# Breakup Songs **URL:** \ **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:** 2
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2010, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakup-songs/527508/21 "2010-02-03T20:09:08Z")
Pretty much all of Jim Croce’s songs were about either a bully getting his comeuppance or a heartbreaking split. Among the songs in the latter category: “Photographs and Memories” “Operator” “These Dreams” “Lover’s Cross” ---
**Author:** ![Kingspades](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecae2f/32.png) [@Kingspades](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kingspades)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2010, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakup-songs/527508/22 "2010-02-03T20:18:42Z")
Having recently rediscovered Cowboy Mouth, it seems at least half their repertoire are breakup songs. In order of brilliance: “Now I have lived through all this before And I don’t plan to take any more So if you want to walk out the door Then [Let Me Hold It Open](http://lala.com/zjizI) for you” “[How Do You Tell Someone](http://lala.com/z3eSI) you don’t love them? How do you tell someone you don’t care anymore? How do you tell someone you don’t love them anymore?” “[Everything You Do](http://lala.com/znizI)’s gonna come back to you Everything you say’s gonna turn on you in some way Everything you’ve done’s gonna bite you back, just for fun.” “Well I remember the last time we met You held a stranger’s hand You introduced me to him and you said ‘Could we try and be friends?’ Well I could, but I don’t, and I should but I won’t It’s [Laughable](http://lala.com/zaJGI)” [“Love Of My Life”](http://lala.com/zLNGI) Also, can’t forget [“The Old Apartment”](http://lala.com/zn56) by Barenaked Ladies ---
**Author:** ![PoorYorick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecccb3/32.png) [@PoorYorick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PoorYorick)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2010, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakup-songs/527508/23 "2010-02-03T20:33:50Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > “White Flag” by Dido Oh, man, that one would also fit in the “Songs about frightenly crazy ex’s” category. ---
**Author:** ![Chicagojeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b19c9b/32.png) [@Chicagojeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chicagojeff)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2010, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakup-songs/527508/24 "2010-02-03T20:44:36Z")
It ain’t over till its over… Lenny Kravitz plea to Lisa Bonet to take him back after she caught him cheatin… “Leaving me now”… Level 42… i simply love that song… sadness…with a great melody… “Knowing me Knowing you” … abba. i’m a serious closet abba lover lol ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2010, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakup-songs/527508/25 "2010-02-03T20:44:47Z")
> [@Kingspades](#): > > Also, can’t forget [“The Old Apartment”](http://lala.com/zn56) by Barenaked Ladies Oo, I thought that was a breakup song too, for a while, but [it turns out it’s not](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Old_Apartment). The speaker in the song and his girl found a house and bought it. He goes back to check out the old place, and ends up breaking in, and being annoyed with the changes that the new tenant made. The lyric showing this isn’t very clear: > [@](#): > > We bought an old house on the Danforth > She loves me and her body keeps me warm > I’m happy here > But this is where we used to live But he’s addressing, with bitterness, the new resident of the apartment. ---
**Author:** ![Chicagojeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b19c9b/32.png) [@Chicagojeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chicagojeff)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2010, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakup-songs/527508/26 "2010-02-03T20:47:58Z")
> [@cjepson](#): > > “Thank God and Greyhound She’s Gone” by Roy Clark. > > Gotta love those “We broke up and I’m thrilled about it” songs. in that vain what about “ALready gone” by the Eagles.. you can always tell which ones Glenn wrote as opposed to Don.. ---
**Author:** ![Kingspades](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecae2f/32.png) [@Kingspades](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kingspades)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2010, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakup-songs/527508/27 "2010-02-03T20:53:15Z")
> [@Ferret\_Herder](#): > > Oo, I thought that was a breakup song too, for a while, but [it turns out it’s not.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Old_Apartment) Huh, well whaddya know. Ignorance fought. Sure sounds like one, though: “broken hearts and broken bones” “the hole I punched in the door” “These things used to be mine; I guess they still are, I want them back” “Why did I have to break in? I only came here to talk.” “I turned up your TV and stomped on the floor just for fun” (referencing the tempermental downstairs neighbor) “tore the phone out of the wall” “fading memories, blending into dull tableau; I want them back” ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2010, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakup-songs/527508/28 "2010-02-03T20:58:53Z")
