songs: i'm sorry

November 13, 2013 1:05 PM

Looking for songs that reflect the following sentiment: I'm sorry I hurt you, you were right to end things, I hope we can build a better friendship but I don't expect anything, thank you for trying anyway.

The closest I have is cortex's Rewrite but maybe not with the alcoholism?

posted by divabat to Media & Arts (22 answers total)

Hate Me by Blue October, although I'm not sure how "I want to be friends" is really reflected in the lyrics.
posted by Enchanting Grasshopper at 1:06 PM on November 13, 2013 [1 favorite]

"White Flag" by Dido.
posted by Autumn at 1:09 PM on November 13, 2013 [1 favorite]

Not sure if all those precise sentiments are expressed here, but these are in the neighborhood: Paul Weller, With Time and Temperance and I Should Have Been There to Inspire You.
posted by scody at 1:22 PM on November 13, 2013

The District Sleeps Alone Tonight by the Postal Service (lyrics)
posted by juliplease at 1:26 PM on November 13, 2013 [3 favorites]

Good Riddance is the first thing that comes to mind; probably the canonical answer to this for a lot of people. And keeping on the Green Day theme, When I Come Around.
posted by capricorn at 1:29 PM on November 13, 2013

I can't quite get all of those pieces into one song, but in case they help you down a rabbit hole in the right direction, two that jumped immediately into my mind as related to your theme are "Leaving Here a Better Man" by Clint Black, and "Someday You Will Be Loved" by Death Cab for Cutie.
posted by not that girl at 1:44 PM on November 13, 2013

So. Central Rain, by REM
posted by entropone at 1:54 PM on November 13, 2013 [1 favorite]

Jealous Guy is a match for your first two sentiments, at least.
posted by rongorongo at 2:10 PM on November 13, 2013 [1 favorite]

Peter Gabriel's song Secret World did this for me. Not so much about the "sorry", but it's definitely an acceptance of "wow, yeah, that wasn't such a great idea for us; it's not one person's fault really, but I'm sorry that that was a bad scene for us."
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 2:12 PM on November 13, 2013

Don Henley's The Heart of the Matter is in the ballpark.
posted by bricoleur at 2:17 PM on November 13, 2013

When I Was Your Man by Bruno Mars, although it doesn't seem like they're really going to be friends after...
posted by luciernaga at 3:31 PM on November 13, 2013 [1 favorite]

Phish's Dog-Faced Boy (lyrics) is pretty and also very sincere; "the months I spent, trying to explain/in the end all I could do, was turn my head in shame".
posted by stellaluna at 3:39 PM on November 13, 2013

Do what you have to do, kind of.
posted by Wantok at 4:30 PM on November 13, 2013

Maybe Barenaked Ladies' Sound Of Your Voice: "I let you down and fell right off of your good list, I hope each day you'll find peace and forgiveness" ; "This little song is about second chances, Just say the word and I will rejoice"
posted by bluesapphires at 4:56 PM on November 13, 2013

Cool by No Doubt, sort of.
posted by thinkpiece at 5:15 PM on November 13, 2013

tough one! maybe mumford's sigh no more?
posted by carlypennylane at 5:24 PM on November 13, 2013

It'll All Work Out by Tom Petty has these lyrics, "When she needed me, I wasn't around. That's the way it goes; it'll all work out."
posted by brina at 5:25 PM on November 13, 2013

John Wesley Harding's I'm Wrong About Everything. Simply a great song too, even if it's a little more of an "I'm sorry, can we please get back together" song.
posted by Smells of Detroit at 5:31 PM on November 13, 2013

Kind of surprised no one's brought up REM's The Apologist. May be too literal, but some of the lyrics

"I can forfeit selfishness
I hope for you that you apply
This happiness
This peacefulness
This peacefulness

I'm sorry (so sorry), so sorry (so sorry)
So sorry (so sorry)"
posted by warm_planet at 6:20 PM on November 13, 2013

California by Delta Spirit hits a lot of these sentiments:

I want you to move to California for yourself,
I want you to find whatever your heart needs,
I want you to move to California for yourself, but not for me.

I want you to go out there and find somebody else,
I want him to treat you like I know he should,
I want you to find somebody new for yourself, if not for me.

all of the feelings that I know you never felt,
and all of the simple words you never said,
I want you to keep them like a secret to yourself, they’re not for me.

I want you to wander silent past my outstretched arms,
I want you to hide yourself from all I see,
and though my heart will fight until its dying breath, you’re not for me.

posted by kitarra at 9:05 PM on November 13, 2013

Four Strong Winds - Neil Young
posted by h00py at 4:43 AM on November 14, 2013

Songs that are kiiind of in the vein of what you're after:

Baker Baker, Tori Amos
2cv, Lloyd Cole and the Commotions
Keeping You in Mind, Mary Margaret O'Hara

("The Apologist" isn't about this subject matter at all; I seem to recall that it's about a manipulative ex-addict going around making sort of sociopathic false "apologies" for their behavior.)
posted by Coatlicue at 5:31 AM on November 19, 2013