with someone, and the heartbreak sets in, you will begin questioning the entire situation. You will ask yourself if this is a good thing or a bad thing. You may even wish that the person take you back.
This song by ZAYN and Taylor Swift describes those feelings well, and you will be able to connect with its message about how your ex-partner seems to show up everywhere you look because you cannot get over them.
“Anesthesia” by Type O Negative
Song year: 2003
Type O Negative was never a band to have happy songs, and this one about not wanting or needing love is dark. However, it is one you will relate to as you experience heartbreak and betrayal.
In the song, the lyrics talk about how love can deceive you, and how it hurts too much when it is over. Perhaps, it is better to never have love in the first place.
“Skinny Love” by Bon Iver
Song year: 2007
This folk song by Bon Iver is about a love that did not work out. Its somber tone will surely fit the mood you are in when you are experiencing heartbreak in your life.
Moreover, Bon Iver sings that he tried to be patient, but that, in the end, the love they had was a waste and that it is all over now.
“Let Her Go” by Passenger
Song year: 2012
In this song of heartbreak, you do not realize how much someone means to you until they are gone. It is a theme that has been sung about many times before, but there is something haunting about this song by Passenger.
The lyrics touch upon how dreams are a process to make a reality, but when heartbreak arrives, those same dreams can vanish quickly. When you feel sad about the heartbreak of a finished relationship, listen to this song.
“Let It Go” by James Bay
Song year: 2015
Sometimes in a relationship, people play roles that are not themselves, which can lead to heartbreak. You need to be yourself in your relationship, otherwise, it cannot last. This song implores the partner to let go of those roles and just be themself.
If you are experiencing heartbreak from a relationship that ended because of this, this song can be a great exploration into what went wrong.
“Sobbin’ Hearted Blues” by Bessie Smith
Song year: 1925
This may be a very old song, but its lyrics still resonate today with folks who have experienced heartbreak and betrayal. In this song, the relationship is toxic where one person is acting out of line all the time.
However, as Bessie Smith sings, she will not take the bad behavior of her partner anymore, and she decides to walk away. Sometimes in heartbreak, you need to realize it was for the best.
“Cry Me a River” by Justin Timberlake
Song year: 2002
Betrayal hurts, and you need a song you can listen to that will remind you why you had to leave the person who betrayed you. Oftentimes, you still love the person who betrayed you, so it can be difficult.
This Justin Timberlake song, “Cry Me a River,” is from the perspective of a man who tried hard to make a relationship work only to have his girlfriend cheat on him.
“Rolling in the Deep” by Adele
Song year: 2011
When you feel betrayed by someone you loved, it can make the healing process much more difficult. Likewise, you are likely to experience a lot of anger toward that person because you trusted them and they broke that trust.
Adele gives a powerful performance in this song, and she eloquently describes her anger toward the person she loved and how she will not let him get away with it.
“Dreaming with a Broken Heart” by John Mayer
Song year: 2006
“Dreaming With a Broken Heart” by John Mayer is a sad song about having to end a relationship, and it is about how difficult it is to move on when you are experiencing heartbreak.
There is a part in the song where the narrator breaks up with his girlfriend and wonders if that is the way it has to be. Unfortunately, it seems that it does.
“Used to Love You” by Gwen Stefani
Song year: 2015
When you break up with someone, it can be easier to say you hate them than to remember that at one time you loved them. Gwen Stefani’s 2015 song is all about how remembering how you loved someone who caused you heartbreak can make that heartbreak worse.
If you are having a difficult time handling your anger over your ex who betrayed you or caused you heartbreak, listen to this song and realize you are not alone.
“Total Eclipse of the Heart” by Bonnie Tyler
Song year: 1983
This is a classic song from the early 80s that is still played frequently on the radio. In the song, Bonnie Tyler sings about how she needs her partner and loves him very deeply. However, their love is like darkness to her.
This song shows that love is not always what it seems and that it can have negative effects on the individuals involved.
“The Scientist” by Coldplay
Song year: 2002
Sometimes heartbreak can come from how a relationship ended. Emotions can get the best of people, and they can say things they do not mean and regret them later.
In “The Scientist,” the narrator wants to let their loved one know that they still love them and that they are sorry. They do not like that the relationship is over, but they still want them to know they think they are lovely.
“It Ends Tonight” by The All-American Rejects
Song year: 2006
This song is about the moment a relationship officially ends and the heartbreak begins. The lyrics describe how the person does not want to be with their partner anymore because they feel strangled.
They would rather be alone and have decided to end the relationship. Of course, breaking up may be the right decision, but it never makes the heartbreak nonexistent.
“Somebody Else” by The 1975
Song year: 2016
It can be hard to let go of someone even if the relationship is over. Heartbreak can make you jealous even when you have no reason to be.
This song by The 1975 is about when you discover your ex-partner has found somebody else after you are gone. The heartache becomes stronger. The love may have disappeared, but there is still something that bothers you.
“Miss You” by James Hersey
Song year: 2016
What happens when the person you love leaves your life? In this 2016 song, James Hersey sings that he is going to miss her a lot. He considers what could have been and how, despite promises, it could end.
