The All-Time Best Unknown Love Songs: 70+ Underrated Love Songs

Inside: This playlist of unknown love songs will win you major brownie points. Perfect for Valentine’s Day, anniversaries, weddings, and date nights!

My husband and I have been writing an ongoing love letter to each other since we started dating, in the form of a love songs playlist. But not just any love song will do.

Our playlist is a collection of hidden gems—the best unknown love songs in the world.

You won’t find Celine Dion in this list. Mariah Carey either.

What you will find is a treasure trove of fresh, romantic tunes that will put a smile on your face.

The Best Unknown Love Songs for Any Occasion

From date nights to Valentine’s Day, weddings to anniversaries, and every day in between—play these underrated love songs for your honey, and you’ll get major brownie points.

For each song below, you’ll find a snippet from the lyrics as well as the official video if available. Use this list to build a Valentine’s Day playlist of the most romantic songs your sweetheart has never heard, and bring on the heart-eyes!

I’m always on the lookout for new songs for our playlist. If you know of a unique love song that’s not on this list, please leave a comment below to share.

Get yours now: The Best Conversation Starters for Couples

1. 5 Years Time by Noah & The Whale

Oh well, in five years time we could be walking ’round a zoo
With the sun shining down over me and you
And there’ll be love in the bodies of the elephants too
And I’ll put my hands over your eyes, but you’ll peep through

Listen: Apple Music^† | Amazon Music

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2. All ‘Cause of You by The 88

I’ve been sinking through the drain of love,
Lift my eyes to skies of up above,
Listen to me this is how I feel,
Since I knew you all my thoughts are real,
You’re the only one i wanna do,
Everything’s new,
And it’s all ’cause of you

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

3. Lost in the Moment by Daniel Lee Kendall

You were wearin’ that pretty white dress
You wore it with your pretty smile
I was trying to do my best
To see you smile your pretty smile at me

Listen: Apple Music

4. Just a Boy by Angus & Julia Stone

One kiss from you, and I’m drunk up on your potion
That big old smile is all you wore
Girl you make me want to feel
Things I’ve never felt before

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

5. Wonderin by Nicole Reynolds

My heart is made of instruments
That strum this song for you
They bend and twist each simple pitch
In hopes you’ll feel it too

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

6. Tighten Up by The Black Keys

I don’t need to get steady
I know just how I feel
I’m telling you to be ready
My dear

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

7. The Girl by City and Colour

While I’m off chasing my own dreams
Sailing around the world
Please know that I’m yours to keep
My beautiful girl

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

8. When We First Met by Hellogoodbye

As I kept track of every haircut that we ever had
I could, I could see how long it had been, oh
Oh, how long it had been
And this thought, made it clearer
I ought to be near her

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

9. Sleepy Tigers by Her Space Holiday

Oh I like you so very much so much in fact I gotta wake you up
It’s not that I have words to speak
I just wanna see you looking at me

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

10. You’re What I’m Looking For by Rooney

When I look at you, my troubles all go away
I’m someone new, it feels just like a new day
When you hold me tight, I get lost in your arms
I know tonight I’ve finally found what I’m looking for

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

11. OK by Holly Conlan

And now I’m confused on top of it all
I was ready to lose, and ready to fall
And something about the way that you look at me
Makes it feel okay

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

12. Gray or Blue by Jaymay

But your sweatshirt says it all
With the hood over your face
I can’t keep starin’ at your mouth
Without wonderin’ how it tastes

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

13. Be My Thrill by The Weepies

Be my youth
My kissing booth
My little sweet tooth
My beauty and truth

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

14. Sweeter Than This by Katie Herzig

I’ll feed you Ramen and you’ll braid my hair
Anything goes when you don’t even care
When you’re this far in love

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

15. The Lucky Ones by Tim Myers

Lately I’ve been smiling outside
I feel good, I feel light as a feather
Open up the window look out at the sky
Everything’s better
Ah, ah, ah
Ah, ah, ah
We’re the lucky ones

Listen: Apple Music

16. Fine By Me by Andy Grammer

I’m just saying it’s fine by me
If you never leave
And we can live like this forever
It’s fine by me

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

17. I Never by Rilo Kiley

So let’s take a loan out, put it down on a house
In a place we’ve never lived
In a place that exists in the pages of scripts
And the songs that they sing
And all of the beautiful things
That make you weep, but don’t have to make you weak

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

18. Oh, It Is Love by Hellogoodbye

Oh say, wouldn’t you like to be older and married with me?
Oh say, wouldn’t it be nice to know right now that we’ll be

Someday holding hands in the end
All our broken plans will have been
I will kiss you soft so you know

It is love from the first
Time I pressed my lips against yours
Thinking, “Oh, is it love?”

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

19. All Smiles by Jess Penner

Hands full of lemon drops all disappear
All lips like children, the voices we hear
They’re all smiles, they’re all smiles, they’re all smiles

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

20. Rhythm of Love by Plain White T’s

My heart beats like a drum
A guitar string to the strum
A beautiful song to be sung
She’s got blue eyes deep like the sea
That roll back when she’s laughing at me
She rises up like the tide
The moment her lips meet mine

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

21. Reasons to Love You by Meiko

I wanna fall asleep with you tonight
Wanna know that I am safe when you hold me tight
Wanna feel how I wanna feel, forever

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

22. Here is a Heart by Jenny Owen Youngs

Here is a heart
I made it for you so take it
Battered and braised
Grilled and sautéed
Just how you like it

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

23. Parentheses by The Blow

And when you’re holding me
We make a pair of parentheses
There’s plenty space to encase
Whatever weird way my mind goes
I know I’ll be safe in these arms

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

24. You Are the Best Thing by Ray LaMontagne

And baby, the way you move me it’s crazy
It’s like you see right through me
And make it easier
You please me you don’t even have to try

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

25. Life Less Ordinary by Carbon Leaf

The night you came into my life
Well it took the bones of me, took the bones of me
You blew away my storm and strife
And shook the bones of me, shook the bones of me

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

26. Toothpaste Kisses by The Maccabees

Lay with me, I’ll lay with you
We’ll do the things that lovers do
Put the stars in our eyes
And with heart-shaped bruises
And late night kisses
Divine

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

27. You Make Me Happy by Lindsey Ray

It’s the heart on your sleeve never making me wonder
It’s the bond that we tie up and over and under
You’re the sun and the rain and my grass is always green
With a kiss on my cheek, always letting me know
I’m the birds and the bees, I’m the apple in your eye
I know that you know that I know you’re all I need

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

28. Question by Old 97’s

She’d had no idea, she started to cry
She said in a good way
He took her by the hand, walked her back home
They took the long way

Some day somebody’s gonna ask you
A question that you should say yes to
Once in your life
Maybe tonight I’ve got a question for you

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

29. Everyday by Vetiver

I say it all the time
You don’t pay no mind
When I tell you that I love you
Now do ya?
I wanna be clear
All I wanna hear is your voice
Have your face to see
How happy that would make me

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

30. The Idea of Growing Old by The Features

We can talk all night, we can talk all day
We can play charades when there is nothing to say
You turn me on to the idea of growing old

I can make you angry, you can make me a smile
We can make origami with the kids for a while
You turn me on to the idea of growing old

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

31. Home by Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros

Hot and heavy, pumpkin pie
Chocolate candy, Jesus Christ
Ain’t nothing please me more than you

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

32. What I Wouldn’t Do by A Fine Frenzy

If we were children I would bake you a mud pie
Warm and brown beneath the sun
Never learned to climb a tree but I would try
Just to show you what I’d done

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

33. Sweet Pea by Amos Lee

Sweet pea
What’s all of this about?
Don’t get your way all you do is fuss and pout
You’re the only reason I keep on coming home

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

34. Blue Eyes by Cary Brothers

All the lights on and you are alive
But you can’t point the way to your heart
So sublime, when the stars are aligned
But you don’t know
You don’t know the greatness you are

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

35. Anyone Else But You by The Moldy Peaches

Here is the church and here is the steeple
We sure are cute for two ugly people
I don’t see what anyone can see
In anyone else but you

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

36. In Spite of Ourselves by Iris DeMent and John Prine

She thinks all my jokes are corny
Convict movies make her horny
She likes ketchup on her scrambled eggs
Swears like a sailor when shaves her legs
She takes a lickin’
And keeps on tickin’
I’m never gonna let her go.

