If you’re thinking of giving up because life isn’t working out for you or unfortunate events have occurred, the songs featured in this list will hopefully help you see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Some will be relatable. Some won’t have a happy ending. But it’s our hope that they’ll help you better come to terms with whatever’s making you feel like quitting, and help you find a way to turn things around.
Here are the best songs about giving up.
1. “In My Blood” by Shawn Mendes
Song Year: 2018
“In My Blood” by Shawn Mendes describes how we often feel when things aren’t working out as expected. Shawn sings about feeling like the walls are caving in. He sings about taking one drink to feel better and forget the difficulties one faces.
Shawn even questions whether things get better. He notes that no medicine is strong enough to silence his emotions. Admittedly, this is what most people experience when thinking of giving up. Things can seem pretty dark when you feel like you can’t get help from the people around you.
However, the best thing you can do is to have hope for a better tomorrow.
2. “Gave Up” by Nine Inch Nails
Song Year: 1992
Nine Inch Nails is a rock band that was formed in 1988. The band sings about giving up and the feelings people experience when life turns upside down. The track’s lyrics provide an excellent description of how one hates themselves when things aren’t going their way.
It’s quite clear the band sings about a bad breakup. The lead sings, saying someone smashed what they truly believed in into pieces. He also adds that he doesn’t know what to do. If you’re a rock fan, this track will bring some memories to ponder.
3. “Dear Agony” by Breaking Benjamin
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9hZFyoqp7Q
Song Year: 2009
If you think of giving up and feel you need encouragement, this track is for you. Breaking Benjamin sings about fighting until the end. Even when the lights go about, the best thing you can do for yourself is not to give up.
This track is quite encouraging as it talks about finding the enemy within. Usually, our thoughts can leave us feeling like there’s no hope for a better future. But if you can find peace within, everything will work out for the best.
4. “I Can’t Make You Love Me” by Bonnie Raitt
Song Year: 1991
Thinking about giving up on love? Bonnie Raitt delivered a great piece with her song, “I Can’t Make You Love Me.”
The track is about letting go, as you can’t force someone to love you. You’ve often heard that love is a two-way street.
It’s all about give and take. You can give your best in a relationship but can’t force someone to love you. This song by Bonnie can encourage you to give love your best shot and lower your expectations.
5. “Worthless” by Eli
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1N0IJmASZZU
Song Year: 2019
“Worthless” by Eli is a powerful track that will leave you wondering why all the bad things might happen in your life.
He sings about feeling worthless and always driving his life to the ruins. Eli sings, wondering why he keeps getting it wrong. Despite his efforts, nothing will ever be okay in his life.
Eli ends the track with a powerful message that you shouldn’t give up. While you might be questioning yourself why you exist, it’s important to remember that someone out there needs you. So, don’t give up; you got to stay strong.
6. “Say Something” by A Great Big World feat Christina Aguilera
Song Year: 2014
“Say Something” by A Great Big World feat Christina Aguilera was released when Chad King and Ian Axel struggled. The irony in this track is that it’s about giving up on someone despite your love for them.
One painful thing about love and relationships is that sometimes love isn’t enough. You might love someone, but they can’t love you equally.
The lyrics of this track will leave you in tears, especially if you’re feeling like giving up on someone you care about.
7. “I Feel Like Dying” by Lil Wayne
Song Year: 2017
Lil Wayne rose to stardom with the track “Fireman” in 2005. He released “I Feel Like Dying” in 2017, a song about depression.
The track talks about feeling like dying once drugs are done. Most people run to alcohol and drugs when depressed. However, when the drugs subside, reality strikes, leaving many feeling like they’ve lost it.
8. “Lost” by Ivan B
Song Year: 2017
Love is beautiful, especially when the other person makes your world go around. This song is about trying to be the best version of yourself for the person you care about.
Ivan B sings, saying he feels like giving up because his partner is slipping away. He regrets pushing her away, and now he feels like he needs her to feel good again.
If you’re going through a rough time with your partner, dedicate this track to them to rekindle the feelings you once had for each other.
9. “I’m Not Okay” by Citizen Soldier
Song Year: 2020
It’s always hard to say you’re not okay. The truth is that people always shy away from their darkest emotions.
Citizen Soldier sings about not feeling okay; the worst thing is that expressing his feelings is not easy. When life seems unbearable, it can be challenging to say what’s happening inside your mind. Citizen Soldier sings about this as he feels no one understands his feelings.
The song also talks about the monsters in his head, which indicates how our thoughts can influence our feelings. The best thing you can do to ensure you deal with negative emotions is to get out of your head. Quit overthinking and take responsibility for your life.
