Songs about hurt or betrayal by a friend can be some of the most emotionally impactful and meaningful songs we hear. From betrayal to unrequited love, these songs capture the pain of a friendship gone wrong. From the heartbreaking lyrics of ” Let Her Go” by Passenger to the soulful rhythms of Tom Waits – “Blue Valentine”.
This playlist features a selection of popular songs from different genres, all of which explore the emotion of being hurt by a friend. Listen to these powerful tracks and let the music transport you to a place of healing and understanding.
Top Songs About Being Hurt By a Friend
1. James Taylor’s “Fire and Rain”
First on our list of songs about being hurt by a friend is this heartbreaking song of saying goodbye to a close friend. The lyrics depict a young man who is mourning the loss of a close friend and is having a hard time accepting it.
The protagonist is going through an emotional roller coaster, so the song is set against the backdrop of a forest fire that is raging out of control.
The lyrics are replete with depictions of heartbreak and desolation, but there is also a sense of optimism and recovery to be found in them.
At the conclusion of the song, the main character realizes that his friend has passed away, but he himself is still here. Everyone who has ever been through the anguish of losing a loved one can relate to the feelings expressed in the song “Fire and Rain,” which is an emotionally powerful piece of music.
2. Butterfly – Weezer Butterfly
Next on our list of songs about being hurt by a friend is “Butterfly”. This song is about being hurt by a friend, and it draws on frontman Rivers Cuomo’s experience of being betrayed by someone close to him.
The song is based on a straightforward acoustic guitar melody, and Cuomo’s signature whining vocals take up the majority of the track’s playing time.
Cuomo is lamenting the loss of a person who was once a significant part of his life in the song’s lyrics, which are straightforward and get right to the point.
3. Neil Young Running Dry Song (Requiem for the Rockets)
The song’s lyrics tell the story of a man who has been betrayed by a close friend and is having a difficult time coming to terms with what has happened.
The man is hurt and confused, but the lyrics also convey the hope that he has for making things right with his friend. The man’s feelings are expressed in the song through the lyrics.
A powerful song about the anguish of being betrayed, “Running Dry” is sure to strike a chord with anyone who has gone through something comparable to what is described in the song.
4. George Michael’s “Careless Whisper”
The song was issued as a single and reached the highest position possible on the Singles Chart in the UK. After that, Michael included it on his first solo album, which was called Faith.
The backing track of the song is influenced by gospel music, and Steve Gregory plays a saxophone solo in the song. The lyrics talk about the feelings of regret and shame that a man has after having an affair with another woman.
5. River – Joni Mitchell
Joni Mitchell wrote the song “River” about a relationship that ended unexpectedly and left her feeling hurt and betrayed. This song is a reflection on the pain that she is feeling and the ways that she is attempting to deal with it.
The lyrics say that she “hates [the river]” because it makes her think of the good times she used to have with her friend who she has since broken up with.
The river serves as a metaphor for the once-warm friendship between them, which has since given way to anguish and resentment.
The lyrics of the song contemplate the emotion of betrayal as well as the way in which a person who was once so close can now feel so distant.
It is a heartbreaking and emotionally charged song that conveys the anguish of having your feelings betrayed by someone you believed you could trust.
6. Taylor Swift & The National – Coney Island
Taylor Swift and The National collaborated on the song “Coney Island,” which was released in 2014. The lyrics of the song are about a close friend who has let you down.
The lyrics describe feeling betrayed and abandoned after a breakup with a close friend. This song is a reflection on happy memories from the past and how those memories have been tarnished by the anguish of betrayal.
“Coney Island” is a reflective and melancholy song that delves into the anguish that comes from having someone you trusted break your trust.
7. Let Her Go – Passenger
This song is about the pain that comes along with the end of a relationship and how it affects the singer.
The lyrics express how much the person cares about their friend and wants them to be happy, even if it means that the friend will no longer have a place in that person’s life.
The lyrics of the song serve as a gentle reminder that there are times when it is best to let someone go, even if it causes pain, so that they can find happiness for themselves.
When it was first released, Let Her Go was a huge hit, and it quickly rose to the top of the charts in several countries.
