Love can be heartbreaking when it’s over, so here are a few songs for sad love to help soothe your sorrow.
Piano ballad about heartbreak and regrets with an soothing melody; ideal for when one feels downcast.
1. “Pale Blue Eyes” by Bob Dylan
“Pale Blue Eyes,” a rock song that captures feelings of longing, sorrow, and regret, explores human emotion with great depth. It depicts forbidden love while showing how such emotions can leave lasting marks on an individual.
Lou Reed and John Cale first recorded this song as a demo before it later made an appearance on 1969’s The Velvet Underground album. While this version features different melody, its lyrics remain just as powerful: they reflect upon a love that once meant so much but slowly drifted away, leaving behind an emotional wound in his heart.
The song’s second verse is particularly moving as the artist compares his former lover to an alpine mountaintop or picturesque vista, suggesting they have spiritual importance beyond mere companionship. At its conclusion, however, their love was ultimately not meant to last but that their connection transcended all traditional boundaries of relationships.
This song has been featured in multiple films and TV shows, such as 1999 film The Diving Bell and the Butterfly and 2009 Cold Case episode entitled “The Brush Man”. R.E.M, Counting Crows and Hole were popular choices to cover it, making its melancholic message relatable for anyone experiencing love loss.
2. “Silver Lining” by Bob Dylan
“Silver Lining,” perhaps Dylan’s most polarizing song ever written, can be read as being about everything from failed love affairs to religious conversion. The lyrics’ stream-of-consciousness style creates an almost dream-like quality and jump between times and perspectives for an immersive listening experience that has fascinated listeners for decades. Dylan’s evocative writing style and haunting vocals create a mood that continues to enthrall listeners today.
This song can also be seen as a criticism of the military-industrial complex, wherein Dylan laments how those in power do not take responsibility for their actions, resulting in war and oppression. This theme runs throughout Dylan’s work, making his music so influential and influential.
Dylan’s lyrics may be difficult for new listeners to understand at first listen, yet they remain deeply meaningful and thought-provoking. Dylan doesn’t shy away from controversy; in fact, he welcomes it, often filling his lyrics with biblical and Blakean imagery and exploring darker subjects such as death and morality in his songs.
Dylan has long been revered as an iconic figure of American culture, his music drawing influence from blues, folk, country music, rock ‘n’ roll and jazz genres. His unique musical style has become an icon of American culture and he is widely considered to be one of the most influential songwriters of his generation. His songs have touched millions of fans around the globe while continuing to serve as sources of inspiration today for musicians all around the globe. Dylan has released over thirty-nine studio albums over his long career as well as being awarded several awards including receiving accolades such as winning Nobel Prize for Literature which can sometimes become overblown but Dylan would rather it that way!
3. “Always” by R.E.M.
Michael Stipe delivers this heartbreak-inducing song with such raw emotion that it hits like a punch to the gut from its opening notes. Listening to its recording almost feels as mournful as reading its lyrics about a failed relationship; his rough and weary vocals express such strong emotion that anyone who has experienced heartache in love can identify with these lyrics.
This song made its first debut on Get A Life and also used in 2008 romantic dramedy Definitely, Maybe as one of its signature tracks. One of R.E.M’s most celebrated tracks and an excellent example of their music being taken and used in different contexts, “Hold On To Something Good” can be understood many ways by audiences and listeners alike.
Although this song may be about broken relationships, it’s not really a traditional love ballad in that sense of the term. Instead, it speaks about broken dreams and realizing they will never come true; stuckness; feeling helpless trying to find an escape; lyrics which remain somewhat abstract so listeners must figure out their meaning for themselves.
Peter Buck’s jangly guitar playing and Michael Stipe’s passionate singing have cemented the band as one of the most influential rock groups ever. Renowned for their innovative sound and musical styles – often described as precursors of alternative rock – their albums Out of Time and Automatic for the People were at the forefront of alternative music’s mainstream acceptance while Green Monster proved critical and commercial successes; since then they have released several live and archival releases.
4. “I Will Always Love You” by Adele
“I Will Always Love You” is an iconic classic that never ceases to move its listeners emotionally. Its lyrics capture raw and vulnerable feelings associated with loss while its beautiful melody and soul-stirring vocals create an experience you won’t soon forget. Since its creation, “I Will Always Love You” has become an anthem for eternal devotion that resonates with people from various walks of life.
Whitney Houston originally recorded and released the song as a single in 1992; it quickly became an overwhelming success and remains one of the best-selling singles by female artists in music history. Additionally, its appearance in The Bodyguard further contributed to its widespread acclaim and subsequent covers by many artists (Dolly Parton and Lana Del Rey being among many), starting off with Dolly Parton’s rendition that features more country style with just one voice and banjo accompaniment; since then it has become an old folk standard and frequently played at weddings or funerals alike.
Lana Del Rey’s rendition of this song is another wonderful interpretation that captures its raw emotions and universal themes. Her luxurious voice adds depth and emotion to each lyric while she also captures feelings of loneliness and loss beautifully. Additionally, her instrumentation choices lend the song an air of nostalgia yet euphoria.
Adele’s rendition of this pop song stands out from its peers by taking a more profound approach, singing about loss of a loved one and the struggle to cope. Adele’s powerful vocal performance conveys her emotional turmoil while lyrics convey how hard she works to overcome pain; thus serving as an excellent metaphor for Plato’s Allegory of the Cave where protagonists seek light within darkness to find truth.
5. “Sad Love” by Claudym
Sad song about falling in love and seeing someone you cared about leave for another. It can be heartbreaking when they treat another well and your love wasn’t enough; all one can hope is that someday they may return and treat you better.
Damon Albarn offers up a haunting, emotional lament in this tearjerker from Blur. The lyrics depict the aftermath of a broken relationship by depicting postcards left behind and memories that won’t fade away; additionally, the narrator confesses they still love their ex-lover even though their relationship has ended.
This acoustic country breakup song captures all the frustration and sorrow of an unfulfilling romance. The narrator expresses their pain at realizing their former partner has moved on while they are left feeling abandoned; recalling fondly upon what good times they shared together while holding onto hope that perhaps one day, things might change again.
Sinead O’Connor made this song famous when she sang the original version penned by Prince; O’Connor’s stunning rendition is powerful yet heartbreaking, serving as an illustration of how music can convey our most personal feelings.
Heartbreak can be found in every song by every artist, with some managing to capture its true emotional essence through sound and lyrics. These 20 sad love songs demonstrate the power of music as an emotive medium that can produce timeless tales of love, loss and grief – so grab a box of tissues and enjoy these tearjerking classics!