Your taste in music might contain multitudes, but there's one thing that can be found in any genre: sad love songs. As long as musicians—and the fans who listen to them—have broken hearts, we'll have endless options for our postbreakup soundtracks. In fact, when we asked the Glamour staff to share their favorite sad love songs we received a full list that included everything from crooners like Frank Sinatra to mid-aughts indie rockers Death Cab for Cutie to pop superstars like Taylor Swift and Beyoncé. But even though their picks cross decades and genres, they're all perfect for those times when you just want to be in your feelings.
Whether you're fresh off a split yourself or simply in need of a cathartic cry, see our list of the 51 best sad love songs, below.
1. “Beloved Wife” by Natalie Merchant (1995)
I've never bothered to google whether this song is actually about the loss of a wife—I'm too busy bawling. Her strained voice! The gorgeous piano and melody! The lyrics! If it weren't so crushing, I'd have it on repeat every day. —Perrie Samotin, digital director
2. “Sandcastles” by Beyoncé (2016)
"Sandcastles" is a soft, quiet ballad—which is relatively rare for Beyoncé, the queen of empowerment anthems. While the more high-energy songs from her Lemonade album get the most attention (see: "Formation," "Hold Up," etc.), I find this song to be deeply moving. In large part because we know she's singing about her relationship struggles with Jay Z. —Anna Moeslein, senior entertainment editor
3. “Linger” by The Cranberries (1993)
"Linger" is very melancholy and slightly pathetic, which is how I always feel during a breakup. —Madeline Hirsch, senior social media manager
4. “No More ‘I Love You’s’” by Annie Lennox (1995)
I remember hearing the opening and being completely transfixed by this song off Lennox’s Medusa album. It was unlike anything I'd ever heard, and it set the mood for a really moving, emotional song. I still don’t know what half the lyrics mean, but it’s the perfect song to listen to when I’m feeling down but don’t want to have a full-on cry. —Jessica Radloff, West Coast editor
5. “Both Sides Now” by Joni Mitchell (1966)
This song. Oof. Particularly the Love Actually version. —Brionna Jimerson, social media manager
6. “Somebody That I Used to Know” by Gotye (2011)
My last breakup was in 2011 and coincided with Gotye's “Somebody That I Used to Know.” I can't hear it now without thinking about how much I listened to it on repeat. —Lindsay Schallon, senior beauty editor
7. “Space Cowboy” by Kacey Musgraves (2018)
This song captures the stinging bittersweetness of a fizzled relationship there's no point in trying to save. —Erin Parker, commerce writer
8. “Baby Don’t You Break My Heart Slow” by Vonda Shepard (1989)
This song was apparently released in 1989, but I didn’t discover it until I was bingeing easy-listening radio (here’s looking at you, Delilah) after an early-aughts breakup. That heartbreak was perfectly timed to the acquisition of my first iPod, which allowed me to play this song on a never-ending loop for a solid two weeks straight. I eventually climbed out of that dark pit of sadness, but 20 years later, listening to the lyrics still gives me a knot in my stomach. —Kim Fusaro, director of brand marketing
9. “Visions of Gideon” by Sufjan Stevens (2017)
This song sounds like lying-facedown-in-a-dirty-Ikea-throw-rug feels. —Jenny Singer, staff writer
10. “The Dance” by Garth Brooks (1989)
"Our lives are better left to chance / I could have missed the pain / But I'd have had to miss the dance." Enough said. —P.S.
11. “Last Kiss” by Taylor Swift (2010)
This song is so Taylor Swift, but that's what makes it a great breakup song—especially for those times when you want to feel super melodramatic about things—as I did my first semester of college. —Melissa Haney, senior analytics manager
12. “They Can’t Take That Away From Me” by Frank Sinatra (1962)
When you're choking on your snot and tears, this song will make your sadness feel classier. —J.S.
