Are you looking for music that celebrates the special bond you have with your bestie? We think best friend songs capture the beauty and support that real friendship holds. As with romantic couples, we think best buds deserve to have a track to call “our song.” You know, the type of tune you sing together in the car to each other to pump one another up with love.
From classic tunes like Bill Withers‘ “Lean on Me” or Carole King‘s “You’ve Got a Friend,” to newer entries like Yola‘s “Be My Friend” or serpentwithfeet‘s “Fellowship,” there is no shortage of songs about friendship for you and your BFF to enjoy together or apart to remember that someone always has got your back. Take a listen to some of the best friend songs below and at the end of this list, you will find a playlist that contains each for a mix that’s all about being buddies. Let’s go!
Time to Get Sentimental with These Touching Best Friend Songs.
“Lean On Me” – Bill Withers
“Lean on me, when you’re not strong / And, I’ll be your friend / I’ll help you carry on,” Bill Withers croons on this classic track that always uplifts. It’s a great way to remind yourself that you’ve always got someone to lean on when times get tough.
“You’ve Got a Friend” – Carole King
One of the most beautiful best friend songs comes from legendary songwriter Carole King. “Winter, spring, summer or fall / All you have to do is call / And I’ll be there / You’ve got a friend,” she sings. That’s some 365 days a year kind of love right there.
“You’re My Best Friend” – Queen
“Oh, you’re the best friend that I ever had / I’ve been with you such a long time / You’re my sunshine / and I want you to know / That my feelings are true / I really love you,” Freddie Mercury sings in this sizzling, upbeat track. It’s one of the great best friend songs for friends who give each other life.
“With a Little Help From My Friends” – The Beatles
“I get by with a little help from my friends,” is the mantra and takeaway from this song from Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band was released in 1967. After all these years, this song still stands up as a reminder that no matter what life throws at you, your friends will help you through.
“Friends in Low Places” – Garth Brooks
“Friends In Low Places” tells the story of a rough around the edges man who might not fit in at “black tie affairs” but it doesn’t really matter because he’s “got friends in low places.” It’s a treasure to have friends that don’t want you to be anything but your most authentic self which this catchy tune celebrates.
“Count On Me” – Whitney Houston and CeCe Winans
“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,” the opening lyrics of this song ensures its listeners. It’s the first track from the Waiting to Exhale soundtrack but will not be its last.
“You’ve Got a Friend In Me” – Randy Newman
A song that might be nostalgic for you and your bestie, “You’ve Got a Friend In Me,” was famously used in Toy Story to really drive home the theme of friendship and its importance. It’s one of the most popular best friend songs ever.
“That’s What Friends Are For” – Dionne Warwick Feat. Elton John, Gladys Knight, and Stevie Wonder
Dionne Warwick takes top billing on this smash hit from 1985. She was not the first to record the song but she did make it her own and gift it to the world. “Keep smiling and keep shining / Knowing you can always count on me, for sure / That’s what friends are for / In good times and bad times / I’ll be on your side forever more / That’s what friends are for,” Warwick sings.
“Wind Beneath My Wings” – Bette Midler
A song from a friendship movie that will always make you cry, “Wind Beneath My Wings” will always make many of us think of Beaches. Bette Midler belts this one to the cheap seats and delivers lyrics like “Did you ever know that you’re my hero / And everything I would like to be? / I can fly higher than an eagle / For you are the wind beneath my wings.” It’s one of the most powerful best friend songs on this list.
“Umbrella” – Rihanna Feat. Jay-Z
“When the sun shines, we’ll shine together / Told you I’ll be here forever / Said I’ll always be your friend / Took an oath, I’ma stick it out ’til the end,” Rihanna sings on this song with Jay-Z. It’s one of the catchiest best friend songs that uses an umbrella as a metaphor for the safety of friendship.
“Bridge Over Troubled Water” – Simon and Garfunkel
“Bridge Over Troubled Water,” is another one of classic best friend songs that comes with some masterful lyrics. Don’t take our word for it. Rolling Stone listed this ballad as one of the 500 greatest songs of all time.
“Thank You For Being a Friend” – Andrew Gold
A song that was used for Golden Girls, a television series all about friendships, “Thank You For Being a Friend” is longer in Andrew Gold‘s original version. A verse not found in the Golden Girls theme says, “And when we both get older / With walking canes and hair of gray / Have no fear, even though it’s hard to hear / I will stand real close and say / Thank you for being a friend.” Not bad, right?
“I’ll Be There for You” – The Rembrandts
While we’re on the topic of television theme songs let’s check in with the theme from Friends. “When it hasn’t been your day, your week, your month / Or even your year, but / I’ll be there for you / When the rain starts to pour,” the song famously claims. The song was originally released by The Rembrandts and was written expressly for the show. We think they nailed it.
“Exhale (Shoop Shoop)” – Whitney Houston
As promised, here’s another song from Waiting to Exhale that’s all about mending a broken heart and knowing that your support group of friends will be there for you. We know many friends likely already “shop shoop” together!
“Graduation (Friends Forever)” – Vitamin C
“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,” Vitamin C‘s hopeful graduation song says. This could be one of the perfect best friend songs for a pair of pals who graduated together.
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“Wannabe” – Spice Girls
One of the most fun best friend songs, “Wannabe” from Spice Girls is all about making sure a man adds up to those in the friend group. “If you wanna be my lover, you gotta get with my friends /
Make it last forever, friendship never ends,” the song famously proclaims.
“In My Life” – The Beatles
Two years before the last The Beatles song we shared with you was released, “In My Life” came out in 1965. “All these places have their moments / With lovers and friends I still can recall / Some are dead and some are living / In my life, I’ve loved them all,” the song lyrics read. It’s one of the best friend songs about reflection and always keeping friends in your heart.
