101 Songs That Sum Up the Bittersweet Nightmare of Toxic Relationships (2023)

many of us havefound toxic relationships, and some of us have had the misfortune to take a path beyond thatrelationship expiry date.

So there are some of us who are still in one. you know who you are And you, like us, know you deserve better.

If you're into it, it seems worth trying to get it working, you know, for the love of it and all. And also because for many reasonsLeaving a toxic relationship can often seem very difficult.

Since our friends and family members are often quick to criticize, even when it's well-intentioned, weathering through this particular storm can seem like you're the only one on your side.

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See these casesgood songs to listen to- Songs that make sure you're not the only one who gets them - can make a very positive difference in your emotional well-being.

These 101 songs about toxic relationships will make you feel less alone and more understood.

1. "Love in the Brain" by Rihanna

Rihanna is no stranger to singing about her toxic relationship woes, from her previous singles (remember "Unfaithful"?) to her cameo appearances on hits like "Love the Way You Lie" with Eminem.

Thankfully, she's no longer alive, but knowing about her highly publicized relationship with Chris Brown makes those words all the more powerful.

It must be love in the brain / Make me feel this way (Feel this way)

It makes me black and blue but it fucks me so good / And I can't get enough

It must be love in the brain, yeah / And keep cursing my name (cursing my name)

No matter what I do, I'm no good without you / And I don't get tired

2. "Mad Love" by JoJo

JoJo has always made great music, but she came back strong with this underrated song. JoJo takes it seriously how often we don't see that we can do much better, but instead settle for what we achieve even though it's so bad for us.

The song reveals insecurity and emotional baggage, leaving room for toxic love.

'Cause you give me crazy love / How far can we go? Nobody knows

You give me bad love / But I'll take what I have, I'm starving

As if I never had love / You drive me crazy, I'm not ashamed

I don't give a fuck baby / I want you so bad

3. „Ex Factor“ von Lauryn Hill

The longer you wait for things to get better and go back to how they were when they started, the worse things will get.

Most of the time, he cleans up his act long enough to keep the relationship going. You know you are caught up in this journey, but you no longer know when or where to get off.

No matter how I think we grew up / You always seem to tell me

It don't work, it don't work (No, it don't work)

And if I try to leave / Would you hurt yourself to make me stay?

This is crazy, this is crazy (This is crazy, aha!)

I keep leaving you behind / How can I explain myself?

As painful as it was / I just can't be with anyone else

4. "Bleeding Love" by Leona Lewis

Being so in love that you can't see what others see is probably the worst feeling when it's finally over, but we all know there's no way to tell someone in love about your love. Just no.

But I don't care what they say I'm in love with you / They try to push me away but they don't know the truth

My heart is paralyzed by the vein that I keep closing up

You cut me and I keep bleeding, I keep bleeding, I keep bleeding, baby

5. „Something about the way you move“ von Ellie Goulding

Sometimes we know we're in bad shape when the relationship starts making you feel worse than any actual breakup. It's an agonizing feelingwhen you feel your heart break in slow motion, and it often turns out to be a relief when you finally leave.

There's something in the way you move / Something in the way you move

With you I never heal / It's a headache from start to finish

There's something in the way you move / I don't know what you do

No bone in your body is good enough for me / But this heart is open, bloodstain on my sleeve

When our eyes meet I can only see the end / But tonight I'm here, yours again

6. "Jealous" by Beyoncé

Any time you're angry with someone, it's time to end things. These lyrics describe a relationship that has been constantly marred by issues that have led to distrust and sometimes there is no turning back.

I'm half naked in my penthouse / I cooked this meal for you naked

So where the hell are you / There's only one shot left of that drink, in that glass

Don't break me / I wish you were me

So you can feel this feeling / I've never broken a promise and I know when you're not being honest

Now you're making me scream 'cause I'm jealous

7. "The Pressure" by Jhené Aiko

The “pressure” mentioned in this song describes the point of no return, where you have nothing to give and stay with the person for convenience. There's no way to fix it, so you feel disconnected from love.

Until the sun comes up / No commitment

I know, I know, I know / You're a liar

I never denied you / I was sure

But it's really out of my control / The way you feel is not my problem

I don't want to see you go / But I don't have time to find out

And you have no right / After everything you did to me

8. "Rock Bottom" by Hailee Steinfeld ft. DNCE

There's a certain euphoria about being in a toxic relationship, and it keeps you from wanting more... despite your better judgment.

