34 Songs About Loneliness, from Eleanor Rigby to Dancing On My Own

What is the most famous song about loneliness?

"Eleanor Rigby" by The Beatles is the most famous song about loneliness, a portrait of people who live and die without anyone noticing. "Only the Lonely" by Roy Orbison and "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" by Hank Williams are the great classics, and "Dancing On My Own" by Robyn is the modern anthem of feeling alone in a crowd.

Classic songs about loneliness

1. "Solitude", Duke Ellington: a 1934 jazz standard about being alone.
2. "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry", Hank Williams: one of the saddest country songs ever written.
3. "Heartbreak Hotel", Elvis Presley: his first number one, about a hotel for the brokenhearted.
4. "Lonesome Town", Ricky Nelson: a gentle 1958 ballad.
5. "Lonely Teardrops", Jackie Wilson: an upbeat song about a lonely heart.
6. "Lonely Boy", Paul Anka: a teen idol's 1959 number one.
7. "Only the Lonely", Roy Orbison: the soaring ballad that made him a star.
8. "Are You Lonesome Tonight?", Elvis Presley: a tender question to a lost love.
9. "In My Room", The Beach Boys: a bedroom as a safe place from the world.
10. "Mr. Lonely", Bobby Vinton: a soldier far from home.

60s and 70s songs about being alone

11. "The Sound of Silence", Simon and Garfunkel: about a world where people talk without connecting.
12. "Eleanor Rigby", The Beatles: a string-quartet portrait of lonely lives.
13. "One", Three Dog Night: a Harry Nilsson song inspired by a busy signal.
14. "Lonely Days", Bee Gees: a 1970 hit about life without love.
15. "Ain't No Sunshine", Bill Withers: how empty everything feels when someone is gone.
16. "Alone Again (Naturally)", Gilbert O'Sullivan: a bittersweet 1972 number one.
17. "Lonely People", America: a hopeful song encouraging lonely people not to give up.
18. "All by Myself", Eric Carmen: a ballad built on a Rachmaninoff melody.

Rock and pop songs about loneliness

19. "Lonely Is the Night", Billy Squier: an arena rock classic.
20. "Mad World", Tears for Fears: a dark synth-pop song, later reimagined by Gary Jules.
21. "Alone", Heart: a powerful ballad of longing.
22. "Everybody Hurts", R.E.M.: a reassurance that no one is alone in feeling low.
23. "All by Myself", Celine Dion: a dramatic 1996 cover.
24. "Boulevard of Broken Dreams", Green Day: walking alone through an empty city.
25. "Lonely", Akon: a 2005 hit built on a sped-up Bobby Vinton sample.

Modern songs about loneliness

26. "Dancing On My Own", Robyn: feeling invisible on a crowded dance floor.
27. "Lonely Together", Avicii featuring Rita Ora: two lonely people finding each other.
28. "Lonely", Justin Bieber and benny blanco: the isolation that can come with fame.
29. "Someone You Loved", Lewis Capaldi: the loneliness after a relationship ends.
30. "Liability", Lorde: a quiet song about feeling like too much for other people.

Comforting songs for lonely days

31. "You've Got a Friend", James Taylor: a promise to be there.
32. "Lean on Me", Bill Withers: the classic song about leaning on each other.
33. "Bridge over Troubled Water", Simon and Garfunkel: comfort in hard times.
34. "Count on Me", Bruno Mars: a simple, warm song about friendship.

Why do we listen to lonely songs when we are lonely?

It might seem strange to play sad songs when you already feel low, but many people find comfort in them. A song about loneliness says that someone else has felt exactly this way and turned it into something beautiful. Researchers who study music and emotion have found that sad music can bring a sense of comfort and connection rather than making people feel worse, especially when it feels like it understands them.

Loneliness or solitude?

Being alone and being lonely are not the same thing. Solitude can be peaceful and restoring, a time to think, create or rest, which is the mood of songs like "In My Room" and "Solitude". Loneliness is the painful feeling of being disconnected, even when other people are around, which is what "Eleanor Rigby" and "Dancing On My Own" capture. Many people need a little solitude and a lot of connection.

The story behind Eleanor Rigby

Paul McCartney wrote "Eleanor Rigby" for the 1966 album Revolver, and George Martin arranged it for a string octet with no Beatles playing instruments. The name was famously spotted years later on a gravestone in the Liverpool churchyard where John and Paul first met, a coincidence McCartney has said he may have absorbed without realizing. The song remains one of the most moving pictures of loneliness in pop music.

The story behind One

Harry Nilsson wrote "One" after calling someone and getting a busy signal, letting the repeating tone become the opening notes of the song. Three Dog Night's 1969 version became their first big hit, and its opening line is now one of the best-known in pop.

Songs about loneliness after a breakup

The first weeks after a breakup can be the loneliest of all. "Someone You Loved", "Ain't No Sunshine" and "All by Myself" give the feeling a voice, and "Dancing On My Own" turns it into something you can move to. For more, see our sad songs and songs for a broken heart.

Songs for feeling lonely in a new place

Moving to a new city, starting college or working far from home can be lonely even when everything is going well. "Mr. Lonely", "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" and "Lonely People" capture that feeling, and "Count on Me" is a good one to send a friend who has just moved away.

Ways to feel less lonely

• Reach out first: a short message to an old friend often starts a real conversation.
• Join something regular: a class, choir, sports team or volunteer group builds connection over time.
• Talk to neighbors and coworkers: small, friendly moments add up.
• Share music: send a song that reminds you of someone and tell them why.
• Ask for help: a doctor or counselor can help if loneliness feels heavy or lasts a long time.

If you are struggling

If loneliness has turned into hopelessness or thoughts of harming yourself, you do not have to face it alone. In the United States, you can call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, free and confidential, 24 hours a day. Outside the US, local emergency services and helplines can connect you with support. For more music and resources, see our songs about depression and mental health.

A song to tell someone they are not alone

A personalized song can reach someone who is feeling isolated: their name, the people who care about them and the memories you share, in a gentle acoustic or pop style. It is a way to say "I am thinking of you" that they can play again whenever they need it. For friendship songs, see our songs about best friends.

How to create a personalized song

1. Choose a style from 14 genres: acoustic, pop, folk and more.
2. Add their name.
3. Share three memories or things you want them to know.
4. Review the lyrics and edit or regenerate them for free before any music is made.
5. Listen to 4 free 45-second previews and choose your favorite.

The full 3 to 4 minute song costs $35.99, or $40.99 for Premium with four full versions and editable lyrics. You get the MP3, a gift page and the lyrics as a PDF.

Remind them they are not alone: create a song and hear four previews for free.