8. Mumford And Sons Song
“Little Lion Man”
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7bHe–mp1g
This song tells the story of someone who has been betrayed by a friend.
The narrator begins the song by describing how he trusted someone who he thought was his friend but who ended up betraying him.
This sets the stage for the rest of the song. He talks about how this person “took” him “to the edge of a cliff” and how he is now “scarred” and “full of regret” as a result of what happened.
The narrator then continues to describe how he is currently trying to move on from this experience, but how it continues to haunt him throughout the remainder of the song.
9. Gotye and Kimbra “Somebody That I Used to Know.”
![Gotye - Somebody That I Used To Know (feat. Kimbra) [Official Music Video]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/8UVNT4wvIGY/0.jpg)
The lyrics of the song are reflective of a previous relationship and how it eventually ended. The singer begins by thinking back on all of the joyful times they spent together.
As the song continues, it becomes more and more obvious that the couple’s relationship did not end well.
The singer feels that they have been betrayed and hurt by this person, and they express their regret at ever getting involved with this person.
In the end, somebody that I used to know is a potent song that conveys the anguish of having a friend betray you in some way.
10. Tom Waits Song – Blue Valentines
The anguish of having a friend hurt you is the subject of this song.
The lyrics tell the story of a man who is struggling to move on from a past love affair with a particular woman. He thinks back on all of the joyful times they spent together, but he can’t help but feel angry and betrayed by her betrayal because of how she treated him.
This song is a meditation on the cruel truth that the people we care about the most can sometimes be the ones to hurt us the most.
Despite the fact that it deals with a depressing topic, the song is really quite lovely. The lyrics take on an air of openness and sensitivity thanks to Waits’s signature raspy delivery.
11. Guilt by Marianne Faithfull.
The song “Guilt” by Marianne Faithfull is about having a friend hurt you in some way. The lyrics discuss the emotion of betrayal and how it can result in a sense of guilt for the betrayed party.
The question of whether or not it is possible to forgive someone who has wronged you is another topic that is discussed in this song.
The lyrics provide the answer, which is that forgiveness is possible, despite the fact that it is not always an easy process. This is a song that will speak to the heart of anyone who has ever felt abandoned or abandoned by a friend.
The lyrics are easy to relate to, and they offer solace to people who are having difficulty forgiving others.
Guilt delivers a profoundly encouraging message by being forthright in its depiction of the struggles inherent in the act of forgiving others.
12. Eminem’s “Guilty Conscience”
The American rapper Eminem is featured on the song “Guilty Conscience,” which also features the American rapper Dr. Dre.
Eminem’s debut album with a major label was titled The Slim Shady LP, and this track served as the album’s lead single release (1999).
In the dramatic narrative of “Guilty Conscience,” Dr. Dre plays the role of an angel on one shoulder, and Eminem plays the role of the devil on the other shoulder, as they try to persuade a man not to cheat on his wife.
13. New Order’s “Guilty Partner”
The song “Guilty Partner” by New Order is about getting your feelings hurt by a close friend.
The lyrics convey the sense of betrayal and heartbreak that comes from having someone you trusted break your trust in a way that you cannot forgive.
The song contemplates the anguish of being betrayed and the way in which this can make a person feel cut off and alone in the world.
The song “Guilty Partner” is very moving because it discusses the pain and isolation that can result from betrayal in a relationship.
This song will have a strong emotional resonance for anyone who has ever been let down by a friend. The band New Order has created a song that is both beautiful and moving, focusing on the anguish caused by betrayal and the fortitude required to move on from such an experience.
14. Pet Shop Boys Song
“It’s A Sin”
![Pet Shop Boys - It's A Sin (Official Video) [HD REMASTERED]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/dRHetRTOD1Q/0.jpg)
This song is about a young man’s struggle to accept his homosexuality and the sense of betrayal he feels when his friends turn their backs on him as a result of his sexual orientation.
The music is catchy and easy to dance to, and the lyrics are straightforward and get right to the point. It’s A Sin is widely regarded as one of the most well-liked songs that the Pet Shop Boys have ever released, and it has been covered by a wide variety of artists over the years.
It is a celebration of love in all its guises and continues to serve as an anthem for those who have felt betrayed or rejected in a manner comparable to what is described in the song.
