When we’re indecisive, we often turn to music to help us find a path worth taking. Musicians and songwriters have also done the same, creating songs that discuss their own feelings of indecision.
Below, we’ve ranked our 20 favorite songs about indecisiveness. These songs deal with a variety of situations, such as being torn between two choices or choosing the right path. Enjoy!
1. “Bad Religion” by Bad Religion
The band Bad Religion released the song “Bad Religion” in 1981. In this song, the band discusses how many people have blind faith in people, things, and institutions. Even if they know these people aren’t to be trusted, they continue to trust them. They are left indecisive about many things, as a result.
For example, the band sings the lyrics “bad Religion, regurgitate / Indecision, it’s not too late” to really drive this point home.
2. “I Fall Apart” by Elton John
Elton John’s 1986 song “I Fall Apart” also deals with feelings of indecisiveness! Specifically, this song discusses indecision in love. Elton John sings about a romantic relationship that has gone south. As a result, he’s left feeling sad and indecisive about what he should do to try to fix everything.
He sings, “And I fall apart / With this threat of indecision / Hanging in my heart”. He obviously still loves his partner — but he can’t quite find a way to make things right again.
3. “Peace of Mind” by Boston
When Boston released their song “Peace of Mind” off of their 1976 album Boston, the song became a huge hit! It remains a fan favorite today!
In this song, the band sings about society and how people try to keep up with everyone else. People continue to try to catch up with society, even though they feel as if they never can. The singer, however, doesn’t feel plagued by this indecisiveness, as he lives his life his own way.
The lyrics state, “I understand about indecision / But I don’t care if I get behind / People living in competition / All I want is to have my peace of mind”. Therefore, the singer feels that he’s chosen the right path when he looks at all the indecisive people who don’t truly live their lives for themself.
4. “Torn” by Natalie Imbruglia
Natalie Imbruglia’s hit 1997 song “Torn” also touches on feelings of indecisiveness. In this song, she sings about the end of a relationship. She finally realized that the man she was with wasn’t good for her — and wasn’t what she wanted.
However, she’s ended up torn over the situation and heartbroken. Plus, she’s also torn in that she finds himself somewhat missing him. Therefore, she struggles with slight indecisiveness over her past relationship — even though she’s mostly just heartbroken.
5. “Should I Stay Or Should I Go?” by The Clash
The Clash’s 1982 song “Should I Stay Or Should I Go?” is perhaps one of the very best songs about indecision. In this song, the band sings about hard decisions to make in a relationship. Mainly, should they stay or should they go?
6. “Mr. Moustache” by Nirvana
Nirvana released their song “Mr. Moustache” on their 1989 album Bleach. In this song, the band discusses a man that has a way of life they disagree with. This man is always indecisive. He’s also always questioning questions. However, in the chorus, the band sings, “I am you,” perhaps discussing their fear coming true.
7. “I Can’t Make Up My Mind” by The Zombies
The Zombies’ 1965 song “I Can’t Make Up My Mind” deals with feeling lost and indecisive in a romantic relationship. The relationship has ended, but it could begin again — if the singer makes up his mind.
The band sings, “I can’t make up my mind / Someone has to help me / I never seem to know what to do / I just can’t decide for myself”.
8. “Do I Have to Come Right Out and Say It” by Buffalo Springfield
This Buffalo Springfield song from 1966 also deals with a romantic relationship. However, this song differs when compared to some of the other songs on this list that also deal with indecisiveness in a relationship!
This song deals with indecision before a romance begins, rather than after the romance ends. Here in this song, the singer talks about how he wants to be with a woman, yet doesn’t feel sure about it. He’s not sure she really likes him, as he likes her.
The lyrics say, “Indecision is crowding me / I have no room to spare / And I can’t believe she’d care / Like a dream she has taken me / And now I don’t know where”.
9. “Choices” by Buzzcocks
Buzzcocks released their song “Choices” on their 1999 album Modern. This song also deals with indecision in a romantic relationship. The band sings, “Indecision, just can’t make up my mind / Is there a solution anyway?”
Here, it appears that a couple are both indecisive about their relationship. It’s hinted at the end of the song that the singer’s lover may be thinking of choosing someone else, as well.
10. “I Miss You” by Blink-182
When Blink-182 released their 2003 song “I Miss You”, it became a huge hit! Today, it’s often remembered as one of their most popular and beloved songs.
In this song, the band sings about the ending of a relationship thanks to depression and mental illness. The singer goes back and forth about whether or not he wants his partner to return to him, even though he does miss her. He talks about indecision and whether he should call her up, again struggling with what choice he should make.
