12 Songs About the Friend Zone and Just Being Friends
The “friend zone” sounds like a happy-go-lucky attraction inside an amusement park, but for many people, there’s just nothing funny about it. And that’s because, when your heart is involved and your emotions are overflowing, the last thing you want to hear from your crush is, “I only see you as a friend.”
Ouch—daggers straight to the heart. Well, if you can relate to this pain, I present you with my favorite songs about the friend zone. Hopefully, you’ll find one or two brand new songs on this list you can play as you contemplate just how in the world you got “friend zoned” in the first place.
Songs About the Friend Zone You’ll Love
Let’s kick off this list with a song by Audrey Mika (and, oddly enough, it’s appropriately titled “Just Friends”).
Just Friends by Audrey Mika
Audrey makes sure her pal knows that she is indeed that into him in this “bedroom pop” song. Apparently, she and the guy in question have possibly crossed the line before, but he still wants to stay amigos.
So what does she have to do to make him see her in a new light? Whatever it is, it may involve dancing, because its hard not to groove along with this bubbly tune! Mika says that her sound is somewhat nostalgic (it feels slightly like a throwback to the 90’s pop hits), which is ironic as she’s singing about moving forward.
“I’ve been working hard lately trying now to find a way to get to you.”
More Than Friends by Jason Mraz and Meghan Trainor
You bet we felt this one! Jason and Meghan together needs to happen more often because both of their voices blend so well together. Both are able to bring that slower, heartfelt feeling. And of course, both are capable of launching into big verses that make you wanna close your eyes and sing with them!
And if you’ve have a long held unrequited love for someone close, you’ll definitely be singing.
“I wanna be more than friends. I wanna tell everyone you’re taken. And take your hand until the end.”
Matter of Time by The Rescues
What if you actually friend zoned your crush first? And then, what if you started liking them again—after they’ve stopped liking you?! Things can get, well, very complicated in a hurry.
If only you could equally meet and match each other’s feelings at the perfect time, right? Well, there’s no rewind button on life …but there is a repeat button on most music apps. And you’ll be pressing it once you hear The Rescues convey this exact struggle.
“My heart is a rubber band, strung out between your hand.”
Dreaming of You by Selena
Gone but never forgotten is our Queen of Tejano music, Selena Quintanilla Perez. On this incredible ballad, Selena sings of a woman who finds herself in love with a guy that she hangs around all the time. She’s too shy to say it out loud, but he seems to look right through her anyway!
The oblivious dude can’t seem to recognize that our singer is crushing on him—and crushing hard. So, until this man finally wakes up and sees the light, she’ll just have to be his friend in the daytime and dream about being his lover at night.
“Wonder if you ever see me. And I wonder if you know I’m there.”
Sugar, We’re Going Down by Fall Out Boy
So, staring at your crush get it on with another guy while you hide in her closet is probably illegal…and definitely creepy. But darn it—he just likes her so much!
Okay, that’s no excuse. But Fall Out Boy intentionally tends to be weird and off-putting in a lot of their lyrics, so we’re gonna interpret that (one discernible) line as a metaphor for our singer sadly watching his BFF date other guys.
Other lyrics tell us that he and this girl have hooked up before (“I’m just a notch on your bedpost”), and maybe that’s where the persistent feelings come from.
“Isn’t it messed up how I’m just dying to be him?”
Friendzone by Thundercat
Are you really a genuine friend if you start being an absolute jerk to your buddy after they’ve turned you down? Probably not. Thundercat sounds absolutely bitter and seems to be showing his true colors in this song about being friend zoned.
Does it sound cool musically? Yes, we don’t deny that. But to be honest, we added this song to the list to show what the wrong reaction is. We’re actually quite glad the poor girl in the song got rid of him and his lameness. Why? Well, he literally tells her that she should only come over nowadays if she wants to give him “some,“ all because he already has enough friends.
What a smooth operator.
