Most of us fulfill our need to have a sense of belonging by establishing friendships with either individuals or a group of like-minded people. We develop deep emotional bonds with our friends, sometimes establishing lifelong connections with each other. That’s why losing a friend, whether it’s through irreconcilable differences or death, hurts so much. Thankfully, there are many songs about losing a friend you can find comfort in if you’ve recently experienced the loss of a friend.
When this type of loss inevitably happens, and it will happen more than once, you will need time to emotionally recover from it. Sometimes, putting on some music and having your good cry helps. Here are 100 songs to get you through these difficult and seemingly unbearable times. For those of you who prefer listening to music on Spotify, we have the full playlist at the bottom of the page.
Table of Contents
1. See You Again by Wiz Khalifa (Featuring Charlie Puth)
| Genre | Rap, Hip-Hop |
| Year Released | 2015 |
| Album | Furious 7 (Original Soundtrack) |
Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth wrote this song as a tribute to The Fast and the Furious actor Paul Walker, who died in a car accident in 2013 before Furious 7 was finished filming. The video also holds the record for the most views ever on YouTube, with over 5.7 billion views, and over 39.7 million likes. Because Walker died before the movie was finished filming, they used his brother as a stand-in for scenes where they didn’t have to show his face. The song was played as the credits rolled.
2. Hear You Me by Jimmy Eat World
| Genre | Alternative, Pop Punk |
| Year Released | 2001 |
| Album | Bleed American |
Jimmy Eat World wrote this song in memory of their friends Mykel and Carli Allan. The two sisters were avid supporters of the band in their younger days, as well as devoted Weezer fans. Being from Arizona, Jimmy Eat World didn’t have a place to stay when they first moved to Los Angeles. The two sisters opened up their homes and their hearts to the band and allowed them to stay. The title of the song comes from something the two ladies were known for saying. The song was featured in three films.
3. Lance’s Song by Zac Brown Band
| Genre | Country |
| Year Released | 2012 |
| Album | Uncaged |
This ballad from the Zac Brown Band’s “Uncaged” pays tribute to Lance Tilton, a drummer that played with the band a few times. Tilton was killed in a car accident in Northwest Georgia, and was the human embodiment of the old saying “You don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone.” As a matter of fact, Zac Brown uses that line in the song to illustrate how much he should have appreciated his dear friend while he was still alive. Still, this song is a beautiful way to pay his respects to his fallen friend.
4. Brendan’s Death Song by Red Hot Chili Peppers
| Genre | Funk Metal, Alternative Metal |
| Year Released | 2011 |
| Album | I’m With You |
When John Frusciante quit the Red Hot Chili Peppers in 2009, they hired Josh Klinghoffer to take over guitar duties. “Brendan’s Death Song” from their album “I’m With You” was the first song that the band wrote with their new guitar player. The song was a tribute to the Los Angeles nightclub owner Brendan Mullen, who gave the Red Hot Chili Peppers their start. Mullen died of a massive stroke on his birthday. The vocalist Anthony Kiedis said that the song was meant to celebrate Brendan’s life more than it was to mourn it.
5. One More Light by Linkin Park
| Genre | Alternative Metal, Nu Metal |
| Year Released | 2017 |
| Album | One More Light |
I know that I can’t be the only person who sees the irony in Chester Bennington singing about tragically losing a friend when he committed suicide in 2017, leaving friends and loved ones behind. In the title track of 2017’s “One More Light,” Bennington sings about not being able to be there to take this person’s pains away anymore. Here also gets upset because people tell him that it doesn’t matter if one star is snuffed out when there are over a million stars in the sky. That’s got to hurt.
6. You Should Be Here by Cole Swindell
| Genre | Country |
| Year Released | 2016 |
| Album | You Should Be Here |
Cole Swindell opens this song by describing a picture-perfect day. He’s missing someone who is no longer with him. He also says all the things this person would be doing, like drinking cold beer and taking too many pictures on their phone to show off to family back home. He ends the tune with “Yeah this is one of those moments that’s got your name written all over it, and you know that if I have just one wish it’d be that you didn’t have to miss this.”
7. Black Balloon by The Goo Goo Dolls
| Genre | Alternative Rock |
| Year Released | 1999 |
| Album | Dizzy Up the Girl |
John Rzeznik, the lead vocalist of The Goo Goo Dolls, has gone on record as saying that this song is about a woman who is battling a heroin addiction and her partner, who is staying by her side and helping her through her addiction. In a situation in which art is imitating real life, the subject matter of the song is the ex-wife of bass player Robby Takac, who has overdosed on heroin. This is what more than likely inspired John Rzeznik to write this song, which peaked at the 16th spot on Billboard.
8. Who You’d Be Today by Kenny Chesney
| Genre | Country |
| Year Released | 2005 |
| Album | The Road and the Radio |
Although the person this song is dedicated to isn’t mentioned in the lyrics for “Who You’d Be Today,” CMA and ACM Award winner Kenny Chesney is singing about someone whose time had come up far too soon. He talks about how some days the pain is much harder than others, and wonders who this person he is singing about would be if they were alive today. He also says how unfair it was that they had to die so young. The only thing that gives him hope is knowing he’ll see them again someday.
9. I’ll Be Missing You by Puff Daddy (Featuring Faith Evans and 112)
| Genre | Rap, Hip-Hop |
| Year Released | 1997 |
| Album | No Way Out |
Famously known for sampling the song “Every Breath You Take” by The Police, this song was performed by Puff Daddy and The Family as a way to bid farewell to the late, great Christopher Wallace, otherwise known as the Notorious B.I.G. The song also featured Wallace’s wife Faith Evans and the group 112 on backing vocals, and featured Sean Combs rapping about all of the good times that he and Biggie had together, saying “‘Til the day we meet again, in my heart is where I’ll keep you, friend.”
10. Bad Blood by Taylor Swift (Featuring Kendrick Lamar)
| Genre | Pop |
| Year Released | 2014 |
| Album | 1989 |
When you say that you’ve got bad blood with somebody, it means that you don’t have a pleasant relationship with them. It also means that there are hard feelings of animosity and resentment as well. In this song from Taylor Swift’s “1989,” she talks about how she used to be madly in love with this person, but now there’s bad blood between them. In Kendrick’s verse, he says “I don’t hate you, but I hate to critique, overrate you,” which means they don’t want to give the other person more credit than they deserve.
11. You’re Never Over by Eminem
| Genre | Rap, Hip-Hop |
| Year Released | 2010 |
| Album | Recovery (Deluxe Edition) |
Anybody familiar with Eminem’s music knows that his best friend in the world was. Proof is a young aspiring rapper and a member of his other band D12. Although Eminem has mentioned proof and a few of his songs, this song was written specifically for him. Proof was murdered in 2006, and Eminem keeps his memory alive with the lyrics “You may be gone, but you’re never over.” Eminem says that he must have written at least 8 to 10 songs about Proof, but none of them felt right until he got the beat right.
12. J.A.R. (Jason Andrew Relva) by Green Day
| Genre | Punk Rock |
| Year Released | 2001 |
| Album | International Superhits! |
Bassist Mike Dirnt wrote this track after losing a friend of his in a car accident. In the song, he says that losing his friend made him come to terms with his mortality. He also says that he has learned to live life on his terms, but he still gives as well. He wonders if his friend lived his life to his fullest potential, and gave all that he had to give. He also knows that his friend is looking down on him, and he’s got to do the right thing.
