Feeling lonely when you’re not in a relationship is one thing. But feeling lonely when you are in a relationship is something altogether different. Many people have often felt this way and have become worried about what to do — or what this means for their relationship.
So, to help you out if you’re feeling this way, we’ve listed 20 songs about being lonely in a relationship below. Sometimes, these songs end up with the couple breaking up. Other times, these songs explore what it truly means to feel lonely when together — and this isn’t always a bad thing!
1. “Unloved, Unwanted” by Kitty Wells
Up first, we’ve got Kitty Wells’ 1964 song “Unloved, Unwanted”. If you couldn’t tell from the title alone, this song deals with feeling unwanted — and feeling lonely in a romantic relationship! Why does Wells feel so lonely? Well, because her partner is seeing another woman behind her back!
Wells sings about her anguish over her cheating partner. Yet even though she feels lonely and lost in this relationship, she can’t find the courage or the desire to leave. She sings the lyrics, “Unloved unwanted I’ve never been so blue / I know that I should leave but I don’t want to.”
2. “better alone” by Lykke Li
Lykke Li’s 2018 song “better alone”, which appears on her album so sad so sexy, also explores what it’s like to begin to feel lonely while in a relationship. Li sings about how her relationship begins to fall apart when she realizes how alone she feels, even when she’s with her partner.
This leads her to realize that she might be better off alone, rather than with someone who makes her feel lonely. She sings, “I’m better alone than lonely here with you.”
3. “This Time” by Waylon Jennings
“This Time” by Waylon Jennings finds the country singer as he gets back together with an ex. However, the relationship isn’t perfect, as it seems his ex mistreated him in the past. So, Jennings explains that he will leave immediately if this happens again. If he feels unwanted or lonely, he’s gone.
He explains this by singing, “This time if I should feel unwanted I won’t stay / Each tomorrow will depend on the love you give today.”
4. “tolerate it” by Taylor Swift
In “tolerate it”, Taylor Swift sings about how lonely she feels in a relationship. She explains that this relationship used to be great. However, something changed, something she was not aware of. Now, she feels as if her partner barely tolerates her and doesn’t give her the attention she both needs and wants.
She sings the lyrics, “Now I’m begging for footnotes in the story of your life / Drawing hearts in the byline / Always taking up too much space or time.”
5. “I’m Gone” by Dolly Parton
“I’m Gone” by Dolly Parton follows the singer as she leaves a romantic relationship. She’s done feeling lonely! She’s done feeling unwanted! Even though she knows how terrifying it can be to leave her partner and begin again, she won’t tolerate how he treats her any longer.
So, she ends up singing, “You think that you’re above me, like I’m not good enough / You make me feel unwanted, unwelcome, and unloved.”
6. “Leave Me Alone (I’m Lonely)” by P!nk
P!nk’s 2007 song “Leave Me Alone (I’m Lonely)”, from her album I’m Not Dead, explores various emotions that can arise in a romantic relationship. P!nk explains that she wants her partner to leave her alone, as she feels so lonely. But she doesn’t want her partner to leave her and end the relationship. Instead, she just needs space and time away from them every now and then!
7. “From End to End” by Relient K
2003’s “From End to End” by Relient K follows a struggling relationship. In this rock song, the singer explains that he’s tired of feeling unloved and lonely in his relationship. However, he doesn’t quite know what to do about all of these emotions.
The band sings the lyrics, “I’m feeling unwanted, that’s not what I wanted / And attention to me is something you refuse to pay.”
8. “I Don’t Think We Could Ever Be Friends” by Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield released her 1982 song “I Don’t Think We Could Ever Be Friends” on the album White Heat. This 80s song opens with the lyrics, “It’s the end of our journey / What can I do? / Lonely together / When I’m alone with you.”
Springfield goes on to explain that because she feels lonely, she knows that her relationship will likely end. However, she doesn’t think they can ever become friends.
9. “The Last Waltz” by Engelbert Humperdinck
In 1967’s “The Last Waltz”, Engelbert Humperdinck sings about a past romance. The song begins with Humperdinck meeting a woman during the last dance of the night and immediately falling in love. They get together — but end up growing apart and ultimately breaking up.
Thus, the chorus of the song follows them falling in love and falling apart. Humperdinck sings about how he was lonely before he met her, but also lonely when they got together. His partner was the same.
He sings, “I had the last waltz with you / Two lonely people together / I fell in love with you / The last waltz should last forever.”
