41 Best Songs About Long Distance Relationships

Long-distance relationships are better with a soundtrack. When you have a good set of tunes to help you fall asleep or remind you of your particular person, things feel a little easier.

The best songs about long-distance relationships are the ones that make you smile, maybe cry a little, and ultimately feel the deepness of the love you share.

With that in mind, here are our top long distance relationship songs.

“Faithfully” by Journey

Song year: 1983

The unmistakable piano intro, the piercing sounds of Steve Perry’s heartbreaking voice, and the beautifully sad lyrics make this one of the best long-distance relationship songs out there.

This song is a powerful ballad about a family torn apart by the music industry; this song incorporates everything you need in a good love song: loyalty, camaraderie, compelling vocal illusions, and total faithfulness.

Few songs can compete with this powerful tale of being apart and the toll it takes on true love.

“Here Without You” by 3 Doors Down

Song Year: 2002

3 Doors Down released this heartfelt ballad about loneliness and separation in 2003. It spent 18 weeks on the Billboard Top 100, peaking at 25.

The song is all about the difficulty of spending significant amounts of time away from the person you love and the heartbreak it can cause even in a steady relationship.

But the powerful bridge reminds us that nothing can take away our love if we’re willing to work on it and fight for it, even when we’re miles apart.

“Many the Miles” by Sara Bareilles

Song year: 2007

This up-tempo dramady of a song contrasts the excitement of youth and all the adventures that await us as we explore the world, with the challenges of finding love at a distance.

There’s no easy way to balance life. But you do what you can, and you make the most of every moment. And that’s what Sara Bareilles reminds us.

“Somewhere Out There” by Linda Ronstadt & James Ingram

Song year: 1999

The sweet, soft-spoken duet by Linda Rondstadt and James Ingram tells the story of two lovers watching the same moon, knowing that the other is thinking only of their dear sweetheart.

It’s not an ideal scenario this LDR, but this act helps make the most of it.

Rondstadt and Ingram combine forces to create a genuinely heartfelt ballad about distance and love and how to get through the difficulty of loving someone who’s far, far away.

“So Far Away” by Carole King

Song year: 1971

Sometimes the people we want close to us are the farthest away. No matter what we do, we cannot will them to our side.

Sometimes when we reach out for someone, they aren’t there anymore. And even though you can travel a great distance, it’s still hard.

Carole King’s bluesy song brings all these feelings to the forefront in a powerful, palpable way. It reminds us to never take love for granted.

“See You Again” by Carrie Underwood

Song year: 2012

Distance is never the end, and as long as you can hold your loved ones in your heart, you’ll always have them near.

Carrie Underwood’s 18th number one hit reminds the listener that we should hold on to the sweet memories when we’re far from family.

There’s always tomorrow, and true love withstands the curse of long-distance. So hold on to what you know is valid until you’re together once more.

“I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” by The Proclaimers

Song year: 1988

The Proclaimers have one of the greatest songs about long-distance and how to handle relationships that span even thousands of miles.

Possibly the most upbeat song about long-distance out there, The Proclaimers remind us that love takes hard work. Sometimes the only thing to do is put on your walking shoes, head out the door, and start walking toward your person.

“From Where You Are” by Lifehouse

Song year: 2007

Sometimes the miles between lovers are too hard to bear. When that happens, it’s good to have a song that makes you cry a little. Every so often, you need to let those tears flow.

When you’re far away from the person that you love, it’s all you can do to keep it together. Sometimes you just need to admit that you miss them, and though it feels ridiculous, wish that they would come back to you. Lifehouse can help with that process.

“I Will Wait” by Mumford & Sons

Song year: 2012

Long-distance can be more than just miles. Sometimes, the distance between two hearts feels like miles and miles of rough terrain, separating true love from blooming.

Overcoming that distance can be as tricky as overcoming great physical lengths. But the way it draws two souls together makes the struggle and effort incredibly worthwhile.

“Distance and Time” by Alicia Keys, A Long Distance Relationship Song

Song Year: 2009

Alicia Keys made this song specifically for lovers who can’t be together, most of them separated by great distances.

