When you’re missing someone, music can be the perfect way to express your feelings and share your emotions. There are countless songs about missing someone that can capture the heartache and longing you’re experiencing.
You’ll find relief listening to the best songs about missing someone you love, and I miss you songs can help express what you’re feeling when you can’t find the words yourself. If you’re struggling to cope with missing someone, these songs can be a helpful way to work through your emotions.
Whether you’re missing a loved one who has passed away or simply missing someone who is far away, these songs can provide comfort and help you express your emotions.
In addition, you can also consider customizing commemorative coins as a gift to convey your thoughts. GS-JJ.com provides exquisite custom coins, including a variety of materials. Upload the pattern or tell them your ideas to get a unique one.
Songs to listen when you miss someone
Check out some of the best songs that you can listen to when you miss your dear one.
1. “Lay Me Down” by Sam Smith
Album: In the Lonely Hour | Released: 2013 | Genre: Soul, R&B
If you’re looking for sad songs about missing someone, this heartbreaking soulful ballad from British singer Sam Smith will pull at your heartstrings.
“Lay Me Down” is about the pain of losing a loved one and how we would do anything to have them back in our lives. The lyrics are incredibly moving, and the song will resonate if you’ve ever experienced the loss of a loved person.
2. “Wish You Were Here” by Pink Floyd
Music Video | Album: Wish You Were Here | Released: 1975 | Genre: Progressive Rock
Pink Floyd, a British rock band, was highly influential in progressive rock music development. “Wish You Were Here” is one of their most iconic and well-loved songs about missing someone.
The lyrics express the desire to have that person back in one’s life and the sorrow of being apart from them.
“we’re just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl, year after year”
3. “Come Back, Be Here” by Taylor Swift
Album: Red | Released: 2012 | Genre: Country, Pop
This heartfelt song is about missing someone you love who’s not there anymore. It’s a song that anyone who has ever experienced loss or heartache can relate to.
The lyrics express the feelings of being left behind after a loved one has gone away and how hard it is to cope with the loneliness and heartache that comes with it.
This song’s emotional impact has been sweetened by Swift’s gut-wrenching vocal performance, making it a powerful and moving listening experience.
4. “I Miss You” by Blink-182
Music Video | Album: Blink-182 | Released: 2004 | Genre: Emo, Alternative Rock
Blink-182’s heartfelt song about missing someone you love is one of their most popular songs. This breakup song was co-written by two band members, Tom DeLonge and Mark Hoppus. It was a massive hit, reaching number one on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks list.
The lyrics express the feeling of being lost without that person and how the person is the only one who can make the pain go away.
5. “Yesterday” by The Beatles
Album: Help! | Released: 1965 | Genre: Chamber Pop
This classic song is the best example of how The Beatles took a simple concept and turned it into something beautiful and timeless. This song is about a person struggling to deal with the loss of a loved one.
The song talks about how the person craving for the past when things were simple, they were able to be happy. The song’s melancholy tune has made it one of the most popular ballads in the Beatles’ catalog.
6. “Miss You” by The Rolling Stone
Music Video | Album: Some Girls | Released: 1978 | Genre: Disco, Disco-Rock
Rolling Stone’s classic track “Miss You” was written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards and was released as a single in 1978. It was a massive hit, reaching number one in the US and number three in the UK.
The Rolling Stones express the longing for someone who is no longer around and the pain of missing them. The song has a catchy, disco-influenced beat that makes it impossible to resist dancing along.
7. “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston
Album: The Bodyguard (OST) | Released: 1992 | Genre: Soul, Pop
This classic love song is about a couple who have decided to part ways but remain in love. The lyrics express the deep feelings of love and loss that come with saying goodbye to someone you care about.
The song was written and performed by Dolly Parton, but Whitney Houston’s version became a massive hit when this was included in the film ‘The Bodyguard.’
8. “Here Without You” by 3 Doors Down
Music Video | Album: Away From The Sun | Released: 2002 | Genre: Alternative Rock
If you’re looking for songs about missing your girlfriend, American rock band 3 Doors Down has released “Here Without You” just to remind you of your pain. The song peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 2003 and is considered one of the band’s most successful singles.
This song is about a person who is missing someone he loves. The lyrics talk about how even though the person is not physically with his lover, she is still on his mind. He thinks and dreams about her constantly.
9. “I’ll Be Missing You” by Puff Daddy feat. Faith Evans & 112
Album: No Way Out | Released: 1997 | Genre: Hip Hop, R&B
This song is about missing someone who died, it’s actually about the loss of Puff Daddy’s close friend and fellow rapper, The Notorious B.I.G., who was killed in a drive-by shooting in 1997. The song samples “Every Breath You Take” by The Police and features vocals from Faith Evans, who was married to B.I.G. at the time of his death.
“I’ll Be Missing You” became a massive hit, spending 11 weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group at the 40th Annual Grammy Awards.
