10 Best Break Up Songs For Killing Your Blues
by Eddie Corbano
As you might know, overcoming a break up involves a roller coaster ride of emotions. One minute you feel great, the next you are in deep depression. To escape these downtimes is often a big challenge.
While there are different techniques that can help you avoid these moments, a lot of break up victims listen to break up songs to ease their pain. And it works: certain break up songs can help you to get over those hard moments.
I would like to warn you against making a big mistake in this situation. There is one very important premise you need to remember when listening to these songs: they have to be empowering, inspirational and they have to pick you up again.
There is a temptation to listen to those “heart-killing” break up songs, (you know what I mean).
Don’t do it!
I made that terrible mistake back then. I listened to those special break up songs that reminded me of her over and over for weeks. It not only delayed my healing process, I fell into a deep depression and wallowed in my own misery.
Don’t make that same mistake.
These kinds of break up songs can help you to cry out accrued emotions, but this will only work at the very beginning – the 1st Phase. Later, they would likely throw you into the vicious cycle of your memories, from which it is very hard to escape. (Trust me – I know what I’m talking about).
The other kinds of break up songs that you have to avoid are “hate-your-ex-songs”.
The goal in the long run is to get rid of your anger towards your Ex, so listening to this kind of song will only give you false ease, which will hurt you in the long run.
Remember, don’t listen to heartbreak or hate songs – listen to EMPOWERING break up songs.
Listed below, I have collected for you the 10 best break up songs. I have not taken my personal musical taste into consideration here, (mine is really not mainstream), but rather focused on lyrics that will pick you up and pull you out of your depression.
Additionally, I looked for tunes which can convey these kinds of lyrics, (what’s the use of the great, uplifting lyrics if the song makes you fall asleep?).
So, pull out your iPod, check out the following empowering break up songs and create your playlist:
1. Gloria Gaynor – I Will Survive
This is the mother of all uplifting break up songs. Strong beat, great lyrics:
“I used to cry,
Now I hold my head up high
and you see me,
somebody new.
I’m not that chained up little person
still in love with you.”
2. Cher – Strong Enough
Are you?
“‘Cos I’m strong enough
To live without you.
Strong enough and I quit crying,
Long enough now I’m strong enough,
To know you gotta go.”
3. Johnny Nash – I Can See Clearly Now
A catchy tune and positive “feel-good” lyrics.
“Think I can make it now, the pain is gone
All of the bad feelings have disappeared.
Here is the rainbow I’ve been prayin’ for.
It’s gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)
Sun-Shiny day.”
4. REO Speedwagon – Time For Me To Fly
A classic!
“It’s time for me to fly.
Oh, I’ve got to set myself free.
Time for me to fly,
And that’s just how it’s got to be.
I know it hurts to say goodbye,
But it’s time for me to fly.”
5. REM – Everybody Hurts
This is a GREAT song, one of my all-time favorites.
“When the day is long and the night, the night is yours alone,
When you’re sure you’ve had enough of this life, well hang on.
Don’t let yourself go, everybody cries and everybody hurts sometimes.”
6. Bob Dylan – Most Of The Time
You don’t have to like Bob Dylan to like this song. Great lyrics.
“Stay right with it, when the road unwinds,
I can handle whatever I stumble upon,
I don’t even notice she’s gone,
Most of the time.”
7. Ace Of Base – Don’t Turn Around
“If you ever think about me,
Just know that I’ll be alright
I’m gonna be strong,
I’m gonna do fine,
Don’t worry about this heart of mine.
I know I’ll survive
Sure I’ll make it through.”
8. Carrie Underwood – Wasted
The proof that they really exist: positive country songs. A wonderful song!
“I don’t wanna’ spend my life jaded,
Waiting to wake up one day and find,
That I’ve let all these years go by,
Wasted.”
9. Justin Timberlake – Cry Me A River
I listened to this one a lot. A great musical piece and it gets you into an empowering mood.
“You told me you loved me,
Why did you leave me, all alone?
Now you tell me you need me,
When you call me, on the phone.
Girl I refuse, you must have me confused,
With some other guy.
Your bridges were burned, and now it’s your turn,
To cry, cry me a river.”
10. Louis Armstrong – What A Wonderful World
This is simply a classic feel-good song. It always reminds me that there is a life out there beyond the problems that we might have, and that there is strength already within us.
Listen and dream.
“The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky,
Are also on the faces of people going by.
I see friends shaking hands saying how do you do.
They’re really saying I love you.”
There you have them, the best positive break up songs that I listened to back then. They have helped me to overcome my break up, and they can help you too.
