# Wanted: Break up songs. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 3, 2003, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-break-up-songs/199245 "2003-09-03T00:44:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Tertius01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e99b99/32.png) [@Tertius01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tertius01)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-break-up-songs/199245/41 "2003-09-04T07:16:24Z")
I’m assuming you want angry songs… Listen to **Cursive** ’s _Domestica_. It is basically a concept album about the lead singer’s messy divorce. Some lyrical gems: “So I must learn to abort these feelings / This romance is bleeding” “Your tears are only alibis / To prove you still feel / You only feel sorry for yourself” “A little bit closer / Your lipstick is smudged, dear / Here, let me wipe that smirk off” “This house is the hole that you could never fill / With shattered dinner plates / That’s how we’ll communicate” “And I swear I tried to care / I tried, I tried… / (And) I lost the will to fight…” Their latest album, _The Ugly Organ_, is similar, but more about the relationships that happened afterward. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-break-up-songs/199245/42 "2003-09-04T07:46:03Z")
•“Adagio for Strings”—Barber •“Dust in the Wind”—Kansas •“Paint it Black”—Rolling Stones •“He Stopped Loving Her Today”—George Jones •“Vesti La Giubba”—Leoncavallo •“Un Bel Di Vedremo” from “Madama Butterfly” ---
**Author:** ![chiefgnome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@chiefgnome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiefgnome)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-break-up-songs/199245/43 "2003-09-04T10:11:28Z")
Ciao! - Lush & Jarvis Cocker “Oh I must’ve been crazy to have stayed with you I can’t believe I thought I was in love with you But now the scales have fallen I can really see And I say go to hell, 'cause that’s where you took me” lyrics here - [http://www.curve.demon.co.uk/lush/lyrics/ciao.html](http://www.curve.demon.co.uk/lush/lyrics/ciao.html) ---
**Author:** ![AngelicGemma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/439d5e/32.png) [@AngelicGemma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AngelicGemma)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-break-up-songs/199245/44 "2003-09-04T10:16:23Z")
“Goodbye to You” Michelle Branch “I’m outta Love” Anastasia ---
**Author:** ![Marlow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Marlow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marlow)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-break-up-songs/199245/45 "2003-09-04T10:29:44Z")
Converge’s Jane Doe is pretty much a concept album dedicated to his ex. The line “Remember my name girl, and remember what died” springs to mind. Probabally not what you’re looking for though. I’d unreservedly recommend Arab Strap’s “Philophobia” though. The opening track on Kid Dakota’s “So Pretty” might do the trick. As in all matters of the heart, rooting around in The Magnetic Field’s “69 Love Songs” is sure to produce results. I’d also go with Shellac’s “prayer to god” Sorry for being so vague, but I don’t have access to my CD’s right now. ---
**Author:** ![AV8R](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/898d66/32.png) [@AV8R](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AV8R)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-break-up-songs/199245/46 "2003-09-04T12:27:41Z")
“Beautiful Goodbye” - Amanda Marshall ---
**Author:** ![burundi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3ec8ea/32.png) [@burundi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burundi)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-break-up-songs/199245/47 "2003-09-04T12:41:06Z")
Magnetic Fields does great break-up songs that run the gamut from sweetly wistful to very bitter. Some of my faves: “Love is Like a Bottle of Gin,” “I Can’t Touch You Anymore,” “I Don’t Want to Get Over You,” and “Crazy for You (But Not That Crazy)”. Of course, if you’re looking for bitter, it’s hard to beat Fishbone’s “Lyin’ Ass Bitch.” ---
**Author:** ![Jennyrosity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2bfe46/32.png) [@Jennyrosity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jennyrosity)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-break-up-songs/199245/48 "2003-09-04T12:57:18Z")
For when you’ve been dumped “It’s Over”, Roy Orbison - perfect for wailing along as you sob into your pillow at 3am, or is that just me? For when you’re the one doing the dumping, “Overdue Goodbye”, Anastasia. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-break-up-songs/199245/49 "2003-09-04T13:45:28Z")
Til Tuesday has several good ones: [No One is Watching You Now](http://www.poplyrics.net/waiguo/pop/aimeemann/079.htm) [Don’t Watch Me Bleed](http://www.lyricsdepot.com/til-tuesday/dont-watch-me-bleed.html) [Have Mercy](http://display.lyrics.astraweb.com:2000/display.cgi?til_tuesday%2E%2Ewelcome_home%2E%2Ehave_mercy) And from Janis Ian there is this song about pining away for the one who left: [Jesse](http://www.janisian.com/lyric-jesse.html) (I sing this a lot just because I like it. My mom used to sing it and it made me cry as a child because it made me miss my dad.) ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-break-up-songs/199245/50 "2003-09-04T14:36:18Z")
“Must Have Been Love, But It’s Over Now” by Roxette ---
