Here are five examples of songs that may help when stuck between knowing whether someone should stay or go in a romantic relationship. Often times it is hard to decide which way your heart or head is leading you, or which one may be "right", but at least there will always be radio commiseration.
"I Hate Everything About You" by Three Days Grace
By the title it would see that the song is clearly on the side of breaking up. But a closer look at the lines reveals the conflict of the writer. "I hate everything about you, why do I love you?" Summed up in a sentence is the long-time dilemma of those torn between the aggravation and satisfaction of love?
Written in 2003 by the Canadian group, the song reached number one status in Canada and number ten on U.S. charts. "I Hate Everything about You" was released as a single from their self-titled debut album which went platinum in Canada and the United States.
"Into The Great Wide Open" by Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers
Another lyrically ambivalent song about love and what can go wrong. Told in story form, as most of Petty's hits are, the song follows the story of Eddie who goes from nothing to rock star with his love by his side. Eventually Eddie goes from a "sky was the limit" life to a "into the great wide open, a rebel without a clue". From having it all, or thinking you do, to the moment when you realize you are alone and free. Although, as Petty implies, free to perhaps screw things up all by yourself.
Released in 1991, the song was the eighth studio album for the band and was made even more popular by the music video which featured Johnny Depp as "Eddie" going through the ups and downs of the music business and personal love life
"What It Takes" by Aerosmith
Written by Steven Tyler, Joe Perry and Desmond Child, this was the third single from the long-running band's Pump album released in 1990. The song which demands that someone "Tell me what it takes to let you go" reached number nine on the Billboard charts and is a que cera cera, whatever will be will be, type of tune.
Tyler croons that "all those late night promises, I guess they don't mean a thing" but continues to want to know "baby what's the story, have you found another man?" It's the song of someone who knows that it's over but doesn't want to let go. It's the dichotomy of letting someone go without being able to let them be gone that this song captures perfectly.
"Cumbersome" by Seven Mary Three
By definition alone, the title track from this band's debut album, American Standard, means troublesome or a burden.
In the lyrics from the single, released in 1996, there is a definite indecision about the ongoing relationship or the lyricist part in it. "Too heavy, too light, too wrong or too right, too black or too white....cumbersome." Regardless of the burden of indecision on the part of the storyteller, it's also added that "she's wanting me less, I'm wanting her more" so it seems no one's mind is made up. A definitive cumbersome love situation.
“Too heavy, too light, too wrong or too right, too black or too white.....cumbersome." Regardless of the songwriter’s internal dichotomous feelings, it's also added that "she's wanting me less, I'm wanting her more"
It seems no one's mind is made up. Sounds like a cumbersome situation to me.
"With or Without You" by U2
The ultimate "what should I do with you" track of all time. The title alone is enough to summarize almost any relationship in this number one hit released by the band on their debut album The Joshua Tree in 1987. It was U2's first number one American hit and in 2004 was named by Rolling Stone Magazine as one of the 500 greatest songs of all time.
"She got me with nothing to win and nothing else to lose", Bono sings on the track and over and over proclaiming that "I can't live, with or without you."
The list of songs that could fit into the above category are numerous and this is just a sample from the past couple of decades but some solace may be found in them when facing a difficult make-up or break-up situation. At least it may be reassuring to know that most of us, even rock stars, have been there from time to time.
Heather Harris - Heather Harris has been a devoted writer and documentarian since the age of 6 when she was sure that future civilzations would read her ...
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