16 Best Songs About Unrequited Love [2022 Update]

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A profitable relationship is a two-way avenue. For like to blossom, the 2 companions should love one another equally. If just one companion in a possible partnership has emotions for the opposite, that is known as “unrequited love.” Songs about unrequited love will at all times be a fertile theme for composers and performers so long as individuals exist and love one another.

Here are some songs about unrequited love.

16 Songs About Unrequited Love

1. Not In That Way, Sam Smith

by way of SAM SMITH

“And I hate to say I like you

When it is so onerous for me

And I hate to say I would like you

When you make it so clear

You don’t desire me.”

In all of his songs, Sam Smith expresses his emotions passionately. His lyrics usually elicit sentiments of loneliness, craving, and nostalgia. On this monitor, he describes his affections for a companion. However, he believes the companion will reply, “I love you, but not in that way.” Sam Smith’s tune is for these scared of expressing their affection to these they care about.

2. Layla, Eric Clapton

by way of Eric Clapton

“Layla, you’ve got obtained me on my knees

Layla, I’m begging, darling please

Layla, darling will not you ease my frightened thoughts?”

Nizami Ganjavi’s ebook, The Story of Layla and Majnun, was given to Eric Clapton. In the novel, Majnun falls in love with some lady named Layla. However, Layla’s dad and mom, marry her off to a person she would not love, and she or he ends up in an sad relationship. This drives Majnun insane. In his private life, Clapton had an identical expertise with George Harrison’s spouse, Pattie Boyd. This timeless ballad about unrequited love retains the listener engrossed within the plot.

3. Hello, Lionel Richie

by way of lionelrichie

“I lengthy to see the daylight in your hair

And let you know time and time once more how a lot I care

Sometimes I really feel my coronary heart will overflow.”

“Hello” was one of the in style tracks of the Eighties. The protagonist of the tune is a professor who’s head over heels in love with a blind pupil. His emotions for her torment him, and he is aware of she has no concept how he feels about her. In his desires, he imagines the 2 of them being collectively. In the video for the tune, she sculpts a picture of the professor, displaying that maybe his emotions weren’t unreciprocated in spite of everything.

4. You Belong With Me, Taylor Swift

by way of Taylor Swift

“But she wears brief skirts; I put on T-shirts

She’s cheer captain and I’m on the bleachers

Dreamin’ ’bout the day if you get up and discover

That what you are on the lookout for has been right here the entire time.”

This terrific pop tune about unrequited love is likely one of the best-selling tracks of all time. In the tune, the narrator falls in love with their closest good friend, however the perfect good friend is unaware of the scenario. They have superb chemistry and spend plenty of time collectively, but he’s seeing another person. Although sad in his relationship, the narrator doesn’t reveal her true emotions to him.

5. Unchained Melody, Righteous Brothers

by way of Righteous Brothers – Topic

“Lonely rivers stream

To the ocean, to the ocean

To the open arms of the ocean, yeah

Lonely rivers sigh

Wait for me, anticipate me

I’ll be coming house, anticipate me.”

This is likely one of the most well-known songs about unrequited love. The movie primarily based on this tune was launched in 1965 and was an enormous success. The tune grew to become much more in style in movie “Ghost” that was launched some 25 years later. The tune was so profitable that it practically pushed the identical band’s tune “You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling” off the highest place. These two songs are revered as unrequited love ballads, and listeners link them with movies by which they served as theme songs.

6. Jessie’s Girl, Rick Springfield

by way of Rick Springfield

“You know I want that I had Jessie’s lady

I want that I had Jessie’s lady

Where can I discover a lady like that?”

Jessie’s Girl was launched within the Eighties. The narrator is in an embarrassing predicament since he’s in love along with his good friend’s girlfriend. When this occurs, the problem turns into extremely difficult. In the tune, the narrator is unable to convey his emotions for Jessie’s lady and his emotions stay unreciprocated.

7. Call Me Maybe, Carly Rea Jepsen

by way of Carly Rea Jepsen

“Hey, I simply met you and that is loopy

But here is my quantity, so name me perhaps

And all the opposite boys attempt to chase me

But here is my quantity, so name me perhaps.”

Carly Rae Jepsen is infatuated with a person who is totally unaware of her existence. She falls in love with the man at first sight, however the video and lyrics make it clear that the love is one-sided. She sings about her love and the way it makes her really feel, however there isn’t any probability that they may ever be collectively. In to the tune’s video, the crush goes about his enterprise unaffected by her unstated love. This is a tune for many who are unable to speak their emotions for others.

8. Every Little Thing She Does, The Police

by way of The Police

“Though I’ve tried earlier than to inform her

Of the emotions I’ve for her in my coronary heart

Every time that I come close to her

I simply lose my nerve as I’ve accomplished from the beginning.”

The Police write songs as if they’re on the skin trying in. On this monitor, the narrator expresses his admiration for the great thing about a girl, solely she is totally unaware of his existence. Regardless, every part she does seems to be magical to the man. But he is had so many rejections that he is not able to method her.

9. Waiting in Vain, Bob Marley

by way of Bob Marley

“Oh lady, ooh lady, is it possible?

