What are some love songs that won't make me cry?

May 13, 2009 8:22 PM

I want to find more songs about happy people in satisfying long-term relationships.

A few years ago, I made a mix CD of love songs as an anniversary gift for my husband. We still listen to it in the car once in a while, but it strikes me just how many of the songs are depressing, once you stop to listen to the lyrics. Too many of the songs, while quite romantic in a way, involve cheating, relationships ultimately ending, or the death of one or both partners. I'd like to make "volume 2", but I'm having a really hard time coming up with songs that are unambiguously happy.

So, what are some cheerful songs about love--specifically, in long term relationships--that don't involve cheatin' or dyin'? I'm primarily looking for upbeat rock music with a good tempo for driving, since mix CDs always live in our car; however, we're also big fans of folk music, so suggestions in that genre would be great. A couple of songs that fit what I'm looking for are "Looking Back on Today" by The Ataris, and "Normal Life" by July For Kings.

posted by tomatofruit to media & arts (65 answers total)

Tex Perkins, Real Love.
posted by Fiasco da Gama at 8:26 PM on May 13, 2009 [1 favorite]

Ob la di Ob la da by the Beatles
51st Anniversary by Jimi Hendrix, well the first couple verses anyway.
I got you babe by Sonny and Cher?
posted by Jawn at 8:32 PM on May 13, 2009

John Lennon wrote quite a few songs about how happy he was with Yoko... including, "Oh Yoko" and "Just Like Starting Over"
posted by wabbittwax at 8:33 PM on May 13, 2009 [2 favorites]

I Know You Well by Fountains of Wayne
Still The One by Orleans
posted by Sweetie Darling at 8:33 PM on May 13, 2009

Oddly enough, a song that your question immediately made me think of is about a relationship that isn't very old.

Jim Croce's A Long Time Ago
posted by slavlin at 8:36 PM on May 13, 2009 [1 favorite]

Willie Nelson's "Hands on the Wheel".
posted by mr_roboto at 8:38 PM on May 13, 2009 [1 favorite]

Chris Knox, Not Given Lightly?
posted by Coatlicue at 8:39 PM on May 13, 2009 [1 favorite]

The Features: The Idea of Growing Old
posted by ryanshepard at 8:44 PM on May 13, 2009 [1 favorite]

Talking Heads, "This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody)"
posted by Daily Alice at 8:45 PM on May 13, 2009 [1 favorite]

The first thing that occurred to me was Teenage Fanclub's Songs from Northern Britain (Last.FM / Amazon).

Several tracks are about enduring love (example) and although the music on this album is more Byrds-folky than their rockiest moments , it's still pretty up-tempo. It's also absobloodylutely fantastic.
posted by Busy Old Fool at 8:48 PM on May 13, 2009 [1 favorite]

I've always liked "Tea for Two" especially the Ella Fitzgerald and Basie recording that I can't find online. Here's the Lyrics at least.
While I'm on the Ella Fitzgerald kick, Cole Porter's "Love you Madly", weirdly covered by Aretha Franklin herein, with the Duke himself has a similar longevity-based vibe.

Slightly more contemporary, I would suggest Moby Octopad by Yo La Tengo.
posted by Cold Lurkey at 8:52 PM on May 13, 2009 [1 favorite]

You and Me Song, the Wannadies.
posted by lottie at 9:03 PM on May 13, 2009

Also, Big Star: I'm in Love With a Girl.
posted by ryanshepard at 9:06 PM on May 13, 2009 [2 favorites]

I'm a fan of "You're My Best Friend" by Queen. It unfailingly makes me smile when I hear it and think of my guy. Also, according to Wikipedia at least, the bassist wrote it for his wife, to whom he's been married since 1975. Kind of adorable.
posted by DulcineaX at 9:09 PM on May 13, 2009 [1 favorite]

When I'm 64 by the Beatles, of course!
posted by Sublimity at 9:12 PM on May 13, 2009 [1 favorite]

"Happy Together," the Turtles. On preview: the Chris Knox is actually the best answer.
posted by escabeche at 9:13 PM on May 13, 2009 [1 favorite]

Great question--can't wait to see more responses.