Oh we're on the right side of the ground / And I hope we keep falling

We're on the good side of bad karma / Because we keep coming back for more

We are on the right side of the background / In you I crawl on

You're the best kind of a bad thing / 'Cause we keep coming back for more

9. "Girl" from Destiny's Child

This song has a different narrative as it is a woman who makes excuses for staying with her horrible boyfriend even though he is cheating on her and spends her days feeling sad instead of talking directly to her lover .

After sharing her own experiences of domestic violence while promoting her solo single "Dirty Laundry,"Kelly Rowland admittedBeyonce and Michelle Williams wrote this for her.

See what you don't know about him / is that I can't let him go because he needs me

It's not really him, it's the stress of work / And I don't take it easy on myself

I know you see him annoying most of the time / But I know he's tired, he doesn't mean it

Sometimes it gets hard / But I need my man

I don't think you understand

10. "The Heart Wants What It Wants" by Selena Gomez

All those times you've stayed home waiting for a call, a sign, and love returned, that's what this song is about. There is nothing worse thanfeeling alone in a relationship, and this song makes it very clear.

The bed is getting cold and you're not here / The future we have is so uncertain

But I don't live until you pay / And I bet against everything

Save your advice because I won't listen / You may be right but I don't care

There's a million reasons why I should give up on you / But the heart wants what it wants

The heart wants what it wants

11. Sia's "hostage"

There's nothing worse than being so wrapped up in toxic love that you convince yourself you can't live without it. And even more awkward is hiding the relationship from your friends because deep down you know it's not good for you.

It all starts with a single kiss / I'm a hostage to your love

Handcuff me, arrest me / I'm a hostage to your touch

This prison is hard but I never tire / Our secret life keeps me in chains

Don't arrest me, you don't want to set us free / I'm a hostage to your love

12. "1 Step Forward, 3 Steps Back" by Olivia Rodrigo

When a toxic relationship becomes manipulative, you begin to doubt your worth. And despite this feeling, your partner will make you believe that he is the right man for you.

You screwed me boy / I've never doubted myself so much

I am pretty? am i a funny guy

I hate giving you power over things like that / Because it's always one step forward and three steps back

I'm the love of your life until I drive you crazy / It's always one step forward and three steps back

Do you love me, do you love me, do you hate me? Boy I don't understand / No, I don't understand

13. „Úsame“ von Bill Withers

The problem with toxic love is that it's so fascinating you forget how horrible it is to you. You might even make sure it's okay to be in a one-sided relationship.

Ah-huh, sometimes / it's true that you really call me names

Ah, you catch me with a lot of high-class people / And then you're being so rude to me

Ah-huh, but oh, baby, baby, baby, baby / If you love me I can't get enough

Ah-huh and I want to spread the word / That it feels so good to get used to

Oh, just keep using me / Until you use me

Oh until you use me

14. "Venom" by Rita Ora

Like a drug, a relationship that takes you to the highest highs but then the deepest lows is never a good thing. That's why toxic love is a poison you can't get rid of.

I could have beer for breakfast / My sanity for lunch

I'm trying to get over how much I want you / Innocence for dinner

Pour some in my cup / Anything and everything just to fill me up

But nothing gets me high / I apply my poison and it's you

Nothing could kill me like you

15. "Pearl" by Katy Perry

When you are on top of the shiny world, sometimes you fall in love with someone who destroys everything. And in no time at all you are no longer a "pearl", but just a dull shell of yourself.

I could be a Statue of Liberty / I could be Joan of Arc

But she's afraid of the light inside her / So she keeps her in the dark

Oh, she used to be a pearl, oh / Yes, she used to rule the world, oh

I can't believe she turned into a shell of herself / Cause she used to be a pearl

16. "Playing with Fire" by Thomas Rhett

Passion burning like fire seems incredible at first, but as things turn sour, the flames spiral out of control. And if you don't take care of your heart, you'll burn yourself.

