# Breakup songs **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 8, 2004, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakup-songs/228139 "2004-02-08T17:12:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![stolichnaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bcef8e/32.png) [@stolichnaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stolichnaya)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2004, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakup-songs/228139/1 "2004-02-08T17:12:05Z")
I’m sure there are other threads on this, but I can’t find them. I’m “on a break”. I’ve got that oogy, half-jubilant, half-terrified feeling that accompanies a breakup. I always become more attached to music at times like these. I’ve got several songs on repeat that I keep coming back to, including: Chelsea Hotel #2 - Leonard Cohen Butterfly - Tori Amos OK Go - Get Over It Runnin’ Away - Pharcyde Strobelight - B 52’s Everything in its right place - Christopher O’Riley’s Radiohead Metallica - One Commie Drives a Nova - Ike Reilly It strikes me that I’ve chosen these songs seemingly at random, although some make more sense than others. I become curious: What do others associate with breaking up? Do you listen to sad music? Try to reverse-psyche yourself with something peppy? What songs do you spin? ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2004, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakup-songs/228139/2 "2004-02-08T17:21:27Z")
Something the songs don’t address is that someone has to be the Bad Guy–the one to bring up the fact that the relationship is over. My favorite break-up song is “Let’s Just Kiss and Say Goodbye,” where the guy ditches the gal and still winds up looking like a hero. ---
**Author:** ![stolichnaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bcef8e/32.png) [@stolichnaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stolichnaya)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2004, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakup-songs/228139/3 "2004-02-08T17:25:28Z")
You’e in my head, Krok. Care to tell me anything else about my relationship? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![AnnaLivia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/edb3f5/32.png) [@AnnaLivia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnnaLivia)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2004, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakup-songs/228139/4 "2004-02-08T17:25:50Z")
“You’re Breaking My Heart” - Harry Nilsson. I love this song. AL ---
**Author:** ![Leechboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9fc348/32.png) [@Leechboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leechboy)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2004, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakup-songs/228139/5 "2004-02-08T18:15:46Z")
_“Last Goodbye” \* by **Jeff Buckley** is a standard. A friend of mine broke up with a girl by giving her the lyrics to_ ‘Positivly 4th Street’ \* by **Bob Dylan.** (Not a friendly break up at all.) Nick Hornby writes about **Ani Difranco’s** “You Had Time” and **Ben Fold’s** _“Smoke”_ as very good break up music in **31 Songs**. ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2004, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakup-songs/228139/6 "2004-02-08T18:25:28Z")
“Almost Hear You Sigh” by the Rolling Stones. ---
**Author:** ![Tentacle\_Monster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba9def/32.png) [@Tentacle\_Monster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tentacle_Monster)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2004, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakup-songs/228139/7 "2004-02-08T18:40:26Z")
_Broken Hearts Are For Assholes_ by Frank Zappa. _Why Don’t You Get A Job_ by The Offspring (?). And for the really severe cases, _One More Minute_ by Weird Al. ---
**Author:** ![gaba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e0b2c6/32.png) [@gaba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaba)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2004, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakup-songs/228139/8 "2004-02-08T19:27:24Z")
I think sad music helps in a way that it puts the sadness in a tangible form. It’s better than to cook stuff up all inside yourself… The sort of sweet yet unbelievably sad tunes are the best/worst… Let’s see… PJ Harvey “Nina in Extasy” (not actually a break-up song lyric wise, but an ideal vibe) Peter Gabriel “Washing of the Water” Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers"It’ll all work out" (is actually one of the greatest sweet and sad breakup songs. Tori Amos “Hey Jupiter” (mmm, dakota version?) or “Honey” (turn one last time, I love to watch those cowbvoys ride. but cowboys know cowgirls ride on the indian side…) then again aiming for something rebelious and liberating is another tactic: “Why’d ya do it” Marianne Faithful “5 years” Bjork “Get gone” Fiona Apple (truly lovely. one of the prettiest songs out there) umm… “Henry Lee” Nick Cave. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Q](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/898d66/32.png) [@Johnny\_Q](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Q)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2004, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakup-songs/228139/9 "2004-02-08T20:38:41Z")
