Friendships are one of the best parts of life, giving us someone to make memories with, laugh with, and lean on in hard times. Bet friend songs are sometimes the best way to celebrate someone who has been there for you, and there are plenty to choose from. Spanning decades, from the Beatles and Beach Boys to Taylor Swift and Bruno Mars, you’ll find the perfect song to remind you that you’re never alone.
Here are some of the best songs about best friends to share with those closest to you – perfect for social media captions, karaoke nights, or nostalgic playlists.
Best Friend Songs
These are some of the best songs about best friends. If you have a special friend in your life, you can probably relate to some of these songs. If the song makes you think of them, consider sending this song to them!
“All My Friends” by LCD Soundsystem
This Indie/electronic rock song from 2007 is a nostalgic song that’ll make you want to dance with your best friend. It captures the feeling of getting older and having responsibilities, but still caring about and wanting to have fun with your friends.
“Anytime You Need a Friend” by Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey is a generational favorite pop and R&B artist who sings about the unconditional support of true friendship in the 1994 hit. It’s the song to turn to when you feel alone or isolated and need a reminder that you have a friend ready to help you through your journey. This is a great song to send to your best friend who is going through a rough period in their life.
“Bros” by Wolf Alice
This 2015 Alternative Rock hit is the song for those who grew up together despite differences and situations that could have driven them apart. It’s a song about doing everything together and staying close through it all.
“Stick it out together, like we always do.”
“Count On Me” by Bruno Mars
Bruno Mars is a family favorite! His 2011 folk-pop hit “Count on Me” is a fun, sweet song about having your best friends back no matter what. It’s perfect and upbeat for a best friend karaoke session or giving your bestie a shoutout on social media.
“You can count on me like one, two, three, I’ll be there. And I know when I need it, I can count on you like four, three, two, and you’ll be there.”
“I’ll Be There” by The Jackson 5
You probably already know a couple of songs from the Jackson 5. Their song “I’ll Be There” is a 1970s celebration to friendship that is innocent and heartfelt. The lyrics are about being there for someone and having faith in them throughout all life’s changes.
“I’ll be there to comfort you, build my world of dreams around you.”
“Friends” by The Beach Boys
You can’t forget the Beach Boys’ pop-rock 1968 hit “Friends” when thinking of the best friendship songs. It’s a lighthearted song about being honest and supporting one another through hardships, even when you no longer talk every day.
“We’ve been friends now for so many years. We’ve been together through the good times and the tears.”
“Guys” by The 1975
This Indie pop/rock song from 2020 is a love song for guy friends. There aren’t many songs about men who love each other as friends, so it makes this song extra unique. It’s about friends being the best thing to happen to your life and holding the memories close.
“And I wish that we could do it again. You guys are the best thing that ever happened to me.”
“I’ll Be There for You” by The Rembrandts
If you’re a fan of the TV show “Friends,” you’ll recognize this 1995 pop/rock song as the theme. It’s fun and nostalgic, and it’s the perfect choice if you want everyone to sing along.
“I’ll be there for you (When the rain starts to pour). I’ll be there for you (Like I’ve been there before). I’ll be there for you (‘Cause you’re there for me too).”
“Lean on Me” by Bill Withers
If you’re looking for a soul/R&B friendship vibe, this 1972 classic hit is the one. It’s a song about supporting friends through the hard times and always being there to carry them when they need it.
“Lean on me, when you’re not strong, and I’ll be your friend, I’ll help you carry on.”
“Old Friends” by Ben Rector
This 2018 pop best friend song is perfect for teens who have had lifelong friends and are thinking about becoming adults. It’s nostalgic, with the lyrics talking about memories of the past that still feel fresh, and the reminder that even when you make new friends, there’s nothing like the ones you grew up with.
“I wouldn’t change how things turned out, but there’s no one in this time zone who knows what inline skates that I wore. Can you take me back when we were just kids who weren’t scared of gettin’ older?”
“Thank You for Being a Friend” by Andrew Gold
Think Golden Girls for this one – it’s the iconic 1978 pop/soft rock theme song for the popular TV show. It’s about being friends for so long that you grow old together, being there for the entire journey along the way.
“Thank you for being a friend. Traveled down the road and back again.”
“That’s What Friends Are For” by Dionne Warwick (feat. Elton John, Gladys Knight, Stevie Wonder)
This pop/R&B hit from 1985 is a reminder that even when your friends aren’t there with you in person, you can always close your eyes and envision them. Even when you’re apart, they love you and you can count on them through it all.