10. “Where Did All the Good Times Go” by Donny Osmond
Donny Osmond’s 1974 song “Where Did All the Good Times Go” also explores feeling lonely in a relationship! Osmond explains that he’s finally realized it’s time to leave his relationship, even though it may be hard. He feels lonely and knows it won’t last.
So, he ends up singing the lyrics, “We’ve been lonely together too long / Oh, it’s hard to leave you / But it’s very much harder to stay / The good times are gone.”
11. “You’re Lonely and I’m Lonely” by Frank Sinatra
“You’re Lonely and I’m Lonely” by Frank Sinatra opens with the lyrics, “You’re lonely and I’m lonely / So why can’t we be lonely together? / The night is young and while it grows older / We can’t forget crying on each other’s shoulder.”
Sinatra sings about how two lonely people, even though they might not be perfect, could still have a lot of fun together. They can still work through their problems and possibly even get rid of their loneliness — together!
12. “Drifting Away” by Roy Orbison
“Drifting Away” by Roy Orbison follows the singer as he realizes his relationship is falling apart. He can’t seem to understand why this relationship isn’t working anymore. Nothing major happened, yet they both still are “Drifting Away” from each other.
He sings, “Don’t understand where we began just drifting apart / Drifting apart, feeling alone, drifting away.”
13. “Love Don’t Live Here Anymore” by Sarah Vaughan
Sarah Vaughan’s 1974 song “Love Don’t Live Here Anymore”, which appears on her album Send In the Clowns, also explores a relationship that is falling apart. Vaughan explains that her romance used to be wonderful. She used to feel love and happiness.
Unfortunately, that has all changed now. She sings the lyrics, “Two strangers in love so much yesterday / United now only by pride / Live lonely together under the same roof / Hiding their dying inside.”
14. “Daytime Friends” by Bonnie Tyler
“Daytime Friends” by Bonnie Tyler, which appears on the 1992 album Angel Heart, also discusses loneliness in a relationship. Tyler sings about heartbreak and explains that she might be breaking up with her partner. However, it does seem as if they are still together throughout this song, so the relationship might be quite complex.
But that doesn’t stop Tyler from explaining that she feels lonely. She both misses him and knows that she can’t be with him. She sings, “I have golden days / And restless lonely nights / With you, darlin’.”
15. “Please Look At Me” by Dagny
Dagny’s song “Please Look At Me” follows the singer as she talks about her relationship that slowly comes to an end. She explains her emotions as she becomes frustrated with her partner. Her partner has already seemed to give up on them — and she doesn’t want this to be true.
She’d like to work things out, even if they both feel lonely together. She sings, “Never thought you and I would feel this lonely together / And never get better.”
16. “Still Hold On” by Kenny Rogers
In “Still Hold On”, Kenny Rogers details some of the problems in his relationship. He admits that this relationship isn’t really working. However, that doesn’t mean that he’s fully ready to move on!
He ends up singing, “I feel so lonely when I’m with you / But I’m so lonely when you’re gone / I can’t live with you, I can’t live without you / But I still hold on, I still hold on.”
17. “Living In L.A.” by Weezer
“Living In L.A.” by Weezer explores both Los Angeles and the singer’s feelings for a girl. The singer explains how lonely he feels in the city, something that many can relate to. Even though the singer knows he should be happy, as he’s falling for someone, he can’t help but continue to feel lonely!
He sings, “This girl I like / I’m talking ’bout this girl I like / But I feel so lonely, feel so lonely.”
18. “i’m so lonely with you” by Maggie Lindemann
In “i’m so lonely with you”, Maggie Lindemann sings about how she knows her romantic relationship must end. They just aren’t good together. Even though she would’ve liked them to work out, she knows she must leave, especially because she feels so lonely.
She sings the lyrics, “I’ve been fighting by your side / But I’m so lonely, I’m so lonely with you.”
19. “I Get Lonely” by Janet Jackson
“I Get Lonely” by Janet Jackson explores a complicated romantic relationship that is seemingly on the rocks. Jackson misses this person, even though she does try to move on a bit. However, she’s so lonely with everyone else!
She sings, “I get so lonely, can’t let just anybody hold me / You are the one that lives in me, my dear / I want no one but you.”
20. “Lonely Ol’ Night” by John Mellencamp
“Lonely Ol’ Night” by John Mellencamp opens with the lyrics, “She calls me up and says baby it’s a lonely ol’ night / I don’t know I’m just so scared and lonely all at the same time / Nobody told us it was gonna work out this way.”
Mellencamp goes on to explain how they both feel lonely. However, even though they’re lonely, they’re together — and that might just be enough!