The Breakup Songs Lists

This blog contains lists of breakup songs I have cataloged over several years.  The purpose is to provide people with ideas for playlists they can put together to assist them getting through the experience of being dumped by, or dumping, a lover.

I have broken the lists into 10 groups:

1. Sad: Dumped, Lonely, Can't Believe it
2. Anguish: Miserable
3. Angry/Bitter: Dumped
4. Angry/Bitter: I'm Dumping You
5. Sad: Guilty
6. Bad Relationships: I'm Out
7. Bad Relationships: Stuck
8. Moving On
9. Pining (Unrequited Love)
10. Abusive Relationships

Criteria

To make the list songs had to:

1. Lyrically express emotions
2. Musically match the emotions

First, songs that I consider soppy did not make my lists.  My sense of soppy may be quite different than yours.  If so, you may not like my list.

Second, if the lyrics are about being depressed, but the beat tempo are fast, the song did not meet the second criterion.  Second, songs that lyrically express anger, but have a slow tempo, etc. did not cut it.

Finally, the most important breakup songs to any given person are those that were popular on the radio (or otherwise introduced to that person) when she or he was dumped (for most of us, the first time is probably the most influential).  It should go without saying that I have no frigging clue what was popular when YOU were (first) dumped.  So please don't post comments that reveal that you are miffed that I left off the song(s) that most speaks to you. (Yes, I sometimes tilt at windmills).

Sad: Dumped, Lonely, Can't Believe It

When we think of breakup songs most of us are probably thinking of theses songs: those that permit us to wallow in denial when blown away and shocked by the news of being dumped.

Smokey Robinson: Tears of a Clown
Soft Cell: Tainted Love/Where Did Our Love Go?
Culture Club: Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?
Dawn Penn: No, No, No
The Beatles: I'm So Tired
The Streets: Dry Your Eyes Mate
Better than Ezra: Good
Natalie Imbruglia: Torn
Al Green: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart?
Sinead O'Connor: Nothing Compares 2 U
Lucinda Williams: Reason to Cry
BB King: Walkin' and Cryin'
The Beatles: The Long and Winding Road
BJ Thomas: Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song
The 5th Dimension: One Less Bell to Answer
Bob Dylan: Simple Twist of Fate
Al Green: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart?
The English Beat: Tears of a Clown
Bob Dylan: Tangled up in Blue
Alanis Morrissette: Hidden Track (Jagged Little Pill)
Kris Dlemhorst: Since You Went Away
Paul Simon: 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover
Roy Orbison: Only the Lonely
Greg Brown: Cept for You and Me
Elvis Presely: Return to Sender
The Script: Breakeven
Keith Urban: You'll Think of Me
BB King: You're Breakin' My Heart
Bruce Springsteen: Drive all Night
Led Zeppelin: Tea For One
Chicago: If You Leave Me Now
The Rolling Stones: Paint it Black
Alanis Morrissette: Flinch
The Motels: Only the Lonely
The Everly Brothers: Love Hurts
Dionne Warwick: (There's) Always Something There to Remind Me
BB King: A Woman Don't Care
The Beatles: I'm Down
BB King: Broken Heart Blues
Biscuit Miller: Baby wont you please come home  
The Beatles: I'm a Loser
BB King: Broken Promise
The Beatles: Crying, Waiting, Hoping
Al Green: Call Me

Anguish: Miserable

These songs are perfect for rolling about in self-absorbed misery, which is an important part of the experience of being dumped.

No Doubt: Don't Speak
The Police: So Lonely
Marvin Gaye: Heard it Through the Grapevine
The Police: Can't Stand Losing You
Squeeze: Another Nail for my Heart
Nazareth: Love Hurts
Fats Domino: Ain't That a Shame
Muddy Waters: Standing Around Crying
Naked Eyes: Always Something There to Remind Me
The Eurythmics: Who's That Girl?
Linda Ronstadt: When Will I Be Loved?
The Police: Bed's too Big without You
Elvis Presley: Heartbreak Hotel
Led Zeppelin: When the Levee Breaks
Cheap Trick: Ain't That a Shame
The Rolling Stones: Shattered
Bruce Springsteen: Downbound Train

Angry / Bitter: Dumped

This is the third type we most frequently thing of as "breakup songs": those that exhibit anger, bitterness, and jealousy, employing sarcasm to express the disbelief and rage at having been dumped.  To be played loud!

