Best break-up song??

newlacesleeves · Post by **newlacesleeves** » Thu Aug 03, 2006 2:01 pm

From Rollingstone... I think you could take your pick off of Blood and chocolate... Personally I think 'I Want You' might have the edge over 'I hope you're happy now'...

Thereâ€™s never a bad time for a good breakup song. If youâ€™ve just broken up you can heal yourself via shared pain. If you are in between breakups then you can just reminisce about the ones you have already enjoyed/ponder those youâ€™ll experience in the future. We were all ready to toss off a totally non-committal, almost random collection of top-ten breakup songs but then we couldnâ€™t pick just ten, so here are â€¦ more than ten. Hey! At least we limited ourselves to one Dylan and one Stones selection, that obviously wasnâ€™t easy. What would you add?

Bob Dylan, â€œDonâ€™t Think Twice, Itâ€™s All Rightâ€

Post by **BlueChair** » Thu Aug 03, 2006 2:07 pm

For Dylan I'd say anything off Blood On The Tracks would work. "Simple Twist of Fate" is my personal pick though.

I guess Springsteen's "Bobby Jean" would sort of count, if showing up at your girlfriend's house to find that she's gone away constitutes breaking up

newlacesleeves · Post by **newlacesleeves** » Thu Aug 03, 2006 2:14 pm

Good stuff.. Although I think Springsteens best break up songs reside on 'Tunnel of love'...

Speaking of 'I want you', I have to admit Fiona Apple did a pretty great rendition..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDieK3Bsk8I

Boy With A Problem · Post by **Boy With A Problem** » Thu Aug 03, 2006 2:21 pm

No blues numbers? - Elmore James' "The Sky is Crying" comes immediately to mind -

a couple of other good ones that pop into my head -

Reminiscing - Buddy Holly (with King Curtis)

So Long Baby Goodbye - The Blasters

Does "What's Your Name" by Lynyrd Skynyrd count?

Post by **BlueChair** » Thu Aug 03, 2006 2:25 pm

"The Last Time" by The Rolling Stones is an almost-break up song.

King Hoarse · Post by **King Hoarse** » Thu Aug 03, 2006 5:30 pm

A few pints and Richard Thompson's Dry My Tears & Move On and Walking The Long Miles Home has been cathartic several times.

Mechanical Grace · Post by **Mechanical Grace** » Thu Aug 03, 2006 5:52 pm

I think they nailed it with Jeff Buckley's Last Goodbye.

Mr. Average · Post by **Mr. Average** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 12:31 am

A beautifully sad song by Michael McDonald when he was somethin'.

"I Can Let Go Now" 25 years ago.

Tim(e) · Post by **Tim(e)** » Sat Aug 05, 2006 7:36 am

Love in Vain

So Like Candy

bambooneedle · Post by **bambooneedle** » Sat Aug 05, 2006 10:48 am

Bob Dylan - She's Your Lover Now

Jackson Monk · Post by **Jackson Monk** » Sat Aug 05, 2006 10:50 am

'Letting Go' by Squeeze. Beautfully recreates the mundanity of life going on for the individual, whilst a world together crumbles.

Mechanical Grace · Post by **Mechanical Grace** » Sun Aug 06, 2006 8:57 am

I have to say I've never thought of "I Want You" as a break-up song. It's an obsession song that's great precisely because it totters on the edge of creepy. Another obsession song, one that goes over that edge, is Steve Earle's deceptively creepy "More Than I Can Do". It's a really catchy and sweet little ditty that celebrates the 'stalking is so tragic and romantic' myth. Gets more disturbing each time I listen to it. But I've already detailed my mixed feelings for Steve Earle...

wes · Post by **wes** » Sun Aug 06, 2006 1:01 pm

it would probably be too cliche to say "boys don't cry" right?

oh and it's nice to see husker du on there. though i would probably select something off of candy apple grey like "hardly getting over it" or "don't wanna know if you are lonely" instead of "never talking to you again."

Boy With A Problem · Post by **Boy With A Problem** » Sun Aug 06, 2006 1:57 pm

wes wrote:it would probably be too cliche to say "boys don't cry" right?

oh and it's nice to see husker du on there. though i would probably select something off of candy apple grey like "hardly getting over it" or "don't wanna know if you are lonely" instead of "never talking to you again."

A couple of years ago, Bob and Grant shared the stage for a benefit for Karl Mueller. The Husker Du break-up wasn't pretty and the two songs they did on the night of the benefit were Grant's, "Never Talking to You Again" and Bob's, Hardly Getting Over It" - perfect.

Mr. Average · Post by **Mr. Average** » Sun Aug 06, 2006 3:49 pm

Jackson Monk wrote:'Letting Go' by Squeeze. Beautfully recreates the mundanity of life going on for the individual, whilst a world together crumbles.

