Songs about guilt and regret. We have selected the best ones for you and put them in one big playlist especially for you with all the corresponding music videos! In addition, we have figured out how these songs performed in the charts.
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About Guilt & Regret Songs
If you are feeling down and need some music to relate to, you will love our playlist of songs about guilt and regret. These songs capture the emotions of remorse, sorrow, and longing that we all experience sometimes.
Whether you are missing someone, wishing you could change the past, or apologizing for your mistakes, these songs will touch your heart and make you feel less alone.
Some of the songs on our playlist are classics that have stood the test of time, such as “Please Forgive Me” by Bryan Adams, and “If I Could Turn Back Time” by Cher.
Others are more recent hits that have resonated with millions of listeners, such as “Back to December” by Taylor Swift, “Supermarket Flowers” by Ed Sheeran, and “Apologize” by Timbaland Ft. OneRepublic.
We have also included some lesser-known gems that deserve more attention, such as “Sorry” by Ciara, “I Miss You” by Blink-182, and “Regret” by LeToya featuring Ludacris.
Featured Guilt & Regret Songs
Not only will you enjoy listening to these songs, but you will also learn interesting facts about them. We have investigated a number of songs how they did on the charts, what inspired them, and what critics and fans said about them.
You’ll be surprised by the stories behind these songs and how they reflect the personal lives of the artists who wrote them.
“The One That Got Away” by Katy Perry
A good song about regret is “The One That Got Away” by Katy Perry. The song is about a young couple who had a passionate romance but broke up due to their different dreams.
Years later, the narrator still misses her ex-lover and wonders what could have been if they had stayed together. The song is a pop ballad with a catchy chorus and emotional lyrics.
Perry released the song as the sixth single from her album Teenage Dream.
The song received positive reviews from critics and was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Pop Solo Performance.
It also performed well in the music charts, reaching the top ten in several countries, including the US, Canada, Australia, and the UK.
“Whatcha Say” by Jason Derulo
Another nice song about regret is “Whatcha Say” by Jason Derulo. The song is about a man who cheated on his girlfriend and tries to apologize, but she doesn’t believe him. He wishes he could take back his words and actions, but it’s too late.
Derulo uses a sample from Imogen Heap’s “Hide and Seek“, which adds a layer of emotion and irony to the lyrics. Reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100, we can say it was a huge hit. Derulo additionally managed to sell a whopping 5 million copies worldwide!
“Happier” by Ed Sheeran
Of course, when it comes to emotional songs, Ed Sheeran is not to be missed. This time with his beautiful song Happier. The song is about a man who sees his ex-girlfriend with another guy and realizes that she is happier without him.
Happier was one of the huge hits from his third studio album, ÷ (divide), alongside the likes of “Shape of You” and “Perfect. The song performed very well in both UK and US charts, reaching number 6 and 28 respectively.
Sheeran released the song in 2017 as part of his third studio album ÷ (divide). This album also included Shape of You and Perfect, among others. The song performed very well in both UK and US charts, reaching number 6 and 28 respectively.
List of Guilt & Regret Songs
| # | Title - Artist |
|---|---|
| 1 | Back To December - Taylor Swift |
| 2 | The One That Got Away - Katy Perry |
| 3 | Apologize - Timbaland & OneRepublic |
| 4 | Supermarket Flowers - Ed Sheeran |
| 5 | All Apologies - Nirvana |
| 6 | Please Remember Me - Tim McGraw |
| 7 | Don't Let Me Get Me - Radio Edit - P!nk |
| 8 | Waves - Dean Lewis |
| 9 | Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word - Blue & Elton John |
| 10 | Please Forgive Me - Bryan Adams |
| 11 | Missing - Everything But The Girl |
| 12 | Nothing Compares 2 U - Sinéad O'Connor |
| 13 | If I Could Turn Back Time - Cher |
| 14 | How Could You Leave Us - NF |
| 15 | So Sorry - Feist |
| 16 | Somebody That I Used to Know - Gotye & Kimbra |
| 17 | Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now) - Phil Collins |
| 18 | When I Was Your Man - Bruno Mars |
| 19 | Sorry For The Stupid Things - Main - Babyface |
| 20 | Stay With Me - Sam Smith |
| 21 | Regret - LeToya ft. Ludacris |
| 22 | I Could Have Lied - Red Hot Chili Peppers |
| 23 | Alive - Pearl Jam |
| 24 | Hello - Adele |
| 25 | Never Be Like You - Flume |
| 26 | Whatcha Say - Jason Derulo |
| 27 | Perfect - Simple Plan |
| 28 | Shape of My Heart - Backstreet Boys |
| 29 | Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen |
| 30 | One Last Time - Ariana Grande |
| 31 | Headlights - Eminem ft. Nate Ruess |
| 32 | Before You Go - Lewis Capaldi |
| 33 | Empty - Juice WRLD |
| 34 | I Miss You - blink-182 |
| 35 | Suicidal Thoughts - The Notorious B.I.G. |
| 36 | Damn Your Eyes - Etta James |
| 37 | Bleeding Me - Metallica |
| 38 | when the party's over - Billie Eilish |
| 39 | When I'm Gone - Eminem |
| 40 | Sorry - Madonna |
| 41 | I Wish You Would - Taylor Swift |
| 42 | Love Of My Life - Harry Styles |
| 43 | Happier - Ed Sheeran |
| 44 | When I Look At You - Miley Cyrus |
| 45 | After Hours - The Weeknd |
| 46 | How to Save a Life - The Fray |
| 47 | Sorry - Justin Bieber |
| 48 | Guilty - MARINA |
| 49 | Sorry - Ciara |
| 50 | Someone You Loved - Lewis Capaldi |
Spotify Playlist About Guilt
Music Videos About Guilt & Regret
Top 10 Guilt & Regret Songs
- Back To December – Taylor Swift
- The One That Got Away – Katy Perry
- Apologize – Timbaland & OneRepublic
- Supermarket Flowers – Ed Sheeran
- All Apologies – Nirvana
- Please Remember Me – Tim McGraw
- Don’t Let Me Get Me – Radio Edit – P!nk
- Waves – Dean Lewis
- Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word – Blue & Elton John
- Please Forgive Me – Bryan Adams
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, guilt and regret are common themes in many songs. Especially in genres such as pop, rock, country, and blues.
These songs often express the feelings of remorse, sadness, shame, or self-blame that the singers or characters have for their actions or inactions.
Furthermore, these songs can be purging, relatable, emotional, or inspiring to listeners who have experienced similar situations or emotions in their lives.
We hope you enjoyed this article. If so, be sure to check out our other posts!
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