Scapp70's 25 Favorite Break-up Songs - Maybe the Best Break-up songs of all time? Mar 03 '08 (Updated Oct 18 '09)    Write an essay on this topic. Tweet Popular Products in Music The Dirtchamber Sessions, Vol. 1 by The Prodigy From $11 Jersey Boys [Original Broadway Cast Recording] by Original Broadway Cast From $8 The Bottom Line A list of twenty-four emotional break up songs. It's always nice to have a good song to cry along to when experiencing a broken heart. Some people have their favorites already, and I know I do as well. I compiled a list of twenty-five songs here that would hopefully speak to most people, a few are my favorites and a few I included more a broader appeal. I initially had this set up in numbered order from 25-1, but I couldn't decide which song I liked best, so I just took the numbers away. I chose twenty-five songs, one for each hour of the day plus one. So if you are in that place in your life when you’re between relationships right now, and you actually take my advice of great break-up songs here – you’ll either end up empowered, or you’ll want to kill yourself. Thanks for reading! No Surprise - Daughtry Album: Leave This Town - 2009  This review originally had only 24 entries, but I had to update this when I heard the lyrics to former American Idol star Chris Daughtry's recent single named No Surprise.  The lyrics are very special, very personal and filled with emotional phrases like: You and I will be a tough act to follow or The favorite place we used to go, the warm embrace that no one knows give this song a very special place in this list, perhaps rivaling that of my other favorite Daffodil's Lament from the Cranberries.  Definitely give Daughtry's song a listen, while it's sad and truthful, it's also empowering. LYRIC SAMPLE: Don't be surprised when we hate this tomorrow God know we tried to find an easier way Yeah you and I will be a tough act to follow But I know in time we'll find this was NO SURPRISE Daffodil Lament - The Cranberries Album: No Need To Argue - 1994 The hybrid style of The Cranberries' music was bound to produce a beautiful song of loss sooner or later. I think most people would agree that their moody Daffodil Lament is their best sad song, if not their greatest musical achievement ever. The song begins dark and gloomy as she sings the lyrics below, and the bright and empowering finale results in one of the best female break-up songs, hands down. LYRIC SAMPLE: ♫Holding on, that's what I do since I met you. And it won't be long. Would you notice if I left you? And it's fine for some 'cause you're not the one, You're not the one there... All night long, laid on my pillow, These things are wrong. I can't sleep here!♫ http://www.epinions.com/content_345862999684 When She Loved Me - Randy Newman (performed by Sarah McLaughlin) Album: Toy Story 2 Soundtrack - 1999 Some may think I'm daft for including a Disney song, but this may be the feelings of the close-minded. If you allow yourself to drift passed the animation and the graphics, this is a heart-wrenching tale of heartbreak and abandonment. Randy Newman is one of the greatest songwriters ever, add the delicate performance of Sarah McLaughlin, and you have one of the saddest songs about heart-break ever. LYRIC SAMPLE ♫lonely and forgotten I never thought she'd look my way When she smiled at me And held me Just like she used to do Like she loved me When she loved me♫ http://www.epinions.com/content_315567541892 Baby Come Back - Player Album: Player - 1977 This song was kind of inspired from iamrachel's MySpace page. I never really gave this song too much attention, but I listened to the lyrics and I realized how honest and confrontational the words are. LYRIC SAMPLE ♫ Now that I put it all together Give me the chance to make you see Have you used up all the love in your heart? Nothing left for me -- ain't there nothing left for me? Baby come back, any kind of fool could see, There was something in everything about you. Baby come back, listen, you can blame it all on me. I was wrong, and I just can't live without you.