Friendship is a peculiar and miraculous thing.
With romantic relationships, there’s a biological explanation (furthering our genes, procreation, etc.). But with friendship, it’s all platonic, with no ‘obvious’ benefit.
But here’s the thing:
True friends are there for you come rain or shine. They can lift you up when you’re down, or tear you right down when you’re full of yourself.
They are priceless.
But its not all take, take take. Being a good friend feels amazing too and brings out the best version of you. This was what Bruno Mars is getting at when he sings “we find out what we’re made of, when we are called to help our friends in need”.
So….you’d think there’d be a lot of songs written about this magical relationship, then? There are a gazillion songs about love, but tunes celebrating friendship? Not so many.
However, as you’re about to find out, it’s not all about quantity. There are some truly fantastic songs about friendship.
Contents
- With a Little Help From My Friends by The Beatles
- Thank You for Being a Friend by Andrew Gold
- You’re My Best Friend by Queen
- You’ve Got a Friend by Carole King / James Taylor
- Hold on To Your Friends by Morrissey
- Lean on Me by Bill Withers
- You’ve Got a Friend in Me by Randy Newman
- Friends by Elton John
- I’ll be There For You by The Rembrandts
- Count on Me by Bruno Mars
- We’re Going to Be Friends by The White Stripes
- Friends Will Be Friends by Queen
- Summary
With a Little Help From My Friends by The Beatles
We have to start with arguably the most well-known song about friendship, With a Little Help From My Friends by The Beatles.
The second track from their concept album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band with the iconic sleeve, and leads on from the opening title track with no break (they are cross-faded with pre-recorded applause).
It’s sung by Ringo Starr as the fictional character Billy Shears (his alter ego in Sgt. Pepper’s band) – Ringo is never particularly melodic, but his frail voice fits the song quite perfectly.
The lyrics really capture how good friends help you combat loneliness.
“How do I feel by the end of the day? Are you sad because you’re on your own? No, I get by with a little help from my friends”
Thank You for Being a Friend by Andrew Gold
According to Gold, “Thank You for Being a Friend” was just this little throwaway thing that took him “about an hour to write”
A productive hour then!
The song has managed to etch its way into the collective psyche, and anyone over the age of 40 will definitely know it (and many young ‘uns too).
If you’ve watched a lot of ’80s TV, you’ll immediately recognise this as the Golden Girls theme song.
Cheesy lyrics? You bet. With pearlers such as ‘If it’s a car you lack, I’d surely buy you a Cadillac’, it’s no lyrical tour-de-force.
But hey, no one minds you getting all soppy about your best buddy.
And a mate who’s happy to buy you a Cadillac? That’s a friend indeed!
You’re My Best Friend by Queen
Can your other half be your best friend?
Yes, totally.
You’re My Best Friend was written by Queen bassist John Deacon, who wrote this three-minute pop song about his wife.
The quiet man of the group, Leicester-born Deacon wrote a few gems such as this and Another One Bites the Dust. Unlike guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor who continue playing under the Queen moniker with singer Adam Lambert, Deacon has since retired.
If you read the lyrics of this song, it’s easy to see why. He’s happy at home with his best friend. Awww.
“In rain or shine, you’ve stood by me girl, I’m happy at home (happy at home), You’re my best friend”.
You’ve Got a Friend by Carole King / James Taylor
Another classic, You’ve Got a Friend was written by Carole King and featured on her Tapestry album, and later a hit for James Taylor.
Many friend songs are about thanking a friend for being there. This one is a bit different though, and is written from the friends perspective to say “I’m here for you”.
That’s a nice touch.
As such, the lyrics are deeply reassuring and are said to have helped many people who are feeling down. In fact, the song was said to have lifted James Taylor out of depression when he first heard it.
It’s easy to see why the song is so popular, with its theme of friendship without boundaries and a friend being there when you are in need. We all need a bit of that reassurance sometimes.
Old Friends by Simon & Garfunkel
Old Friends is another marvelous ditty by arguably the greatest pop duo of our time (name a better one?), Simon and Garfunkel.
Like all their songs it’s beautifully written, with some gorgeous imagery “on a park bench like bookends”. The concept of bookends is even more powerful when you consider bookends hold stories between them.
The lyrics flit from a young man’s point of view, who looks to the future with bewilderment “how terribly strange to be seventy” to old men looking back “time it was, and what a time it was, it was, a time of innocence, a time of confidences”.
“Preserve your memories, they’re all that’s left you”.
