Apologetic Stars of the Rock Era

Of the tens of thousands of songs of the Rock Era, it is difficult to find songs in which the songwriter felt they were wrong (which should tell you a lot about their egos!)  Indeed, there are precious few examples, and even less when you look for songs that were popular.  Then, when you listen to those, the number of songs when an artist actually says the words "I'm sorry" and means it?  You can count them on two hands.

Here are some of the most popular "sorry" songs.  We tried to find live performances when possible.  Which ones are truly sincere, and which could you forgive? (and if it has more to do with how "attractive" they are, and not the sincerity of the message, you are missing the point!):

"All Apologies"

Nirvana

In a lot of other "artistspeak", Curt Cobain encases this:  "Everything is my fault... I'll take all the blame."

"Always On My Mind"

Willie Nelson

One of the best examples of a song with sincere feelings of regret.

Maybe I didn't love you

Quite as often as I could have

And maybe I didn't treat you

Quite as good as I should have

If I made you feel second best

Girl I'm sorry I was blind

You were always on my mind

You were always on my mind

And maybe I didn't hold you

All those lonely, lonely times

And I guess I never told you

I'm so happy that you're mine

Little things I should have said and done

I just never took the time

But you were always on my mind

You were always on my mind

Tell me

tell me that your sweet love hasn't died

And give me

Give me one more chance

To keep you satisfied

I'll keep you satisfied

[Instrumental Interlude]

Little things I should have said and done

I just never took the time

But you were always on my mind

You were always on my mind

You were always on my mind

"Baby Come Back"

Player

Here's one of the biggest hits of the Apologetic Stars, and also one of the most sincere.

"Back To December"

Taylor Swift

Taylor has certainly written plenty of songs in which she blames breakups on others, but in this one, she admits wrong.

I'm so glad you made time to see me.

How's life? Tell me how's your family?

I haven't seen them in a while.

You've been good, busier than ever,

We small talk, work and the weather,

Your guard is up and I know why.

Because the last time you saw me

Is still burned in the back of your mind.

You gave me roses and I left them there to die.

So this is me swallowing my pride,

Standing in front of you saying, "I'm sorry for that night,"

And I go back to December all the time.

It turns out freedom ain't nothing but missing you.

Wishing I'd realized what I had when you were mine.

I'd go back to December, turn around and make it all right.

I go back to December all the time.

These days I haven't been sleeping,

Staying up, playing back myself leavin'.

When your birthday passed and I didn't call.

And I think about summer, all the beautiful times,

I watched you laughing from the passenger side.

Realized I loved you in the fall.

And then the cold came, the dark days when fear crept into my mind

You gave me all your love and all I gave you was "Goodbye".

So this is me swallowing my pride

Standing in front of you saying, "I'm sorry for that night."

And I go back to December all the time.

It turns out freedom ain't nothing but missing you,

Wishing I'd realized what I had when you were mine.

I'd go back to December, turn around and change my own mind

I go back to December all the time.

I miss your tanned skin, your sweet smile,

So good to me, so right

And how you held me in your arms that September night

The first time you ever saw me cry.

Maybe this is wishful thinking,

Probably mindless dreaming,

But if we loved again, I swear I'd love you right.

I'd go back in time and change it but I can't.

So if the chain is on your door I understand.

But this is me swallowing my pride

Standing in front of you saying, "I'm sorry for that night."

And I go back to December...

It turns out freedom ain't nothing but missing you,

Wishing I'd realized what I had when you were mine.

I'd go back to December, turn around and make it all right.

I'd go back to December, turn around and change my own mind

I go back to December all the time.

All the time.

"Forgive Me"

Al Martino

Though this wasn't a huge hit (#61), it's one of the best examples of the Rock Era of a true and sincere apology.  Today's lovers could learn a lot from Mr. Martino.