When distance splits two lovers, keeping your mind from dwelling on them is incredibly difficult. It might be impossible.

Sometimes, daydreaming about when your person comes home is precisely what you need. So don’t be afraid to let yourself feel and hope.

“Home” by Michael Buble

Song Year: 2005

This sweet tune reminds its listeners that no distance is too great that a motivated soul cannot traverse it.

When exotic locations and exciting people start to feel tedious and painful, it’s time to pack up your things and head home.

Michael Buble helps us remember that in this heartfelt song about coming home. Even the lucky travelers of the world need their favorite people around.

“I Love You This Much” by Jimmy Wayne

Song year: 2003

Sometimes long distances can take the shape of an emotional rift. Sometimes, it can shape a broken relationship between father and son.

Jimmy Wayne sings about the difficulty of not telling the people you love how you feel about them. And when it’s too late, there’s nothing you can do to fix it.

The distance between the father and son in this song is purely emotional. But the heartbreaking lyrics remind us that proximity doesn’t always matter.

“Distant Lover” by Marvin Gaye

Song year: 1973

The sweet sound of Marvin Gaye singing about his faraway lover makes the perfect background song for anyone wishing they were somewhere else, with someone else, doing something other than missing that ideal person.

“Say You Won’t Let Go” by James Arthur

Song year: 2016

A genuine love connection only comes around once in a lifetime, and it’s worth holding on to with every ounce of strength. When the moment comes, it’s all you can do to cherish the memories and cling to the truth of what it takes to make love last.

When distance drives you apart, you can still hold on to the memories and believe it won’t always be so hard.

“Safe & Sound” by Taylor Swift & The Civil Wars

Song year: 2012

Promising yourself to someone amid distance and difficulty usually gets a strong emotional reaction. And understandably so: that’s not the kind of promise that just anyone can make.

Nor should that kind of promise be made lightly. People cling to them when they’re away from their lovers. And sometimes, remembering those promises is the only thing that keeps you going.

“Talking to the Moon” by Bruno Mars

Song year: 2011

When you hurt the one you love, everything inside you wants to make it right. But when they live so far away, sometimes it feels like all you can do is look up at the sky and hope that they’re looking up at the same time.

You don’t have to wish upon a star. And you don’t have to have a conversation with outer space. But it might help.

“Hey There Delilah” by Plain White T’s

Song year: 2006

Meeting someone special for the first time can be a breathtaking whirlwind of emotions. And falling in love with them instantly is the most powerful thing anyone experiences.

The number one hit from Plain White T’s tells the story of a man who falls in love with a girl called Delilah, and all he wants in the whole world is to be with Delilah. But she’s just so far away.

“Landing in London” by 3 Doors Down & Bob Seger

Song Year: 2005

Long-distance relationships are complex. Sometimes it’s even harder when you live in the same city, but work keeps you constantly on the road.

That’s the simple tale of this dark love song. When work and life take a man far from his love, he just wants her to know that she’s the one thing on his mind through every situation.

And all he wants is to get back home.

“Right Where I Need to Be” by Gary Allen

Song year: 1999

Along the same lines, long-distance within a marriage can take a severe toll on a solid relationship at one time. When work and other responsibilities keep you on the road, decisions need to be made.

Gary Allen reminds us that sometimes the most loving thing you can do is tell your boss to shove it and find something that lets you stay close to your lover’s side.

“I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” by Aerosmith

Song year: 1998

Aerosmith’s powerful love ballad delivers in total, with Steven Tyler’s unmistakable vocals bringing the song to life and giving it an edge.

When you don’t get every moment with the person that you love, you feel strongly that you’re missing out on beautiful memories and heartfelt moments. And nobody wants that in their romance.

“I Won’t Let You Go” by James Morrison

Song year: 2011

The hardest part of a long-distance relationship is that sinking feeling of uncertainty. Does your person love you the way they say they do? How do you know when you don’t get to be with them, the way other couples get to be together constantly?

James Morrison reminds us to cherish those sweet times together and not take our person for granted.

“It’s Only A Paper Moon” by Nat King Cole

Song year: 1933

A sweet tune about the power of true love and the dissatisfaction of being apart: Nat King Cole croons this little diddy with a positive attitude that makes most of every moment together while lamenting the times spent apart.

