Valentine’s day isn’t always for everyone. There are people who are single, by choice or not, and the broken hearted. In light of a bad situation, or not so bad for some, NECM put together a list of the Top 15 Best Country Breakup Songs. Some of these songs may be a sensitive subject and may not be the best to listen to at this time, so listener discretion is advised – or at least with tissues.
15.) ‘Goodbye In Her Eyes’ by Zac Brown Band
In a song all too familiar with relationships, ZBB cuts right the chase in dealing with a love that’s disappeared. The woman he loves no longer feels the same way, and it tears him apart knowing that he can see it in her eyes and actions.
Favorite Lyrics: He’s gonna love the way you shine, so did I…
14.) ‘She Wouldn’t Be Gone’ by Blake Shelton
In a song that depicts what you should have done to keep the girl, Shelton discusses the way men think once they lose the one they want. It’s too late to love her the way she deserves to be loved in the end of the relationship. If you had shown her love and appreciation since the beginning, she may still be with you.
Favorite Lyrics: If I hadn’t been so stubborn, been so selfish, thought about her more, thought about me less…
13.) ‘Before He Cheats’ by Carrie Underwood
Carrie Underwood has truly created an anthem for women to sing at the top of their lungs in the event that something like this were to happen to them. In a song that embodies confidence, Underwood goes right to throat of men and doesn’t hold back. Every girl deserves to sing this song as loud as they want if they’ve ever been treated this way.
Favorite Lyrics: I might’ve saved a little trouble for the next girl. ‘Cause the next time that he cheats…Oh, you know it won’t be on me!
12.) ‘Break Up In A Small Town’ by Sam Hunt
I think we all can agree that Sam Hunt’s ‘Montevallo’ album was the epitome of a breakup album, however we chose ‘Break Up In A Small Town’ as the one to make our list. With upbeat tempos, the song becomes less sad. For those of you who live in a small town, you can understand how hard it is to break up with someone because you can’t escape them.
Favorite Lyrics: I wanna fight, I wanna say, “… that guy!” but I can’t. It’s my fault, I let her go…
11.) ‘Settle For A Slowdown’ by Dierks Bentley
Dierks goes with a slow melody for this breakup song. It talks about a breakup where the guy hopes for the girl to change her mind. In this case, she drives away from him and although it hurts him so bad to see her drive away and not look back, he hopes that she’ll at least slowdown.
Favorite Lyrics: I held on longer than I should, believing you might change your mind…
10.) ‘Dancin’ Away With My Heart’ by Lady Antebellum
Lady Antebellum truly does it with this beautiful song. Be careful, this is a definite crier song – tissues will be needed. What can be sadder than a love that you had when you were young, and still missing and loving them years later after you’ve drifted apart? ‘Dancing Away With My Heart’ is exactly that in song form.
Favorite Lyrics: I can still feel you lean into kiss me, I can’t help but wonder if you ever miss me…
9.) ‘Over You’ by Miranda Lambert
Grab another box of tissues for this song, too! Miranda Lambert brings forth lyrics so raw and real in this truthful breakup song. ‘Over You’ is a telling song on how a breakup takes a toll so hard on someone. It is hard to get over the person you’ve loved and she isn’t sure when it will ever be okay again.
Favorite Lyrics: I miss you. They say I’ll be okay, but I’m not going to ever get over you.
8.) ‘The Dance’ by Garth Brooks
‘The Dance’ is a song that can resonate with a lot of people. Despite the love you have for someone, sometimes it is better to follow the signs and end things when they are not the same anymore. Even though you “don’t want to miss the dance” and holding the one you love, it is sometimes for the best.
Favorite Lyrics: Our lives are better left to chance I could have missed the pain, but I’d have had to miss the dance.
7.) ‘Break Up With Him’ by Old Dominion
The boys of OD have brought to us a not-so-original breakup song, but it fits perfectly into our list. The song begs a girl to breakup with her boyfriend, when she clearly has had enough of him and his ordeals. There is convincing going on throughout the whole song to try and get the girl to be with him because he can tell that there are feelings underlying.
Favorite Lyrics: Girl, you know it can’t wait. Rip it off just like a band-aid…
6.) ‘What Hurts The Most’ by Rascal Flatts
Ever lose someone and not have the chance to say everything you wanted to say to them? Or maybe not even get to experience what life could be like with them by your side? Rascal Flatts sing this song on that basis and it has a truthful ring to it.
Favorite Lyrics: And never knowing what could have been. And not seeing that loving you, is what I was trying to do.
5.) ‘He Stopped Loving Her Today’ by George Jones
A song of holding out hope of his love returning, George Jones goes right to pulling on the heartstrings with this beautiful song. A man made a promise to love a woman until the day he died, however, she did not return the favor of loving him. He continued to hold out hope until he died. She went to see him one last time, and it was a surreal moment to realize that he didn’t love her anymore.
Favorite Lyrics: He said I’ll love you til I die. She told him you’ll forget in time…
4.) ‘Stay’ by Florida Georgia Line
In this commonly known breakup song, ‘Stay’ deals with the hardships of wanting the one you love to stay with you, even if you didn’t treat them as good as they deserved. While you have them, you feel that you don’t have to remind them of why you love them and how much you need/want them in your life. However, these words are the only ones that seem to want to come out when it is too late.
Favorite Lyrics: I’d sell my soul just to see your face and I’d break my bones just to heal your pain.
3.) ‘Why’ by Jason Aldean
‘Why’ does a great job of portraying people acting negatively towards the ones they love but still not knowing why they do it. Things can be said and not taken back, but you end up regretting them every time. Although you would never want them to leave you, you continue to push them towards that option.
Favorite Lyrics: I know I’d never let you walk away, so why do I push you ’til you break? And why are you always on the verge of good-bye…
2.) ‘The Truth’ by Jason Aldean
In back to back songs about breakups and sadness in relationships by Jason Aldean, ‘The Truth’ hits a little closer to home, for some. The guy in this song is asking the girl to tell everyone that asks her where he is to lie and say he’s out on the road or doing something extravagant instead of the fact that they aren’t together. However, he loves the girl beyond words and still needs her, and that’s the honest truth.
Favorite Lyrics: I still need you. Yeah, that’s the truth. I still love you…
1.) ‘You Don’t Know Her Like I Do’ by Brantley Gilbert
In our number one song pick of breakup songs, we went with Mr. Brantley Gilbert’s ‘You Don’t Know Her Like I Do.’ A breakup can shatter someone’s entire world, especially if you’re losing not only a significant other, but a best friend as well. Although everyone is telling you to move on and cope, there is no way that you can that easily. It takes a lot out of you when a breakup like this happens, and a piece of you goes missing when it does. Gilbert puts it perfectly into words and that’s why he takes the cake with this song.
Favorite Lyrics: ‘Cause you don’t know her like I do, you’ll never understand. You don’t know we’ve been through, that girl’s my best friend…
And there is our list of Top 15 Best Country Breakup Songs! Although Valentine’s Day isn’t for everyone, at least you get to spend it with some heart wrenching songs from good country artists.