I wanna know now, for I to knock some extra

Ya see, in life I do know there’s numerous grief

But your love is my reduction

Tears in my eyes burn, tears in my eyes burn

While I’m ready, whereas I’m ready for my flip

See.”

Bob Marley refuses to attend for a romance that can by no means come. It was love at first sight for him, however he realized he was on the backside of the girl in query’s precedence listing, so he by no means pursued the connection. Ultimately, Marley is sick of the scenario and would not need to wait for much longer. It’s a tune all those that have skilled unrequited love will relate to.

10. Grenade, Bruno Mars

by way of Bruno Mars

“Oh, oh, I might undergo all this ache

Take a bullet straight by my mind

Yes, I might die for ya, child

But you will not do the identical.”

We couldn’t compile an inventory of songs about unrequited love with out that includes Bruno Mars. In this tune, the artist will go to any size to impress a woman, even leap in entrance of a prepare. But she’s not having any of it as a result of she’s with another person. He is head over heels in love with the lady, however the emotion is not reciprocated. In the video, Bruno carries a piano up a hill to serenade the lady. When he arrives on the lady’s block, he notices her with one other man by her home window. He’s devastated, and that’s the place the tune ends.

11. Just a Friend to You, Meghan Trainor

by way of Meghan Trainor

“When you say I’m only a good friend to you

’Cause pals do not do the issues we do

Everybody is aware of you like me too

Tryna watch out with the phrases I take advantage of

I say it ’trigger I’m dying to

I’m a lot greater than only a good friend to you.”

“Just a Friend to You” is a tune about unrequited love and a confession from one good friend to a different. It’s a friendship dedication, however should you learn between the strains, you possibly can detect a touch of romance within the air. Meghan’s beautiful voice provides to the tune’s attraction, even to individuals within the midst of heartache. Just like her different songs, it will get caught in your head for days on finish.

12. Teardrops On My Guitar, Taylor Swift

by way of Taylor Swift

“He’s the rationale for the teardrops on my guitar

The solely factor that retains me hoping on a wishing star

He’s the tune within the automotive I hold singing, do not know why I do.”

Swift’s early songs have been downbeat and miserable. You can see from the lyrics that she fell in love with somebody who didn’t return her emotions. There is a breakup story right here, however the principle theme is about loving somebody who simply would not really feel the identical means about you. We’ve all been there at one level or one other,. Since then, Swift’s music has matured and develop into extra daring, however this tune stays one in all her biggest.

13. Stacy’s Mom, Fountains of Wayne

by way of FountainsOfWayneVEVO

“I do know it is likely to be fallacious however I’m in love with Stacy’s mother.

Stacy’s mother has obtained it goin’ on

Stacy’s mother has obtained it goin’ on

Stacy do you keep in mind once I mowed your garden?”

In this tune, the protagonist is head over heels in love with Stacy’s mom. As Stacy’s father isn’t round anymore, the narrator believes she will do along with his presence. Like one thing out of an American Pie film, we by no means learn how Stacy’s mother feels for him in return. Regardless, it’s a bittersweet love tune that can deliver a smile to everybody’s face.

14. Love Stinks, J. Geils Band

by way of JGeilsBandVEVO

“You love her

But she loves him

And he loves any person else

You simply cannot win.”

This tune was launched within the Eighties. One of the strains “that the one you love loves someone else,” says all of it. Everyone wants somebody to like, however that love isn’t at all times reciprocated. The singer concludes by remarking, “Love stinks.” Ultimately, there isn’t any actual decision to the tune. It is solely a caustic and humorous ode to the difficulties of unrequited love.

15. I Can’t Make You Love Me, Bonnie Raitt

by way of TheBonnieRaitt

“Cause I can not make you like me should you do not

You cannot make your coronary heart really feel one thing it will not

Here at the hours of darkness, in these ultimate hours

I’ll lay down my coronary heart and I’ll really feel the facility

But you will not, no you will not

’Cause I can not make you like me, should you do not.”

This tune has been coated by plenty of musicians, together with Bon Iver and George Michael. The phrases are beautiful, as is the tune. The narrator is in love with somebody who doesn’t love her again. In the lyrics, the narrator tells of a bodily encounter with the thing of her needs, however she longs for an emotional connection. It’s a tune concerning the agony and trepidation of leaving any person behind.

16. Everything You Want, Vertical Horizon

by way of VerticalHorizonMusic

“He says all the precise issues

At precisely the precise time

But he means nothing to you

And you do not know why.”

The protagonist of the tune meets somebody who is good in each means. He describes his crush as “funny, witty, and intellectual,” and every part he has ever desired in a companion. But this particular person means nothing to them, and he has no concept why. He’s left standing there, appreciating how full they’re. Still, he cannot have them.

The lyrics discuss of somebody who’s regularly on the lookout for somebody to like, however when the precise individual comes alongside, they’re pushed away. They then start to want for an additional, however all they’ll do is sit again and watch the love cross them by, unrequited.

Final Thoughts About the Best Songs About Unrequited Love

Unrequited love conjures up many artists all over the world. A damaged coronary heart is a powerful emotion, and it has been the inspiration being numerous songs over time. Our listing of 16 songs about unrequited love is supposed to encourage you to behave in your emotions, and to not be afraid to specific them. Be positive to click on on the hyperlinks and examine every monitor out.