I don't know why I don't/turn it off baby

We kiss and the flames / Just turn it up

But yeah I know / When I hold you baby

I'm all wrapped in barbed wire / I'm on fire, I'm not learning

I'll be back, give it some time / Yes, I know it sounds crazy

But I think I like playing with fire

17. „Run Right Back“ von The Black Keys

Just like with an addiction, you can't help but go back to the one thing that keeps hurting you. And no matter how hard you try to escape, there's no denying you'll come back.

She's got it all / Her pretty head, oh

It comes screaming / In an electric scream

She's the worst thing I'm addicted to

I run back / I run back to her

I won't skip/rewind the track I'm sure

I walk back to her

18. „Need Me“ von Eminem ft. Pink

When you love someone that much, you blind yourself to the reality that they don't care about you. You may even think that that toxic person in your life would be nothing without you, so you stay.

Some nights I want to run for the hills / It's never easy with you

I can't argue with you / But your smile is as strange as it seems

What would I do without him?

Maybe that's why I'm coming back / Ah, what wouldn't I do for you

19. "Walls Could Talk" by Halsey

A toxic relationship can turn you into an emotional wreck and drain your feelings. But then, when there's an uplifting moment, you're quickly manipulated and only the walls of your home know the full story.

It's been about two weeks since you left / I'm halfway through a Cabernet

Here I go, I'm wasting a Saturday / sitting at home

I told my new roommate not to let you in / But you're so good with a bobby pin

Now you're gonna play me like a violin / play those notes

20. "It Goes Both Ways" by Gloria Estefan

Staying in an unhealthy relationship is not only a bad choice for your partner, but also for you.'Cause if you're that codependentIt seems that the world will end if you are not together.

It cuts both ways / Our love is like a knife that cuts both ways

It's driven deep into my heart every time / I can tell

How it cuts both ways / They can't be together, they can't live apart

We're headed straight for a broken heart / But I can't stop

21. Kehlanis „Toxic“

A master manipulator will sometimes use physical affection to wrap you around his finger. And when you're blinded by great sex and physical connection, it's hard to see the truth.

And that damn Don Julio fooled me for you / And now I can call you

With this ra-ra-ra I miss my pa-da-da / miss the a-a-a (ah, ah)

And all this love is toxic / All this love is toxic

All those hugs and kisses suck / You're a drug, you're toxic

22. "Ultraviolence" by Lana del Rey

This song explains the close relationship between love and pain. What looks like love is actually physically and emotionally damaging, and the two can mix into a toxic mess.

Ultraviolence / I can hear sirens, sirens

It hit me and it felt like a kiss / I can hear violins, violins

Give me all that ultra violence / He called me poison

Like it was poison ivy / I could have died instantly

because he was by my side

23. "Take Me to Church" by Hozier

Sometimes you hold your love so sacred that you forget to see the truth of the situation: that love is poisonous! And it's so unhealthy that you're willing to worship the person who's making life difficult for you.

The only heaven I'm sent to is when I'm alone with you

I was born sick but I love it / Tell me to get better

A-, amen, amen, amen / Take me to church

I will worship like a dog in the sanctuary of your lies / I will tell you my sins and you can sharpen your knife

Offer me this immortal death / My God, let me give you my life

take me to church

24. "No Vai Drop" by Gloriana

Being in a bad relationship sometimes means standing idly by while your partner cheats on you. And even though you know you've been betrayed and seen it with your own eyes, you refuse to go.

I'm sitting on my bedroom floor crying / tears like rain on the ceiling

Scars on my heart from the war I fought / And I pray like hell but the pain won't stop

And you know that the boy you love keeps failing you / And the boy you love is killing you now

And the boy you love keeps running / You have two eyes but you look

And it's not blind, but you don't go

25. "Think About It" by Jessie J

A song about the pressures of the music industry and being pulled down by the people who are supposed to be supporting you. It's about taking back your power from those who have made you feel worthless for so long.

