47 Songs About Letting Go & Moving On

“Everybody Lost Somebody” by Bleachers

Song year: 2017

Contrary to what the song title makes you believe the song is like, “Everybody Lost Somebody” is a triumphant, upbeat anthem of victory. It’s a nonchalant way of saying everybody has someone they lost, but that’s okay, and you’ll always be able to move on.

“The Middle” by Jimmy Eats World

Song year: 2001

Jimmy Eat World’s hit “The Middle” is an alternative rock track that lyrically expresses the idea of finding hope and resilience in the face of adversity.

The song encourages listeners to keep moving forward, even when life gets tough. It’s fast-paced, uplifting, and has guitar riffs that make this tune iconic amongst college students and struggling individuals.

“Piano Man” by Billy Joel

Song year: 1973

Sometimes, moving on means grabbing a drink and putting those painful memories aside. Billy Joel’s “Piano Man” is a somber reminder that everyone has their own issues to deal with and that loneliness isn’t exclusive to one person.

It takes a realistic perspective as it describes various people struggling in their own ways, yet enduring through it all and coming together under the songs of piano man, who makes them feel a bit better.

“Bridge Over Troubled Water” by Simon & Garfunkel

Song year: 1970

This emotional ballad speaks to the idea of support and comfort in the face of loss. It encourages the listener to find comfort in friends and loved ones and reminds us that it’s crucial to rely on their love and strength as we navigate the challenges of life.

“In The End” by Linkin Park

Song year: 2001

Ultimately, it doesn’t matter what you do or how hard you try; you’ll end up six feet under regardless. The whole point of this song is that it’s meaningless to ponder on the mistakes you make or hurt yourself because of how badly you fail since you’ll end up in the same place as everyone else when your time comes.

“The Climb” by Miley Cyrus

Song year: 2009

This country-pop fusion explores the idea of perseverance and determination in the face of adversity. It inspires the listener to keep pushing forward and to maintain their optimism in the face of life’s challenges, which can be translated to moving on from loss.

“Someone Like You” by Adele

Song year: 2011

This one is a powerful ballad that tells the story of a broken heart and the heart-wrenching process of moving on. The song is filled with raw emotion and a sense of sadness but also a sense of hope for the future.

Adele’s vocals are, as always, gracious and full of beauty.

“If You Were Here” by Poe

Song year: 2001

When someone dies, it’s the people they leave behind who cry. Eventually, those teary emotions fade, and we’re left to wonder what could have been.

As “If You Were Here” talks about in its lyrics, it’s sometimes comforting to imagine those gone souls and think about what they’d say to you if they were still alive. Sure, it’s depressing to ponder about, but it’s a valuable coping measure and a poetic way to keep someone’s memory alive.

“Don’t Look Back in Anger” by Oasis

Song year: 1995

This song tells the story of a girl, Sally, who leaves the singer. She eventually comes to regret it and hates herself for how badly she treated him, but when she goes to apologize, he’s with another girl. Sally states that she cannot live without him, but it’s already too late. All she can do is accept her mistakes and understand she can’t fix them.

What this story teaches us is that we’re going to make mistakes, and we’re going to regret them. All we can do is live with them and tell those who we’ve hurt not to look back in anger.

“Rescue Me” by Madonna

Song year: 1990

Madonna’s “Rescue Me” is an energetic pop-dance track that emphasizes the importance of resilience in navigating the tumultuous waters of life.

It encourages the listener to seek out the strength within themselves and to forge ahead, even when faced with uncertainty and change.

“Here’s To Us” by Halestorm

Song year: 2012

Halestorm takes a jaded, in-your-face approach to letting go. As the previous entry mentions, we make mistakes, and we’ve got to accept them. “Here’s To Us” elaborates on this idea by suggesting we should celebrate those mistakes and raise a glass in their honor.

By cheering for them, we belittle their value and make them insignificant when compared to the greater scheme of things. The lyrics of this song are bitter-sweet, and though life is going to keep coming, we can fight back under the prospect that we can drink away the pain at the end of the day.

“How to Save a Life” by The Fray

Song year: 2005

Losing someone is a terrible experience, yet it’s something everyone goes through. It’s this universal relatability that makes this song so moving when we apply it to our own lives and why we listen to it when we’re having trouble moving on.

This song also has heavy themes of suicide and ponders the question of how we could have saved someone before they took their life. There’s no easy answer to the question, which is why the song leaves this point unanswered and left to interpretation.