We often turn to music to express and acknowledge our emotions, whether we are sad, happy, confused, or ecstatic. Today, we are focusing on music that can help you heal your broken heart. We have compiled a list of them.
A good breakup song can help you get through life’s difficult times. Music is one of the best tools we have for both enjoying the good times and dealing with the bad, and it’s especially comforting to listen to songs about moving on or letting go when a relationship is ending.
Moving on songs don’t have to be about breakups; they can be about losing a friend or a family member, or even about growing and changing as a person.
There are songs for every stage of life, and this list contains the best songs to listen to when your relationships are ending or when you’ve outgrown a person or a place
1. “Everybody Hurts” – R.E.M.
Who hasn’t experienced rejection, been in a bad relationship, or gone through an existential crisis? Micheal Stipe’s vulnerable and beautiful performance of the slow ballad reduces all of life’s difficulties to the chorus’s relatable sentiment: everyone hurts. From 1991 to 1992, the song was written and recorded in Woodstock, New York.
2. “Don’t Look Back In Anger” – Oasis
The chord progression and melody of “Don’t Look Back in Anger” immediately evoke memories of past relationships. It has meandering, at times nonsensical lyrics, but its message to the listener is to let go of the past and make peace with it. Noel Gallagher wrote it and recorded it in 1995.
3. “Ooh La La” – Faces
This song is about discovering love and relationships too late in life, but still finding a way to move forward by warning your young grandson. It was written by Ronnie Lane and Ronnie Wood and recorded in 1973.
3. “The First Cut Is the Deepest” – Cat Stevens
What else can be said about this song besides what it says in the title? We’ve all heard that our first loves stay with us for the rest of our lives, even after we’ve moved on. Stevens composed the song in 1967.
4. “Stay” – Rihanna
“Stay,” a raw confession of true love, is about how difficult it is when your true love abandons you. Rihanna’s vocals are full of longing in this piano-driven and heartstring-pulling arrangement. Mikki Ekko, Justin Parker, and Elof Loelv wrote the song, which was recorded in West Hollywood, California in 2012.
5. “Stronger” – Britney Spears
“Stronger” is a motivational song that portrays Britney Spears’ struggles in a positive light. It’s about overcoming loneliness and hardship in whatever way you can, and it has a catchy chorus set to a beat that makes you want to get out of bed and face your life. Producer Max Martin wrote the song, which was recorded in November 1999.
6. “How To Save A Life” – The Fray
This piano ballad is about the lead singer of The Fray’s experience trying to mentor a young man whose friend died. As a play on the song’s title, the lyrics are delivered in a list format, making it a confessional and deeply personal song. In 2005, the alt-rock band recorded the song in Indiana.
7. “A Little Bit Stronger” – Sarah Evans
Listening to Sarah Evans, a down-to-earth, relatable artist, is a great way to deal with the all-too-common situation of someone leaving unexpectedly. Evans intersperses spoken confessional thoughts between vocals, making you feel as if you’re commiserating with her. The song was recorded in Nashville and released in 2010.
8. “100 Letters” – Halsey
Through a pop song format, this song openly addresses physical and emotional abuse. It has a compelling beat and unique vocals from Halsey, which both contribute to the song’s feeling of empowerment for victims of abuse or toxic relationships. In 2016 and 2017, Halsey released “100 Letters.”
9. “ICU” – Phoebe Bridgers
Bridger’s breakup with her band’s drummer is recounted in this song, which has a pun in the title—”I see you” sounds like ICU, a reference to her distress and pain over the breakup. “I See You” is a driving pop ballad about relationship uncertainty that was recorded in 2018 and 2019.
10. “Skinny Love” – Bon Iver
Bon Iver is the go-to artist for emotional acoustic guitar music with strange and poetic lyrics, and this is where the band shines. This song has haunting vibes that remind me of a doomed relationship. It was recorded in a remote Wisconsin cabin in 2006 and 2007.
11. “Everybody Lost Somebody” – Bleachers
By the title, you wouldn’t think this song would be an uplifting anthem of resilience in the face of life’s struggles, but that’s exactly what it is. It’s got a seductive syncopated groove and a great sax hook that makes you want to dance your problems away. It was written by Jack Antonoff, frontman of Bleachers, in 2017.