13. “Winter” by Tori Amos (1992)
Tori is the queen of the blues, but not the whiny blues—she owns her feelings, and I've always found this song to be a heartbreaking look back at a happier time. Though it's technically about her relationship with her father, I think it applies to any type of love. Also, her piano skills are on full display here. —P.S.
14. “Silver Lining” by Rilo Kiley (2007)
Have I, postbreakup, flung myself onto my bed and forever ruined my favorite pillowcase from all the mascara tears while this song played in the background? Yes, absolutely. I highly recommend it. —A.M.
15. “I Can’t Make You Love Me” by Bonnie Raitt (1991)
My high school self latched onto this song in 1991, when it first came out and I had so many unrequited crushes. But it’s a classic that holds true to this day—and Bonnie Raitt’s voice captures that specific pain that comes with loving someone who’s just not that into you. —Abby Gardner, contributing writer
16. “Run to You” by Lea Michele (2017)
I first heard this song during Duets Week on a recent American Idol—no judgment—and I reacted instantly by listening to Lea's solo version on Spotify all night. It's a sweeping ballad, and no matter what you think about Lea, her voice is flawless on this devastating track. —P.S.
17. “Stay” by Rihanna (2012)
It is a truth universally acknowledged by me that Rihanna belongs on every "best song" list, no matter what the subject is. And for this best sad love songs roundup, I nominate “Stay.” It has everything you need in a weepy ballad: a powerful piano, emo lyrics about wanting a lover who may not stick around, and a music video that features the singer looking dejected in a bathtub. I love it. —A.M.
18. “Your Song” by Elton John (1970)
Good love songs have been written through the ages, but the best love songs were written in the 1970s. I don't make the rules; these are the facts. It's tough to choose one favorite, but if I want to feel the full spectrum of human emotion and I have only four minutes, you can be sure that Elton John's "Your Song" is queued up on Spotify. His gift is his song, and this one's for us. —Mattie Kahn, culture director
19. “I Don’t Fuck With You” by Big Sean (2014)
"This isn’t a sad song, exactly, but it’s an important breakup song. And it has a sad beginning and end!" —Khaliha Hawkins, producer
20. “Pale Blue Eyes” by The Velvet Underground (1969)
When I broke up with my high school boyfriend (yes, he had blue eyes), I played this on repeat, and to this day it still makes me cry. I love elaborate production, but there's just something so melancholy in how simple this song is. The way it's structured makes you feel like you're pacing the floor, waiting for your love to come back, and Lou Reed's voice is so wistful. I'll queue it up whenever I want to feel like a moody teen just discovering "real" music and eyeliner. —Bella Cacciatore, editorial assistant
21. “Ain't No Sunshine” by Bill Withers (1971)
In high school my "cool" English teacher gave my class an out-of-the-box assignment: Find a song about "the one that got away." I was deep in my indie phase and determined to find a song nobody else in the class would pick, so I dug through some of my dad's old records. I came across this Bill Withers classic and connected immediately—and it's gotten me through every breakup since. —A.M.
22. “Frozen” by Madonna (1998)
This haunting, hypnotic tune lives up to its title: Over a genuinely icy electronic beat, Madonna muses about a lover who could be perfect if he’d just let her in. "If I could melt your heart," she sings, "we’d never be apart." It’s techno melancholia at its finest—and one of Madonna’s best songs ever. (Also, perhaps her saddest.) —Christopher Rosa, staff entertainment writer
23. “Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright” by Bob Dylan (1963)
This is one of my favorites—it reminds you of a breakup where you stop and wonder, Wait, why TF is he so calm about all this?! —EP
24. “Skinny Love” by Bon Iver (2007)
Haunting and sad at the same time. Someone once told me the term "skinny love" means when two people are deeply connected but the love just isn't there. Whether that's true or not, it's the perfect emo song when you still want to listen to great indie rock. —P.S.