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

37. Little Romance by Ingrid Michaelson

I see you’ve pressed those pants
I see you’ve styled that hair
There doesn’t seems to be much of it there
You’re in the mood to dance
Can I have this chance
To be your little romance?

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

38. I’m Not Sorry by Meiko

I hope it won’t scare you away
I wanna have your kids someday
They’d all have dimples on their face like you
And when you’re old or bald or grey
I’m gonna love your wrinkly face
Nobody else could love you like I do

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

39. All I Want Is You by Barry Louis Polisar

If you were a wink, I’d be a nod
If you were a seed, well I’d be a pod
If you were the floor, I’d wanna be the rug
And if you were a kiss, I know I’d be a hug

All I want is you, will you be my bride
Take me by the hand and stand by my side
All I want is you, will you stay with me?
Hold me in your arms and sway me like the sea

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

40. Love Love Love (Let You Go) by Andy Grammer

No defenses I’m too deep for common sense
Well it’s love, love, love, love, love
Oh my I’m so delighted; I don’t try to even fight it
I think you should know that I will never let you go

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

41. The Little Things by Carlos Bertonatti

Run, run, run
Underneath my pillow case
And come, come, come
Closer to me, yeah
If life has taught me anything
It?’s all about the little things

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

42. Overwhelmed by Tim McMorris

I could sing a thousand songs about you, still that would not do
There’s a million tiny things that make the things that you do, you
I wouldn’t trade our time together, wouldn’t trade for anything
‘Cause nothing else here in the world can bring the happiness you bring

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

43. Stuck on You by Meiko

‘Cause you are the one I could see having fun with
Not just for the night, but for the rest of my life
You are the one I could never be done with
I want you tonight and for the rest of my life

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

44. Thank You by Mozella

You fight off my enemies
You’d take a bullet for me
And you know I’d do the same for you
‘Cause that’s how we roll
Connected at the soul

Listen: Apple Music

45. All of You by Busby Marou

So if you choose always me
I’ll make a promise to choose all of you
And if you will follow me now
I’ll be always there to follow you

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

46. Better Than Love by Griffin House

So when I’m walking down the road and feeling bad
Can’t understand the things you do
Nothing turns out the way we planned
You’re still my baby, and I’m still your man

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

47. Love by Matt White

And I, I, I, I, I…I can feel it in your kiss
It just gives me tender bliss
What is love, what is love?
I just want it to be love

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

48. Lucky by Kat Edmonson

Happiness
Feels like this
Your heart upon your sleeve
There’s a place
In time and space
Where we can all be free

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

49. 3 Rounds and a Sound by Blind Pilot

They’re playing our song
They’re playing our song
Can you see the lights?
Can you hear the hum
Of our song?

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

50. Brand New Day by Lindsey Ray With Tim Myers

Wake up
Open your sleepy eyes
Stretch out
Make up the bed now
Sunlight
Kissing your face again
Breakfast
Coffee is waiting

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

51. You Are the Only One I Love by Jaymay

The first thing that you said to me was
“Jamie I love you, Jamie I love you, Jamie, Jamie, I love you”
And I’ve never been one to believe in love at first sight
But now I know it exists

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

52. Love Is What You Are by Old 97’s

Love is what you are
Not what you do
I know what you are
And I love you

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

53. Don’t Let Me Fall by Lenka

You’re just the one that I’ve been waiting for
I’ll give you all that I have to give and more
But don’t let me fall
Don’t let me fall

