17 Songs About Ghosting to Get You Through Breakup Pain
These tracks are about either being ghosted or ghosting someone else.
Dating in 2023 is ROUGH. Besides trying to figure out if you're actually dating-dating instead of just hanging out, or being catfished, benched, or breadcrumbed, you also have to deal with the possibility of being ghosted. It can be tough out here for single people.
According to Merriam-Webster, ghosting is "the act or practice of abruptly cutting off all contact with someone (such as a former romantic partner) usually without explanation by no longer accepting or responding to phone calls, instant messages, etc." Basically, someone up and falls off the face of the earth with no warning, leaving you feeling totally confused. If you've ever been ghosted before, you know how much it sucks. Thinking you have a connection with someone, only to then realize it likely didn't mean anything to them is a tough truth to accept. You may check your texts or DMs several times a day, hoping you'll hear from that Hinge date you liked. But if they ghosted you, your messages will go unanswered.
And if you've been the ghoster, then you should know how much hurt and anxiety you may have caused the person you ghosted. Closure in anything — especially in a relationship — is super important, as it can help people move on with their lives. But when you leave people without any explanation, it can seriously mess with their heads and hearts.
So, if you need help getting over being ghosted, or forgiving yourself for ghosting someone else, check out our list of songs below.
"Call Me!!!" by Olivia O'Brien
Year released: 2019
Notable lyrics: How you do the things you did, then go leave my text on read? / Baby, it isn't fair (It's not fair) / You moved on and I'm still stuck / Guess you never gave a f*ck
"Games" by Demi Lovato
Year released: 2017
Notable lyrics: Stop playing games / Text on read, and it ain't no accident / Boy, I ain't gon' ask again, now you got me in my head / Waiting by the phone at night, that's sh*t that I don't do
"Ghost" by Katy Perry
Year released: 2013
Notable lyrics: With every kiss and every letter / Every promise of forever / Oh, but you hit "send" / And disappeared in front of my eyes
Katy's song is about how her ex-husband, Russell Brand, told her he wanted a divorce... through a text message. So, while "Ghost" is not directly referring to Katy being ghosted by her ex, she's saying how Russell is like a ghost to her now, someone who was always there for her and then one day just disappeared. Anyone who's been ghosted can relate to that kind of pain and betrayal.
"How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore" by Prince
Year released: 1982
Notable lyrics: What I wanna know baby / If what we had was good / How come you don't call me anymore?
"Ghost" by FRANKIE and Scott Hoying (feat. One Night)
Year released: 2018
Notable lyrics: So why'd you have to ghost? / Why'd you have to go? / I feel so damn foolish / Waiting by my phone
"Hello" by Adele
Year released: 2015
Notable lyrics: I must've called a thousand times / To tell you I'm sorry for everything that I've done / But when I call, you never seem to be home
"Ghostin" by Ariana Grande
Year released: 2019
Notable lyrics: I know that it breaks your heart when I cry again / 'Stead of ghostin' him
"Lack of You" by Myylo
Year released: 2019
Notable lyrics: Wanted him in my life / I was making big plans / ’Til he ghosted me / And I believe something still haunts me / I want him to want me
"Operator (He Doesn’t Call Me)" by Låpsley
Year released: 2016
Notable lyrics: Don't put me on hold please
This song also gives off benching vibes.
"Where Were You in the Morning?" by Shawn Mendes
Year released: 2018
Notable lyrics: How could you make me believe / That there was something in between you and me, yeah? / I look around and I don't see you
"Cold Cold Cold" by Cage the Elephant
Year released: 2015
Notable lyrics: Doctor, can you help me 'cause I don't feel right? / Better make it fast before I change my mind
If you've ever been ghosted, then you know how empty it can make you feel and how a part of you is suddenly missing and you don't know how to get it back.
"Bust Your Windows" by Jazmine Sullivan
Year released: 2008
Notable lyrics: You see you can't just play with people's feelings / Tell them you love them and don't mean it
"Hey, Did I Do You Wrong?" by San Cisco
Year released: 2017
Notable lyrics: Hey, did I do you wrong? / Or is it more about / You need a change of scene.
"Boomerang" by Plain White T's
Year released: 2010
Notable lyrics: The next thing I know you toss me aside / You don't even bother with goodbyes.
This pop song also gives off vibes of breadcrumbing.
"Somebody Else" by The 1975
Year released: 2016
Notable lyrics: You're intertwining your soul with somebody else / I'm looking through you / While you're looking through your phone / And then leaving with somebody else
"Gone" by *NSYNC
Year released: 2001
Notable lyrics: Seems so long ago you walked away / Left me alone
"Always Remember Us This Way" by Lada Gaga
Year released: 2018
Notable lyrics: I don't wanna be just a memory, baby, yeah
From the 2018 Oscar-nominated best picture, A Star Is Born, this song is perfect for anyone wanting to listen to a tune about a relationship that ended way too soon and abruptly.
Stacey Grant is a senior editor at Seventeen who runs the brand's Snapchat Discover channel. She also covers entertainment topics specializing in nostalgia, such as classic '90s and '00s Disney Channel and Nickelodeon content.
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