Love is one of the most common things people write songs about, and it’s a powerful emotion. But not every love song is about romantic love; some of the best are all about having good friends around you.
In this article, we’ll go over 51 of the best songs about friendship and best friends.
1. You’ve Got A Friend In Me – Randy Newman
I’m personally going to have a hard time putting any other song at the top of this list. You’ve Got A Friend In Me is a great song on its own. In all reality, it’s a beautiful song of friendship that can transcend the need for genre or accolades to prove its worth. But, being a big feature of the film Toy Story, it changed everything for this song. It added a depth of emotion to a movie about toys coming to life that probably wouldn’t have been there without it.
As a big piece of my childhood (i.e., watching Disney Movies), this song holds a special place in my heart and the heart of many kids who grew up at the same time as I did.
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2. I’ll Be There For You – the Rembrandts
You might not recognize the title of this song, but you will definitely recognize the tune. I’ll Be There For You was the theme song for the TV show Friends and The Rembrandts’ biggest hit. A song about people being friends on a show about a group of inseparable friends? Sign us right up (despite the show being vastly overrated, shots fired).
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3. Thank You For Being A Friend – Andrew Gold
We’re going to stick with the TV show theme for this entry as well. As good friends as the characters on Friends were, the Golden Girls were just a bit closer. Maybe it’s because they had lived in each other’s lives so much longer. Who knows? Thank You For Being A Friend was the theme song for the show and is much longer than the cut used for the opening introduction. If you’ve never heard the song in full, I urge you to try it.
4. Good As Hell – Lizzo
I can tell you from experience when you’re so low and breaking through rock bottom, your true friends will show up without an invitation. It’s happened to me, and hopefully, you have someone like that in your life. Lizzo is one of those friends, showing up for her friend after a breakup with a bottle of booze and a good time to take their mind off of things.
5. Anytime You Need A Friend – Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey’s Anytime You Need A Friend is actually about her relationship with God. When you isolate yourself and feel like you have nobody, where do you turn? Many turn to God, a force that’s always there for you and can always offer comfort to the people who believe strongly enough.
6. Count on Me – Bruno Mars
No matter who you are or how good a friend you think you are, remind your friends that you’re there for them. They might not tell you what’s bothering them or reach out without that reminder, so it’s the right thing to do. Count On Me by Bruno Mars is a sweet, fun way to do it, too, so maybe send them the song if you can’t find the words yourself.
7. Ain’t No Mountain High Enough – Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell
Ain’t No Mountain High Enough is a legendary song. Its place in the film Remember The Titans helped give the entire movie an added layer that was very important for understanding the obstacles in the way of de-segregation, at least in the film. In total, the song is quite beautiful, one that defines friendship for many people in a soulful and emotional way.
8. Friend Like Me – Robin Williams (Aladdin)
Back to Disney, we go. With Robin Williams not with us anymore, this song takes on a little bit of extra meaning. While you shouldn’t expect your friends to magically change your life with genie powers, it can feel that way sometimes. Friend Like Me might have been about how Genie could help Aladdin, but the song itself is a great representation of how important a good friend can be in life, in your career, and just in general.
9. Wannabe – Spice Girls
There are a few different codes regarding how your friends should come before your relationship. “Bros before h*es,” “chicks before d*cks,” two sides of the same coin. The Spice Girls took that to a new level with Wannabe, a girl-empowerment song about making sure your friends come before any guy that comes into your life because they’re going to be around much longer (most likely, at least).
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10. Umbrella – Rihanna
Bad stuff is going to happen. It’s inevitable, but sometimes things keep happening in a big flow that feels like the sky has opened up and started pouring rain on you. What better umbrella to shelter you from the bad stuff in life than a good friend? Rihanna makes a good one, as she’s more than willing to let her friends stand under her umbrella to get away from all of it whenever they need it.
11. I’m Only Me When I’m With You – Taylor Swift
Sometimes, you feel the need to act a certain way around certain people. The best friends you have don’t make you feel that way. You can be yourself, free from judgment, and just be comfortable. And for some people, they can only do that around a few friends. That sentiment wrapped up in I’m Only Me When I’m With You by Taylor Swift.