♫ Before He Cheats - Carrie Underwood Album: Some Hearts - 2005 A break-up song doesn't always have to be a sad one and the proof is this beauty from Carrie Underwood. The American Idol winner sings about exacting her revenge on her boyfriend's car while he is making time with another cutie inside a local bar. The song is laced with humorous overtones as she pokes fun at her man's cheap moves and the cutie's naivety all to a wonderful honky tonk country backdrop. LYRIC SAMPLE: ♫Right now, she's probably up singing some White-trash version of Shania karaoke Right now, she's probably saying "I'm drunk" And he's thinking that he's gonna lucky Right now, he's probably dabbing on three dollars worth of that bathroom cologne And he don't know... That I dug my key into the side of his pretty little souped up four wheel drive Carved my name into his leather seat I took a Louisville slugger to both head lights Slashed a hole in all four tires Maybe next time he'll think before he cheats♫ http://www.epinions.com/content_338236182148 Kissing A Fool - George Michael Album: Faith - 1987 George Michael had made such a tremendous musical leap from his days with Wham to his solo career. Songs such as Kissing a Fool are proof of that. On his first two albums, George had penned some truly awesome love songs dealing with heartbreak, love lost and second chances. I feel that Kissing a Fool was his best off of his Faith album. The lyrics appear applicable to all our lives, and through George's unparalleled vocal delivery, it just tugs at the heart strings. LYRIC SAMPLE: ♫You are far, When I could have been your star, You listened to people, Who scared you to death, and from my heart, Strange that I was wrong enough, To think you’d love me too. I guess you were kissing a fool, You must have been kissing a fool.♫ http://www.epinions.com/content_233823374980 For No One - The Beatles Album: Revolver - 1966 At first listen, this classic Beatles song doesn't sound like a typical song about heartache. The music sounds kind of upbeat, but the lyrics are unmistakable. The words have a real hopelessness about them, and maybe the song could have used a more somber delivery from Paul McCartney. LYRIC SAMPLE: ♫Your day breaks, your mind aches You find that all her words Of kindness linger on When she no longer needs you She wakes up, she makes up She takes her time and doesn't Feel she has to hurry She no longer needs you And in her eyes, you see nothing No sign of love behind the tears Cried for no one A love that should have lasted years♫ http://www.epinions.com/content_421220552324 You Oughta Know - Alanis Morrisette Album: Jagged Little Pill - 1995 This is possibly the most bold, powerful and angry break-up song ever. While most songs are written in the sad stage of the break-up when they're feeling sorry for themselves. Alanis's lyrics exude the angry stage of the break-up, yet with an underlying heavy sadness in between the lines. Her honest and feminine approach makes this one of the greatest songs of this type ever written. LYRIC SAMPLE: ♫"Cause the love that you gave that we made Wasn't able to make it enough for you to be open wide, No And every time you speak her name Does she know how you told me You'd hold me until you died, till you died But you're still alive And I'm here, to remind you Of the mess you left when you went away It's not fair, to deny me Of the cross I bear that you gave to me You, you, you oughta know"♫ Love of My Life - Queen Album: A Night at the Opera - 1975 For those of you who know me, I apologize for not being able to make one of these lists without a Queen entry. Yet, Love of My Life is a perfect candidate for a break-up song. The song was written by Freddie Mercury about his then girlfriend, Mary Austin. The two have dated since the late 60s, but when Freddie began showing the signs of a homosexual lifestyle around this time in 1975, the two drifted apart, although they remained the best of friends. The opening lines are the best ones for me and this original studio version is far superior to the acoustic guitar sing-along created for the stage. LYRIC SAMPLE: ♫"Love of my life, you've hurt me You've taken my heart, and now desert me Love of my life can't you see? Bring it back, bring it back Don't take it away from me Because you don't know What it means to me."♫ http://www.epinions.com/content_100938780292 Without You - Adam Pascal & Rosario Dawson Album: Rent Soundtrack - 2006 Written by the late Jonathan Larson, this song deals with a fact of life that I often think about, but I still cannot wrap my brain around. The lyrics deal with a love lost, the world of the two lovers involved is destroyed, yet life goes on around them. The lyrics try to tackle the paradox, and I believe Larson does a great job with it by listing the every day minute occurrences in life. I chose this 2006 version because Rosario Dawson in the role of Mimi totally eclipses the 1995 Broadway version. LYRIC SAMPLE: ♫"Without you, the stars roar the breeze warms, the girl smiles, the cloud moves. Without you, the tides change, the boys run, the oceans crash. The crowds roar, the days soar, the babies cry, without you. The moon glows, the river flows, but I die, without you. The world revives— Colors renew— But I know blue, only blue, lonely blue, within me blue. Without you, the hand gropes, the ear hears, the pulse beats. Without you, the eyes gaze, the legs walk, the lungs breathe. The mind churns! The heart yearns! The tears dry, without you. Life goes on, but I’m gone. Cause I die, without you. Without you."