Teddy Pendergrass’ (or like my Dad calls him, Teddy Kissmyass-- at least he did until poor Teddy was paralized-- my Dad doesn’t like Teddy) I Don’t Love You Anymore is pretty straightforward “get outta my life” song. Blunt and to the point.
Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad loses points because Meatloaf isn’t really telling his girl goodbye, he’s just explaining what his limitations.
Green Day’s Good Riddance is the perfect kiss-off song. Pretty and subtle. If I were to be kissed off, I’d want it to be to this song.
Love of my Life by Cowboy Mouth is one of the best ones I’ve found. How Do You Tell Someone You Don’t Love Them by them also works, so long as you add the requisite “FUCK YOU!” from the live shows at the end of each “How do you tell someone you don’t love them?”
Kiss Off by the Violent Femmes
I Hate You, Fuck You, Leave Me Alone by Reel Big Fish, if only for the chorus.
Always been partial to Dylan’s Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right.
“I ain’t sayin’ you treated me unkind.
You coulda done better, but I don’t mind.
You just kinda wasted my precious time.
But don’t think twice, it’s all right.”
Why don’t we break up?
There’s nothing left to say
I’ve got my eyes shut
Praying they won’t stray
And when I’m sexed up
That’s what makes the difference today
I hope you blow away…
Brilliant.
Three of mine were already mentioned, but I’ll second them.
You Oughta Know, Alanis Morissette. Supposedly written to Dave Coulier, whom she dated for a time. Shut Up, The Black-Eyed Peas Caught Out There, Kelis, which Sam referred to as “I Hate You So Much Right Now”.
I’ll add a couple others: Oops, Blu Cantrell – this one’s funny. Her man is cheating on her, so she goes on a spending spree with his money and throws out all of his stuff. All Over Now, Aimee Mann
Since Ike beat me to Positively 4th Street, I offer Johnny Cash’s “Flushed From the Bathroom of Your Heart”.
From the backdoor of your life you swept me out dear
In the bread line of your dreams I lost my place
At the table of your love I got the brush off
At the Indianapolis of your heart I lost the race
I’ve been washed down the sink of your memory
In the theater of your love I lost my part
And now you say you’ve got me out of your conscience
I’ve been flushed from the bathroom of your heart
But for now, love, let’s be real;
I never thought I could feel this way
And I’ve got to say that I just don’t get it.
I don’t know where we went wrong,
But the feeling’s gone
And I just can’t get it back.
