Songs about toxic relationships are songs that tend to show and expose the vices of that relationship that drains you. These songs are intended to make you understand from a different point of view, what goes on in such relationships.
Many a time we find ourselves in relationships that rarely satisfy us nor bring us happiness. Why we choose to stick to such relationships are mostly mysteries however the more we hang on, the more we lose ourselves. These songs about toxic relationships are just a reminder of why we should leave such a situation.
Toxic relationships may be glaring while others may be subtle and leave one confused. Often, we mistake putting up with someone’s excesses in the name of love for being in a toxic relationship.
In clearer terms, a toxic relationship can be defined as a relationship that is characterized by behaviors of an individual that are emotionally and most often, physically detrimental to another individual. In most cases, toxic relationships are often related to lovers and romantic partners. Nonetheless, it is not restricted to just this group of people.
In order to further understand this article well, we’d be listing a few examples of toxic behaviors and ways people exhibit toxicity.
Types of Toxic Relationships
- Deprecating – Belittling
- Bad temper
- Guilt inducing
- Overreacting/Deflecting
- Over depending/Too clingy
- Independent and Control freak
- Manipulating/ Using
Now that those have been established, it’ll do us good to read up on them so we can focus on the main topic of the article.
READ ALSO:15 Songs About Not Being Good Enough For Moments Of Struggles And Insecurities
Songs About Toxic Relationships
As earlier stated, these songs would depict how one suffers due to the bad behavior of his/her partner. You’d also see the pain whatever type of toxicity subjected to causes the individual at the receiving end.
Most times, these people suffering don’t even understand what they’re passing through especially if the toxicity is psychological and mental. You see these people still holding on to the relationship probably because they believe they won’t find another person like their ‘master’.
Whenever you start to feel you’re dating an onion instead of a human being, it’s time to run for your life. When relationships drain the life and happiness out of you, that relationship is no good for your health. Imagine leaving such a relationship, that relief you feel afterward is unmatched!
Here are 20 songs about toxic relationships that you should listen to;
1. Eminem Ft Rihanna – Love The Way You Lie
Eminem and Rihanna portrayed beautifully, songs about toxic relationships with this track. The song is about lovers who can’t seem to get away from each other despite the chaos they cause whenever there’s an argument of some sort. The crazy in love couple ends up destroying everything and even themselves in the process of loving each other. This is probably one of the most revealing and exposing songs about toxic relationships.
Lyrics
I can’t tell you what it really is
I can only tell you what it feels like
And right now, there’s a steel knife in my windpipe
I can’t breathe but I still fight while I can fight
As long as the wrong feels right it’s like I’m in flight
High off of love, drunk from her hate
It’s like I’m huffing paint and I love her, the more I suffer
I suffocate and right before I’m about to drown
She resuscitates me, she fucking hates me
And I love it, wait…
2. Dua Lipa – Hotter Than Hell
This song is about being so immersed in toxicity, both partners begin to exhibit different forms of it. In this story, both the girl and her lover showcase dark and toxic sides and all in the name of love.
Lyrics
He calls me the devil
I make him wanna sin
Every time I knock, he can’t help but let me in
Must be homesick for the real
I’m the realest it gets
You probably still adore me
With my hands around your neck…
3. Rihanna – Love On The Brain
https://youtu.be/0RyInjfgNc4
Talk about a toxic relationship that seems like the best thing that has happened to you! In this song, the narration plays the story of how despite being abused, the victim feels she’s no good without the toxic partner.
This is the message Rihanna portrayed in this song with the lyrics like this;
Lyrics
And you got me like oh
What you want from me?
And I tried to buy your pretty hart but the price too high
Baby you got me like oooh, mm
You love when I fall apart
So you can put me together
And throw me against the wall…
4. Katy Perry – Hot N Cold
Katy describes a love that is ‘bipolar’ in this song. A love where the partner doesn’t know where she stands because her lover is on this minute and off the next. The song shows a toxic relationship decorated with confusion and a lack of direction.
