A wonderful heartbreak song

[2026] Western breakup songs: tear-jerking tracks to listen to when love ends

Active club DJkento
Active club DJ. With over five years on the front lines of the club scene, they freely cross over from dance music to US hip-hop and Japanese rap. Blending in their own edits with assured mixing, they craft a unique groove that captivates the floor.
music writerKOH-1
Started working as a music writer as a side job while employed at a record shop, and for over 18 years I’ve contributed to music magazines, disc guide books, mooks, and web media. As a writer my main field is Western music, but as a listener for over 35 years, I always try to keep my curiosity alive with the motto “I like what I like.” I have experience playing in bands, where I was a bassist who handled songwriting and composition. Instruments I’ve played include bass, guitar, and piano. I began studying English in my mid-40s and continue to do so today.

The more precious the relationship, the more painful the sorrow when it comes to an end.

Of course, some people choose to part ways on a positive note, and everyone’s feelings after a breakup are different.

In this article, we introduce classic Western songs that can help you face forward and take a new step after heartbreak, as well as sad songs that will sink right down with you.

From the latest hits and popular tracks to timeless breakup anthems, we offer a wide-ranging selection that crosses eras and genres.

If you’ve found this article right in the midst of heartbreak, you’re sure to discover the songs you need.

[2026] Western breakup songs: Tearjerkers to listen to when love ends (201–210)

CreepRadiohead

Radiohead – Creep

CreepRadiohead

As one of Radiohead’s signature songs, Creep remains enduringly popular.

Even people who aren’t into rock have probably heard it.

Among the breakup songs we’re featuring here in Western music, this one has a distinctly unusual vibe.

That’s because it’s a breakup song told from the perspective of a weirdo guy (lol).

The lyrics really lean into how unlikeable he is: when he tries to approach the person he likes, he just scares them off.

It’s a pure love song in a sense, but phrases like “creepy” and “weirdo” in the lyrics give it a uniquely painful quality that sets it apart from other breakup songs.

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Wish I Could ForgetSLANDER & blackbear & Bring Me The Horizon

SLANDER & blackbear & Bring Me The Horizon – Wish I Could Forget (Official Music Video)

Wish I Could ForgetSLANDER & blackbear & Bring Me The Horizon

The work “Wish I Could Forget,” a collaboration between the popular rock band Bring Me The Horizon and music producers Sarander and blackbear, blends alternative rock with electronic elements and depicts lingering feelings for a lover one broke up with out of selfishness.

While the melody is sharp and punchy, it still conveys a genuine sense of heartbreak—arguably the standout appeal of the track.

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Fix YouSam Smith

Sam Smith – Fix You (Live)

Fix YouSam Smith

Coldplay, the rock band that Britain proudly presents to the world, released Fix You in 2005.

Its delicate melody and prayer-like lyrics are exquisitely beautiful, and it’s also famous for being performed live by frontman Chris Martin as a keyboard-and-vocal solo.

In 2020, fifteen years after its release, fellow British singer-songwriter Sam Smith—one of the defining artists of the 2010s and beyond—covered the song and released a studio live video.

Smith’s version carries an even more hymn-like atmosphere, making the positive lyrics—promising that salvation will surely come, even as one struggles with the despair of losing someone precious—pierce the heart all the more.

It’s a superb cover that fans of the original should especially lend an ear to!

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Now You’re Not HereSwing Out Sister

Swing Out Sister – Now youre not here No Scrub LIVE

Now You're Not HereSwing Out Sister

I think everyone has felt, after breaking up with someone they deeply love, that they want to quickly forget their feelings for that person.

I really like lyrics that seem to speak on behalf of people with those feelings.

I think it’s a song that many girls can relate to.

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LovefoolThe Cardigans

The Cardigans – Lovefool (Official Music Video)

LovefoolThe Cardigans

A famous song by The Cardigans that sparked the Swedish pop boom.

From the vibe you might think it’s a happy tune, but be careful—the lyrics are about an impending breakup.

The woman’s obsessive feelings in the lyrics are a bit scary, aren’t they? (lol)

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