If you are worried that your relationship will end soon, take a listen to this song. There is a reason James Hersey repeats the title many times during the song because when you love someone you will miss them when they are gone.
“When Can I See You?” by Babyface
Song year: 1994
When the person you love breaks up with you, it can be difficult to fully process what they are saying. As Babyface says in this song, you just want to know when you can see them again.
However, there may not be a next time. Heartbreak is a time when you will be sad and your world will seem dark. This song by Babyface will resonate with you when you just want to see them again even though they are gone.
“It Ain’t Me, Babe” by Bob Dylan
Song year: 1964
Told from the perspective of a man who does not believe he is the right one for his girlfriend, this poignant song will be relatable to many. When you want to avoid breaking somebody’s heart, you try convincing them that they were wrong about you.
Usually, songs are from the point of view of the person who will suffer the heartbreak, but this song is from the opposite side.
“Save Your Tears” by The Weeknd
Song year: 2020
Even if you are the one who decided to end the relationship, you can still feel heartbreak. In this song by The Weeknd, the lyrics reflect a person who sees his ex in public and cannot face her.
He reflects that he said things he should not have said when he broke up with her. He does not know why he cannot face her, but he runs away anyway. Heartbreak is complex no matter which side you are on.
“The Last Song I’m Wasting on You” by Evanescence
Song year: 2006
This piano-based song is beautifully sung by Amy Lee and is a song about moving on after betrayal. The narrator of the song treated her boyfriend with respect, but he told her he hated her, and then he lied to her.
She is cutting him loose entirely in this song because she no longer wants to associate with him or to feel his hate. It is a sad-sounding song, but it is one that many can relate to, especially when they have been betrayed.
“Snuff” by Slipknot
Song year: 2009
This song showed people that Slipknot could write songs that were not super hard, and it is a powerful one, too. The lyrics are from the perspective of a man who wants his partner to leave him because she betrayed him.
He wishes he did not love her and was not her friend so that he could hate her. The betrayal has struck him deeply, and he does not trust her at all.
“Tattoo” by Jordin Sparks
Song year: 2007
Even when a relationship ends, you will still have a part of your partner imprinted on you. Jordin Sparks likens it to a tattoo on her heart, and you can relate to the sentiment.
The lyrics reflect on knowing you should not continue to love the person, but the feeling you have for the person keeps bringing you back into the fire.
“Positively 4th Street” by Bob Dylan
Song year: 1965
When you are betrayed, you question everything about the person. In this 1965 song by Bob Dylan, it is clear that he does not like even seeing those who have betrayed him.
If you have ever felt like people have used you, have treated you wrongly, and put on a fake personality around you, then this song will be perfect for your next playlist.
“Chainsaw” by Nick Jonas
Song year: 2016
If you have ever been incredibly angry at someone leaving you, then you can relate to this 2016 song by Nick Jonas. In the song, he wants to take a chainsaw to anything that reminds him of his ex.
While this may seem a bit extreme, it can be seen as a metaphor for wanting to erase the memories that remind you of your ex, which everyone wishes they could do at one time or another.
“The First Cut is the Deepest” by Rod Stewart
Song year: 1976
Heartbreak can last a long time and can affect future relationships you may have. This 1976 song by Rod Stewart reflects on how when you have been wounded by a bad breakup, it can be a challenge to love someone else again.
However, as the song points out, it is best to try to love again. Holding onto the past is not a good thing, and the heartbreak will end if you allow it to.
“Unwanted” by Avril Lavigne
Song year: 2002
Heartbreak does not have to occur at the end of a relationship. It can happen at the potential start of one. Avril Lavigne sings about wanting to get to know a person who wants nothing to do with her.
The result? She feels unwanted, and she feels that if it were up to the person, they would get rid of her altogether. When you want someone to notice you, it can be a challenge when they make you feel this way.
“Broke ‘n’ Brokenhearted” by Def Leppard
Song year: 2015
When you love someone and they betray you, you always feel caught off guard. In this recent song by legendary rockers Def Leppard, they talk about being in a relationship where the person feels used. After the breakup, the other person spreads gossip about them, even though it is clear they cheated on the person.
The song mentions the bitterness that comes along with betrayal and heartbreak and how it will still make you sad.
“Goodbye” by Secondhand Serenade
Song year: 2008
The lyrics of this song are all about saying goodbye to someone you love because it is the right thing to do. The person in the song is not sure if they are to blame or maybe they are both to blame.
The relationship was clearly toxic, however, because his emotions were played with and he ended up learning to hate the person he was meant to love.
“Please Don’t Leave Me” by P!nk
Song year: 2009
Sometimes a person can be to blame for a relationship ending. Heartbreak can cause people to reflect on their own bad behavior.
As this song by P!nk explains, she treated him badly at times. She admits she could be mean and has even told him to leave several times. Yet, she does not really want him to go anywhere. People regret their behavior all the time, but sometimes it leads to heartache.
“Take a Bow” by Rihanna
Song year: 2007
Rihanna sings about a relationship she has ended because the man cheated on her. He apologizes to her, but she knows that the only reason he is apologizing is because she caught him cheating.