Nothing feels natural when you’re away from the one you love. But it all makes sense again when you come back together. And those are the moments that you cherish for a lifetime.

“Rivers and Roads” by The Head and The Heart

Song year: 2010

Nothing hurts quite as much as change that takes people away from those who matter most. When you grow up with certain friends around you, you expect them to always be with you.

The distance is hard to navigate, but more than that, it’s painful on a spiritual level. When that changes, it’s like walking into a whole new life. And usually, a life that you don’t recognize.

“Beyond” by Leon Bridges

Song year: 2018

There’s something fresh and exciting about being in love with someone, even when they live far away. Exploring their interests and learning what makes that person tick can occupy your mind for days.

Leon Bridges delivers an upbeat tune about making the most of any situation, even long distance, and focusing on all the good that can come from such a relationship.

“All Your’n” by Tyler Childers

Song year: 2019

Sometimes long distance doesn’t last. Sometimes it’s the way you start in a relationship before you get to live with one another in love and unity.

When you’ve come through a long-distance relationship, the temptation is often to forget how difficult it was at times. That’s when you start taking things for granted.

Remembering the difficulty is an exercise in gratitude, and Tyler Childres reminds us of that in this twangy song about coming home to the one you love.

“Carolina” by Parmalee

Song Year: 2013

Parmalee created one of the most straightforward, sweetest songs about home comfort when you’re constantly on the road. No matter how far away you go, you always know the love that’s waiting for you upon your return.

Home doesn’t have to feel so far when you have a strong lover by your side. Even in the great distance, the strength of their love is palpable. It motivates you to heights you never knew possible.

“Valentine’s Day” by Bruce Springsteen

Song year: 1987

Bruce Springsteen has more than one song about long-distance relationships, but this is arguably one of the most compelling. The soft, swinging tune paired with his light, simple vocals make a beautiful picture of the value of nearness.

Driving alone in the dark, far away from the people you love, it’s hard to remember how good it is to be home. But the memories come flooding back with little effort.

“When Your Lover Has Gone” by Frank Sinatra

Song year: 1955

When you’re alone, you feel like everything is tarnished or tainted by loves of the past. Any new romance you might stumble into will wreak with the stench of failure and perishing emotions.

The distance can strain a relationship to the point of breaking. Sinatra’s crooning voice embodies this sadness and reminds us to cherish the love that we share because it could change instantly.

“All Night Parking” by Adele

Song year: 2021

When you’re caught up in a wild romance, you never want those sweet moments of joy to end. When you know that your time together is limited, it makes it even more difficult.

There’s no perfect way to be in a long-distance relationship, but Adele helps us see some worthwhile options. Maybe putting off your work or plans for the sake of your lover. After all, your work will still be there tomorrow.

“Lousiana Woman, Mississippi” by Conway Twitty & Loretta Lynn

Song year: 1973

Separated by state lines, it’s easy to see why these two twangy country lovers long to be with each other. It sounds like no one has a better time than these two.

Long-distance relationships don’t have to be complicated, and they don’t have to be gloomy. Sometimes a little upbeat fiddle line and a line dance is the only thing you need to break the melancholy and start having fun with your relationship.

“Lonely No More” by Rob Thomas

Song year: 2005

Rob Thomas gained fame as the frontman for the band Matchbox Twenty. He debuted his first solo album in 2005. As his first single from that album, this song is a hit in every way imaginable.

A budding relationship for someone who has struggled with connections in the past can feel like such a burden. But the desire to be together and end loneliness is still strong.

Sometimes, the best thing to do is open yourself up in new ways that you have never done in previous relationships.

“Colder Weather” by Zac Brown Band, A LDR Song

Song year: 2010

Here's another LDR song. There are few things as powerful as the country ballad. Zac Brown Band’s work here is no exception. With stunning imagery and flawless vocals, the song pulls you into its story and keeps your attention from start to finish.

Intentionally keeping a great distance between people who love each other seems to be about the cruelest thing imaginable. Sometimes, circumstances dictate it must happen, and sometimes, people’s choices put them in impossible situations.

