11 Songs About Guilt and Shame

Guilt is a feeling you get when you did something wrong or perceived you did something wrong and shame is a feeling that your whole self is wrong and it may not be related to a specific event. Below is a list of songs that touch on guilt and shame:

1. Ariana Grande – One Last Time

In this track, Ariana admits to being unfaithful and even though she knows she is in the wrong and doesn’t deserve to get her ex-boyfriend back. She just requests one last night with him s a final goodbye.

 

2. Jason Derulo – Whatcha Say

Jason stated that the song was inspired after his brother called him one day claiming he had cheated on his girl and was feeling so guilty. He was hoping he would be given another chance.

 

3. Adele – Hello

Lyrically, Adele examines the past and tries to right her wrongs. It is about hurting someone’s feelings but wanting to reach out to everyone you hurt and apologize for it.

 

4. Justin Bieber – I’ll Show You

Justin brings out his vulnerable side as he tries to show everyone he has changed. Although he has made mistakes, they were made bigger by the fact that he was the center of the public eye since he was 14.

 

5. Stormzy – Lessons

This is a song about Stormy’s ex-girlfriend Maya Jama. Media outlets speculated that the rapper was unfaithful to her with fellow friend Jorja Smith.

 

6. Jay Z – 4.44

The track is off Jay Z’s 13th studio album. It is an open apology letter to his wife Beyonce. He discusses being a bad husband and the possibility of cheating on her.

 

7. Akon – Sorry, Blame On Me

The song came after footage surfaced of him raunchily dancing with a 14-year-old girl at a nightclub.

 

8. Justin Bieber – Sorry

This is an upbeat anthem about asking for forgiveness. Justin said the song was directed toward his ex Selena Gomez as an apology for the mistakes he made while they were in a relationship.

 

9. Cher – If I Could Turn Back Time

The song was from Cher’s nineteenth studio album, Heart Of Stone, released back in 1989.

 

10. Taylor Swift – This Is Me Trying

In the track, Taylor Swift sings about accepting the fault for the relationship issues and making an effort to repair them. She takes the first step by having the humility to admit that things are difficult and uncertain.

 

11. Rihanna – Man Down

This is a reggae-influenced song that details the murder of a man who was behaving abusively towards Rihanna. The deeper meaning of the song was said to be breaking a man’s heart and really feeling bad about it right afterward. Rejection can lead to embarrassment, especially when it happens in a public setting.