10. “Miss You Much” by Janet Jackson
Music Video | Album: Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation 1814 | Released: 1989 | Genre: Dance Pop
This passionate song narrates the pain of missing someone and longing for their return. It speaks to the universality of this feeling, saying that anyone will understand what it is like whose heart can comprehend.
The singer rushes home, eager to be reunited with the person she misses. The chorus repeats the sentiment that she misses them much, signifying the great extent to which she feels this way.
11. “Tears in Heaven” by Eric Clapton
Album: Rush | Released: 1992 | Genre: Soft Rock
This sad song is about the death of Clapton’s 4½-year-old son Conor, who fell from a window of a 53rd-floor apartment building in New York possessed by his mother’s friend.
Clapton was understandably devastated by the tragedy and found it difficult to cope. In an interview, he said “I almost subconsciously used music for myself as a healing agent, and lo and behold, it worked… I have got a great deal of happiness and a great deal of healing from music.”
12. “How Can I Help You Say Goodbye” by Patty Loveless
Lyrics Video | Album: Only What I Feel | Released: 1993 | Genre: Country
This song, written by Karen Taylor-Good and Burton Banks Collins, was released in 1993. It was included on Patty Loveless’ album ‘Only What I Feel.’
The narrator of this song is going through a lot of pain. The loss of her childhood best friend, the separation from her husband, and the death of her mother have all taken a toll on her.
What makes these losses even more difficult is the fact that her mother was always there for her when she needed someone. Now that she’s gone, the singer feels lost and alone.
13. “Goodbye’s the Saddest Word” by Celine Dion
Album: A New Day Has Come | Released: 2002 | Genre: Pop
Dion’s powerful and touchy vocal performance conveys the deep sadness of the lyrics that speak about the strength of a mother’s love for her child and how it is irreplaceable.
The song also states the inevitable goodbye that must be uttered someday. It is a sad song about how saying goodbye will break one’s heart.
14. “Always” by Bon Jovi
Music Video | Album: Cross Road | Released: 1994 | Genre: Rock
The song was created for the movie ‘Romeo Is Bleeding’ but was not used in the film. In an interview, Jon Bon Jovi said that the song is about “the idea of somebody being in your life and then suddenly they’re not there anymore.”
The lyrics express the deep feelings of love and missing someone terribly. It is a song about fighting for love and never giving up.
Even when the singer knows he can’t compete with the person his lover is now with, he still wants to be near her and express his love. The lyrics convey both the pain of loss and the enduring power of love.
15. “Ain’t No Sunshine” by Bill Withers
Album: Just As I Am | Released: 1971 | Genres: R&B, Soul, Blues
The song is about the feeling of loneliness and desperation that arise when a relationship ends. Withers has said that the song is about “being alone and having a dark time when you’re not with the person you love.”
The song has a simple, catchy melody, and Withers’ soulful voice conveys the emotion of the lyrics perfectly.
16. “Somewhere Out There” by Linda Ronstadt and James Ingram
Music Video | Album: An American Tail (OST) | Released: 1986 | Genre: Pop, Stage & Screen
This song from the movie An American Tail is about never giving up hope on finding your loved one again. The music video features mice Fievel and Tanya Mousekewitz searching for each other after being separated.
The song describes that even when you’re far apart, you can still find comfort in the fact that you’re both looking at the same moon. It’s a reminder that you’re both parts of the same universe, and there’s still a connection, no matter how long the distance between you.
17. “A Picture Of Me (Without You) by George Jones
Album: A Picture of Me (Without You) | Released: 1972 | Genre: Country
It is a heart-wrenching ballad about the pain of losing a loved one. The lyrics describe the singer’s feelings of loneliness and despair without his partner by his side.
This country song reflects on all of the ways how life feels empty and meaningless without the person one loves.
18. “Joanne” by Lady Gaga
Music Video | Album: Joanne | Released: 2017 | Genre: Country
Lady Gaga wrote this song about her late aunt Joanne, who passed away from Lupus at the age of 19. The song is about loss and grieving but also about how our loved ones live on through us.
The lyrics express the speaker’s desire for the other person to stay and their disbelief that Heaven is taking them away. There is a sense of grief and mourning throughout the song as the speaker tries to find the terms of their loved one’s loss.
19. “Talking to the Moon” by Bruno Mars
Album: Doo-Wops & Hooligans | Released: 2002 | Genres: Alternative/Indie, Pop
This is one of those songs about connecting with someone even if they’re far away. Also, the song beautifully represents the power of love.
The lyrics talk about how the narrator is trying to reach out to the person they’re missing, even though they know they’re far away. Even though the singer knows he may be a “fool” for talking to the moon, he continues to do so in hopes of reaching the person he loves.
20. “Missing You” by Steve Perry
Music Video | Album: For the Love of Strange Medicine | Released: 1994 | Genre: Soft Rock
The song talks about the hurt caused by missing someone. It speaks to the idea that when we lose somebody, the pain is felt deeply and intensely.
The song also reflects on the happy moments shared between the couple and how the speaker wishes they could have those moments back. There is a sense of yearning and desire to have that person back in one’s life.
