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Songs to Listen to When You're Going Through Divorce

Music touches us – and heals us – in a way nothing else can. Need a reminder that you got this? Need a good cry? As you ride the emotional roller coaster of divorce, music is here to soothe you, comfort you, and remind you that you’re not alone. So whether you’re feeling pissed off, devastated, reflective, or ready to conquer the world, there’s a song for you. 

Scroll down to see our full list of songs with best lyrics and a link to the video. Or just listen to all the songs on Spotify

 

Songs for when you’re feeling angry

"I believed in the promises you made to me. Swore that night 'till death do us part, but you lie-lie-lie-lie-lied." - The Chicks, "Gaslighter"

"Well good for you. You look happy and healthy. Not me – if you ever cared to ask. Good for you. You’re doing great out there without me, baby. God, I wish I could do that." – Olivia Rodrigo, "good 4 U"

"And I’m here to remind you of the mess you left when you went away. It’s not fair to deny me of the cross I bear that you gave to me. You, you, you oughta know." – Alanis Morisette, "You Oughta Know"

"Now and then I think of all the times you screwed me over, but had me believing it was always something that I'd done. And I don't wanna live that way – reading into every word you say… I guess that I don't need that though. Now you're just somebody that I used to know." – Gotye, "Somebody That I Used to Know"

"I dug my key into the side of his pretty little souped-up four-wheel drive. Carved my name into his leather seats. I took a Louisville slugger to both headlights. I slashed a hole in all four tires. Maybe next time he’ll think before he cheats." – Carrie Underwood, "Before He Cheats"

"And truth be told, I miss you. And truth be told, I’m lyin’. When you see my face, hope it gives you hell. Hope it gives you hell. When you walk my way, hope it gives you hell. Hope it gives you hell. If you find a man that’s worth a damn and treats you well, then he’s a fool. You’re just as well. Hope it gives you hell." – The All-American Rejects, "Gives You Hell"

"Yeah, I’m sorry I can’t afford a Ferrari, but that don’t mean I can’t get you there. I guess he’s an Xbox and I’m more Atari, but the way you play your game ain’t fair. I pity the fool who falls in love with you. – CeeLo Green, "F*** You"

"And I wonder (why?) how I bought all the lies. You said that you would treat me right but you was just a waste of time. Get out!"  – JoJo, "Leave (Get Out)"

"You had me several years ago when I was still quite naive. Well you said that we made such a pretty pair and that you would never leave. But you gave away the things you loved and one of them was me." – Carly Simon, "You’re So Vain"

Songs for when you’re feeling sad

"I’m in the corner watching you kiss her. I’m right over here. Why can’t you see me? And I’m giving it my all. I’m not the guy you’re taking home. I keep dancing on my own." – Calum Scott, "Dancing on My Own"

"I can't make you love me if you don't. You can't make your heart feel something it won't." – Bonnie Raitt, "I Can’t Make You Love Me"

"Nobody said it was easy. It’s such a shame for us to part. Nobody said it was easy. No one ever said it would be so hard. Oh, take me back to the start." – Coldplay, "The Scientist"

"I was alright for a while. I could smile for a while. But I saw you last night. You held my hand so tight as you stopped to say, 'Hello.’ Oh, you wished me well. You couldn’t tell that I’d been crying over you." – Roy Orbison, "Crying

"Same bed but it feels just a little bit bigger now. Our song on the radio, but it don’t sound the same. When our friends talk about you, all it does is just tear me down. 'Cause my heart breaks a little when I hear your name." – Bruno Mars, "When I Was Your Man"

"Memories may be beautiful, and yet, what’s too painful to remember, we simply choose to forget. So it’s the laughter we will remember whenever we remember the way we were." – Barbra Streisand, "The Way We Were"

"Sometimes it lasts in love, but sometimes it hurts instead" – Adele, "Someone Like You"

"It's been so lonely without you here – like a bird without a song. Nothing can stop these lonely tears from falling. Tell me baby, where did I go wrong?" – Sinéad O'Connor, "Nothing Compares 2 U"

"Now the day bleeds into nightfall, and you're not here to get me through it all. I let my guard down and then you pulled the rug. I was getting kinda used to being someone you loved." – Lewis Capaldi, "Someone You Loved"

"Although we've come to the end of the road, still I can't let go. It's unnatural." – Boyz II Men, "End Of The Road"

"Now there's no welcome look in your eyes when I reach for you. And now you're starting to criticize little things I do. It makes me just feel like crying 'cause baby, something beautiful's dyin'. You lost that lovin' feelin'." – The Righteous Brothers, "You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’"

Songs for when you’re feeling reflective

"Can't you see that you're smothering me, holding too tightly, afraid to lose control? 'Cause everything that you thought I would be has fallen apart right in front of you. Every step that I take is another mistake to you. And every second I waste is more than I can take. I've become so numb, I can't feel you there. Become so tired, so much more aware. I'm becoming this: All I want to do is be more like me and be less like you." – Linkin Park, "Numb"

"Would you kill me if I told you that I never wanna speak to you? 'Cause when I’m on my own, I feel alive. And there’s nothing wrong with crying, but my empathy is dying, 'cause we never were that good. We’d always fight." – Hey Violet, "Better By Myself"