11. “This Path Tonight” by Graham Nash
Throughout Graham Nash’s 2016 song “This Path Tonight”, he repeats the phrase “Where are we going?” This feeling of being lost, as well as being indecisive, reigns through the entire song. He doesn’t know what path he is on, but towards the end of the song, he accepts it.
12. “Don’t Make Me Choose” by Nick Jonas
Nick Jonas released his song “Don’t Make Me Choose” on his 2016 album Last Year Was Complicated. In this song, Jonas is singing to his romantic partner. Obviously, things between them aren’t great, which we learn immediately in the song.
Jonas sings the lyrics, “Don’t make me choose / Between my love and my life”. Jonas is indecisive in that he cannot find a way to choose between his life and his love, even though his lover may be asking him to.
13. “I Need to Know” by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
When Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers released their 1978 song “I Need to Know” on their album You’re Gonna Get It!, the song became a huge hit that landed on many music charts.
In this song, it’s the romantic partner that is indecisive, rather than the song’s singer or narrator. Per the narrator’s POV, we learn that his lover has been seen around with another guy. Petty wants to know whether they’ll still be together or not. He sings, “Because I don’t know how long I can hold on / If you’re making me wait, if you’re leadin’ me on”.
His romantic partner, meanwhile, seems to be indecisive about who she wants to be with!
14. “Feels Like We Only Go Backwards” by Tame Impala
Tame Impala’s 2012 song “Feels Like We Only Go Backwards” also deals with indecision in a romantic relationship. In this song, the band details a relationship that never seems to progress, thanks to the woman the narrator is in love with.
The band sings, “The seed of all this indecision isn’t me, oh no / ‘Cause I decided long ago”. Therefore, this reveals that the singer isn’t the one to blame for these feelings of indecision about whether they should start a relationship again, or reunite.
15. “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” by Tears For Fears
Tears For Fears’ classic song “Everybody Wants to Rule the World”, released on their 1985 album Songs From the Big Chair, deals with how everybody wants power. Obviously, this doesn’t create a healthy or peaceful society.
The band discusses their own anxiety and indecisiveness in the song, as well. They sing the lyrics, “It’s my own design / It’s my own remorse”.
Later in the song, the band points out their frustration with leaders’ own indecisiveness with the lines, “I can’t stand this indecision / Married with a lack of vision”.
16. “Rope” by Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters released their song “Rope” on their 2011 album Wasting Light. As with many of the other songs on this list, “Rope” also deals with indecision in a romantic relationship!
The song opens up with the lines, “This indecision got me climbin’ up the wall”. The rest of the song details how the narrator cannot live without his romantic partner. He needs them in his life, always. However, there are signs that possibly his partner is looking to end the relationship — which has resulted in the lyrics being written.
17. “She’s Out of My Life” by Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson’s 1979 song “She’s Out of My Life” talks about a romantic relationship that has ended. Jackson has lost the woman he loves, and she’s completely out of his life.
Indecision seems to have been at fault. Towards the end of the song, he sings, “She’s out of my life / Damned indecision and cursed pride / Kept my love for her locked deep inside”.
This could mean that, even though he was in a relationship with her, he never truly showed her how much he cared for her. As a result of this misstep, he lost her.
18. “Owner of a Lonely Heart” by Yes
Yes released their song “Owner of a Lonely Heart” on their 1983 album 90125. This song deals with living your life, as well as having romantic relationships. The band says that having a lonely heart is having a broken heart — a statement that can be interpreted in many different ways.
For the most part, the band also says in this song that you should live your life the best and only way you know how. Move and live.
The singer talks about their own experience in the past, stating, “After my own indecision / They confused me so”. Here, they try to say to not be so indecisive that it leaves you confused!
19. “Alcohol” by The Kinks
The Kinks’ 1971 song “Alcohol”, off their album Muswell Hillbillies, describes the life of an alcoholic. This man leads a life of sadness and pain — and indecision. He can’t seem to know what he wants, especially when it comes to his romantic life.
20. “Train Under Water” by Bright Eyes
Finally, we have Bright Eyes’ 2005 song “Train Under Water”. In this song, the singer details everything from his feelings about a friend who has passed away to his own life struggles.
As a result, he also mentions indecision. He sings, “Well if I could tame all of my desires / Wait out the weather that howls in my brain / Because it seems that it’s always changing / The wind’s indecision, the sorrowful rain”.
Here, he’s saying that his desires are indecisive and therefore always changing like the wind or the rain.
Listen to the full playlist on YouTube here!