Sometimes couples do not have the good sense to walk away from toxic relationships. For whatever reasons they imagine, they keep trying to make it work despite that there are obvious problems between them.
Here are three songs about toxic relationships, and the consequences of being involved in one.
Self Esteem by The Offspring
The poor guy in this song knows he needs to end the relationship. Despite that, he never does, and that keeps inviting the abuse. She stands him up on dates and sleeps with his friends. Still, he holds on.
Why? Well, he thinks it's better this way. You see, as he says, "the more you suffer, the more it shows you really care."
While we might not see that it is our own low self-esteem that is keeping us in a toxic relationship, the guy in the song knows that is why he is sticking around. Besides, those late night knocks on the door when she's ready to go . . . well those are the rewards that are more frequent than he'd like to admit for having low self-esteem!
Bartender Song (Sittin' at a Bar) by Rehab
The guy in this song seems to make bad decisions throughout so much of his life that it begins with him talking about violating his parole over a toxic relationship. He's telling the story to the bartender while he awaits his inevitable arrest for his actions.
It started with the parole violation that was a night of drinking for him. When he got home at six in the morning, the door was locked. Obviously, the only logical thing to do would be to kick the door in. Who knew that she would trip out and throw his things out of the trailer?
The heartbreak of losing the lady in the trailer park for just coming home late and drunk, and kicking her door in, led him to do something he probably should have thought about first: steal her car and crash it.
Though he is trying to get as much alcohol in himself as he can before the police arrive, he will, at least, be getting to see his friends in the penitentiary!
Love the Way You Lie by Eminem featuring Rhianna
The type of toxic relationship depicted in this song is not only more common than the types in the first two songs, it is also by far the most dangerous type of toxic relationship. It is the story of an angry man taking his frustrations out by abusing a woman who tries to justify the abuse to rationalize staying in the relationship.
However, as the song goes on, it becomes more clear that the woman wants to leave the relationship, and the justification for remaining in the relationship is due to the threats of harm if she were to try again.
This song is so hauntingly real and tells a sad story that is much too common, and always has been.
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Here are other posts in the series:
