Introduction

“Breaking Up Is Hard to Do” by Neil Sedaka is a timeless anthem that captures the emotional turmoil of ending a romantic relationship. Originally released in 1962 as a single, the song became one of Sedaka’s most iconic hits, resonating with listeners around the world with its catchy melody and relatable lyrics. With its upbeat rhythm and poignant message, “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do” has stood the test of time, remaining a staple on radio playlists and in the hearts of fans for generations. Join us as we explore the enduring significance of Neil Sedaka’s “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do.”

Did You Know?

  • “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do” was written by Neil Sedaka and Howard Greenfield, who collaborated on many of Sedaka’s biggest hits.
  • The song reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, becoming Sedaka’s first chart-topping single as a performer.
  • Sedaka later re-recorded “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do” in a slower, ballad-style version in 1975, which also became a hit.
  • The song’s universal theme of heartbreak and resilience has made it a favorite for cover versions by artists spanning various genres.

Video

Lyrics: Breaking Up Is Hard to Do

Do do do
Down dooby doo down down
Comma, comma, down dooby doo down down
Comma, comma, down dooby doo down down
Breaking up is hard to doDon’t take your love away from me
Don’t you leave my heart in misery
If you go then I’ll be blue
Cause breaking up is hard to doRemember when you held me tight
And you kissed me all through the night
Think of all that we’ve been through
And breaking up is hard to do

They say that breaking up is hard to do
Now I know
I know that it’s true
Don’t say that this is the end
Instead of breaking up I wish that we were making up again

I beg of you don’t say goodbye
Can’t we give our love another try?
Come on, baby, let’s start anew
Cause breaking up is hard to do

(They say that breaking up is hard to do)
Now I know
I know that it’s true
(Don’t say that this is the end)
Instead of breaking up I wish that we were making up again

I beg of you don’t say goodbye
Can’t we give our love another try?
Come on, baby, let’s start anew
Cause breaking up is hard to do

(Down dooby doo down down)
Comma, comma, down dooby doo down down
Comma, comma, down dooby doo down down
Comma, comma, down dooby doo down down
Comma, comma, down dooby doo down

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BOB DYLAN AND JOHNNY CASH SHATTERED THE WALLS OF NASHVILLE WITHOUT FIRING A SINGLE SHOT. Columbia Studio A sat thick with the smell of stale coffee and cigarette smoke on a February morning in 1969. While the rock world was chasing ghosts in psychedelic haze, Bob Dylan stepped into the epicenter of American country music with a voice that sounded like it had been dragged across gravel. He wasn’t there to challenge the gatekeepers at the Opry; he was there to find the heartbeat of a sound he had loved from afar. Johnny Cash walked through the heavy studio doors, guitar in hand, and for two days, the rigid borders of genre simply dissolved into the air. They didn’t record some grand manifesto to change the industry. Instead, they sat on stools and tore through old folk standards and each other’s deep cuts, letting the microphones capture the loose, unvarnished truth of a collaboration that felt more like a porch gathering than a major label session. Carl Perkins added his own licks to the mix, blending the percussive snap of rock and roll with the lonesome ache of a country ballad. It was a deliberate, quiet rebellion that treated the traditions of both worlds as neighbors rather than strangers. When the tape stopped rolling, they walked away having proved that the lines drawn by radio programmers were mostly make-believe. The Ryman Auditorium stage eventually welcomed a new kind of guest, and the air in Nashville felt lighter, forever changed by two men who knew that music didn’t need permission to belong everywhere at once.