21. “Supermarket Flowers” by Ed Sheeran
Album: ÷ (“Divide”) | Released: 2017 | Genre: Pop
This song is a touching tribute to Ed Sheeran’s late grandmother, who passed away while he was in the studio working on his album. The lyrics are written from the perspective of Ed’s mother, and the lyrics express her grief at losing her mother as well as memories of her.
The song is a beautiful tribute to a loving mother and grandmother, and it is sure to touch the hearts of anyone who has lost someone they love.
22. “Miss You Like Crazy” by Natalie Cole
Music Video | Album: Good to Be Back | Released: 1989 | Genre: Pop, Pop Soul
Miss You Like Crazy is one of the classic songs about missing him (your lover). It’s a walk on the feeling of loneliness and the desire of someone who’s no longer there. The lyrics describe the pain of missing someone and how love can transcend time and space.
It’s also a song of hope and about how, one day, the person you miss will be back in your arms again. Until then, the singer will continue to miss him like crazy.
23. “Hey There Delilah” by Plain White T’s
Album: All That We Needed | Released: 2006 | Genres: Folk Pop, Emo Pop
The song is a beautiful declaration of love and dedication and is sure to resonate with anyone who has ever been in a long-distance relationship.
The lyrics talk about how the distance between the two lovers seems much longer when they’re apart. Even though they are miles apart, the singer promises that he will always be there for her and that their love will never fade.
24. “Missing You” by Diana Ross
Music Video | Album: Swept Away | Released: 1984 | Genre: R&B/Soul, Pop
Lionel Richie and Diana Ross created this song as a tribute to the singer Marvin Gaye who was murdered in 1984. The lyrics express feelings of loneliness and loss since Gaye’s death.
The narrator wonders where he went and what he was going through in the final days before his death. The song is a reminder of the happy times they shared and their wish that one day they will be reunited again.
25. “When You’re Gone” by Avril Lavigne
Album: The Best Damn Thing | Released: 2007 | Genre: Soft Rock, Pop Rock
Many songs have been written about saying goodbye to a loved one, but Avril Lavigne’s “When You’re Gone” really captures the feeling of missing someone.
The lyrics talk about all of the little things that you miss about the person when they are gone, from the way they smell to the things they do.
Even though the song is about saying goodbye, it has a very positive message about continuing to love someone even when they are gone.
26. “Missing You” by John Waite
Music Video | Album: No Brakes | Released: 1984 | Genre: Soft Rock
In this great song, the singer describes the pain of missing his ex-lover while also denying how much he misses them. He’s caught in a storm of emotions, torn between his deep love and the pain of her absence.
The song speaks to the complexity of long-distance relationships and how you can feel so friendless even when you’re with someone.
27. “Heartbreak Anniversary” by Giveon
EP: Take Time | Released: 2020 | Genres: R&B, Soul, Electro
Heartbreak Anniversary is one of the saddest lost love songs on this list. The song is a heartfelt ballad about the singer’s feelings about missing his ex-partner on the anniversary of their break-up.
The lyrics express the singer’s deep emotions of sadness and longing as he remembers all the happy moments they shared. Giveon’s voice is emotive and raw, making the listener feel every word he sings.
28. “Thinkin’ Bout You” by Frank Ocean
Live Video | Album: Channel Orange | Released: 2012 | Genre: R&B
Frank Ocean’s song “Thinkin’ Bout You” is a beautiful and heart-wrenching ballad about the longing and regret that comes with lost love.
The song’s atmospheric production and Ocean’s gorgeous falsetto perfectly capture the feeling of longing and nostalgia, while the lyrics explore the complicated mix of emotions that come with thinking about the former lover you can never have.
29. “Goodbye My Lover” by James Blunt
Album: Back to Bedlam | Released: 2005 | Genre: Soft Rock
The song “Goodbye My Lover” is about the singer’s realization that he will never be able to have a relationship with the girl he loves.
Lyrically, it’s a mournful ballad about the end of a long-term relationship. The speaker looks back at all the shared memories and good times, reflecting on how things went wrong.
There is an undertone of bitterness and regret but also a sense of acceptance that the relationship is really over.
30. “My Heart Will Go On” by Celine Dion
Music Video | Movie: Titanic | Album: Let’s Talk About Love | Released: 1997 | Genre: Pop
This song comes from the movie Titanic, and it talks about the enduring power of love. Although the characters in the movie are no longer together, the lyrics express the idea that although someone may have physically disappeared, they can still live on in our hearts.
The song speaks to the idea that love can touch us once and last for a lifetime. This song is perfect for when you’re missing your loved ones and can’t be with them.
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About the Author
Thomas M., the founder of Guitar Top Review, boasts 15+ years of guitar experience and was a church band member in L.A. Transitioning from piano to acoustic guitar, his first love remains his Taylor GS Mini. Alongside like-minded hobbyist friends, he launched the site, driven by a deep love for music that transcends professional boundaries.