We were foolish, you and I
But there’s no reason to cry
We put on a lovely show
But that’s all. I had to go..

Magnetic Fields- Smoke and Mirrors (selected by Ginny)

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Magnetic Fields – Get Lost


No one wants you and you wonder why?

Face To Face – Bikeage (selected by Foote)

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Face to Face – Big Choice


Lily Allen: When you first left me, I was wanting more..
But you were fucking that girl next door…
Wale: Who you talkin’ bout hoe?
Lily Allen: What did you do that for?
Wale: I’d un got right back.

Lily Allen feat. Wale – Smile (Mark Ronson remix) (selected by Frank)

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Lily Allen – Alright, Still Lily Allen - Alright, Still


The note I wrote,
As she read, she said,
“Has the Perrier gone
Straight to my head?
Or is life sick and cruel, instead?”

The Smiths – I Won’t Share You (selected by nugget)

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I don’t hear from you no more, but I get the message.
You crashed your car through my front door, I pulled you from the wreckage.
You told me that you missed me, but you meant with the grill and the hood…..

Alkaline Trio – I’m Fatally Yours REMIX (selected by bootsy)

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Alkaline Trio – Good Mourning Alkaline Trio - Good Mourning


No one has slaved over a lyric like Leonard Cohen. A true poet of a musician he started out as a published author and poet before recording his first album. A master of metaphor, I could listen to this song about 100 times after a break-up. However, that would mean I would need a girlfirend first… so maybe I’ll just listen while melancholy. The backup vocals during the chorus are amazing.

I’m standing on a ledge and your fine spider web
Is fastening my ankle to a stone

Leonard Cohen – So Long, Marianne (selected by Sydney C)

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Leonard Cohen – The Essential Leonard Cohen Leonard Cohen - The Essential Leonard Cohen


OBV — rub that shit in her facez

Team 9 – The Money Song (selected by Hot Dog)

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You can almost see the memory montage through the awkward silence.

Clinic – Mary and Eddie (selected by Jillian)

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Clinic – Do It! Clinic - Do It!


I was so tempted to post all 19 minutes of Isaac Haye’s “By the Time I get to Phoenix” or maybe “Love Hurts” by Nazareth. But instead, here’s a sweet song on the aftermath of a breakup, best heard with the volume up:

Jefferson Airplane- Coming Back to You (selected by nugget)

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Jefferson Airplane – Surrealistic Pillow Jefferson Airplane - Surrealistic Pillow


And we’ll let the muffin readers make the last song choice in the comments…



  1. Kristen on Saturday 17, 2008

    Billy Idol – Eyes without a Face.

    I may or may not have listened to that on repeat for 36 hours while in a state of pining.

  2. Katie on Saturday 17, 2008

    Regina Spektor – Samson
    I mean, it’ll depress you but its just beautiful.

  3. Frank on Saturday 17, 2008

    Good call Katie, good call.

  4. Lana on Saturday 17, 2008

    Smoke by Ben Folds
    “leaf by leaf
    page by page
    throw this book away”

  5. Kara on Saturday 17, 2008

    “you oughta now” alanis morrsette**** can’t spell her name right lmao!

  6. FENNA on Saturday 17, 2008

    Mmm, orrrrr, Save a Prayer – Duran-duran ?! That’s my break-up-song FOR LIFE.

  7. Beth Ackerman on Saturday 17, 2008

    What? No “Irreplacable” by Beyonce? No “50 ways to leave your lover?” Break up songs are suppose to make you feel awesomely empowered by your new found freedom, we need some more of these songs on the list. No “I will survive”? Come on now…