15. I Threw It All Away by Bob Dylan
The single version of the song was issued in January of 1969, and it ultimately reached a high position of #97 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
I Threw It All Away is a ballad that tells the story of a man who has been betrayed by a friend. The protagonist of the song is an individual who has lost everything.
The lyrics convey the sense of betrayal and hurt that the protagonist experiences, as well as his determination to stop trusting other people altogether.
I Threw It All Away is one of the songs that Bob Dylan is most famous for, and it has been covered by a wide variety of artists, such as Eric Clapton and Joan Baez.
16. JAY-Z – Song Cry
The heartbreaking ballad “Song Cry” by Jay-Z is about the agony of being betrayed by a close friend. “Song Cry” was written by Jay-Z.
In 2001, when Jay-Z was still reeling from the breakup of his friendship with fellow rapper Nas. Jay-Z was going through a period in his life when he felt betrayed and lost, and the song “Song Cry” perfectly captures those feelings.
Jay-raw Z’s emotions are palpable in every line of the song. The track starts off with a slow, eerie piano melody that serves as a foundation for the remainder of the song.
As Jay-Z opens up about the pain and rage he feels towards his former friend, he bares his soul in his lyrics, making him both honest and vulnerable at the same time.
17. Ben Harper’s “Walk Away”
Despite the pain he’s been through, Ben Harper’s “Walk Away” is a faithful friend. In the song, Harper sings about the difficulty that can come from having to part ways with friends and how sometimes this is unavoidable.
In spite of the fact that he was deceived, he continues to have faith in the transformative potential of platonic relationships.
The song’s lyrics are full of hope and understanding, two qualities that are essential to any relationship that is meant to last.
This song is about having the awareness to recognize when a friend is no longer beneficial to your life and moving on from it. It serves as a timely reminder that even though it’s painful, there are times when parting ways with a friend is ultimately beneficial.
Walk Away is destined to become an instant classic thanks to Harper’s smooth voice and laid-back guitar style. This is a song that will definitely strike a chord with anyone who has ever been let down by a friend.
18. Morrissey’s song, “I’ve Changed My Plea To Guilty,”
This song is about being hurt by a friend, the lyrics recount the experience of a person who has had their trust broken by a person they had previously believed they could rely on.
The person singing the song expresses the anguish and sense of betrayal that they are experiencing, as well as their struggle to come to terms with what has taken place in their life.
Although it is a sad song, there is also a glimmer of hope in it because the person singing it is coming to terms with the fact that they have to move on from the hurt and betrayal they have experienced.
The lyrics of the song serve as a gentle reminder that despite the fact that those we care about may cause us pain, we should never give up on ourselves or the pursuit of happiness.
19. Bob Marley
Guiltiness
Songs about being hurt by a friend can be difficult to listen to, but they can also offer solace and understanding. This song “Guiltiness” was written by Bob Marley and first appeared on his album “Catch a Fire” in 1971.
This song is about the experience of having a friend betray you and the feelings of guilt and betrayal that come along with it.
Marley’s lyrics convey the anguish of being betrayed and the challenge of being able to forgive, drawing on his own life experiences to create a narrative that is both relatable and universal.
Marley’s emotive vocals are perfectly complemented by the song’s straightforward but effective melody, which makes it one of his most enduring and significant compositions.
Guiltiness is a classic song that has stood the test of time and continues to resonant with audiences today.
20. Was I Right Or Wrong – Lynyrd Skynyrd
Last on our list of songs about being hurt by a friend is Lynyrd song “Was I Right or Wrong”, this song is about the anguish that comes from being betrayed by a friend.
The speaker of the song begins by questioning whether he made the correct decision to place his trust in his friend, and then goes on to describe how his friend ultimately betrayed him.
He thinks back on all of the fun times they had together and how he never once had the slightest suspicion that his friend would do him wrong.
As a result of the betrayal, he now feels disoriented and isolated, and he questions whether or not he will ever be able to trust another person again.
Betrayal can leave a person feeling hurt and confused, and this song is a potent expression of those feelings. A further lesson to be learned is that even the people in whom we place the utmost trust can, on occasion, betray our confidence.
