Nursing a heartbreak is never easy, and is seemingly like the end of the world for most of us. Melodyful offers a friendly shoulder for you to lean on by bringing you a list of 15 songs about missing your ex, mirroring your current state of mind.
Rick Castle: “How do you know you’re in love?”
Kate Beckett: “All the songs make sense.”
― “Punked”
Castle/season 3, episode #4
What could be worse than the total agony of being in love? Why, a breakup, of course! As things stand, not all of us are fortunate enough to experience an amicable breakup (if such a thing actually exists!).
We’re all aware of the sequence of events that follow after a split, and are bound to agree that the toughest phase is the very first one―when you’re missing your ex’s presence in your everyday life. Not surprisingly, we turn to music to seek comfort, or to use it as a distraction, because it’s only when you’re in love (or pining for it) that all the songs begin to make sense.
So, here’s our list of 15 songs that beautifully portray the emotion of longing. Plus, we’ve also picked the most touching lines from the song lyrics in case you’re not already acquainted with the song.
15 SONGS ABOUT MISSING YOUR EX
Missing
EVERYTHING BUT THE GIRL
And the years have proved
To offer nothing since you moved
You’re long gone
But I can’t move on
And I miss you – Like the deserts miss the rain
Chances are that you’ve heard the electronic version of this 1994 hit, as the original kind of faded into oblivion upon its release. It hardly matters, of course, as this song perfectly captures what it means to nurse a broken heart long after the breakup. Because there are times when you think about all the “what ifs” that you bypassed, wondering if your breakup was indeed the right decision.
We Belong Together
MARIAH CAREY
Who else am I gon’ lean on when times get rough
Who’s gonna talk to me on the phone till the sun comes up
Who’s gonna take your place, there ain’t nobody better
Oh, baby baby, we belong together
Mimi’s “brokenhearted lament for love” really speaks to the brokenhearted, describing the day-to-day agony of not being with someone you love. This song ranks as a personal favorite, and is worth a listen, regardless of your state of mind, as it has Mariah Carey sing at the best of her glass-shattering abilities.
Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely
BACKSTREET BOYS
Show me the meaning of being lonely
Is this the feeling I need to walk with?
Tell me why I can’t be there where you are
There’s something missing in my heart
Judge all you want to, but methinks that the boy bands of the nineties came up with the best love songs, particularly if you’re looking for something really soppy. Well, it doesn’t get better than this, as you get to learn the meaning of being lonely.
She
ELVIS COSTELLO
Me I’ll take her laughter and her tears
And make them all my souvenirs
For where she goes I’ve got to be
The meaning of my life is … She
Well, this song isn’t your typical teary number―it’s actually an ode to a woman, who perhaps has been the reason of your survival. But if for some reason this woman is no longer yours, this song will indeed have you weeping like a baby.
You & Me
OX FEAT. GEORGIA BLACK
You and me, we have seen everything
Seen the dawn and felt the feeling
Felt the love but lost the meaning
If you come down off the ceiling
I’ll come down with you
This obscure song―googling it does not yield too many solid results―manages to hit the right spots in case you’ve experienced the natural death of a relationship. You know, where the love fades out, but you don’t really stop missing that person. Give this song a listen, and you’ll be nodding in agreement.
Nothing Compares 2 U
SINEAD O’CONNOR
Since u been gone I can do whatever I want
I can see whomever I choose
I can eat my dinner in a fancy restaurant
But nothing
I said nothing can take away these blues
This iconic song by Sinead O’Connor took over the music charts all over the world when it released in 1990. If you’ve not heard it, for some unfathomable reason, now is the time to do it, especially as you’re pining for your ex.
When You’re Gone
BRYAN ADAMS FEAT. MEL C
Baby when you’re gone, I realize I’m in love
Days go on and on, and the nights just seem so long
Even food don’t taste that good, drink ain’t doing what it should
Things just feel so wrong
Baby when you’re gone
Bryan Adams and Mel C pair up to make a very say-it-like-it-is take on longing. After all, isn’t this how we really feel when the heart is pining for someone who has left us? Food tastes like mulch, and the alcohol just tends to sink us lower into depression. A sad state of being, it is.
Someone Like You
ADELE
Never mind, I’ll find someone like you
I wish nothing but the best for you too
Don’t forget me, I beg
I’ll remember you said,
No one can set a tune to heartbreak as well as Adele can, and I’m sure that her many million fans will agree. This song of hers perfectly encapsulates every heartbroken person’s “confrontational stalker” phase.
Don’t Speak
NO DOUBT
You and me we used to be together
Everyday together always
I really feel that I’m losing my best friend
I can’t believe this could be the end
Looks like real-life breakups inspire our musicians to come up with their best work. Gwen Stefani channeled her turmoil following her breakup with band mate Tony Kanal in this rather personal song. Her dynamic and deep voice just takes the song to a whole new level.
November Rain
GUNS N’ ROSES
‘Cause nothin’ lasts forever
And we both know hearts can change
And it’s hard to hold a candle
In the cold November rain
November Rain doesn’t technically deserve a place in a list of songs about missing your ex. But the song is centered around the pain of troubled relationships, and Slash’s divine guitar solo just makes you want to listen to it when you’re feeling the blues.
Remember The Time
MICHAEL JACKSON
Do you remember when we fell in love
We were young and innocent then
Do you remember how it all began
It just seemed like heaven
So why did it end?
Who says you have to listen to a sob fest while missing your ex? The peppy song by MJ will have you reminiscing about the good times you both shared over the course of time you were together. Sure to make you feel happy, despite the way things currently stand.
I Will Always Love You
WHITNEY HOUSTON
Bittersweet memories
That is all I’m taking with me
So good-bye/please don’t cry
We both know I’m not what you, you need
And I… will always love you
The late Whitney Houston’s thunderous vocals gave this song her signature touch, and is believed by many to be her best performance. By all means, this is a song that speaks to everyone who has loved and lost at least once in their lifetime.
All Out Of Love
AIR SUPPLY
I wish I could carry your smile in my heart
For times when my life seems so low
It would make me believe what tomorrow could bring
When today doesn’t really know, doesn’t really know
This classic love ballad by Air Supply has been covered by several bands and singers over the years, but when you’re truly ‘all out of love’ in real life, you must reach out to the masters of love songs themselves.
Romeo And Juliet
DIRE STRAITS
And all I do is miss you and the way we used to be
All I do is keep the beat and bad company
All I do is kiss you through the bars of a rhyme
Julie I’d do the stars with you any time
I always get a touch misty eyed every time this song plays―hear it, and you’re sure to know why. Dire Straits frontman, Mark Knopfler chronicled his own failed romance in this song, alluding to a Romeo who still misses his Juliet very much.
Autumn Leaves
NAT KING COLE
The falling leaves drift by the window
The autumn leaves of red and gold
I see your lips, the summer kisses
The sun-burned hands I used to hold
If you are familiar with Robert James Waller’s The Bridges of Madison County, you’d know why this song has made its way to this list. But even otherwise, listening to this song brings back visions of heartfelt romances; the ones we all wish would never end.
It is really hard to move on when your heart refuses to let go of your past. We do hope that these songs have helped you heal yourself in some ways. Thinking of adding some more to this list? Do let us know in the comments section.
