16 Songs About Old Love, Old Flame & Past Lovers
Not all relationships are meant to last forever. Somethings bad things happen or we mess and a relationship that once felt like it was the best thing now has a bitter taste to it. Below is a list of songs that talk about past lovers and old flames:
1. Ne-Yo – Do You
NeYo reminisces about an ex and he is torn by the way things ended. Even though she moved on, he wonders if she still thinks about him the way he does about her. He tries to reach out to his old lover even then he knows that this decision is not the best. He really wants to talk to her in person about their old relationship.
Ne-Yo knows that the relationship is over since his ex moved on to someone else and just gave birth to a baby girl. Despite this, he still wonders if she ever thinks of him. He just wants to know that so that maybe he can get closure.
2. Chris Brown – She Ain’t You
This is the fourth single from the album F.A.M.E which heavily samples Michael Jackson’s ‘Human Nature’. It was released at the time when Michael Jackson had passed away hence Chris Brown dedicated the song to him. It peaked at #5 on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and #7 on the Rhythmic Songs chart.
Lyrically, Chris Brown sings about an ex whom he can’t get over despite moving on to someone else. He is always thinking about her to the extent of calling his new girl by his ex’s name. He confesses that he is with this new girl just for the sex and wishes he could trade her in for his ex.
3. Ne-Yo – Part Of The List
In this track, Ne-Yo goes into detail about things he misses about his ex-lover. He starts with the physical things about her and then proceeds to the things she used to do. He was fascinated with everything about her and was in constant awe. In addition to missing her, he declares that he will never forget about her.
4. Bowwow – Outta My System
Bowwow stated that he is addressing his breakup with Ciara which was rumored to be a result of Bowwow cheating with Ciara’s friend Ashley R who was also a video vixen. He shares that he misses Ciara and all the things they used to do together. He also tells her that he is finding it too hard to move on with his life and thoughts of her constantly occupy his mind.
The track is the second single in Bow Wow’s fifth studio album The Price Of Fame. It was certified platinum by RIAA on the week of June 15, 2007, and peaked at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
5. Bruno Mars – When I Was Your Man
This is an emotional song from Bruno Mars’ second studio album Unorthodox Jukebox which was released in 2012. He said on many occasions that this is his most difficult song to perform because of the lyrics and meaning.
The song starts with Bruno Mars stating the different changes he has felt since his ex left and the heartbreak he feels each time their friends talk about her. He goes into how he regrets not doing enough for her when he had the chance and ignoring the things she desired. She now moved on to someone else who is doing those things. He feels he will never be able to make things right for her and this haunts him every day.
Even though he still desires his ex, Bruno hopes that the new man his ex is seeing make her happy the way he should have done when he was with her.
6. Charlie Puth, Selena Gomez – We Don’t Talk Anymore
This is a duet that talks about bemoaning the regrets after a breakup. They both think that the other has moved on because they don’t communicate anymore plus they also don’t know how much they still think about each other. Charlie may want to get back with Selena if she makes the first move and Selena is contemplating in showing up out of the blue. However, her intuition is causing her to think she may end up getting rejected which may cause even more pain.
Charlie got the inspiration to do think so after meeting up with an old friend he hadn’t seen in a while. He ended up asking about the girl he was dating when he last saw him. His friend ended up telling him that they don’t talk anymore.
7. Taylor Swift feat Bon Iver – Exile
‘Exile’ is a song where Taylor Swift and Justin Vernon play two ex-lovers who see other after they broke up due to miscommunication. Justin describes feelings of bitterness and confusion after finding out that Taylor moved on so fast. He also suggests that he is not over her.
Taylor goes ahead to offer a perspective about the repeated warning signs to show that the relationship was no longer working hence they had to break up.
Taylor Swift revealed in an interview that ‘exile’ is a song that was written about miscommunication in relationships and how it ended the relationship. Now the two people are seeing each other out for the first time and still can’t get on the same page.
8. Taylor Swift – Back To December
The single is about Taylor Swift apologizing to her ex Taylor Lautner for ending their relationship. Normally she never cares about salvaging a relationship but this time she swallowed her pride and owned up to her mistake. She wishes she could go back to the night they broke up to make things right once again.
Taylor Swift told Comcast that this is the first time she has ever issued an apology to someone in a song. The target person was incredible to her and they had a perfect relationship but she was just careless with him.
9. Adele – Hello
After taking a 5-year hiatus, Adele broke back into the industry with his single from the album 25. It debuted at number 1 on the Hot 100 and broke various streaming records at the time.
In an interview with i-D Adele gave some color to the song by stating that it is about hurting someone’s feelings but is also about trying to stay in touch with herself. She is yearning for the other side of herself and really misses her life at home in England.
10. Adele – Send My Love
The single was directed to the guy Adele dated between the released of her album 21 and her ex-husband Simon Konecki. She described the song as one of those that she is like “I’m f*cking fine so f*ck you”.
Lyrically, we see that even if their relationship reminds Adele of when they were young she doesn’t care anymore about it. They are both grownups and should be able to get over an ended relationship. She is ready to move over to the next stage of life and doesn’t want to pine over something that has been lost.
11. Adele – Someone Like You
The inspiration for this song came about after the broken relationship that inspired most of 21. We see Adele coming to terms with it. She feels hurt that the love didn’t last but in the end all she can do is reminisce about it and find someone like him to make new memories with. He has currently settled down with someone new.
This was the first pure piano ballad to ever top the Billboard Hot 100. It also won the first ever Grammy Award for Best Pop Solo Performance at the 54th Grammy Awards in 2012.
12. Camila Cabello – Cry For Me
Camila was inspired by one of her early works when she was just 16. It was a situation where she broke up with her boyfriend then sooner than she expected and he moved on. He is now happy and she was shocked that it didn’t take long for him to move on.
‘Cry For Me’ talks about Camila and how she expected a period to pass before her ex can move on. She wants him to feel sad for leaving her. However, her ex has moved on and is now happy while she is still sad and struggling to sleep.
13. Olivia Rodrigo – Happier
Olivia wisher her ex boyfriend all the best in his new relationship. However, she hopes to still remain a significant memory in his life. At this point in the album, she has started to accept the fact that even though she wants him back it is doubtful it will happen. His new girl actually makes him a better person.
14. Olivia Rodrigo – Good 4 U
This is the third single from Olivia Rodrigo’s debut studio album SOUR. It has been able to top the charts in over a dozen countries around the world.
Olivia addresses her ex for quickly moving on from their relationship without much of an issuer or care towards her. She implies that their breakup was only a small wound to him since he healed too quickly and his lack of caring made the breakup worse for her.
15. Ed Sheeran – Way To Break My Heart
The song was done by Ed Sheeran and Skrillex and is the 14th track on his No 6 Collaborations Project. Ed talks about how deeply he is in love with someone and how being away from her breaks his heart. He first reflects on the memories they created when they were together and then reveals that he just wants answers on whether he was the problem or she found someone else.
16. Lukas Graham – Happy For You
Lukas Graham sings about an ex who left him. He found it hard to move on and started missing the little things she did. He started seeking to know whether after the time that had passed she would be willing to take him back.
However, the lady has moved on with someone else. Lukas tries to be happy for her and reminds her how they used to say they will be together forever.