# Best Breakup Songs Ever. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 12, 2002, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-breakup-songs-ever/108578 "2002-05-12T02:51:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2002, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-breakup-songs-ever/108578/41 "2002-05-13T15:56:58Z")
_Every Time You Go Outside I Hope It Rains_ by the Burch Sisters: “I’m not gonna wish you all the best. I hope you’ll be lonesome, stay worried and depressed I think I’ve summed it up in this refrain, Every time you go outside, I hope it rains.” ---
**Author:** ![Thing\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ce73a5/32.png) [@Thing\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing_1)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2002, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-breakup-songs-ever/108578/42 "2002-05-13T19:02:47Z")
Some good songs by Dylan have already been mentioned. And of course **The Breakup Song** by Greg Kihn. But I like **Watching You** by Melisse Etheridge If I can’t love you I don’t want to love you If I can’t hold you I don’t want to be thinking of you and if you don’t want me I don’t want to want you and if you won’t see me I don’t know what to do but I’ll keep watching you 'cause I gotta do something John ---
**Author:** ![crazy4chaucer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b5e925/32.png) [@crazy4chaucer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crazy4chaucer)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2002, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-breakup-songs-ever/108578/43 "2002-05-13T19:06:32Z")
There was some country song, Lesson in Leaving, I think it was called: Somebody’s gonna give you a lesson in leavin’ Somebody’s gonna give you back what you’ve been givin’ and I hope that I’m around To watch 'em knock you down. I found it very satisfying. Of course, entering my ex-boyfriend in an Ugly Dog contest also helped! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![John\_Corrado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a88e4f/32.png) [@John\_Corrado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Corrado)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2002, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-breakup-songs-ever/108578/44 "2002-05-13T19:19:23Z")
Two Rolling Stones songs mentioned, and no one’s talked about _Dead Flowers_ yet? “And you can send me dead flowers every morning Send me dead flowers by the mail Send me dead flowers at my wedding And I won’t forget to put roses on your grave.” ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2002, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-breakup-songs-ever/108578/45 "2002-05-13T22:00:37Z")
**SlipKnot** ’s “Everything Ends” \Ooooh yeahhhhh!\ ---
**Author:** ![The\_Mermaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@The\_Mermaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Mermaid)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2002, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-breakup-songs-ever/108578/46 "2002-05-14T02:48:32Z")
**Kina–Girl from the gutter** Sing along now and feel the empowerment. - For all the times you said you had my back, for all the times you stabbed me there, for all the times you tried to hurt my pride and hold me down with bitterness and dispair. Thngs are looking up for me now, it seems that Karma’s making its way around. It’s your turn now I won’t be held down no. Karma’s gonna visit you too. You’re gonna pay for all the things you put me through–I hope you do. I hope your hell is filled with magazines. And on every page you see a big picture of me, and under every picture the caption will read–not bad for a girl from the gutter like me.\* ---
**Author:** ![The\_Mermaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@The\_Mermaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Mermaid)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2002, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-breakup-songs-ever/108578/47 "2002-05-14T02:55:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bad Hat \* > \*\*Stunningly… I’ve yet to see a vote for Lover You Should Have Come Over" By Jeff Buckley. > "You gotta wonder what kinda woman leaves a guy who looked and sung like him to begin with. > > RIP > \*\* I didn’t see this before. How about Last Goodbye? Kiss me, please kiss me. Kiss me out of desire baby not consolation. You know it makes me so angry when I know inside. I’ll only make you cry. This is our last goodbye. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2002, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-breakup-songs-ever/108578/48 "2002-05-14T02:57:20Z")
**Weird Al Yankovich** again. _One More Minute_ Well I heard that you’re leavin’ Gonna leave me far behind. Since you found your brand new lover you’ve decided that I’m not your kind. So I pulled your name out of my Rolodex And I tore all your pictures in two And I burned down the malt shoppe where we used to go just because it reminds me of you. ---
**Author:** ![easy\_e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/eb8c5e/32.png) [@easy\_e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/easy_e)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2002, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-breakup-songs-ever/108578/49 "2002-05-14T03:29:01Z")
I have an “I Hate Men” playlist for such occasions (I also have an “I Like Men”). For the former, it has many songs mentioned. Also, “Thorn in my Side” by the Eurythmics. Also, “Screw You” by Pat McCurdy (a Milwaukee-area singer) You wanna know what I’ve been doing Since you left me with a broken heart I get the feeling that you’re hoping That I’m still miserable, still torn apart You wanna know what I’ve been up to Since you walked out and turned me upside down Well, I won’t lie to you Chorus I’ve been going out, having fun, making friends Screw you Going places, running wild, meeting people It’s true Doing things I couldn’t do All those years I spent with you Never thought forgetting you Would be so easy You only come back when you want to make sure That you’re still in control Now and then you have to let me know That you own my heart and soul And you don’t care what I’ve been doing Since you’ve left me, I’ll tell you anyway And I won’t lie to you Chorus One thing you can do for me: Get out of my memory I never thought that being free Would feel so joyful You say this is how our relationship ends We can still be friends I don’t believe I’ve ever heard Such utter bullshit Well, I’ve been going out, having fun, making friends Screw you Going places, running wild, meeting people Screw you Going out, getting drunk, having sex Screw you Going out, writing checks, using your bank card Screw you Going out, having fun, making friends Screw you ---