“Good Friend and a Glass of Wine” – LeAnn Rimes
The lyrics for “Good Friend and a Glass of Wine” say it plainly: “A good friend and a glass of wine / Someone to say it’s gonna be alright / A good friend and a glass of wine / A little pick me up to get me through the night / We talk trash n’ we laugh and cry / That kind of therapy money can’t buy / Every now and then, every now and then / Every girl needs a good friend and a glass of wine.”
“Best Friend” – Brandy
Brandy‘s 1994 release “Best Friend” is a love letter to her best friend. “Don’t know what I’d ever do without you / From the beginning to the end / You’ve always been here right beside me / So, I’ll call you my best friend,” the lyrics tenderly say.
“My Old Friend” – Tim McGraw
“My Old Friend” from Tim McGraw is a song that tells the story of a friendship that’s faded over the years but never forgotten. It’s one of the greatest best friend songs to send to pal you have talked to in far too long. It just might help you reconnect.
“Anytime You Need a Friend” – Mariah Carey
“Anytime you need a friend / I will be here / You’ll never be alone again / So don’t you fear / Even if you’re miles away / I’m by your side / So don’t you ever be lonely / Love will make it alright,” Mariah Carey sings. It’s one of the best friend songs with some of the most straightforward lyrics out there.
“I’ll Remember” – Madonna
“I’ll Remember” is Madonna’s overlooked 1994 ballad thanking a friend for their help through a tough time. “And I’ll remember / The love that you gave me / Now that I’m standing on my own / I’ll remember / The way that you changed me / I’ll remember,” she sings.
“New Friends Silver, Old Friends Gold” – RuPaul
One of the very upbeat best friends songs on this list comes from RuPaul. The song deals with old friendships that might feel lost but still have love left in them. “Kinda lost touch, but we never fell out/ From happy to heartbreak, turning upside-down / And even when the chips were down, oh, oh / I always knew I had a friend, I have a friend,” one of the final verses goes.
“Friends” – Elton John
One of the most touching Elton John songs that you might have never heard before is “Friends” which was released in 1971. This low-key pop ballad is just so sweet in its sound as well as its lyrics. “Making friends for the world to see / Let the people know you got what you need / With a friend at hand you will see the light / If your friends are there, then everything’s all right.”
“I Will Be Your Friend” – Sade
“I will be your friend till the end of time / I will be your friend I’m here to make you smile / When you’re falling apart / I pick up each piece and build a wall around your dreams / The punches to your heart / Melt away when you never thought they’d heal / So trust in me,” the sweet lyrics from Sade‘s “I Will Be Your Friend,” say. It’s one of the smoothest best friend songs on this list.
“Be My Friend” – Yola
“Be My Friend” is one of the best friend songs that asks for your friendship. Yola lays out what is needed in a friendship: “Until you find the one that always knew your name / Someone who loves you even if they feel your pain / Will be there for you.” Then, she asks, “Won’t you be my friend out in the rain?” This feels like a great best friend song to belt with your bestie.
“My Best Friend” – Jefferson Airplane
In Jefferson Airplane’s lightly psychedelic 1967 tune, “My Best Friend” is one of the absolute greatest best friend songs for those flower children out there. It describes friendship as a “love stream.”
“Old Friend” – Mitski
“Old Friend” is a song about how complicated a friendship can be. Specifically, this song is about a friendship between two ex’s who ended things but the narrator wishes to see at their special spot, “Blue Diner.”
“Friends” – The Carters
No matter who your pals might be, you can easily relate to the opening line of “Friends” by The Carters (AKA Beyoncé and Jay-Z): “My friends, real friends, better than your friends!” the song declares. It’s one of the best friend songs that puts things plainly.
“Best Friend” – Saweetie Feat. Doja Cat and Steflon Don
A real toe-tapper and one of the best friend songs that you’ll want to dance to, “Best Friend” from Saweetie, Doja Cat, and Steflon Don. “Best friend, you the badest and you know it,” is a sentiment we expect is shared among many girlfriends.
“Beautiful Day With My Best Friend” – Jimmy Eat World
One of the sweetest best friend songs comes from Jimmy Eat World who recorded this song for Yo Gabba Gabba! “Yeah, beautiful day / With my best friend / With my best friend / I’m so lucky and happy / To have a friend / A friend like you,” the heartfelt lyrics say.
“My Sister” – Reba McEntire
“My Sister” is one of the best friend songs for friends who love each other like sisters. The concept is that the song is being left as a voicemail for a sister. It’s very sentimental and would be ideal for friends who grew up together.
“Friend” – Michael Lanza
Michael Lanza‘s sweet song about dedication is a comforting message to a best friend. “Anytime you need a friend / I’ll be there right by your side / Say where you wanna go / I’ll come along for the ride,” Lanza sings.
“Time After Time” by Cyndi Lauper
Cyndi Lauper‘s smash hit “Time After Time” can easily be considered one of the best friend songs of all time. “If you’re lost you can look and you will find me / Time after time / If you fall, I will catch you, I’ll be waiting / Time after time,” the chorus repeats. What more could you want from a friendship?
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“Fellowship” – serpentwithfeet
“My friends, my friends, my friends / I’m thankful for the love I share with my friends, my friends,” serpentwithfeet sings of the “fellowship” he has with his friends and chosen family. It’s one of the best friend songs that’s a straightforward love letter to the friends that hold us.
Best Friend Songs Playlist
In case you’d like to listen to all of these best friend songs, we’ve made a playlist with each. Enjoy!
There you have it! The best friend songs you and your bestie need to sing together. As with couples, we think it’s more than appropriate for friends to have a song they share that expresses the unique relationship and love they have for one another.