10. “Lost” by Linkin Park
Song Year: 2023
Linkin Park is a famous rock that became famous in the 2000s with their album Hybrid Theory. The song “Lost” is about a scar one cannot repair.
Linkin Park sings about feeling trapped in yesterday. They sing about feeling lost in their emotions and living in confusion. Understanding why life pushes us in a specific direction, can be challenging, which is what this track is all about.
11. “Nothing Left To Say” by Imagine Dragons
Song Year: 2012
“Nothing Left To Say” is a track that will inspire you to think positively even if you’re thinking of giving up. Imagine Dragons mostly sing about falling but keep pushing on and on.
When you feel like there’s nothing more you can do to rescue yourself, you only need to give life another push. You can learn the power of taking each step at a time from this track.
12. “Someone Like You” by Adele
Song Year: 2011
Sometimes you just need to let go, especially when love hurts. Adele released this massive hit in 2011, when her career peaked.
She sings emotionally, thinking about her bitter-sweet memories with her ex-lover. The track is about giving up on love and moving on. You don’t have to cling to something that won’t work when a relationship fails.
13. “Remind Me to Forget” by Kygo feat Miguel
Song Year: 2017
Healing from a bad breakup? “Remind Me To Forget” by Kygo and Miguel will cheer you up to forget about your past.
The duo sings about the scars left in their hearts after breaking up with their ex. Despite hurting to the core, the song is quite encouraging as they sing about remembering to forget the bad things that happened in a previous relationship.
14. “Should I Give It All Up” by James Blunt
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Krp-e1c9UnM
Song Year: 2019
Behind the smiles on people’s faces, the sad reality is that most feel like giving up. James Blunt sings about giving up and expecting his lover to hold his hand. He sings, saying he feels so lonely. He mentions that it’s getting dark, and he’s losing grip.
The best thing about this track is that it gives you hope in love. Despite the challenges you might be going through, all you need is a helping hand to get you out of the dark place. Nothing should stop you from going all in if you believe in love.
15. “I’m Not Okay” by Deadfish
Song Year: 2020
“I’m Not Okay” by Deadfish reiterates the strong message about hiding emotions. When going through a rough patch, most people hide their feelings, and everyone around them thinks they’re okay. The worst thing that happens is that one feels they are all alone, trapped in their head.
Based on the lyrics of this track, it’s the worst experience anyone should go through. Deadfish sings about seeing a happy ending, perhaps indicating the gleam of hope one should have despite going through a difficult time.
A key take-home message from this track is that we should accept the reality of things and seek help from the people we love.
16. “You Don’t Know” by Katelyn Tarver
Song Year: 2017
We all have that one friend that keeps telling us to stay motivated even when things seem gloomy. At some point, you may have heard them say, “Just be patient,” or “Everything will be okay.”
While they might have good intentions for us, Katelyn Tarver says in her song that sometimes it’s good to sink in sorrow.
She sings, urging the people around her to let her be. She thinks about giving up and doesn’t want anyone to help her. When taken from a positive perspective, one can learn an important lesson through the challenging experience.
17. “If I Die Young” by The Band Perry
Song Year: 2010
The Band Perry sings about the sharp knife of living a short life. The track’s title hints at what this song is about. Well, the song centers around dying young.
Kimberly Perry mentions her requests in this track in case she dies young. She sings, saying while her life might be shortlived, she’s happy she lived long.
The sad reality in this song is that Perry also talks about how people are always interested in one’s life after they die. No one cares about you when you’re alive; they only care when you’re gone.
18. “Mad World” by Gary Jules
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4N3N1MlvVc4
Song Year: 2001
Gary Jules delivers a powerful message in the track “Mad World” as he sings about the brutal reality of life. He has suicidal thoughts when he thinks about the life he’s forced to go through. People are always going in circles.
It’s the rat race we have often heard about. Gary even laments that it’s a mad world where we just exist without ever appreciating the value of life.
19. “You’re Only Human (Second Wind)” by Billy Joel
Song Year: 1985
This classic rock hit song will lift your spirits if you consider giving up. Billy Joel sends an encouraging message, saying everything will be alright.
He acknowledges that we live in a world of pain. Billy adds that we should welcome the curveballs this world throws at us. We’re human, and making mistakes is part of our nature. The point is that we should always remember that life is about navigating through hardships.
From this perspective, we can develop a positive outlook toward challenges.