13. Church Bells by Carrie Underwood
| Genre | Country |
| Year Released | 2016 |
| Album | Storyteller |
Carrie Underwood magnificently performs this song about a young girl named Jenny, who catches the eye of an oil tycoon and marries him. For a while, things go pretty well, until the man has a little too much to drink and decides that it’s okay to put his hands on Jenny. She decides to slip something into his whiskey and poisons him. She vows that he will never hit another woman again. The song incorporates the significance of church bells when they are married when she goes to church, and when he is buried.
14. Gypsy by Fleetwood Mac
| Genre | Rock, Classic Rock |
| Year Released | 1982 |
| Album | Mirage |
Stevie Nicks uses the term “Gypsy” in this song and as the title of the track to conjure images of being carefree, much like an actual gypsy. Originally slated to appear on Stevie Nicks’s solo album “Belladonna,” it ended up on the Fleetwood Mac disc “Mirage” as a tribute to Robin Anderson, a friend of Stevie’s who had leukemia. Not only did Robin have leukemia, but she was also pregnant. They had to take the baby at six-and-a-half months, with Robin dying two days later. She and Robin’s husband grieved together and then got married.
15. Bloodstream by Ed Sheeran & Rudimental
| Genre | Pop, Indie, Alternative |
| Year Released | 2014 |
| Album | × |
While Ed Sheeran may be a good-looking pop superstar, this song is about being lonely and using alcohol as a substitute for finding a suitable partner. This song also reflects an experience that Sheeran had when he was attending a wedding in Ibiza, which was the first time that he tried molly. However, instead of taking it straight, he let it dissolve any bottle of alcohol. This song isn’t necessarily about losing a friend as much as it is about preventing yourself from opening up and gaining new friends because of bad habits.
16. Gone Too Soon by Michael Jackson
| Genre | Pop |
| Year Released | 1991 |
| Album | Dangerous |
On his 1991 hit album “Dangerous,” Michael Jackson wanted to do something to honor his friend Ryan White, who had died due to complications from AIDS. Although the song was performed by Jackson, it was written by the songwriting team of Larry Grossman and Buz Kohan. A beautiful rendition of this song was performed by Usher at Michael Jackson’s funeral, which I think is personally better than the original. However, I chose to go with the original for this article, which was first performed live at the inauguration ball of President Bill Clinton. If you’re looking for songs about losing a friend to death, this is one song I recommend listening to.
17. Nothing Else Matters by Metallica
| Genre | Heavy Metal |
| Year Released | 1991 |
| Album | Metallica |
If you ask married people who their best friend is, several of them will tell you that it’s their spouse. That’s exactly how Metallica’s lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist James Hetfield must have felt when he wrote “Nothing Else Matters.” Featured on the band’s first number-one album of their career, this ballad was written by Hetfield to express how much he misses his wife when he’s out on tour. However, this song doesn’t have to apply to that particular situation. It can fit multiple scenarios, like if a friend moves or passes away.
18. Life After Death by Notorious B.I.G
| Genre | Rap, Hip-Hop |
| Year Released | 1997 |
| Album | Life After Death |
While this is only the intro to Notorious B.I.G’s posthumous album of the same-day name, it says more in a minute-and-a-half than most songs that are triple its length. The song starts with where the track “Suicidal Thoughts” left off, with Notorious B.I.G. bragging about sleeping with a young lady whom he shouldn’t have slept with. In the second part, we hear a gunshot and Puff Daddy mourning the death of Notorious B.I.G. Sean Combs was Biggie’s best friend and made sure this album was released.
19. Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd
| Genre | Progressive Rock, Classic Rock |
| Year Released | 1975 |
| Album | Wish You Were Here |
By now, most people have heard the tale about how the Grammy Award-winning band Pink Floyd had to fire their lead vocalist Syd Barrett because of his substance abuse and concerns about his mental health. With guitar player David Gilmour taking over lead vocal duties, the band experienced a sonic shift in their sound. This can be heard on the title track to 1975’s “Wish You Were Here.” The title track from this album was dedicated to Barrett, with the band expressing the sentiment that they wished he could be there with them.
20. How Come by D12
| Genre | Rap, Hip-Hop |
| Year Released | 2004 |
| Album | D12 World |
Despite the rumors that this song was about the discontent D12 had amongst its members, this song is just each vocalist taking a turn in their verse to air grievances that they had with people whom they had been friends with at some point in the past. For example, in Eminem’s verse, he is talking about problems he’s currently facing with someone who was a childhood friend of his. In Kon Artis’ verse, he’s rapping about a friendship that ended over a woman. In Proof’s verse, he raps about people jealous of his success.
21. So Far Away by Avenged Sevenfold
| Genre | Heavy Metal |
| Year Released | 2010 |
| Album | Nightmare |
Avenged Sevenfold is one of the most respected and beloved bands in heavy metal, and they have been for over two decades. The band, who has been nominated for four Loudwire Music Awards, made a lot of noise in 2010 when they released their album “Nightmare.” In the middle of all of the heavy metal Madness was the power ballad “So Far Away,” which what’s a way of saying goodbye to all of the friends they’ve lost, especially their brother, their bandmate, their drummer Jimmy “The Rev” Sullivan, who died of an overdose.
22. Hollow by Pantera
| Genre | Groove Metal |
| Year Released | 1992 |
| Album | Vulgar Display Of Power |
It’s not often that we get any emotion from Pantera’s lead vocalist Phil Anselmo besides anger, but this track from their double-platinum record “Vulgar Display Of Power” is certainly an exception. In this song, Anselmo is singing about a friend of his who was in a car accident that put him in a coma. Phil is saying how much he misses the person his friend used to be. Sadly, that person is gone forever, and his best friend is a sadly hollow shell of the person he used to be before the accident. This is one of my personal favorite songs about losing a best friend of all time because I’m a huge Pantera fan.
23. Say Hello 2 Heaven by Temple Of the Dog
| Genre | Grunge |
| Year Released | 1991 |
| Album | Temple Of the Dog |
As the story goes, Temple of the Dog was formed for Chris Cornell to pay tribute to his dear friend, Andrew Wood. Andrew was the lead vocalist for the Seattle band Mother Love Bone and died in 1990 of a drug overdose. Mike McCready, Stone Gossard, and Jeff Ament were in Mother Love Bone with Wood, and Eddie Vedder had flown up from San Diego to audition for their new band. He started singing the background vocals on “Hunger Strike,” and had instant chemistry with Cornell. Thus, Temple of the Dog was born.
24. Fall To Pieces by Velvet Revolver
| Genre | Hard Rock |
| Year Released | 2004 |
| Album | Contraband |
When Guns N’ Roses split up in 1997, they formed a supergroup with Stone Temple Pilots lead vocalist Scott Weiland called Velvet Revolver. On the band’s debut album “Contraband,” they released the power ballad “Fall To Pieces,” which is about how losing someone close to you affects your mentality. The song opens with the lines “It’s been a long year since you’ve been gone. I’ve been alone here. I’ve grown old.” Although Scott Weiland never specifically mentions who he’s referring to, the lyrics can apply to pretty much any situation you’re going through.
25. The Death Of Us by Lamb Of God
| Genre | Groove Metal |
| Year Released | 2020 |
| Album | Lamb Of God (Deluxe Edition) |
Not all friendships end because of death, disease, or moving away. Some of them are lost to bitterness and broken trust, which causes plenty of hard feelings between them. Sometimes, there’s just too much that has happened between them, and nothing can be salvaged. Lamb Of God lead vocalist Randy Blythe reiterates this point in the line “A broken vow and shattered trust, know now this will be the death of us.” The vow he speaks of in this line could either be the vows of marriage, or a broken solemn promise between friends.
26. Ill Mind Of Hopsin 6 (Old Friend) by Hopsin
| Genre | Rap, Hip-Hop |
| Year Released | 2011 |
| Album | Ill Mind 6: Old Friend |
Marcus Jamal Hopson, known professionally by his rap name Hopsin, is known for injecting humor into his songs to illustrate points he’s trying to get across to his audience. Hopsin has also gained notoriety and fame for his “Ill Mind” series, in the which, eschewing song is dedicated to illustrating an important belief or observation. In “Ill Mind Of Hopsin 6 (Old Friend),” there is no humor. This song is an emotional tribute to a friend that was lost to drug addiction. His friend didn’t die. Drugs were just more important than their friendship.
27. In My Life by The Beatles
| Genre | Alternative, Classic Rock |
| Year Released | 1965 |
| Album | Rubber Soul |
With 183 million units sold, The Beatles are the world’s best-selling artists, and it’s not even close. The band has had an astonishing 20 Billboard number-one hits, although this track from “Rubber Soul” was not one of them. However, this song’s message cannot be denied, as it is still used in weddings today. For this list, we will focus on the friends and lovers that John Lennon sings about losing in the journey toward finding the right person. He doesn’t say he didn’t love them, but he loves the one he’s with the most.
28. It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday by Boyz II Men
| Genre | R&B, Soul |
| Year Released | 1991 |
| Album | Cooleyhighharmony |
After all of the times, I’ve heard this song, I never knew that it was a cover song until today. The track was originally written by the husband-and-wife team of Freddie Perren and Christine Yarian, and performed by Motown artist G.C. Cameron for the 1975 film Cooley High. Originally peaking at the 38th spot on the Billboard Hot 100, Boyz II Men’s version shot up to the number-two spot. This song about losing a friend or a loved one currently remains a popular choice for funerals, especially the Boyz II Men version.
29. Yesterdays by Guns N’ Roses
| Genre | Hard Rock |
| Year Released | 1991 |
| Album | Use Your Illusion II |
There are times when you are saddened by the loss of a friend, and there are times when you say “good riddance” and leave everything in your past behind in a cloud of dust. Axl Rose has chosen to express the latter in this track from 1991’s highly popular double album “Use Your Illusion II.” Rose keeps hammering the point home with the line “Yesterday’s got nothing for me.” He’s saying that while he had some good memories in the past, he’s ready to move forward and leave the past where it belongs.
30. The Message by Dr. Dre (Featuring Mary J. Blige and Rell)
| Genre | Rap, Hip-Hop |
| Year Released | 1999 |
| Album | 2001 |
More often than not, you will find out that the best friends you will ever have in life will be your siblings. Perhaps it’s because the family bond is so deep, but your brother or sister will be your best friend throughout all of the highs and lows you encounter on your journey through life. Dr. Dre dedicates this track from his album “2001” to his brother Tyree, with whom he shared an incredible bond. Sadly, Tyree was taken before his time, and Dre credits him for making him the man he is today.
31. Black Gives Way To Blue by Alice In Chains
| Genre | Grunge |
| Year Released | 2009 |
| Album | Black Gives Way To Blue |
Alice In Chains lead guitarist Jerry Cantrell wrote the title track to the band’s 2009 comeback album. Cantrell penned this song for his friend Layne Staley, the former Alice In Chains lead vocalist who died of a heroin overdose. Although alcoholism and substance abuse caused a lot of infighting within the group, they were as close as brothers, making it extremely hard when they heard the news that they had lost their brother. The title of the song and the album is indicative of the emotional shift from feeling numb to feeling sad.
32. Wave Goodbye by Chris Cornell
| Genre | Hard Rock, Rock |
| Year Released | 1999 |
| Album | Euphoria Morning |
While Soundgarden was on hiatus in 1999, lead vocalist Chris Cornell released his first solo album called “Euphoria Morning.” The album, which was a drastic change from Soundgarden’s grunge roots, was loved by fans everywhere thanks to songs like “Wave Goodbye.” The song is about all of the things that go through your mind when you lose someone close to you. This is heard in the poignant lyrics “When you miss somebody, you tell yourself a hundred thousand times ‘Nobody ever lives forever,’ so you give it one more try to wave goodbye.”
33. Mourn You ’til I Join You by Naughty By Nature
| Genre | Rap, Hip-Hop |
| Year Released | 1998 |
| Album | Ride |
Using Tupac Shakur’s voice and his words at the beginning of this track from 1998’s “Ride” was a phenomenal way to kick it off because it immediately lets the listener know exactly who it’s about. On this track, Treach, Vin Rock, and DJ Kay Gee pay homage to whom many fans and critics consider to be one of the greatest rappers ever, Tupac Shakur, as well as a few of the other rappers who have fallen victim to the violence that has become such an integral part of the hip-hop lifestyle over the years.
34. Back on the Chain Gang by The Pretenders
| Genre | Alternative Rock, Classic Rock |
| Year Released | 1982 |
| Album | Back on the Chain Gang |
The Pretenders wrote this song as a tribute to James Honeyman-Scott, the band’s guitar player. Honeyman-Scott died of a drug overdose in 1982 at the age of 26. Ten months later, former bass player Pete Farndon also died, although he had previously been kicked out of the band for substance abuse problems. The “I found a picture of you” line comes from a picture of Ray Davies that lead vocalist Chrissie Hynde found in her wallet. She and Davies, the lead singer for The Kinks, had been a couple and had a child together.
35. Fire and Rain by James Taylor
| Genre | Folk, Indie |
| Year Released | 1970 |
| Album | Sweet Baby James |
What’s interesting about this track is that James Taylor wrote it in three parts in three different areas. In an interview with American Songwriter, Taylor said that the first verse was written in London, and is about the death of his friend Suzanne. The second verse was about his battles with drug addiction, where he wrote yet another part of the song. The third and final part of the song was written while Taylor was in rehab at The Austen Riggs Center in Massachusetts, which was also the most difficult part to write.
36. Return by OK Go
| Genre | Alternative, Indie |
| Year Released | 2002 |
| Album | OK Go |
Damian and Timothy of OK Go wrote this song about the tragic passing of their dear friend Timory. Depending on who you ask, the young lady whom the song was written for either committed suicide or accidentally fell out of a window. There have been some discrepancies as to what happened, depending on who you ask. Two things are clear. The young lady died on her birthday, and this song was written as a loving tribute to the band’s dear friend. She suffered from vertigo as well, but it was supposedly cured.
