17 Songs About Arguments – Fighting in a Relationship
When you’ve had an argument with someone, there’s nothing better than sitting down to listen to a song or album where the artist understands your pain. That’s why, in this article, I’m going to present you with my absolute favorite songs about arguments.
Hopefully you connect with a few of these songs, and they make you realize that, although you may be upset in the present moment, things will definitely calm down and get better in the future.
Family Portrait by Pink
Serious fights are rarely a good thing, but even less so if there are children involved. Being in the middle of a heated battle can make you forget that children are near—and listening intently to every word you scream.
“Family Portrait” is a ballad about a little girl’s point of view as her parents argue with one another. Eventually, the yelling and conflict become too much and her father leaves. A broken-hearted poem she wrote when she was 9 years old inspired this song about volatile family relationships.
“In our family portrait, we look pretty happy. Let’s play pretend, act like it goes naturally.”
Let You Down by NF
“I’m not mad at you, I’m just disappointed,” is the phrase almost every child hopes to avoid hearing from their parents. But what happens when your parents disappoint YOU?
This is the exact thing NF brings up in this pick. His lyrics describe a relationship with his parents that seems to be incredibly one-sided. But our rapper is an adult now and he has a lot to say.
“Paranoia, what did I do wrong this time? That’s parents for you.”
Cry by Ashnikko featuring Grimes
Arguments can get ugly or even “gruesome” pretty quickly. And Ashnikko is letting her sparring partner know that she’s not pulling any punches!
There’s no denying it; the girl is pissed, and she wants the other party to know it. Pairing her blunt as hell lyrics and voice with Grimes’ alien-like whisper vocals makes this choice an unforgettable combination. But be warned: if you’re already mad, this may hype you up even more!
“B****, are you tryna make me cry? Are you tryna make me lose it? You win some and lose some. This could get gruesome.”
Without A Fight by Brad Paisley featuring Demi Lovato
What’s better than winning an argument? A lot of stuff, actually. In fact, not even having an argument sounds a lot better than winning one.
But what if the makeup sex is so good after a passionate exchange that you become addicted to the arguing? Is there a way to get to the lovin’…without all the yelling? That’s what Brad and Demi are trying to figure out.
“Good as we are at gettin’ it on…How come we just can’t get along?”
Pills and Potions by Nikki Minaj
Sometimes you’re better off without toxic people. Whether that be friends, family or romantic relationships. Cutting someone out of your life because they’re not healthy for you doesn’t necessarily mean you don’t care for them anymore.
Nikki gets deep and sensitive as she raps (and sings beautifully) on this track about this complex feeling. She doesn’t mention who she is directing these lyrics to, but whoever let her down, it’s their loss.
“Ayo, they could never make me hate you. Even though what you was doin’ wasn’t tasteful.”
Hate That I Love You by Ne-Yo and Rihanna
Have you ever been in a fight with your significant other, and right as you’re getting your angriest…they make you smile? It can be a great way to break the tension.
But it can also be infuriating! How dare they be so freaking loveable when you’re mad? It’s impossible to spew bile when you realize just how much you adore this person. You may not be able to hate them, but as Ne-Yo and Rihanna prove, you can hate loving them that much!
“And I can’t stand you! Must everything you do make me wanna smile? Can I not like you for awhile?!”
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One More Night by Maroon 5
Staying in a poisonous relationship isn’t a healthy choice. Adam sings that the two people in this song literally get “so damn dysfunctional, we start keeping score.” And staying in a relationship that’s falling apart solely because the physical intimacy is satisfying isn’t a great choice either.
Is it really worth it if all you ever do is fuss and fight? Well… seeing as he made “Sexiest Man Alive” and his wife is the model Behati Prinsloo, it might be?
“You and I go hard at each other like we’re going to war. You and I go rough, we keep throwing things and slamming the doors.”
Secondhand News by Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac know all about arguing. They legitimately made a whole album about their dysfunction.Are you really a Fleetwood Mac fan if you don’t know that the album “Rumours” was made during a very confusing and drama-filled time of the band’s lives?
You’ve got lovers. You’ve got divorces. You’ve got affairs. You’ve got arguments. Also add some lyrical magicians, sweet harmonies and an unwavering devotion to music. And what do you get? You’ve got a musical masterpiece, baby!
“One thing I think you should know, I ain’t gonna miss you when you go.”
With Ears to See, and Eyes to Hear by Sleeping with Sirens
Afraid of arguments? Well, Kellin Quinn would be the perfect person to have on your side during a shouting match.
He’s the front man for the screamo band and his voice is undeniably unique… and loud! Are you more of a “words over volume” type arguer? Then check out the acoustic version of this song, where they nixed the screaming (and the amazing lyrics about a lying former friend really shine).
“How does it feel to be like you? I think your mouth should be quiet. ‘Cause it never tells the truth.”
I Don’t Wanna Be in Love by Good Charlotte
Arguing can wear on a relationship. It can turn two loving people into hurtful beings. Our former emo brothers take on this storyline in this “dance floor anthem”. The first lyrics come from the girl’s point of view, as she tries to party to forget her boyfriend who keeps blowing up her phone. The second verse comes from the worried guy, who admits that his girl took him for granted.