12. You’re My Best Friend – Queen
This might not be the most profound song on the list, but it would be cool to be friends with Freddie Mercury. In all honesty, if you feel alone, this is a song you can lean on, and that’s probably how it was meant to come across. If you have nobody else, Queen still has your back.
13. That’s What Friends Are For – Dionne Warwick
This song was a huge smash hit, seeing Dionne Warwick team up with Elton John, Gladys Knight, and Stevie Wonder, a bunch of star names. It’s all about the support that your friends should offer, those small things that mean a lot to you, but they brush off as natural because, hey, “that’s what friends are for,” right?
14. Exhale (Shoop Shoop) – Whitney Houston
Whitney Houston made a lot of hit songs about love and heartbreak, but what happens when she combines the two? Exhale (Shoop Shoop) was one of those, seeing the narrator trying to deal with a broken heart after the end of a relationship and how helpful it was to surround herself with good friends. When you’re down, reach out and talk about it, it really helps.
15. Lean On Me – Bill Withers
Lean On Me is an infinitely powerful song. There’s a reason close groups often use it to end meetings. We all need a friend we can lean on when we aren’t strong, returning the favor when they need it. Even just knowing someone is there to help you keep going is a huge lift, so when they actually show up, it’s the boost you need in life.
16. Real Friends – Kanye West
For the famous, the rich, and the popular, it can be hard to tell who your real friends are. Some people are just hanging around to leech off of you and attempt to benefit themselves. Kanye is someone who would probably know about that, which is why he released Real Friends. It dives into the struggles of figuring out who is a real friend and who is just there to use you.
17. Because You Loved Me – Céline Dion
A good friendship can make you feel like you can do anything. While this song from Céline Dion could easily be a song for your soulmate or about a pair of lovers, it works just as well for friends. Having someone that’s always there to support you can pull you out of the darkest hole or help you achieve things that might otherwise feel impossible. Throw in Celine Dion’s incredible voice, and you’ve got an amazing song about friendship.
18. Stand By Me – Tracy Chapman
A lot of artists have recorded Stand By Me over the years. Tracy Chapman’s version is incredibly powerful, so it’s the one we’re going to insert onto our list here. When the days grow dark, and you can’t seem to find a way to crawl out of your situation, having a friend to stand by you means the world.
19. You Can’t Make Old Friends – Kenny Rogers feat. Dolly Parton
Have Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers ever teamed up for a song that wasn’t absolutely great? I really don’t think so. You Can’t Make Old Friends extolls the value of having a friend around for a long time. It’s completely different than making a new friend. You two will know each other better than you thought possible, and the relationship will be much more meaningful.
20. This One’s For The Girls – Martina McBride
Martina McBride released some epic country classics, but This One’s For The Girls is just a bit better than most, especially for a list about friendship. It’s an ode to nights out with the girls, spending time with the friends that matter most, and raising a toast to your closest relationships.
21. Waiting On A Friend – Rolling Stones
![The Rolling Stones - Waiting On A Friend [Official Lyric Video]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/rvcqZyMS0iY/0.jpg)
You can go through as many shallow relationships as you want. It isn’t going to amount to much. This is especially true if you blow through as many lovers as a rock star like Mick Jagger. Waiting On A Friend by the Rolling Stones is about that very thing, getting sick of shallow relationships and meaningless lovers and just waiting on a real friend to come into your life so you have someone real around you.
22. We’re Going To Be Friends – The White Stripes
Have you ever met someone and instantly felt a small connection with them? It happens less as you get older, with kids feeling it more than we do, but it still happens. You meet someone and instantly have a positive experience and think, “‘we’re going to be friends.” That’s all summed up in We’re Going To Be Friends by The White Stripes.
23. Hymn – Kesha
Many people struggle to find the people they have a sense of belonging with. When you do, it’s called “finding your tribe,” which typically means finding people that are the same kind of weird as you. Kesha produced this gem of a song about finding your tribe and finally feeling like you fit in.
24. Friends In Low Places – Garth Brooks
Your friends are “home” if you look at it metaphorically. They should be where you feel safe and give you a sense of belonging. That feeling is especially poignant when you wind up in situations where you don’t really fit in. And that’s mostly what Garth Brooks’ song, Friends In Low Places, is all about. He isn’t high and fancy, and his people are of a lower class.
