This is the first of a series of posts we’ll be doing on the best breakup songs of all time. The below 100 was originally published in our book BUH BYE: The Ultimate Guide to Dumping and Being Dumped (which was called “hilarious and fantastic” by our one Amazon reviewer). Naturally, we like the list, but want to know which essential songs you think are missing, and which, if any, you would definitely not include. Unleash your wrath in the comments section.
1   “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover” – Paul Simon
2   “Absolutely Zero” – Jason Mraz
3   “Against All Odds” – Phil Collins or The Postal Service version
4   “All Alone Am I” – Brenda Lee
5   “All By Myself” – Eric Carmen (definitely not the Celine Dion version; the Bridget Jones version works, but only with the visual)
6Â Â Â “All My Ex’s Live in Texas” – George Strait
7   “Alone Again (Naturally)” – Gilbert O’Sullivan
8   “Another Lonely Day” – Ben Harper
9   “Apart” – The Cure
10   “Are You Lonesome Tonight” – Elvis Presley
11   “Ballad of Big Nothing” – Elliott Smith
12   “Black” – Pearl Jam
13   “Blackout” – Muse
14   “Blue Moon Revisited” – Cowboy Junkies
15   “Can’t Stand Losing You” – The Police
16   “Careless Whisper” – Wham!
17   “Crazy” – Patsy Cline or Willie Nelson
18   “Crown of Love” – Arcade Fire
19   “Crying” – Roy Orbison
20   “Don’t Cry Out Loud” – Melissa Manchester
21   “Don’t Leave Me This Way” – Thelma Houston
22   “Don’t Walk Away” – ELO
23   “Don’t You Want Me” – The Human League
24   “Ever Fallen in Love” – The Buzzcocks
25   “Every Breath You Take” – The Police
26   “Everybody Hurts” – R.E.M.
27   “Everyday I Love You Less and Less” – Kaiser Chiefs
28   “Ex-Factor” – Lauren Hill
29   “Ex-Girlfriend” – No Doubt
30   “Girl from the North Country” – Bob Dylan
31   “Girl” – Beatles
32   “Grace Cathedral Hill” – The Decemberists
33   “Harden My Heart” – QuarterFlash
34   “Heartbreak Hotel” – Elvis Presley
35   “Heartbreaker” – Pat Benatar
36   “Hopelessly Devoted to You” – Olivia Newton John (Grease Soundtrack)
37   “How Can You Be Sure?” – Radiohead
38   “I Fall to Pieces” – Patsy Cline
39   “I Hope You’re Happy Now” – Elvis Costello
40   “I Never Cared for You” – Willie Nelson
41   “I Used to Love Her” – Guns n’ Roses
42   “I Want You” – Elvis Costello
43   “I Will Survive” – Gloria Gaynor
44   “If I Can’t Have You” – Yvonne Ellimen
45   “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” – Take your pick: Hank Williams, Elvis Presley, Cowboy Junkies, or Johnny Cash
46   “I’m Sorry” – Brenda Lee
47   “It’s a Heartache” – Juice Newton or Bonnie Tyler
48   “It’s Not Right, But It’s Okay” – Whitney Houston (the Thunderpuss remix)
49   “It’s Over” – Roy Orbison
50   “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long” – Otis Redding
51   “Killing Me Softly with His Song” – Fugees over Roberta Flack
52   “Last Goodbye” – Jeff Buckley
53   “Leavin’ on Your Mind” – Patsy Cline
54   “Lilac Wine” – Jeff Buckley
55   “Lonesome Tears” – Beck
56   “Lost Cause” – Beck
57   “Love Hurts” – Nazareth (the cover by Joan Jett will do in a pinch)
58   “Love is Stronger Than Death” – The The
59   “Love on the Rocks” – Neil Diamond
60   “Love Stinks” – J. Geils Band
61   “Love Will Tear Us Apart” – Joy Division
62   “Lover, You Should Have Come Over” – Jeff Buckley
63   “Lush Life” – Billy Strayhorn
64   “Mandy” – Barry Manilow
65   “No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)” – Barbra Streisand & Donna Summer