Either way, the vital thing to remember is that love requires sacrifices. And making those sacrifices is what keeps two lovers together.

“I’m Already There” by Lonestar

Song year: 2001

Sometimes, long-distance doesn’t seem so bad when you’re married with kids. You know you have people waiting for you when you get home, making traveling easier.

Sometimes the distance is just too much to bear. But sometimes, it makes it so much worse. The long-distance relationship that Lonestar sings about isn’t just between two lovers: it’s between a man and his entire family.

The heartbreak and longing in this song pair beautifully with the tale of loyalty through thick and thin.

“Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel)” by Billy Joel

Song year: 1993

A long-distance relationship is a brutal reality. The only thing that matches the gravity of the situation is the threat of a long-distance relationship.

And who said the long-distance had to be exclusively between two lovers? Sometimes a father, singing to his child, hoping the best for them and fearing the day they’ll go up and leave, is just as impactful.

The child won’t understand that father’s hurt for years. But the father knows all too well that these moments are fleeting. And so he makes the most of them.

“Long Day Comin’” by Hal Ketchum

Song year: 1991

Sticking with the theme of a father and his children, Hal Ketchum delivers with this incredibly soft-spoken tale of a man singing his child to sleep with heartbreak hiding behind every word.

Ketchum tells the story of a man and woman who couldn’t make their relationship work. So now the father is forced to spend time away from his children. And it’s breaking his heart.

But his resolve is firm. The distance and the broken relationship with his lover won’t stop him from being the man he needs for his kids.

“Never Gonna Be Alone” by Nickelback

Song year: 2008

Released in 2009, this song is the positive story of two individuals who have spent far too long apart. When enough time goes by, they’re ready to make a change.

A big change.

And the change means that the distance will be no more. This sweet testament to patience and perseverance is one of Nickelback’s most beloved songs.

“One More Day” by Diamond Rio

Song year: 2000

What will he spend it on when a man is granted a wish that he can use on anything his heart desires? What will his one ultimate wish bring him?

The wish brings nothing extravagant for the man in Diamond Rio’s story. No riches, no big houses, just one day more with the woman he loves.

When time and distance keep you apart, you might feel like you’d do anything for love. And that’s what makes it all worth it, isn’t it?

“If You’re Gone” by Matchbox Twenty

Song year: 2000

What do you do when your lover leaves you? The strain it puts on your relationship is unmistakable and sometimes seems unconquerable.

Driving the person you love far away from you can hurt like the dickens when you make a mistake. Creating a long-distance situation where you’re not even on speaking terms hurts even more.

But those situations can be remedied. And Matchbox Twenty reminds us that it’s essential to try and make things right.

“Stars” by Grace Potter & The Nocturnals

Song year: 2012

Long-distance relationships are hard enough without added drama and unnecessary fights. Sometimes, those things are unavoidable. And when you’re apart in the midst of a heated argument, you might feel like your entire world is on fire.

When this happens, everything reminds you of that person. It hurts to think of where they might be, what they might be doing, and with whom.

“Carolina in My Mind” by James Taylor

Song year: 1968

Sometimes the long-distance relationship comes down to where you are. Memories of home echo in your mind and pull you away from your responsibilities.

At least on occasion, going home is critical to health and wellness. When you find yourself daydreaming about home and all the people you left behind there, that might be a good sign that it’s time to visit.

“Already Home” by A Great Big World

Song year: 2014

Old cliches and kitschy statements can put a severe strain on any relationship. And if someone is afraid of commitment or failing in a relationship, it can be hard to find the right reassuring words.

Longing for home, the hero of this song reminds their lover that nothing will stop them from coming home again.

Sometimes people need their fears assuaged. Sometimes the best thing to do is let out a few corny lines that offer the reassurance of commitment.

Top Songs About Long Distance Relationships, Final Thoughts

Surviving a long-distance relationship can seem impossible sometimes. Nothing is more complicated than being far from the person you adore.

A heartfelt LDR playlist may not remedy the situation, but it will help you remember how many people suffer through long-distance every day.

Not every difficulty has to be the thing that breaks you. Sometimes, the hard stuff just might make you stronger.