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 (211–220)

Six Degrees of SeparationThe Script

The Script – Six Degrees of Separation (Official Video)

Six Degrees of SeparationThe Script

There are lyrics that painfully capture the heartbreak, the hurt, and the feeling of not knowing what to do next.

The song portrays the raw, aching emotions right after a breakup, but from there it reflects on one’s own actions and shows a shift in feelings toward the other person, moving toward recovery.

I thought those lyrics were beautiful.

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Malibu NightsLANY

LANY – Malibu Nights (Official Video)

Malibu NightsLANY

LANY is an American rock band known for pop rock styles such as indie pop, synth-pop, and dream pop.

They’ve remained at the forefront from the mid-2010s to the present.

A breakup song by them that I highly recommend is Malibu Nights.

Centered on the unbearable pain that strikes after a breakup, the song impressively portrays the protagonist’s anguish as they try to numb that suffering.

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November RainGuns N’ Roses

Guns N’ Roses – November Rain

November RainGuns N' Roses

We should have taken the time to think about each other.

If we had, maybe I could’ve felt that you were mine and you could’ve felt that I was yours.

It’s like a heartbreak song, or rather, it doesn’t feel like they’ve fully broken up yet.

But it’s a track where the guy seems to have already made up his mind to end things.

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Who’s ThatHilary Duff

Hilary Duff – Who’s That Girl

Who’s ThatHilary Duff

Hilary Duff is active both as an actress and a singer.

“Who’s That Girl” is a ballad that gradually swells to something grand, echoing the shock of its striking theme: the idea that the couple’s secrets and the places filled with their memories have been shared with others.

I personally love how Hilary’s songs feel bright yet somehow fragile, though there are parts that are truly heartbreaking, aren’t there?

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SomedayMariah Carey

Mariah Carey – Someday (Official HD Video)

SomedayMariah Carey

I thought this song was very relatable because it portrays a girl who’s putting on a brave face despite the sadness of heartbreak, telling the person who dumped her, “You’ll regret turning me down.” I believe many girls feel this way, so it’s a song I want lots of girls to hear.

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