Nobody likes feeling ignored or unwanted — especially by someone they love. Whether your family or your crush is ignoring you, we have a few songs to help you deal with all the difficult emotions stemming from this all-too-common situation.
In this article, you’ll find 20 songs about being ignored and unwanted. If you’re looking for a good cry or a way to make sense of what you’re feeling, give these songs a listen!
1. “Unwanted” by Avril Lavigne
Avril Lavigne’s song “Unwanted”, which appears on her 2002 album Let Go, follows the singer as she explores her emotions after feeling rejected. She goes to meet people and feels as if they’re judging her completely — even though they don’t know her. She just wants to be their friend and get to know them!
While Lavigne wrote this song about not being accepted by her boyfriend’s family, this song is a great one to listen to if you’re feeling ignored and unwanted in any situation.
Just look at Lavigne’s lyrics when she sings, “No, I just don’t understand why you won’t talk to me / It hurts that I’m so unwanted for nothing.” So, if you’re being ignored by your crush, friend, or anyone in your life, give this 2002 track a listen.
2. “Liability” by Lorde
“Liability” by Lorde, which appears on the 2017 album Melodrama, explores what it’s like to begin to feel unwanted in platonic and romantic relationships. Lorde sings that she feels like a “Liability” to her friends and to her ex. At first, they want to be great friends with her… but then, they don’t want to know her at all.
Lorde ends up feeling ignored and unwanted as a result. She sings, “The truth is I am a toy that people enjoy / Till all of the tricks don’t work anymore / And then they are bored of me.”
3. “Faint” by Linkin Park
In “Faint”, Linkin Park sings about a complicated relationship that can be interpreted as either platonic or romantic. Regardless, the relationship begins to struggle — and the lead singer begins to feel ignored and unwanted after these major struggles.
He sings, “I can’t feel the way I did before / Don’t turn your back on me, I won’t be ignored / Time won’t heal this damage anymore.”
4. “Watching You Without Me” by Kate Bush
Kate Bush released her song “Watching You Without Me”, which is also about being ignored or unwanted, on her 1985 album Hounds of Love. In this song, which also follows the story told throughout the whole album, Bush sings about ghosts and spirits after a shipwreck.
Of course, all songs are open to interpretation! As a result, many have taken this song and applied it to their own unique situations when they feel ignored or unwanted by those that they love.
Bush sings, “Don’t ignore, don’t ignore me / Let me in and don’t be long.”
5. “Ordinary Idols” by Cold War Kids
“Ordinary Idols” by Cold War Kids follows the singer as he deals with his own troubles and insecurities. Even though he might have more than others, he still feels as if he’s the underdog — and as if he’s only ever going to be seen in this light.
He was ignored by all in the past, so he feels that this will always be the case. As a result, he ends up singing, “Give me more / I’m the one you that you ignored.”
6. “tolerate it” by Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift’s “tolerate it”, which appears on her 2020 album evermore, details a romance that has gone south. Even though Swift’s partner used to shower her with attention and love, that has since changed. Now, Swift feels as if her partner is just tolerating her, leaving her feeling unwanted in the process.
In the chorus, she sings the lyrics, “I know my love should be celebrated / But you tolerate it.”
7. “The More You Ignore Me, The Closer I Get” by Morrissey
“The More You Ignore Me, The Closer I Get” by Morrissey is also about feeling ignored by someone you love, if you couldn’t tell from the title alone! This 1994 song opens with the lines, “The more you ignore me, the closer I get / You’re wasting your time.”
Morrissey goes on to say that he won’t let this person ignoring him win, as he knows that he’ll eventually break through to get them to see him — or to make them realize he’s there, waiting for their affection. He describes this whole situation as if it’s a war!
8. “Stop This Car” by Michelle Williams
“Stop This Car” by Michelle Williams explores the potential end of a relationship. Williams sings that her romance used to be fine. But then, it began to fall apart. Now, she feels ignored and unwanted and just wants the romance to end if her partner no longer wants to be with her. She compares this to just wanting the car to stop.
She sings, “There’s nothing worse than being ignored / If you don’t want me, put the brakes to the floor / When you shut me out I feel so alone.”
9. “Don’t Stay” by Linkin Park
We’ve got another Linkin Park song for you! “Don’t Stay”, which appears on the band’s 2003 album Meteora, is about the band’s old record label who almost destroyed the band and their subsequent success. As the band sings and raps about how this record label treated them, they also discuss how they felt ignored and unwanted.
They sing, “I don’t need you anymore / I don’t want to be ignored / I don’t need one more day / Of you wasting me away.”
