(The links take you to a video on YouTube – I listen with my eyes closed.)

• I Want The One I Can’t Have by The Smiths
• My Favorite Mistake by Sheryl Crow
• Why Do You Treat Me Like You Do? by SoKo
• Linger by The Cranberries
• I Just Don’t Think I’ll Ever Get Over You by Colin Hay
• Screaming by Dashboard Confessional
• It Must Have Been Love by Roxette
• Against All Odds (cover) by The Postal Service
• Title Unknown by Michael Ortega (Instrumental)
• I’ll Kill Her by SoKo

Check out this page for 12 songs about loving someone you can’t have or loving someone you shouldn’t.

If you enjoyed these lists please Share them using the buttons below – thank you!

Photo credit: Juan David Ferrando

One of those three stories centers around Josh and Hanna. And while it’s been easy to see their dark, complicated world, connecting to their innermost desires and getting their angst to show up on the page has been difficult. Can’t pinpoint why either. So I’m resorting to my favorite cheat: songs to inspire writing.

I’d love to hear your suggestions for other songs!

A quick list of songs about loving someone you can’t have or loving someone you shouldn’t:

(The links take you to a video on YouTube – I listen with my eyes closed.)

• The Last Something That Meant Anything by Mayday Parade
• All I Wanted by Paramore
• For Far From Me by Brett Dennen
• Mr. Pitiful by Matt Costa
• Come Down To Me by Saving Jane
• Untouchable Face by Ani DiFranco – Read the lyrics below. This song expresses an honesty that only someone who’s lived the experience could convey.
• I Hate Myself For Loving You by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
• Lover I Don’t Have to Love by Bright Eyes – Read the lyrics below. A song for the cynical, if not jaded, person after having their heart broken.
• Send His Love To Me by PJ Harvey
• Cry To Me by Solomon Burke
• I’ve Got Dreams To Remember by Otis Redding
• Bleeding Love by Leona Lewis

P.S. I also made a list of songs for a broken heart.

Lyrics: Untouchable Face by Ani DiFranco

Think I’m going for a walk now
I feel a little unsteady
I don’t want no one to follow me
Except maybe you
I could make you happy, you know
If you weren’t already
I could do a lot of things
And I do

Tell you the truth, I prefer the worst of you
Too bad you had to have a better half
She’s not really my type
But I think you two are forever
And I hate to say it but you’re perfect together

So fuck you
And your untouchable face
Fuck you
For existing in the first place
And who am I
That I should be vying for your touch?
Who am I?
Bet you can’t even tell me that much

2:30 in the morning
My gas tank will be empty soon
Neon sign on the horizon
Rubbing elbows with the moon
Safe haven of the sleepless
Where the deep fryer’s always on
Radio is counting down the top 20 country songs

Out on the porch the fly strip is
Waving like a flag in the wind
You know I really don’t look forward
To seeing you again soon

You look like a photograph of yourself
Taken from far, far away
I won’t know what to do
I won’t know what to say

So fuck you
And your untouchable face
Fuck you
For existing in the first place
And who am I
That I should be vying for your touch?
Who am I?
Bet you can’t even tell me that much

See you and I’m so perplexed
What was I thinking?
What will I think of next?
Where can I hide?
In the back room there’s a lamp
That hangs over the pool table
And when the fan is on it swings
Gently side to side
There’s a changing constellation
Of balls as we are playing
I see Orion and say nothing
The only thing I can think of saying

Is fuck you
And your untouchable face
Fuck you
For existing in the first place
And who am I
That I should be vying for your touch?
Who am I?
Bet you can’t even tell me that much

Lyrics: Lover I Don’t Have to Love by Bright Eyes

I picked you out
Of a crowd and talked to you
Said I liked your shoes
You said “Thanks, can I follow you?”
So it’s up the stairs
And out the aim of prying eyes
I poured some wine
I asked your name
You asked the time

Now it’s two o’clock
The club is closed, we’re up the block
Your hands on me
Pressing hard against your jeans
Your tongue in my mouth
Trying to keep the words from coming out
You didn’t care to know
Who else may have been you before

I want a lover I don’t have to love
I want a girl who’s too sad to give a fuck
Where’s the kid with the chemicals?
I thought he said he’d meet me here but I’m not sure
I got the money if you got the time
He said, “It feels good”
I said, “I’ll give it a try”

Then my mind went dark
We both forgot where your car was parked
Let’s just take the train
I’ll meet up with the band in the morning

Bad actors with bad habits
Some sad singers
They just play tragic
And the phone’s ringing
And the band’s leaving
Let’s just keep touching
Let’s just keep keep, keep singing

I want a lover I don’t have to love
I want a boy who’s so drunk he doesn’t talk
Where’s the kid with the chemicals
I got a hunger and I can’t seem to get full
I need some meaning I can memorize
The kind I have always seems to slip my mind

But you, but you
You write such pretty words
But life’s no storybook
Love’s an excuse to get hurt
And to hurt
Do you like to hurt?
I do, I do
Then hurt me
Then hurt me
Then hurt me
Then hurt me
Then hurt me
Then hurt me
Then hurt me
Then hurt me
Then hurt me
Then hurt me

Photo credit: Kiomi

Here are a few posts to check out if you’re looking for songs to inspire writing. Music is powerful and it usually does the trick. However, there are situations where I need to visually stimulate my imagination in addition to the auditory inspiration.

The following three pictures really stirred up the creative juices last week:

by Joshua Hoffine
(Click here for his main web site.)

by Chris aka Specky Nation

by Zhang Peng

Do you have an image or two that inspires your writing or sets the mood for a certain dynamic?

