No matter the circumstance, breakups are hard. I find that music helps me channel my sadness, anger or any other feeling I have out into the world. Here are some of my favourite songs for after a breakup (I recommend listening at full volume in the car). FYI – the top three songs are by Taylor Swift… as they should be.
8. “Better Off” – Jeremy Zucker & Chelsea Cutler
This song is focused on both parties being aware that they are better off without each other. Although I’ve never personally experienced this feeling, this song makes me feel like I have. It’s catchy enough to sing along to but sad enough to make you cry. My favourite lyric: “Running circles, cause you’re all I know.”
7. “Thinkin’ Bout Love” (Acoustic) – Wild Rivers
I didn’t know this song until recently, but I love it. It truly channels the feeling of being blindsided by a breakup or feeling like the other person didn’t fight enough. My favourite lyric: “It’s kind of like a light went off and now you’re dead set on giving me up, talking like we’re so far gone and there ain’t no use stitching us up.”
6. “Don’t You Remember” – Adele
This song hurts. It explains the heartbreak of not knowing the next time you’ll see someone and reflecting on all your memories with that person. I’ve definitely been feeling these lyrics to my core lately. Adele elaborates on the heart-wrenching emotion of feeling like you went wrong in situations and her voice makes these sad lyrics so beautiful. My favourite lyric: “I kept my distance so you could be free, and hope that you find the missing piece to bring you back to me.”
5. “Someone New” – BANKS
This song is the definition of a sad breakup song. BANKS’ voice is so soothing and gorgeous as she sings lyrics about knowing that she’ll go back to her partner and her need for them to be patient with her. She sings about going through the breakup for the other person and begging them to not fall in love with someone new. Overall, it’s the perfect slow breakup song. My favourite lyric: “Everything I do, I’m gonna think of you, don’t know what else to do.”
4. “Rainbow” – Kacey Musgraves
This is another song I just recently heard and fell in love with. Kacey Musgraves’ voice is so perfectly mixed with the piano in this track. Her lyrics are more focused on the comeback from a breakup and realizing that there is happiness around you at all times, whether it feels like it or not. My favourite lyric: “You hold tight to your umbrella, well, darlin’, I’m just tryin’ to tell ya, that there’s always been a rainbow hangin’ over your head.”
3. “I Almost Do” – Taylor Swift
As we know, Taylor Swift is a queen for all love songs and definitely the queen of breakup songs. This song has resonated with me a lot and I feel like it would with many people post-breakup. The lyrics are about wanting to talk to someone so badly after a breakup and nearly calling or running to them every time. My favourite lyric: “I hope sometimes you wonder about me.”
2. “The Way I Loved You” – Taylor Swift
If you know this song, you know. It’s all about finding a great guy but reflecting on a past relationship and realizing the way she loved this past person. Easily one of my favourite songs to scream in the car. My favourite lyric: “But I miss screaming and fighting and kissing in the rain, and it’s 2 a.m. and I’m cursing your name.”
1. “All Too Well” – Taylor Swift
This shouldn’t be a surprise. This is the ultimate breakup song, and it is definitely a good one to cry to, to scream at the top of your lungs to or anything in between. I can’t even explain this song, so you just need to listen to it. My favourite lyric: “You call me up again just to break me like a promise, so casually cruel in the name of being honest.”
I hope some of these resonate with your situation, and if you aren’t going through a breakup but are interested in some sad-ish songs, there you go! If you are heartbroken, take care of your heart, your health and your mind. Everything will be okay, and everything happens for a reason.
XO