When I think of leaving someone, it’s often the scene from Ernest Hemingway’s short story “End of Something” that comes to mind. In it a boy Nick is calling things off with his girlfriend Marjorie, and he says to her simply and sadly, “It isn’t fun any more. It isn’t fun anymore. Not any of it.” To which she replies, “Isn’t love any fun?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“No,” he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ouch. It’s a harsh way to say goodbye, but sometimes at the end of something there isn’t anything else to say but the truth. There are a lot of ways to leave someone (according to Paul Simon there must be 50) and lot of different ways to feel about it. Sometimes you’re left feeling empowered and strong, others times your parting is sad and lonely, and then there are those bittersweet goodbyes\u2014the ones that leave you feeling hopeful for the future but sad for what was lost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you’re looking to leave someone behind (or if you already have) and you need a soundtrack to make walking away a little easier, I’ve put one together one for you here. From the loud blues songs that say goodbye and good riddance to the soft melancholy ballads filled with bittersweet reflections, there are a variety of leaving songs to play while you’re on your way. Explore the songs below or checkout the entire Songs About Leaving Someone playlist on Spotify<\/a> to listen to them all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Favorite Lyrics: Favorite Lyrics: Favorite Lyrics: Favorite Lyrics: Favorite Lyrics: Favorite Lyrics: Favorite Lyrics: Favorite Lyrics: Favorite Lyrics: Favorite Lyrics: Favorite Lyrics: Favorite Lyrics: Favorite Lyrics: Favorite Lyrics: Favorite Lyrics: Favorite Lyrics: Favorite Lyrics:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Well, I’m leaving, I’m leaving Favorite Lyrics: Favorite Lyrics: Favorite Lyrics: Favorite Lyrics: Favorite Lyrics: Favorite Lyrics:<\/p>\n\n\n\n I went upstairs to pack my leavin’ trunk, you know Favorite Lyrics: Favorite Lyrics: Favorite Lyrics:1. Babe, I’m Gonna Leave You<\/a>, Led Zeppelin<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\nBabe, I’m gonna leave you
\nOh, baby, you know, I’ve really got to leave you
\nOh I can hear it callin ‘me
\nI said don’t you hear it callin’ me the way it used to do?<\/p>\n\n\n\n2. I’ll Follow the Sun<\/a>, The Beatles<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\nAnd now the time has come
\nAnd so, my love, I must go
\nAnd though I lose a friend
\nIn the end you will know<\/p>\n\n\n\n3. These Boots Are Made for Walkin’<\/a>, Nancy Sinatra<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\nYou keep lyin’ when you oughta be truthin’
\nYou keep losing when you oughta not bet
\nYou keep samin’ when you oughta be a’changin’
\nNow what’s right is right but you ain’t been right yet<\/p>\n\n\n\n4. Walk Away<\/a>, Ben Harper<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\nIt’s so hard to do
\nAnd so easy to say
\nBut sometimes, sometimes you just have to walk away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n5. Walking to New Orleans<\/a>, Fats Domino<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\nYou used to be my honey
\nTill you spent all my money
\nNo use for you to cry
\nI’ll see you by and by<\/p>\n\n\n\n6. 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover<\/a>, Paul Simon<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\nYou just slip out the back, Jack
\nMake a new plan, Stan
\nYou don’t need to be coy, Roy
\nJust get yourself free
\nHop on the bus, Gus
\nYou don’t need to discuss much
\nJust drop off the key, Lee
\nAnd get yourself free<\/p>\n\n\n\n7. Farewell Angelina<\/a>, Bob Dylan<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\nThere’s no need for anger, there’s no need for blame
\nThere’s nothing to prove, everything’s still the same
\nJust a table standing empty by the edge of the sea
\nMeans farewell, Angelina, the sky is trembling and I must leave<\/p>\n\n\n\n8. Just a Song Before I Go<\/a>, Crosby, Stills & Nash<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\nJust a song before I go,
\nA lesson to be learned
\nTraveling twice the speed of sound
\nIt’s easy to get burned<\/p>\n\n\n\n9. That’s It, I Quit, I’m Moving On<\/a>, Sam Cooke<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\nYeah, that’s it
