[2025 Edition] Goodbye Songs in Western Music: Sad Farewell Tracks

Say GoodbyeChris Brown

Chris Brown – Say Goodbye (Official HD Video)

A track released by Chris Brown in 2006.

It became a hit in countries like Brazil and reached No.

1 on the U.

S.

charts.

The track was used in the movie Step Up and was inspired by K-Ci & JoJo’s 1997 track All My Life.

Leave Herd4vd

d4vd – Leave Her (Official Lyric Video)

If you’re looking for a bittersweet breakup song, I recommend this track by David.

Released in February 2024, it’s included on the album “Withering.” The song vividly portrays the emotions of people struggling with imbalanced affection, interwoven with elements of emo and alternative rock.

With emotionally rich lyrics, it explores the difficulty of clinging to past relationships and the necessity of finding a new self.

It expresses complex feelings toward an ex who reaches out in the middle of the night, evoking deep empathy in listeners.

d4vd’s simple yet dreamy guitar sound elevates the song’s atmosphere.

It’s a must-listen for anyone facing a breakup or a journey of self-discovery.

Happier Than EverBillie Eilish

Billie Eilish – Happier Than Ever (Official Music Video)

Billie Eilish is an artist who has gained worldwide popularity with her downer-tinged musical style.

Many people probably first got to know her through her 2019 release, “bad guy.” The track she released in July 2021 is “Happier Than Ever.” It features a melody that blends country music with a moody, downcast arrangement.

While the lyrics project a bold attitude, they poignantly capture the feelings of a woman who, somewhere in her heart, still thinks about the man she parted ways with.

Let GoCentral Cee

Central Cee – Let Go [Music Video]

Central Cee, a UK-born rapper who deftly handles everything from catchy trap to UK drill.

Among his works, the love song I especially recommend is Let Go.

It’s a bittersweet love song about coming to terms with a breakup, but the lyrics can also be interpreted as a farewell to a certain white substance.

The sample is from Passenger’s Let Her Go, and this track meshes perfectly with Central Cee’s style, which rejects autotune-reliant trap and UK drill.

You can also feel his mission to pioneer a more melodic form of UK drill in this piece.

That’s Not How This Works (feat. Dan + Shay)”Charlie Puth

CHARLIE PUTH – THAT’S NOT HOW THIS WORKS (FEAT. DAN + SHAY) [official music video]

Charlie Puth is an artist who has produced numerous masterpieces across a wide musical spectrum.

“That’s Not How This Works (feat.

Dan + Shay)” is a particularly recommended breakup song among his works.

It portrays the anguished cries of a man whose girlfriend has disappeared without a word, featuring many raw, unfiltered expressions.

The melody perfectly matches the lyrics, so if you’ve experienced a similar situation, be sure to give it a listen.

You Should Be HereKehlani

Kehlani – You Should Be Here [Official Music Video]

Kehlani is a female singer who has energized the R&B scene from the mid-2010s to today with her sophisticated musicality.

She’s always near the top of the R&B charts, so anyone who loves Black music is sure to know her.

Among her works, You Should Be Here is a heartbreak song I especially recommend.

It poignantly portrays a woman’s aching heart as she realizes she’s no longer loved yet can’t bring herself to say goodbye.

Be sure to check it out.

Only Love Can Hurt Like ThisPaloma Faith

Paloma Faith – Only Love Can Hurt Like This (Official Video)

British singer-songwriter Paloma Faith.

Let me introduce “Only Love Can Hurt Like This,” a track from her album A Perfect Contradiction.

It’s a somewhat mature break-up song, with lyrics told from a woman’s perspective, depicting the sorrow of a man leaving her.

The way the sadness is likened to pain is striking.

With Faith’s rich, resonant voice and the wistful melody, it’s a song that fits a farewell scene.