No one likes to lose.
And we all cope with defeat differently.
Some get depressed, some fight back harder, some give up.
And some write songs about defeat.
Personally, I use music to deal with anything in my life.
IF I am trying to get over a defeat, I listen to someone else sing about it. That helps me get through it and come back stronger.
Keep reading for a list of my favorite songs about losing. Hopefully at least a few of them will help you out.
Table of Contents
- 1 Songs About Defeat
- 1.1 Defeat by Animal Collective
- 1.2 Failure by Neffex
- 1.3 Death Is Not Defeat by Architects
- 1.4 Feeling Of Defeat by Lost Riches
- 1.5 Feeling Defeated by Disfigure
- 1.6 Faded by Alan Walker
- 1.7 The Will Always Negates Defeat (The W.A.N.D) by The Flaming Lips
- 1.8 The Horizon Has Been Defeated by Jack Johnson
- 1.9 Admit Defeat by Bastille
- 1.10 Defeatist by Eisley
- 1.11 Failing by Staind
- 1.12 Loving You is a Losing Game (Arcade) by Duncan Laurence
- 1.13 In The End by Linkin Park
- 1.14 Worthless by Eli
- 2 Songs About Not Winning: Final Thoughts
Songs About Defeat
I tried to include songs about suffering defeat from as many different genres as possible. But I know I missed a few, so feel free to let me know in the comments below, if you have any other great songs about defeat.
Defeat by Animal Collective
Animal Collective’s Defeat is a song about loneliness, and feeling lost and defeated. It was written during the pandemic so you hear references to loneliness and missing friends and the hope that “all this” will also pass.
The lyrics of Defeat also talk about the loss of innocence and the difficulties of becoming an adult. They express the fear of the unknown and talk about the cycle of loss.
The last line of the song, “Isn’t it Now? Defeat?”, may imply a desperate hope where the singer believes that accepting defeat now may be akin to losing humanity. In a sense, the song is asking people to keep hoping for the best and keep their faith.
Failure by Neffex
Failure is a 2017 song from the Neffex album Fight Back. It combines various genres, like rap, electronic, indie, etc. The track has relatable lyrics and powerful beats – most people who hear it feel drawn to these elements.
While the track’s title implies failure or defeat, its main message is actually to never give up. As such, we could have also included it in our list of songs about fighting back against all odds.
Failure also talks about understanding the difference between our wants and needs. The singer urges us to delve into the idea of going after what we need, not what we want.
He encourages and motivates us to relentlessly pursue our dreams and not let small defeats and obstacles get us down. The song’s catchy chorus also urges us to have strong faith in ourselves. The powerful song is sure to resonate with anyone who is going through tough times or is facing obstacles.
Death Is Not Defeat by Architects
The Architects wrote this track as a tribute to their guitarist Tom Searle, who lost his battle with cancer. The lyrics of Death is Not Defeat talk about how death is not the end.
The singers also address their dead band member, stating that he hasn’t let anyone down by dying. They even express the hope that they will all reunite someday soon.
Feeling Of Defeat by Lost Riches
Produced by Jaden Gilpin and Fidelity Heart Cult, Feeling of Defeat is Track 10 on Lost Riches’ Late Night Mixtape. The song conveys the singer’s desperate attempts to get back on his feet after falling down again and again.
The lyrics of Feeling of Defeat convey the singer’s depression, loneliness, and repeated failures that keep him from being his true self, so much so that he misses being who he was.
He desperately tries to keep his faith, but the repeated failures feel like he is bleeding non-stop. He wishes someone would administer an IV to him. On most days, he feels like a nobody. However, at the end of the song, he hopes he can find his way.
Feeling Defeated by Disfigure
Feeling Defeated is one of those songs that awaken suppressed feelings and urges and evoke nostalgia. It is a beautiful and haunting track by Disfigure which, an incredibly underrated band.
The track was initially a promotion for NCS SoundCloud, but they deleted the lyrics to it after the promotional period was over. So, while we do not have the song’s meaning for you, we are sure you will still enjoy its haunting melody.
Faded by Alan Walker
Alan Walker’s Faded is a haunting song about a person facing defeat and struggles, especially the struggle to rediscover himself or herself.
The singer describes feeling lost, defeated, and purposeless. She feels she has faded away both physically and emotionally. She is also struggling to find her way back into the world but her goals seem so far out of reach that she feels defeated and lost.
The chorus has her longingly call out to someone, but since she gets no response, she wonders if she had imagined them. Faded became a worldwide hit and occupied the number 1 spot on the charts in over 10 countries.