“Keep smilin’, keep shinin’, knowin’ you can always count on me for sure. That’s what friends are for.”
“Long Live” by Taylor Swift
This 2010 pop-rock Taylor Swift song on friendship is emotional and fun all at once. She sings about the adventures and inside jokes of childhood or high school friendships, then gets nostalgic about growing up and potentially losing touch but still holding those memories close.
“Will you take a moment? Promise me this, that you’ll stand by me forever. But if, God forbid, fate should step in and force us into a goodbye, if you have children someday, when they point to the pictures, please, tell ’em my name.”
“Graduation (Friends Forever)” by Vitamin C
This 1999 pop song might be one of the most popular for friends and teens nearing graduation age. It’s a song highlighting all the things you get to know about your high school friends and what you will miss when you inevitably lose touch with some of them. It’s nostalgic and heartfelt, and you might cry when listening to it.
“As we go on, we remember all the times we had together, and as our lives change, come whatever, we will still be friends forever.”
“True Blue” by boygenius
This song is about leaving home to find yourself, but turning back to your childhood friends when things get hard. It’s about having friends who know you better than you know yourself, and better than anyone you meet later.
“But it feels good to be known so well. I can’t hide from you like I hide from myself. I remember who I am when I’m with you. Your love is tough, your love is tried and true-blue.”
“We’re Going to Be Friends” by The White Stripes
If you’re looking for a song about making a new friend when you go back to school that you immediately hit it off with, this 2002 garage rock/alternative choice is the one. In school, you’ll make friends that will impact your life forever, making memories you can’t make later in life, and this song touches on all of it.
“And we don’t notice any time pass. We don’t notice anything. We sit side by side in every class.”
“With a Little Help From My Friends” by The Beatles
Everyone knows the beatles. Their 1967 pop song “With a little help from my friends” is about how, no matter what you’re going through, you can get by with help from your friends. This is often seen as one of the best friend songs of all time.
“You Can’t Make Old Friends” by Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton
Who doesn’t love Dolly Parton? This 2013 country duet is an emotional song about how even when your friends are gone, you can’t make old friends. All the things you did with them will be different when they aren’t around, and these lyrics hit the mark.
“You and me will be together again. ‘Cause we both know, we will still be old friends. You can’t make old friends. Not the way we have always been.”
“You Got a Friend in Me” by Randy Newman
You probably know this song from the movie Toy Story. That movie made it a lot more popular, and for good reason. It is an amazing song about the power of friendship, and what it means to have a best friend.
“You’ve Got a Friend” by Carole King / James Taylor version
This folk/soft rock song from 1971 features friends singing about friendship through the seasons. The lyrics are about how, no matter what time of year it is, you always have your good friends to turn to.
“Winter, spring, summer, or fall, all you have to do is call, and I’ll be there, you’ve got a friend.”
“I’ll Stand by You” by The Pretenders
The Pretenders’ song “I’ll Stand by You” is about when a friend looks sad but holds back. The lyrics encourage the best friend to open up and depend on their person to help them get through.
“When the night falls on you, you don’t know what to do, nothin’ you confess could make me love you less.”
“My Old Friend” by Tim McGraw
This 2003 country song is one for those who have lost a friend too soon, highlighting the memories and stories you love to talk about. It’s about how the love of the friendship outlasts the sadness.
“Because the love and the laughter will live on long after all of the sadness and the tears. We will meet again, my old friend.”
“That’s My Best Friend” by Tokyo Vanity
If you’re looking for viral songs about friendship, this 2015 hip-hop/rap choice will do the trick. It originally went viral on Vine but has stayed fresh in people’s minds for the last decade. The lyrics are perfect for being a hype-girl, hyping your best friend up at all times.
“Bridge over Troubled Water” by Simon & Garfunkel
This 1970 folk rock/pop classic is an emotional song about the comfort and support you’ll find in good friendships. Sharing it with a friend reassures them that you’ll be there no matter what they’re going through – you’ll be their bridge to get over hardship.
“Count on Me” by Whitney Houston & CeCe Winans
This 2000 R&B hit is one of the perfect best friend songs to convey the message that when a friend is going through a hard time, you’ll be there to help them find happiness again.
“Count on me through thick and thin. A friendship that will never end. When you are weak, I will be strong, helping you to carry on.”
Conclusion on Friendship Songs
No matter the genre, the message in these songs is the same. Friends are forever, and the real ones will be there for you through everything, good or bad. If you’re looking for songs about friendships and best friends, go through the ones listed above as a playlist.