Hold on To Your Friends by Morrissey
Morrissey is cynical of most things, whether that’s our consumption of meat, our fixation with the Royal Family, or more recently, the intrusiveness of mainstream media
The one thing he unquestionably, irrevocably, supports? Friendship.
Because it’s Morrissey, the writing is divine. “Give up your job, squander your cash – be rash, just hold on to your friends”.
Hold on To Your Friends featured on Morrissey’s acclaimed solo album Vauxhall and I. Check out the video below, where we see him hanging out with friends (who, rather bizarrely, all look like him).
“Be mad, be rash, smoke and explode, sell all of your clothes, just bear in mind: There just might come a time, when you need some friends”
Lean on Me by Bill Withers
Lean on Me has since become an anthem for people in strife, and is a celebration of togetherness and resilience when times are tough.
“Lean on me, when you’re not strong, and I’ll be your friend, I’ll help you carry on”
It’s also one of the easiest first piano songs to play because you don’t have to change fingers (you just go up and down the keyboard with your fingers in the same position).
You’ve Got a Friend in Me by Randy Newman
The theme song for the kids movie Toy Story, You’ve Got a Friend in Me is a sweet song with an old-worldly feel like something out of the 1950s.
“As the years go by, Our friendship will never die”.
Friends by Elton John
Written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin for the 1971 movie Friends (not to be confused with the hit TV show). The movie has long since been forgotten, but the song stands on its own two feet.
If you’ve ever left your home town for any significant amount of time (there are some great songs about home by the way), you’ll know one of the toughest things is leaving behind your friends.
The song offers some reassurance that new friends “are found on every road” but equally how childhood and the age of innocence so quickly pass us by.
“It seems to me a crime that we should age, these fragile times should never slip us by, a time you never can or shall erase, as friends together watch their childhood fly”
I’ll be There For You by The Rembrandts
While we’re talking about the hit TV show, we had to mention the theme tune from the show Friends, I’ll Be There For You.
The song is so inextricably linked with the show that it’s almost impossible to listen to the song itself (I’m sure the Rembrandts aren’t complaining though from the royalties they’ve received).
Judging the song on its own merits, it’s actually a well-written piece of music with some funny one-liners you probably hadn’t picked up such as “Your job’s a joke, you’re broke, your love life’s DOA”
The chorus is a pretty convincing friendship pact too:
“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)”
Count on Me by Bruno Mars
From Bruno Mars’ debut EP, It’s Better If You Don’t Understand, Count on Me is a folk / tropical song with a reggae vibe. It also has overtones of “Over the Rainbow” by Israel Kamakawiwoʻole and is something you could imagine Jack Johnson writing.
It’s a gorgeous affirmation of friendship, “If you ever find yourself stuck in the middle of the sea, I’ll sail the world to find you, If you ever find yourself lost in the dark and you can’t see, I’ll be the light to guide you”
It includes this superb line: “We find out what we’re made of, when we are called to help our friends in need”.
It reminds us that best friends help each other in moments of strife, which in turn, reveals the real us. Pretty deep!
We’re Going to Be Friends by The White Stripes
We haven’t mentioned yet the place where many of our first friendships are formed: school
The song tells the story of the beginning of a school year and meeting a new friend (the fictional Suzy Lee who crops up a bit in White Stripes mythology). It successfully evokes the nostalgia of childhood and the innocence of school days.
We’re Going to Be Friends has also been covered by Jack Johnson and is, rather randomly, Conan O’Brien’s favorite White Stripes song. Meg and Jack appeared on the final episode of Late Night with Conan O’Brien and played it for him.
“Fall is here, hear the yell, back to school, ring the bell, brand new shoes, walking blues, climb the fence, books and pens, I can tell that we are gonna be friends”
Friends Will Be Friends by Queen
I know, I know, it’s the second song on the list by Queen, but it has to be here
Why? Because it’s one of the best friendship songs. Period.
“When you’re through with life and all hope is lost, hold out your hand ’cause friends will be friends, right till the end”
Like all their work, the harmonies are impeccable, the progression is wonderful, the vocals are stunning, and the blistering guitar solo is May at his best (without doubt one of the best guitarists ever).
It’s especially poignant as Freddy Mercury didn’t have long left, and by all accounts his bandmates really were there for him right till the end.
Summary
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading and listening to these friend songs
As I’m sure you agree, friendship is to be treasured. Real friends are friends forever – they don’t come along too often, so value the ones you do have.