**Author:** ![DKW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dkw/32/3118_2.png) [@DKW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DKW)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2002, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-breakup-songs-ever/108578/50 "2002-05-14T05:14:56Z")
**The One I Love** , REM. Something about the minimalism, the directness, the…the utter _coldness_, it just grabs me. No elaborate proclamations or ranting; the singer sounds like he barely even cares. **I Ain’t Missing You** , John Waite. So much raw anger and bitterness. Way cool. ---
**Author:** ![Dragon\_Phoenix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@Dragon\_Phoenix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragon_Phoenix)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2002, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-breakup-songs-ever/108578/51 "2002-05-14T06:36:34Z")
And one of mine: **Cup of coffee** (Garbage), a sample: _You left behind some clothes My belly summersaults When I pick them off the floor My friends all say they’re worried I’m looking far too skinny I stop returning all their calls And no, of course, we can’t be friends Not while I’m still so obsessed I want to ask where I went wrong But don’t say anything at all_ ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2002, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-breakup-songs-ever/108578/52 "2002-05-14T13:57:23Z")
**"Bye Bye Love"** - Everly Brothers **"Bed’s Too Big Without You"** - The Police **"Tear Stained Eye"** - Son Volt **"This Old Cowboy"** - Marshall Tucker Band ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2002, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-breakup-songs-ever/108578/53 "2002-05-14T14:01:02Z")
**"Valentine’s Day Is Over"** - Billy Bragg ---
**Author:** ![andygirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9adbd/32.png) [@andygirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andygirl)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2002, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-breakup-songs-ever/108578/54 "2002-05-14T14:17:07Z")
“In the hush before the heartbreak”- the Nields “Arrow”- Cheryl Wheeler “February”- Dar Williams ---
**Author:** ![DaddyTimesTwo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@DaddyTimesTwo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaddyTimesTwo)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2002, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-breakup-songs-ever/108578/55 "2002-05-14T17:22:16Z")
“Alone”, from Blues Traveler’s first album, the title of which escapes me. It’s absolutely perfect for making you feel even worse… ---
**Author:** ![Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2002, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-breakup-songs-ever/108578/56 "2002-05-14T19:25:18Z")
Heartbreaker - Pat Benatar Treat Me Right - Pat Benatar Invincible - Pat Benatar No More I Love Yous - Annie Lennox Don’t Ask Me Why - Eurythmics You Hurt Me, And I Hate You - Eurythmics What Have I Done To Deserve This - Pet Shop Boys Love Don’t Live Here Anymore - Madonna You’ll See - Madonna Twist In My Sobriety - Tanita Tikaram Fear - Sarah McLachlan Adia - Sarah McLachlan Black - Sarah McLachlan Go To Hell - Nina Simone To Hell With Love - Annie Ross Wuthering Heights - Kate Bush Doctor, Doctor - Thompson Twins Nothing In Common - Thompson Twins Why? - Bronski Beat Don’t Leave Me This Way - Communards I Will Survive - Cake The Winner Takes It All - Abba Love To Hate You - Erasure Deeper Love - Aretha Franklin Respect - Aretha Franklin You Keep Me Hangin’ On - Kim Wilde ---
**Author:** ![chief](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df788c/32.png) [@chief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chief)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2002, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-breakup-songs-ever/108578/57 "2002-05-15T00:19:32Z")
here are a couple of great ones that come to mind, i dont know if ive mentioned them before: Last Goodbye - Jeff Buckley It’s Harder Now that It’s Over - Ryan Adams Walk Away - Ben Harper ---
**Author:** ![cichlidiot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f9b8f/32.png) [@cichlidiot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cichlidiot)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2002, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-breakup-songs-ever/108578/58 "2002-05-15T00:31:29Z")
The Breakup Song - Greg Kihn Band (this was already mentioned, but it was the first thing I thought of.) These Boots Are Made For Walking - Nancy Sinatra F.O.D. - Green Day Now That You Are Gone - Mr. T Experience Those 3 just crack me up, but if I wanted to do it a bit of wallowing first, I’d choose: The World Has Turned And Left Me Here - Weezer ---
**Author:** ![scott\_evil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/91b2a8/32.png) [@scott\_evil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scott_evil)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2002, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-breakup-songs-ever/108578/59 "2002-05-15T01:06:47Z")
Two by Kate Bush, from _The Red Shoes_ (1993): “Moments of Pleasure” - I think about us lying, lying on a beach somewhere. I think about us diving, diving off a rock into another moment.\* “You’re the One” _It’s alright, I’ll come by when you’re not in, and I’ll pick up all my things. Everything I have a bought with you, but that’s alright too. It’s just everything we do, we did together. And there’s a little piece of you in whatever. I’ve got everything I need. I have petrol in the car. I’ve got some money with me. There’s just one problem: You’re the only one I want._ They get me every time. The album came out a few days after I broke up with someone, and these songs brilliantly put it all into words and music. I believe she broke up with her longtime bass player and producer, Del Palmer, the year before. - s.e. ---
**Author:** ![scott\_evil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/91b2a8/32.png) [@scott\_evil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scott_evil)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2002, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-breakup-songs-ever/108578/60 "2002-05-15T01:13:02Z")
I’ve also written my own share of breakup songs, many of which found their way into my second and third musicals. Quoting their lyrics would be kind of pointless given none of you can hear the music. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-breakup-songs-ever/108578.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-breakup-songs-ever/108578.md?page=4)