[2026] Take the next step. Breakup songs sung by male Western artists

How Do I Say GoodbyeDean Lewis

Dean Lewis – How Do I Say Goodbye (Official Video)

This is a tear-jerking ballad about parting with a loved one, sung by Australian singer-songwriter Dean Lewis.

The song was born from his experience in 2019 when his father was diagnosed with a serious illness, and it conveys, with aching clarity, the fear of losing someone irreplaceable and the depth of love.

Heartbreak, too, brings the same pain in that it means losing someone you love.

When you’re tormented by an overwhelming sense of loss, this quiet melody may offer comfort.

Featured on the September 2022 album “The Hardest Love,” the track has been certified 4× Platinum in Australia.

For those whose gratitude runs so deep that they can’t bring themselves to say goodbye, this song may gently embrace your heart.

Don’t Forget MeDermot Kennedy

Dermot Kennedy – Don’t Forget Me (Audio)

This is a track from the album “Sonder,” sung by Irish singer-songwriter Dermot Kennedy, who was also nominated for the BRIT Awards in 2020.

In this song, his wistful vocals portray the fear of fading from an ex-lover’s memory and the heartfelt plea, “Please don’t forget me.” The desire for one’s presence to remain in the other person’s heart even after parting is a feeling anyone who’s experienced heartbreak can relate to.

Rather than forcing yourself to forget, immersing yourself in honest emotions like those in this song may actually help you sort out your feelings and take the next step forward.

The Yellow MileMarika Hackman

Marika Hackman – The Yellow Mile (Official Music Video)

It’s a farewell song sung by English singer-songwriter Marika Hackman, serene yet suffused with a strong sense of resolve.

Crafted with just an acoustic guitar and her voice, the piece portrays someone confronting the past—as if laying their former self to rest—while memories of a finished love gnaw away at them.

Even when you know the relationship was painful, it isn’t easy to let go; many of us may have felt that same frustrating pull.

This track appears on the album “Big Sigh,” released in January 2024.

For anyone wishing to quietly face forward and bring a difficult romance to a close, this song may offer gentle companionship.

WESTSIDEkeshi

keshi – WESTSIDE (Visualizer)

This song is performed by Keshi, a singer-songwriter from the United States with the unique background of being a former nurse.

It sounds like it portrays the resolve of choosing to part ways with someone important and setting out alone toward a new future.

The gentle guitar and beautiful falsetto seem to softly accompany the complex feelings of moving forward while carrying loneliness.

The debut album GABRIEL, which includes this track, was released in March 2022 and reached No.

16 on the U.S.

charts.

Rather than forcing yourself to forget the past, you want to quietly take the next step.

Perhaps this song will gently give you that encouraging push.

When I Was Your ManBruno Mars

Bruno Mars – When I Was Your Man [Japanese Subtitled Ver.]

Bruno Mars’s ballad “When I Was Your Man,” acclaimed worldwide for his vocal prowess.

“I should’ve bought you flowers before we broke up, I should’ve taken you to the dance parties… but now you’re probably dancing with another man.” The painfully bittersweet lyrics really hit home.