37. Elephant by Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit
| Genre | Country |
| Year Released | 2013 |
| Album | Southeastern |
To say that this is a typical, run-of-the-mill, sad country song would be doing it a grave Injustice. “Elephant” is a beautiful send-off to a special friend. In the song, the narrator meets a girl in a bar and takes her home with him. However, the two don’t sleep together because she has cancer and he doesn’t want to take advantage of her. Instead, the two share a beautiful friendship. They sing old country songs and make each other laugh. Sadly, Andy’s friend succumbs to her cancer by the end of the song.
38. I Miss My Dawgs by Lil Wayne (Featuring YG)
| Genre | Rap, Hip-Hop |
| Year Released | 2004 |
| Album | Tha Carter |
I’m sure that Lil Wayne has lost more than his fair share of friends to the violence that’s going on in the streets. However, the track “I Missing My Dawgs” from his album “Tha Carter” isn’t one of those songs. Instead, this song has Wayne discussing how B.G., Juvenile, and Turk left the rap group Hot Boys. Weezy talks about how they may no longer speak, but he will still take care of their kids, meaning that he will never let their children do without anything or let them go hungry.
39. Broken Halos by Chris Stapleton
| Genre | Country |
| Year Released | 2017 |
| Album | From A Room: Volume 1 |
Grammy Award-winning country artist Chris Stapleton has one of those voices that makes me want to cry whenever I hear his music. It’s that powerful. One example can be heard in his song “Broken Halos,” which I have always interpreted as a metaphor for people whom you meet who are some of the most special people you will ever know. Most of the time, they end up leaving this world way too soon. Chris Stapleton must have known at least a handful of these people, and these experiences made for a powerful song. This is certainly one of those songs that will make you cry while you listen to it.
40. Live In The Sky by T.I. (Featuring Jamie Foxx)
| Genre | Rap, Hip-Hop |
| Year Released | 2006 |
| Album | King |
T.I. lets us immediately know that he’s lost quite a few friends in his life as he opens this song with the line “I’d like to dedicate this song to anybody who done ever lost somebody to the grave, to the streets, to the jail cell.” He goes on to say that he has lost people to all three, and to those friends and family who are no longer still alive, he hopes they live in the sky. His cousin Toot is the one person in the song he mentions by name.
41. Farewell To You by White Lion
| Genre | Hair Metal |
| Year Released | 1991 |
| Album | Mane Attraction |
This track from White Lion’s album “Mane Attraction” is one of those songs that you hear played at graduations. The lyrics reflect some of the things that you would say if you find yourself in a position where you have to be away from your friends for a while. In the song, White Lion lead vocalist Mike Tramp says the most touching things that should be said when parting ways with friends, like when he says that saying he’ll be so much easier than saying goodbye. He makes you believe every word, too.
42. Life Without You by Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble
| Genre | Blues |
| Year Released | 1985 |
| Album | Soul to Soul |
Stevie Ray Vaughan and his band Double Trouble are blues legends. Perhaps it’s because they have the uncanny ability to make you feel every note and every word of their songs. In this sorrowful track from “Soul to Soul,” you feel every ounce of pain coming from Stevie Ray’s heart as he sings about losing the love of his life. Perhaps the most heart-wrenching part comes at the beginning of the first verse when he is speaking to her, asking her how she’s been and telling her how everyone misses the way she grins.
43. It’s A Shame About Ray by The Lemonheads
| Genre | Alternative Rock |
| Year Released | 1992 |
| Album | It’s a Shame About Ray |
This acoustically driven song is surprisingly upbeat, considering its message. This song was written by Evan Dando and with friend Tom Morgan while they were in Australia. Dando says that the title came from a guy in Melbourne who used to call everybody Ray. He took that and wrote what he considers to be a very dark song about a guy who always disappears. However, he’s vague about the perspective from which the song is sung. He says that it could be Ray singing it about himself, or it could be somebody else. He doesn’t know.
44. Six Feet Deep by Geto Boys
| Genre | Rap, Hip-Hop |
| Year Released | 1993 |
| Album | Till Death Do Us Part |
Back in the 1990s, the Ghetto boys were one of the most respected groups in rap, thanks to tracks like “Six Feet Deep,” from the album “Till Death Do Us Part.” This song is about losing a friend to the senseless and unnecessary violence that takes place in the hood almost daily. The most touching line in the song is “So when your time comes, just remember G, you’ll always have a place in this world as a memory.” They also talk about how the memory of their boys never leaves their minds.
45. I Wish by R. Kelly
| Genre | R&B, Soul |
| Year Released | 2000 |
| Album | TP-2.com |
Despite the controversy that surrounds him, R Kelly has never had a problem with writing Soulful songs that touch your heart. One example of this is the song “I Wish” from his album “TP-2.com.” open the song, R Kelly sings about someone who was a dear friend to him. He sings about all the good times that they had together, and how they never put anybody before each other. He also says that if he could, he would turn back the hands of time and take the place of the friend he lost.
46. The Last Carnival by Bruce Springsteen
| Genre | Singer-Songwriter |
| Year Released | 2009 |
| Album | Working on a Dream |
Sometimes artists can reinvent themselves later in their careers, much like what Bruce Springsteen did on “The Last Carnival,” adopting a sound that is reminiscent of the great Bob Dylan. That change of sound works on this track, which is about a trapeze artist who loses their partner Billy, who also performed many other feats at the carnival like knife throwing, fire eating, and balancing on the high wire. The narrator also talks about having to get past Billy, saying that he would be riding a train that never stops, even for death.
47. Tha Crossroads by Bone Thugs-N-Harmony
| Genre | Rap, Hip-Hop |
| Year Released | 1995 |
| Album | E. 1999 Eternal |
The entire rap Community was in a State of Shock when Eazy-E, one of the founding members of NWA, died of complications with the AIDS virus in March of 1995, specifically AIDS-induced pneumonia. The rap group Bone Thugs-N-Harmony was very close to Eazy-E, whose birth name was Eric Wright. They released the song “Tha Crossroads” as a tribute to their fallen friend, as well as honoring a few other friends and family members as well. The song became the first and only number-one hit of their career, hitting that spot in May of 1996.
48. Bird Song by Grateful Dead
| Genre | Jam Band, Classic Rock |
| Year Released | 1981 |
| Album | Reckoning |
Jerry Garcia and Robert Hunter of the Grateful Dead wrote this song to honor their late friend, Janis Joplin. In the song, they referred to Joplin as a bird because they say that she sang for a little while, and then flew on. The comparison is taken even further when Garcia sings about how she sang a very sweet song, comparing her voice to that of a cheerful bird. Janis Joplin passed away in October of 1970 from a heroin overdose after releasing just three albums, one solo and two with her band.
49. For a Dancer by Jackson Browne
| Genre | Rock |
| Year Released | 1974 |
| Album | Late for the Sky |
This song was written for a friend of Jackson Browne’s, who died in a house fire. The man was in the sauna and had no idea that the house was on fire so he became trapped. Browne said that his friend was a Renaissance man because he was a good skater, a good dancer, and a great tailor. He said that he used the metaphor of a dance because it was a fitting tribute to his friend and because life is a dance. Over the years, Browne has sung this song for many people.