"Harvest Moon," by Neil Young, is a great song about enduring, mature love.
posted by chicainthecity at 9:15 PM on May 13, 2009

When I'm 64, by the Beatles.
Hey Julie, by the Fountains of Wayne.
I'm Always in Love, by Wilco.
posted by martinX's bellbottoms at 9:15 PM on May 13, 2009 [2 favorites]

good for driving:
Loose by Therapy? off the Infernal Love album. Much happier than that sounds.
All the small things - Blink 182
Super Trouper - Abba (?!)
not the genres you mentioned:
Lovely Day, Just the two of us, Lean on me - Bill Withers
Olympian by Gene
Ten Storey Love Song - Stone Roses
posted by runincircles at 9:17 PM on May 13, 2009 [1 favorite]

Big Star, "My Life is Right" and "When My Baby's Beside Me"
David Bowie, "Let Me Sleep Beside You"
Billy Bragg, "The Milkman of Human Kindness"
Crowded House, "It's Only Natural"
The Divine Comedy, "Tonight We Fly" (grandly romantic and exhilarating)
Ricky Fante, "Smile"
The Finn Brothers, "Luckiest Man Alive"
Tim Finn, "Couldn't Be Done"
George Harrison, "What Is Life" (GREAT driving song!)
The Jam, "English Rose"
Lightning Seeds, "Pure"
Madness, "It Must Be Love"
The Mavericks, "All That Heaven Will Allow"
Old 97's, "King of All of the World"
The Style Council, "Speak Like a Child" and "Solid Bond in Your Heart"
Matthew Sweet, "I've Been Waiting"
Pete Townsend, "Let My Love Open the Door"
Paul Weller, "All I Wanna Do (Is Be with You)" and "It's Written in the Stars"
Jackie Wilson, "Nothing But Blue Skies"
XTC, "I'd Like That"
posted by scody at 9:22 PM on May 13, 2009 [2 favorites]

Anniversary Song - Cowboy Junkies

And I don't know how I survived those days
before I held your hand
Well I never thought that I would be the one
to admit that the moon and the sun
shine so much more brighter when
seen through two pairs of eyes than
when seen through just one

Or, short and sweet:

Johnsville, Illinois - Tom Waits

She's my only true love
She's all that I think of
Look here: in my wallet that's her

She grew up on a farm there
There's a place on my arm
where I've written her name next to mine

You see: I just can't live without her
and I'm her only boy
And she grew up outside McHenry
in Johnsburg, Illinois
posted by Kafkaesque at 9:23 PM on May 13, 2009 [1 favorite]

"Two of Us," The Beatles (there's also a good version by Aimee Mann and Michael Penn)
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 9:27 PM on May 13, 2009 [1 favorite]

I would disregard Dire Straits "Romeo and Juliet" becuase it is not about a long term relationship working out.
posted by eatdonuts at 9:30 PM on May 13, 2009

Lines Around Your Eyes - Lucinda Williams
Have a Little Faith in Me - John Hiatt
Lullaby - Dixie Chicks
No Ordinary Love - Sade
At last - Etta James
How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By YOu - James Taylor
I Wanna Wake Up Where You Are - Goo Goo Dolls
Hold on to Me - Cowboy Junkies
Fields of Gold - Sting
Message of Love - Pretenders
Love Song - 311
Let's Stay Together - Al Green
I'm Still in Love With You - Al Green

Actually, just about anything by Al Green.
posted by raisingsand at 9:33 PM on May 13, 2009

These tend more towards the folky end of the spectrum, but...

-Ingrid Michaelson - The Way I Am (Warning: weird and creepy video -- with clowns! -- that is kind of incongruous with such a sweet song)
-Travis - Flowers in the Window
-James Taylor - Something in the Way She Moves
-Matt Costa - Sweet Rose (I can't find a video with decent sound quality, but it's short, upbeat, and extremely catchy)

Non-folky but not exactly rock: TMBG - New York City
posted by pluckemin at 9:34 PM on May 13, 2009 [1 favorite]

I've always thought that Waylon Jennings' "Luckenbach, Texas" was a spot-on portrayal of the highs and lows of a mature relationship. Not unambiguously happy by any means, but honest and optimistic, and that's the best you can hope for in a real-life partnership, isn't it?

Also, Neil Young's "Harvest Moon".
posted by padraigin at 9:44 PM on May 13, 2009 [1 favorite]

A little folky: Over the Rhine - Thank You My Angel, Rhapsodie, I Want You to Be My Love.
posted by pised at 9:45 PM on May 13, 2009

"Our House" by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 9:53 PM on May 13, 2009 [1 favorite]

This is a remarkably good idea.

Um. 'Great Big Love' by Bruce Cockburn

Or 'Last Night of the World' also by Bruce.

Also 'See How I Miss You' also by Bruce. No video for that apparently. Sorry.
posted by geekhorde at 9:59 PM on May 13, 2009 [1 favorite]

Jimmy Soul - If you wanna be happy?

