There are many great songs about cowards — or about feeling cowardly yourself. Below, we’ve listed our favorite songs about cowards!
Here, you will find a variety of different songs, from different genres, about cowardice. These songs discuss cowards in different situations and contexts, as well!
1. “Don Juan’s Reckless Daughter” by Joni Mitchell
Joni Mitchell released her song “Don Juan’s Reckless Daughter” on her 1977 album of the same name. Mitchell talks about cowards a lot in this song throughout the story that she tells. First, she consistently calls the narrator’s love interest a coward, over and over again.
Later in the song, she also seems to mention that many in America are cowards and fools. They think they’re brave and free, but they’re really not. She sings the lyrics, “We are all hopelessly oppressed cowards / Of some duality, of restless multiplicity”.
2. “Clown” by Korn
Korn’s 1994 song “Clown” was inspired by a real-life incident that happened to the band at one of their early shows when a concertgoer became a heckler — and then tried to fight the band’s lead singer! As a result of this incident, the band wrote this song about the man who was clearly acting tougher than he really is.
The band sings, “A tattooed body to hide who you are / Scared, to be honest, be yourself / A cowardly man!”.
3. “No Money Down” by Lou Reed
Lou Reed’s 1986 song “No Money Down” also talks about cowards! In this song, Reed discusses an issue in his romantic relationship that has led to his partner being disappointed in him — and perhaps considers him a coward as a result.
Reed opens the song by singing, “I know you’re disappointed / In the way I handled things / You’re thinking I misread the times / And acted cowardly”.
4. “Willing Well I: Fuel for the Feeding End” by Coheed and Cambria
Coheed and Cambria released their 2005 song “Willing Well I: Fuel for the Feeding End” on their album Good Apollo, I’m Burning Star IV, Volume One: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness.
This song, which follows the entire album’s story, follows characters in Coheed and Cambria’s universe. When discussing these characters, they mention their feelings and thoughts of cowardice. The song, therefore, opens with the lines, “Is this what I wish for those and all they know? / Could depend on how coward I should act”.
5. “Tell Me to My Face” by The Hollies
The Hollies’ 1966 song “Tell Me to My Face” discusses the end of a relationship. The singer reveals that his lover is trying to break things off with him by leaving an unsigned letter behind. Obviously, the singer isn’t very pleased with this tactic.
He sings, “Is it just that you can’t face the future with me / Can’t you tell me to my face / You just took the coward’s way to say goodbye / How would you feel here in my place”.
6. “High Noon” by Connie Francis
Connie Francis’ cover of the song “High Noon” also talks about cowards! The story of High Noon follows two men: a man of honor and an ex-convict. Well, the ex-convict said he would kill the man of honor when he got out of prison. Now that he’s out, his wife doesn’t want him to leave her.
However, the man has to follow suit with what he promised, as he says that he can’t be a coward. Francis sings this story, explaining, “And I must face a man who hates me / Or lie a coward, a craven coward”.
7. “What Kind of Man Am I?” by John Mellencamp
John Mellencamp released his 2017 song “What Kind of Man Am I?” on his album Sad Clowns & Hillbillies. In this song, Mellencamp could be singing to a romantic partner — or really anyone. He explains how disappointed in himself he is. He lied and didn’t tell the truth throughout his life because he was scared. As a result, he’s now alone, a loser, and feels like a coward.
Mellencamp sings, “So here I stand alone / Crippled on my cane / The coward I’ve become / The loser in the game”.
8. “Rather Hazy” by Macy Gray
Macy Gray’s 1999 song “Rather Hazy”, which appears on her album On How Life Is, also details a rather problematic romantic relationship. In this song, Gray discusses things she’s done to hurt her boyfriend — as well as things he’s done to hurt her.
However, she does say that she can’t quite remember all these issues, as it’s “Rather Hazy” to her now. Regardless, she did wrong and even admits that she had cowardly behavior and was shady at times.
She sings that she was, “Maybe shady, maybe cowardly / I turned and gave him no apologies”.
9. “So Over You” by Ashanti
Ashanti’s 2008 song “So Over You” also talks about cowards. Ashanti sings about how she is definitely over her ex in this song. He did her wrong, and now she’s finally working on moving on. However, she does admit that she lost it for a bit — and that he really hurt her. His cowardly ways tore her apart!
She sings, “I lost my cool when I found out ’bout you / And how cowardly you move, I’m just glad that now I’m through / I’m so over you”.
10. “(Can’t Believe) This Is Me” by Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lopez’s 2005 song “(Can’t Believe) This Is Me” discusses the end of a romantic relationship. In this song, Lopez sings about her boyfriend who is leaving her. She doesn’t understand why, as she loves him. However, he continues to push her away.