"Hard To Say I'm Sorry"

Chicago

Similar to Elton John's song (see below), the protagonist obviously feels something for his lover, and knows they've done wrong.  But they just cannot bring themselves to apologize.

"Hurt"

Christina Aguilera

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"I Apologize"

Anita Baker

Just as in all of her songs, Anita conveys great sincerity and passion.

Operator, get my baby on the line
'Cause jus the other night we had a horrible fight.
I admit that I, I was out of control,
But I still love my man with my body and soul.
When the road gets rough, we say things we should not say.
But I never meant to treat my baby that way.

I apologize (believe me I do) Oh believe me I do.
I apologize (honest and true) Oh honest and true.
Because I know I was wrong
And so I sing you this song.
And I'm tryna get through to make it up to you yeah.

Operator, it was like a bad dream.
Lord you should have heard the way he shouted
And the way that I screamed.
I regret it 'cause I was unfair.
I took it all out on him just because he was there.
When the road gets rough, we say things we should not say.
I never meant to treat my daddy that way.

I apologize (believe me I do) Oh believe me I do.
I apologize (honest and true) Oh honest and true.
Because I know I was wrong
And so I sing you this song.
And I'm tryna get through to make it up to you yeah.

I apologize, for I was unkind and I wish
That I could go back in time.
Erase the good-byes and rewrite my lines.
But, come rain or come shine,
I'm gonna do right this time.
I apologize.

I apologize, oh baby, I do.
Because I know I was wrong
So I sing you my, my, my song.
I apologize

I apologize
Because I know I was wrong
So I sing you this song
And I wanna get, gotta get,
Need to through to you, yeah.

Oh listen, oh baby
I'm talking to you right now
I'm talking to you
Oh yeah, I was wrong, baby
Now listen to me right now
Singing it to you right now...

 

"I'm Sorry
Brenda Lee

Since there are few real men that will say it, Brenda Lee steps up and is a real woman.  This is probably the most direct and sincere of our Apologetic Stars:

I'm sorry, so sorry

That I was such a fool

I didn't know

Love could be so cruel

Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-yes

You tell me mistakes

Are part of being young

But that don't right

The wrong that's been done

(I'm sorry) I'm sorry

(So sorry) So sorry

Please accept my apology

But love is blind

And I was too blind to see

Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-yes

You tell me mistakes

Are part of being young

But that don't right

The wrong that's been done

Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-yes

I'm sorry, so sorry

Please accept my apology

But love was blind

And I was too blind to see

(Sorry)

"I'm Sorry I Made You Cry"

Connie Francis

One release after her "Who's Sorry Now", in which she blames her lover, Francis takes the blame this time.

"The Reason"

Hoobastank

 

It has been said that each of us can change about 15% about us.  The protagonist here is not only sorry, but willing to learn, to change, to grow.

I'm not a perfect person;

There's many things I wish I didn't do.

 But I continue learning

I never meant to do those things to you.

 

 And so I have to say before I go,

That I just want you to know,

I've found a reason for me,

To change who I used to be,

A reason to start over new,

and the reason is you.

 

I'm sorry that I hurt you.

It's something I must live with everyday.

And all the pain I put you through,

I wish that I could take it all away,

 And be the one who catches all your tears .

 That's why I need you to hear.

 

I've found a reason for me

 To change who I used to be

A reason to start over new

and the reason is You

and the reason is You. [x3]

 

I'm not a perfect person

I never meant to do those things to you.

And so I have to say before I go

That I just want you to know.

 

I've found a reason for me

To change who I used to be

A reason to start over new

and the reason is you.

 

 

I've found a reason to show

A side of me you didn't know

 A reason for all that I do

And the reason is you.

"Sorry"

Buckcherry

The protagonist here has had a lot of time to think about the right thing to do.  The sentiment is right, but, as they admit, their apology is way past the accepted time frame.