50. I Still Miss You by Keith Anderson
| Genre | Country |
| Year Released | 2008 |
| Album | C’mon! |
Sometimes when people die, you intentionally avoid things that remind you of them. It could be the restaurant that you used to eat at together, or it could be an old song on the radio that sneaks up and reminds you of them. According to Keith Anderson, you can talk to friends, talk to yourself, and talk to God, but there are times when none of that help. When Anderson sings the lines “I don’t know how to let you go. You are so deep down in my soul,” you feel his heart breaking. This is truly one of those songs about missing someone you love that will make you get emotional while listening to it.
51. Life Goes On by 2Pac
| Genre | Rap, Hip-Hop |
| Year Released | 1996 |
| Album | All Eyez on Me |
Growing up on the streets gives you a first-hand account of what it’s like to lose friends on the very streets where you used to run together. In the first line of “Life Goes On,” from Tupac’s double album “All Eyez On Me,” he begs the question “How many brothers fell victim to the streets?” Shakur was known for his songs that told stories about his life, and also about some of the unfortunate circumstances that accompany the lifestyle he portrayed in his music. Sadly, he’s probably lost more friends than we could count.
52. All Those Years Ago by George Harrison
| Genre | Rock |
| Year Released | 1981 |
| Album | Somewhere In England |
George Harrison paid tribute to his dear friend John Lennon when he released the song “All Those Years Ago” in 1981 from his album “Somewhere In England.” Harrison directly referenced Lennon when he sang “They don’t act with much honesty, but you point the way to the truth when you say all you need is love.” He was trying to say that many people were disrespecting John Lennon after his death, but he was standing up for him. There was a better view between Lennon and McCartney after the Beatles broke up.
53. Song for Josh by Frank Turner
| Genre | Singer-Songwriter |
| Year Released | 2015 |
| Album | Positive Songs for Negative People |
Frank Turner dedicated “Song for Josh” from “Positive Songs for Negative People” to the memory of his friend Josh Burdette. Josh was a well-known security guard at the 9:30 Club in Washington who committed suicide. Frank Turner says that nobody saw the suicide coming. He recorded the song live in the 9:30 Club, with all of Burdette’s family and his crew in attendance. Turner said after playing the song, he knew it had to be included on the record and could think of no other place to put it but last.
54. Stars by Grace Potter and the Nocturnals
| Genre | Country Rock |
| Year Released | 2012 |
| Album | The Lion the Beast the Beat (Deluxe Edition) |
When she appeared on VH1 Storytellers, Grace Potter explained the meaning behind her track “Stars,” from “The Lion the Beast the Beat.” Although Potter has never specifically mentioned whom the song was about, she did say that she had a chemically imbalanced friend, and everyone saw her death coming. She said that their biggest fears were realized when they found her friend in the river. In an interview with The Boot, Potter said “Somebody like this person draws you in and loves the fact that they take things a little too far.”
55. They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.) by Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth
| Genre | Rap, Hip-Hop |
| Year Released | 2018 |
| Album | Mecca & The Soul Brother (Remixes) |
Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth dedicated this song to the memory of their friend Troy Dixon, who was known as Trouble T-Roy. Dion was a member of the rap group Heavy D & The Boyz and died from an accidental fall when performing at a concert in Indianapolis. The beat of the track was sampled from Tom Scott and The California Dreamers’ cover of Jefferson Airplane’s song “Today.” Pete Rock also pays loving tribute to his mother and his grandfather in this touching track from the duo’s album “Mecca & The Soul Brother (Remixes).”
56. Who Knew by Pink
| Genre | Pop |
| Year Released | 2009 |
| Album | I’m Not Dead |
Pink is an award-winning singer known for being one of the most outspoken people in music, so when she writes a sincere track about losing a friend to a drug overdose, you know that she is putting her heart and soul into every note. Although she doesn’t mention this person by name, the lyrics indicate that they meant a lot to Pink. In the song, she remembers all of the good times that she and her friend had together, and sincerely wishes that she could have her back here on Earth with her.
57. Afterglow by INXS
| Genre | Alternative, Pop |
| Year Released | 2005 |
| Album | Switch |
INXS frontman Michael Hutchence wrote this song when he was dating the Australian pop star, Kylie Minogue. At the time, his crippling anxiety was getting the best of him, but he felt better when he was spending time with his girlfriend. He talks about how she makes all of the bad things in his life seem to disappear, and how life is better when she’s around. The feeling that I get from this song is that it is more about the fear of losing someone close to you, rather than losing that person.
58. Roll on John by Bob Dylan
| Genre | Folk, Indie |
| Year Released | 1962 |
| Album | House Of The Risin’ Sun (18 Titles 1962) |
Isn’t it strange that the Pulitzer Prize-winning folk legend Bob Dylan waited this long to release a song that pays tribute to his old friend, John Lennon? The singer used some old Beatles lyrics in this track like “Come together right now” and “I heard the news today, oh boy.”. When asked why he waited so long to release a song about the Beatles legendary singer, Dylan simply said that it felt like the right time to do it. That’s Bob Dylan for you. He does things his way, in his timeline.
59. Etta’s Tune by Rosanne Cash
| Genre | Country |
| Year Released | 2014 |
| Album | The River & the Thread |
Rosanne Cash and John Leventhal wrote this tune for Etta Grant, who was the wife of Marshall Grant, Johnny Cash’s original bass player. She was also a long-time family friend. In an interview, Cash said that Marshall Grant was like a father to her after her father passed away. She and her husband wrote the tune to pay honor and respect to this man whom she had been around throughout her life. Roseanne included Marshall’s voice on the record when he says to Etta “I traveled for a million miles while you were standing still.”
60. Has Anyone Ever Written Anything for You? by Stevie Nicks
| Genre | Rock, Pop |
| Year Released | 1985 |
| Album | Rock a Little |
Stevie Nicks wrote this song about Joe Walsh. Nicks said that she never believed in love at first sight until she walked into a party, and saw Walsh across the room. She says that she walked straight to him as he extended his hand out to her, and at that moment she could never be away from him. The next day, Joe rented a Jeep and drove Stevie into the mountains of Colorado, telling her a story about the daughter that he lost. She fell for him and wrote this song about him.
61. Terry by Twinkle
| Genre | Pop |
| Year Released | 1964 |
| Album | Golden Lights |
British singer Lynn Ripple, also known by her stage name Twinkle, wrote and performed this track, which reached the number-four spot on the British charts in 1964. The song, which was Twinkle’s first single, was banned by both the BBC and the television show Ready Steady Go! on the grounds of bad taste. Because the song was about a man dying in a motorcycle crash, it was deemed distasteful by them. The song is about a man who wants Twinkle’s love, but she says it’s too soon. Instead of waiting, crashes his motorcycle and dies.
62. Sissy’s Song by Alan Jackson
| Genre | Country |
| Year Released | 2008 |
| Album | Good Time |
“Sissy’s Song” was written as a tribute to Alan Jackson’s friend and housekeeper, Leslie “Sissy” Fitzgerald. The song was written in 2007 after Fitzgerald tragically died in a motorcycle accident. In an interview with The Boot, Jackson said that you expect people to die when they grow old, but when they are young and they are taken unexpectedly, it’s a tragedy. He also said the song holds a special place in his heart. He recorded it for Fitzgerald’s funeral, but people loved it so much that he included it on his next album.