12. “Drawn to the Blood” – Sufjan Stevens
This song’s eerie and poetic lyrics were inspired by the songwriter’s loss of his mother. The song is very stripped down and features only staccato-strummed guitar and vocals until the final section with a transcendent synth outro. The song was recorded, written, and produced in 2014 entirely by Stevens.
13. “You Learn” – Alanis Morissette
Sometimes you just have to cut loose. Being boxed in by a stale relationship or a boring chapter of life is a horrible feeling, but there are little ways you can cope with it, like “walking around naked in your living room” as the song suggests. The song was written and recorded in 1994 and 1995.
14. “I’d Have to Think about It” – Leith Ross
The fear that follows a breakup is explored in this introspective acoustic guitar ballad. What if there isn’t anyone else for me? This song is here to assure you of that. In 2021, Leith Ross wrote and recorded the song.
15. “Since U Been Gone” – Kelly Clarkson
“Since U Been Gone” transforms from a hurt, melancholy verse into a cathartic outburst of a chorus. When the wall of sound created by the guitars comes in on the chorus, it feels like you’re finally letting go of a lover who dumped you (or you’re at least trying to forget the relationship). The song was recorded in 2004 and written by producers Max Martin and Lukasz Gottwald.
16. “Irreplaceable” – Beyoncé
Have you ever been with someone who was more concerned with themselves than with you? The laid-back drums and acoustic guitar in this song perfectly complement Beyoncé’s irreplaceable vocal style, and it feels like a slap in the face to her ex-lover. Who can forget the catchphrase “to the left, to the left, everything you own in a box to the left?” The song was written and recorded in New York City in 2006.
17. “Best Days Of Your Life” – Kellie Pickler
Co-written with Taylor Swift, this song is an anthem of moving forward and learning to look back on a relationship fondly. Kellie Pickler is great at belting out the lyrics with gusto, and there’s a vocal arrangement behind her that adds tons of energy to the song. The song was recorded in 2008.
18. “I Bet On Losing Dogs” – Mitski
Mitski’s music epitomizes the word “melancholy,” and this song revels in melancholy. Its main lyric, also the song’s title, is set to swelling guitar and synth lines that seem to glorify the idea of always rooting for the underdog and losing. In a way, it’s a song about holding on to losing, although it’s also about constantly letting go of people and relationships. It was written and recorded in 2016 by Mistski herself.
19. “Across the River” – Bruce Hornsby And The Range
This song is great because of its bopping, fun rhythms, and folky feel and arrangement. It’s a story about leaving a small town and venturing “across the river,” or into the vast unknown world. Hornsby and producer Don Gehman wrote and recorded the song in 1989 and 1990.
20. “Let It Be” – The Beatles
This classic song is about appealing to faith that everything will be alright and allowing yourself to let go of struggle and anxiety. Paul McCartney’s melodic and still reverberates through the world today, and it’s on full display in the piano ballad. McCartney wrote and recorded the song with the Beatles in 1969.
21. “Wake Me Up When September Ends” – Green Day
Rather than a breakup, this song is about moving on from a lost loved one. With its simple and instantly recognizable opening guitar riff, the song is catchy and singable while also being somewhat somber. Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong wrote and recorded this song about his father’s death in 2003.
22. “So Yesterday” – Hillary Duff
“So Yesterday,” a whimsical take on breakups that isn’t too self-pitying or melancholy, is about a mutual breakup in which both parties have lost interest. It’s a classic 2000s pop song with a sense of fun and goofiness in the lyrics and vocal breaks between chorus lines. The song was written and recorded by The Matrix production team in 2003.
23. “Bad Religion” – Frank Ocean
Unrequited love is one of the worst things that life can throw at you, and it’s great to have a song to help you wallow in your sorrow. Over a slow, melancholy organ chord progression, the song begins, “It’s a bad religion to be in love with someone who could never love you.” Ocean wrote and recorded it in Hollywood, California in 2011 and 2012.
24. “Loner” – Kali Uchis
Some songs about letting go are about completely letting go of everyone around you, not just romantically. Loner is a hazy pop ballad about being alone, with sparse beats and dreamy vocals. In 2014, it was recorded and written.
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25. “Better By Myself” – Hey Violet
This funky indie-pop ballad about an ex-lover features a sing-along melody and whimsically placed synth lines. Rena Lovelis, the lead singer, lists all of her lover’s wrongs and why she’s ending things now that she’s in California in cathartic rage. The song was written in 2019 and produced by Daniel Nigro.
