Nobody likes to feel lonely, but unfortunately, it is part of the human condition. Loneliness is often caused by life events, isolation, poor self-awareness, and difficulty with assertiveness. Being that it’s so common, many songs about being alone have been written by many of the most famous artists and musicians over the years.
Regardless of how you’re feeling now, remember things can always get better, and there are people out there who can help you. In the meantime, throw on some of these tunes, and know that nobody has to be completely alone in this world.
Table of Contents
1. Boulevard of Broken Dreams by Green Day
| Genre | Punk Rock |
| Year Released | 2004 |
| Album | American Idiot |
In 2004, Green Day stunned fans and critics by releasing the highly-anticipated and critically-praised rock opera “American Idiot.” The album follows the story of a character called Jesus of Suburbia, and “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” follows the character after the proverbial party has ended, and he finds himself alone and on the streets of a city that doesn’t care about him. He becomes so accustomed to doing things on his own that it becomes the only thing he knows. He begs for someone to find him, but he has to do it alone.
2. I Get Lonely Too by Drake
| Genre | Rap, Hip Hop |
| Year Released | 2019 |
| Album | Care Package |
Being one of the most successful artists in the world must get lonely at times. You never know who you can trust because it always seems like everybody wants something from you. One of the most common misconceptions about being rich is that you are always surrounded by people who adore you. The truth is that you may always be surrounded by people who are using you or whom you employ. On his single “I Get Lonely Too” from 2019’s “Care Package,” Drake wants somebody to spend time with, with no strings attached.
3. Through Glass by Stone Sour
| Genre | Alternative Metal |
| Year Released | 2006 |
| Album | Come What(ever) May |
Let me preface this by saying that this is one of the more complicated songs I’ve ever tried to interpret. Found on Stone Sour’s 2006 album “Come What(ever) May,” this track can have several interpretations. It all depends on the experience of the listener to determine which one fits best. Personally, the interpretation I like best is the one that says that lead vocalist Corey Taylor is speaking to someone lonely, hanging out on the outer fringe of society for some time, and trying to befriend them.
4. Sleeping By Myself by Pearl Jam
| Genre | Grunge,Alternative Rock |
| Year Released | 2013 |
| Album | Lightning Bolt |
Moving on from a relationship can be a difficult and lonely experience, especially when your partner is unfaithful. That’s the message conveyed by the multiple award-winning band’s Pearl Jam song “Sleeping By Myself,” featured on their 2013 effort, “Lightning Bolt.” In this song, lead vocalist Eddie Vedder sings about how the hurt may not show, but he doesn’t know if we could ever be with a new one else. His faith in love has been destroyed, as illustrated in the lines “I believe in love and disaster. Sometimes the two are just the same.”
5. Zero by Smashing Pumpkins
| Genre | Post Grunge, Alternative Rock |
| Year Released | 1995 |
| Album | Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness |
In 1995, the Smashing Pumpkins followed up the success of their breakthrough album “Siamese Dream” with the ambitious, diamond-certified double album “Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness.” One of the standout tracks on the album was the short but powerful “Zero,” which is a twisted tale of lead vocalist William Patrick’s loneliness and despair. In this song, it’s almost as if he equates being lonely with being a divine experience, as heard in the line, “Emptiness is loneliness, and loneliness is cleanliness, and cleanliness is godliness, and God is empty just like me.”
6. Beautiful by Eminem
| Genre | Rap, Hip Hop |
| Year Released | 2009 |
| Album | Relapse |
Eminem is another artist who’s had his struggles with addiction in the past. Fortunately, Marshall Mathers has managed to conquer these demons and get sober, but it was apparent that he was struggling with some of his earlier work. This can be best heard on his 2009 album “Relapse,” which is proof that bad times can fall on practically anybody, even if they’ve sold over 127 million albums worldwide. One of the record’s hit singles, “Beautiful,” is a story of feeling isolated and alone, continually picking yourself up and doing it all over again.
7. Leave Me Alone (I’m Lonely) by Pink
| Genre | Pop |
| Year Released | 2006 |
| Album | I’m Not Dead |
There comes a time in every relationship when you need time apart to be able to decompress and breathe. If you are with someone day in and day out, you never get the chance to truly miss them. Over time, these feelings slowly build until they reach a point where you just want to shout, “Will you go away for a minute!” Then, when they finally do go away, you find yourself missing them. This must be what was going through Pink’s head when she wrote this track from 2006’s “I’m Not Dead.”
8. Everybody’s Got Somebody But Me by Hunter Hayes (Featuring Jason Mraz)
| Genre | Country |
| Year Released | 2011 |
| Album | Hunter Hayes |
You may never feel more lonely in your life than when you are surrounded by people in happy relationships, especially when you are by yourself. It’s hard to look around and realize that everybody around you has somebody except you. This is particularly true when you have just gone through a bad breakup, and these are the times when you don’t feel like being around anyone. If you can relate to this scenario, then you can relate to “Everybody’s Got Somebody But Me,” which is found on his 2011 self-titled debut album.
9. Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely by The Backstreet Boys
| Genre | Pop, Boy Band |
| Year Released | 1999 |
| Album | Millennium |
The Backstreet Boys are not only the best-selling boy band in history, but they are also one of the best-selling musical groups in history, with over 130 million albums sold worldwide. In 1999, they released the appropriately titled album “Millennium,” which was also their first number-one album on the Billboard 200. That album featured the track “Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely,” which was the Backstreet Boys’ second-highest charting single ever. The song tells the age-old tale of unrequited love and how the narrator longs to be with this special girl.