66   “Nothing Compares to You” – Sinead O’Connor or Prince
67   “One” – Aimee Mann (Magnolia soundtrack)
68   “Ordinary World” – Duran Duran
69   “Run” – Snow Patrol
70   “Separate Ways” – Journey
71   “She Is Gone” – Willie Nelson
72   “She’s Got You” – Patsy Cline
73   “Should’ve Been in Love” – Wilco
74   “Since I Don’t Have You” – Guns N’ Roses version
75   “Since U Been Gone” – Kelly Clarkson
76   “So Lonely” – The Police
77   “So Wrong” – Patsy Cline
78   “Soma” – Smashing Pumpkins
79   “Somebody That I Used to Know” – Elliott Smith
80   “Strange” – Patsy Cline
81   “Sweet Dreams” – Patsy Cline
82   “Tainted Love” – Soft Cell
83   “The Seventh Stranger” – Duran Duran
84   “The Sign” – Ace of Base
85Â Â Â “There’s a Tear in My Beer” – Hank Williams
86   “These Arms of Mine” – Otis Redding
87   “This Woman’s Work” – Kate Bush
88   “Total Eclipse of the Heart” – Bonnie Tyler
89   “True Happiness This Way Lies” – The The
90   “Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad” – Meatloaf
91   “We Belong ” – Pat Benatar
92   “Why Can’t He Be You” – Patsy Cline
93   “Without You” – Henry Nilsson (not the Mariah Carey version)
94   “Writing to Reach You” – Travis
95   “You Give Love a Bad Name” – Bon Jovi
96   “You Oughta Know” – Alanis Morissette
97   “You’ll Never Find Another Love Like Mine” – Lou Rawls
98   “Your Ex-Lover is Dead” – Stars
99   “You’re Not the Girl You Think You Are” – Crowded House
100  “You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling” – Righteous Brothers
December 25th, 2009 at 2:49 am
Karma – Alicia Keys
December 25th, 2009 at 4:24 am
i jus want to say thanks for the list… i wish to listen to all….even though my bf n i didnt breakup jus yet…i dnt knw when we will, or i will, because i should do tht already but, love him too much to say goodbye n never see him again….its too hard, its tougher thn the pain i m in by being with him
December 26th, 2009 at 10:14 pm
You Aint Thinking ’bout Me- Sonia Dada
December 29th, 2009 at 3:22 pm
elephant-damian rice
makes me wonder-maroon 5
February 21st, 2010 at 6:06 pm
“Take a Bow” by Madonna, “Speechless” by Lady Gaga, and R.B. Greaves “Take a Letter Maria” are helping me through some sh*t right now.
June 4th, 2010 at 5:15 pm
Empty Chairs By Don Mclean
7-Rooms of Gloom- Four tops or Blondie
June 5th, 2010 at 10:42 pm
Snuff – Slipknot
Lies – The Black Keys
This Ain’t A Love Song – Scouting For Girls
August 21st, 2010 at 8:27 pm
Tell Me What It Takes – Aerosmith
August 25th, 2010 at 6:14 am
Blink 182-Dammit
September 25th, 2010 at 4:56 am
Taylor Swift – White Horse
September 26th, 2010 at 12:31 pm
1. “Hurt” by Nine Inch Nails. The other 99 slots are not required.
October 19th, 2010 at 11:24 pm
End of the Road, by Boyz II Men… and then that always makes me think of Title of the Song, by DaVinci’s Notebook.
October 20th, 2010 at 1:32 pm
Who let in the rain? – Cindy Lauper
November 15th, 2010 at 4:50 pm
@Andy NIN – Hurt is about Trent’s dog. He wrote it when he was 15. Not about a breakup. Amazing song none the less
November 15th, 2010 at 11:45 pm
damien rice – blower’s daughter; the avett brothers – november blue
November 22nd, 2010 at 4:25 pm
Kerosene-Miranda Lambert
You’ll Think of Me-Keith Urban
Picture to Burn-Taylor Swift
Strange-Reba McEntire
November 25th, 2010 at 4:30 am
Heard it Through the Grapevine–Marvin Gaye
Lonesome Day– Springsteen
After the Rain has Fallen–Sting
Big Yellow Taxi–Joni MItchell or Counting Crows
I Can’t Make You Love Me–Bonnie Raitt et. al.