Lyrics
You change your mind
Like a girl changes clothes
Yeah you PMS
Like a bitch
I would know
And you over think
Always speak
Cryptically…
5. Leona Lewis – Bleeding Love
Leona Lewis describes a crippling love that she keeps running back to. She turns a deaf ear to all that others say and sticks to the love that hurts her and makes her bleed. As long as she believes she believes she is bleeding love, I guess she feels fine. This is one old yet classical songs about toxic relationships.
Lyrics
Closed off from love, I don’t need the pain
Once or twice was enough and it was all in vain
Time starts to pass before you know it you’re frozen ooh
But something happened for the very first time with you
My heart melted to the ground found something true
And everyone’s looking ‘round thinking I’m going crazy…
6. Taylor Swift – I Knew You Were Trouble
The girl in this story sensed danger from the beginning but still chose to have a taste. She eventually does and despite enjoying highs and all what not of relationships, she is still treated exactly how she should have been when playing with danger.
Lyrics
‘Cause I knew you were trouble when you walked in
So shame on me now
Flew me to places I’d never been
Till you put me down oh…
7. Gnash – I Hate You, I Love You
This is probably not a toxic relationship because although the individuals in this story are in love, they’re not together. The story tells about a girl who loves a guy but lets him go into the arms of another because she couldn’t express herself to him. Now he’s gone but they both can’t forget the other despite being angry at each other.
Lyrics
Feeling used but I’m still missing you
And I can’t see the end of this
Just wanna feel your kiss against my lips
And now all this time is passing by
But I still can’t seem to tell you why
It hurts me every time I see you
Realize how much I need you…
8. Skillet – It’s Not Me, It’s You
Finally realizing after being manipulated all along, that you’re not the problem is bliss. In this song, there is the realization that the problems and blame you suffered for was actually not your fault. It’s sad that you did time for a crime you didn’t commit but luckily, you now know better.
Lyrics
You tried to make me think
That the blame was all on me
With the pain you put me through
And now I know that…
9. Rita Ora – Poison
Poisoned by the love she has for a certain someone, Rita Ora portrays a love relationship that is everything but healthy.
She tries everything she can to be filled up so she won’t have to back to the one person who can make her feel alive in death. She decides to pick her poison which is none other than her partner.
Lyrics
I could have beer for breakfast
My sanity for lunch
Trying to get over how bad I want you so much
Innocence for dinner
Pour something in my cup
Anything and everything just to fill me up
But nothing gets me high like this…
10. Sia – Hostage
This song is about how you keep wanting more and being left high and dry with no explanation nor excuses. Sia sings about how after being locked up for long, she finally tastes freedom only to be left alone and back in prison.
Lyrics
It begins with just one kiss
I’m held hostage by your love
Put me in cuffs, lock me up
I’m held hostage by your touch
This prison is rough but I can’t get enough
The secret life of us keeps me in handcuffs
Don’t lock me up, don’t you wanna free us
I’m held hostage by your love…
11. Ellie Goulding – Something In The Way You Move
In love with someone who’s no good for you but you can’t seem to let go? You most likely share whatever it is Ellie was going through when she wrote this song.
Have you been with a liar and one who causes so many pains and headaches and wanting to totally let go but find yourself still running back to said person? This song about toxic relationships is about you.
Lyrics
It’s the strangest feeling
Feeling this way for you
There’s something in the way you move
Something in the way you move
With you. I’m never healing
It’s heartache through and through
There’s something in the way you move
I don’t know what it is you do…
12. Bon Jovi – You Give Love A Bad Name
This song shows a young man’s sorrow after being promised heaven only to be shown hell in the relationship. After falling in love with one who seemed like she would bring nothing but beautiful things to the relationship, she turns around to ruin the idea of love.
Lyrics
An angel’s smile is what you sell
You promise me Heaven, then put me through hell
Chains of love got a hold on me
When passion’s a prison, you can’t break free…
13. Lady Gaga – Bad Romance
I doubt anything could scream toxic as high as this song can. Lady Gaga in this song wants everything terrible and destructive as long as it comes in the guise of love.