10. Only Lonely by Bon Jovi
| Genre | Hard Rock, Hair Metal |
| Year Released | 1987 |
| Album | Light of Day (Original Soundtrack) |
In 1987, Paul Schrader directed a movie starring Joan Jett and Michael J Fox called “Light of Day.” The basic premise of the movie was that two siblings have to decide whether to obey their mother’s wishes and stay home and get regular jobs or take their younger sibling and go on tour with their rock band. The movie had a great soundtrack with a song from Bon Jovi called “Only Lonely,” which is about how people who are the most lonesome and heartbroken tend to hurt each other the most in relationships.
11. Owner Of A Lonely Heart by Yes
| Genre | Progressive Rock, Classic Rock |
| Year Released | 1983 |
| Album | 90125 |
If I had to sum up the meaning of this song, it would be that the only way to avoid getting your heart broken is to never give it away in the first place. Many people have found other interpretations of this song that may suit their situations, but I found that this interpretation is the simplest and easiest explanation for the lyrics to this Grammy-nominated track, which is from Yes’s 1983 breakout release, “90125.” It’s about going through the motions, never taking the chance to do anything risky, new, or exciting.
12. Lonely by Da Baby and Lil Wayne
| Genre | Rap, Hip Hop |
| Year Released | 2021 |
| Album | Lonely |
One trend that has started to gain traction in rap and hip-hop music that was once considered taboo is addressing mental health concerns through music. This can be heard on the title track from DaBaby’s 2021 release “Lonely.” With a little help from one of the rap game’s premiere emcees, Lil Wayne, he discusses a few of the things that have been affecting his mental health, including his brother’s suicide. He goes on to mention the loneliness he feels from his brother not being able to share in his fortune and success.
13. How Soon Is Now? by The Smiths
| Genre | Alternative Rock |
| Year Released | 1984 |
| Album | Hatful of Hollow |
Manchester’s The Smiths were the hottest alternative rock band of the 1980s, fronted by the enigmatic singer simply known as Morrissey. They released four studio albums, three EPs, and one live album before dissolving in 1987. One of the band’s most beloved tracks was “How Soon Is Now,” which was originally a B-side included in 1984’s compilation album “Hatful of Hollow.” In the song, Morrissey sings about being shy to a point in which it is criminally vulgar and declares that he is human and needs to be loved, just like everybody else.
14. Lonely Tonight by Blake Shelton (Featuring Ashley Monroe)
| Genre | Country |
| Year Released | 2014 |
| Album | Bringing Back the Sunshine |
When a couple breaks up, we usually think that our ex is out, having the time of their life. However, they may be sitting home alone, too. In this tune from 2014’s “Bringing Back the Sunshine,” Blake Shelton confesses to his ex-partner that he is lonely without her and says that they don’t have to be lonely anymore. He says that he misses her kiss and he misses her touch. Shelton goes on to say that he could be there in five minutes so she can hold him until the heartache goes away. This is one of the most famous songs about exes of all time.
15. Away From the Sun by 3 Doors Down
| Genre | Alternative Rock |
| Year Released | 2000 |
| Album | The Better Life |
Have you ever gone through a rough time in your life when it just seems like nothing would go right? Then, when something does go right, it seems like you are knocked right back down again. Most of us have experienced a rough patch like this at least a couple of times in our lives, and that’s what lead vocalist Brad Arnold says that this track from 3 Doors Down’s 2000 debut “The Better Life” is about. It’s good to know that there are famous artists who have been through these things too. This is one of my personal favorite songs about being alone of all time.
16. Given Up by Linkin Park
| Genre | Alternative Metal, Numbers Metal |
| Year Released | 2007 |
| Album | Minutes To Midnight |
There’s no feeling nearly as dreadful as hopelessness. Feeling like there is nothing that you can do to help yourself and coming to the conclusion that giving up is your only option has got to be one of the saddest moments of your life. That’s the feeling that’s being conveyed in Linkin Park’s track “Given Up” from 2007’s “Minutes To Midnight.” What’s especially eerie is that lead vocalist Chester Bennington killed himself not long after Lincoln Park broke up. To think that this was one of his final hits really hits home. This is certainly one of those songs that will make you cry, especially given its background.
17. Only the Lonely by The Motels
| Genre | Alternative Pop, New Wave |
| Year Released | 1982 |
| Album | All Four One |
The Motels are a new wave band hailing from Berkeley, California, that formed in 1971 as The Warfield Foxes. The band moved to Los Angeles in 1975, changing its name to Angels of Mercy, then The Motels. Their first taste of success came in 1982 when they reached the number nine spot on the Billboard Hot 100 with their single “Only the Lonely” from their album “All Four One.” The track is about two people who used to be together and are lonely without each other. They know that they should be together.
18. Sometimes I Cry by Chris Stapleton
| Genre | Country |
| Year Released | 2015 |
| Album | Traveler |
Chris Stapleton announced his arrival in 2015 with his acclaimed debut album “Traveler.” One of the best moments from that year’s Academy of Country Music’s Album of the Year was the ballad “Sometimes I Cry,” which displayed the singer-songwriter’s incredibly powerful vocals. The lyrics in this song could be anybody pretending like everything’s okay, although they can’t move one fork someone. They could be dying inside from loneliness, missing someone dearly. That same person you always see smiling could be crying a river of tears behind closed doors for the love they lost. This is one of my personal favorite songs about missing someone by one of my favorite country singers.
