# Breakup Songs
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakup-songs/527508
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [February 3, 2010, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakup-songs/527508 "2010-02-03T08:00:37Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@B.Serum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/B.Serum)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2010, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakup-songs/527508/1 "2010-02-03T08:00:37Z")
NPR’s All Songs Considered is putting out a Breakup Song episode for Valentine’s Day and put out a call for favorite breakup songs. It piqued my interest enough for me to slap together a [list](http://web.me.com/bradserum/Breakup_Songs/Breakup_Songs.html).
What are some of your favorites?
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### Author:  [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2010, 9:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakup-songs/527508/2 "2010-02-03T09:26:37Z")
“The Break Up Song (They Don’t Write 'Em)” by the Greg Kihn Band
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### Author:  [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2010, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakup-songs/527508/3 "2010-02-03T14:03:33Z")
[“If So”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9G4ZoDL177s)
> [@](#):
>
> I ask you
> Now tell the truth
> I ask you
> Was it worth the price you paid?
> If so…
>
> I know you loved me
> Darling
> But I need to know
> Did you mean to hurt me so?
> If so…
>
> Go away way very far away, take your leave
> I’ll never hate you, I’ll never think of you
> And I’ll never grieve
>
> Did you want it all?
> Free love
> Did it satisfy?
> Was it your intentions to deceive?
> If so…
>
> You made me happy
> You made me cry
> You gave me hope
> Was my happiness a lie?
> If so…
>
> …
There’s also [“Between A Man And A Woman”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDbjmm6_G24) by Kate Bush ([lyrics](http://gaffa.org/sensual/l_bamaaw.html)) This is more about someone who interferes in a rocky relationship and makes things worse though.
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### Author:  [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2010, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakup-songs/527508/4 "2010-02-03T14:10:07Z")
[“Your Dictionary”](http://chalkhills.org/reelbyreal/s_Dictionary.html) by XTC.
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### Author:  [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2010, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakup-songs/527508/5 "2010-02-03T16:00:23Z")
“Thank God and Greyhound She’s Gone” by Roy Clark.
Gotta love those “We broke up and I’m thrilled about it” songs.
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### Author:  [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2010, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakup-songs/527508/6 "2010-02-03T16:24:56Z")
“Feel A Whole Lot Better” by the Byrds
“Black” by Pearl Jam
“Hard to Say I’m Sorry” by Chicago
“Night in White Satin” by the Moody Blues
“Photograph” by Ringo Starr
“Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right” by Bob Dylan
“I’m Sorry” by John Denver
“I Don’t Care Anymore” by Phil Collins
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### Author:  [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2010, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakup-songs/527508/7 "2010-02-03T16:31:27Z")
One of the best ever: “Sara,” Bob Dylan’s failed plea for his wife to come back.
Oh, and about half of Roy Orbison’s songs.
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### Author:  [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2010, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakup-songs/527508/8 "2010-02-03T16:42:58Z")
“You’re Breaking My Heart” by Harry Nilsson 😉
“It’s Too Late” by Derek and the Dominoes
“Nobody Knows Me” by Lyle Lovett
“Love in Vain” by Robert Johnson
“Feelin’ Alright” by Traffic
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### Author:  [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2010, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakup-songs/527508/9 "2010-02-03T16:48:27Z")
Most of the Pernice Brothers’ catalog fits here, but I’d particularly recommend “Clear Shot.”
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### Author:  [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2010, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakup-songs/527508/10 "2010-02-03T16:57:10Z")
I think most of the entire catalogue of rock and roll falls into this category.
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### Author:  [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2010, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakup-songs/527508/11 "2010-02-03T16:58:09Z")
_Sail Away Sweet Sister_ by Queen.
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### Author:  [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2010, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakup-songs/527508/12 "2010-02-03T17:00:04Z")
There’s the “sounds mostly mellow but maybe a tad bitter, especially when you read the real title” example of [“Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)”](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_Riddance_%28Time_of_Your_Life%29) by Green Day, based on the lead singer’s real breakup with a gal moving to another country.
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### Author:  [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2010, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakup-songs/527508/13 "2010-02-03T17:21:33Z")
“You Oughta Know” by Alanis Morrissette.
“Song For The Dumped” by Ben Folds Five.
Edit: I see the Ben Folds Five song tops the OPs linked list. It’s worth mentioning twice, though.
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### Author:  [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2010, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakup-songs/527508/14 "2010-02-03T17:23:45Z")
Definitely cannot forget _Salt in My Tears_ by Martin Briley:
> [@](#):
>
> I saw you laugh when the knife was twisted
> It still hurts but the pain has shifted
> I’m lookin’ back at the time that drifted by
> But I won’t cry for the wasted years
> 'Cause you ain’t worth the salt in my tears
[Mildly NSFW Video](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=netMRfWRTTY&NR=1)
They’re pretty much forgotten now (if they were ever really there in the first place), but damn did I ever love _[Laughing In Your Face](http://www.darklyrics.com/lyrics/lillianaxe/lillianaxe.html#10)_ by Lillian Axe.
> [@](#):
>
> And now I’m on the rebound
> And I’ve found my own space
> You’re feeling rotten and forgotten
> While I’m laughing in your face
Interesting how much that song loses when you’re just reading the lyrics – musically, it’s so fricking _happy_ sounding.
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### Author:  [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2010, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakup-songs/527508/15 "2010-02-03T17:26:38Z")
Fleetwood Mac’s _Rumours_ is pretty much a breakup album.
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### Author:  [@Johnny\_Q](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Q)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2010, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakup-songs/527508/16 "2010-02-03T17:35:15Z")
One More Minute-- Weird Al Yankovic
Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right-- Bob Dylan
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### Author:  [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2010, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakup-songs/527508/17 "2010-02-03T18:18:33Z")
“Go Now” – Moody Blues
“It’s Too Late” – Carole King (different song from Derek & the Dominos tune mentioned upthread)
“You Can’t Say We Never Tried” – Bluethings
“So Sad About Us” – Who
“Didn’t We” – Jimmy Webb
“Your Turn to Cry” – Dave Clark 5
“By the Time I Get to Phoenix” – Glen Campbell
“The Shadow of Your Smile” – just about everybody
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### Author:  [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2010, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakup-songs/527508/18 "2010-02-03T19:45:11Z")
Ben Folds is a serial divorcer, and he’s got some good breakup songs (oddly enough, he did not write “Song for the Dumped” - the drummer did)
Other than what you mentioned…
“Gone” by Ben Folds
“Selfless, Cold and Composed” by Ben Folds Five
“Give Judy my Notice” by Ben Folds
“Bruised” by The Bens
“Don’t Change Your Plans” by Ben Folds Five
“Fair” by Ben Folds Five
If you’re interested, lyrics can be found [here](http://www.mattsmusicpage.com/benlyric.htm)
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### Author:  [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2010, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakup-songs/527508/19 "2010-02-03T19:46:49Z")
“Walk Away, Renee” by the Left Banke
“White Flag” by Dido
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### Author:  [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)
#### Post date: [February 3, 2010, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakup-songs/527508/20 "2010-02-03T19:57:19Z")
\*Love letters, broken lockets,
dead flowers, candy boxes,
that’s what you’re left with when it’s over.
Now I wonder what went wrong,
why we didn’t get along,
nothing left but distance in your eyes.
There you go hand in hand,
leaving me alone to stand here
just another stupid chump.
Fights of spite and ugly talk,
in the end that’s what you’ve got,
so what’s the point in bothering at all.\*
From **Main and Broadway** by Cub
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