\nBaby, I quit, I’m moving on<\/p>\n\n\n\n10. Maybe You’re Right<\/a>, Miley Cyrus<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\nYou might think I’m crazy
\nThat I’m lost and foolish
\nLeaving you behind
\nMaybe you’re right<\/p>\n\n\n\n11. Easier to Walk Away<\/a>, Elton John<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\nIt’s easier to walk away
\nBetter off to face the facts
\nWhen love holds you up for ransom
\nWalk away and don’t look back<\/p>\n\n\n\n12. Bite the Bullet<\/a>, Mot\u00f6rhead<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\nStepping out, I’m leaving here
\nNo use crying, crying in my beer
\nEnough’s enough, believe it’s true
\nBite the bullet, I’m leaving you<\/p>\n\n\n\n13. Leaving U 4 the Groove<\/a>, LMFAO<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\nBaby we need to talk
\nYou know, you know our relationship ain’t really been going right
\nI don’t really know how to tell you this but
\nI’m leaving you for the groove<\/p>\n\n\n\n14. Diving<\/a>, Sneaker Pimps<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\nLeaving you became arriving
\nFalling down became diving<\/p>\n\n\n\n15. I’m Leaving You Now<\/a>, Lightnin’ Hopkins<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\nI tried anything I could to get along with you
\nYou don’t mean me no good
\nNo, I’m through<\/p>\n\n\n\n16. Leaving You<\/a>, Bad Company<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\nYou loved me and you made me what I am today
\nYou loved me and you gave in every single way
\nYou loved me and you gave it all so tenderly
\nYou loved me and I’m a telling you now on bended knee
\nI’m a leavin’ you baby<\/p>\n\n\n\n17. I’m Leaving You Baby<\/a>, Junior Kimbrough<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\nI’m leaving you baby
\nOh, girl, then I’m going away<\/p>\n\n\n\n18. I’m Leaving You<\/a>, Electric Light Orchestra<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\nYou’re leaving me, you’re leaving me
\nBut just before you go, there’s something you should know
\nI’ve found somebody new, and I’m leaving you<\/p>\n\n\n\n19. I’m Leaving You Again<\/a>, New Edition<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\nGirl, I’m leaving you again
\nAnd I thought I’ll tell you when.
\nI know how you must feel,
\nBut if you’re love’s for real.
\nYou’ll try to understand
\nThat I’m in popular demand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n20. I’m Leaving You (Commit a Crime)<\/a>, Stevie Ray Vaughn<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\nI’m leavin’ you woman, before I commit a crime
\nYou the evilest woman, I think ever crossed my mind<\/p>\n\n\n\n21. Leaving the Table<\/a>, Leonard Cohen<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\nYou don\u2019t need a lawyer
\nI\u2019m not making a claim
\nYou don’t need to surrender
\nI\u2019m not taking aim
\nI don\u2019t need a lover, no, no, no
\nThe wretched beast is tame
\nI don\u2019t need a lover
\nSo blow out the flame<\/p>\n\n\n\n22. I’ve Been a Long Time Leaving (But I’ll Be a Long Time Gone)<\/a>, Waylon Jennings<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\nHello high line, hello highway
\nHere come a big old semi my way
\nStick up my thumb, hear the truck come
\nTrees goin’ by, lookin’ like a fly
\nOn the big legs are my Levi’s<\/p>\n\n\n\n23. Leaving Trunk<\/a>, Taj Mahal<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\nI ain’t see no blues or whiskey made me sloppy drunk
\nI ain’t never seen no whiskey, the blues made me sloppy drunk
\nI go home baby and I lay down on the lawn<\/p>\n\n\n\n24. Leaving New York<\/a>, R.E.M.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\nYou might’ve laughed if I told you
\nYou might have hidden your frown
\nYou might’ve succeeded in changing me
\nI might’ve been turned around
\nIt’s easier to leave than to be left behind
\nLeaving was never my proud
\nLeaving New York never easy
\nI saw the light fading out<\/p>\n\n\n\n25. As I’m Leaving,<\/a> David Grey<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\nAnd I’m almost
\nThrough the water
\nThrough the rain
\nTo the soul of everything
\nWash my heart out on the stones
\nAnd I’m almost gone<\/p>\n\n\n\n26. I Will Always Love You<\/a>, Dolly Parton<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
\nBittersweet memories
\nThat is all I’m taking with me
\nSo good-bye
\nPlease don’t cry
\nWe both know I’m not what you need<\/p>\n\n\n\n