“No one wants to be in the friend zone.”
Let Me Love You by Mario
It can be really confusing when your friend doesn’t feel the same way you do. It’s even more confusing when said friend is making a choice to stay with someone who mistreats them and is unfaithful. It’s hard seeing someone you adore being unappreciated.
But the heart wants what it wants, even if it doesn’t make sense. For her, that may mean sticking around with a cheat and a liar until she decides to leave. For Mario, it’s apparently being in love with a woman that reciprocating the same affection.
“You should let me love you. Let me be the one to give you everything you want and need.”
More than Friends by 24kgoldn
We love a reference to a throwback! 24kgoldn is a young rapper, but being 21 didn’t stop him from being inspired by Biz Markie’s “Just a Friend” from 1989. The kid’s got good taste! And apparently, even better lyrics—at least based off of this smitten track. He’s popular with ladies, sure, but the one he wants is his longtime friend.
“You, you got what I need (yeah, yeah). But you say I’m just a friend.”
We’re Not Friends by Ingrid Andress
Friends hangout, laugh and confide in each other. But do they spend romantic nights in each other’s arms? We don’t think so, and neither does Ingrid.
Ingrid’s beautiful voice sings along to too many examples of what platonic friends DON’T do. So why does her crush insist that that’s all they are? Time to redefine the relationship, buddy.
“You and me keep on tryna pretend. But you and me, woah, we’re not friends.”
Friendzone by UMI
When someone is just not getting the hint, sometimes you have to be blunt. No metaphors or sugarcoating. On this track, UMI is being honest and setting boundaries—but not not trying to be hurtful or mean spirited.
Why would she? The point is that the man in this song’s story is UMI’s friend, and she wants that relationship dynamic to remain on the friendship level. Nothing more.
Get it?
“Hey, its me, its not you. You’re great. But friends are too.”
Just Friends by Andy Kong
Telling your friend that you have feelings for them can be scary! What will they say? Will they feel the same? Will they feel awkward after you’ve told them? Will things ever feel the same between you two again?
Is the possibility of dating them worth the risk of losing them altogether? No wonder Andy’s got such nerves about telling his best friend that he loves them!
“Will you turn me down? Will you tell me how we’re just friends?”
I’ll Be There for You by The Rembrandts (“Friends” theme song)
The characters in “Friends” are the epitome of what friendship can be. They went through everything together and even got in (and out) of relationships with one another! And the lyrics to the theme song are a perfect definition of what a true friend is.
This is why we thought adding the theme song would be a perfect way to end the list. But be warned; just because it worked out in some cases doesn’t mean it will work in reality. Turning a friendship into a relationship could end pretty badly if you mess up (even if you were on a break).
“Someone I’ll always laugh with. Even at my worst, I’m best with you, yeah!”
Conclusion
When putting together a list of songs about the friend zone, you quickly realize just how many people struggle with the ecstasy, and frustration, of falling in love with their good friend. And sometimes, their absolute best friend.
And that can be a scary thing. If your friend says “yes,” and you climb out of the friend zone and become lovers, there’s always going to be a fear that the friendship could forever be ruined if things go south.
But, if your friend turns down your advances, you wonder if that too has injected awkward energy and tension into the friendship.
It’s a tough tightrope to walk, no doubt. But, it always take a semblance of courage to put yourself out there and share your true feelings. And I think it’s always a good idea to share your true emotions and not hold yourself back for fear of some hypothetical doomsday scenario that may never occur anyway.
So, if these songs about being just friends has taught us anything, it’s to make our true feelings known to our crush—you never know what amazing outcome sits on the other side of your fear.
FAQ
You Might Also Like:
- Songs About Empathy
- Songs About Self Love
- Songs About Long Distance
- Songs About Toxic Relationships
- Songs About a Relationship Falling Apart
- Songs About Arguments
- Songs About Trust
- Songs About Regretting Hurting Someone
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