Think about it / Think about the time you blamed me

Remember the time I called you and said I need you to save me / Remember the time you said you cared

You lied and tried to look at me

Think of the time I got sick and you put me on stage / Think of the time you used my fame to improve your role

Think of the time you told lies to my label, you said, "She's crazy" / Think of the fact that they see it now

You're a shark, a cheater, a traitor (shark, a cheater, a traitor)

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More songs about toxic relationships

26. "Honey" from BETWEEN FRIENDS

27. "COFFIN" by Jessie Reyez (feat. Eminem)

28. "Die to You" by The Weeknd

29. "Him and I" by Halsey and G-Eazy

30. "Emotional Bruises" by Madison Beer

31. "Do Re Mi" by Blackbear

32. "7 Things" by Miley Cyrus

33. "Bad Romance" by Lady Gaga

34. "Bad at Love" by Halsey

35. „Toxic“ von Britney Spears

36. Rihannas "Rehab"

37. "You give love a bad name" by Bon Jovi

38. „Love the Way You Lie“ von Eminem (hazaña. Rihanna)

39. "I Knew You Were Trouble" by Taylor Swift

40. "Heartless" by Kanye West

41. "Ruins My Life" by Zara Larsson

42. "Addicted" by Dan Seals

43. Ariana Grandes „Freund“ (feat. Social House)

44. „Love Bites“ von Def Leppard

45. "Gangsta" by Kehlani

46. ​​"I hate everything about you" from Three Days Grace

47. „I Hate You For Loving You“ von Joan Jett & the Blackhearts

48. "I Hate You, I Love You" by Gnash (featuring Olivia O'Brien)

49. „Quit“ von Cashmere Cat (feat. Ariana Grande)

50. "Back to You" directed by Louis Tomlinson (feat. Bebe Rexha)

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51. "Happier Than Ever" by Billie Eilish

52. „I Hate That I Love You“ von Rihanna (feat. Ne-Yo)

53. „Tainted Love“ von Soft Cell

54. „Bad Things“ von Machine Gun Kelly (feat. Camila Cabello)

55. "This Love" from Maroon 5

56. "Lose You to Love Me" directed by Selena Gomez

57. "Should I Stay or Should I Go" by The Clash

58. „Wrecking Ball“ von Miley Cyrus

59. "Lay My Heart Down," by Sara Evans

60. „Nicotina“ von Panic at the Disco

61. "CHARACTERS" by Jessie Reyez

62. Lady A's "Pictures"

63. „Loveless“ von PVRIS

64. „Let me go“ von Cassadee Pope

65. „Better Man“ von Little Big Town

66. "Teeth" from 5 Seconds of Summer

67. "Your Love Is My Drug" by Kesha

68. "Teacher's Pet" von Melanie Martinez

69. "Pretty When You Cry" by Lana Del Rey

70. "My Boy" by Billie Eilish

71. „Make Me (Cry)“ von Noah Cyrus (feat. Labrinth)

72. "Same Old Love" by Selena Gomez

73. "The Worst of Me" directed by Julia Michaels

74. "Mercy" by Shawn Mendes

75. „Hot N Cold“ von Katy Perry

76. „Irresistible“ von Fall Out Boy

77. „My Type“ von The Chainsmokers (feat. Emily Warren)

78. „We Need a Resolution“ von Aaliyah (feat. Timbaland)

79. „Hold Up“ von Beyoncé

80. "If you hate me, say so" by Cassidi

81. "The Worst of You" by Noah Cyrus & PJ Harding

82. "Love is Pain" by FINNEAS

83. "Everything I Really Want" directed by Alanis Morissette

84. "Easier" from 5 Seconds of Summer

85. "Allergic" by Post Malone

86. „Feed the Gemini“ von Banks

87. "Games" by Demi Lovato

88. "I Fell in Love with the Devil" by Avril Lavigne

89. „Face Down“ von The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus

90. "Mood" for 24k Goldn

91. „Vicious Love“ von New Found Glory (feat. Hayley Williams)

92. „Out of Time“ von Bryson Tiller

93. "Best Love" by Foxes

94. "As Fast You Can" by Fiona Apple

95. "I Hate You" by SZA

96. "Playing with Fire" by Thomas Rhett

97. „Like a Pill“ von Pink

98. "Monstruos" von All Time Low

99. „Pretty Girl (The Way)“ von Sugarcult

100. "Prisoner" by Miley Cyrus (feat. Dua Lipa)

101. „Misery“ von The Living Word

If you or someone you know is in an abusive situation, there is oneavailable resources in your stateas well as the 24/7National Domestic Violence Hotline(1-800-799-7233).

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Kiarra Sylvester is a freelance writer who recently graduated from Widener University. Visityour sitefor more of his work.