19. Lonely at the Top by Jamey Johnson
| Genre | Country |
| Year Released | 2010 |
| Album | The Guitar Song |
Sometimes, it takes looking at things from another person’s perspective to see how lucky you are and how good you have it. This is the story being told by country music star Jamey Johnson in his song “Lonely at the Top,” which is from his 2010 album “The Guitar Song.” Johnson is at a bar, telling a stranger about the problems with being a star, when he hears the stranger say something that changed his outlook. That line was, “It might be lonely at the top, but it’s a bitch at the bottom.”
20. Am I Inside by Alice In Chains
| Genre | Grunge |
| Year Released | 1992 |
| Album | Sap EP |
Alice In Chains frontman Lane Staley’s battles with drug addiction is well documented, with the singer sadly succumbing to an overdose in April of 2002. Those who are familiar with Alice In Chains’ work know that Staley’s lyrics came from a dark place and were frequently about his battles with heroin. In 1992, the band released an EP of acoustic tracks called “Sap,” which included the haunting “Am I Inside” that featured guest vocals from Ann Wilson of Heart. This song documented Lane Staley’s slow withdrawal from society due to his drug use.
21. Yours If You Want It by Rascal Flatts
| Genre | Country |
| Year Released | 2017 |
| Album | Back To Us |
Rascal Flatts has had a long, storied career, starting in 2001 when they took home the Academy Of Country Music Award for Best New Artist, to getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, to winning the 2021 Cliffie Stone Icon Award. This band has won it all, including an astonishing 11 ACM awards. In 2017, the Grammy-nominated band released “Back To Us,” featuring “Yours If You Want It.” The song is a bittersweet tale in which lead vocalist Gary LeVox offers his heart to that special someone if they want it.
22. Locomotive by Guns N’ Roses
| Genre | Hard Rock, Metal |
| Year Released | 1991 |
| Album | Use Your Illusion II |
At a time when the Sunset Strip was littered with hair metal acts, Guns N’ Roses was the antithesis of glam rock. After launching the greatest debut album of all time, they had no other choice but to top that by following up with two double albums released on the same day, which was 1991’s “Use Your Illusion I & II.” While these albums had their fair share of hits, one of the most overlooked tracks on the second album was “Locomotive,” which is an honest and emphatic look at Axl Rose’s loneliness.
23. Laid To Rest by Lamb Of God
| Genre | Groove Metal |
| Year Released | 2004 |
| Album | Ashes Of the Wake |
Richmond, Virginia’s Lamb of God, is not your typical, run-of-the-mill hardcore groove metal band. Lead vocalist Randy Blythe gets inspiration for his lyrics from everything ranging from personal experiences to socially conscious environmental awareness. There are also messages about how destructive addiction can be, like in “Laid To Rest,” which is the opening track from 2004’s “Ashes Of the Wake.” One of the more interesting interpretations I have heard about this song is that it’s about an addict who is talking to himself about his isolation from society due to his drug use.
24. Out of Touch by Hall & Oates
| Genre | Pop, R&B |
| Year Released | 1984 |
| Album | Big Bam Boom |
Few R&B acts have seen as much success as Philadelphia’s Hall & Oates, who have had 16 top-ten hits, with six of those going all the way up to the number-one spot on Billboard’s Hot 100. One of those number-one hits was the track “Out of Touch, which is from 1984’s triple-platinum “Big Bam Boom.” This song is about how physical intimacy isn’t enough to sustain a relationship. It’s about how you can still feel lonely when you are romantically involved with someone if there isn’t a deeper connection.
25. Life Goes On by Poison
| Genre | Hair Metal, Glam Rock |
| Year Released | 1990 |
| Album | Flesh and Blood |
Touring takes its toll on plenty of bands and artists. There are times when you are on the road for a year at a time, which means missed opportunities to spend time with the ones you love. Besides your family, one person you may miss the most while you are on tour is your significant other. There’s something to be said for getting the chance to lie next to this person every night, especially when you’ve had a hard day. That’s the message behind Poison’s “Life Goes On,” from 1990’s “Flesh and Blood.”
26. Alone Again by Dokken
| Genre | Hair Metal, Glam Rock |
| Year Released | 1984 |
| Album | Tooth and Nail |
Dokken was one of the premier hair metal bands of the 1980s, thanks and no small part to power ballads like “Alone Again,” which was the featured track from 1984’s “Tooth and Nail.” This song not only helped the album sell over a million copies but also became one of Dokken’s signature songs. As you might expect from the title, the song tells the tale of a guy who has been unceremoniously dumped by his girlfriend; although he begged and pleaded with her to stay with him, she refused and left anyway. IF you’re looking for sad songs about being alone, this is definitely one you’ll want to have on your playlist.
27. Lonely Boy by The Black Keys
| Genre | Indie Rock, Alternative Rock |
| Year Released | 2013 |
| Album | El Camino |
If the album “Brothers” was The Black Keys’ breakthrough to commercial success, then their follow-up” El Camino” opened the proverbial floodgates. The record won the 2013 Grammy Award for Best Rock Album, and its hit single “Lonely Boy” won the Grammy for Best Rock Performance. This song tells two separate tales of loneliness. The first is when a guy is abruptly left by his lover, leaving him sad, isolated, and alone. The second is from the perspective of the girl who left him, who was abandoned by her father many years before.
28. Cruel Summer by Bananarama
| Genre | Pop, New Wave |
| Year Released | 1983 |
| Album | High Life |
I could be wrong, but I always thought that this song was about a young couple who parted ways after high school, with one of them going off to live in a big city and the other either going somewhere else or staying behind. The narrator is singing about being left on her own because her significant other didn’t want to leave the comfort of their small, quiet town and move to the big city. In this track from 1983’s “High Life,” she finds that life without her ex is lonely and cruel.