When someone cheats, it is a betrayal of trust in a relationship, and this song by Rihanna is a good reminder to not take that person back. She says he is a liar and to take a bow because the show he put on was “great.”
“I’d Rather Go Blind” by Etta James
Song year: 1968
Sung from the perspective of a woman who discovers her partner cheating on her, this classic 1960s song by Etta James shows how terrible betrayal can be.
Etta James says she does not want to see her love with another woman. She claims she would prefer to be blind, which shows how powerful betrayal plays with the emotions of a person. She remembers the embrace of the man, and it only makes her sadder.
“I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston
Song year: 1992
While the original song was written and sung by Dolly Parton in the 1970s, this version by Whitney Houston became the de facto version of the song in the 1990s.
Written from the perspective of a woman who, despite no longer being in a relationship with her partner, admits that she will always love him. Loving someone does not have to end just because the relationship is over.
“The Tracks of My Tears” by The Miracles
Song year: 1965
When you are suffering heartbreak, you want to make people believe that you are okay. This song by The Miracles, a Motown hit back in the 1960s, is about pretending to be okay with losing your love, but inside being a mess.
Have you ever pretended to be having a good time and cracking jokes to cover your sadness? If so, this song by The Miracles is a song you will relate to.
“Pain in My Heart” by Otis Redding
Song year: 1964
If you have ever had someone leave you, you will relate to this soulful song by Otis Redding from 1964. In this song, Redding describes how his girl left him and left a pain in his heart.
He is wondering where she is and when she will return. He is describing how heartbreak feels because it feels like a pain in your heart and soul.
“You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’” by The Righteous Brothers
Song year: 1967
The Righteous Brothers sing this powerful song about a love that is fading and about to end. The lyrics reflect on how love can fade and how things can change. As they sing, it was once beautiful, something unique, but now it is empty.
Heartbreak can start before the end arrives, especially if those loving feelings are dwindling gradually. This song is a poignant song about how love is fleeting.
“Don’t Leave Me This Way” by Thelma Houston
Song year: 1976
Heartbreak can make it difficult to understand why the person is leaving you. This song, which has been recorded by several artists through the years, tells it from the perspective of someone who does not want the relationship to end.
If you have ever wanted a person to stay with you because you desire and love them so much, then this song is a must-listen.
“Medicine” by Queen Najia
Song year: 2018
When someone cheats on you, they lie about everything. In this song, however, Queen Najia flips the narrative and poses the question to the man about how he would like it if she did what he does.
It is clear he is cheating on her, and Queen Najia will not take it anymore. The title refers to that old saying: “a taste of their own medicine.”
“I Don’t Want to Get Over You” by Magnetic Fields
Song year: 1999
Sometimes people do not do what they should when getting over a person. In this song by Magnetic Fields, the lyrics reflect on the options available to get over heartbreak, but the narrator decides he does not want to do any of them.
The reason? As the title says, he does not want to get over the person. He loves them too much and cannot imagine ever getting over them.
“Eye Hate U” by Prince
Song year: 1995
This song by Prince is about a woman who has cheated on him, and he wants to hate her because of it. He laments that after everything they had, she decided to cheat on him for no reason.
He repeats over and over that he hates her, but the reason he hates her is that, in truth, he loves her. If you have ever had these conflicting feelings, give this song a try.
“Hey, That’s No Way to Say Goodbye” by Leonard Cohen
Song year: 1967
Heartbreak is harder when you must say goodbye in a way that is not perfect. Of course, maybe there is no perfect way to say goodbye. As Leonard Cohen sings in this song, he does not want to part ways with the person he loves when they are both filled with sorrow.
Heartbreak can come from the knowledge that you will be apart. Leonard Cohen laments this in this acoustic guitar-driven song from his debut album.
“Crying” by Roy Orbison
Song year: 1962
Getting over someone is never easy, and, as Roy Orbison sings, sometimes nearly impossible. He tries to get over her, but he cries when he sees her by chance in public.
He declares he will never stop crying for her. He was able to hide it for a while because he thought he was over her, but he discovered that he will never be over.
“I Just Don’t Know What to Do with Myself” by Tommy Hunt
Song year: 1962
When you are in a relationship, you do everything together, but when heartbreak sets in and the relationship is over, you no longer know what to do. This beautiful song by Tommy Hunt, which has been covered many times over the years, explains perfectly how difficult it is to move on from someone.
If you have ever felt like you had no idea what to do with your time once you are single, then this song will be very relatable.
“Go Your Own Way” by Fleetwood Mac
Song year: 1977
If you have ever loved someone but knew that you should not, this song is a perfect one to listen to. It is a classic song from Fleetwood Mac about the breakup of Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks.
Sometimes it is best to go separate ways, but that moment you decide you should not be together is when the heartbreak will set in. Listening to songs like this one can help you get through the process.
Songs About Heartbreak, Final Thoughts
Sometimes you need a song to help you through the difficult times of heartbreak. It is good to know someone else has felt the way you feel. These songs are perfect to help get you through the grieving process.