January 9th, 2011 at 8:01 am
when saying F U isnt enough Kelly clarkson Never again
January 9th, 2011 at 6:31 pm
Fuck it – Eamon
This made me feel a little better; maybe it’ll help you.
January 12th, 2011 at 1:05 am
“Almost Lover” form A Fine Frenzy should be in the list and Top 10
January 14th, 2011 at 11:25 am
Girlfriend – Eve 6, should be number one on the list.
January 31st, 2011 at 4:08 pm
This list is missing Ernest Tubb’s “Thanks A Lot” which is one of the best break-up songs EVER
February 14th, 2011 at 2:03 pm
Used to Love You – John Legend
February 17th, 2011 at 8:19 pm
There should be some boys 2 men and in my oppinion
Chicago – hard habit to break
March 8th, 2011 at 4:39 pm
because of you – kelly clarkson Whos sorry now – connie Francis
March 17th, 2011 at 8:52 pm
Looks like Rain by the Grateful Dead…
Overcome – Creed
Breathe – Breaking Benjamin
May 7th, 2011 at 8:35 pm
Pink – there you go
missy elliot – 1 minute man
shackles – mary mary
hush hush – pussy cat dolls
aint it funny – jennifer lopez
Beautiful liar – shakira beyonce
sweet dream or beautiful nightmere – beyonce
shut up – blck eyed peas
moving mountains – usher
May 7th, 2011 at 8:38 pm
sweetest thing – lauren hill
hold em down – christana agulierra
October 4th, 2011 at 2:38 pm
Jamie Cullum – I’m all over it
Move on Song
December 30th, 2011 at 1:09 am
The Break Up Song – Greg Kihn
Duh!!!!!
January 30th, 2012 at 9:44 am
Fuck my ex for making me search for such a fucken playlist
February 7th, 2012 at 6:11 am
@yeahwhatever – agreed. Fuck people who make others hurt so selfishly.
February 7th, 2012 at 6:50 am
It’s cool, we can still be friends – bright eyes
March 22nd, 2012 at 3:11 pm
cheated – mike posner
every man has a molly – say anything
March 28th, 2012 at 8:55 pm
“Poison and Wine” by The Civil Wars
April 26th, 2012 at 12:57 am
87 womans work shld be maxwell’s versions
April 27th, 2012 at 11:45 pm
time after time
April 30th, 2012 at 2:01 pm
kiss and say goodbye – the manhattans
May 6th, 2012 at 12:56 pm
I have made this cd already (I call it “Bye”)
You Don’t Know me At All, Don Henley
Walk On, U2
No Time, Guess Who
To Think I Used To Love You, Uncle Kracker
I’ve got Something to Say, The Interns
Run Off To LA, Kid Rock
Your time Is Gonna Come, Led Zeppelin
Rain, Candlebox
Someday, Rob Thomas
EveryDay, Bon Jovi
Freebird, Lynard Skynard
Goodbye, Miley Cyrus
Seconds, U2
Better Off, Theory of a Deadman
Ruby Tuesday, The Rolling Stones
Bye bye baby, Janis Joplin
Wild is the Wind, Bon jovi
Night Flight, led Zeppelin
Goodbye and Good Riddance to Bad Love, AC/DC
Yellow Ledbetter, Pearl Jam
Hope You Never, Tom Petty
Changed the Locks, Lucinda Williams
Control, Puddle of Mud
Goodbye girl, Squeeze
I’m Doing Fine Now, New york City
Goodbye Earl, Dixie Chicks
Hope it Felt Good, Nikka Costa
Born Cross eyed, Grateful Dead
Love Me Two Times, The Doors
Cold Day In july, Dixie Chicks
Soma, Smashing Pumpkins
Not Big, Lilly Allen
Little too Late, Pat Benetar
Over Now, Alice in Chains
You’re Crazy, Guns & Roses
Gonna leave You, Queens of the Stone Age
Freedom, George Michael
Respectable, The rolling Stones
See you Later, Soul Asylum
Gotta get Away, Van Lenton
Movin’ On, Bad Company
Ain’t the One, Empress
Last tattoo, Rehab
Ain’t Wastin’ Time no more, The Allman Brothers
You learn, Alanis Morrisette
Shame for You, Lilly Allen
American Woman, Lenny Kravitz