25. “Without You” by Lana Del Rey (2012)
Honestly, any Lana song fits the bill for a sad love song. Even though this one is actually tame for her, it makes me cry every time (particularly this live version). Sure, the idea of being nothing without your romantic partner is not a particularly feminist sentiment, but that's what I like about it. It's so earnest in its neediness and longing. It's Lana at her best with the lush instrumental in the background, nonsensical references to vanilla and gold, and Americana imagery. —B.C.
26. “I Don’t Want to Live Without Your Love” by Chicago (1998)
I blame my dad for my Chicago obsession, with its sweeping ballads and powerful love songs. (So much so that I went to see former lead singer Peter Cetera in concert by myself last year.) This one is the perfect anthem to not wanting to let go of something so special, yet knowing there’s a lot of work still to be done. —J.R.
27. “I Used to Love Him” by Lauryn Hill (1998)
The entire Miseducation of Lauryn Hill album is perfect after a breakup, but "I Used to Love Him" is especially great. —Shanna Shipin, commerce editor
28. “Call Your Girlfriend” by Robyn (2010)
This might be stating the obvious, but "Call Your Girlfriend" really hits postbreakup. —M.H.
29. “Back to December” by Taylor Swift (2010)
"Back to December" is the reigning anthem for the one that got away (i.e., Taylor Lautner—where's he been?! :eyes:) —E.P.
30. “I’ll Never Love Again” by Lady Gaga (2018)
I’m saying it: If watching Gaga sing this ballad at the end of A Star Is Born didn’t make you sob, you have no soul. If you’re unfamiliar with ASIB, it centers on an aging rocker, Jackson Maine (Bradley Cooper), who discovers a young female artist, Ally (Gaga), and her fame soon eclipses his. A series of events leads Jackson to—spoiler warning—die by suicide, and Ally performs this emotional song during a tribute for him. "Don't wanna give my heart away to another stranger. Don't let another day begin. Won't let the sunlight in. Oh, I'll never love again," Ally sings. It’s a gut-wrenching scene, and Gaga’s impassioned vocals will make you feel all the feelings. —C.R.
31. “Heartbeats” by José González (2003)
I say this with absolute love: José González's cover of the Knife's "Heartbeats" is the kind of thing you might hear in the background of a climactic Grey's Anatomy scene. —A.M.
32. “Two Birds” by Regina Spektor (2009)
This sounds like an upbeat folk song about birds. In fact, it is about how tragic it is when good relationships have to end. Sad bird content is an important part of adult breakups. — J.S.
33. “Existentialism on Prom Night” by Straylight Run (2004)
This always makes me sob as soon as that piano melody starts. —B.J.
34. “The One That Got Away” by Katy Perry (2010)
Don’t let this song’s slick, candy-pop beat fool you: “The One That Got Away” is an emotional juggernaut. It’s about—you guessed it—a lover Perry thinks she could’ve been with had her life gone a different way. Going down that road, in your mind, always produces some tears, am I right? “In another life, I would make you stay,” she sings. “So I don't have to say you were the one that got away.” Hey, at least this sad love song is catchy as hell. —C.R.
35. “You Could Be Happy” by Snow Patrol (2006)
The lyrics of this song so completely capture the feelings around a breakup—the things you wish you hadn’t said, the knowledge that you won’t really know how the other person feels anymore, and just the overwhelming sense of regret. “You could be happy; I hope you are / You made me happier than I'd been by far / Somehow everything I own smells of you / And for the tiniest moment it's all not true.” It slays me every time. —A.G.
36. “Separate Lives” by Phil Collins (1985)
"If this list is any indication, I was born in the wrong decade. I was too young in the ’80s to see any of my favorites in concert, but became obsessed with them in the late ’90s and later. The latest example: "Separate Lives," which I listened to over and over every night in college after a guy I liked told me he liked someone else. Oy. —J.R.
37. “Hide and Seek” by Imogen Heap (2005)
Just because this song was prominently featured during a critical, if slightly ridiculous and melodramatic, scene of The O.C. does not make the emotional impact any less. R.I.P., Trey. —A.M.