Joe Jackson: One More Time
Alannis Morisette: You Oughta Know
Melissa Ehtridge: Bring Me Some Water
Carly Simon: You're so Vain
Janis Joplin: Another Piece of My Heart
Bob Dylan: Positively Fourth Street
The Specials: Little Bitch
Joe Jackson: Is She Really Going Out with Him?
The Cranberries: Promise
Joe Jackson: Happy Lovin Couples
Melissa Ehtridge: Like the Way I Do
The Specials: Stupid Marriage
Melissa Ethridge: Come To My Window
Ben Folds Five: Song for the Dumped
No Doubt: Ex-Girlfriend
The Clash: Train in Vain
The Killers: Mr Brightside
Renee Olstead: Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby?
The Smiths: Unhappy Birthday
Annie Lenox: Train in Vain

Angry / Bitter: I'm Dumping You

If you need to holler about dumping someone who has done you wrong, this is your soundtrack.

Lucinda Williams: Joy
Ray Charles: Hit the Road, Jack
Nancy Sinatra: These Boots are Made for Walking
The Eagles: Already Gone
Bob Dylan: Don't Think Twice, It's All Right
BB King: You Done Lost Your Good Thing Now
Phil Collins: I Don't Care Anymore
Green Day: F.O.D. (Fuck Off and Die)
Save Ferris: Goodbye
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Don't Come Around Here No More
Christina Aguilera: Fighter
BB King: Crying Won't Help You
Dido: Hunter
Garbage: Special
The Rolling Stones: Dead Flowers
Fiona Apple: Limp
Green Day: Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)
Lucinda Williams: I Changed the Lock
Fleetwood Mac: Go Your Own Way
Ben Harper: Crying Won't Help You Now
Solomon Burke: Get Out of My Life Woman
Paul Carrack: Don't Shed a Tear
The Bluesbusters: If Your Phone Don't Ring You Know Its Me
BB King: Get Out of Here
Bouncing Souls: Wish Me Well (Go to Hell)
Ugly Kid Joe: Everything About You
The Eurythmics: You Hurt Me (And I Hate You)
Megadeth: 1000 Times Goodbye

Sad: Guilty

These songs are for folks who wish they had not cheated or otherwise treated a partner poorly, and have now lost her/him.

Little Milton: Walking the Back Streets and Crying
Wham: Careless Whisper
Bob Dylan: You're a Big Girl Now
Squeeze: Up the Junction
Sia: The Bully
Crystal Gayle: Don't it Make my Brown Eyes Blue
Stabbing Westward: What Do I Have to Do?
Albert King: Walking the Back Streets and Crying
Elton John: Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word
Lyle Lovett: Who Loves Your Better?
John Lennon: Jealous Guy
Little Milton: The Blues is my Companion
Air Supply: All Out of Love
The Black Crowes: Jealous Again
UB40: Come Back Darling
Led Zeppelin: Nobody's Fault but Mine
Barry Manilow: Mandy
Wild Colonials: Spark
Al Green: Tired of Being Alone
Elvis Presley: Blue Christmas

Bad Relationships: I'm Out

These are songs about exiting a bad relationship.

No Doubt: Spiderwebs
Tracy Chapman: Give Me One Reason
Rod Stewart: Maggie May
The Smiths: Bigmouth Strikes Again
Sheryl Crow: Can't Cry Anymore
Everclear: Santa Monica
Lucinda Williams: Are You Down?
Pat Benatar: Harden my Heart
Lauren Hill: Ex-Factor
Squeeze: Is that Love?
Human League: Don't You Want Me?