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

54. Snowfall by Ingrid Michaelson

“I want a snowfall kind of love
The kind of love that keeps you in bed all day
Oh I want to walk through with you
And watch it all melt away”

Listen: Apple Music

55. More Than I Asked For by Joy Williams

“You and me
Underneath the evergreen,
Rosy cheeks,
Holding hands while the snow is falling”

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

56. 30 Days by Never Shout Never

“I’m making a list, hell, I’ll check it twice
Of all the things you’ve done in my life
Then I’ll send it your way
So you see why I love you”

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

57. Winter Moon by Mindy Gledhill

“On the A.M. radio, they’re playing Christmas songs
So horrendously off key, you loudly sing along
Cider simmers on the stove,
Reading Dickens by the glow
Of the light that lingers through the window”

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

58. The Way I Am by Ingrid Michaelson

I’d buy you Rogaine
When you start losing all your hair
Sew on patches to all you tear
‘Cause I love you more than
I could ever promise

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

59. All My Bells Are Ringing by Lenka

“So take my heart
This Christmas
And wrap it
In a ribbon
And a bow”

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

60. Blood Bank by Bon Iver

“That secret that we know that we don’t know how to tell
I’m in love with your honor, I’m in love with your cheeks
What’s that noise up the stairs, babe?
Is that Christmas morning creaks?”

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

61. Mushaboom by Feist

“Old dirt road
Knee deep snow
Watching the fire as we grow old”

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

62. It Really Is (A Wonderful Life) by Mindy Smith

“I’d never noticed that the crackle of a fire
Makes music when accompanied by kiss
And when did I start having dreams about pumpkin pies
There’s not a lot that’s sweeter than this”

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

63. All That I Want by The Weepies

“Above the rooftops
The full moon dips its golden spoon
I wait on clip-clops, deer might fly
Why not? I met you”

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

64. Cold December Night by Michael Bublé

“The twinkling of the lights
The scent of candles fill the household
Old Saint Nick has taken flight
With a heart on board so please be careful”

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

65. It Snowed by Meaghan Smith

“It snowed last night
Everything is sparkling with diamond light
The road is bare
It’s four feet high
Honey let’s play hooky
Cause it snowed last night”

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

66. Mango by Catey Shaw

Oh sweet mango baby
won’t you be mine?
I know you don’t like labels
but let me buy you some wine

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

67. Darlin’ by Dave Barnes

Darlin’ we got it made
Your kids are at your mama’s and baby all the bills are paid
How ’bout a kiss, honey I’ll meet you half way

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

68. Loser by Julian Moon

Full disclosure: One curse word in this one!

There’s a little bit of loser in us
Just two weirdos who fell in love
I guess we’re made from the same weird stuff
Being a loser with you doesn’t suck

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

69. Vintage by High Dive Heart

You’re timeless like an old stack of vinyl
Hundred-year-old bottle of wine-o
Love the classics but what do I know?
You’re the pair of Chucks I never wanna take off
The beat the DJ can’t help but drop
Your Mona Lisa makes my heart stop

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

70. I Don’t Know by Lisa Hannigan

I don’t know if you can dance
If the thought ever occurred to you
If you eat what you’ve been given or you push it around your plate
I’d like to cook for you all the same
I would want to
I am game

Listen: Apple Music | Amazon Music

Get the Spotify Playlist

If you use Spotify, head over to this Unknown Love Songs playlist and click the heart button to add it to your own Spotify library. Bonus: As I discover new love songs, you’ll get extra songs not yet featured in this post!

Get your copy now: 150 Conversation Starters for Couples That Will Make You Feel Closer Than Ever

Want More?

Check out my more specific love song playlists here:

• 16 Funny Love Songs Guaranteed to Make You Smile
• The 14 Best Love Songs You’ve Never Heard
• 25 Songs for the Perfect Wedding Playlist
• 14 Love Songs for the Perfect DIY Valentine’s Day Gift
• 12 Cozy Love Songs for Winter

Your Turn

What are your favorite unknown love songs? Share in a comment below!