38. “Hearts and Bones” by Paul Simon (1983)
This is such a plaintive, nonbitter breakup song—every line is good. Paul Simon wrote it about his marriage and divorce from Carrie Fisher. —J.S.
39. “St. Patrick’s Day” by John Mayer (2001)
Lukewarm take but this John Mayer song is pretty heartbreaking, especially if you thought your relationship would last through the holidays. —B.J.
40. “Someone Like You” by Adele (2011)
Adele wrote the book on sad, chart-topping love songs, and 2011’s “Someone Like You” may be her magnum opus. It’s the maturity of this track that makes it so poignant. Adele isn’t wallowing in hate or heartbreak here, but rather wishes an ex-lover well after they’ve parted ways. Anyone who’s been in a relationship knows the emotional journey to get to that point isn’t easy. —C.R.
41. “Purple Rain” by Prince (1984)
I get teary-eyed just thinking about Prince's way-too-soon death, so listening to this heartbreaking love song completely sends me over the edge. —A.M.
42. “Somebody Else” by The 1975 (2016)
I listen to this when I want to feel moody...but still hop and cool. It's a good millennial breakup song. —M.H.
43. “Never Let Me Go” by Florence and the Machine (2011)
I've definitely cried to this song behind a pair of big black sunglasses. It was a moment, and I never want to repeat it again. —K.H.
44. “Here You Come Again” by Dolly Parton (1977)
Anyone who's ever loved somebody who just isn't worth it will be in their feels the minute they listen to this Dolly Parton classic. —A.M.
45. “Let Her Go” by Passenger (2012)
I was very, very not single when I would listen to this song and cry. (Pretty sure my husband thinks I'm not of sound mind as a result.) —Natasha Pearlman, executive editor
46. “I Get Along Without You Very Well” by Chet Baker (1956)
"This is a good song if you are trying to DJ your own feeling that you would like to climb into an open grave." —J.S.
47. “Unusual You” by Britney Spears (2008)
This deep cut off Britney Spears’s Circus album literally sounds heartbreaking: dark, gloomy, and dripping in vocal effects that make Britney seem a million miles away. That’s the point. She’s supposed to sound sad and afraid here—particularly of a new lover who seems too good to be true. While this new person may be perfect, the fact Spears’s relationship history made her skeptical in the first place is, in itself, devastating. —C.R.
48. “Losing You” by Solange (2010)
Don't let the uptempo beat fool you—“Losing You” is about a woman coming to terms with a relationship's end. “Tell me the truth boy, am I losing you for good?” Solange sings. “We used to kiss all night, but now there's just no use.” Definitely can relate. —A.M.
49. “Strong Enough” by Sheryl Crow (1993)
If you’re not feeling totally despondent yet, the lyrics to this song are the perfect gut punch to send you crawling back under the covers. It boils down to: I’m unlovable (“I have a face I cannot show” / “Try and love me if you can”), so I deserve to suffer alone (“Let me be alone tonight”), but I’ll accept whatever garbage love remnant you’ll give me, rather than deal with my shit. (“Lie to me. I promise I’ll believe. Lie to me. But please don’t leave.”) Are you trying to wound me with your dark and twisty lyrics, Sheryl Crow? We both deserve better! —K.F.
50. “Alone” by Heart (1987)
The 187 million people who have viewed the music video to Heart’s “Alone” can’t be wrong; the song is as iconic as they come, and Nancy and Ann Wilson are two of the greatest voices ever. This song about being so independent and then finally finding someone worth letting into your life gets me every time. —J.R.
51. “A Lack of Color” by Death Cab for Cutie (2003)
I always think about The O.C.'s Seth Cohen anytime I hear this acoustic Death Cab for Cutie song—it's as if he's a long-ago boyfriend I'm still not fully over. And yes, I'm aware this is my second reference to The O.C. soundtrack on this list. Clearly the show is a go-to for emo feelings. —A.M.
