“Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad?” is a song by American electronica musician Moby. It was released as the second single from his fifth studio album, Play, in November 1999. The song features vocals by Canadian singer-songwriter Gwen Stefani.

The song is a melancholic ballad, with a simple piano melody and a vocal performance by Stefani that has been described as “haunting”. The lyrics deal with themes of heartache and emotional pain, with lines like “Why does my heart feel so bad? / Why does it hurt when I’m with you?”

Moby wrote the song after experiencing a difficult break-up. He explained in an interview: “I had just come out of a long-term relationship, and I was really depressed. I didn’t want to leave my apartment, and I was just lying on the floor, feeling miserable. And then the melody for ‘Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad?’ just came to me.”

The song was well-received by critics, with many praising Stefani’s emotional performance and the song’s simple yet effective melody. In a review of Play, Rolling Stone wrote: “On the Gwen Stefani-assisted ‘Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad?’ Moby serves up the prettiest piano ballad he’s ever made.” The song was also a commercial success, reaching the top 40 in several countries and becoming one of the most successful singles from the album.

Moby has performed “Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad?” in a variety of live settings, including on television shows like The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Later… with Jools Holland. The song has also been covered by several artists, including British singer-songwriter Damien Rice and American pop-rock band Plain White T’s.

In conclusion, “Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad?” is a standout track from Moby’s critically acclaimed album Play, thanks in part to its emotive lyrics and Gwen Stefani’s powerful vocal performance. The song’s simple yet effective melody and relatable themes of heartache continue to resonate with listeners to this day.