♫ http://www.epinions.com/content_341627145860 It's Too Late - Carol King Album: Tapestry - 1970 One of the hardest things to hear in a break-up are the words "It's Too Late". It signals that it's really over. Women seem to be able to fall out of love just as easily as they fall into it. These lyrics by the incomparable Carol King illustrate that point with a poetic accuracy with the words - something inside has died. It's chilling! LYRIC SAMPLE: ♫"Stayed in bed all morning just to pass the time There's something wrong here There can be no denying One of us is changing Or maybe we've just stopped trying And it's too late baby Now it's too late Though we really did try to make it Something inside has died And I can't hide And I just can't fake it"♫ http://www.epinions.com/content_142675250820 How Can You Mend A Broken Heart - Bee Gees Album: Trafalgar - 1971 The Bee Gees music often doesn't get the credit it deserves due to preconceived prejudices of dimwits that the unsuspecting sheep hear and then hold as their own, (That maybe pretty harsh). Actually the Brothers Gibb had written many beautiful love songs that oddly do not get appreciated as they should. This song is just one of many. LYRIC SAMPLE: ♫"I can still feel the breeze that rustles through the trees And misty memories of days gone by We could never see tomorrow, no one said a word about the sorrow. And how can you mend a broken heart? How can you stop the rain from falling down? How can you stop the sun from shining? What makes the world go round? How can you mend this broken man? How can a loser ever win? Please help me mend my broken heart and let me live again."♫ http://www.epinions.com/content_410306383492 The Beautiful Ones - Prince Album: Purple Rain - 1984 Prince is one of the few amazing lyricists, and he always uses the perfect delivery. The Beautiful Ones is probably the most powerful performance scene in his first film, Purple Rainas he sings it to co-star Apollonia Kotero. The words talk about how it's usually the beautiful specimens are the ones who will more likely break your heart. LYRICS SAMPLE: ♫"Baby, baby, baby What's it gonna be? Baby, baby, baby Is it him or is it me? Don't make me waste my time Don't make me lose my mind baby Baby, baby, baby Can't you stay with me tonight? Oh baby, baby, baby Don't my kisses please you right? You were so hard to find The beautiful ones, they hurt you Every time"♫ http://www.epinions.com/content_147292458628 Someday We'll Know - Mandy Moore Album: A Walk to Remember - 2002 This song was originally written and performed by Gregg Alexander and his band, The New Radicals. While I do enjoy the original as well, I prefer the rendition supplied for the A Walk To Remember Soundtrack performed by Mandy Moore and Jonathan Foreman. The lyrics tell the story of a break-up after-the-fact. The singer is thinking about someday, when they die about how all questions will be answered, and if there was allowed only one mystery to be solved, they would ask the question about why they were meant to break up. The lyrics that I show below give a sample of this. LYRICS SAMPLE: ♫"Whatever happened to Amelia Earhart? Who holds the stars up in the sky? Is true love once in a lifetime? Did the captain of the Titanic cry? Someday we'll know If love can move a mountain... Someday we'll know Why the sky is blue... Someday we'll know Why I wasn't meant for you..."