29. Drive by The Cars
| Genre | Alternative Pop, Alternative Rock |
| Year Released | 1984 |
| Album | Heartbeat City |
The Cars released their fifth studio album, “Heartbeat City,” in 1984. That album featured the band’s highest charting single to date, “Drive,” which peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100. The track was also nominated for a Grammy Award in 1985 and is told from the perspective of the narrator, who is watching his ex-girlfriend’s life fall apart after their breakup. It makes him sad to know that she is so lonely, and he wonders aloud if she will ever find someone else who will love her the way he did. If you’re looking for sad breakup songs, this is certainly one that won’t disappoint.
30. Loner by Black Sabbath
| Genre | Heavy Metal |
| Year Released | 2013 |
| Album | 13 |
Who knew that the Godfathers of Heavy Metal wouldn’t take home their first Grammy Award or hit the number-one spot on the Billboard 200 until 2013 when they released their 19th (and final) studio album “13.” Featured on that album was the single “Loner,” which is believed to be a song that bass player dad and chief lyricist Geezer Butler wrote about himself back when he was a much younger man. Butler is reported to have been quite an introvert back in the band’s younger days by friends and acquaintances of the band.
31. Hide In Your Shell by Supertramp
| Genre | Rock |
| Year Released | 1974 |
| Album | Crime of the Century |
Coming from London in 1969, Supertramp is known for blending progressive rock and pop genres to meet a unique, radio-friendly sound that appeals to people from all walks of life. In 1974, they released their third studio album, “Crime of the Century,” which featured the genre-bending seven-minute opus “Hide In Your Shell.” The main point I get from this song is that it’s about someone who goes to great lengths to conceal their pain from the world, although that does nothing to ease their suffering. All it does is make them lonely. If you resonate with this song, you’ll want to listen to our playlist of songs about pain.
32. Suffocating by Dax
| Genre | Rap, Hip Hop |
| Year Released | 2021 |
| Album | Pain Paints Paintings |
Dax is a rapper who is quickly gaining a reputation for wearing his heart on his sleeve and laying his feelings down on tracks to help others. This can be heard on his debut album, 2021’s “Pain Paints Paintings,” especially on its first single, “Suffocate.” When asked what the track was about, Dax replied,”‘Suffocating’ is a song about how I feel. Thank you for listening. Share this with everyone and anyone you think it will impact. Hope you can relate.” I have a feeling that more people can relate than he’s aware.
33. Only the Lonely by Roy Orbison
| Genre | Country, Classic Rock |
| Year Released | 2015 |
| Album | A Year’s Recordings |
Born in Vernon, Texas, in 1936, Roy Orbison had a voice that perfectly suited his dark, emotional ballads and transcended genres to make a clothing style of music that was uniquely his. Sadly, Roy passed away from a heart attack in 1988, but he left songs like “Only the Lonely” as his legacy. Found on 2015’s posthumous collaboration with Quincy Jones, “A Year’s Recordings,” this track has Orbison singing about how the lonely must feel like him because his girl broke his heart. However, he maintains hope that things will get better tomorrow. If you’re looking for songs about emotions, particularly loneliness, this is a song we recommend listening to.
34. All By Myself by Erick Carmen
| Genre | Pop |
| Year Released | 1975 |
| Album | Erick Carmen |
In 1975, Erick Carmen released his self-titled debut album. The album’s fourth track, a seven-minute heartwrenching ballad, would become the biggest hit of his career. That track was the tear-inducing “All By Myself,” in which Carmen waxes poetically about never needing anybody when he was younger, but now that he’s older, he’s afraid that he’ll wind up being all by himself. He reaches out to connect with people, but no one’s there, as indicated by the lyrics, “I think of all the friends I’ve known, but when I dial the telephone, nobody’s home.”
35. Eleanor Rigby by The Beatles
| Genre | Alternative Rick, Classic Rock |
| Year Released | 1966 |
| Album | Revolver |
The Beatles are unquestionably the world’s most popular band of all time. They are also the highest-selling band in history, selling over 177 million albums in the United States and another 600 million albums around the world. They have had 34 top-ten hits on Billboard, but surprisingly, “Eleanor Rigby” wasn’t one of them. The single from 1966’s “Revolver” peaked at the eleventh spot. According to Paul McCartney, the titular character is a figment of his imagination, and the song is meant to caution others of the misery of spending your life alone.
36. I Miss My Friend by Darryl Worley
| Genre | Country |
| Year Released | 2001 |
| Album | I Miss My Friend |
People whom we are involved with romantically can become much more than our partners. They can also become our best friends, and when the relationship ends, it hurts like hell. You’ve lost so much more than a love interest. You miss those late-night talks with your best friend. The one person who was always there is gone, and that leaves you feeling hurt and lonely, like in the title track to Darryl Worley’s 2001 album “I Miss My Friend.” In this song, he lets us know that friendship is what he misses most.
37. Wherever I May Roam by Metallica
| Genre | Thrash Metal, Metal |
| Year Released | 1991 |
| Album | Metallica (The Black Album) |
Thrash metal’s reigning kings shook up the world in 1991 when they released their self-titled album, shifting to a radio-friendly sound. That tactic paid huge dividends as their record, widely recognized as “The Black Album,” has sold more than 48.5 million copies worldwide as of September 2022, becoming the first diamond-certified album by the RIAA in the SoundScan era. One More album’s single, “Wherever I May Roam,” is about having the freedom to roam wherever you choose. However, this comes with a price. You don’t get the chance to establish roots anywhere.