**Author:** ![Tertius01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e99b99/32.png) [@Tertius01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tertius01)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-break-up-songs/199245/51 "2003-09-04T17:25:27Z")
**The White Octave** ’s _Style No. 6312_ also has some terrific break up stuff. Appeals for Insertion - “this salt in wound scenario is growing old. but i’m protected by a thousand layers of built-up skin. designed to protect what you’ve destroyed within.” Call the Kiss - “as night consumes the daylight. and i recall the sweetest dreams. but red wine helps them fade. here’s to another glass. i need it to displace. the emptiness i cannot swallow.” Style No. 6312 - “and i claim this to be the first day. i can wake up without you in my head.” Basically the entire emo genre is break up songs. Be trendy and start listening. ---
**Author:** ![Nekosoft](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c2a13f/32.png) [@Nekosoft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nekosoft)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-break-up-songs/199245/52 "2003-09-04T17:37:24Z")
Richard Shindell - Are You Happy Now? Ween - Piss Up a Rope ---
**Author:** ![jeevmon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/87869e/32.png) [@jeevmon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jeevmon)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-break-up-songs/199245/53 "2003-09-04T17:43:58Z")
Are we talking as the dumper or the dumpee? I’d cast my vote for The Pogues’ “Fairytale of New York.” Though not a traditional breakup song, I think it qualifies because of this memorable exchange FEMALE VOCAL: You’re a bum/ You’re a punk MALE VOCAL: You’re an old slut on junk/ Lying there almost dead/ On that drip in that bed FEMALE VOCAL: You scumbag, you maggot, you cheap lousy faggot/ Happy Christmas your arse/ I pray God it’s our last For bitter “God I’m so depressed,” the one that gets me everytime is “Romeo & Juliet” by Dire Straits. “Time of Your Life (Good Riddance)” by Green Day is oft mentioned, but maybe flunks the “ballad” test. ---
**Author:** ![big\_alex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e56c9b/32.png) [@big\_alex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/big_alex)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2003, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-break-up-songs/199245/54 "2003-09-04T17:44:25Z")
Never Going Nowhere - The bluetones Never Loved You Anyway (?) - The Corrs ---
**Author:** ![Isabelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b5a626/32.png) [@Isabelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isabelle)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2003, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-break-up-songs/199245/55 "2003-09-10T14:53:06Z")
Todd Rungren - Can We Still Be Friends? ---
**Author:** ![Black\_Train\_Song](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4da419/32.png) [@Black\_Train\_Song](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Black_Train_Song)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2003, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-break-up-songs/199245/56 "2003-09-10T15:21:45Z")
Two out of three aint bad - Meatloaf Estranged - Gun-n-roses Any air supply song And so it goes - Billy Joel ---
**Author:** ![groo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecd19e/32.png) [@groo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/groo)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2003, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-break-up-songs/199245/57 "2003-09-10T15:59:54Z")
For inducing melancholy (or bringing it to a sublime level): **She’s Gone** - _Hall & Oates_ (How has this not been mentioned before?) For wallowing in it: **Gravity’s Angel** - _Laurie Anderson_ For venting: **Is She Really Going Out With Him** - _Joe Jackson_ (Actually, much of _ **Look Sharp!** _ is good for that) Mentioned earlier: **Twisting** - _They Might be Giants_ ---
**Author:** ![watermelon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/958977/32.png) [@watermelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watermelon)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2003, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-break-up-songs/199245/58 "2003-09-10T18:14:15Z")
Dylan has a few, but if you want less venom: The Replacements - Sadly Beautiful ---
**Author:** ![Wordy\_One](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d2c977/32.png) [@Wordy\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wordy_One)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2003, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-break-up-songs/199245/59 "2003-09-11T06:53:13Z")
Jeff Buckley–_Last Goodbye_ (already mentioned? if so, I second) and _Lover, You Should’ve Come Over_ Beth Orton–_Sweetest Decline_ Michael Penn–_Cupid’s Got a Brand New Gun_ Semisonic–_Gone to the Movies_ Rhett Miller–_Come Around_ ---
**Author:** ![Tommyturtle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8491ac/32.png) [@Tommyturtle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tommyturtle)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2003, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-break-up-songs/199245/60 "2003-09-11T07:05:09Z")
[How Can I Miss You (If You Won’t Go Away)](http://music.utsa.edu/electron/goaway.htm) Oops…country song isn’t it? I just love the title [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-break-up-songs/199245.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wanted-break-up-songs/199245.md?page=4)