"There’s been some things that I wanted to say a long time. Never have I spent a day without you on my mind. And I’ve tried a lotta songs, and I need to try one that’s new. But I don’t have any more love songs to try on you." – Hank Williams, "I Don’t Have Any More Love Songs"

"It used to be so easy, livin' here with you. You were light and breezy, and I knew just what to do. Now you look so unhappy and I feel like a fool. And it's too late, baby, now it's too late, though we really did try to make it (we can't make it). Somethin' inside has died and I can't hide and I just can't fake it." – Carole King, "It’s Too Late"

"Oh, you made me want you. You made me need you. You made me tumble and fall. But if I can’t have you the way that I want  you, I don’t want  you at all." – Sam Cooke, "That’s It, I Quit – I’m Moving On"

"I aint sayin’ you treated me unkind. You could have done better, but I don’t mind. You just kinda wasted my precious time. But don’t think twice, it’s all right." – Bob Dylan, "Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right"

"What is love? Can the child within my heart rise above? Can I sail through the changin' ocean tides? Can I handle the seasons of my life? Well, I've been afraid of changin' 'cause I've built my life around you. But time makes you bolder, even children get older and I'm getting older too." – Fleetwood Mac, "Landslide"

"I hope you know this has nothing to do with you. It’s personal. Myself and I, we’ve got some straightenin’ out to do." – Fergie, "Big Girls Don’t Cry"

"You see the thing 'bout love is that it's not enough if the only thing it brings you is pain. There comes a time when we could all make a change, darling. Just let go. Let it flow, let it flow, let it flow. Everything's gonna work out right, you know?" – Toni Braxton, "Let It Flow"

Songs to help you feel empowered/ready to move on

"You just slip out the back, Jack. Make a new plan, Stan. You don’t need to be coy, Roy. Just get yourself free. Hop on the bus, Gus. You don’t need to discuss much. Just drop off the key, Lee, and get yourself free." – Paul Simon, "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover

"If he don't love you anymore just walk your fine ass out the door." – Lizzo, "Good As Hell"

"I retired my red lipstick 'cause you said you didn't like it. I didn't wear my high heel shoes 'cause I couldn't be taller than you... It's what you wanted. I thought I'd miss you (when it ended). I thought it hurt me (but it didn't)...I thought I'd miss you, but I miss me more." – Kelsea Ballerini, "Miss Me More"

"One taught me love. One taught me patience. And one taught me pain. Now, I’m so amazing." – Ariana Grande, "thank u, next"

"You could pack all of your things. We’re finished. 'Cause you made your bed. Now lay in it. I can have another you by tomorrow. Don’t you ever for a second get to thinking you’re irreplaceable." – Beyoncé, "Irreplaceable"

"Mama said don’t give up. It’s a little complicated. All tied up, no more love, and I’d hate to see you waiting. Had to have high, high hopes for a living. Shooting for the stars when I couldn’t make a killing. Didn’t have a dime, but I always had a vision. Always had high, high hopes." – Panic! At The Disco, "High Hopes

"Time to move on with my life now, leaving the past all behind. I can make my own decisions. It was only a matter of time. Sometimes I look back in anger, thinking about all the pain. But I know that I'm stronger without you and that I'll never need you again. When the heartache is over I know I won't be missing you." – Tina Turner, "When the Heartache is Over"

"You know the bed feels warmer sleeping here alone. You know I dream in color and do the things I want. You think you got the best of me, think you had the last laugh. Bet you think that everything good is gone. Think you left me broken down. Think that I'd come running back. Baby you don't know me, 'cause you're dead wrong. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger." – Kelly Clarkson, "Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)"

"Who's sorry now? Whose heart is achin' for breakin' each vow? Who's sad and blue? Who's cryin' too? Just like I cried over you." – Connie Francis, "Who’s Sorry Now?"

"I’m still standing better than I ever did. Looking like a true survivor. Feeling like a little kid. I’m still standing after all this time. Picking up the pieces of my life without you on my mind. I’m still standing." – Elton John, "I’m Still Standing

"Go on now, go, walk out the door. Just turn around now, 'cause you're not welcome anymore. Weren't you the one who tried to hurt me with goodbye? You think I'd crumble? You think I'd lay down and die? Oh no, not I, I will survive." – Gloria Gaynor, "I Will Survive"

The avalanche of emotions you feel during a break-up is anything but predictable. One day you’re struggling to crawl out of bed; the next, you’re sitting on top of the world. Keep this list handy because not only are these songs awesome jams, they serve as an important reminder: Someone else has felt the way you do now. They felt it so strongly, in fact, that they wrote it down and turned it into a hit song for millions of others to relate to and enjoy. You've got this.

Did we miss your favorite song? Let us know what to add!

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Senior Editor
Communication, Relationships, Divorce Insights
Melissa Schmitz is Senior Editor at Hello Divorce, and her greatest delight is to help make others’ lives easier – especially when they’re in the middle of a stressful life transition like divorce. After 15 years as a full-time school music teacher, she traded in her piano for a laptop and has been happily writing and editing content for the last decade. She earned her Bachelor of Psychology degree from Alma College and her teaching certificate from Michigan State University. She still plays and sings for fun at farmer’s markets, retirement homes, and the occasional bar with her local Michigan band.