Never forget – positivity is the key to success. Surround yourself with positivity, and your life will improve.
You will survive. I promise.
Your friend,
Eddie Corbano
Do you know some good break up songs? Please share them in the comment section below!
If you liked this article, please bookmark it on del.icio.us or vote for it on Stumbleupon. I’d appreciate it. 
My Recommendation For Further Reading:
- 10 Secrets About Men - Very Recommendable Inside-Tips from Christian Carter
- Rebuilding: When Your Relationship Ends - THE Classic Book About Breakup Recovery
- For Men: Getting Your Groove Back After A Breakup - Approaching Women and Getting Physical
5 Must-See Related Posts:
About The Author:
Eddie Corbano is a breakup-coach, relationship-advisor and founder of LovesAGame. He suffered from a devastating break up in 1998. Since then, he dedicated his life to helping others getting the best of this existential experience. The overcoming of a break up is an important step to autonomy and independency. Eddie Corbano developed some new coaching programs, which focus on evolving inner strength and the power to set and reach any personal goal. (Article written on June 16th, 2008)
Show all posts by Eddie Corbano
Tags: break up, breakup songs, depression, Gloria Gaynor, healing
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Recent Comments:
i am new here. . and i am really happy for i have found this website. . perfect for my situation. . everything i have read here in your article inspired me a...
shine | March 14, 2010 | more»
@Marie – There is much to be said for tough love. As long as you are there, obviously when he is unsure if he wants you to be, you are devaluing...
anotherdud | March 13, 2010 | more»
I have been reading through these posts as I was looking for answers to my Relationship breakdown.. My boyfriend of 4 years told me last week that he...
Marie | March 13, 2010 | more»
Hi Kevin, The “Iron Shirt” analogy is very interesting, thanks for sharing. Eddie
Eddie Corbano | March 13, 2010 | more»
@steven – Actually, their working on a pill now, that triggers the chemical reaction in the brain that cause love and heartache. “An American...
Kevin | March 13, 2010 | more»
I also like:
Merry Happy by Kate Nash
“Chatting on the phone
can’t take back those hours
but I won’t regret
’cause you can grow flowers
from where dirt used to be….
I can be alone yeah
I can watch the sunset on my own.”
I like Bonnie McKee’s song, “Somebody”
Definitely helps to know that there is someone else out there and I don’t need to be sad. Here’s just a sample of the lyrics, but the whole song is good…
“Well I know, I won’t cry cause there is somebody, somebody,
Somebody waiting for me, out in the rain.
I won’t cry, not tonight,
Cause there is somebody waiting for me.”
How many words will go unspoken?
‘Til I hear knocking on my door?
I need some talking the nights I spent heartbroken.
But tonight I know,
I won’t cry no more.”
One Republic – Apologize
Helped me a lot…
I’m holding on your rope,
Got me ten feet off the ground
I’m hearin what you say but I just can’t make a sound
You tell me that you need me
Then you go and cut me down, but wait
You tell me that you’re sorry
Didn’t think I’d turn around, and say that…
It’s too late to apologize, it’s too late
I said it’s too late to apologize, it’s too late
So What – P!nk
now, thats a bad ass F you song
I’m looking through you – The Beatles
great song if you find yourself in that situation
I like “Love Don’t Live Here Anymore” by Lady Antebellum:
“…’Cause I been doin’ fine without you
Forgettin’ all the love we once knew
And girl, I ain’t the one that slammed that door
Now you say you’ve changed your thinkin’
Well I ain’t got a heart for breakin’
So go and pick your bags up off my floor
Oh, ’cause love don’t live here anymore….”
I am surprised ‘Sound the Beugle’ and ‘You can’t take me’ by Bryan Adams didn’t make it to the top ten. The songs are extremely soothing and uplifting.
YOU CAN’T TAKE ME
“Got to fight another fight – I gotta run another night
Get it out – check it out
I’m on my way and I don’t feel right
I gotta get me back – I can’t be beat and that’s a fact
It’s OK – I’ll find a way
You ain’t gonna take me down no way
Don’t judge a thing until you know what’s inside it
Dont’ push me – I’ll fight it
Never gonna give in – never gonna give it up no
If you can’t catch a wave then your’e never gonna ride
You can’t come uninvited
Never gonna give in – never gonna give up no
You can’t take me I’m free ”
SOUND THE BEUGLE
“Then from on high – somewhere in the distance
There’s a voice that calls – remember who your are
If you lose yourself – your courage soon will follow
So be strong tonight – remember who you are
Ya you’re a soldier now – fighting in a battle
To be free once more -Ya that’s worth fighting for”
Skeeter Davis – END OF THE WORLD
Why does the sun go on shining
Why does the sea rush to shore
Don’t they know it’s the end of the world
‘Cause you don’t love me anymore
Why do the birds go on singing
Why do the stars glow above
Don’t they know it’s the end of the world
It ended when I lost your love
I wake up in the morning and I wonder
Why everythings the same as it was
I can’t understand, no I can’t understand
How life goes on the way it does
Why does my heart go on beating
Why do these eyes of mine cry
Don’t they know it’s the end of the world
It ended when you said goodbye
Thanks Chris, I love this song and the lyrics are great, but it’s not exactly empowering when you suffer from a broken heart, isn’t it?