If it’s been a while since you last spoke to your closest friends, pick up the phone and give them a call! Enough with the occasional text already.
Good luck!
More best friend songs:
- Wannabe by Spice Girls
- Just Friends by Musiq Soulchild
- Clique by Kanye West, Jay Z, and Big Sean
- We Can’t Stop by Miley Cyrus
- Girl by Destiny’s Child
- Long Live by Taylor Swift
- Best Friend by Pharrell Williams
- The Boys Are Back in Town by Thin Lizzy
- Amigas Cheetahs by The Cheetah Girls
- Friends in Low Places by Garth Brooks
- Memories by Barbara Streisand
- No New Friends by DJ Khaled ft. Drake, Rick Ross, and Lil Wayne
- That’s What Friends Are For by Dionne Warwick, Elton John, Gladys Knight & Stevie Wonder
- Best Friend by Harry Nilsson
FAQs
13 Songs About Friendship That Remind You How Important Friends Are? ›
Being able to have trust and confidence in your friend is one of the most important requirements of a strong relationship because true friendship means you are able to count on one another. Part of caring for a friend is honoring what they tell you, no matter the significance, with confidentiality and respect.
What songs remind you of your best friend? ›- “I'll Be There For You,” The Rembrandts. ...
- “Any Time You Need a Friend,” Mariah Carey. ...
- “Good As Hell,” Lizzo. ...
- “Count On Me,” Bruno Mars. ...
- “Hymn,” Kesha. ...
- "Me and My Girls," Selena Gomez. ...
- "Best Friend," Harry Nilsson. ...
- “You're My Best Friend,” Queen.
- 'You're My Best Friend' by Queen. ...
- 'Lean on Me' by Bill Withers. ...
- 'We're Going to Be Friends' The White Stripes. ...
- 'You Got a Friend In Me' by Randy Newman. ...
- 'With a Little Help From My Friends' by The Beatles. ...
- 'Stand By Me' by Ben E. King. ...
- 'All My Friends' by LCD Soundsystem.
Being able to have trust and confidence in your friend is one of the most important requirements of a strong relationship because true friendship means you are able to count on one another. Part of caring for a friend is honoring what they tell you, no matter the significance, with confidentiality and respect.
Does Taylor Swift have a song about friendship? ›You Belong With Me. You Belong With Me tops our list of Taylor Swift songs about friendship because this song captures the essence of having “feels” for a friend and wanting more out of that friendship. She describes her desire for her friend and the quick glances she'd make at her friend.
How can I remember my best friend? ›- Carry a Keepsake in Your Pocket. ...
- Say Special Words at Their Funeral. ...
- Hold a Special Dinner in Their Honor. ...
- Start a New Tradition. ...
- Share Stories and Photos. ...
- Memorial Bench. ...
- Plant a Tree. ...
- Get a Tattoo.
True friends are usually those who offer you support, improve your quality of life, promote self-confidence, provide honesty and unconditional love, and help you progress mentally. It often takes time and effort to foster deep, healthy friendships.
What does it mean when a song is dedicated to a friend? ›To dedicate is to assign, to commit or to give over. If you dedicate a song you've written to a friend, it means the song belongs to them.
Is best friend one word? ›You should always keep “Best friend” as two words. It's correct to do this because we use “best” as an adjective to modify the word “friend.” This shows that someone is our closest friend. There is never a reason to group the words, so “bestfriend” is incorrect.
What are the 3 most important things in a friendship? ›So, how can one recognize a true friendship? In my opinion, there are three crucial pillars of true friendship: acceptance, trust, and support. This is applicable to any setting: casual and professional.
What is the golden rule of friendship? ›
Friends respect the person and not the position or the title. Friends keep their words – do what you said you will do. Friends do not talk bad about friends – defend your friends in their absence. Friends should always be honest.
How long does true friendship last? ›It's hard to think about a friend abandoning you for love and then coming back after a while to get back the lost time. It's hard because no one likes to be abandoned. The important thing is a true friendship will last forever.
What are Taylor Swift's friends called? ›Taylor's squad includes actresses such as Jaime King, Hailee Steinfeld, Sarah Hyland, and Emma Stone. Singers such as Lorde, Selena Gomez, Ed Sheeran. Models including Martha Hunt, Lily Aldridge, Karlie Kloss, Gigi Hadid, and Cara Delevingne are also a part of the squad.