63. Old Red Wine by The Who
| Genre | Hard Rock, Classic Rock |
| Year Released | 2004 |
| Album | Live > London 22-03-04 |
Pete Townsend of The Who wrote this song as a tribute to his friend and bass player John Entwistle, who passed away in 2002 during The Who’s comeback tour. Lyrics of the song came from Entwistle’s affinity for red wine, often drinking it well past its prime. John Entwistle was a founding member of the band, and he is well known for providing the backbone to some of The Who’s most popular and beloved tracks. He died from a cocaine overdose, which stopped his heart from beating. The bassist was 57 years old. This is one of those songs about losing a friend that I think doesn’t get the recognition that it deserves.
64. Captain Jack by Billy Joel
| Genre | Rock, Classic Rock |
| Year Released | 1972 |
| Album | Live In The Studio – Sigma Studios 1972 |
Despite the rumors that this song was written about Jack Daniels whiskey, Billy Joel has said that this song was written about a drug dealer in Long Island who was called Captain Jack. However, it’s not just about the drug dealers. It’s about drugs in general. Billy Joel said in an interview, “I was just looking out there and seeing all my friends, everybody would just get their brains wasted and fried and I thought it was kind of stupid.” So, slowly losing his friends to drugs became the inspiration for this song.
65. Here Today by Paul McCartney
| Genre | Rock, Folk |
| Year Released | 2002 |
| Album | Back in the U.S. |
Former Beatles bass player and vocalist Paul McCartney wrote this song about his friend John Lennon, who was shot and killed in December of 1980. McCartney also said that this was his way of reconciling his relationship with John and quieting all of the people who were spreading gossip and rumors about how things were when they were all in the Beatles together. There was lots of talk going on about who liked who, and who disagreed with whomever. Paul wanted all of that to stop, so he wrote this song. It worked.
66. Light Years by Pearl Jam
| Genre | Grunge, Alternative Rock |
| Year Released | 2000 |
| Album | Binaural |
Eddie Vedder and Pearl Jam wrote and recorded this song as a tribute to their friend Diane Muus, who was an employee at Sony Music. Vedder had a lot to say about the young woman, who died at the age of 33 years old. He said that she was one of those people who never messed up. He went on to say that she was a great person, and she was taken away before he and his bandmates had a chance to say goodbye. This song was their goodbye to their friend Diane.
67. Afterimage by Rush
| Genre | Rock, Hard Rock |
| Year Released | 1984 |
| Album | Grace Under Pressure |
“Afterimage” is a track that is dedicated to the memory of Robbie Whalen, an engineer on the Rush albums “Permanent Waves,” “Exit Stage Left,” “Moving Pictures,” and “Signals.” When he was leaving the studio one night, Robbie Whalen was killed in a tragic car accident when he was caught in a snowstorm outside of Ontario. The news shocked the band to their very core because not only did they lose one of the most amazing musical minds they had ever known, but they had also lost one of their best friends as well.
68. False Prophets by J Cole
| Genre | Rap, Hip-Hop |
| Year Released | 2016 |
| Album | False Prophets |
J Cole has been called one of the greatest rappers of his generation. His talent is proudly displayed on the track “False Prophets,” from the album of the same name. Although it hasn’t been confirmed, there is a lot of speculation that some parts of this song were written about Kanye West, especially the line “He tells us he a genius but it’s clearer lately It’s been hard for him to look into the mirror lately.” The song is about rappers who once reached the Pinnacle of the genre, but have fallen from grace.
69. No-One But You (One the Good Die Young) by Queen
| Genre | Hard Rock, Classic Rock |
| Year Released | 1999 |
| Album | Ballads |
Roger May of Queen wrote this tribute to the late, great Freddie Mercury, while he and Roger Taylor share lead vocal duties on the track. This song has the distinction of being the only new Queen song that has been written since the passing of Freddie Mercury. While this song was written eight years after his death, it is a beautiful eulogy for Freddie Mercury, who died from bronchial pneumonia caused by the AIDS virus in 1991. This song was also bassist John Deacon’s last recording, with Queen or with any other band.
70. Friends Never Say Goodbye Elton John
| Genre | Pop |
| Year Released | 2000 |
| Album | The Road to El Dorado (Original Soundtrack) |
Elton John is no stranger to doing soundtracks for Disney movies. After all, he was the genius behind the music for The Lion King. In 2000, he was tasked with writing the music for an animated film called The Road to El Dorado. One of those songs was called “Friends Never Say Goodbye,” which is about the Everlasting power of true friendships. There may be times when friends have their differences, and they may even have to go separate ways, but true friends will always be friends, no matter what the circumstances.
71. Boulder to Birmingham by The Fray (Featuring Emmylou Harris)
| Genre | Alternative, Country |
| Year Released | 2012 |
| Album | Scars & Stories |
Country music star Emmylou Harris co-wrote this song with Bill Danoff of The Fray for Gram Parsons, whom Harris sang with a few times. Parsons was also a mentor to Harris when she was younger and struggling with the business. They were working on an album when he died of a drug overdose in 1973. After Parsons died, two of his friends stole his body and set it on fire in the Mojave desert, per his instructions. Hence, the lyrics “And I stood on the mountain in the night and I watched it burn.”
72. Betrayal by Gang Starr (Featuring Scarface)
| Genre | Rap, Hip-Hop |
| Year Released | 1998 |
| Album | Moment of Truth |
Gang Starr’s Guru and DJ Premier recruited Scarface from the Geto Boys to do a verse on this track about the tragedies that take place in the hood. The first verse, performed by Guru, is about a family who was killed over drugs and money. The only Survivor was the son. The second verse, which features Scarface, is about a rising basketball star who is 6 feet 8 inches at 12 years old and has aspirations of playing in the NBA. However, he was caught in the middle of some foolishness and was killed.
73. Pretty Angry (For J. Sheehan) by Blues Traveler
| Genre | Rock, Alternative, Blues |
| Year Released | 2001 |
| Album | Bridge |
Blues Traveler truly arrived on the alternative music scene when they released their album “Four.” The band has built a cult following and is still making music today. In “Pretty Angry (For J. Sheehan),” from “Bridge,” Blues Traveler frontman John Popper pays tribute to his former bass player, Bobby Sheehan, who died in his sleep and was John Popper’s best friend. . The song was written for Bobby’s brother, Johnny. The song was given this title. because they felt angry at the loss of their bandmate and brother, and they especially felt angry for Johnny.
74. My House by Lou Reed
| Genre | Rock, Alternative, Indie |
| Year Released | 1982 |
| Album | The Blue Mask |
Velvet Underground lead vocalist Lou Reed wrote this song for the poet and essayist Delmore Schwartz, who died from a heart attack. Schwartz was only 52 years old when he passed. Read studied under Schwartz during his time at Syracuse University, and called Schwartz “the first great person I ever met.” This isn’t the first time that the Velvet Underground paid tribute to Schwartz. They also honored him in their debut album with their song “European Son.” Another thing that Reed and Schwartz had in common is that they were both raised Jewish.
75. What Sarah Said by Death Cab for Cutie
| Genre | Alternative, Indie |
| Year Released | 2005 |
| Album | Plans |
Although this song is fictional, the title was named after a friend of lead singer Ben Gibbard named Sarah. In the song, the narrator is the in the Intensive Care Unit and is about to die. The narrator describes in vivid detail the sights, smells, and sounds he’s experiencing. His wife is speaking to him, showing support, and standing by him. Then he asks his wife, “who’s gonna watch yourself die?” because he will be gone by then. An interesting fact is that the record company didn’t want this track on the album.