10. “Slumville Sunrise” by Jake Bugg
“Slumville Sunrise” by Jake Bugg also discusses feeling ignored and unwanted. In this 2013 track, Jake Bugg sings about his upbringing and where he lives. Even though he wants a better life, it seems that his friends ignore him when he brings this possibility up.
He sings, “This place is just not for me / I say it all the time / My friends they just ignore me / Tell me never mind.”
11. “Talk” by Coldplay
Coldplay’s 2005 song “Talk”, which appears on their album X&Y, discusses feelings of insecurity. Therefore, it’s a no-brainer that the song also discusses feeling ignored and unwanted, as often insecurity can stem from these feelings!
The band explains that we might all feel a little better if we talk it out. They sing, “So, you don’t know where you’re going and you wanna talk / And you feel like you’re going where you’ve been before / You’ll tell anyone who’ll listen, but you feel ignored / And nothing’s really making any sense at all.”
12. “I Am An Outsider” by Three Days Grace
In “I Am An Outsider”, Three Days Grace sings about someone who feels unwanted by society in general. They don’t want attention, however, and instead just want to remain anonymous and a part of the crowd, rather than pulled out of the crowd.
To this, they sing, “I’d rather be faceless and ignored / Than be in the in-crowd, desperate for / A way to fit in just a little more.”
13. “Walking On a Thin Line” by Huey Lewis & The News
“Walking On a Thin Line” by Huey Lewis & The News tells the story of a veteran who returns home after the Vietnam War. This veteran suffers from PTSD and struggles to adapt back into his life in society after the war. Unfortunately, he begins to feel ignored.
The band sings, “Don’t you know me / I’m the boy next door / The one you find so easy to ignore / Is that what I was fighting for?”
14. “Best Fake Smile” by James Bay
In “Best Fake Smile”, James Bay tells the story of a waitress who doesn’t like her job, nor does she enjoy pretending that she’s happy all the time. Eventually, she realizes that she can find another job and a happier way to live — so she does!
However, Bay does sing about how she feels ignored and unwanted. He sings the lyrics, She’s working late and making eyes at the door / She’s sick of everybody up on her floor / She wants the sun in her eyes but all she gets is ignored.”
15. “Hey Now!” by Oasis
1995’s “Hey Now!” by Oasis follows the band as they sing about their past, all the work they put in for their music career, and more. The band sings about a lot of different topics, as a result. However, they also talk about the feelings they have when they feel ignored!
They sing, “What am I gonna do while I’m looking at you? / You’re standing ignoring me.”
16. “I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor” by Arctic Monkeys
Arctic Monkeys’ 2005 song “I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor” is a bit of a different song than the others on this list, as it’s not really about feeling alone and sad. Instead, the singer sings about seeing a regular girl during the day and wondering what she would be like out and about partying at night.
Regardless, the singer does talk about feeling ignored still! He sings the lyrics, “I wish you’d stop ignoring me / Because it’s sending me to despair.”
17. “Where Did My Baby Go?” by John Legend
“Where Did My Baby Go?” by John Legend also discusses feeling ignored or unwanted. In this song, Legend wonders where his ex went. She left him and he misses her. He can’t seem to find her anywhere, something he doesn’t like.
He also admits that he did wrong and ignored her, which likely resulted in her leaving him! Legend sings, “Maybe I was wrong and I / Ignored her for too long and I / Didn’t even notice when she slipped away.”
18. “All My Love to You” by Janet Jackson
1984’s “All My Love to You” by Janet Jackson explores Jackson’s feelings in a romantic relationship. Jackson explains that she wants to be with this person — even if they don’t seem to completely want to be with her. Regardless, Jackson fights for this love. She won’t feel ignored or unwanted by this person any longer.
She sings, “Don’t try to hide and ignore me, drive me crazy / ‘Cause I’m for sure, you’re my first love and I’m your lady.”
19. “So Yesterday” by Hilary Duff
“So Yesterday” by Hilary Duff also explores feelings of sadness when someone ignores you! Duff discusses a hard breakup she experienced and how at first, it seemed as if it would continue to bring her down. However, she eventually realized that she refuses to feel ignored and unwanted any longer. Instead, she’s going to move on!
She sings the lyrics, “Thank you, you made my mind up for me / When you started to ignore me / Do you see a single tear? / It isn’t gonna happen here.”
20. “I Can’t Take This Anymore” by Paul Anka
At last, let’s discuss the final song on our list! “I Can’t Take This Anymore” by Paul Anka details a romantic relationship that can’t seem to work out. Anka feels as if his partner isn’t giving him her all. He feels that she’s holding back from him. As a result, he doesn’t think the relationship will work any longer.
He sings, “How many times can I say / How can you treat me this way? / How many heart aches today to ignore?”
Listen to the full playlist on YouTube here.