It is unbelievable how hard a break up can destroy you! Near break ups included.
The feeling of pure emptiness. Loss. Broken inside. Alone. You can’t breathe. Your chest feels devoid of all life. I read in a magazine once that during a break up, the same dopamine levels that arise when you are first falling in love…ignite. Which is why during a break up you are in the same passionate state as when you first fall in love and you just feel that you can not live without that person.
Goddamn. Is that life playing one of its cruel little tricks or what? Just when you are trying to get ‘over’ a person, you find yourself back in that honeymoon phase where you’re blinded to any of the wrongdoings, all the shitty crap he/she did to you, all the memories of why you two should not be together, and instead you are aching to be near his/her body. You remember the laughs, the lips, the eyes, the hopes, and dreams you two had. Yes, break ups suck. They are NOT fair. But we have to find ways to deal with them. we just have to. Rebound dating can help, but not if you set yourself up for another long term relationship. Ice cream is good, but come on….ice cream. Giving yourself a make-over is also good. Nothing like having your ex seeing you looking damn good. A sort of ‘na-na-na-boo-boo you can’t have me now’, that whether or not he/she truly regrets losing you, sure as hell makes you feel as if he/she does.
Personally i watch sappy movies and listen to music, preferably sad sappy music. i don’t want to listen to love going good. i want to listen to love gone bad. i want to know that someone else has gone through it and that, yes, like the grandaddy of all break up songs…they survived! (“I will Survive” Gloria Gaynor). I want to know that there is hope at the end of the dark, bleak tunnel.
Here is a list of my favorites. Some are directly about break ups, others are about moving on, and a few are just about love in different forms. I’ve also read that it is good for the soul to have a good cry out…be sad…mad….just don’t let it fester within you. I find that music helps you live through it again and again, then helps you just let it go… these songs have been especially cathartic for me and if you need them…you can borrow them too 
Amen Omen – Ben Harper
Betterman- Pearl Jam
Sheela-Na-Gig – PJ Harvey
La Despedida – Manu Chao (Translated: The Goodbye)
My Sweet Annette- Drive By Truckers
Swan Dive – Ani Difranco (not so much about breaking up..but moving on!)
Gravel – Ani Difranco
Bag Lady- Erykah Badu
Booty – Erykah Badu
Nothing Compares To You- Sinead O Connor (of course!)
Cold Blooded Old Times – Smog
Fake Plastic Trees – Radiohead
Last Goodbye – Jeff Buckley
As Is- Ani Difranco
About A Girl- Nirvana
Always On My Mind – Willie Nelson
Candy- Iggy Pop
And Your Bird Can Sing – Beatles
How Does It Feel? – Bob Dylan
Leavin Here – Pearl Jam
Another Lonely Day- Ben Harper
Walk Away - Ben Harper (titled as “Here Comes the Sun” on my playlist)
I will Survive – Gloria Gaynor
You can find these songs on my Project Playlist (i didn’t find all of them, but most of them are there…just follow the link!) I had originally wanted to post the playlist onto the blog, but WordPress doesn’t allow it! it should….anyway..enjoy. btw–let me know if you have a song that you would like added to the list. misery loves company! 
Project Playist
I’m sure the Dylan song you’ve listed isn’t “How Does it Feel” but rather is “Like A Rolling Stone”, which features that line.
Good shout on that Jeff Buckley song, “the Last Goodbye”, where the narrator starts off saying goodbye, but then gives in and begs for a kiss. It’s such a great song that way, that when we’re in a tough situation, sometimes we just break down. This is an anthem to that tendency.
Thanks for your post!
Rob.