“Better in time” by Leona Lewis….this song helped me A LOT when i was going through my break up. I just put it on repeat & listened to it all day
Hello, Eddie and who ever else might read this.
I, was I’m a relationship for 4 year’s and I was going to get married to him but are relationship was under alot of pressure and after one to many cracks at one another we ended thing’s and it was not ended on a great note. But, I had to move on and live my life with out him even tho it pretty much killed me. I, was doing great until i went to the movie’s, with a few of my friends and I saw him but he was not alone he was with one of my old friend’s, I said hello to them but he really did’nt even look at me. I, went home that night and put on
secondhand serenade maybe
Maybe it’s just me, Couldn’t you believe
That everything I said and did, wasn’t just deceiving
And the tear in your eye, and your calm hard face
Makes me wish that I was never brought into this place
And i cried my eyes out. I, was very upset for a week i left my house to go to starbucks to get some coffee and get some fresh air to just breathe and i was sitting there drinking my coffee when my ex came in he was alone but he got his coffee and sat down by me he told me that he was sorry how things ended but that he was in love with his new girlfriend and that we could never be anything again i just smiled and told him i understood i left and when home and cried my eyes out once again. that night i was looking for some music to listen to when i heard this song and the song just made me look into my life and i just cried and let everything out everything that was once in my system and just let it go my days wore hard but i just listened to
Maria Mena Sorry
And I say baby, yes I feel stupid to call you, but I’m lonely
And I don’t think you meant it when you said you couldn’t love me
And I thought maybe if I kissed the way you do, you’d feel it too
He said I’m sorry
so sorry
I’m sorry
so sorry
i started to feel a little better about the break up but then i started to feel angry and mad and i was very upset that we broke up so i changed the music and i added angry songs very angry songs into my mix’s of music i would listen to when i would cry at night. I listened to songs like
A day to remember – The Plot To Bomb The Panhandle
I’m looking down at this mess that you’ve made
and I can’t believe that I stayed
So unhappy for so long
Where did I go wrong?
I’ve got to get out of this
my hand is on the handle
We’re leaving everything behind
Goodbye for a lifetime
Five Finger Death Punch – Hate Me
I never had the chance to thank you
(FOR RIPPING OUT MY HEART)
It’s not enough
It’s not enough
It never was or will be
I never got the chance to say
(F*** YOU)
You’ve got a gun
I’ve got a gun
Let’s write a tragic ending
then i started to think its not really fair to be so angry at him for ending things because we both needed things to end for us so i started to listen to softer songs that wore sad but not so angry
i was doing great until i ran into him again i found that him and his new wife wore moving and wore going to be having a baby something i always wanted to do with him i was very sad so i left and went home and just music on the music and sat down and cried
Demi Lovato – Don’t Forget
Did you forget
That I was even alive
Did you forget
Everything we ever had
Did you forget
Did you forget
About me
Did you regret (did you regret)
Ever standing by my side
Did you forget (did you forget)
What we were feeling inside
Now I’m left to forget
About us
Then i started to get better where i was’nt even really mad or angry i was mostly over it but i still had some feelings left in my system so i started to listen to
Little Wonders – Rob Thomas
Let it go
Let it roll right off your shoulder
Don’t you know
The hardest part is over
Let it in
Let your clarity define you
In the end
You will only just remember how it feels
after a year I got better and and i even started to date well i found my mr, right and we are expecting our baby in less then a week so no matter how horrid it make seem right now in the end something better is waiting there for you (:
Someday, Nina
“Someday, you’re gonna realize…
One day, you’ll see this through my eyes,
By then, I won’t even be there,
I’ll be happy somewhere…
Even if I cared”
I don’t know “Most of the Time” being on this list…it’s really about holding on to love. He lists all the ways he’s healthy…but then, the truth of the matter is that it’s only most of the time, which means he’s a mess some of the time, haha.
Good list otherwise, though.