Breakups can be traumatic, but music can be therapeutic. I recently have been listening to some of my favorite songs to cope with the heartache I feel and to cope with the emptiness of the loss. 

There are several stages of breakup and I can’t sleep at night, bouncing from one to the other from one minute to the next. Whether you’re in the stage of shock, denial, isolation, anger, depression, self-blame, or acceptance, I’m sharing the best songs to help you stay positive through a breakup with amazing songs for every stage of this painful process.

I’ve been listening to and singing songs to express how I feel and it’s been healing and empowering to me. Below is a list of the best songs to keep you positive after a breakup.They are not all “positive songs” because the positive thing to do when you’re experiencing pain is to allow yourself to feel, even when you may consider some of these emotions to be negative, or even wrong.

Breakup Songs You Must Listen To to Stay Positive And Strong

The titles are linked to my Amazon because you can listen to them for FREE through Amazon Prime and I am an affiliate, and the lyrics are the ones I identify most with within the songs through my own journey.

Grenade, by Bruno Mars

Easy come, easy go That’s just how you live / Oh take, take, take it all but you never give / Gave you all I had and you tossed it in the trash / You tossed it in the trash, you did  / You said you love me, you’re a liar / ‘Cause you never ever, ever did baby

Water Runs Dry, by Boys II Men

We don’t even talk anymore / And we don’t even know what we argue about / Don’t even say I love you no more / ‘Cause saying how we feel is no longer allowed / Some people will work things out / And some just don’t know how to change

Take a bow, by Rihanna

Don’t tell me you’re sorry cause you’re not / Baby when I know you’re only sorry you got caught / But you put on quite a show / You really had me goin’ / But now it’s time to go / Curtains finally closin’ / That was quite a show / Very entertaining / But it’s over now / Go on and take a bow / And the award for the best liar goes to you / For makin’ me believe / That you could be / Faithful to me / Let’s hear your speech out / Oh

Sometimes Love Just Ain’t Enough, by Patty Smyth

And like a fool who will never see the truth / I keep thinking something’s gonna change / But there’s a danger in loving somebody to much / and it’s bad when you know it’s your heart they can’t trust / There’s a reason why people don’t stay who they are / Bay sometimes love just ain’t enough.

Don’t Speak by No Doubt

Our memories / Well, they can be inviting / But some are altogether / Mighty frightening / As we die, both you and I / With my head in my hands / I sit and cry / Don’t speak / I know just what you’re saying / So please stop explaining / Don’t tell me ’cause it hurts (no, no, no) / Don’t speak / I know what you’re thinking / I don’t need your reasons / Don’t tell me ’cause it hurts / It’s all ending / I gotta stop pretending who we are / You and me I can see us dying, are we?

Should’ve Said No by Taylor Swift

And I should’ve been there, in the back of your mind / I shouldn’t be asking myself why / You shouldn’t be begging for forgiveness at my feet / You should’ve said no, baby and you might still have me

Rolling In the Deep by Adele

The scars of your love remind me of us / They keep me thinking that we almost had it all / The scars of your love they leave me breathless, I can’t help feeling / We could have had it all (you’re gonna wish you never had met me) / Rolling in the deep (Tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep) / You had my heart inside of your hand (you’re gonna wish you never had met me) / And you played it to the beat (tears are gonna fall, rolling in the deep)

Leave (Get Out) by JoJo

Get out (leave) right now / It’s the end of you and me / It’s too late (now) and I can’t wait for you to be gone / You said that you would treat me right / But you were just a waste of time (waste of time)

We are Never Ever Getting Back Together by Taylor Swift

Then you come around again and say / Baby, I miss you and I swear I’m gonna change, trust me / Remember how that lasted for a day?…. / I used to think that we were forever ever, ever / And I used to say, never say never / Huh, so he calls me up and he’s like, I still love you / And I’m like I just I mean this is exhausting, you know, like / We are never getting back together like, ever / We are never ever, ever getting back together / We! Are never ever, ever getting back together / You go talk to your friends, talk to my friends, talk to me / But we are never ever ever ever getting back together

What About Us? by P!NK

What about us? / What about all the times you said you had the answers? / What about us? / What about all the broken happy ever afters? / What about us? / What about all the plans that ended in disaster? / What about love? What about trust? / What about us?

Jar of Hearts by Christina Perri

Who do you think you are? / Runnin’ ’round leaving scars / Collecting your jar of hearts / And tearing love apart / You’re gonna catch a cold / From the ice inside your soul / So don’t come back for me / Who do you think you are?