♫ http://www.epinions.com/content_72418365060 My Happy Ending - Avril Lavigne Album: Under My Skin - 2004 I don't feel that Avril is given enough credit for her lyrics, maybe it's partly due to the fact that her third album pretty much sucked. But her lyrics are usually bare and from a very female perspective, which I find to be an asset of hers. They seem personal and honest despite what she claims in her interviews. This is easily my favorite song from Lavigne, the chorus alone sums up what the entire track is trying to say. LYRIC SAMPLE: ♫"You were everything, everything that I wanted We were meant to be, supposed to be, but we lost it And all the memories, so close to me, just fade away All this time you were pretending So much for my happy ending"♫ http://www.epinions.com/content_195732868740 Black - Pearl Jam Album: Ten - 1990 Although I was a fan of Ten when it was released, I am not a fan of Pearl Jam at all. Yet I have to recognize greatness no matter where it originates. Ten is an awesome album and Blackis a great song musically and lyrically. Eddie Vedder's delivery of his lyrics is very emotional, despite the vagueness in them His lyrics always seem to be open to interpretation and mine of Black is a song about bitterness and anger resulting from heartbreak. LYRIC SAMPLE: ♫" I take a walk outside, I'm surrounded by some kids at play I can feel their laughter, so why do I sear? Ohh..and twisted thoughts that spin round my head I'm spinning, ohh..I'm spinning how quick the sun can drop away Now my bitter hands cradle broken glass of what was everything All the pictures had all been washed black tattooed everything All the love gone bad, turned my world to black Tattooed all that I see, all that I am, all I'll ever be"♫ http://www.epinions.com/content_81540779652 Love on the Rocks - Neil Diamond Album: The Jazz Singer Soundtrack - 1980 Love on the Rocks is certainly one of Neil Diamond's greatest songs. His smooth, soulful voice just brims with emotion and feeling as he sings this song about heartbreak. One of the highlights for me from his 1980 film, The Jazz Singer. LYRIC SAMPLE: ♫"Gave you my heart, gave you my soul You left me alone here With nothing to hold Yesterday's gone Now all I want is a smile First they say they want you How they really need you Suddenly you find you're out there Walking in a storm When they know they have you Then they really have you Nothing you can do or say, You've got to leave, just get away We all know the song"♫ http://www.epinions.com/content_225873399428 Since U Been Gone - Kelly Clarkson Album: Breakaway - 2004 Here is another example of a break-up song that has a liberating feel instead of sadness. Clarkson still holds the record for biggest seller after American Idol. This song is one of the heaviest rock entries in my list, and I admit that Kelly Clarkson's delivery is inspiring. LYRIC SAMPLE: ♫"How can I put it, you put me on I even fell for that stupid love song Yeah, yeah, since you been gone How come I'd never hear you say I just wanna be with you Guess you never felt that way But since you been gone I can breathe for the first time I'm so movin' on, yeah, yeah Thanks to you, now I get, I get what I want Since you been gone"♫ http://www.epinions.com/content_210160750212 Nothing Compares 2 U - Sinead O'Connor Album: I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got - 1990 Even though the video has become somewhat of a silly footnote in music video history, this Prince-penned song is one of the most heartfelt songs ever. Bald Irish artist Sinead O'Connor's version outshines the Prince versions that I've heard. Her almost yodel style in singing this song gives it that extra emotional component. LYRIC SAMPLE: ♫"It's been so lonely without you here Like a bird without a song Nothing can stop these lonely tears from falling Tell me baby where did I go wrong I could put my arms around every boy I see But they'd only remind me of you I went to the doctor and guess what he told me Guess what he told me He said girl u better try to have fun No matter what you'll do But he's a fool `Cause nothing compares Nothing compares to you"♫ Ricochet - Faith No More Album: King For a Day, Fool For a Lifetime - 1995 It's hard to imagine a song dealing with heartache from a heavy metal band such as Faith No More, and it's possible that Ricochet is one of the very few from the band that broach the subject. Lead singer, Mike Patton's similes may differ a bit from the usual crop that sometimes show up in this genre, and it only gives this number its bit of a more unique quality. LYRIC SAMPLE: ♫"You beat me every time you blink If only I did not have to think Think about you crackin a smile Think about you all the while On the ricochet - it's going to hit you It’s always funny until someone gets hurt You can laugh at me - when it misses you"♫ http://www.epinions.com/content_225253166724 Everytime - Britney Spears Album: In the Zone - 2004 No matter how much of a screw-up Britney Spears appears in the public eye, you cannot say the same about her music. This song was written by Britney and her back-up singer