25 Songs About Loving Someone Who Doesn’t Love You Back (Unrequited Love)
Sometimes we may be caught up in a situation whereby we have feelings for someone or even be fully in love in someone who doesn’t necessarily feel the same way for us. Here is a list of songs that can resonate with that type of situation.
1. Taylor Swift – You Belong With Me
This song tells a story of a guy who is currently in a toxic relationship but is blind to see how much another girl likes him. Taylor stated that she came up with the idea of the song after she overheard a friend talk to his girlfriend and he was being defensive while she was yelling at him. This created the opening line for the song and she ran into the storyline that she is in love with him and he should be with her instead.
Taylor Swift explained that the song is basically about wanting someone who is with this girl who doesn’t appreciate him at all. You know him better than she does but somehow the popular girl gets the guy each time.
2. Taylor Swift – Gorgeous
In the song, we see Taylor Swift’s attraction to a guy who she finds extremely attractive. She feels so compelled to be with him even though she is already seeing someone else. Fans speculated that the song is about Taylor’s rumored boyfriend, British actor Joe Alwyn.
The track is part of the album Reputation (2017) and it was certified Gold by the RIAA.
3. Marshmello, Anne Marie – Friends
The song is about the idea of “friendzoning” someone. The singer talks about warding off unwanted romantic advances from a friend and repeatedly saying they can be nothing more than friends. She sees him more like a brother since they knew each other since they were like ten years old. She also doesn’t want him to keep trying because that will just push her away.
4. The Weeknd – Call Out My Name
The Weeknd sings about his past lover who he claims didn’t put as much effort into the relationship as compared to him thus essentially wasted his time. It is highly likely that he is referring to his ex-girlfriend Selena Gomez. The two dated for 10 months in 2017 and during this period he helped her with her battle with Lupus. He even went to the extent of canceling various shows in his tour so as to be with her.
Despite all these acts of love, Selena Gomez broke up with him and decide to reunite with her former lover Justin Bieber. Abel claims she didn’t even give him enough time to get over the relationship.
5. Clean Bandit – Tears
The song goes into detail about an emotional heartbreak whereby you fall in love with someone who doesn’t love you back. It has been termed as an anthem for getting over someone.
Johnson sings about someone facing a traumatic heartbreak, crying it out, then making the decision to move on with their life. The significant other had acted like he loved her but in real sense, he was just playing with her emotions. He now reminds her of the embarrassment she felt pursuing him in the first place.
6. Bob Marley – Wait In Vain
The song details Marley’s frustration with having to wait for his love without knowing whether or not it will work out. He doesn’t want to wait and then ends up finding out that she has no intentions of dating him. He also doesn’t want to be manipulated like a puppet since he wants to focus on other things if she isn’t truly interested.
It is believed to be about Cindy Breakspeare who ended up being Damian Marley’s mother. She was a Canadian-born Jamaican model who was Miss World in 1976.
7. Bruno Mars – Grenade
This is a heartbreaking song whereby the guy is in love with a woman so much and he would do anything for her even if it harms him but the woman would not dare do the same. He asks himself what he is doing wrong and why he can’t get in return the kind of love he is giving.
The song is part of the album Doo-Wops & Hooligans released in 2010.
8. Adele – Chasing Pavements
Adele wonders whether to try and go after a relationship with the man of her dreams with the risk of it going nowhere. The term ‘chasing pavements’ has been defined as pursuing something that is fruitless. Adele is torn between leaving with dignity or making a painful effort to be be with her love interest who may not reciprocate.
The song was Adele’s first big hit in the United States and it earned her first Grammy for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.
9. Kehlani – Nights Like This
The song focuses on the topic of dishonesty and misleading relationships. Kehlani feels like her lover wasn’t as good as he thought he was. She thought he would be the one but in the end things turned differently since he was just playing her.
The song is part of the album While We Wait which was released in 2019.
10. Linkin Park – In The End
11. Calvin Harris – Sweet Nothing
12. Meghan Trainor – Just A Friend To You
Many have speculated that the song is about fellow singer Charlie Puth even though Meghan has denied it. In an interview, Meghan stated that it is a real song about events that happened in her life. It is about one of her friends who together they kept saying they want to love each other but they couldn’t because of circumstances like distances and other issues.
The song is part of the album Thank You (2016).
13. Tank – I Can’t Make You Love Me
Lyrically, the song is about slowly giving up on making someone love you after trying hard numerous times.
14. Sam Smith – Lay Me Down
Lyrically, we see Sam Smith’s lover is just out of reach where Sam can’t take care of him. He misses him so much and is desperately trying to reach out.
15. Billie Ellish – Wish You Were Gay
The guy she wrote the song about ended up coming out as gay a couple of weeks after the song was released. The song peaked at #31 on the Hot 100 chart.
16. NeYo – Go On Girl
The song is the fourth and final single from Ne-Yo’s second studio album which was released on December 4, 2007. It peaked at #27 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
Ne-Yo sings about how he was in love with a bad girl who didn’t love him back but instead was seeing many other men. He seems to be fed up and has vowed not to be fooled again in the future.
17. Billie Elish – Watch
The song describes Billie’s perspective of unrequited love as she can’t grasp why she isn’t with the one she wants to be with. He is taking over her mind and this is making her unable to fall asleep.
In an interview with Vice, Billie clarified the meaning of the song by stating it is about having a relationship with yourself so as to understand how they’re perceiving you. If you are self-aware that this person is treating you badly and makes you feel like a waste and not worth anything then it’s time to leave the relationship.
18. Khalid – Don’t Pretend
This is the sixth track off the album Free Spirit (2019). Khalid sings about a girl he has been trying to contact but she was just ignoring him. He is so desperate to hear from her that he ends up hallucinating that his phone was ringing. He also reveals that she used to act differently before then suddenly she has just gone cold on him.
19. James Arthur – Can I Be Him
Arthur describes feelings towards someone who he loves but they don’t love him back. He now wishes that he could be the boyfriend that she’s got now. He reveals that he fell in love at first sight and he reminds him of the better times in his life. He believes that he is the one he is meant to be with.
The track is off the album Back from the Edge, released in 2016.
20. Jason Derulo – Savage Love
This is a song about a smitten Jason Derulo who still wants a girl despite the fact that he found out he was using him to get back at her ex-boyfriend. Now he is trying to find ways to make her stay because he adores her. He wants her to continue using him.
21. A Great Big World, Christina Aguilera – Say Something
The track talks about the struggle of someone giving up on a relationship because their partner seems disinterested in them. They love the other person so much but feel as though they are getting nothing in return. They would have done anything for them but they can’t keep waiting forever. Despite still being in love, they decide to just say goodbye.
The song reached #4 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and became a Grammy winner in the Best Pop Duo/Group Performance category.
22. Labrinth – Still Don’t Know My Name
Labrith sings about falling for someone who doesn’t love them back in return nor do they acknowledge him. He misses her touch and is often fantasizing about her.
23. H.E.R – U
This is the 4th track on her EP. She sings about getting stressed and confused because of how much she cares about a man who is selfish and only thinks of himself. She is constantly thinking about him and she finds it hard to impress him. Her friends have also stated that he doesn’t really care about