25. Heroes – David Bowie
Heroes by David Bowie is about romantic love, but the lyrics can still fit for a good friendship. It’s all about the impact that someone can have in your life, becoming your hero and someone you look up to. With them around, you can do anything.
26. Best Friend – Young Thug
If you need a lesson on how to combine a flexing rap song with a lovely description of friendship, go ask Young Thug how he did it. Best Friend describes the perfect best friend. You can brag about your achievements in life without worrying about making them jealous, mad, or making them feel like you’re putting them down.
27. All My Favorite People – Maren Morris
Maren Morris was definitely onto something with All My Favorite People. Not everyone lives life the same way. Some smoke, drink, swear, go to church, and some are spontaneous adventurers. Not everyone is going to do the things you do, but you’ll find out that you and your favorite people do a lot of the same things.
28. Find Out Who Your Friends Are – Tracy Lawrence
When life keeps throwing stuff at you, you’ll quickly find out who your real friends are. Whether you’re broken down on the side of the road or just going through a rough patch, real friends drop everything and show up. Tracy Lawrence gave us the perfect song to illustrate those kinds of people with Find Out Who Your Friends Are, even coming with a warning that some people just aren’t your real friends because they wouldn’t go out of their way for you.
29. My Old Friend – Tim McGraw
Odes to friends make for really good songs, but some come with stronger emotions than others. My Old Friend is a heartbreaking song by Tim McGraw because of the circumstances around it. It’s a tribute to one of his friends who had passed away, reliving all the good times and relating to many people out there who have lost amazing friends in their lives.
30. We Should Be Friends – Miranda Lambert
Like a couple of other songs on the list, sometimes you meet someone and want to get closer to them. Your mind tells you that you should be friends with that person because you have a lot in common or get along really well. That’s what We Should Be Friends by Miranda Lambert is all about.
31. Clique – Kanye West, JAY-Z, Big Sean
Clique was one of the best hype songs the year it came out. Ain’t nobody messing with Kanye and Jay-Z’s cliques, either. It’s an awesome song to get hyped up with your friends, but it also speaks to a deep solidarity that comes when you and a group of people have each other’s backs no matter what stands in your way.
32. Good Morning Friend – Johnny Cash
Many Christians liken their relationship with God to having the best friend possible. Someone who is always there, ready to listen, and is their greatest supporter. Johnny Cash taps into that feeling with Good Morning Friend, a song all about his friendship with God and how important it is for his life.
33. Wind Beneath My Wings – Bette Midler
If there was ever an ultimate anthem of friendship, this song might be it. Calling someone the literal wind beneath your wings to metaphorically describe the support they’ve given you is next-level lyricism. Plus, Wind Beneath My Wings by Bette Midler is a beautiful song that will make you think of a special supportive friend when you listen.
34. Bridge Over Troubled Water – Simon and Garfunkel
Not a lot needs to be said here. Bridge Over Troubled Water is one of the most moving and beautiful songs about friends ever produced. The end.
35. In My Life – The Beatles
You can look at In My Life as either romantic or friendly love, it works in either scenario. It describes a relationship so good that no matter who else comes into your life, nobody else will ever compare to the relationship you’ve built.
36. Me & My Girls – Selena Gomez
Me & My Girls by Selena Gomez is the perfect song to listen to with your girlfriends as you get ready to go out for the night. This is an awesome song about the friendship between women and how fun that can be, and one that’s more than worthy of a space in your playlist about friends, best friends, and good friendships.
37. Cheetah Sisters – The Cheetah Girls
The Cheetah Girls were an amazing representation of how important friends are in your life. Finding friends that will be there, especially when young, is very important and this song captures that.
38. Oo-De-Lally – Roger Miller
Did you think we were done with Disney? Oo-De-Lally comes from their animated Robin Hood film, which paints the characters as different sorts of animals and is severely underrated, in my humble opinion. It’s about supporting those less fortunate than yourself, lifting the downtrodden, and being a pillar of the community.
39. Call Me – Blondie
Everybody needs a friend to call when they need something. Debbie Harry wants you to know she’s the one you should be calling.