Another Squeeze break-up song that ranks among the best of the best is Last Time Forever from Cosi Fan Tuti Frutti:
Last Time Forever Lyrics

It all went wrong when I grew jealous
I didn't realize my strength
Could take the life of one so precious
Together we were known as good friends

Did you ever read the words
That said love would end I read them tonight
Mistakes I can't defend
I didn't stop to think
And I upset her
I said good night tonight the last time forever
I think of her tonight
She keeps me from my sleep but what can I do
With all of these memories
I used to be so shy
And hide my temper
I've said good night tonight the last time forever

It all went wrong when I grew jealous
I didn't realize my strength
Could take the life of one so precious
Together we were known as good friends

Did you ever read the words
That say I love you I read them tonight
But what good can they do
I regret what I have done
It wasn't clever
I've said good night tonight the last time forever

Chrille · Post by **Chrille** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 6:08 am

Out of topic, but saving on starting a new thread just for a simple question. I'm certain I read somewhere on these boards that Squeeze's catalogue was being reissued with bonus discs. Can't find anything about it on google though. Was I dreaming?

Gillibeanz · Post by **Gillibeanz** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 6:09 am

Leaving New York - R.E.M

It's quiet now
And what it brings
Is everything

Comes calling back
A brilliant night
I'm still awake

I looked ahead
I'm sure I saw you there

You don't need me
To tell you now
That nothing can compare

You might have laughed if I told you
You might have hidden A frown
You might have succeeded in changing me
I might have been turned around

It's easier to leave than to be left behind
Leaving was never my proud
Leaving New York, never easy
I saw the light fading out

Now life is sweet
And what it brings
I tried to take
But loneliness
It wears me out
It lies in way

And all not lost
Still in my eyes
The shadow of necklace
Across your thigh
I might've lived my life in a dream, but I swear
This is real
Memory fuses and shatters like glass
Mercurial future, forget the past
It's you, it's what I feel.

You might have laughed if I told you (it's pulling me apart)
You might have hidden a frown (change)
You might have succeeded in changing me (it's pulling me apart)
I might have been turned around (change)

It's easier to leave than to be left behind (it's pulling me apart)
Leaving was never my proud (change)
Leaving New York, never easy (it's pulling me apart)
I saw the light fading out
You find it in your heart, it's pulling me apart
You find it in your heart, change...

I told you, forever
I love you, forever
I told you, I love you
I love you, forever
I told you, forever
You never, you never
You told me forever

You might have laughed if I told you
You might have hidden the frown
You might have succeeded in changing me
I might have been turned around

It's easier to leave than to be left behind (it's pulling me apart)
Leaving was never my proud (change)
Leaving New York never easy (it's pulling me apart)
I saw the life fading out (change)
Leaving New York, never easy (it's pulling me apart)
I saw the light fading out (change)
Leaving New York never easy (it's pulling me apart)
I saw the life fading out (change)

invisible Pole · Post by **invisible Pole** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 10:27 am

Chrille wrote:Out of topic, but saving on starting a new thread just for a simple question. I'm certain I read somewhere on these boards that Squeeze's catalogue was being reissued with bonus discs. Can't find anything about it on google though. Was I dreaming?

Looks like this site is run by someone who is working with Universal on the reissue programme.
http://www.myspace.com/packetofthree
One of the blog's entry says this :
"If you've ever seen the re-releases of Elvis Costello's CDs, you'll understand how much things have changed. There are sleeve notes by Elvis, all are double CDs with live tracks, demos and alternate takes. They're simply an essential purchase, even for a casual fan. Universal recognise that. The same need to make it special applies to the Squeeze catalogue, with extra tracks and new sleeve notes and brand new graphics and unseen memorabilia. Which is where I come in. I've been working for the last six months on the Squeeze reissue programme. If your Squeeze fantasy is to hear some unreleased classics, then it might just be about to come true."

In the meantime, Chris Difford has just released a CD / DVD with new acoustic renditions of classic Squeeze tracks.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000 ... F8&s=music

Who Shot Sam? · Post by **Who Shot Sam?** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 10:30 am

Can't wait for that! Would be nice to have some live material included.

newlacesleeves · Post by **newlacesleeves** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 1:10 pm

Mechanical Grace wrote:I have to say I've never thought of "I Want You" as a break-up song. It's an obsession song that's great precisely because it totters on the edge of creepy. Another obsession song, one that goes over that edge, is Steve Earle's deceptively creepy "More Than I Can Do". It's a really catchy and sweet little ditty that celebrates the 'stalking is so tragic and romantic' myth. Gets more disturbing each time I listen to it. But I've already detailed my mixed feelings for Steve Earle...

I guess I always looked at theat whole album as a 'break-up album' as that was when he was going through a divorce..

Mechanical Grace · Post by **Mechanical Grace** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 2:37 pm

I think it/he's more complicated than that in B&C. NORTH is the autobiographical one, imo. In any case I still think its main value is in its borderline creepitude.

newlacesleeves · Post by **newlacesleeves** » Mon Aug 07, 2006 2:50 pm

It's definitely an obsessive creepy song.. Although I must admit to feeling the exact same way a time or 2 in my life...

Mechanical Grace · Post by **Mechanical Grace** » Tue Aug 08, 2006 7:26 am

I think everyone feels that way at one time or another. The difference is between thinking it and acting on it-- in the song, you can't tell if he will or won't, thus the creep factor.