What Goes Around…Comes Around by Justin Timberlake

Don’t want to think about it / Don’t want to talk about it / I’m just so sick about it / Can’t believe it’s ending this way / Just so confused about it / Feeling the blues about it / Tell me, is this fair? / Is this the way it’s really going down? / Is this how we say goodbye? / Should have known better when you came around / That you were gonna make me cry / It’s breaking my heart to watch you run around / ‘Cause I know that you’re living a lie / That’s okay, baby, ’cause in time you will find / What goes around, goes around, goes around / Comes all the way back around

Behind These Hazel Eyes by Kelly Clarkson

Here I am / Once again / I’m torn into pieces / Can’t deny it / Can’t pretend / Just thought you were the one / Broken up deep inside / But you won’t get to see the tears I cry / Behind these hazel eyes

Fix You by Coldplay

When you try your best but you don’t succeed / When you get what you want but not what you need / When you feel so tired but you can’t sleep / Stuck in reverse / When the tears come streaming down your face / ‘Cause you lose something you can’t replace / When you love someone but it goes to waste / What could it be worse?

My Immortal by Evanescence

I’m so tired of being here / Suppressed by all my childish fears / And if you have to leave / I wish that you would just leave / ‘Cause your presence still lingers here / And it won’t leave me alone / These wounds won’t seem to heal, this pain is just too real / There’s just too much that time cannot erase / When you cried, I’d wipe away all of your tears / When you’d scream, I’d fight away all of your fears / And I held your hand through all of these years / But you still have all of me…. / I’ve tried so hard to tell myself that you’re gone / But though you’re still with me, I’ve been alone all along

Big Girls Cry by SIA

I may cry ruinin’ my makeup / Wash away all the things you’ve taken / And I don’t care if I don’t look pretty / Big girls cry when their hearts are breaking / Big girls cry when their hearts are breaking / Big girls cry when their hearts is breaking

Because of You by Kelly Clarkson

Because of you / I never stray too far from the sidewalk / Because of you / I learned to play on the safe side so I don’t get hurt / Because of you / I find it hard to trust not only me, but everyone around me / Because of you / I am afraid

Not the Only One by Sam Smith

You and me we made a vow / For better or for worse / I can’t believe you let me down / But the proof is in the way it hurts / For months on end I’ve had my doubts / Denying every tear / I wish this would be over now / But I know that I still need you here / You say I’m crazy / ‘Cause you don’t think I know what you’ve done / But when you call me baby / I know I’m not the only one / You’ve been so unavailable / Now sadly I know why / Your heart is unobtainable / Even though, Lord knows, you kept mine

Breakeven by The Script

They say bad things happen for a reason / But no wise words gonna stop the bleeding / And what am I supposed to say when I’m all choked up and you’re OK / I’m falling to pieces, yeah

Me and My Broken Heart by Rixton

Shotgun, aimed at my heart, you got one / Tear me apart and then some / How do we call this love / Maybe some part of you just hates me / You pick me up and play me / How do we call this love

Apologize by Timbaland ft. One Republic

You tell me that you need me / Then you go and cut me down / But wait / You tell me that you’re sorry / Didn’t think I’d turn around / And say / That it’s too late to apologize / It’s too late / Said it’s too late to apologize / It’s too late

Torn by Natalie Imbruglia

Well you couldn’t be that man I adored / You don’t seem to know, don’t seem to care / What your heart is for / No, I don’t know him anymore / There’s nothing where he used to lie / Conversation has run dry / That’s what’s going on / Nothing’s fine, I’m torn / I’m all out of faith / This is how I feel, I’m cold and I am shamed / Lying naked on the floor / Illusion never changed / Into something real / I’m wide awake and I can see the perfect sky is torn

Maggie May by Rod Stewart

I know I keep you amused but I feel I’m being used / ….I couldn’t have tried any more / You lured me away from home just to save you from being alone / You stole my heart and that’s what really hurt

I Can’t Make You Love Me by Bonnie Raitt

‘Cause I can’t make you love me if you don’t / You can’t make your heart feel something it won’t / Here in the dark, in these final hours / I will lay down my heart and I’ll feel the power / But you won’t, no you won’t / ‘Cause I can’t make you love me, if you don’t

Yesterday by The Beatles

Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away / Now it looks as though they’re here to stay / Oh, I believe in yesterday

Too Good at Goodbyes by Sam Smith

I know you’re thinking I’m heartless / I know you’re thinking I’m cold / I’m just protecting my innocence / I’m just protecting my soul

Human by Christina Perri

I can take so much / Until I’ve had enough / ‘Cause I’m only human / And I bleed when I fall down / I’m only human / And I crash and I break down / Your words in my head, knives in my heart / You build me up and then I fall apart / ‘Cause I’m only human, yeah