76. Bang the Drum Slowly by Emmylou Harris
| Genre | Country, Alternative |
| Year Released | 2000 |
| Album | Red Dirt Girl |
With the help of Guy Clark, Emmylou Harris wrote this song as a tribute to her father who died in 1993. Harris says that because she was too involved with becoming an artist, she missed a golden opportunity to bond with her father, who was an auto mechanic. Guy Clark came up with writing a song to honor Emmylou’s father, and since Clark knew her father so well, she gave the idea of her full support. One interesting fact was that her dad was not buried in Arlington. They said that because it sounded better.
77. Dancing in the Sky by Dani and Lizzy
| Genre | Pop |
| Year Released | 2016 |
| Album | Work of Heart |
If you could speak to someone you’ve lost, what would you ask them? There are so many questions that you could ask, like “Is there an afterlife?” That’s what Dani and Lizzy’s track “Dancing in the Sky” from “Work of Heart” addresses. This song is filled with hope and positivity, asking questions like “So tell me, what do you do up in Heaven? Are your days filled with love and light?” Towards the end of the song, it takes on a much more somber tone, saying since they’ve been gone, everything that’s good is missing.
78. Till We Die by Slipknot
| Genre | Metal, Nu Metal |
| Year Released | 2008 |
| Album | All Hope Is Gone (Deluxe Edition) |
Slipknot wanted a way to honor their fallen brother Paul Grea, who was a founding member of the band as well as their bassist and primary songwriter. On the deluxe edition of their album “All Hope Is Gone,” Slipknot included this track as a way to honor the late, great Paul Gray. The song is about the brotherhood that was developed amongst the members of the band, and about staying loyal to the cause. When they play the game song live, they honor Paul Gray by popping up his coveralls and mask and surrounding him.
79. I Miss You by Blink-182
| Genre | Pop Punk |
| Year Released | 2003 |
| Album | Blink-182 |
Known for being pop punk’s clowning princes, Blink-182 showed us a more serious side when they released the single “I Miss You” from their self-titled album. The best way I can think to describe this song is that Mark Hoppus is reflecting on a love gone wrong. He’s reminiscing about all the good times and the bad times they’ve had. The lyrics weren’t the only thing that they changed their approach with on this track. The music sounds much more layered and mature. Hoppus also uses figurative language to further illustrate his point.
80. Supersymmetry by Arcade Fire
| Genre | Indie, Alternative |
| Year Released | 2013 |
| Album | Reflektor |
Arcade Fire has been the darlings of the indie scene for years, and that shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. What most people don’t know about Arcade Fire’s track “Supersymmetry” is that it was originally written for the 2013 movie Her, which starred Joaquin Phoenix. The movie was wasted about a man who fell in love with a computer, but the sentiment expressed through the lyrics is the story of a man who is missing a loved one who is no longer around anymore, and he wishes they were still around.
81. I Lost a Friend by Finneas
| Genre | Pop |
| Year Released | 2019 |
| Album | Blood Harmony |
Perhaps what Finneas is most well-known for is that he writes and produces all of his sister Billie Eilish’s music. However, he is quite an accomplished musician and singer in his own right. The lyrics of this song paint a vivid picture of how he feels about losing this person. Fineness clearly illustrates his lyrical prowess as he sings “I lost a friend like keys in a sofa, like a wallet in the back seat, like ice in the summer heat.” He goes on to say that he’ll be alright, but not tonight.
82. Copenhagen by Lucinda Williams
| Genre | Country, Rock |
| Year Released | 2011 |
| Album | Blessed |
Lucinda Williams wrote this song about the death of her former manager Frank Carrali while she was wasting on tour. She heard the news of his passing when she was in Copenhagen, which is how the title of the track originated. Lucinda said that she and Tom Overby went out walking because they had the night off from performing. It suddenly started to snow, so they ducked into a local bar to escape the weather. They ended up talking to the patrons at the bar all night, crying and reminiscing about her old friend.
83. To Where You Are by Josh Groban
| Genre | Pop |
| Year Released | 2001 |
| Album | Josh Groban |
In this article song, Josh Groban is singing about losing his best friend and the love of his life, although he doesn’t specify exactly how much she lost her. However, he must have loved her very much because he says that he can still feel her around him and that she is an inspiration to him. He even asks if she can take him up to heaven so that he can see her smile once again. Groban goes on to say that she is his forever love, and the love they had will never die.
84. I’m Gonna Love You Through It by Martina McBride
| Genre | Country |
| Year Released | 2011 |
| Album | Eleven |
Martina McBride’s heart-wrenching Grammy-nominated song “I’m Gonna Love You Through It” may not technically be about losing someone you love, but it is sometimes emotionally charged and so incredibly beautiful that I had to include it on this list. The song is about a couple who find out that their wife has cancer at 38 years old. Her husband promises that he will be her rock, on her shoulder to cry on. He says that he’s going to love her through it, even when she is at her most vulnerable and her weakest.
85. Somebody That I Used To Know by Gotye (Featuring Kimbra)
| Genre | Alternative, Pop, Rock |
| Year Released | 2011 |
| Album | Making Mirrors |
Sometimes when couples or friends go their separate ways, they act like they don’t even know the other person anymore. That’s what Gotye is saying in his Billboard number-one hit “Somebody That I Used To Know.” He’s saying that the relationship had run its course long before it ended, but he didn’t feel like his ex needed to cut him off as she did. Now, she’s just somebody he used to know. He’s saying that it’s nothing special, and she won’t look fondly at the time they spent together.
86. Goodbye My Friend by Linda Ronstadt (Featuring Aaron Neville)
| Genre | Country |
| Year Released | 1989 |
| Album | Cry Like a Rainstorm, Howl Like the Wind |
I can’t think of two better people to sing a duet about a lost friendship than Linda Ronstadt and Aaron Neville. This is a heartbreaking track about two people who know that their relationship has run its course, and it’s time for it to end. Sometimes, that’s the hardest thing that people can face together. They say that they should have let go a long time ago but felt that it wasn’t quite time for that. They know that they will always love each other, but they will never see each other again.
87. Casimir Pulaski Day by Sufjan Stevens
| Genre | Alternative, Indie, Folk |
| Year Released | 2005 |
| Album | Illinois |
They say that cancer is one of the most painful diseases that you can get. That’s what Sufjan Stevens is singing about in his song “Casimir Pulaski Day,” from his album “Illinois.” In this song, Stevens talks about someone who has discovered that they have bone cancer. I also talk about going to Bible study every Tuesday night and praying over his friend’s body. However, that never helps. He also recalls all the memories that they had and reminisces about the day that she died. He says that God never gives. He only takes.
88. What If I Never Get Over You? by Lady Antebellum
| Genre | Country |
| Year Released | 2019 |
| Album | Soundtrack To Summer 2019 |
If you’ve ever had a serious friendship or relationship end, that pain comes and goes. One minute, you think you’re okay, but the next minute, you’re not. In this case, Hillary Scott, lead singer of the ACM Award-winning group Lady Antebellum says that she doesn’t think that she’ll ever be able to replace him, even if it’s years from now. She goes on to say that even if she gets somebody new, he will see right through her because all she sees is him. She ends the song by asking “What if I never get over you?”