Crowds-- Bauhaus Don’t Think Twice, It’s all Right-- Bob Dylan In Her Eyes-- Bevis Frond (probably more of a “realizing it’s over” song) It Doesn’t Matter Anymore-- Buddy Holly ---
**Author:** ![The\_Universe\_Lashes\_Out](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8797f3/32.png) [@The\_Universe\_Lashes\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Universe_Lashes_Out)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2004, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakup-songs/228139/10 "2004-02-08T21:05:27Z")
Get Up Kids - Holiday ---
**Author:** ![twit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@twit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twit)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2004, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakup-songs/228139/11 "2004-02-08T22:05:50Z")
“All Your Goodies Are Gone” by Parliament ---
**Author:** ![emekthian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecae2f/32.png) [@emekthian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emekthian)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2004, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakup-songs/228139/12 "2004-02-08T22:47:14Z")
Already Gone by the Eagles ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2004, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakup-songs/228139/13 "2004-02-09T00:05:18Z")
Anything Jann Arden (especially Insensitive), Jewel : You Were Meant For Me, Puddle of Mudd : She Hates Me, Fleetwood Mac : Dreams, Linda Rondstat : When Will I Be Loved, Liz Phair : Why Can’t I, Meatloaf : Two Out Of Three Ain’t Bad, Sheryl Crow: The First Cut is the Deepest, Simple Plan: Addicted, Restless Heart : When She Cries… I also have a few cd’s labeled ‘Love Songs’ Which I listen to to torture myself when I get sad from being single or lonely or whatever. You can kinda tell my eclectic tastes too… ---
**Author:** ![kimfair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/278dde/32.png) [@kimfair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kimfair)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2004, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakup-songs/228139/14 "2004-02-09T01:30:20Z")
Wish the Worst - Old 97’s The best song when you’re pissed at the one you’ve broken up with. “I hope you crash your momma’s car I hope you pass out in some bar, I hope you catch some kind of flu, that said, I wish the worst for you” ---
**Author:** ![Talon\_Karrde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Talon\_Karrde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Talon_Karrde)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2004, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakup-songs/228139/15 "2004-02-09T01:51:48Z")
Would Blue Monday by New Order count? ---
**Author:** ![Zjestika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/8edcca/32.png) [@Zjestika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zjestika)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2004, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakup-songs/228139/16 "2004-02-09T01:55:54Z")
“Love Will Tear Us Apart” by Joy Division It’s one of those “why didn’t I see it coming?” break-up songs, more heartbreaking for the dumpee than the dumper. I listen to it and I get torn up even though I haven’t been dumped in quite a while. It’s great. -Z ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2004, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakup-songs/228139/17 "2004-02-09T02:15:01Z")
I know this sounds corny and it’s nowhere near the type of music I normally listen to but one that tugs at my heartstrings the worst is: “It’s so hard to say goodbye to yesterday” by Boyz II Men. ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2004, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakup-songs/228139/18 "2004-02-09T05:26:18Z")
How about that song they used for the theme song of _Bosom Buddies_ in the early 1980s? You know, the one that goes: _I don’t care what’cha say anymore, This is my … life! [doo doot doot doo doo doo] Go ahead with your own life, Leave me alone!_ ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2004, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakup-songs/228139/19 "2004-02-09T05:36:51Z")
Well at the risk of stating the obvious how about : **The Breakup Song by Greg Khin**? and tracer, that is a Billy Joel song. ---
**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:** [February 9, 2004, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakup-songs/228139/20 "2004-02-09T07:30:47Z")
Best break-up song ever: _Cup of coffee_ by Garbage. Break-up songs that I remember having a big effect on me at the time: _One of us_ by ABBA and _Don’t you want me_ by Human League. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakup-songs/228139.md?page=2)