38. The Lonely by Christina Perri
| Genre | Indie Pop, Acoustic Folk |
| Year Released | 2011 |
| Album | Lovestrong |
Christina Perri got her big break when her music was featured on the television show “So You Think You Can Dance” and was signed to a record deal with Atlantic Records. Perri, who is the sister of former Shinedown guitarist Nick Perri, taught herself to play guitar by watching a videotape of Shannon Hoon from Blind Melon. In 2011, she released her debut EP “Lovestrong,” which featured the heartbreaking piano-driven “The Lonely.” In the song, Perri, wanting to feel anything but misery, begs the question, “Can the lonely take the place of you?”
39. Zero Chance by Soundgarden
| Genre | Grunge |
| Year Released | 1996 |
| Album | Down On the Upside |
Soundgarden lead vocalist Chris Cornell’s struggles with depression have been well-documented, especially in his lyrics. In a brilliant piece by Chris Celona, he contends that “Zero Chance,” which is an acoustic ballad featured on Soundgarden’s criminally-underrated 1996 release “Down On the Upside,” was a statement from Cornell to the rest of the so-called “civilized ‘world about how society treats those suffering from mental health conditions. He specifically mentions how in Western cultures, we are taught to pull ourselves up by our bootstraps with a one-size-fits-all approach to treating mental health and emotional well-being.
40. Tired Of Being Alone by Al Green
| Genre | R&B,Soul |
| Year Released | 1971 |
| Album | Al Green Gets Next to You |
It’s funny how a song can practically appear out of thin air, especially when we hear so much about the creative process. As the story goes, Al Green wrote “Tired Of Being Alone” in about thirty minutes on the day of a gig. The song was introduced on the last day of recording when he needed one final song to finish an album. Although the track didn’t make the cut, it appeared on 1971’s “Al Green Gets Next to You.” The song, which expresses Green’s weariness of being alone, became his first hit single.
41. Lonely Day by System Of a Down
| Genre | Alternative Metal, Nu Metal |
| Year Released | 2005 |
| Album | Hypnotize |
After the overwhelming success of “Toxicity,” System Of a Down got ambitious and released two albums in 2005, “Hypnotize” and “Mesmerize,” with both reaching the number one spot on Billboard. One of the more somber moments in “Hypnotize” was the melancholy “Lonely Day.” Written by System Of A Down guitarist Daron Malakian, who also sings lead on the track, this Grammy-nominated song seems to be about a tragic day in his life, one I get the feeling he’d like to forget, as indicated in the lyrics “It’s a day I’m glad I survived.”
42. I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry by Hank Williams Sr.
| Genre | Country |
| Year Released | 1949 |
| Album | Single |
Have you ever been so lonesome that you had no idea what to do with yourself? Speaking from experience, I can attest that this is a miserable existence where you have no idea what to do next, so you cry. They say that one of the worst places that you can be is inside of your head, and these are the times that prove this to be correct. I can imagine that this must have been what was going through Hank Williams’ mind when he wrote this heart-wrenching ballad from 1949.
43. In My Darkest Hour by Megadeth
| Genre | Thrash Metal |
| Year Released | 1988 |
| Album | So Far, So Good… So What! |
Everybody has heard of the highly-publicized feud between Grammy Award-winning Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine in his former band, Metallica. However, what you don’t hear about often is that Mustaine remained good friends with Metallica bassist Cliff Burton long after he parted ways from the band. After hearing that burden had died in a bus accident while on the “Master of Puppets” tour, Mustaine wrote this song about remaining loyal and true to your friends in one sitting. Although the song is not specifically about Burton, he did serve as inspiration for the track.
44. Lovely by Billie Eilish and Khalid
| Genre | Alternative Pop, Hip Hop |
| Year Released | 2017 |
| Album | 13 Reasons Why: Season 2 (Original Soundtrack) |
There are two interpretations I have heard of this song. It’s from the soundtrack to the 2017 Netflix series “13 Reasons Why.” However, because I find that both of them make perfect sense, I will present you with each. The first interpretation of the song is the one that I think makes the most sense. In this interpretation, a couple is battling depression. The second interpretation is about someone so miserable in her relationship that she doesn’t see any way out of it. Even though she’s with someone, she’s still lonely.
45. I Stand Alone by Godsmack
| Genre | Alternative Metal, Nu Metal |
| Year Released | 2002 |
| Album | The Scorpion King (Original Soundtrack) |
Godsmack’s Sully Erna has one of the most distinctive and powerful voices in hard work rock, and it is on full display on “I Stand Alone,” which was nominated for two Grammy Awards and appeared on the soundtrack to the 2002 action-packed film “The Scorpion King,” which serves as a prequel to the “Mummy” movies. The song has the narrator standing defiant against authority. Erna is also an outspoken Wiccan, so this track could also be his way of taking a stand against organized religion and standing up for his own spiritual beliefs.
46. Alone by Suicidal Tendencies
| Genre | Thrash Metal, Punk-Thrash Hybrid |
| Year Released | 1990 |
| Album | Lights…Camera…Revolution! |
Formed in 1980 in Venice, California, Suicidal Tendencies traversed the line between punk and thrash metal for a decade before releasing the phenomenal, critically-acclaimed “Lights…Camera…Revolution!” Featured on that record was “Alone,” which sounded like nothing Suicidal Tendencies had ever done before. The song was a raw, honest, emotionally-charged look into the world of lead vocalist Mike Muir and became an anthem for metalheads everywhere. The song, which starts as a ballad but ends as a full-blown thrash assault, it’s about what it’s like to be alone without anybody to comfort you.