The Will Always Negates Defeat (The W.A.N.D) by The Flaming Lips
The Flaming Lips created this beautiful song, The W.A.N.D, with magic and fantasy woven in its lyrics. It is from the band’s 2006 album At War With The Mystics.
The singers wish they had a magic wand that could make all their enemies and problems disappear. Such a wand would give us the confidence and willpower so that we would never have to worry about being defeated.
The singers especially want to use this magical wand against greedy people who have the power to control the world. By waving this magical wand in the air, the singers want these people to be destroyed. The lyrics then urge us to always be good and to choose good over evil. Only that will bring real power and protect us from defeat.
The Horizon Has Been Defeated by Jack Johnson
Jack Johnson conveys a beautiful meaning with his song The Horizon Has Been Defeated. Here, the word ‘horizon’ refers to Mother Nature.
Johnson says that we humans have destroyed this planet with industrialization and technology, yet still we hope that things will go back to normal. Humans have conquered every horizon there is to conquer, but this greed is now going to hurt us more than we realize.
Admit Defeat by Bastille
Admit Defeat is a track from Bastille’s 2019 album Doom Days (This Got Out of Hand Edition). The song expresses the protagonists feelings while he is consumed with thoughts about someone. He simply cannot get her out of his mind, no matter how hard he tries to “exorcise” those feelings out.
He says he admits defeat and surrenders to these feelings. The song conveys the meaning that sometimes it is okay to let go and give in to feelings and emotions, especially when it comes to love.
Defeatist by Eisley
Sherri DuPree-Bemis and Garron DuPree of Eisley wrote Defeatist for their 2018 album I’m Only Dreaming…Of Days Long Past.
Although the title Defeatist seems to be about a person who excessively expects to accept defeat, the lyrics convey the opposite. They urge the listeners to passionately fight for something or someone, no matter what it costs them. After all, if you love that thing or person deeply, then you should not hesitate to fight for it, even to death.
Failing by Staind
Staind’s Failing is a song that conveys defeat, desolation, despair, and desperation. The singer tries to get through to a narcissist with whom he is in a relationship.
This person manipulates the singer to follow their demands and diverts attention away from the singer’s pain. The lyrics convey the feeling of defeat the singer feels while trying to get through to this selfish person.
Loving You is a Losing Game (Arcade) by Duncan Laurence
In Loving You is a Losing Game, Duncan Laurence compares love to an arcade. The woman he loves has left him heartbroken and he is left to pick up the pieces and fill up the cracks she has left behind.
Needless to say, he feels defeated in his game. But despite that, he is addicted to it, so he simply cannot stop himself from loving her. At the end of the song, he tells her that he wants out. He is tired of her games and wants to get off the roller coaster.
In The End by Linkin Park
Linkin Park’s In The End has helped millions of depressed people during their deepest, darkest times. The lyrics are open to interpretation, but they convey the simple fact that we are all here for a short time and eventually, death will defeat each one of us.
For some, the lyrics of In The End convey the singer’s defeat or failure in his relationship, to which he has given his all. He says he tried hard to keep the love between them, but in the end, he still failed. The song conveys his hurt, anger, and sorrow over being defeated in love.
To others, In The End is a song about the cycle of life and death. The lyrics state the simple fact that death defeats each one of us. But, it also urges us to do something worthwhile with our lives while we are still alive.
We all come onto this planet with finite time, but it is up to us how we utilize that time. It can be as simple as raising a child to be a better human being than us, or it could be something as groundbreaking as finding a cure for a terminal disease. The bottom line is that, although we all get defeated by death eventually, it is still up to us to use our time on earth wisely.
Worthless by Eli
Worthless is a triggering song and has mentions of suicide. The first few stanzas talk of the singer’s despair and how he feels he ruins everything he does. He is lonely despite being surrounded by people. He feels lost even in the crowd.
Many people have found this relatable. All he does is sit at home staring at his phone, something most lonely people do. Nothing gets easy for him, no matter how hard he tries. He questions his existence, but also hopes to find his calling and purpose. He then wants to slit his wrists and bleed out.
In the last few stanzas of Worthless, Eli asks us to stay strong. He can relate to anyone going through similar depression, but asks any of us who relate to hang in there, because someone needs us.
Songs About Not Winning: Final Thoughts
What did you think of the list? I hope at least some of these songs about defeat spoe to you and helped you out. Let me know which ones you like in a comment below.
And, as mentioned above, also let me know if you have any additional songs you feel should be on the list. Any suggestions are welcome, but I could especially use ones in genres that are underrepresented on this list.
Once you’ve moved past your defeat and get back to your winning ways, I also have a companion article listing great songs about winning.
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