Everything About You, Ugly kid Joe
Get Out the Door, Velvet Revolver
Hell just Ain’t the Same Without You, Theory of a Deadman
Picture to Burn, Taylor Swift
Time After time, Sugar ray
May 24th, 2012 at 6:16 pm
The Chain – Fleetwood Mac
Ghosts – Laura Marling
Volcano – Damien Rice
Run – Leona Lewis
Crying in the Rain – The Bee Eaters
Fools like Me – Vanessa Carlton
Rewind – Diane Birch
Somebody I used to know – Gotye
Forgiven not forgotten – The Corrs
Let Me Go – 3 Doors Down
Green light – Beyonce
Adele
Gives you hell – The All American Rejects
Swag Back – Amerie
Call me When You’re Sober – evanescence
Cry me a River – Justin Timberlake
All I have – J.Lo and LLCoolJ
Skinny Love – Ed Sheeran cover
August 14th, 2012 at 1:59 am
Wanted you more – Lady Antebellum
Someone like you – Adele
September 18th, 2012 at 8:03 pm
i just want to personally say to all of you that have gone through a break up that my heart goes out to you. i recently experenced a terrible break up. he was the best friend i have ever had. we broke up 3 weeks before our 2 year anniversary. i cant seem to keep the tears from falling or my heart from breaking. he’s the one i want to hate the most but the one i need as well. this is the worst emotional pain i have ever felt. just know that i know what you are going through and please just know that no matter what happened you are an amazing person. and i wish you all the best in your journeys through these break ups<3
these songs have helped me a ton..i hope they help you too.
beyonce-broken hearted girl
i cant make you love me-tank
wide awake-katy perry
go on girl-ne-yo
boy without a hear-jojo
catch me-demi lovato
love that lets go-miley cyrus/hannah montana
final goodbye-rihanna
a million miles away-rihanna
fix a hear-demi lovato
hate u-mariah carey
i remember-keyshia cole
i wish-one direction
marvins room-drake
rumour has it-adele
take a bow-rihanna
taken-one direction
that should be me-justin bieber
thinking about you-frank ocean
up-justin bieber
September 18th, 2012 at 8:04 pm
that jojo song was boy without a heart, sorry.
October 24th, 2012 at 3:52 pm
Umm, No one has mentioned Mary J. Blidge, she has so many soulful breakup songs…
some of my favorites:
- not gon cry
- I’m going down
- be without you
- Mr. Wrong
- Why
- I can love you
- Take me as I am
- Enough Crying
- Missing you
and how about Whitney Houston?
_ I will always love you
- Heartbreak Hotel
- I have nothing
- Where do broken hearts go
- It’s not right but it’s okay
I’m sure there are many others, but I can’t think of them off the top of my head. I always turn to Whitney and Mary when I have heartache.
January 14th, 2013 at 7:11 pm
“Love Looks Good on You” by Jamie Tate
http://youtu.be/lf4IwtXBteQ
January 26th, 2013 at 3:25 pm
‘You’re So Vein’ Carly Simon about?????? Warren Beatty.
January 28th, 2013 at 1:04 am
Blower’s Daughter – Damian Rice
A Woman in His arms – Linda Eder
Sour times – Portishead
Cry me a river – Julie London
Don’t stop now – Emmy Rossum
Between the Lines – Sara Bareillis
Passive – A Perfect Circle
I know his so well – Elaine Paige
Tear in your hand – Tori Amos
In Between Shades- Jill Tracy
Pofig – In Yan
Sleeps with Butterflies – Tori Amos
My give a damn’s busted – Jodee Messina
Where Shadows fall – Jill Tracy
February 26th, 2013 at 4:38 am
Olivia Newton-John’s I Honestly Love You.