47. Lonely by Akon
| Genre | Rap, Hip Hop |
| Year Released | 2004 |
| Album | Trouble |
Sometimes you have to make sure that you treat that one person who has always stood by your side with the respect they deserve. Otherwise, one day you might find yourself alone. That’s the point Akon makes in his infectious track “Lonely,” which samples the Bobby Vinton song “Mr. Lonely” and is featured on 2004’s “Trouble.” In this track, Akon sings about having someone that they think is “the one” but then lost that person because he didn’t do right by her. Now, he’s left alone to suffer the consequences of his actions.
48. Oblivion by Mastodon
| Genre | Progressive Metal |
| Year Released | 2009 |
| Album | Crack the Skye |
“Oblivion” is the lead track and the first single from Mastodon’s 2009 concept album “Crack the Skye,” which was adored by fans and critics, topping several year-end “Best Of” lists. What makes Mastodon so interesting is that the lead vocal duties are shared by three members, which gives several different textures and feelings to each song. This is also prevalent on this track, which is about a paraplegic who can’t go anywhere except through astral projection. While it may be a bit far-fetched, it also sounds like a lonely, miserable existence to me.
49. Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight by James Taylor
| Genre | Indie, Folk, Pop |
| Year Released | 1972 |
| Album | One Man Dog |
Normally, I’m not big on choosing cover versions and songs over the originals, but I’ll have to make an exception in this case. While the original Isley Brothers’ version of “Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight” is amazing in its own right, there’s something about James Taylor’s voice that adds to the tone and feel of this track from his fourth studio album, 1972’s “One Man Dog.” in this song, James pleads with historical significant other to doing our say anything, except for leaving him by himself for the night.
50. Are You Lonesome Tonight? by Elvis Presley
| Genre | Rock and Roll |
| Year Released | 1960 |
| Album | Elvis Is Back! |
Elvis Aaron Presley is one of the biggest names in the history of music and has earned the nickname “The King of Rock and Roll.” Elvis has sold an estimated one billion records, which is more than anybody in recorded history, and also had 150 different records or albums that are gold or platinum-certified. In 1960, he released” Elvis Is Back,” which featured the Billboard number-one hit “Are You Lonesome Tonight?” The song is about a couple that has drifted apart, and he is making his case for them to get back together.
51. Alone Again (Naturally) by Gilbert O’Sullivan
| Genre | Pop |
| Year Released | 1971 |
| Album | Himself |
This song has often been referred to as “the saddest song ever written.” Appearing on Gilbert O’Sullivan’s 1971 album “Himself,” this track first sees a man contemplating climbing to the top of a tower and jumping off after being left at the altar. Just when you think the song wasn’t sad enough, it goes on to talk about the death of his parents when he was young. Ironically, this was O’Sullivan’s biggest hit of his career, spending six weeks at the number one spot on Billboard and selling over two million copies.
52. Another Rainy Night (Without You) by Queensryche
| Genre | Alternative Metal, Hair Metal |
| Year Released | 1991 |
| Album | Empire |
Seattle serves as the perfect backdrop for a song about being lonely, especially when the rain serves as a metaphor for the way you feel without someone. In the liner notes for 1991’s “Empire,” guitarist Chris DeGarmo says that lead vocalist Geoff Tate wrote this song about being a long distance away from someone you love, if even just for a night. He goes on to say that when you are with that special someone, the sky is blue, and the weather is beautiful. However, when you’re without them, your days are gloomy.
53. The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner by Iron Maiden
| Genre | Heavy Metal |
| Year Released | 1986 |
| Album | Somewhere In Time |
Iron Maiden was not only the leader of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal that took America by storm in the 1980s but also the thinking man’s heavy metal. For example, featured in 1986’s “Somewhere In Time,” the track “The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner” is based on a short story by Alan Sillitoe and was also developed into a film. The story is about a young man who got into trouble when he was younger and took up long-distance running but loses the big meet to evade his captors.
Popular Related Article: Playlist of Songs About Running Away
54. Alone in the Dark by Testament
| Genre | Thrash Metal |
| Year Released | 1987 |
| Album | The Legacy |
Testament arrived on the thrash metal scene with a bang in 1987 with the release of their debut album, “The Legacy,” which many thrash enthusiasts agree is one of the better debut albums in that genre. While the album did not sell millions of copies, nor was it a Billboard number-one hit, it made enough noise to garner Testament the attention and respect it deserved. The album’s eighth track, alone in the dark, conjures up images of sorcery and demons. However, I think there is something a bit deeper. It’s about agoraphobia.
55. Here I Go Again by Whitesnake
| Genre | Hair Metal |
| Year Released | 1987 |
| Album | Whitesnake |
While most people who are familiar with 1980s hair metal are aware of Whitesnake’s multi-platinum-selling 1987 self-titled album, they weren’t aware that the success of that album saved lead vocalist David Coverdale’s career. Another little-known fact is that “Here I Go Again” originally appeared in their 1982 effort “Saints & Sinners.” The band changed a few lyrics and released it as a hit single about someone who repeatedly finds themselves alone without anyone else. He is used to being on his own, and there’s probably no other way that he would have it.
56. Astronaut by Simple Plan
| Genre | Pop Punk, Alternative Rock |
| Year Released | 2011 |
| Album | Get Your Heart On |
Normally, I separate the video from the song, but I’ll make an exception in this case. The video for this song starts with the quote, “Being human is the most terrible loneliness in the universe,” which ties in brilliantly with the astronaut metaphor in this song. Appearing as the fourth track on Simple Plan’s 2011 album “Get Your Heart On,” When asked about the song’s meaning, Simple Plan drummer Chuck Comeau said, “I think that’s a very universal desire of people to find people who share the same life vision that we do.”
