Songs About Unrequited Love – The Best Way to Soothe Your Pain

Inspired by these sad feelings we decided to make our list of top ten songs about unrequited love:

1. Nina Simone – I Got It Bad (and That Ain’t Good)

This is a jazz/ pop standard composed by Duke Ellington. The lyrics were written by Paul Frances Webster. More than thirty artists have recorded a cover of this marvelous song, and we recommend Nina Simon’s version for your times of sadness.

We normally think that the one who doesn’t want us will wake up one morning madly, deeply in love with us and by that time we will be long gone. Unfortunately, it doesn’t always work that way, but here’s one fun fact from Nina Simon’s life that gives some hope. Two days before she passed away, Nina Simone received an honorary degree from the Curtis Institute that had refused to admit her as a student at the early beginning of her professional career.

In the song, the singer asks the Lord to make him love her the way he should. We do not learn from the song if her prayers remained unanswered or not.

2. Radiohead – Creep

This is the song that made the alternative rock band Radiohead famous. It was their debut single released in 1992, even though it did not have chart success early on. According to band members, this song is about an unattractive guy who’s desperately trying to get the attention of a woman he has been following around. He lacks self- confidence to approach her and, in a way, he comes to terms with the fact that he might never be hers.

3. Joan Baez – Diamonds and Rust

This song was written and performed by Joan Baez in 1975. Joan Baez was very popular at the time and in the previous years, but mostly for her cover versions. This is probably the most famous song she ever wrote. There are speculations that this song depicts her relationship with Bob Dylan even though she claimed the song was about her ex-husband David Harris.

Whoever inspired Joan Baez to write this song, we can surely thank him for that. Here, we will quote the final verses for those of you who are brokenhearted:

“It’s all come back too clearly
Yes I loved you dearly
And if you’re offering me diamonds and rust
I’ve already paid”

4. Etta James – I’d Rather Go Blind

This blues classic was written by Ellington Jordan and first recorded by Etta James. Etta later explained that he was the one who co- wrote the song, after a visit she paid Ellington Jordan while he was in prison, and after hearing his, at that time, unfinished version. However, Billy Foster was co- credited, as she explained, due to tax reasons. The song has numerous cover versions, most of which gained a lot of success.

“Something deep down in my soul said, ‘Cry, girl’
When I saw you and that girl walkin’ around”

It’s O.K. to cry, girl.

5. Tom Waits – I Hope That I Don’t Fall In Love with You

This song was written and first recorded by Tom Waits in 1973. It has had two cover versions- one recorded by Marc Cohn for the soundtrack of the film the Prince and Me, and another recorded by Hootie and the Blowfish.

This is an amazing, deep and very sensual song, and if you listen closely to the lyrics, you’ll be able to imagine yourself in the situation Tom Waits is singing about.

6. Cee Lo Green – F**k You

This song is about unrequited love, too. Sometimes, the best way to deal with the pain is to get angry. This is definitely not a sad love song, but it’s a love song nevertheless. Maybe this kind of interpretation is exactly what you need to cope with your feelings of emotional distress.

7. Aretha Franklin – How Long I have Waited

The goddess of soul, Aretha Franklin, with reference to this song in particular, once said “It’s about a relationship that did not happen. I wasn’t so disappointed or hurt because the relationship didn’t happen, but more because the other person was very kind.”

Even though we would easily assume that this is a love song, depicting the love and passion between two people, at the very end we learn that the singer wishes he were there. That is when we realize that this is a song about a relationship that didn’t happen.

8. Elvis Presley – Return to Sender

Even the King himself knew what unrequited love felt like. This is a song about a woman who keeps returning letters to their sender, a young man with whom she had an argument. He is saddened by the fact that he’s getting his letters back all the time with the words such as “return to sender”, “address unknown” and “there’s no such person” written on them.

9. Ray Charles – You Don’t Know Me

Although this list was not made in order of preference, number 9 on our list is this beautiful song performed by one of the greatest Soul legends, Ray Charles. He sings to the girl he’s in love with all those words he doesn’t have the courage to tell her in person, hoping that some day she will love him, too.

10. Rod Stewart – I Don’t Wanna Talk About It

This song was written by Danny Whitten, best known for his work with Neil Young and Crazy Horse. Whitten died at a young age, and this song remained his greatest legacy. The song was recorded by Rita Coolidge, Rod Stewart and Everything but the Girl. Listening to it, you have to wonder how often we don’t really want to talk about those things that hurt the most.

We need a bonus track for this play list and we leave it up to you. Let us know what your favorite sad love song is in the comment section below.