20. “Save Me” by Nicki Minaj
Song Year: 2010
When relationships turn sour, everybody feels like giving up. Usually, one of the parties tries to save the other, but if things fail to work out, it’s easy to let go. This is the feeling Nicki Minaj sings about in the song “Save Me.”
She knows it’s her fault that the relationship didn’t turn out as expected, and she hopes her lover will save her again. Nicki Minaj also admits that while she might have achieved her career goals, it’s lonely at the top.
She has all the riches, but she’s not happy. The message is that money doesn’t bring us happiness, but love does.
21. “Cry” by Alexx Calise
Song Year: 2010
In her song “Cry,” Alexx Calise sings about the sad feeling experienced when one thinks about giving up. Sometimes life happens, and the only thing you can think about is to cry.
Challenges are part of life, but the truth is that the hardships can be unbearable.
Calise sings, saying she even forgot what it feels like to be okay. Most people can resonate with this feeling, mainly when bad events occur quickly.
22. “Giving Up” by Ingrid Michaelson
Song Year: 2008
Ingrid Michaelson sings about the “greener grasses” lovers often think about in a relationship. Most people expect the best to happen, even during difficult times.
Positivity is always about seeing the glass half full. But Ingrid Michaelson sings, saying she’s giving up on all these promises. She talks about giving up her expectations.
23. “Living Is a Problem Because Everything Dies” by Biffy Clyro
Song Year: 2007
Biffy Clyro sings about death and dying. According to the lyrics, he questions his time to die. When everyone around him dies, he wonders when his time will come. He adds that he doesn’t want to waste time because we don’t have time in this precious life.
There are many ways to interpret this song, as it can also mean the hope one has in love. Biffy Clyro sings, wishing the love of his life would not waste any time with him.
24. “Anyone” by Demi Lovato
Song Year: 2021
“Anyone” by Demi Lovato sounds like a lonely song about a girl feeling alone. She sings that she tried talking to the piano and the stars and even feels stupid listening to herself. She calls for help from anyone.
Demi Lovato asks whether anyone could talk to her. Despite seeking the world’s attention, she says she cried too many times because she didn’t get the attention she craved. This track is an important reminder that the world can sometimes be cruel.
25. “Best I Can” by Art of Dying
Song Year: 2011
The Art of Dying sings about doing their best to please the world around them. This band also reiterates the message of expecting a lot from the world around us, yet we end up disappointed. The band sings about not giving up on the people you care about.
They stress the importance of doing the best you can. So, irrespective of what you might be going through, keep trying.
26. “Take it Back” by Bug Hunter
Song Year: 2020
If you’ve done academic papers, you’ll be familiar with the intro of this song. Hunter talks about sending his resume to the creator in MLA format.
It’s interesting how he sends his message, expecting the creator to forgive him for his profanities and hoping he will make time for him. Hunter also mentions feeling lost and hopes there is still time to call things off.
27. “In the End” by Linkin Park
Song Year: 2000
Linkin Park released this fantastic track at the beginning of the new millennium, and it was the perfect way to continue with their career success at the time. The group sings about how time is valuable and how they feel wasted.
The track is about a man trying to keep things bottled up, but in the end, everything falls apart. It’s disappointing to feel your efforts weren’t appreciated, especially in a relationship.
28. “Rainy Days and Mondays” by Carpenters
Song Year: 1971
Interested in some soft music about giving up? Well, “Rainy Days and Mondays” is a great pick. The song is also about giving up on love.
The two sisters in this track sing about feeling like they don’t belong. The song is about falling in and out of love. They even mention feeling like a lonely clown.
It feels good to know someone loves you, but simultaneously, the duo stresses that there’s nothing to talk about when things go awry.
29. “Fade To Black” by Metallica
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEQnzs8wl6E
Song Year: 1984
“Fade to Black” is a heavy metal genre of music that also talks about how life seems to drift away daily.
The track centers around losing interest in life. It talks about things taking a different turn and not being as they used to be. The lyrics are pretty sad as they discuss welcoming death and saying goodbye to the world.
30. “I Don’t Care Anymore” by Phil Collins
Song Year: 1982
Have you ever felt you don’t care what people say about you? Well, that’s what Phil Collins sings about in this track.
He talks about growing comfortable with himself every other day. One can interpret that this track is about fake friends and fake relationships. The message is about people who talk bad things behind your back despite trying to be good to them.
31. “I’m Not Alright” by Shinedown
Song Year: 2012
The irony in this track is that Shinedown sings about feeling okay that he is not alright. He sings about the lonely life one goes through when they are depressed.
All you can do is to open the window and stare. Shinedown even questions his sanity, wondering whether he’s okay.