89. Addicted by Amy Winehouse
| Genre | R&B, Soul, Pop |
| Year Released | 2006 |
| Album | Back to Black |
Whenever our friends date someone that we don’t like, it can make the situation anywhere from awkward to downright unbearable. In “Addicted,” from her Grammy Award-winning album “Back to Black,” Amy Winehouse sings about how her friend’s boyfriend always comes over and uses all of her substances. She says once is enough when it comes to being taken advantage of, and her friend and her boyfriend are no longer welcome at her house unless they replace the substances they’ve used. She says she’d rather be alone than have someone steal from her.
90. If You Say So by Lea Michele
| Genre | Electronic, Dance, Poo |
| Year Released | 2013 |
| Album | Louder |
Lea Michele wrote this song about her boyfriend Cory Monteith. The two starred in the television show Glee together, and Cory Monteith passed away in July 2013. Lea was on the cusp of releasing her first album, but she put that on hold so that she could mourn her lost love. When the time came to release the album, she wanted to add a song that was very personal to it. That’s when she wrote “If You Say So,” which is about the last conversation that she and her boyfriend had together.
91. Buttermilk John by Vince Gill
| Genre | Country |
| Year Released | 2011 |
| Album | Guitar Slinger |
Country music Superstar Vince Gill wrote this song about a man named Buttermilk John, who would play guitar while Vince listened to him. The man would play such sad songs that it would make Vince Gill cry. He goes on to say that Buttermilk John was married to Miss Jean, and the two were a God-fearing couple. Vince Gill also says that John was deeply religious and that he is going to heaven. He then asks his favorite guitar player if he would play one last song before he goes on to Glory.
92. Praying by Kesha
| Genre | Pop |
| Year Released | 2017 |
| Album | Rainbow |
People sometimes get involved in relationships with other people, who can be controlling and abusive. This can take place in romantic or platonic relationships. In Keisha’s RIAA platinum-certified song “Praying,” she sings about an experience she had with someone like this. She talks about how this person made her life a living hell, but she thinks of him for making her tougher. She says that she is proud of who she is, and she can finally breathe again and be herself. What I find admirable is that instead of being angry, she bids him farewell.
93. When You’re Gone by Avril Lavigne
| Genre | Pop Punk, Rock |
| Year Released | 2007 |
| Album | The Best Damn Thing |
In this song, the iHeartRadio Award-winning artist Avril Lavigne misses an ex-lover of hers. She is saying how much she needs him. In other words, the beginning of the song paints a portrait of her feelings about being separated from her lover. She doesn’t realize how much she misses him until she starts telling us about the memories that the two of them shared. Towards the end of the song, she says they were made for each other, but she closes the song by saying that she will be okay although she misses him.
94. Make It Go Away (Radiation Song) by Sheryl Crow
| Genre | Pop, Rock, Country |
| Year Released | 2008 |
| Album | Detours |
Grammy Award winner Sheryl Crow tells this tale from the perspective of a woman who is dying from cancer. While she is getting chemotherapy treatment, she Ponders which is worse, the thought of dying or all of the pain she’s gone through since being diagnosed with cancer. Although the song isn’t necessarily about losing a friend, I’m sure that the majority of you can imagine what it would be like to either be diagnosed with cancer or have a friend who is. Crow wanted us to think about what it would be like to be in that person’s position.
95. Fallen by Sarah McLachlan
| Genre | Pop, Alternative, Indie, Folk |
| Year Released | 2003 |
| Album | Afterglow |
Sarah McLachlan hit the proverbial nail on the head when she wrote the magnificent tune “Fallen,” which is from “Afterglow.” The song is about realizing that you have made mistakes in life and having the courage to acknowledge the hurt and the pain that you may have caused yourself and others with your decisions. She’s hit rock bottom and is trying to redeem herself by recognizing her mistakes. This song is meant to empower people by helping them to recognize the mistakes they made and not let people continue to bring them down.
96. I Miss My Homes by Master P (Featuring Pimp C, Silkk The Shocker, and Sons Of Funk)
| Genre | Rap, Hip-Hop |
| Year Released | 1997 |
| Album | Ghetto D |
Master P is a BET Hip-Hop Icon who opens by saying that he wants it to be played at funerals in the ghetto until the black-on-black crime is nonexistent. He goes on to say that in the ghetto, you never know when your time is up. He then acknowledges a friend of his who died, that was responsible for him meeting his whole crew. He also raps about how it wasn’t that long ago when he and his friend used to hang out. Now, he sees t-shirts with his friend’s face, and his child being raised without a father.
97. I Run For Life by Melissa Ethridge
| Genre | Pop, Rock, Country |
| Year Released | 2005 |
| Album | Greatest Hits: The Road Less Traveled |
Everybody has had a friend that has had some kind of illness that prevented them from doing all the things they wanted to do. Melissa Etheridge must have gone through something similar to this that inspired her to write “I Run For Life,” which is told from the perspective of someone with cancer. Because her body is full of scars from where they cut “the darkness” out, now she runs for hope, to feel, and for the truth. She also runs for her friends who are going through the same thing as her.
98. Til It Happens to You by Lady Gaga
| Genre | Pop |
| Year Released | 2021 |
| Album | Best Picture Songs |
Lady Gaga has had quite an impressive career, selling over 40.1 million albums around the world. In 2021, she released the album “Best Picture Songs,” featuring the track “Til It Happens to You.” This song is about how people always tell you that things will get better, even if they are completely unaware of the troubles that you may be going through at the time. It’s a typical response to tell someone in this situation that you don’t know how it feels until it happens to you, hence the title of the song.
99. Really Gonna Miss You by Smokey Robinson
| Genre | R&B, Soul, Motown |
| Year Released | 1998 |
| Album | The Temptations (Original Soundtrack) |
Some people come into your life, leaving a lasting impression on your heart until the day they are no longer around. Smokey Robinson must have had a friend like this that inspired this track. In that song, the R&B Motown legend Smokey Robinson sings about how hard it’s going to be facing life without his friend, although he knows that eventually, everyone has their time when they have to go. He ends the song by telling his friend that he misses them, he loves them, and that this love will never end.
100. I Have Questions by Camila Cabello
| Genre | Pop |
| Year Released | 2018 |
| Album | Camila |
If you have a friend or a romantic partner who walks out of your life, it can leave scars that are almost impossible to heal. The situation can leave you so numb that you can’t feel anything. What do you say to people like this? Wells Camila Cabello has these lyrics, “I have questions for you. Number one, tell me who you think you are. You got some nerve trying to tear my faith apart.” She goes on to say that you should have never trusted that person and wonders if they even care.
Spotify Playlist
For those of you who enjoy listening to music on Spotify, we have put together a playlist for you.
Wrap Up:
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Hi, my name is Kevin and I’m from Butler, Pennsylvania. I’ve been obsessed with music and audio gear for as long as I can remember. I started this website to help people find professional advice related to a wide range of audio topics. We have a number of Audio Engineers on our team who have been designing and fixing audio gear for decades.