[No Going Back] A Love Song About Regret
You might have regrets too—like breaking up with someone you loved, or giving up before confessing your feelings.
People often say “There’s no use crying over spilt milk,” but once it’s over, you can’t help thinking, “I should have done this,” or “I wish I’d done that.” In this article, we’re introducing love songs about regret that we hope you’ll listen to.
We’ve gathered many tracks—from songs that express a heart weighed down by regret to ones that try to move forward despite the remorse—so give them a listen if you’d like.
- Masterpieces that sing of regret. Recommended popular songs.
- [Once More…] A lingering-attachment song: a song about a love you can’t forget
- [Old Love Songs] Love songs that recall a love that has ended
- [Lingering Feelings and Regrets] A Love Song for You Who Can’t Forget Your Ex-Boyfriend
- [Unrequited Love] Heart-wrenching Love Songs | A Roundup of Tear-Inducing Crush and Breakup Tracks
- Recommended songs to listen to when you feel regret: classic and popular Japanese tracks.
- [Tearjerker Guaranteed!] A Heartbreak Song Told from a Male Perspective
- A Tearful Farewell Song: A Love Song About Parting with Someone You Love
- [Songs of Infidelity] A collection of forbidden love songs about unattainable romance
- My heart aches with bittersweet pain! Breakup songs I’d recommend to Gen Z
- [Love Songs] A roundup of classic and latest hits about love that can’t be honest
- Just listening makes my chest tighten... Breakup songs recommended for the Yutori generation
- A song of forbidden love. A heartrending, sorrowful love song.
[No going back] A love song about regret (31–40)
single bedSha ran Q
This is a gem of a ballad that strikingly portrays the poignant feelings of a heartbroken man.
Sharam Q released the song in October 1994. It was used as the ending theme for the Nippon TV anime “D·N·A²: A Girl Who Arrived?” and went on to become a million-selling hit.
It is included on the album “Rettōkan” (Inferiority Complex) and was later featured as an insert song in the 2017 film “Memoirs of a Murderer.” Furniture steeped in memories of a former lover is depicted as a symbol that highlights the protagonist’s loneliness, powerfully expressing a shift in values toward love.
This moving masterpiece is perfect for a calm night drive or for quiet moments when you think of someone dear.
So she’s not your girlfriend, huh?Ueno Yūka
A poignant breakup ballad by Yuuka Ueno that portrays the final moments of a couple who have decided to part and arranged to meet one last time.
Crafted by Yohei Hashiguchi of wacci, this song is included on the mini-album “Konya Atashi ga Naite mo,” released in March 2020.
With great care, it traces the feelings of a woman who holds dear memories close to her heart as she tries to accept reality, conveying both the loneliness of no longer being able to be with the one she loved and her resolve to face forward even while lingering attachments remain.
Ueno’s gentle vocals and the warm melody quietly encourage those who, while confronting the pain of farewell, are ready to take a new step forward.
Liaratarayo
This song portrays the end of a romance and the emotional path that follows.
The lyrics, illuminated by Atarayo’s delicate sensibility, skillfully express the aching feeling of being unable to forget someone even after parting.
It also carefully depicts the complex shift in emotions as feelings for a loved one gradually turn into resentment, resonating deeply with listeners.
Included on the EP “Yoake Mae,” released in October 2021, the track is also known as an answer song to the band’s signature piece, “October, I’ll Forget Your Quiet Self.” Recommended for those carrying the pain of heartbreak or in the mood to reflect on a past love.
I’m sorryTakahashi Mariko
A song depicting a heartrending farewell and lingering regret, released in May 1996 by Mariko Takahashi as the theme for Tuesday Suspense Theater.
With a clear, translucent voice, it poignantly conveys the feelings of a woman who has hurt someone precious and committed an irreparable mistake.
The portrayal of regret over romantic missteps, the plea for forgiveness, and the earnest love for someone dear is deeply moving.
It is a piece that offers profound empathy to those struggling with relationships or who have experienced a painful parting.
A masterpiece that everyone who has known heartbreak or separation should hear.
Dawn in Summeratarayo
A poignant ballad that leaves a lingering resonance in the heart.
It evokes the end of a bygone summer, marked by a nostalgic and emotional atmosphere.
Looking back on a breakup with a former lover, it weaves regrets and lingering feelings for a past that can’t be revisited.
Included on the album “Morning Dew Melts into Sun-Dappled Light,” the track was released digitally in September 2024.
It’s a song that strongly reflects Atarayo’s stance of “growing by feeding on sorrow,” offering warmth that comforts those who’ve experienced heartbreak or are trying to move on from parting with someone dear.
[No going back] A love song about regret (41–50)
We’re already broken up, you and I.AYANE
It’s a bittersweet love song that brings back memories of past relationships.
Released in January 2025, it’s included on the EP album “my luv.” AYANE’s clear, airy vocals are striking, and before you know it, you find yourself overlaying your own life onto the world of the lyrics.
The smooth, mellow R&B sound really seeps in, too.
It’s perfect for listening alone on nights when you can’t help but think of an ex.
By the time it ends, you might be able to look forward a little.
Ctrl ZChroNoiR
The piece Ctrl Z by the popular VTuber unit ChroNoiR centers on the theme of longing for a lost love.
Released in November 2024, the track features a melodic soundscape highlighted by beautiful piano and string tones.
Kuzuha and Kanae’s vocals intertwine to captivate listeners.
The lyrics convey a powerful desire to “do it over,” resonating with those who carry regrets.
It’s also included on the mini-album Promise, released in December.