Exchange Of Hearts by David Slater

When time turns the tables and soon I’ll be able / To find a new romance / And then you’ll remember my love warm and tender / Too late for a second chance / If we had an exchange of hearts / Then you’d know why I fell apart / You’d feel the pain when the mem’ries start / If we had an exchange of hearts

Total Eclipse of the Heart by Bonnie Tyler

Every now and then / I get a little bit tired / Of listening to the sound of my tears / Once upon a time I was falling in love / But now I’m only falling apart / There’s nothing I can do / A total eclipse of the heart / Once upon a time there was light in my life / But now there’s only love in the dark / Nothing I can say / A total eclipse of the heart

What Hurts the Most by Rascal Flatts

It’s hard to deal with the pain of losin’ you everywhere I go / But I’m doing it / It’s hard to force that smile when I see our old friends and I’m alone / Still harder gettin’ up, gettin’ dressed…

How Can You Mend a Broken Heart by BeGees

I could never see tomorrow / But I was never told about the sorrow / How can you mend a broken heart? / How can you stop the rain from falling down? / How can you stop the sun from shining? / What makes the world go round? / How can you mend this broken man? / How can a loser ever win? / Please help me mend my broken heart / And let me live again

Have You Ever by Brandy

Have you ever found the one / You’ve dreamed of all of your life / Just about anything to look into their eyes / Have you finally found the one you’ve given your heart to / Only to find that one won’t give their heart to you

Tears by Clean Bandit ft. Louisa Johnson

And the truth will always haunt me / Even though it set me free….. / Why do you wanna put me through the pain? / I get the feeling I’ll never escape / I can’t hide away from the shame of you / Tears on the ground, tears on my pillow / You won’t bring me down / And I’ll get over you / These tears will get me through / And I’ll get over you….. / When did you lose your emotion? / When did you become so cruel? / And if you want to cut me open / Says a thousands words ’bout you

Praying by Ke$ha

‘Cause you brought the flames and you put me through hell / I had to learn how to fight for myself / And we both know all the truth I could tell / I’ll just say this is “I wish you farewell” / I hope you’re somewhere prayin’, prayin’ / I hope your soul is changin’, changin’ / I hope you find your peace / Falling on your knees, prayin’… / Ah sometimes, I pray for you at night, oh / Someday, maybe you’ll see the light / Whoa oh oh oh, some say, in life, you’re gonna get what you give / But some things only God can forgive’

Stitches by Shawn Mendes

I thought that I’ve been hurt before / But no one’s ever left me quite this sore / Your words cut deeper than a knife / Now I need someone to breathe me back to life / Got a feeling that I’m going under / But I know that I’ll make it out alive / If I quit calling you my lover / Move on

The Power of Goodbye by Madonna

Your heart is not open so I must go / The spell has been broken, I loved you so / Freedom comes when you learn to let go / Creation comes when you learn to say no / There’s nothing left to try / There’s no place left to hide / There’s no greater power / Than the power of good-bye

Break My Stride by Matthew Wilder

Ain’t nothin’ gonna break-a my stride / Nobody gonna slow me down / Oh no, oh no, I got to keep on moving / Ain’t nothin’ gonna break-a my stride / I’m running and I won’t touch ground / Oh no, I got to keep on movin’

Since U Been Gone by Kelly Clarkson

Here’s the thing / We started out friends / It was cool, but it was all pretend / Yeah, yeah / Since you been gone…. / How come I’ve never heard you say / I just want to be with you? / Guess you never felt that way / But since you been gone / I can breathe for the first time / I’m so moving on / Yeah, yeah / Thanks to you / Now I get what I want / Since you been gone / You had your chance, you blew it / Out of sight, out of mind / Shut your mouth, I just can’t take it / Again, and again, and again, and again

Survivor by Destiny’s Child

I’m a survivor (what), I’m not gon’ give up (what) / I’m not gon’ stop (what), I’m gon’ work harder (what) / I’m a survivor (what), I’m gonna make it (what) / I will survive (what), keep on survivin’ (what) / Wishin’ you the best, pray that you are blessed / Much success, no stress, and lots of happiness / (I’m better than that) I’m not gon’ blast you on the radio / (I’m better than that) I’m not gon’ lie on you and your family, oh / (I’m better than that) I’m not gon’ hate on you in the magazines / (I’m better than that) I’m not gon’ compromise my Christianity / (I’m better than that) you know I’m not gon’ diss you on the internet / ‘Cause my momma taught me better than that!