26. “Ain’t Thinkin Bout You” – KREAM, Eden Prince
This song is about wishing your ex-lover would just move on and get over you. It’s a techno-house banger with a great hook and strong vocals. The singer is aware that her ex-lover still cares, but she simply wishes to move on. In 2019, two Norwegian brothers and producer partners known as KREAM wrote the song.
27. “Better In Time” – Leona Lewis
All wounds heal with time, and this song is about that. Often, the only way to get over a breakup is to wait it out, and Leona Lewis soulful and powerful vocals capture the bittersweet feelings of finally letting go. The song was written and recorded in Lagos Nigeria in 2020.
28. “IDGAF” – Dua Lipa
It’s all in the title: this song is about not caring how other people feel. In the song, Dua Lipa’s ex-lover wants to rekindle their relationship, but she refuses. The song has a fun guitar riff and a danceable stomp-clap beat. It was written by Dua Lipa and several producers in 2017 and recorded in Los Angeles.
29. “20 Something” – SZA
This breakup ballad features only guitar and vocals and manages to be both low-key and driving. It’s about a breakup that comes as a surprise to the singer—her lover didn’t reveal that the relationship was on the rocks. The song was written and recorded in Carson, California between 2014 and 2017.
30. “Terrence Loves You” – Lana Del Rey
A mournful, melancholy tune that captures how the connection that occurs in a relationship never completely fades with time, and memories can flood back in lonely moments. The slow, off-tempo arrangement and lush vocals will leave you teary-eyed. In 2015, the song was written and recorded in Santa Monica.
31. “Let Me Go” – Hailee Steinfeld
“Let Me Go,” a song with a bouncy pop groove that immediately gets your head bobbing, is about the end of a relationship whose problems were obvious from the start—sometimes lovers only want each other in the moment but can’t commit long term. In 2017, Steinfeld, Swedish artist Alesso, and other producers collaborated to create the song.
32. “I Will Always Love You” – Whitney Houston
Dolly Parton wrote the lyrics and composed the music for this song in 1973. But, let’s be honest, we all know and love Whitney Houston’s version—nothing beats how she belts it out, and she made it her signature song. It’s easy to overlook the fact that the song isn’t just a declaration of eternal love, but also a final reminder that even after she’s moved on, she’ll always have a place in her heart for her lover.
33. “We are Never Getting Back Together” – Taylor Swift
This song celebrates the feeling of getting rid of a cheating, bad-as-hell, or simply disappointing ex-lover. It has an instantly memorable chorus as well as an upbeat feel and groove that is danceable and fun. Swift wrote the song with producer Max Martin and recorded it at Conway Studios in Los Angeles in 2012.
34. “Don’t Think Twice It’s All Right” – Bob Dylan
Here’s a deliciously spiteful and poetic snapshot of what it’s like to dump a lover and move on with your life. The stripped-down, folky melody and arrangement of the song add to its emotional weight. Dylan wrote the song in 1962, based on a pre-existing folk song’s melody and lyrics.
35. “Someone Like You” – Adele
“Someone Like You” is a classic breakup song that showcases Adele’s formidable pipes and never fails to make you feel vindicated by the feeling that your lover did you wrong no matter what’s going on in your life. The chorus of “nevermind, I’ll find someone like you” perfectly captures the feeling of dismissing an ex-lover. Adele Adkins and songwriter Dan Wilson wrote the song, which was recorded in West Hollywood, California in 2011.
36. “I Will Survive” – Gloria Gaynor
“I will survive,” what better title for a song about moving on and reinventing yourself after a breakup? “The song has a disco beat and an upbeat feel to it, and it captures the feeling of moving on from a relationship.” It was written by producer/songwriters Freddie Perren and Dino Ferrakis and recorded in Los Angeles in 1978.
37. “ICU” – Phoebe Bridgers
Bridger’s breakup with her band’s drummer is recounted in this song, which has a pun in the title—”I see you” sounds like ICU, a reference to her distress and pain over the breakup. “I See You” is a driving pop ballad about relationship uncertainty that was recorded in 2018 and 2019.
Final Words on Moving on and Letting Go
Life is full of surprises, and we never know what’s in store for us. We may be content right now, but something big could happen that will turn our lives upside down.
On the other hand, while we may be heartbroken today, tomorrow may provide an opportunity to heal.
The most important thing is to let go of whatever has been holding you back so you can move forward to the genuine happiness that awaits you.
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StudentsandScholarship Team.