[2025 Edition] Goodbye Songs in Western Music: Sad Farewell Tracks
Artists make a living by turning their own experiences and feelings into works, so it’s only natural that they would take on the theme of “goodbyes,” something everyone inevitably encounters in life.
It’s ironic that great songs are sometimes born precisely because of painful partings, but timeless masterpieces infused with artists’ emotions always move us.
In this article, we introduce Western songs that sing about all kinds of farewells—not just heartbreak.
From tracks that lift your spirits to ones that plunge you into the depths of sorrow, and even songs that lay bare lingering attachments, check out these masterpieces that reveal the artists’ true selves.
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[2025 Edition] Farewell Songs in Western Music: Sad Goodbye Tracks (51–60)
Out of TimeThe Weeknd
Hailing from Canada and transcending the boundaries of contemporary R&B to stand as a top star in the world of popular music, The Weeknd is known for crafting many songs inspired by his own romantic experiences.
His ability to transform even messages steeped in lingering feelings for an ex into mysterious, beautiful masterpieces is nothing short of remarkable.
Among his sad yet beautiful breakup songs, this time we’ll focus on “Out of Time,” released in 2022.
Featured on his fifth studio album, Dawn FM, it became a hot topic for sampling “MIDNIGHT PRETENDERS,” composed by Tetsurō Oda and included on Tomoko Aran’s 1983 album Fuyū Kūkan—a classic of Japanese city pop.
While the track is a sleek, urban pop song that’s a pleasure to listen to, the lyrics, as the title suggests, express thoughts for a former lover that arrive too late, no matter how much one regrets.
Some listeners may find it so relatable that it’s almost painful.
Say SomethingA Great Big World, Christina Aguilera
The New York-based musical duo A Great Big World collaborated with R&B singer Christina Aguilera on the song “Say Something.” Released in 2014, this track won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for its poignant yet catchy lyrics and distinctive melody.
It’s a rare song that reveals a different side of Christina Aguilera, known for her energetic vocals.
It’s So Hard To Say Goodbye To YesterdayBoyz II Men
This is an R&B song from Motown Records written for the 1975 film Cooley High, which was covered 16 years later in an a cappella version by Boyz II Men, who were then signed to Motown Records.
It reached No.
2 on the Billboard charts.
I Can Still Make CheyenneGeorge Strait
A track that sings about the life and sacrifices of rodeo cowboys.
It was released in 1996 by American country music artist George Strait.
It became a hit in the United States and elsewhere, reaching No.
2 on the Canadian charts.
[2025 Edition] Goodbye Songs in Western Music: Sad Farewell Tracks (61–70)
One Right NowPost Malone, The Weeknd
Released in November 2021, One Right Now is a collaboration between Post Malone and The Weeknd, two artists who command enormous support in the contemporary pop scene.
Built on a sleek synth-pop track that reflects a post-2020s trend, the interplay of Malone’s and The Weeknd’s emotional vocals and melodies creates a stunning contrast—truly exquisite.
Lyrically, however, it seems to be a message to an ex whose infidelity likely caused the breakup, conveying a sense of saying goodbye to the past relationship and already having someone new.
That said, depending on how you interpret it, it can also read as the poignant lament of a man still full of lingering attachment, unable to fully move on.
With that in mind—perhaps reading too much into it—the music video, in which the two stage a brutal shootout, feels oddly suggestive as well.
Out of LoveAlessia Cara
If you’re looking for a heartbreaking breakup song, I recommend “Out of Love.” It’s a song that captures the sorrow of a woman who won’t try to stop a breakup that’s about to happen.
It even includes the desire to know when the other person’s feelings faded, despite choosing not to hold them back.
The lyrics are incredibly poignant, aren’t they? Alessia Cara wrote this song when she was 22, and creating something like this at that age really shows her talent.
Be sure to check it out!
Eyes ClosedEd Sheeran
The lead single from Ed Sheeran’s 2023 album “-” is “Eyes Closed,” which reached number one on the UK Singles Chart.
The song is dedicated to DJ Jamal Edwards, a close friend of Ed’s who passed away in 2022.
Its lyrics about “losing someone close to you” really hit home.
The blue monster that appears in the music video is said to symbolize Ed’s grief.