Stronger by Kelly Clarkson

Thanks to you I got a new thing started / Thanks to you I’m not the broken-hearted / Thanks to you I’m finally thinking ’bout me / You know in the end the day you left was just my beginning / In the end / What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger / Stand a little taller / Doesn’t mean I’m lonely when I’m alone / What doesn’t kill you makes a fighter / Footsteps even lighter / Doesn’t mean I’m over ’cause you’re gone / What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, stronger / Just me, myself and / What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger / Stand a little taller / Doesn’t mean I’m lonely when I’m alone

I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor

Go on now, go, walk out the door / Just turn around now / ‘Cause you’re not welcome anymore / Weren’t you the one who tried to hurt me with goodbye / Do you think I’d crumble / Did you think I’d lay down and die? / Oh no, not I, I will survive / Oh, as long as I know how to love, I know I’ll stay alive / I’ve got all my life to live / And I’ve got all my love to give and I’ll survive / I will survive, hey, hey

Fight Song by Rachel Platten

This is my fight song / Take back my life song / Prove I’m alright song / My power’s turned on / Starting right now I’ll be strong / ‘Ill play my fight song / And I don’t really care if nobody else believes / ‘Cause I’ve still got a lot of fight left in me

Girl On Fire by Alicia Keys

Oh, she got both feet on the ground / And she’s burning it down / Oh, she got her head in the clouds / And she’s not backing down / This girl is on fire / This girl is on fire / She’s walking on fire / This girl is on fire   

Firework by Katy Perry

If you only knew what the future holds / After a hurricane comes a rainbow / Maybe a reason why all the doors are closed / So you can open one that leads you to the perfect road / Like a lightning bolt, your heart will glow / And when it’s time, you’ll know

Brave by Sara Bareilles

Innocence, your history of silence / Won’t do you any good / Did you think it would? / Let your words be anything but empty / Why don’t you tell them the truth? / Say what you wanna say / And let the words fall out / Honestly I wanna see you be brave / With what you want to say / And let the words fall out / Honestly I wanna see you be brave

Roar by Katy Perry

I used to bite my tongue and hold my breath / Scared to rock the boat and make a mess / So I sat quietly, agreed politely / I guess that I forgot I had a choice / I let you push me past the breaking point / I stood for nothing, so I fell for everything / You held me down, but I got up (hey!) / Already brushing off the dust / You hear my voice, your hear that sound / Like thunder, gonna shake the ground / You held me down, but I got up / Get ready ’cause I had enough / I see it all, I see it now / I got the eye of the tiger, a fighter / Dancing through the fire / ‘Cause I am a champion, and you’re gonna hear me roar

Thick Skin by Leona Lewis

You can say anything you wanna say / Hate me, but I’m gonna love you anyway / If you didn’t have a wall to hide behind / Bet you’d fall to pieces when your eyes met mine / You can throw your daggers, you can sink ’em in / It don’t matter, I got thick skin / You can knock me down, but I’ll get up again / Cause I’m stronger than your bruises, I got thick skin / Cause I’m stronger than your bruises, I got thick skin

Big Girls Don’t Cry by Fergie

I need some shelter of my own protection, baby / To be with myself and center / Clarity, peace, serenity / The path that I’m walking / I must go alone / I must take the baby steps till I’m full grown, full grown / Fairy tales don’t always have a happy ending, do they? / And I foresee the dark ahead if I stay

Better in Time by Leona Lewis

Thought I couldn’t live without you / It’s going to hurt when it heals too / Oh yeah (It’ll all get better in time) / Even though I really love you / I’m gonna smile because I deserve to / Oh (It’ll all get better in time) / Since there’s no more you and me (No more you and me) / This time I let you go so I can be free / And live my life how it should be (No no no no no no) / No matter how hard it is / I will be fine without you / Yes I will

Pocketful of Sunshine by Natasha Bedingfield

Do what you want, but you’re never gonna break me. / Sticks and stones are never gonna shake me.

Just Fine by Mary J. Blige

No time for moping around, are you kidding / And no time for negative vibes, cause I’m winning / It’s been a long week, I put in my hardest / Gonna live my life, feels so good to get it right / So I like what I see when I’m looking at me / When I’m walking past the mirror / No stress through the night, at a time in my life / Ain’t worried about if you feel it / Got my head on straight, I got my mind right / I ain’t gonna let you kill it / You see I wouldn’t change my life, my life’s just / Fine

You’ll See by Madonna

You think that you are strong, but you are weak / You’ll see / It takes more strength to cry, admit defeat / I have truth on my side / You only have deceit / You’ll see, somehow, someday / All by myself / I don’t need anyone at all / I know I’ll survive / I know I’ll stay alive

Which is your favorite breakup song from my list? Which stage of a breakup are you on right now? Which breakup song would you add? Share with us in the comments below. Sending you a BIG HUG!

[ela]