40. Gift Of A Friend – Demi Lovato
Friends are really one of the best gifts life gives us. Demi Lovato showed she was wise beyond her years when she released Gift Of A Friend at just 17 years old. Of course, this came out before she was an adult artist with her own work, so it was featured on the soundtrack to Disney’s Tinker Bell And The Lost Treasure.
41. What About Your Friends – TLC
TLC brings up a very good point in What About Your Friends. They ask the simple question, “will your friends be there when it matters most?” If your answer is yes, good. If you had to say no, you need to find some new friends.
42. Girl – Destiny’s Child
Have you ever wanted to try to help a friend going through some stuff in life but didn’t know what to say? Destiny’s Child laid down the blueprint in Girl. If your friend is struggling but can’t find the words, drive over there and listen to this in the car before you go in to talk to them. It can definitely help you come up with some supportive things to say.
43. Graduation (Friends Forever) – Vitamin C
![Vitamin C - Graduation (Friends Forever) [Official Music Video]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/tz_NxOF7RB4/0.jpg)
If you want to have a little cry session because of nostalgia and the sweet, sappy feeling that comes from remembering old friends, do yourself a favor and listen to Graduation by Vitamin C. It’s a beautiful song, but you honestly might tear up a bit when you listen to it.
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44. Started From The Bottom – Drake
One of the best experiences in life is finding success with the people you care about. Your teamwork and work ethic combined can take you much farther than you would get on your own. Started From The Bottom by Drake was a massive hit for the come-up described in the song, but remember that they didn’t leave any of the crew behind on the way up.
45. Best Friend – Harry Nilsson
If there’s a song about best friends out there that everybody has heard, it’s Best Friend by Harry Nilsson. You might have heard it on Rob & Big, but let’s be real here. Any time a show wants to do a friendship montage, this is probably the first song on their list. An upbeat and happy tune that sees the narrator talking about how great their best friend is, easily an all-time classic song in media.
46. Friends – Elton John
Friends from Elton John is a sweet tribute that Bernie Taupin and himself concocted. It was long before they found success in the United States, but that doesn’t mean they weren’t putting out great music. This is a loving, perfect song for your friends and a loving way to remind them that they have someone there for them whenever they need it.
47. No New Friends – DJ Khaled
![DJ Khaled - No New Friends (Explicit) [Official Video]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/E2Lw9YWLVts/0.jpg)
Once you have a solid group of friends around for the long haul, it almost becomes a bit of a closed group. You don’t want to add new people because it can mess up the group’s chemistry, and you don’t know if that person has the right intentions. No New Friends by DJ Khaled is about that, but with the added layer of not making new friends because they could just be clout-chasing thanks to his fame.
48. True Colors – Cyndi Lauper
Sometimes, we just need someone to see the best in us despite our shortcomings. That’s where our friends come in. Cyndi Lauper’s True Colors wasn’t about uncovering the dark truth of the people around you. It was about having someone see the best in you, even when you’re struggling through the darkness.
49. Best Friend – Brandy
What would any of us do if we didn’t have our best friends? You know, the people you know will always be around, the ones you call when you need something and know they’ll help, and the ones who love you for you. Best Friend by Brandy is one of the best examples of this kind of friendship in the R&B genre, even describing a best friend as one who has gained that title thanks to having been an amazing friend in general.
50. Good Friends and a Glass of Wine – LeAnn Rimes
Sometimes life is simple. Whether you’re having a great day or the sky is literally falling, a good friend and a glass of wine are all you need to brighten your day. Thanks, LeAnn Rimes.
51. Help! – The Beatles
When shit hits the fan, you need the right people around you to make sure you can get through your current situation. Help! is a song by The Beatles that sees them calling out for their friends in dire situations. It’s a classic song that still gets remembered today as one of the band’s best, which is saying something when it’s a band like The Beatles.
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As a contributing writer for Music Grotto, Dakotah writes and produces professional music/media content. He works closely with editorial staff to meet editorial standards and create
quality content for the Music Grotto website. Dakotah is passionate about music in a wide variety of genres, from hip-hop to country and lo-fi to metal, and he enjoys creating music pieces for Music Grotto.
