8 breakup songs for guys to keep in your playlist

Breakups. We avoid it, but it still happens. You wonder how something that was so amazing became a cause for so much pain. Breakups hurt regardless of who did the cutting off, although it hurts especially bad if you’re the one who got dumped.

 

Fortunately, we have breakup songs to help us through the ordeal. Music becomes our closest companion during this time of healing, and there is something magical with how the words just seem to hit straight to the core. We let our imaginations run with the melody, we vent, cry, rant, and give in to every other emotion known to man.

It’s no wonder that so many people innately turn to these kinds of songs when dealing with heartbreak. Whether you’re the one who’s been left behind, or you just let go of someone, or you and your partner civilly parted ways, there is a song for what you’re going through.

Break up songs have been alive since the beginning of the music industry. Artists make a lot of money from them as well. While the best ones are arguably still the classics such as “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin” by the Righteous Brothers or “Let Her Go” by the Passenger, there are good ones to listen to for 2019.

 

Let’s get right on the songs currently on the top charts to put on your playlist.

This is Shawn Mendes’ most powerful record yet. There’s a reason why the album is self-titled. The “Stitches” hitmaker is all grown up and tackles relationships, breakups, anxiety, and so much more.

It's time for me to finally meet somebody new

Take her to all the places that I took us to

And she might help me forget, but loving her is something I could never do

Because I had

Because I had you

The slow tempo, the piano melody, the gorgeous voice of Olivia O’Brien, and the words of Gnash that cut deep – perfectly paints a picture of one’s emotions post-breakup. You aren’t sure if you hate her or you love her, yet you feel like you can’t fully let go.

Feeling used, but I'm

Still missing you and I can't

See the end of this just wanna feel your kiss

Against my lips and now all this time

Is passing by, but I still can't seem to tell you why

It hurts me every time I see you

Realize how much I need you

Sam Smith has the inborn talent of playing with our heartstrings. The lyrics mixed with his amazing voice makes a breakup extra raw.

 

It’s you calling out to your ex that you still love. You just want her to stay, yet you know it isn’t right. 

Oh, won't you stay with me

'Cause you're all I need

This ain't love, it's clear to see

But, darling, stay with me

 

Why am I so emotional

This is not a good look, gain some self-control

And deep down I know this never works

But you can lay with me so it doesn't hurt

Not to add more antiseptic on the wound but there are times when you have to face the pain head-on.

 

One way to move on is to remember. Make your brain and soul remember all the good times. Force your psyche to compare, to question everything, to become bitter. It’s all part of the process so feel free to dwell.

 

This song, in particular, is perfect because you can wonder what happened. You used to be so close and now what? You end up wondering what she’s up to now, who she’s with, and if she still feels something, anything.

Leave it to Charlie Puth to put your thoughts in song form.

I just heard you found the one you've been looking

You've been looking for

I wish I would have known that wasn't me

'Cause even after all this time I still wonder

Why I can't move on

Just the way you did so easily

Don't wanna know

What kind of dress you're wearing tonight

If he's holding onto you so tight

The way I did before

I overdosed

Should've known your love was a game

Now I can't get you out of my brain

Oh, it's such a shame

You’d be surprised how popular this 15-year-old song is still today. Possibly because it’s all about regret.

 

If you may have done something to cause your partner to walk away, or you made a rash decision and is now realizing what a big mistake it was (and hate yourself for it), this one’s for you.

 

There are lines in the song that question your decisions. “Why did I lie? Why did I walk away to find?” Regret is a painful experience that teaches us to be grateful and treasure what we have.

I can't breathe easy

Can't sleep at night till you're by my side

No, I can't breathe easy

I can't dream yet another dream

Without you lying next to me, there's no air

 

Don't know why, don't know why

I left the one I was looking to find

Ooh why? Ohh why? Why?

 

Out of my mind

Nothing makes sense anymore

I want you back in my life

That's all I'm breathing for

Finally, the stage of moving on. You’ve passed feeling regret, yearning, anger, bitterness, and everything in between. Here’s Sam Smith’s masterpiece to help you along.

 

It’s time to protect yourself. It’s time to focus on you and to heal. This doesn’t make you selfish or heartless; it makes you strong and whole.

 

In Sam Smith’s words, “This song is about a relationship I was in and it’s basically about getting good at getting dumped. People are going to see, this one as I’ve said is about me and something that I’ve gone through.”

 

One way to move on is to become too good at goodbyes. You won’t allow someone to treat you like crap nor would you do the same to someone. The learning process strengthens you and teaches you to stop history from repeating itself.

I'm never gonna let you close to me

Even though you mean the most to me

'Cause every time I open up, it hurts

So I'm never gonna get too close to you

Even when I mean the most to you

In case you go and leave me in the dirt

 

But every time you hurt me, the less that I cry

And every time you leave me, the quicker these tears dry

And every time you walk out, the less I love you

Baby, we don't stand a chance, it's sad but it's true

For the girl that you thought was the one. For the one that blinded you. For the one you defended countless times from your friends and family. You’re finally seeing the truth, realizing the situation for what it truly is.

 

The song is also a guide for the future. If your mom doesn’t like her, if your friends warn you, or you have some red flags, then you can assess things as early as then.

 

In case you didn’t know, this song was co-written by Ed Sheeran which perhaps is the reason why it has a deeper meaning compared to Justin Beiber’s other work. It feels great to arrive at the stage of realization.

And I didn’t wanna write a song

Cause I didn’t want anyone thinking I still care

I don’t but, you still hit my phone up

And baby I be movin’ on

And I think you should be somethin’

I don’t wanna hold back, maybe you should know that

 

My mama don’t like you and she likes everyone

And I never like to admit that I was wrong

And I’ve been so caught up in my job, didn’t see what’s going on

But now I know, I’m better sleeping on my own

When you can serenely say that your ex was someone that you used to know, without any feelings rising to the top, then you are moving on.

 

This is for a relationship that mutually ended, with one who feels the pain and the other who denies it.

 

Gotye stated that the song was “definitely drawn from various experiences I’ve had in relationships breaking up, and in the parts of the more reflective parts of the song, in the aftermath and the memory of those different relationships and what they were and how they broke up and what’s going on in everyone’s minds. Yeah, so it’s an amalgam of different feelings but not completely made up as such”.

You can get addicted to a certain kind of sadness

Like resignation to the end, always the end

So when we found that we could not make sense

Well you said that we would still be friends

But I'll admit that I was glad it was over

 

Have your friends collect your records and then change your number

I guess that I don't need that though

Now you're just somebody that I used to know

Now you're just somebody that I used to know

Now you're just somebody that I used to know

Now that your playlist is all set up, hopefully, it helps in some musical therapy. It will take to heal, and there is no formula as to how long it will take or what you need to do to move on, but it will happen.

 

A post-breakup experience is a journey from still having feelings, becoming angry, reminiscing, and finally moving on. The beautiful thing is that you will arrive at your destination of freedom; you just have to let yourself feel your way there.