So, she sings at the end of the chorus, “Without a word or a reason / Like a coward, you’re leaving”.
11. “Seven Seas” by Echo & The Bunnymen
Echo & The Bunnymen released the song “Seven Seas” off the 1984 album Ocean Rain. There are many interpretations listeners can take from this song. However, it does mainly seem to be about moving on from your past, or from a past life, and trying to be hopeful for a new future.
By explaining this message, the band also talks about cowardly people. They sing the lyrics, “Burning my bridges / And smashing my mirrors / Turning to see if you’re cowardly / Burning the witches with mother religious”.
12. “The Miracle of Love” by Eurythmics
Eurythmics’ 1985 song “The Miracle of Love”, which appears on the album Revenge, talks about love and how great it is. However, this song also mentions how heartbreaking and difficult falling in love can be. The lyrics say, “They say the greatest coward / Can hurt the most ferociously”.
So, they’re saying cowards can hurt people the most. But later in the song, they explain that love can still help you get through these difficult heartaches!
13. “Lies” by Marina
Marina released her song “Lies” in 2012. This pop song talks about a romantic relationship that isn’t good for either person involved. They both know that they don’t fit together. However, it seems that neither one is willing to admit this fact.
Marina sings the lyrics, “You’re too proud to say that you made a mistake / You’re a coward ’til the end / I don’t wanna admit that we’re not gonna fit”.
14. “Heavenly Father” by Bon Iver
In Bon Iver’s 2014 song “Heavenly Father”, cowards are discussed. Bon Iver wrote this song for the film Wish I Was Here, which follows a family after the patriarch dies. Therefore, Bon Iver sings this song from the perspective of a man who has just lost his father.
The narrator discusses how he himself feels like a coward, especially when it comes to being fearful of death. Bon Iver sings, “Cause I’m a known coward in a coward wind / But you’re free now”.
15. “Are You What You Want to Be?” by Foster the People
Foster the People released their 2014 song “Are You What You Want to Be?” on their album Supermodel. In this song, the band questions their life and whether they should speak up on some things, such as how they see the world, or not.
This push and pull of ideas ultimately lead them to feel as if they might be cowards. They sing, “Yeah, well, I’m afraid of saying too much and ending a martyr / But even more so I’m afraid to face God and say I was a coward, yeah”.
16. “Coward of the County” by Kenny Rogers
Kenny Rogers’ 1979 song “Coward of the County” also discusses cowards, as you can tell from the song title! This hit song opens with the lyrics, “Everyone considered him the coward of the county / He’d never stood one single time to prove the county wrong”.
In this song, Rogers sings about a man named Tommy, the “Coward of the County”. Tommy never fought or stood up for himself, as his father (who did just that and went to prison) told him not to.
However, at the end of the song, Tommy does stand up for himself and his wife after men in town assault his wife.
17. “Hounds of Love” by Kate Bush
Kate Bush’s 1986 hit song “Hounds of Love” is a metaphor for being scared as you fall in love. In this song, Bush sings about “Hounds of Love” chasing her down and trying to get her, which details exactly how many feel as they fall in love with someone.
Bush sings about how she’s a coward, as she’s scared of these hounds. She sings, “Now hounds of love are hunting / I’ve always been a coward / And I don’t know what’s good for me”.
18. “Many Ways” by Bombay Bicycle Club
Bombay Bicycle Club released their song “Many Ways” on their 2010 album Flaws. There are many ways listeners can interpret this song, as many have found different meanings! However, the singer does sing about how he feels like a coward, possibly in his life or in a relationship.
They sing, “I’ve always been a coward / Been a coward to this day / There are many ways this way”.
19. “Dear Mama” by 2Pac
2Pac’s hit rap song “Dear Mama”, which was released on his 1995 album Me Against the World, details 2Pac’s relationship with his mother. Even though the two had issues in the past, 2Pac sings that she’s the most important woman in his life, and he loves her.
However, 2Pac also talks about his relationship with his father to contrast his relationship with his mother. He calls his father a coward, as he wasn’t there. He raps, “No love from my daddy, ’cause the coward wasn’t there / He passed away and I didn’t cry / ‘Cause my anger wouldn’t let me feel for a stranger”.
20. “Take a Walk” by Passion Pit
Finally, we have Passion Pit’s hit song “Take a Walk”, which also discusses cowards! This 2012 song details Passion Pit’s frontman’s ancestors and some of the problems they faced. However, the song also details the frontman’s own issues and problems that he has, too.
Throughout the song, different characters are discussed, including some of the actions they did, as well as their feelings. At one point, the frontman sings, “I’m just too much a coward / To admit when I’m in need”.