Who is Taylor Swift childhood best friend? ›Meet the Singer's Childhood Best Friend: Age, Job. Taylor Swift and Abigail Anderson Berard might just be the definition of best friends forever. The pair have been close since they were teenagers, with the Grammy-winning songstress even dedicating her iconic Fearless track “Fifteen” to her best friend.
Who did Taylor Swift wrote nice to have a friend about? › Why best friends are so special? ›Good friends are good for your health. Friends can help you celebrate good times and provide support during bad times. Friends prevent isolation and loneliness and give you a chance to offer needed companionship, too.
How do you forget a friend who ignores you? ›- Don't automatically make it personal. Yes, it affects you, but when friends distance themselves, it may have nothing to do with you. ...
- Don't get defensive. ...
- Give space. ...
- Find alternatives to talking it out. ...
- Let some things go. ...
- Reconsider your friendship.
Sociologists have documented that men and women can indeed just be friends and that there are actually benefits that come with cross-sex friendships — like learning from the other side how to best attract a mate — that you can't get from same-sex friendships.
What do you say in the memory of a friend? ›Thinking of you and wishing you moments of peace and comfort during this time. Sharing in your sadness as you remember [name]. Sending healing prayers and comforting hugs. I am so sorry for your loss.
Had a great time with best friend quotes? ›- Friendship is another word for love. - ...
- Squad goals! - ...
- It's the friends you can call up at 4 a.m. that matter. - ...
- The only way to have a friend is to be one. - ...
- A friend is what the heart needs all the time. - ...
- The greatest gift of life is friendship, and I have received it. -
Are true friends rare? ›
True friendships are admittedly rare, but they are possible if you know how to be one yourself and what to expect from others you want to call friends.
What is a false friendship? ›'False friendships' describe relationships where someone pretends to be your friend, or is your 'friend' sometimes, but actually uses their power to bully you. Sometimes bullying isn't as straight forward as someone openly being horrible to another person.
What does it mean when you keep hearing a song in your head? ›Earworms can occur due to the brain's attempt to fill a gap in the auditory cortex, which is located in the temporal lobe. When you hear a song over and over, the brain transmits that sound information to the “phonological loop,” a short-term memory system in the auditory cortex.
When a song repeats in your head? ›It's known as an earworm, and it comes from the German Ohrwurm, meaning a musical itch. It was coined in 1979 by the psychiatrist Cornelius Eckert, and basically, it's a looped segment of music that's usually about 20 seconds long and automatically comes into your awareness and keeps playing on repeat.
What does it mean when you wake up with a song in your head? ›Interestingly enough, there is actually a term for having a song stuck in your head: earworm. Furthermore, research has actually been done on this and “stress, memories and triggers in your environment” are responsible for these devilish little tunes on repeat.
What are 2 best friends called? ›- bosom buddy.
- close friend.
- companion.
- confidant.
- dear friend.
- pal.
- soul mate.
It can be natural to develop romantic feelings for a close friend and not know whether to act on them. A romantic relationship with your best friend may be healthy and fulfilling, but it could also involve specific dynamic changes.
What is another name for BFF? ›best bud | best buddy |
---|---|
ally | best friend forever |
friend | bosom friend |
comrade | pal |
sis | buddy |
A different way of categorizing friendship is by applying “The Three C's”. There are three basic types of people with whom you interact: Constituents, Comrades, and Confidants.
What are the 6 habits that build friendships? ›Though every bond evolves in its own way, I have come to believe that there are six forces that help form friendships and maintain them through the years: accumulation, attention, intention, ritual, imagination, and grace.
What are the 7 pillars of friendship? ›
Dunbar says it takes so long to create a true friendship because you're looking for seven pillars of friendship—similarities in the following dimensions: the way you speak (dialect), hobbies and interests, religious views, moral views, sense of humor, musical taste and career trajectory.
What is the 80 20 rule friendships? ›The Pareto principle (also known as the 80/20 rule) advocates the same. It states that for many outcomes, roughly 80% of consequences come from 20% of causes. So, 80% of your deep friendship relations will come from 20% of your friends. 80% of your productivity will come from 20% of your tasks.
What is the girl code rules? ›What is 'girl code'? “'Girl code' is the rules of being a woman, especially with regards to dating,” says Ellen Scott. It's stuff like: you can't date your friend's ex, you also can't date your ex's friend. If you saw your friend's boyfriend cheating on them – you'd have to tell your friend.
What is the first law of friendship? ›Let this, then, be laid down as the first law of friendship, that we should ask from friends, and do for friends', only what is good. But do not let us wait to be asked either: let there be ever an eager readiness, and an absence of hesitation.
