Emerson, Lake & Palmer’s - Trilogy
“I’ve tried to mend, the love that ended long ago although we still pretend.
Our love is surely coming to an end.
Don’t waste the time you’ve got to love again.”
Jim Croce - Next Time, This Time; One Less Set of Footsteps.
Maria McKee - I’ve Forgotten What It Was In You (That Put The Need In Me).
Breakup songs really get me down. Down, dooby, do, down, down. Comma, comma, down, dooby, do, down, down. Maybe because it’s so hard to do, you know?
What, like there aint no sunshine or something?
At This Moment - Billy Vera and the Beaters
What did you think,
I would do at this moment,
When you’re standing before me,
With tears in your eyes…
Tryin to tell me that you,
Found you another…
And you just don’t love me, No more…
Last Goodbye - Jeff Buckley
This is our last goodbye
I hate to feel the love between us die.
But it’s over
Just hear this and then I’ll go:
You gave me more to live for,
More than you’ll ever know.
…
Kiss me, please kiss me,
But kiss me out of desire, babe, and not consolation
I only recently realized that this song is not “Knights in White Satin”.
I’ll second Pearl Jam’s “Black” – one of my favorite songs about a breakup, although thankfully it doesn’t remind me of any breakup I’ve ever had. In fact, I’d be pretty worried about a friend who started listening to “Black” on repeat after a breakup! But I think it’s a beautiful song, and unusual as breakup songs go in that the narrator is devastated by the end of the relationship but doesn’t seem to harbor any ill will towards the other person.
I didn’t realize this was a break-up song.
I want to add a whole bunch of Elvis Costello songs - he’s a serial divorcer as well. (Elvis, please don’t break up with Diana Krall!)
A song to listen to if you hate your ex: “Smile” by Lily Allen.
If you really hate your ex: anything Eminem wrote about his ex-wife, Kim, particularly " '97 Bonnie & Clyde."
I dunno about songs, but the absolute best breakup album of all time is:
Beck has been known to be…inventive…in his lyrics. His music is usually wildly unorthodox. But on Sea Change - as I understand it, he recorded it after breaking up with a long-time partner - It’s a complete change from his usual fare. I like his usual fare, but this album is - well, surprisingly heartbreaking. The crazy wordplay is gone. The wild inventiveness is absent. It’s a straight, “My heart is broken” album. But the beauty remains.
It’s all folk, with maybe a few minor hints of country. The music is beautiful and sad. For maybe the first time, we get to hear his voice without cuts, scratches and distortions. And it’s lovely and honest.
This album came out near when I had just broken up with a long-time girlfriend. I still can’t listen to it without tearing up a bit.
Looks Like Rain Grateful Dead written by John P. Barlow
*I woke today…
And felt your side of bed
The covers were still warm where you’d been layin’.
You were gone…
My heart was filled with dread.
You might not be sleepin’ here again
*
I can’t even listen to it in public…still fucking hurts…
…don’t need no more fuckin’ rain…
Best breakup song ever: “No Children” by the Mountain Goats.
“Nothing Compares 2 U” (originally by Prince, but best known as a cover by Sinead O’Connor) is another good one:
“Since you been gone I can do whatever I want,
I can see whomever I choose.
I can eat my dinner in a fancy restaurant,
But nothing,
I said nothing can take away these blues…”
At This Moment is one of the best…
Also, Aerosmith has two of the best sad depression songs around…
last day of our acquaintance
I’ll go with “Nothing Better” by the Postal Service
“No One’s Gonna Love You” by Band of Horses is pretty great too.
Also, just to indulge my inner 13 year old Korean girl (I’m a 29 year old Korean guy) “Wedding Dress” by Taeyang. The translations are more or less but as with any foreign song, it never sounds quite the same.
GOOD BYE EARL
By Dixie Chicks
Mary Anne And Wanda Were The Best Of Friends
All Through Their High School Days
Both Members Of The 4H Club
Both Active In The FFA
After Graduation Mary Anne Went Out Lookin’
For A Bright New World
Wanda Looked All Around This Town
And All She Found Was Earl
Richard and Linda Thompson’s last album together, “Shoot Out The Lights”, has quite a few good break-up songs on it.
pinkyvee, don’t post song lyrics in their entirety.
The rule
can be found here.
Thanks for your cooperation.
twickster, Cafe Society moderator
Someday You Will Be Loved - Deathcab For Cutie
*I cannot pretend that I felt any regret
Cause each broken heart will eventually mend
As the blood runs red down the needle and thread
Someday you will be loved
You’ll be loved you’ll be loved
Like you never have known
The memories of me
Will seem more like bad dreams
Just a series of blurs
Like I never occurred
Someday you will be loved*
My personal favorite is They Might Be Giants “Twisting”
She set your goldfish free,
And now she’s sighing,
Blew out your pilot light,
And made a wish.
Twisting refers to how she wants to see him: “Twisting in the wind.”