Heartbreak Songs, Powerfully Sad

Heartbreak songs: many are powerfully sad. Each music video below is by the artist who made the song most famous.

I. “Piece of My Heart” (1967), Originally by Erma Franklin (1938-2002)

Perhaps the grittiest and most soulful and heartfelt of heartbreak songs. A growly Oh, come on, come on, come on, come on is followed by these opening lyrics…

Didn’t I make you feel like you were the only man? YeahAnd didn’t I give you nearly everything that a woman possibly can?Honey, you know I didAnd each time I tell myself that I, well I think I’ve had enoughBut I’m gonna show you, baby, that a woman can be tough

I want you to come on, come on, come on, come on and take itTake another little piece of my heart now, baby (whoa, break it)Break another little bit of my heart now, darling, yeah, yeah, yeah (whoa, have a)Have another little piece of my heart now, babyYou know you got it if it makes you feel good

I mean, who do you most associate with this? Janis Joplin (1943-1970):

II. “Only Love Can Break Your Heart” (1970) by Neil Young

But only love can break your heart
Try to be sure right from the start
Yes, only love can break your heart
What if your world should fall apart?

A live performance:

III. “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart” (1971) by The Bee Gees

Heartbreak songs don’t always feature the actual sound of heartbreak, but this one does. Al Green‘s solo recording as well as his later duet with Joss Stone are both notable. But how unique is the way Barry Gibb follows a breathy How can you mend a broken heart with his much stronger How can you stop the rain from falling down.

…How can you stop the sun from shining?
What makes the world go ’round?
How can you mend this broken man?
How can a loser ever win?
Please help me mend my broken heart and let me live again…

IV. “Heart Like a Wheel” (1972), Originally by McKendree Spring

Some say the heart is just like a wheel
When you bend it, you can’t mend it
But my love for you is like a sinking ship
And my heart is on that ship out in mid-ocean…

Written (and later recorded) by Kate & Anna McGarrigle, Linda Ronstadt has the winning version:

V. “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around” (1981) by Stevie Nicks and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

…Stop draggin’ my heart around, yeah

It’s hard to think about what you wantedIt’s hard to think about what you lostThis doesn’t have to be the big get evenThis doesn’t have to be anything at all

I know you really want to tell me goodbyeI know you really want to be your own girl…

A remaster of the original video:

VI. “Un-Break My Heart” (1996) by Toni Braxton

On this achiest of heartbreak songs, Braxton made her mark:

…Un-break my heartSay you’ll love me againUndo this hurt you causedWhen you walked out the doorAnd walked out of my lifeUn-cry these tearsI cried so many nightsUn-break my heart…

VII. “Jar of Hearts” (2010) by Christina Perri

…I learned to live half aliveNow you want me one more time

Who do you think you are?Runnin’ ’round leaving scarsCollecting your jar of heartsTearing love apart…

One of the best ever ensuing lines: You’re gonna catch a cold/From the ice inside your soul.

Heartbreak Songs, Powerfully Sad

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