57. Face It Alone by Queen
| Genre | Hard Rock, Classic Rock |
| Year Released | 1989 |
| Album | The Miracle |
This song has taken on a completely different meaning after the tragic death of lead singer Freddie Mercury, who passed away in 1991 due to complications with HIV. Appearing on Queen’s 1989 release “The Miracle,” the tragedy contained within these lyrics is almost unbearable. When Mercury wrote this song, he had already been diagnosed with HIV. While you can have all of the support in the world, when it’s your time, you die alone. I can only imagine the thoughts that were going through Freddie’s head every time he sang this.
58. Dancing With Myself by Billy Idol
| Genre | Punk Rock |
| Year Released | 1981 |
| Album | Dancing With Myself |
It’s been 40 years since Billy Idol left Generation X to pursue a solo career. While the breakup of the English band can be chalked up to infighting, drugs, and lineup changes, there’s one thing that is not up for debate. Billy Idol took more than his image with him when he left the punk group. The word around the campfire is that his first successful hit single was taken from the band as well. The song, which is a pseudonym for pleasure, became the title track to Idol’s 1981 debut solo effort. This is an iconic angry breakup song that we think you’ll enjoy.
59. One by Harry Nilsson
| Genre | Pop |
| Year Released | 1968 |
| Album | Ariel Ballet |
The second that you hear that singular note being repeated at the beginning of this song, you know exactly what follows. No matter who is performing the track, it is unmistakable. Although the song wasn’t a hit until it was covered in 1969 by Three Dog Night, it first appeared on Harry Nilsson’s 1968 album “Ariel Ballet.” The song has since been used in countless movies and television shows, whether it was the original or a cover version. Since we’ve all heard this song before, there’s no need to go over its meaning.
60. Mr. Lonely by Bobby Vinton
| Genre | Soft Rock |
| Year Released | 1962 |
| Album | Roses Are Red and Other Songs for the Young and Sentimental |
Well, if we’re handing out Awards for unnecessarily long album titles, Bobby Vinton would take the cake for his 1962 record “Roses Are Red and Other Songs for the Young and Sentimental.” The album’s fourth track, “Mr. Lonely,” is another one of those songs that have been sampled by other artists or have been used in a plethora of TV shows and movies. In other words, you have heard this song in some capacity. In the song, Vinton sings about being lonely and having nobody of his own. That’s the gist of it.
61. Never Knew Lonely by Vince Gill
| Genre | Country |
| Year Released | 1989 |
| Album | When I Call Your Name |
Vince Gill is one of the most celebrated, respected, and decorated country music artists in history. He is one of very few artists to hit the trifecta of winning multiple Grammy Awards, Academy of Country Music Awards, and Country Music Association Awards. In 1989, he released his third studio album, “When I Call Your Name,” which produced four hit singles, including “Never Knew Lonely.” In this song, Gill is telling his significant other that he would never know what it would mean to be truly alone unless he had to be without her.
62. Loneliness Is a Killer by Bush
| Genre | Alternative Rock |
| Year Released | 2014 |
| Album | Man on the Run |
I know I can’t be the only person that was shocked to read that Bush is still around and making albums. However, when three of your four hit singles come from your debut album, that’s what’s to be expected. Nevertheless, they have released Eight studio albums, two compilations, and one live album. Their sixth album, 2014’s “Man on the Run,” featured the electronic-infused rock track “Loneliness Is a Killer,” which tackles the tough topic of mental well-being by telling the listener that they are not alone in feeling the way they feel.
63. Tea For One by Led Zeppelin
| Genre | Classics Rock, Hard Rock |
| Year Released | 1976 |
| Album | Presence |
Formed in London in 1968, Led Zeppelin is one of the most commercially successful and critically-acclaimed bands in the history of rock and roll. They have sold nearly 300 million albums worldwide In 1976, they released the triple-platinum selling album “Presence.” The album’s closing track was a nine-and-a-half-minute slow-burning blues number called “Tea For One.” Lead vocalist Robert Plant said that the lyrics for this song stemmed from the loneliness of being on the road. He wrote the lyrics while sitting at a restaurant in a New York hotel, drinking tea for one.
64. Lonely Avenue by Jimi Hendrix
| Genre | Hard Rock, Classic Rock |
| Year Released | 2010 |
| Album | West Coast Seattle Boy |
I can’t be alone in thinking that the tragedy is that the genius of Jimi Hendrix wasn’t fully understood until after his passing. While I’m certain that there are plenty of people needing this who enjoyed Hendrix’s music when it was initially released, the full depth of his impact still hasn’t been fully realized. For example, “Lonely Avenue” didn’t appear until the posthumous box set “West Coast Seattle Boy” was released in 2010. I guess about a guy who is down in the dumps because he can’t get his girl to marry him.
65. So Lonely by The Police
| Genre | Alternative Rock, Rock |
| Year Released | 1976 |
| Album | Urgh! A Music War |
You can always tell when a song is by The Police, even if you have never heard it before. They have an unmistakable blend of rock and reggae but with a little popping sensibility. That’s what the five-time Grammy Award-winning band brings to the table on “So Lonely,” which is from the 1976 live concert film “Urgh! A Music War.” In this track, lead vocalist and bassist Sting croons about his better half breaking up with him and how that has left him, as you might have guessed from the title, so lonely.
