20 Songs About Friendship Ending - MelodyRepeat (2024)

Friendships can elicit powerful bonds that feel unbreakable. However, even the strongest and best of friendships can, unfortunately, come to an end. This can often leave people heartbroken for this broken friendship.

This is where music comes into play quite beautifully. Many musicians have also experienced their own loss of friendships and have written about it, as a result. In this article, we’ve listed our favorite 20 songs about friendship ending in different ways, and for different reasons! You’ll find both comforting and heartbreaking songs in this list!

1. “Losing a Friend” by The Cardigans

“Losing a Friend” by The Cardigans, which appears on the 2005 album Super Extra Gravity, opens with the lyrics, “You’re losing a friend / You got it all wrong / It’s not about revenge.”

As the song progresses, we learn more about its meaning. Both the singer and the friend they’re singing about have clearly done wrong in different ways. Neither of them was the friend they needed. As a result, their relationship ends with a broken friendship — even if the singer is upset with this!

2. “Ball Tongue” by Korn

Korn’s 1994 rock song “Ball Tongue” details a friendship that becomes quite toxic. The singer explains that this friend has been there for him time and time again. But somewhere along the way, things changed. Now, it’s like this friend is controlling him — or, at least, not letting him be who he wants to be and draining the life out of him, as a result.

The band really drives this point home, as well as how close the friends used to be, when they sing, “You were my brother / Where does our friendship end?”

3. “When Love Begins Friendship Ends” by Bobby Womack

“When Love Begins Friendship Ends” by Bobby Womack details a friendship that is broken because of romance. Bobby Womack sings from the point of view of a man who is in love with a woman. This woman, however, used to be in love with his friend.

However, when this friend doesn’t give the woman the love and relationship that she wants, Womack sings that he falls in love with her. He knows that this will ruin his friendship, but he cannot stop his feelings for her.

He sings the lyrics, “And she’s so tired of being left alone / I know we’re friends / But sometimes when love begins / That’s when friendship ends.”

4. “It’s Raining Again” by Supertramp

Supertramp’s 1982 song “It’s Raining Again”, which appears on the band’s album …Famous Last Words, also talks about losing friends. The singer talks about heartbreak, as well as the end of various relationships, including romantic ones and friendly ones.

The lyrics state, “Oh no, it’s raining again / Too bad I’m losing a friend.”

5. “Gonna Get Along Without You Now” by She & Him

“Gonna Get Along Without You Now” by She & Him explores a friendship that becomes romantic — and then falls apart. The singer explains that this man went around with other girls around town, even though he told her that he liked her. Now, she refuses to allow this friendship to keep her down.

The duo sings, “You told everybody that we were friends / But this is where our friendship ends.”

6. “Make Way For a Better Man” by Willie Nelson

Willie Nelson’s 1967 song “Make Way For a Better Man”, which appears on the album Make Way For Willie Nelson, follows Nelson as he sings about falling in love with his friend’s girl. Nelson explains that he tried to do what was right and steer clear of this woman. However, when he realized how poorly his friend was treating her, he decided to act.

As a result, he sings that their friendship will likely come to an end. He sings, “I held back ’cause you and I were friends / But old buddy this is where our friendship ends / I’m taking over now.”

7. “Shall I Tell Her” by Dionne Warwick

Dionne Warwick’s 1964 song “Shall I Tell Her” also talks about a friendship that comes to an end because of a love triangle. In this song, Warwick has fallen in love with her friend’s partner. Obviously, she’s upset that their friendship will come to an end — but only if she confesses that she’s been seeing her friend’s partner.

This song, therefore, follows Warwick as she questions whether she should tell her friend about what she’s been up to. She sings, “If I tell the truth I’ll lose a friend / I would hate to see our friendship end / So shall I, shall I tell her you’re not here?”

8. “(I’ll Be Glad When You’re Dead) You Rascal You” by Fats Domino

“(I’ll Be Glad When You’re Dead) You Rascal You” by Fats Domino follows the end of a friendship after a friend takes advantage of the singer. Fats Domino opens the song by explaining that he let his friend stay with him, free of charge. He helped his friend when they were in a low place.

However, it seems as if this backfired on him, as he then sings that the friend took advantage of him and his kindness. He even stole his own clothes! As a result, Fats Domino sings, “I took you for my bosom friend, but this is where our friendship ends / So it’s time for you to cut out, you rascal you!”

9. “The End of A Beautiful Friendship” by Ella Fitzgerald

“The End of A Beautiful Friendship” by Ella Fitzgerald is an interesting song. While most of the songs on this list deal with friends falling out, this song discusses what happens when two friends fall in love! The friendship ends — but a romance begins. Therefore, this is one of the only positive, rather than sad, songs on this list!