Oh I had a lot to say was thinking on my time away

I missed you and things weren't the same

[Pre-Chorus:]

Cause everything inside it never comes out right

And when I see you cry it makes me want to die

[Chorus:]

I'm sorry I'm bad, I'm sorry you're blue, I'm sorry about all things I said to you

And I know I can't take it back

I love how you kiss, I love all your sounds, and baby the way you make my world go round

And I just wanted to say I'm sorry:

This time I think I'm to blame it's harder to get through the days

You get older and blame turns to shame

[Pre-Chorus]

[Chorus]

Every single day I think about how we came all this way

The sleepless nights and the tears you cried it's never too late to make it right

Oh yeah sorry!

[Chorus]

"Sorry (I Ran All The Way Home)"

Impalas

 

 

Sorry, 2004

Ruben Studdard



The protagonist has made so many mistakes (starting the second million!) that he has a lot to feel sorry for.
 

"Sorry, Blame It On Me"
Akon

Now this is more like it.  Akon sings about a true apology, basically saying he's sorry for everything bad he's ever done.

As life goes on I’m starting to learn more and more about responsibility

And I realize everything I do is affecting the people around me

So I want to take this time out to apologize for things that I've done

And things that haven't occurred yet

And the things they don’t want to take responsibility for

I’m sorry for the times that I left you home

I was on the road and you were alone

I’m sorry for the times that I had to go

I’m sorry for the fact that I did not know

That you were sitting home just wishing we

Could go back to when it was just you and me

I’m sorry for the times I would neglect

I’m sorry for the times I disrespect

I’m sorry for the wrong things that I’ve done

I’m sorry I’m not always there for my sons

I’m sorry for the fact that I'm not aware

That you can’t sleep at night when I am not there

 Because I'm in the streets like everyday

Sorry for the things that I did not say

Like how you are the best thing in my world

And how I'm so proud to call you my girl

[Bridge:]

I understand that there are some problems

And I am not too blind to know

All the pain you kept inside you

Even though you might not show

If I can apologize for being wrong

Then it’s just a shame on me

I’ll be the reason for your pain and you can put the blame on me

[Chorus:]

You can put the blame on me [4x]

Said you can put the blame on me [3x]

You can put the blame on me

I'm sorry for the things that he put you through

And all the times you didn’t know what to do

Sorry that you had to go and sell those packs

Just trying to stay busy till you heard from Dad

 And you would rather be home with all your kids

As one big family with love and bliss

And even though Pops treated us like kings

He got a second wife and you didn’t agree

He got up and left you there all alone

I’m sorry that you had to do it on your own

I’m sorry that I went and added to your grief

 I’m sorry that your son was once a thief

 I’m sorry that I grew up way too fast

I wish I would’ve listened and not be so bad

I’m sorry that your life turned out this way

I’m sorry that the FEDS came and took me away

[Bridge]

[Chorus]

I’m sorry that it took so long to see

They were dead wrong trying to put it on me

I’m sorry that it took so long to speak

But I was on tour with Gwen Stefani

 I’m sorry for the hand that she was dealt

For the embarrassment that she felt

Just a little young girl trying to have fun

Her daddy should've never let her out that young

 I’m sorry for Club Zen getting shut down

I hope they manage better next time around

How was I to know she was underage

In a 21 and older club they say

 Why doesn’t anybody wanna take blame

Verizon backed out disgracing my name

I’m just a singer trying to entertain

Because I love my fans I’ll take that blame

Even though the blame’s on you [3x]

I’ll take that blame from you

And you can put that blame on me [2x]

You can put that blame on me

And you can put that blame on me

And you can put that blame on me [2x]

 

 

 

"Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word"

Elton John

In this one, Elton sings (with lyrics from Bernie Taupin) about a relationship in which something has gone terribly wrong.  He is very sad about it, but, because of his pride, isn't able to say two simple words--"I'm sorry".

"Working My Way Back To You/Forgive Me Girl" ("Working My Way Back To You" originally done by 4 Seasons)