Definitely up beat musically speaking, but the lyrics may not quite match what you're looking for:

But if you make an ugly woman your wife
You'll be happy for the rest of your life
An ugly woman cooks your meals on time
An she'll always give you peace of mind
posted by kisch mokusch at 10:02 PM on May 13, 2009 [1 favorite]

"The Glory of True Love" - John Prine. So good.
posted by pazazygeek at 10:32 PM on May 13, 2009 [1 favorite]

Kisses Sweeter Than Wine (Jackson Brown and Bonnie Raitt)

Maybe I'm Amazed - Paul McCartney

In My Life - Lennon & McCartney

Cruisin' with Huey Lewis and Gwyneth Paltrow (I think it's sweet!)
posted by cda at 11:04 PM on May 13, 2009 [1 favorite]

On this side - Claire Bowditch

Pure living-happily-ever-after folksong.
posted by kjs4 at 11:12 PM on May 13, 2009

"Prettiest Eyes" by The Beautiful South" ((youtube vud)

Lyrics
posted by travis08 at 11:24 PM on May 13, 2009

Be careful! I don't know all of these songs well, but a couple of my favourites are not about 'happy people in satisfying long-term relationships', as requested.

Lightning Seeds - Pure:
Now you're crying in your sleep
I wish you'd never learnt to weep
Don't sell the dreams you should be keeping
Pure and simple every time

Gene - Olympian:
I'm flattered that you thought
I make a good reward, but
How can you survive my blatant lies?
I'm flattered that you thought
So come taste my good reward.

Both are fantastic tracks, just not what the OP was looking for, IMO.
posted by Busy Old Fool at 12:38 AM on May 14, 2009

Dar Williams "Arrival" -- very slow and sweet (good note to end on?) -- not upbeat.

My dad is a miracle and so's my mom
...They finish their dinner and then they take one another's hand
And off they go to find a broader point of view.
For it's a give and take beyond the ordinary
What with all the cats and kids that they've loved
And they will not be alone.
posted by salvia at 12:49 AM on May 14, 2009 [1 favorite]

The Magnetic Fields, 69 love songs album has a couple that fit your description but my favourite is Papa was a Rodeo, the last verse of which begins "And now it's 55 years later, we've had the romance of the century..."
posted by gwpcasey at 4:39 AM on May 14, 2009

Gerry Rafferty, Right Down the Line
Loggins and Messina, Danny's Song
Bread, Sweet Surrender
posted by Bardolph at 4:50 AM on May 14, 2009

"We Got Married" by Paul McCartney.
posted by largecorp at 5:11 AM on May 14, 2009

Simon and Garfunkle "Old Friends"
posted by nax at 5:14 AM on May 14, 2009

Ben Folds Five - The Luckiest

(almost always makes me tear up. dude can write a fricking song.)
posted by nosila at 5:29 AM on May 14, 2009 [2 favorites]

No Johnny Cash yet, MeFi? For shame...

I Walk the Line is about unambiguous, dedicated love, and Darlin' Companion would likely fit the bill as well. Both are definitely going to be for the folkier sections of your mixtape.
posted by Kreiger at 6:01 AM on May 14, 2009

"Golden Years"- David Bowie

I'll stick with you, baby, for a thousand years
Nothing's gonna touch you in these golden years...
posted by rebel_rebel at 7:53 AM on May 14, 2009

Yay - thank you for the question. While I don't have a song to add this will be super-helpful when I'm looking at songs for the DJ to play (or ipod) at the wedding reception!
posted by ejaned8 at 8:03 AM on May 14, 2009

"Friday I'm In Love" - The Cure

"The Air That I Breathe" - Hollies (the Mavericks version is awesome too)
posted by skypieces at 8:07 AM on May 14, 2009

I've always loved K.T. Oslin, especially Hold Me, also Do Ya. Grown up, realistic, but with lots of love.
posted by Robert Angelo at 8:08 AM on May 14, 2009

Home -- "Juicyass"

I can go fast
You can flabbergast
Gonna grab on and ride that juicy ass

If that ain't love, then I don't wanna know what is.
posted by tapesonthefloor at 9:05 AM on May 14, 2009 [1 favorite]

Emmylou Harris & Mark Knopfler - "This Is Us"
posted by TurkishGolds at 10:02 AM on May 14, 2009

Eva Cassidy's verson of "Songbird." It makes me want to fall in love. Like never before.
posted by paisley sheep at 10:08 AM on May 14, 2009

Stan Rogers - "45 Years"

After twenty-three years you'd think I could find
A way to let you know somehow
That I want to see your smiling face forty-five years from now.
posted by Wilberto at 10:31 AM on May 14, 2009

"Friends of Mine" by The Zombies.