“He calls her up. He’s trippin’ on the phone now. He doesn’t want her out there and alone now.”
Metal and Dust by London Grammar
If you’re shouting against someone with an angelic voice like Hannah Reid’s, there’s really only two options: you yield and beg her to sing you to sleep or you accept that fact that her vocals will reduce you to tears.
Add the impressive beats that Dot Major and Dan Rothman created, and…well…you’re honestly just out of your weight class.
In all seriousness, things that once mattered may lose their importance when you’re arguing with your beloved. Hours that were once spent making love can turn into sleepless nights spent shouting. And a home that you built together could become nothing but metal and dust.
“We argue, we don’t fight. Stay awake to the middle of the night.”
Unhappily Married by The Pistol Annies
Being married to someone for a long time will inevitably lead to at least one argument. You may love your spouse more than anyone else in the world… but did they really forget to take their glass to the sink again?
Ugh!
Little annoyances like this have the possibility of building up and exploding a marriage. But, if you’ve been married long enough, you realize that everyone has their flaws, and if you have to deal with anybody else’s besides your own, it might as well be that annoying but loving person you exchanged vows with.
After all, “Everybody fusses! Everybody fights!”
“We both play our parts in this disaster. I’ll be the b**** and you’ll be the b*****.”
Don’t Speak by No Doubt
Breaking up is hard to do. Being in a band with the person you just got dumped by? Probably harder. Having to sing about breaking up and also getting interviewed about it daily? Woah!
But that’s exactly what Gwen Stefani did as the lead singer of No Doubt after bassist, Tony Kanal, ended their 7-year relationship. But Stefani said the breakup was actually necessary in her journey to becoming a more creative artist.
In fact, “Don’t Speak” was originally a love song. But Gwen turned it into the sad anthem that conveys not wanting to argue because it may be too painful to hear.
“Don’t speak. I know what you’re thinking. I don’t need your reasons. Don’t tell me ’cause it hurts.”
Little Toy Guns by Carrie Underwood
Words hurt! Children see and hear so much more than adults give them credit for. And many people don’t realize that early volatile memories can be traumatizing.
Ultimately, most children don’t have the mental resources to process and understand most adult arguments. So, the kids, ever resilient, come up with coping mechanisms, just like Carrie’s main character in the song. A child listening to her parents fight once more, starts wishing and imagining her parents’ hurtful words as “Little Toy Guns”—incapable of causing real pain.
“I wish words were like little toy guns. No sting, no hurting no one. Just a bang, bang rollin’ off your tongue.”
Narcissist by Avery Anna
Fighting with a gas lighter can leave you not only irritated and more enraged than you started, but it can also cause you to question your own point of view. You are always the one overreacting and acting crazy in their eyes. They’re never wrong and incapable of being the bad guy.
Well, guess who is about to get a reality check courtesy of our hero, Avery Anna? She’s calling out her former romantic interest (or the song can be used to describe a close friend) who tries to convince her that she’s irrational after THEY were the ones who screwed up.
Who’s the crazy one again?
“You should hate yourself for treating me like that. We both know you only love you. Did you know they have a name for that?”
Defying Gravity by Elphaba (From Wicked the Musical)
Forget the haters! Or better yet, prove them wrong by being successful. And who has more haters than the “Wicked Witch of the West”, Elphaba?
In this Broadway hit, our misunderstood hero argues against her best friend Glinda. But our witch isn’t trying to beat her bestie down. No—she’s trying to convince her to join her on a fight against the Wizard while Glinda is trying to make Elphie keep her nose down and avoid more bad attention.
If you’ve ever had to part ways with a best friend, this song may hit home.
“Kiss me goodbye, I’m defying gravity. And you won’t bring me down.”
Hide and Seek by Imogen Heap
Although Imogen Heap does not seem to give a clearly defined answer about the meaning of this song, she has said “It’s full of meaning but it has no meaning.” That’s “singer talk” for wanting her listeners to put their own spin onto the song’s symbolism.
Some have gathered the song’s meaning to be about losing someone after an argument. In the ending lyrics, Imogen does seem to be directly talking to someone, and it as if she is reciting their own words back to them after they’ve messed up (Jason Derulo actually samples this part of the song for his “Watcha Say” track).
Give the song a listen. Even if you find another meaning inside of the lyrics, there’s no doubt that this song and its sound are unforgettable.
“Mmm, what’d you say? Mmm, that you only meant well? Well, of course you did.”
Conclusion
There are two sides to every story. And, in most cases, there can’t be any conflict resolution unless both parties have a chance to be heard and understood.
Two people can see the same situation in different ways. But conflict resolution doesn’t always mean a happy ending. Sometimes, a big fight has to happen in order to bring hidden issues to the surface. A big argument can do a lot of good (if communication is kept healthy). And as this list of songs about arguments proves, there are tons of different ways to get your point across!
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