What causes friendships to end? ›The most common reason isn't tension; it's just that friendships fizzle out, both experts say. Friends move, get a new job, start a family and may just gradually stop talking to each other. One study found we lose about half our friends every seven years, Franco says.
How long do female friendships last? ›Recent research actually tells us that the average female friendship lasts 16 years, which is 6 years longer than the average romantic relationship. Once we turn 55, our friendships on average last 23 years!
What is the last stage of friendship? ›The final stage, post-friendship, occurs after a friendship has been terminated.
Who is Selena Gomez best friend? ›Her best, Francia Raisa, stepped in and donated one of her kidneys to the singer. She shared how her friend underwent testing and fortunately, turned out to be a match for the life-saving kidney transplant.
Who is Taylor Swift best friends? ›Taylor Swift's closest friend since high school, Abigail Anderson Berard, got to share a special moment with the star during the second night of The Eras Tour in Nashville on Saturday night (May 6).
Are Selena and Taylor still friends? ›All these years later, their friendship is still going strong. So strong that Selena Gomez recently opened up to Rolling Stone, revealing that she's never really felt like she fit in or could make friends in the industry, except with Taylor.
Is Taylor Swift friends with any exes? ›
Though Taylor Swift is known for dropping hints about her famous relationships in her song lyrics, she's actually on good terms with several of her ex-boyfriends.
Which one of Taylor Swift's exes has a kid? ›Trending on Billboard
If you do the math, as far as we know, the only one of Taylor's exes who has children is rumored brief BF Eddie Redmayne, who has a four-year-old daughter and two-year-old son with wife Hannah Bagshawe.
You Belong With Me by Taylor Swift
What is this? You Belong With Me was one of Taylor's big singles. It's about how she's in love with one of her best friends and struggles to watch him be with another girl.
The second single from One Direction's fifth and final studio album, Made in the A.M., "Perfect" was co-written by Harry and Louis Tomlinson and is widely believed to be about the pop star, with James Corden directly asking Harry about the song's inspiration in a 2015 interview.
Who is Taylor Swift favorite singer? ›Joni Mitchell: This Is Why She's Taylor Swift's Favorite Artist | Time.
When songs remind you of someone? ›This is called classical conditioning. This means that your thoughts of a certain situation are associated with a certain physical factor so when that specific physical factor is repeated that specific situation is recalled..
What is the full form of BFF in love? ›BFF is an initialism of the phrase 'best friends forever'.
What songs sample just a friend? ›Background. The song interpolates the 1968 song "(You) Got What I Need" recorded by Freddie Scott, whose basic chord and melody provided the base for the song's chorus.
Who is JK's BFF in BTS? ›The K-Pop septet BTS share a close bond with each other, and the friendship that ARMY celebrates the most is the one between V (born Kim Taehyung) and Jungkook.
Who is BTS V best friend? ›Jungkook and BTS V aka Kim Taehyung are the definition of best friends and fans agree. While Jungkook is the youngest member of BTS, he takes care of Kim Taehyung like a child. The duo is frequently seen together at events and shoots where they tease each other and enjoy their time.
When you hear songs in your head? ›
Musical ear syndrome (MES), also known as musical tinnitus, is a disorder where patients experience musical hallucinations, such as singing or melodies without a physical source.
Why do songs remind me of certain people? ›And the answer is dopamine! Dopamine is a hormone that gives the brain a sense of pleasure or reward, and this chemical is behind the wheels and drives the cells to form associative memories.
Why do songs remind us of people? ›Music also often captures our attention, due to the way it affects our minds, bodies and emotions. When music draws our attention, this increases the likelihood that it will be encoded in memory together with details of a life event.
What does GFF stand for in friendship? ›Feb 18, 2020 From BFF to GFF (Ghost Friends Forever)
Is it BSF or BFF? ›BSF as a designation for best friend is a somewhat popular abbreviation and hashtag across social media and within text messages, though alternatives like BFF (best friend forever) appear more common.
What does BF mean in text? ›1. abbreviation of 'boyfriend'
What song talks about fake friends? ›“Case of The Fake People” by TLC
In this song, TLC warns listeners not to let fake people get close to them. They say that if you let these toxic relationships into your life, they will only bring you down.
"Lovers and Friends" was sampled by DJ Khaled on "Do You Mind" and by Trevor Jackson on "Just Friends", while Pitbull and Prince Royce implemented elements of the song on "Quiero Saber".