It’s natural to miss someone when they are gone. Everyone has experienced some type of loss or difficult transition, whether it’s a break up, death of a loved one or moving away from home. These transitions bring with them the emotions of grief and loneliness that touch all our lives.
Music is often an integral part of grieving; bringing tears to our eyes and a catch in the throat. Songs about missing someone really strike a chord with us. The songs below are from various genres about experiencing these feelings of loss, emptiness and loneliness when people go away.
Here are the top 20 songs about missing someone.
By the way, if you’re searching for songs about missing someone, you may also like songs for grieving, rock songs about unrequited love, songs about crushes, songs about loneliness, and songs about missing a girl.My Immortal – Evanescence
This is one of the best known songs about missing somebody. It’s an incredibly powerful song sung by a woman who feels abandoned, heartbroken and alone due to her lover leaving. The lyrics are full of emotion;
I’m so tired of being here, Suppressed by all my childish fears And if you have to leave, I wish that you would just leave ‘Cause your presence still lingers here And it won’t leave me alone These wounds won’t seem to heal This pain is just too real There’s just too much that time cannot erase
Her feelings are raw and dripping with despair. She finishes the song by asking her lover to please stay, even if he can’t be with her, because being without him will mean that she has lost herself forever.
Back for Good – Take That
The emotions behind this song mirror those in the Evanescence track, but this is a much more hopeful song. It’s about moving on from a difficult break up and seeing the potential for a new life in the future. The lyrics are by Gary Barlow and he sings with such clarity of purpose. It’s easy to imagine he is singing to someone he loves, who has gone away but remains in his heart.
The Reason – Hoobastank
Sometimes love isn’t enough to make a relationship work. Life throws up obstacles that people cannot anticipate or avoid and it can destroy even the strongest of relationships. This power ballad is about accepting that, even though you love someone and want to be with them, the obstacle is too big.
The band Hoobastank parallels this sentiment to the difficulty of reaching the sun and giving up on their dreams as a result.
Missing – Everything but the Girl
![Everything But The Girl - Missing (Todd Terry Remix) [Official Music Video]](https://theawesomemix.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-youtube-lyte/lyteCache.php?origThumbUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FIAkY5m00rpY%2F0.jpg&fix=it)
This song was made famous by British singer Tracey Thorn, formerly of ‘Everything But The Girl’. It’s about wishing with all your heart that you could share your life with somebody. Even though you know it would be complicated, with them far away the pain is greater than just being alone.
When You’re Gone – Avril Lavigne
This song is one of the best modern songs about missing somebody. It’s all about terrible yearning for someone who has gone away and not knowing if they are thinking of you as much as you are thinking of them. The chorus is particularly evocative, especially when sung with such feeling by this young Canadian artist.
Stand By Me – Ben E. King
This song has been used in movies, most notably Stand By Me, but also in TV series’ such as The Sopranos. It’s about friendship and the deep bond that can develop between people who are there for each other during difficult times.
A Thousand Years – Christina Perri
![Christina Perri - A Thousand Years [Official Music Video]](https://theawesomemix.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-youtube-lyte/lyteCache.php?origThumbUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FrtOvBOTyX00%2F0.jpg&fix=it)
This is one of the most romantic songs about missing somebody. It’s filled with deep sadness and connecting to your lover on an elemental level, that goes beyond their physical presence. The lyrics are beautiful; describing how if you love somebody you will always carry them in your heart, even when they are far away.
Someone Like You – Adele
This is a modern song about missing somebody and the lyrics are so simple and sweet, but the feelings they capture are powerful. The song won an Ivor Novello Award for songwriter of the year in 2011.
Just One Last Dance – Sarah Connor
Sarah Connor is a German pop star who has had several UK hits since she became famous there in 2004. This power ballad is about wanting one last dance with someone you love before they go away forever. It’s powerful and emotional and will surely be a live favourite at all her concerts, as Sarah herself weeps on stage!
If I Could Turn Back Time – Cher
This is an old power ballad by the great American artist Cher which was a hit in 1989. She’s longing for a time when she could be together with her lover, but now the moment has gone.
I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing – Aerosmith
This is a famous love song by Aerosmith that was released on the Armageddon soundtrack in 1998. It’s about knowing that you are with the right person and never wanting to let them go. It’s an emotional roller-coaster of feelings, but this rock ballad is so beautiful.
Everything – Michael Buble
This power love song is about knowing that the one you love is not perfect, but loving them anyway because they make your world a better place. It’s one of the best songs about missing somebody because it captures what love is really about – accepting and appreciating someone for who they are, not trying to change them into somebody else.
Missing You – Diana Ross
This was originally recorded by The S.O.S band in 1982 and was a huge hit all over the world. Diana Ross took it to number one on the US R&B charts and number five in the Billboard Hot 100. It’s a song about regretting the time you didn’t spend with somebody you loved, but also knowing that they never stopped thinking of you.
Without You – Mariah Carey
This power ballad is about missing someone you love and wishing that nothing can take away the pain of them not being there. It was a number one hit for Harry Nilsson in 1972 and has been covered by artists including The Pretenders, U2, David Bowie and Bryan Adams. However, the most poignant version is by this R&B star who had it on her album Music Box.
I Miss You – Incubus
This is a song by an American rock band who have been playing since 1991. It’s about missing someone and how that person has changed your life forever. The lyrics describe having to learn to live without that person, but they will never be forgotten.
Thinking Of You – Katy Perry
This is a romantic song by Katy Perry about missing someone. She sings about how much she thinks of this person when they are apart, and that she wants to dance in the rain with them because it reminds her of happier times. It’s one of the best songs about missing somebody because it captures all the feelings you have when you can’t be with someone you love.
Every Breath You Take – The Police
This is a love song by Sting, the lead singer of British rock band The Police. It was their biggest hit across the world in 1983 and it’s about wanting to be with somebody who means everything to you. It’s one of the best songs about missing somebody because it expresses exactly how you feel when they are not by your side.
Missing You – Diana Ross
This is a song by an American R&B star who was born in 1944 and had her first hit single as a teenager. She has been working continuously since then, and has even appeared on TV shows to talk about her life and career. This track went to number one on the US R&B charts in 1998. Diana Ross sings about knowing that life goes on, but she just wants to stop time so she can be with her lover again.
Can’t Stop Loving You – Van Halen
This is a power ballad by the American rock band Van Halen. It was their biggest hit in 1988 and it’s about knowing that you can’t stop loving someone, even though they hurt you over and over again. They are worth all the pain, because without them your world would fall apart. It’s one of the best songs about missing somebody because it captures all the feelings you have when you can’t stop loving that person.
You might also like these playlists: