The most heart-breaking songs about unrequited love

15 February 2022, 08:00

Valentine's Day hasn't gone according to plan? Here's your perfect playlist of tunes for when they're just not into you.

1. Radiohead - Creep

   Classic Thom Yorke about not being at the top of the pile when it comes to sex appeal: “I want you to notice / When I'm not around.”

2. The Killers - Mr Brightside

   Brandon Flowers’ classic tale of wondering what’s going on with the one you fancy. “Now they're going to bed / And my stomach is sick / And it's all in my head.”

3. Pearl Jam - Black

   Eddie Vedder spills his guts about an early relationship: “I know you'll be a star / In somebody else's sky / But why can't it be mine.”

4. Coldplay - Shiver

   Hard to imagine Chris Martin had confidence issues, but this was back in the early days: “So I look in your direction / But you pay me no attention, do you?”

5. R.E.M. - Losing My Religion

   Michael Stipe’s lyrics are difficult to fathom at the best of times, but there’s something about this couplet that strikes the old heartstrings: “Oh no, I've said too much / I haven't said enough.”

6. The Smiths - Back To The Old House

   “And you never knew / How much I really liked you / Because I never even told you / Oh, and I meant to”

   Morrissey recalls the object of his obsession.

7. Aqualung - Strange And Beautiful

   Man down! “I’ve been watching your world from afar / I’ve been trying to be where you are / And I've been secretly falling apart.”

8. Adele - Chasing Pavements

   Ms Adkins gets to the crux of the problem: “If I tell the world / I’ll never say enough / Cause it was not said to you.”