10 Touching Songs About Missing Someone

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Out 10 Touching Songs About Missing Someone list presents songs written and recorded about missing someone for many reasons. While a topic about missing someone can be vast, we tried to pick a mix of well-known songs as well as some lesser-known pieces. People always turn to music to somehow ease the pain of losing someone, whether it’s from a breakup, a fight, or, sadly, the passing away of a friend or family member. At times, these songs can have a healing effect and, of course, also can cause more pain. It depends on where someone is in the scope of the loss.

Many of rock and pop music’s greatest songs have been about breakups and the inevitable missing of that person. We were careful not to title this article the best songs about missing someone because, for many people, these songs are painful to listen to. At the same time, many people connect with their past through these songs, as some have deep meaning in their lives.

The songs about missing someone that seems to have the most emotional impact on the listeners are those written by artists who composed the songs from the heart and out of their own emotional experiences. Break-ups have been the fuel to spawn so many of the most genuine songs about missing someone. As Billy Joel once sang, “If you said goodbye to me tonight, There would still be music left to write.”

# 10 – You’re Missing

We open our 10 Songs About Missing Someone list with the Bruce Springsteen song “You’re Missing.” This is a really sad one because it speaks to the tragedy of 9/11. The song was released on the album The Rising. The album was a response to the events of 9/11 and was Springsteen’s way of trying to offer some solace to those who lost loved ones on that horrible day. This is a tough one to listen to. Yet, it’s an important piece that tries to paint a picture of the pain that so many people had to endure in the wake of so many lost lives on that day in September.

# 9 – Miss You

Continuing with our 10 Songs About Missing Someone list, we try to lighten the mood with this Rolling Stones classic entitled “Miss You.” The song was released on the album Some Girls. The album was released in 1978. Most people had no idea what this song was about, but they just loved the groove. “Miss You” was one of the best Rolling Stones songs that the band had released in five years. It was the first single released from the album. The song was a massive hit on the US Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number one. In the United Kingdom, the song hit number three.

# 8 – The Tracks Of My Tears

In the number eight spot on our 10 Songs About Missing Someone list, we present the song entitled “The Tracks Of My Tears.” Some breakup songs have a soulful groove; they don’t sound like songs about missing someone. However, this one by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles is one of the best. All he is trying to says is he is not really the life of the party, if you just take a closer look you know what your going to see……pain!

The groovin’ emotional song “The Tracks Of My Tears.” was released in 1965. The song hit the US Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number sixteen. The song was also a hit on the US Billboard R&B charts, reaching number two.

# 7 – Ten Years Gone

In the number seven position on our 10 Songs About Missing Someone list is the electrifying song entitled “Ten Years Gone.” This classic Led Zeppelin song was released on what many believe to be Led Zeppelin’s best album entitled Physical Graffiti. The album was released in 1975. In the song, Robert Plant yearns for that special girl, singing, “Changes fill my time, baby, that’s alright with me. “In the Midst, I Think of You, and How It Used to Be” It is a song that sounds like it’s about first love. We all miss our first love.

# 6 – She’s Gone

We couldn’t pass up this Hall & Oates classic soul hit on our 10 Songs About Missing Someone list. These guys knew how to lay down a soul groove with the best of them. The song’s powerful chorus delivered a melody and lyrics you will never forget after hearing it for the first time. The song “She’s Gone” was released on the Abandoned Luncheonette album. The album was released in 1973. It was the first single released from the album. The song hit the US Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number seven.

# 5 – I Want You Back

At the halfway point on our 10 Songs About Missing Someone list is the song entitled “I Want You Back.” It’s pretty evident that the desire to have that person back comes with the missing. The Jackson Five made that point better than anyone. The song “I Want You Back” was released in 1969. This was a massive hit for the Jackson Five. The jubilant song “I Want You Back.” went to number one on the US Billboard Hot 100.

# 4 – Walk On By

It’s incredible how so many of the best or most influential songs about missing somebody, about losing that special love, have such a great groove and almost somewhat happy melody to them. Dionne Warwick’s cover of Burt Bacharach’s grand song “Walk On By” is one of those. I guess it’s in the fact that she’s just trying to hide her tears when she is seen walking across the street by her ex-lover, whom she simply begs to please walk on by…….

# 3 – Here Today

While most of our songs about missing someone have been more generic, this particular song written by Paul McCartney was written for one person only. The song “Here Today” was written by Paul McCartney about his relationship with John Lennon. It had only been two years since John Lennon had been murdered in front of his apartment building in New York City. This very sentimental song was written by Paul McCartney and released in 1982 on his Tug Of War album. It’s one of the most beautiful songs ever written and yet, of course, one of the most painful to listen to.

# 2 – Missing You

Now talk about a song written about missing someone, here you go. John Waite sings over and over throughout this song that he ain’t missing his woman, shouting, “I ain’t missing you, I ain’t missing you at all.” Yes, of course, we all know he’s lying, which makes this song so special. John Waite’s “Missing You” was a massive hit in the summer of 1984. You couldn’t put on MTV or the radio without hearing this every 15 minutes. It was just one of those perfect songs with a groove and a melody in the lyrics that all fell into place. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime song for John Waite, and we are talking about an artist who had many great songs.

# 1 – Without You

We close out our 10 Songs About Missing Someone list with the spectacular song “Without You.” The first time I heard the song I was bawling my eyes out and I wasn’t even missing anybody. If there ever was a super larger-than-life powerful chorus in a song about missing someone, this is it. Mariah Carey had a hit with the song many years later, and she sounded great, but we will always be more dedicated to the legendary Harry Nilsson version. The song was initially recorded by Pete Ham and Tom Evans of Badfinger, who composed the song. Nonetheless, Harry Nilsson’s version is the ultimate recording. If you want only one song about missing someone….here it is!