There’s no worse feeling than being really into someone, and the feeling isn’t mutual. It’s the source of countless movies, books, and, as we’ll see here, songs.
Of course, your best bet is always to move on with your life. They don’t deserve your love.
Anyway… here are some songs on the topic. Enjoy.
El Scorcho – Weezer
This song finds its protagonist frustrated that the woman he’s interested in doesn’t seem to feel the same. He seems determined to make her see things his way, nonetheless. Other works inspired several lines, including the song ‘Don’t Believe the Hype’ by Public Enemy.
Every Breath You Take – The Police
This particular song is about a man who feels jealous and obsessive about the woman he loves who he isn’t with; he’s going to watch her, seemingly every moment of her life. Sting was inspired to write it after separating from his wife, Frances Tomelty. It was the US’s biggest hit of 1983 and is often considered to be a stalker song.
Related: Find this song on our playlist of breathing songs.
I Will Possess Your Heart – Death Cab for Cutie
Listeners glimpse the feelings and motivations of a frustrated and obsessive person in this Death Cab for Cutie track. The protagonist believes his love interest will want to be with him one day, even though she has made it clear that she has no desire to pursue a relationship.
Run For Your Life – The Beatles
John Lennon drew inspiration from Elvis Presley’s ‘Baby, Let’s Play House’ when writing this 1965 track; both the first line and the title came directly from its lyrics. It’s a shocking piece that finds its jealous protagonist warning his romantic partner that he better not catch her with another man.
Related: Here are some good running songs.
Don’t You Want Me? – The Human League
This hit tells the story of a man who helps a waitress become a star. When their romance ends, he threatens to ruin her career if she doesn’t take him back. Like the rest of the album it appeared on, the song was recorded without any traditional instruments; every instrumental sound was electronic. Here’s another interesting fact: the vocals were recorded in the studio’s lavatories.
Silver Springs – Fleetwood Mac
Stevie Nicks was inspired to write this piece by her breakup with Lindsey Buckingham. She felt connected to him for life and felt the need to express these clinging feelings in a song. The title was inspired by a time that Nicks drove through Silver Springs, Maryland, with Buckingham.
Related: We’re happy to share our playlist of the best jealousy songs.
I’m Gonna Make You Love Me – The Temptations
Here’s a collaboration between The Temptations, Diana Ross, and The Supremes. This was one of many cover versions and one of the most successful recordings. It was the second Motown hit that was a cover of a non-Motown song. Both the male and female narrators vow to shower the other with love—at what seems to be an excessive level.
Shiver – Coldplay
This was one of the first tracks that Chris Martin wrote for Coldplay. It’s a song from a stalker’s perspective about a man who is unhealthily invested in the life of the woman he loves. Martin has said it was inspired by one of his own real-life relationships.
Related: See the best songs about loving someone you can’t have.
Lily (My One and Only) – The Smashing Pumpkins
The protagonist of this track is obsessed with a love interest named Lily, who he is stalking and delusionally believes to be interested in him. The song has a humorous vibe as the man is taken away by the police—it is assumed that Lily called the authorities on him.
Related: Listen to the best songs with women’s names.
I’m Your Boyfriend Now – They Might Be Giants
This 2006 song’s obsessive narrator truly believes that he is his love interest’s boyfriend and that she is in love with him. The song’s demo was released six years before the official release; that version included a line about a restraining order.
You Oughta Know – Alanis Morissette
Alanis Morissette sings as a woman who is angry at her ex. She wants to let him know—seemingly in public—that he hurt and damaged her by leaving her for another, older woman. It was possibly written about actor Dave Coulier and received two Grammy Awards in addition to a third nomination.
Related: This song is on our list of the best songs about breaking up.
I’m on Fire – Bruce Springsteen
This song was inspired by the rhythm of classic Johnny Cash songs. It’s a fictional tale about a man who wakes up at night with a burning, passionate desire for the woman he wants to be with. Cash covered the song himself in 2000 for a Bruce Springsteen tribute.
Related: Hear a cover of this song on the Fifty Shades of Grey soundtrack.
Lonely Town – Brandon Flowers
This track’s protagonist is delusionally and desperately clinging to a relationship that has ended. Clearly, this was the only thing that kept him from feeling lonely and allowed him to find meaning in his life, so he’s holding on to hope that doesn’t exist.
Hello, I Love You – The Doors
Jim Morrison wrote this classic after seeing a beautiful woman on the beach in 1965. The lyrics find the narrator proclaiming that he is in love with this woman that he’s only just seen for the first time. R.E.M.’s ‘Pop Song ’89’ plays on this track by talking to a woman about more serious topics rather than physical attraction.
