Ella Mitchell
Photography Editor
At the brink of Advent semester 2025, I was taking a leisurely walk to Stirling’s when I heard the familiar chords of one of my favorite classic rock songs emanating from a car driving down Georgia Avenue. I turned my attention to the road to spot a caravan of young Sewanee women singing along to “Silver Springs” with the windows down and evidently feeling every emotion Stevie Nicks felt creating those iconic lyrics. As I witnessed this universal experience, I thought, “Me too, girl.” Now, with Valentine’s day fast approaching, I’m culminating a top five list of the most devastating “situationship” songs dedicated to the lovely car full of Sewanee students belting out alongside Stevie Nicks because, sometimes, we deserve to belt out our emotions. And, yes, they all give a 70s vibe.
“Bell Bottom Blues” by Derek and the Dominos (1970)
Guitar icon Eric Clapton provides the vocals on this Derek and the Dominos track which appears on the album “Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs.” You might recognize the album cover if you decide to pull up the song on Spotify because it appears on the same album as “Layla,” an incredibly iconic and messy love song. “Layla” was written by Clapton about Pattie Boyd, George Harrison’s first wife, which I learned from avidly listening to the Beatles radio on Sirius XM growing up. If you think your situationship is messy, I encourage you to take a look into some of the drama your favorite rock legends harbor.
“Bell Bottom Blues” was the choice for this list; however, because its tone is a lot softer than “Layla.” This song is a classic heartbreak song with lyrics in the chorus like “Do you want to see me crawl across the floor to you? / Do you want to hear me beg you to take me back?” The slower moving beat of the verses compared with the punchy, desperate sounding chorus culminates to the ultimate message of the song. The lyric repeated over and over is “I don’t want to fade away.” This is such a common sentiment whether it be a desire to remain in a former lover’s heart or a desire to remain relevant in a social situation as you navigate growing older.
My recommendation is to watch the sunset from Morgan’s Steep while listening to this song if you’re ready to have a good emotional experience.
“Isn’t It A Pity” by George Harrison (1970)
If you’re looking for a song that encapsulates the emotion of mutual hurt, as in knowing you’re both the heartbroken and the heartbreaker, I suggest giving Harrison’s “Isn’t It A Pity” from the album “All Things Must Pass” a listen. While we’re on the train of messy relationships, I’d like to call attention to the fact that, when you look up the song, Clapton is listed as a featured artist on some versions. Ladies and gentleman, your situationship could always be worse.
The repeating phrase of the seven minute song is the chorus of “Isn’t it a pity?/ Isn’t it a shame?/ How we break each other’s hearts/ And cause each other pain?” The guitar is slow and contemplative alongside Harrison’s lyrics expressing a heartbreak that hurts for both parties involved.
My recommended Sewanee listening location for “Isn’t It A Pity” would have to be a “swoggy” walk home from class.
“Dirty Work” by Steely Dan (1972)
“Dirty Work” is a storytelling that paints a picture of exactly what it’s like to feel used and cast aside. Released in 1972, the song definitely has a 70s feel that so aptly fits with Sewanee’s campus. Unfortunately, I don’t have any interesting drama to share about Steely Dan as I’m more of a self-proclaimed Beatles historian, but it is undeniable that the song’s lyrics truly evoke the angry, unsettling drama of being in a situationship.
Definitely more upbeat, in my opinion, than the previously discussed songs, “Dirty Work” is relatively well known and easy to sympathize with. My favorite lyric appears in the second verse: “I foresee terrible trouble/ And I stay here just the same.” This lyric hits so hard because knowing a situation will end badly, yet you don’t act to remove yourself from that person or place, is far too common. I know so many friends who have expressed this sentiment with me when sharing their stories of heartbreak, so I feel it’s fitting that it makes this list.
Somehow this song always seems to find its way onto the Pub playlist late on weekend nights. My recommendation, of course, is 12 a.m. on a Friday night while you’re just trying to enjoy chocolate chip pancakes with your friends. The upbeat nature of the song makes the emotions sneak up on you, which is why it’s so fitting for Pub.
“Goodbye Stranger” by Supertramp (1979)
Now that we’ve entered a more upbeat territory, the next song in my top five is “Goodbye Stranger” by Supertramp. This song is perfect if you’re the one waving goodbye to that bad person you just need to get out of your life. The song’s chorus is a sassy well-wish to those you are moving on from, “Goodbye stranger, it’s been nice/ Hope you find your paradise.” Though I’m not exactly sure all of the lyrics fall into the situationship song category, it’s a great goodbye song for someone with a positive outlook on moving on. The whistling section near the middle of the song drives this theme of an optimistic goodbye home.
My listening recommendation is a sunny drive off the mountain towards Winchester. Truly, this song is the perfect driving song in my opinion because of its more upbeat nature.
“Silver Springs” by Fleetwood Mac (1977)
This pick is pretty self explanatory and fully dedicated to the previously mentioned car full of students singing along to this song. Written by Nicks about her messy, tumultuous relationship with another Fleetwood Mac member Lindsey Buckingham. I beg you to take a deep dive into this relationship if you’re going through a doomed situationship.
My listening recommendation? Watch the live performance on YouTube in your dorm room.