> [@Kingspades](#): > > Huh, well whaddya know. Ignorance fought. Sure sounds like one, though: > > “broken hearts and broken bones” > “the hole I punched in the door” > “These things used to be mine; I guess they still are, I want them back” > “Why did I have to break in? I only came here to talk.” > “I turned up your TV and stomped on the floor just for fun” (referencing the tempermental downstairs neighbor) > “tore the phone out of the wall” > “fading memories, blending into dull tableau; I want them back” Yeah, it does sound rough - but the writer insisted no, they’re together, and even happy. Considering the history the band has of writing very off-the-wall music, I might accuse them of purposely writing it that way to mess with people’s expectations. I think I was Wiki-surfing when I came upon that explanation and went, WTF? I always assumed the lines about living in a house were about him with a new gal. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2010, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakup-songs/527508/29 "2010-02-03T22:08:02Z")
Bob Dylan has been mentioned several times, but I’ll have to add at least one song from “Blood On The Tracks”, which IMO is the best breakup album ever. So If you prefer a bittersweet mood, go for _If You See Her, Say Hello_, for a more vengeful approach take _Idiot Wind_. ---
**Author:** ![Rafe\_Hollister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/fbc32d/32.png) [@Rafe\_Hollister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rafe_Hollister)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2010, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakup-songs/527508/30 "2010-02-03T22:27:41Z")
Get Your Tongue Outta My Mouth (‘Cause I’m Kissin’ You Goodbye) by Ray Stevens ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2010, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakup-songs/527508/31 "2010-02-03T23:12:53Z")
[“I Hold Your Hand in Mine,”](http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/I-Hold-Your-Hand-In-Mine-lyrics-Tom-Lehrer/782093FCEC177EF448256A7D0024958D) by Tom Lehrer ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2010, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakup-songs/527508/32 "2010-02-03T23:15:15Z")
> [@Johnny\_Q](#): > > One More Minute-- Weird Al Yankovic And don’t forget, [“I Was Only Kidding,”](http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/weirdalyankovic/iwasonlykidding.html) and [“You Don’t Love Me Anymore.”](http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/weirdalyankovic/youdontlovemeanymore.html) ---
**Author:** ![PapSett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@PapSett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapSett)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2010, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakup-songs/527508/33 "2010-02-04T14:33:59Z")
Keith Urban, “You’ll Think of Me” Garth Brooks, “More Than a Memory” ---
**Author:** ![Icerigger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icerigger/32/432_2.png) [@Icerigger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icerigger)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2010, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakup-songs/527508/34 "2010-02-04T15:06:33Z")
**Diary** by Bread, the worst part about it was the sappy guy did not know she was never into him anyhow. ---
**Author:** ![kirk1168](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/45deac/32.png) [@kirk1168](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kirk1168)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2010, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakup-songs/527508/35 "2010-02-04T15:14:32Z")
“Throwing It All Away” by Genesis. Late at night when you call my name The only sound you’ll hear Is the sound of your voice calling Calling out to me ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2010, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakup-songs/527508/36 "2010-02-04T15:50:15Z")
> [@kirk1168](#): > > “Throwing It All Away” by Genesis. > > Late at night when you call my name > The only sound you’ll hear > Is the sound of your voice calling > Calling out to me That’s Genesis’ “You’ll be Sorry You Left Me” breakup song. I prefer their “Let’s Face It, This Relationship Has Been Moribund For A Long Time, and We Need to Pull the Plug” breakup song: _ **Never a Time** _ ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2010, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakup-songs/527508/37 "2010-02-04T16:19:32Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > That’s Genesis’ “You’ll be Sorry You Left Me” breakup song. > > I prefer their “Let’s Face It, This Relationship Has Been Moribund For A Long Time, and We Need to Pull the Plug” breakup song: > > _ **Never a Time** _ And there’s also the Genesis “I Think We’re Dating, But Actually I’m Stalking You While you See Someone Else” song - _**[Misunderstanding](http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Misunderstanding-lyrics-Genesis/0B6354F7AD0E2518482569600016D138)**_ ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2010, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakup-songs/527508/38 "2010-02-04T16:51:17Z")
Your Love is Like a Nuclear Waste - Tuff Darts ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2010, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakup-songs/527508/39 "2010-02-04T16:57:29Z")
I donlt think you can say “breakup song” with out saying “Hope You Never” by Tom Petty. \* I hope you never give a damn I hope you never lose your perspective I hope you never fall in love with somebody like you.\* ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2010, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/breakup-songs/527508/40 "2010-02-04T17:02:36Z")
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