10 Best Rock Songs About The One That Got Away

Feature Photo: D-VISIONS / Shutterstock.com

Our list of the ten best rock songs about “The One That Got Away” presents a collection of songs that, for the most part, can be pretty painful to listen to. What fuels that pain is how we have all related to these songs on such a personal level. Almost everyone has had that special someone who got away. Songwriters and moviemakers are well aware of that, and they never stop reminding us, just like this article does.

# 10 – Since You’ve Been Gone – Rainbow

We open our 10 Best Rock Songs About The One That Got Away list with the rocking song from Rainbow called Since You’ve Been Gone. They sound a little happy about this, but at the end, their hearts are lying there bleeding on the floor as Graham Bonnet sings, “Your poison letter, your telegram Just goes to show you don’t give a damn.” The song was released on the album entitled Down to Earth. The album was released in 1979.

# 9 – I Wish I Were Blind – Bruce Springsteen

Continuing with our list of the ten best rock songs about “the one that got away,” we take a listen to our first truly painful track from the man who always knew how to write about pain. Is there any better line about the one that got away than what Bruce Springsteen composed in the lyrics: “And though the world is filled With the grace and beauty of God’s hand, Oh, I wish I were blind When I see you with your man.” This striking song was released on Bruce Springsteen’s album Human Touch. The album was released in 1992.

# 8 – I Just Don’t Know What To Do With Myself -Dusty Springfield

In the number eight spot on our list of the ten best rock songs about “the one that got away” is a song composed by Burt Bacharach and lyricist Hal David called “I Just Don’t Know What to Do with Myself.” Multiple artists have recorded this song, but the version that I always liked best was done by Dusty Springfield. She really sells the pain of letting a love get away.

# 7 – The Bed’s Too Big Without You – The Police

You have to hand it to Sting. This is a very clever way of singing about “the one that got away.” In the number seven position on our list of the ten best rock songs about “the one that got away” is the brilliant composition, recorded and performed by The Police, called “The Bed’s Too Big Without You.” The song was released on their second studio album, Reggatta de Blanc (1979). It was the final single released from the album.

# 6 – “I Feel Like a Bullet (In the Gun of Robert Ford)” – Elton John

Landing in the number six spot on our list of the ten best rock songs about “the one that got away” is the breathtaking song “I Feel Like a Bullet (In the Gun of Robert Ford).” Leave it to Bernie Taupin to come up with one of the most poetic lyrics ever about someone feeling the pain of a breakup and the loss of a lover because of their own stupidity. This fabulous song was released on Elton John’s Rock of the Westies album. The album was released in 1975. The song was the flip side to the album’s second single, “Grow Some Funk of Your Own.”

# 5 – Long Long Time – Linda Ronstadt

At the halfway point on our list of the ten best rock songs about “the one that got away” is the breathtaking song from Linda Ronstadt called “Long Long Time.” Is it possible to write a song about “the one that got away” even though you never actually had that person? Perhaps we could argue that there are many people we allow ourselves to fall for, head over heels, and never get the opportunity or chance to even talk to them. We could argue that they are all “the ones that got away,” and it seems that this is what Linda Ronstadt is singing about in her beautiful song “Long Long Time.”

# 4 – The Boys Of Summer – Don Henley

In this driving piece written by Don Henley, the legendary Eagles singer drives by his ex-girlfriend’s house as the sun sets, knowing very well she’s not there. It sounds as if he is driving by her house many years later, long after she has been gone. The story is open to interpretation. Throughout the entire song, he reminisces about those special summers he spent with her. The story lacks specific details, but it gives you just enough to know that this is a sort of Summer of ’42 story. It’s just perfect.

# 3 – She’s Gone – Hall & Oates

Well, it doesn’t get more straightforward than this one. This is one of those Hall & Oates songs I coudl listen to every day and never get tired of. In fact, most of their material is pretty much like that. With a perfect mix of blue eye and brown eye soul, Hall & Oates composed and recorded a brilliant musical piece that speaks so well to the very basic concept of realizing that, yeah, man!……..she’s gone!

# 2 – Same Old Lang Syne – Dan Fogelberg

You know this one. This is the one that got to all of us the first time we heard it. Dan Fogelberg sets the scene perfectly in every line of the song. However, it’s the ending when she walks away and Fogelberg sings, “the snow turned into rain.” Oh, that hurts. This would be number one on this list if it weren’t for the track that Tom Waits wrote, which is even more painful than this one.

# 1 – Martha – Tom Waits

We close out our 10 Best Rock Songs About The One That Got Away list with Tom Waits heartbreaking song “Martha.” This one is really hard to listen to. You can hear how sad Tom Waits sounds when he calls his old flame Martha. I first heard this when I was 14, and it made me feel blue; now, at 62, it’s even ten times sadder to listen to. The song was released on the album entitled Closing Time. The album was released in 1973.