Annette Artani. I think it's important to point out the writing credit because this is one of the best songs. Her style of singing is only complimented by the delicate and listless music. It is said that this song was written about her break-up with Justin Timberlake. With the lyric "And this song's my sorry.." it feels like a piece to that puzzle, but then again who knows. LYRIC SAMPLE: ♫"I make believe that you are here It's the only way I see clear What have I done? You seem to move on easy And everytime I try to fly, I fall Without my wings, I feel so small I guess I need you, baby And everytime I see you in my dreams I see your face, you're haunting me I guess I need you, baby"♫ http://www.epinions.com/content_132435316356 Crying - Roy Orbison Album: Crying - 1962 Roy Orbison's soft melody soothes the soul and his emotional falsetto delivery makes you feel the pain. This is surely one of Roy Orbison's greatest songs. LYRIC SAMPLE: ♫"I was all right for a while I could smile for a while but I saw you last night You held my hand so tight as you stopped to say hello oh You wished me well, You couldn't tell that I've been crying over you"♫ http://www.epinions.com/content_102854725252 How Do I Live - LeAnn Rimes Album: You Light up My Life: Inspirational Songs - 1997 This is one of those songs that I'm sort of repelled by at first listen. This sounds as if it could fit easily into the sappy Dirty Dancin'soundtrack from ten years before. This song was written by Diane Warren, whom writes great songs for every Top 40 artist it seems. I can't decide which version I like better, this or the Trisha Yearwood take. Trisha's version has a more contemporary feel, which makes it more tolerable for me, but LeAnn's original is the classic. LYRIC SAMPLE" ♫"Without you, There'd be no sun in my sky, There would be no love in my life, There'd be no world left for me. And I, Baby I don't know what I would do, I'd be lost if I lost you, If you ever leave, Baby you would take away everything real in my life, And tell me now, How do I live without you? I want to know, How do I breathe without you? If you ever go, How do I ever, ever survive? How do I, how do I, oh how do I live?"♫ Sorry Seems To Be the Hardest Word - Elton John Album: Blue Moves - 1976 Bernie Taupin's lyrics touch upon the overall feeling of heartbreak, and with the help of Elton's Spanish ballad musical backdrop it completes the picture. There's not really amount of lyrics here, but there is a sad overcast that gives the illusion that the song is more complete than the lyrics allow by themselves. LYRIC SAMPLE ♫"It's sad, so sad It's a sad, sad situation And it's getting more and more absurd It's sad, so sad Why can't we talk it over? Oh it seems to me That sorry seems to be the hardest word"♫ http://www.epinions.com/content_321968180868 Happy Now? - No Doubt Album: Tragic Kingdom - 1995 How can I not include a No Doubt here? On their album, Tragic Kingdom, almost all of Gwen Stefani's lyrics deal with the break-up of her relationship with bassist, Tony Kanal. Gwen's lyrics are always something to look forward to no matter the subject. This song is a hard rock/reggae/ska fusion, so it's possible to not appreciate the personal lyrics inside the song. LYRIC SAMPLE: ♫"No more leaning on your shoulder I won't be there, no more bother If you feel you just might want me That's too bad, I'm not the easy The contemplator all those years Now you must adhere To your new career of liberation You've been cast all by yourself You're free at last! You broke the set Now there's only singles There's no looking back This time I mean it - You're by yourself All by yourself You have no one else You're by yourself"♫ http://www.epinions.com/content_119841001092 Honorable Mentions: I Will Survive-Gloria Gaynor/Don't Speak-No Doubt/Already Gone-The Eagles/You Don't Bring Me Flowers - Barbara Streisand & Neil Diamond/All By Myself - Eric Carmen, I Fall To Pieces - Patsy Cline/I’d Die Without You - PM Dawn ~~~~~~~~~For other General Music Reviews From Scapp70~~~~~~~~~~~ 10 of Top 10's Dirtiest / Sexiest Songs Songs that Make Scapp70 Cry Scapp70's Favorite Songs From the Solo Beatles Scapp70's Favorite Beatles Songs 50 of Rock Music's Favorite Deep Cuts - Part Five (10-1) 50 of Rock Music's Favorite Deep Cuts - Part Four (20-11) 50 of Rock Music's Favorite Deep Cuts - Part Three (30-21) 50 of Rock Music's Favorite Deep Cuts - Part Two (40-31) 50 of Rock Music's Favorite Deep Cuts - Part One (50-41)

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