Breaking up is never easy, but with so many iconic heartbreak songs that express exactly what we’re feeling, why not let them do the talking? If you’re ready to call it quits, here’s a list of songs you can send to your soon-to-be ex.
It Ain’t Me Babe, Bob Dylan
If you’re struggling to commit, Bob Dylan has you covered. In his 1964 bootleg track, Dylan is brutally honest with his lover, leaving no room for ambiguity as he points out everything wrong with the relationship. He tells her he’s not the one she’s looking for as he’s unable to “close his heart” to anyone. In the recent Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown, the song is what drives one of his lovers away when they hear it live. And it’s easy to imagine it had the same effect in real life.
Hannah Hunt, Vampire Weekend
Having trouble trusting your partner? Don’t see a future with them because of how unpredictable they are? This indie rock tune will help convey that your relationship is doomed and shouldn’t move forward. “If I can’t trust you, then damn it / There’s no future, there’s no answer”, the band sings. Got the message?
You’re on Your Own, Kid, Taylor Swift
This may not technically be a breakup song, but the title says it all.
No Distance Left to Run, Blur
The Britpop legends brilliantly capture the moment when a relationship has run its course and is beyond saving. Damon Albarn’s devastating line, “When you see me, please turn your back and walk away”, reflects the harsh truth that sometimes a relationship must be left behind. This track will communicate to your partner that it’s better to let go of what’s unfixable than to cling to a relationship that has “no distance left to run”.
Same Mistakes, One Direction
Over a decade has passed since One Direction dropped this masterpiece, and the lyrics “Circles, we’re going in circles, dizzy’s all it makes us” are just as meaningful as the first time we heard them. Not only is this an absolute bop that you should already be sharing with everyone in your life, but it also articulates the frustration of being stuck in a cycle of repeated mistakes.
I’m Goin’ Down, Bruce Springsteen
From the iconic 1984 Born In The USA album, this classic serves as an ode to a fading love affair. If your relationship has lost its spark and passion, this song will resonate as Bruce Springsteen belts out the lines, “You used to drive me wild / but lately girl, you get your kicks from just driving me down.”
A Better Time to Meet, Adrianne Lenker
Adrianne Lenker’s soothing track speaks to the bittersweet reality of timing. If you’ve found the right person, but the timing just isn’t right, this song will show that it’s not about them—it’s about the circumstances.
In Love W/Yself, Liz Phair
Dating a narcissist who only thinks about themselves? Let them hear Liz Phair sing, “Don’t be so in love with yourself because I’m not”. With its blend of grungy guitar riffs and charged vocals, this track will bruise their ego and show that you’re done putting up with their behaviour.
The Wire, Haim
The Californian sister trio provide the best rendition of “it’s not you, it’s me”, as Danielle Haim opens up the track with, “You know I’m bad at communication, it’s the hardest thing for me to do and it’s said to be the most important part that relationships go through”. From scratchy guitars to an electric chorus, a breakup has never sounded so good.
Blackout Drunk, Suki Waterhouse
If you’re stuck in a toxic relationship with someone who is a serial cheater and misbehaves while they’re drunk, there’s no shame in sending this song their way. Inspired by her friends’ shitty boyfriends, Waterhouse fantasises about confronting them as she chants, “you ruin every night, you always start the fight / When you’re a b-b-b-b-b-b-b-b-b-b-b-blackout drunk”.