Lyrics:

One of these days you’ll be under the covers
You’ll be under the table and you’ll realize
That all of your days are numbered, all of them one to one hundred
All of them millions, all of them trillions

So what are you gonna do with them all?
You cannot trade them in for more, no, no

Take every moment, you know that you own them
It’s all you can do, use what’s been given to you

Gimme a reason to fight the feeling
That there’s nothing here for me
‘Cause none of it’s easy, I know it wasn’t meant to be
I know it’s all up to me, it’s all up to me

So what am I gonna do with my time?

I’ll take every moment, I know that I own them
It’s all up to you to do whatever you choose
Live like you’re dying and never stop trying
It’s all you can do, use what’s been given to you

All of the moments you didn’t notice gone in the blink of an eye
And all of the feelings you can’t help feeling no matter how you try

Take every moment, you know that you own them
It’s all up to you to do whatever you choose
Live like you’re dying and never stop trying
It’s all you can do, use what’s been given to you

Live like you’re dying and never stop trying
It’s all up to you, use what’s been given to you

You see, I’m having trouble getting into the character because my mood is so–happy is the best way to describe it. And the two scenes I need to write to finish the story are not happy ones. They’re dark and sad and somewhat depressing.

So how does one tap into their character’s mood and feelings?

The fastest way for me is to listen to music that evokes thoughts and feelings that match the character’s. While listening to these songs and getting my head right, I thought it might be fun to post a quick blog with a short (incomplete) list of the songs I turn to – the songs to inspire writing a dark scene or a scene with a depressing end.

• Come Home by OneRepublic
  The thing I like best about OneRepublic is the authentic feel to all their songs. This one in particular takes me to a totally secret place deep inside my heart, where I keep the memories of someone I missed for a really, really long time. Don’t you find when you connect with a song’s lyrics you’re transported to the exact place in time when that song fit your life perfectly?
• Broken by Seether ft. Amy Lee
  The chemistry between these two voices – Shaun Morgan and Amy Lee – and the relevance of the lyrics makes this song a gut-wrencher.
• Hate Me by Blue October
  Oh man, this song. If you can listen to this song and walk away unaffected, then I’m envious. Justin Furstenfeld’s emotion bleeds through every word and I know exactly what he’s singing about – from both sides of the story.
• Bother by Stone Sour
  I don’t know but this effin song depresses the hell outta me. The guitar, the tone of his voice, the lyrics…whew! Definitely do not listen to this one if you want to avoid being sad.
• Never Too Late by Three Days Grace
  This song is actually a lot different from the others listed here because it makes me feel hopeful. But it’s powerful nonetheless and puts me into a darker mindset. And remember, even though life can be a real pain in the arse sometimes, it’s never too late to make your life better and you should certainly never lose hope.
• I Almost Told You That I Loved You by Papa Roach
  Just plain ol’ dirty fun that does not make me think about unicorns, rainbows, or anything “happy” when it comes to relationships.
• Loser by 3 Doors Down
  Nothing to lose. At your wit’s end. And someone pushes your last button. How would that feel? How would you escape that pain and their constant pokes and judgments? When I listen to Loser that’s what comes to mind.
• Strong Enough by Sheryl Crow
  I’ve listened to this song SO many times. Truer lyrics may not exist for me.
• Hurt by Johnny Cash
  The raw emotion in Johnny’s voice gets me every time. I mean, to the point where I almost sob.

Honorable mentions:

In Between by Linkin Park

You by Evanescence

Why by Secondhand Serenade

.45 by Shinedown

Close My Eyes Forever by Ozzy Osbourne ft. Lita Ford

Do you have any “dark” songs to share? How do those songs affect you?

Okay, after listening to all of those songs, I think I’m ready to write the end to David and Dawn’s story…at least this story.

I’ve handpicked the top five songs to inspire writing in heavy emotional scenes and/or scenes primarily centered around a character, his thoughts and actions, and how his world and others will be affected by them. These songs evoke specific emotions from me that filter down through my muse into my words. Sometimes the lyrics are the key; sometimes it’s a mixture of the singer’s voice, the melody, and the mood.

Eyes on Fire by Blue Foundation

You’ve probably heard Eyes on Fire before – it was featured in Twilight (2008) – but didn’t know what it was called or who it was by. I play this song most often during scenes between two characters who have some sort of attraction for each other yet cannot consummate their desires.

No One’s Gonna Love You by Band of Horses

I’m slightly infatuated with Band of Horses. From the first time I heard The Funeral, I was hooked. A few weeks ago, I posted another song by them, I Go To The Barn Because I Like. But my favorite song, by far, is No One’s Gonna Love You. The lyrics, the music and Ben Bridwell’s vocals: perfection, or pretty damn close.

9 Crimes by Damien Rice

If you watched the movie Closer (2004), you heard Damien Rice’s The Blower’s Daughter, which is quite a sad, romantic song in itself. However, the one I listen to most for scenes with serious emotional decisions or consequences is 9 Crimes.

If You Go Away by Emiliana Torrini

I first heard If You Go Away when I watched the movie Pumpkin (2002). The lyrics are sad. The melody is equally gut-wrenching. However, it’s Emiliana Torrini’s haunting voice that makes the song almost overwhelming from an emotional viewpoint. Let me put it like this: If you’ve ever loved and lost, If You Go Away will tug (hard) at your heartstrings.

Trouble by Ray LaMontagne

No explanation is necessary for this one, at least in my opinion. There’s just something about Trouble that gets my creative juices flowing. It’s inspired me to write one of the steamiest sex scenes I ever attempted. Maybe I’ll share that scene on my blog someday and really live up to my NC-17 rating.

What song (or songs) inspire your writing?