I think this is a little more bitter than the sentiment the OP is looking for. For a nice solid, “Boy am I glad I’m not dating you anymore, but I’m callous and unemotional about it and you mean nothing to me” song, I’ll go along with those who suggested Weird Al’s song.
StephenG, I think Gold Dust Woman, though about a break-up, has the wrong idea. That song questions the ability of a person to maintain his confidence after a break-up. A good break-up song should show somebody being totally unaffected by the break-up, someone who refuses to acknowledge any power the former partner maintains over him/her post-break-up. Of course, Rumours is one of the greatest rock-pop albums of all time, front to back, and I’d never discourage anybody from listening to it.
Not to mention Christine and John McVie, who broke up at roughly the same time as well. There’s a reason Rumours is Fleetwood Mac’s best album. Great conflict often creates great art (cf. the Beatles’ White Album).
THere’s “I’ll Sink Manhattan,” by They Might Be Giants, although it’s pretty vengeful the singer plans to sink Manhattan in order to get rid of his ex:
I’ll sink Manhattan
I’ll sacrifice friends
I think they’d understand my plan
I’ll never be sure*
And then there’s “Don’t think twice, it’s all right,” by Bob Dylan – probably the nicest breakup song I’ve heard.
Here’s one that’s little off the beaten path, but one that captures some of the ambivalence and struggle to get back on an even keel. There’s clearly no intention of getting back together, but still not easy moving on.
“If the Phone Doesn’t Ring, It’s Me” on Jimmy Buffett’s Last Mango in Paris.
There are oceans of feelings between us
Currents that sweep us away…
I’ve had good days and bad days
And going half mad days…
If our lives were that simple
We’d live in the past
If the phone doesn’t ring, it’s me…
Beck’s new album, Sea Change, is entirely about a breakup. There’s some really good stuff on it. It’s also really straightforward (for Beck) and just a bit country, which really works well with the whole broken heart theme.
No particular reason, but Girlfriend in a Coma always manages to cheer me up. He seems very conflicted in that song, something that usually goes along with a breakup. But it’s such a bouncy little tune, that you just have to smile.
Here is the lyric to “One More Minute” by Weird Al, on account of I think it’s the best breakup song, too, and I’m not allowed to post the lyric directly here.
Mods: I found the lyric on a site linked directly from Weird Al’s official web page, so I think Al is okay with it. If I have erred, please accept my apologies and delete the link.