The lyrics to the song is self-explanatory and people who want this type of love are those known suckers for pain and heartaches.
Lyrics
I want your love, I want your revenge
You and me could write a bad romance
I want your love and all your lover’s revenge
You and me could write a bad romance…
14. Miley Cyrus – Wrecking Ball
Miley Cyrus cries out in this song as she got into a relationship with nothing but love and beautiful intentions but this wasn’t the case for her partner. The said partner is all out to cause havoc and wreck her and neither Miley nor the rest of us understand why someone could be so toxic.
Lyrics
I came in like a wrecking ball
I never hit so hard in love
All I wanted was to break your walls
All you ever did was wreck me
Yeah you, you wreck me…
15. Selena Gomez – The Heart Wants What It Wants
We know this much, right? The heart always seems to tilt towards that one person who has shown it even the slightest and vaguest form of love. However, is it always the best thing for the heart? No, right? But the heart wants what it wants and it would keep longing for that which it wants.
Lyrics
The bed’s getting cold and you’re not here
The future that we hold is so unclear
But I’m not alive until you call
And I’ll bet the odds against it all
Save your advice ‘cause I won’t hear
You might be right but I don’t care
There’s a million reasons why I should give up
But the heart want’s what it wants
The heart want’s what it wants…
16. Destiny’s Child – Girl
This song is from a personal experience with someone who has been through a toxic relationship. The song is about a woman who keeps making excuses for her cheating boyfriend. The boyfriend not only cheats but also treats said woman terribly but she somehow manages to put up fights for his bad behavior.
Lyrics
Take a minute girl, come sit down and tell us what’s been happening
In your face I can see the pain, don’t you try to convince us that you’re happy
We’ve seen this all before, but he’s taking advantage of the passion
Because we’ve come too far for you to feel alone…
17. Beyonce – Jealous
Distrust and jealousy are one of the most leading factors of a bad relationship. Add a few temper issues and you have toxicity. In this song, there is a case of mistrust that ruins the relationship.
Lyrics
I’m in my penthouse half naked
I cooked this meal for you naked
So where the hell you at
Just one shot left off this drink in this glass
Don’t make me break it
I wish that you were me
So you could feel this feeling
I never broke one promise and I know when you’re not being honest
Now you got me yelling that’s because I’m jealous…
18. Lauryn Hill – Ex Factor
Sometimes, knowing when to leave a relationship is not so easy, however, holding on for too long is more difficult. I know you may be holding on wishing things would go back to how they were in the beginning but it isn’t always the case as depicted in this song.
When your partner is gone, most of the time, there is no coming back and the sooner we realize this, the better.
Lyrics
It could be so simple
But you make it hard
Loving you is like a battle
And we both end up with scars…
19. Lil Wayne Ft Wiz Khalifa, Imagine Dragons, And Others – Sucker For Pain
The toxic relationship depicted in this song shows begging, the need to constrain the other partner, and a supposed love which is a mixture of fire, torture, and war. In this song, the guy portrays his version of love in a very unhealthy way and is reason enough for anyone to run away from. On rating songs about toxic relationships, this one ranks high.
Lyrics
I torture you
Take my hand through the flams
I torture you
I’m a slave to your games
I’m just a sucker for pain
I wanna chain you up
I wanna tie you down
I’m just a sucker for pain…
20. Halestorm – I Miss The Misery
In this particular song about toxic relationships, the woman weirdly misses the one time toxic lover she had. Imagine having a toxic partner change for good but you still miss his/her toxicity.
This song proves that there are those who actually know what they’re in but still choose to remain because they love it there. Imagine loving the lies, hurts, fights, hate, and screams you have in something that is supposed to be beautiful and stress-free.
Lyrics
Oh I miss the misery
I’ve been a mess since you stayed
I’ve been a wreck since you changed
Don’t let me get in your way
I miss the lies and the pain
The fights that keep us awake
I’m telling you…