66. Lonely Night In the Park by Bruce Springsteen
| Genre | Rock and Roll |
| Year Released | 1975 |
| Album | Unreleased |
Some of the most memorable tracks from our favorite artists have been left off of albums that we consider to be timeless classics. What’s even stranger than these cuts being left off of the record is that we wouldn’t even know of them otherwise if it wasn’t for B-Side compilations. “Lonely Night In The Park” it’s just one example of a song that fits the bill. Taken from the “Born to Run” sessions, this track details the escapades of one young man on his quest not to spend the night alone.
67. Just the Lonely Talking Again by Whitney Houston
| Genre | R&B, Soul |
| Year Released | 1987 |
| Album | Whitney |
Perhaps no other female R&B singer was as celebrated as the late, great Whitney Houston. Besides having one of the most commercially successful debut albums of all time, her follow-up album titled “Whitney” had five Billboard top-ten hits in 1987.” “Just the Lonely Talking Again” may not have been one of her most commercially successful songs, but it carries just as much weight and emotion as any heartfelt Whitney Houston ballad I’ve ever heard and is about a couple that is trying to make things work out together their second time around.
68. How To Fight Loneliness by Wilco
| Genre | Alternative, Indie |
| Year Released | 1999 |
| Album | summerteeth |
Have you ever heard the expression, “You have to fake it until you make it?” If that expression was set to music, it would sound a lot like Wilco’s track “How To Fight Loneliness” from 1999’s “summerteeth.” The basic premise of the song is that you have to do everything you can to force yourself to smile through the pain. You have to fight loneliness by being artificial, but that’s the gist of the track. But hey, if you can’t be happy, you can at least give the impression that you are, right?
69. Black Orchid by Blue October
| Genre | Alternative Rock |
| Year Released | 1997 |
| Album | The Answers |
Formed in 1995 in Houston, Texas, Blue October saw some early mainstream radio success with their alternative rock hit “Hate Me,” which reached the number-two spot on the Billboard alternative rock hits chart. In 1997, I released their follow-up album, “The Answers,” which featured an acoustic ballad about loneliness called “Black Orchid.” The song talks about depression and whether or not anyone will miss him if he commits suicide. He is searching for someone to accept him for who he is instead of disowning him. Apparently, someone has done this to him before.
70. You Are Alone by The Flaming Lips
| Genre | Psychedelic, Alternative |
| Year Released | 2013 |
| Album | The Terror |
Hailing from Oklahoma City, the Flaming Lips have been making their own brand of psychedelic alternative rock since 1983. The band has been nominated for several awards, including Grammy Awards, NME Awards, and Critic’s Choice Awards. In 2013, they released their 13th studio album, “The Terror,” which included the incredibly strange track “You Are Alone.” Contrary to the song’s title, the lyrics keep reiterating that the listener is not alone. However, it seems like the narrator wishes ill will on the listener by saying that he wishes bad things to happen.
71. Need You Now by Lady Antebellum
| Genre | Country |
| Year Released | 2009 |
| Album | Need You Now |
Sometimes, we find ourselves lonely and missing that special someone in the late hours of the night. In the case of Lady Antebellum’s Grammy and Country Music Academy Award-winning Song of the Year, “Need You Now,” it may be with a little help from an old adult beverage or two. You may even initially resist calling, but loneliness is quite depressing. Although they have recently changed their name to Lady A, the group once had a smash hit on their hands with this track, which is from a 2009’s album of the same name.
72. Alone by Heart
| Genre | Hard Rock, Classic Rock |
| Year Released | 1987 |
| Album | Bad Animals |
We’ve all had those moments where we’ve wanted to get someone whom we have a crush on alone to tell them how we feel. It’s probably because of our basic human fear of rejection, which simply won’t let us risk being humiliated. This can be especially hard for those of us who are used to being alone. If you are like Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart, you spend your time wondering how to get them alone, which was the question they asked on this track from 1987’s multi-platinum selling album “Bad Animals.”
73. Mad World by Tears For Fears
| Genre | Alternative Pop |
| Year Released | 1983 |
| Album | The Hurting |
Before Tears For Fears had multiple Billboard Hot 100 hits and sold five million albums in the United States alone with 1985’s epic album “Songs From the Big Chair” they released. “The Hurting “in 1983, which was also their debut album. Featured on that album was the obscure but poignant track” Mad World,” which had a surprisingly uplifting beat paired with melancholy lyrics about feeling alone when you are surrounded by people. It’s about how the rest of the world goes about its daily business, and nobody pays attention to anybody else anymore.
74. 911 / Mr. Lonely by Tyler, the Creator (Featuring Frank Ocean)
| Genre | Rap, Hip Hop |
| Year Released | 2017 |
| Album | Flower Boy |
In this track from Tyler, the Creator’s 2017 record “Flower Boy,” he uses the contrasting styles of himself and Frank Ocean laid over two very different beats to illustrate the same point. Both artists are pining over a lost love that they want to get back together with. Tyler illustrates this in the line, “Yeah, I got a sold-out show. Crowd wild out but don’t matter ’cause you not front row.” All of the luxuries and spoils that come with being a famous rapper don’t mean anything to him without his lady.
75. Friend, Please by twenty-one pilots
| Genre | Alternative Pop |
| Year Released | 2009 |
| Album | Twenty-One Pilots |
Before they were selling out arenas around the world and scoring three top-ten singles and two top-five albums on Billboard, twenty-one pilots released their self-titled debut album in 2009 to very little fanfare. However, this album was a sign of things to come, especially the track “Friend, Please.” The song is a letter to a dear friend of the narrator, who he is trying to convince that they are special and loved. The point is to try to make the listener understand that their life is special and that suicide isn’t the answer.
Wrap Up:
That does it for this article; let us know if there are any great songs that we missed in the comments below.
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.