Fitzgerald sings, “That was the end of a beautiful friendship / And just the beginning of love.”

10. “Operator (That’s Not the Way It Feels)” by Jim Croce

“Operator (That’s Not the Way It Feels)” appears on Jim Croce’s 1972 album You Don’t Mess Around With Jim. In this song, Croce sings about trying to get over a heartbreak while talking to a telephone operator. As he sings about why he’s heartbroken, he mentions his ex-best friend.

When talking about the woman he still loves, he sings the lyrics, “She’s living in L.A. with my best old ex-friend Ray / A guy she said she knew well and sometimes hated.”

11. “Life We Chose” by Nas

Nas’ 1999 song “Life We Chose” discusses Nas’ new lifestyle, thanks to his successful music career. Nas is able to rise above his difficult upbringing now that he has money. However, he still has problems.

Throughout the song, he explains that his new life — one that he willingly chose — has resulted in most of his friends he thought he could trust betraying him and waiting to see him fall. He explains by saying, “It’s the life we chose, where friends become foes.”

12. “The Letter Home” by Elvis Costello

“The Letter Home” by Elvis Costello details a friendship that has fallen apart over the years, likely for a variety of reasons. At the beginning of the song, Costello sings from this letter very formally. However, as the song progresses, Costello’s letter becomes full of nostalgia for this past friendship.

He sings, “Though the years have divided us / Friendships have strained and broken.”

13. “Bad Blood” by Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift’s 2014 song “Bad Blood”, which appears on her album 1989, follows the end of a friendship. Swift is bitter and angry in this song, as she feels betrayed by her friend. If you’re looking for a cathartic song to help with any anger you have toward your ex-best friends, this is the song for you!

Swift sings to her ex-friend about her betrayal, singing, “Did you have to do this? / I was thinking that you could be trusted.”

14. “People You Know” by Selena Gomez

“People You Know” by Selena Gomez discusses how relationships, both romantic and platonic, can be heartbreaking when they end. Gomez sings about how sometimes, even the closest friends can become complete strangers to you. This can make her feel very sad, as she feels as if she’s wasted time on these relationships.

She sings the lyrics, “We used to be close, but people can go / From people you know to people you don’t.”

15. “I Lost a Friend” by Finneas

“I Lost a Friend” by Finneas explores all of the emotions and thoughts that can come with falling out of a friendship. In the chorus of the song, Finneas sings, “And I’ll be fine without him / But all I do is write about him / How the hell did I lose a friend I never had?”

Finneas, after losing this friend, questions whether this friendship ever really happened. After all, if this person was truly his best friend, how could their friendship fall apart so easily?

16. “No Tears” by Jeezy & Future

In “No Tears”, Jeezy and Future rap about their past, as well as their current situation now that they’ve become successful and wealthy thanks to their music careers. The duo explains some of the issues that they now have, especially where their friendships are concerned.

They admit that they’ve lost a lot of friends since becoming successful. However, they won’t let this keep them down for long. They rap, “I’m losing all my friends like every single day.”

17. “Who You’re Around” by Meek Mill & Mary J. Blige

“Who You’re Around” by Meek Mill and Mary J. Blige also talks about losing friends. They talk about how, once they started making money thanks to their successful career, their old friends that they came up with or grew up with started to change.

This song opens with the lines, “One Night I prayed to God / I asked could he please remove the enemies from my life / And before you know it I started losing friends.”

18. “Tell Me, Momma” by Bob Dylan

In “Tell Me, Momma”, Bob Dylan sings about his romantic partner who is clearly worried or upset about something. Throughout the song, he questions what’s wrong with her. As he questions her, he talks about how she’s worried that her friendships will come to an end.

He sings the lyrics, “If you’re anxious to find out when your friendships gonna end / Come on, baby, I’m your friend.”

19. “just like magic” by Ariana Grande

Ariana Grande’s song “just like magic” discusses Grande’s outlook on life. She believes that she will attract what she puts out in the universe. Therefore, she only tries to put out kindness and love.

She does admit that she’s lost friends, but she won’t let this bring her down. She sings, “Say it’s tricky at the top, gotta keep a slim ego for a thick wallet / Losing friends left and right, but I just send ’em love and light.”

20. “Fight Song” by Rachel Platten

At last, we’ve arrived at the last song on our list! “Fight Song” by Rachel Platten is a positive, uplifting song about staying true to yourself and never giving up. You may lose some friendships along the way, but don’t let it get you down!

Platten sings about her worries, saying, “Losing friends and I’m chasing sleep / Everybody’s worried about me.” However, she then goes on to say that she’ll figure things out and be okay!