32. “That’s It – I Quit – I’m Moving On” by Sam Cooke
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5qK_KqI4FY
Song Year: 1962
Holding on is often an option most lovers consider. However, Sam Cooke sings, saying he’s tired and plans to move on. He laments that his lover no longer cares about him. What’s more, he feels like his lover has another man.
Sam still feels in love with her kisses, but he’s courageous enough to move on. Unfortunately, it’s never easy to say goodbye after sticking around for some time.
33. “I’m So Tired” by Fugazi
Song Year: 1999
Fugazi sang this emotional song like he was having a difficult personal time. He feels he has lost all the energy to fight.
The lyrics talk about escaping the struggle as he no longer has the energy. However, the track is very short, with only three stanzas.
34. “Let It Be” by The Beatles
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIV73iG_e5I
Song Year: 1970
Remember The Beatles? The band is considered one of the most influential bands of all time. They also sang about giving up. This track is about just letting go.
It stresses the importance of acceptance. When things are hard, just let it be. You should focus on changing what you can and letting go of what you can’t.
35. “How To Disappear Completely” by Radiohead
Song Year: 2000
Most people think about disappearing completely when life is crumbling down. There’s also that feeling that bad things shouldn’t happen to you. This is the same feeling Radiohead sings about in this short track.
36. “555” by Jimmy Eat World
Song Year: 2019
“555” talks about finding peace when things aren’t working out. Contrary to what you might expect from the band, this song is quite encouraging. It talks about holding on and striving to find peace along the way.
37. “Listen Before I Go” by Billie Elish
Song Year: 2019
This is a sad song that revolves around committing suicide. Billie Elish sings about the salty tears on her cheeks.
From such lyrics, one can tell that she’s clearly sad and depressed. The worst thing is that she talks about seeing her for the last time before she leaves this world.
38. “Loser” by 3 Doors Down
Song Year: 2002
“Loser” by 3 Doors Down is a lovely song to listen to when thinking of giving up on someone you love.
While this track doesn’t encourage you to hold on to what you love, it gives you hope in finding someone better along the way.
39. “I Won’t Give Up” by Jason Mraz
Song Year: 2012
If you care about the person you love and don’t want to give up on them, this track is for you. “I Won’t Give Up” is just as the title tells you; it talks about not giving up on your lover.
The track inspires lovers not to walk away from each other. It’s a great love song to remind your partner you care about them even during difficult times.
40. “Try Everything” by Shakira
Song Year: 2016
“Try Everything” by Shakira was recorded for the animation film, Zootopia (2016). The song is about messing up but waking up to the realization that you can try again.
Despite the mistakes you make, the song encourages you to give it another try. If you’re looking for inspiration not to give up, this upbeat song will lift your spirits.
41. “You Ruin Me” by The Veronicas
Song Year: 2014
Feeling like someone ruined your life? The Veronicas sings about giving up the fight to someone who wants to bring you down.
The song is more about love gone sour. The Veronicas sing about getting played and emerging the loser in the end.
42. “Big Girls Don’t Cry” by Fergie
Song Year: 2006
“Big Girls Don’t Cry” by Fergie is about growing up to realize that life must go on despite going through a breakup. She sings about becoming a big girl to stand up on her own.
Of course, it’s painful to let go, but it’s not worth crying over someone who doesn’t care about you. Fergie encourages listeners to find clarity before moving on in this hit song.
43. “Trainwreck” by James Arthur
Song Year: 2016
James Arthur sings about calling a savior to rescue him from what he is going through. He talks about finding hope in the hopeless, meaning he doesn’t want to give up even if the chances of surviving are slim.
44. “It’s Time to Go” by Taylor Swift
Song Year: 2021
Listening to how Taylor Swift sings about giving up from a positive perspective is interesting. She says that, at times, running is the bravest thing you can do.
While most people think that giving up is for the faint-hearted, the reality is that it’s the best option to take. Taylor Swift’s tracks can be associated with many aspects of life, including career, relationships, etc.
45. “Over It” by Katharine McPhee
Song Year: 2007
How can you get over your crush? In this track, Katharine McPhee sings about getting over someone she loves. She sings about getting over his lies and getting over all the expectations she had.
This song is a good reminder that you can always look past the emotions no matter how bad things appear.
Top Songs About Giving Up, Final Thoughts
Sometimes life happens when we least expect it to. However, listening to soothing songs about giving up can help you realize that everyone goes through a difficult time.
You’re not alone. The best you can do is stand up tall and expect the best to happen in the next chapter of your life.