And when I'm with her
She talks about you
The things that you say
The things that you do

It feels so good to know two people
So in love
So in love

They are friends of mine
They are friends of mine
And they've got something
That's so hard to find
posted by ludwig_van at 11:27 AM on May 14, 2009

Rosy and Gray. This is a cover by Weddings, Parties, Anything (a band that I love more than most of my relatives). That said, I actually like the original version (by The Lowest of the Low a bit better, but I couldn't find a free recording of it online. It's worth tracking down, though.
posted by palmcorder_yajna at 11:41 AM on May 14, 2009

Barenaked Ladies Old Apartment

I know we don't live here anymore
We bought an old house on the Danforth
She loves me and her body keeps me warm
I'm happy there.

But this is where we used to live!
posted by coppermoss at 12:08 PM on May 14, 2009

Jackson Browne has a song called My Stunning Mystery Companion. He performs it on his Solo Acoustic Volume 2 live record, and he tells a story before hand about his long-time girlfriend, whom he wrote the song for. A lovely song.

Maybe you were joking when you said
You'd take me for ten years and no more
Maybe you've had the best of me
But you could take another ten years and be sure
posted by kingbenny at 2:15 PM on May 14, 2009

End of the Line, by the Traveling Wilburys.
posted by corey flood at 4:09 PM on May 14, 2009

Try the band called The Weepies. I love them. Very simple and the harmonies are great.
posted by penguingrl at 4:33 PM on May 14, 2009

"(Anything You Want) You Got It," Traveling Wilburys
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 6:26 PM on May 14, 2009

Oh, "The Luckiest" is a winner and destroys me every time I hear it, though Ben has since left the wife he wrote that for and married someone else. Which has tainted it for me, a bit.

How about "Proof," by Paul Simon? Or "Hearts and Bones," though he wrote that for Carrie Fisher, whom he later divorced.

Um, well. At the time they were sincere, I think.
posted by atayah at 8:21 PM on May 14, 2009

Misguided Angel by Cowboy Junkies... *is* about a long-term relationship that's satisfying to the participants.

"Misguided angel hangin' over me
Heart like a Gabriel, pure and white as ivory
Soul like a Lucifer, black and cold like a piece of lead
Misguided angel, love you 'til I'm dead"

:D

(I love you, honey!)
posted by Kemayo at 3:34 AM on May 15, 2009

Somewhat perversely, given former band Arab Strap's lust/deceit/betrayal lyrical axis, Aidan Moffat's solo work has been notable for touching love songs, albeit in a typically warts-and-all fashion.
Recent LP 'How To Get To Heaven From Scotland' (released on Valentines Day!) does this brilliantly, particularly on 'Now I Know I'm Right'.
posted by anagrama at 4:32 AM on May 15, 2009

Where Have You Been by Kathy Mattea. Fits your criteria to a T - such a sweet song.
posted by widdershins at 12:38 PM on May 15, 2009

Rosie Thomas' songs have always been my vision of long love and happiness.


When I finished school
I took the highway
I took the highway looking for you
Never thought that I
Would ever find you; That you'd be looking for me too

And when you love me, you love me well
When I'm with you I lose myself
There's nothing more I would rather do
Than spend the rest of my life loving you

So I play music that's what I do
And when I sing I lose myself
There's nothing more I'd rather do
Lord knows I've tried everything else

From "I Play Music".
Being with someone and still following your own creative vision has always seemed like more a long term relationship thing than some silly fling.

i'll put my favorite white dress on
and my 2 dollar shoes
tie my hair up the way you like
make you see that i'm still in love with you
i'll play your favorite records
make you some homemade coffee cake
let you win me in a hand of poker
convince you to never want to go away

From "2 Dollar Shoes."
posted by redsparkler at 12:10 AM on May 16, 2009

Elijah, by the Mountain Goats, is maybe my all-time favorite love song. WARNING: Probably will still make you cry.
posted by Greg Nog at 10:05 AM on May 18, 2009

Don't know if you're still checking this, but Lucy Kaplansky's Ten Year Night is perfect for the folky end of your spectrum. Also, it's about driving.
posted by dizziest at 3:54 PM on May 19, 2009

You May Be Right Billy Joel
posted by litterateur at 9:39 PM on May 19, 2009