73 Songs About Best Friends and Friendship

FlourishAnyway believes there is a playlist for just about any situation and is on a mission to unite and entertain the world through song.

Friendship Makes All the Difference

You can't pick your relatives, but you can pick your friends. Friends are the bright flowers in the garden of life, providing adventure, companionship, and understanding. They make all the difference.

Friends help to insulate a person against boredom and loneliness. They can also help celebrate triumphs, soften disappointments and losses, and provide tangible assistance (e.g., a ride, a couch to sleep on, a small loan). You can fight with them like siblings, forgive each others' failings and flaws, and confide in one other like preteens to a locked diary. Where would we be without them, especially BFFs?

Show your appreciation for your pals by making them a playlist of pop, rock, country, and R&B songs about friendship and best friends. We have a long list of songs to start you off.

1. "Famous Friends" by Kane Brown & Chris Young

In big cities, it's easy to be anonymous, but in small towns, everyone knows everyone else. The guys in this fun 2021 country-pop crossover song celebrate friends back home who are a big deal in their small town where it's all about the people you know. There's the local sherriff, the preacher, and the Teacher of the Year. These are the people who count, the people in high places.

2. "I'll Be There" by Mariah Carey (Featuring Trey Lorenz)

Although this ethereal pop ballad is a love song from a narrator to an ex-partner, it has grown to become a universal song of unconditional support and love from one friend to another. The narrator assures their special friend that all they have to do is call out their name and they'll rush to assist.

Remarkably, the song became a chart-topper for both The Jackson 5 (1970) and songstress Mariah Carey (1992). Carey added the ditty at the last minute to her MTV Unplugged special, and it became a global hit.

3. "All My Friends" by The 4onthefloor

This 2015 heavy-stomping blues-rock tune raises the roof in honor of small town friends. The narrator describes how all of his buddies are coming out tonight. No one is staying home, staying still, or staying quiet because it's time to get together, get loud, and get loaded. Whoo-hoo! Getting rowdy is what small town friends do on the weekends. At least some of them, anyhow.

4. "You're My Best Friend" by Queen

At the heart of the best marriages exist long lasting friendships. Queen's bass player, John Deacon, penned this song in honor of his wife. In this classic 1976 ballad of love and marital friendship, genuine devotion exudes from the narrator as he proclaims his adoration. He conveys how much he cherishes his partner and how alongside her, he will never feel lonely.

Queen frontman Freddie Mercury left half of his vast fortune to his best friend, Mary Austin, when he died in 1991 of an AIDS-related illness. Austin was a former partner and long-time confidante. Mercury once remarked that "all my lovers asked me why they couldn’t replace Mary, but it’s simply impossible. The only friend I’ve got is Mary, and I don’t want anybody else. To me, she was my common-law wife. To me, it was a marriage."

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5. "See You Again" by Wiz Khalifa (Featuring Charlie Puth)

If you've ever had a friend die too soon like I have, then this 2015 pop and hip-hop song will provide a bittersweet reminder that one day you'll meet again. The narrator addresses his buddy who has passed on. As he sees that his friend is in a better place now, he recalls their times together.

In return, his friend encourages him to let the light lead him home in due time; they will see one another again. The song was written in honor of Fast & Furious 7 actor Paul Walker, who died in a car crash in 2013.

6. "Lean on Me" by Bill Withers

When you feel as if your life is crumbling, don't face your pain or sorrows alone. Call a friend for support, understanding, and tangible assistance.

This heartfelt song describing these caring bonds is among "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time," according to Rolling Stone magazine. Additionally, it is one of only 9 songs to ever hit the top spot of the US Billboard Hot 100 by two different artists, first by R&B singer Bill Withers in 1972, and secondly, in 1987, by R&B group Club Nouveau.

The tune's narrator encourages his friend to swallow their pride and lean on him for needed support when carrying a heavy load. The narrator suggests that he may have had a similar experience to whatever is bothering his chum and can thus provide assistance. He beseeches his friend not to hesitate, to reach out in times of uncertainty.

7. "These Are My Friends" by lovelytheband

Before you can have healthy friendships with others, you must embrace yourself. The guy in this 2018 indie pop song champions all of the people in his head who make him a unique individual. Those imaginary pals represent the self-acceptance that he needs to make it in the world. He loves these friends, as they cheer him up when he is feeling low. They provide pretty good companionship. Although they are "weirdos" and sometimes misbehave, they accept him.

8. "We Should Be Friends" by Miranda Lambert

In this sassy, upbeat country tune from 2016, Miranda's looking for some friends who are less than perfect. She rattles off some suggested qualifications for becoming a member of her squad. The Nashville hitmaker appreciates a scattered mind, a full heart, and a fighting spirit. She likes people who are gutsy, looking for love, and want to drink all night and dream all day. What are you looking for in a buddy?

9. "Count on Me" by Bruno Mars

Count yourself lucky if you have a friend like the narrator of this upbeat 2010 pop song. The fellow addresses his best friend, promising that if he is ever in a rough spot then he'll will be right there to lend an assist. Whether it's a shoulder to cry on or someone to rescue him from a harrowing situation, his buddy can count on him to be there. That's what BFFs do for one another.

10. "My Girlfriends Are My Boyfriend" by Demi Lovato (Featuring Saweetie)

"My girlfriends are my boyfriend" may be an odd way of saying that your girl group is more valuable than any guy, but loyal friends who stick with you are hard to find. The narrator in this song calls them her "soulmates" and "angels." Whereas boyfriends may change over time, her gal pals are in it for the long haul. Although there's no need to impress them, she buys them flowers and pearls and lavishes them with gifts because she loves them. This girl group is tight. They have each others' backs, and they are there for one another.

Former childhood Disney star Demi Lovato has struggled with substance addiction and survived a rape trauma. They have also come out as non-binary and report being misdiagnosed as bipolar. Lovato couldn't have made it without their close-knit group of girlfriends. They give their friend group a much deserved shout out in this 2021 R&B tune.

11."The Boys are Back in Town" by Thin Lizzy

Spread the word around
Guess who's back in town
Just spread the word around ...

This 1976 hard rock ditty celebrates the reunion of a group of buddies who will be hitting the bar to do some heavy drinking and fighting. It's the type of song to crank up when reuniting with old high school buddies whom you haven't seen in a few years.

"The Boys are Back in Town" was named to Rolling Stone magazine's list of "500 Greatest Songs of All Time." It also made Thin Lizzy a one-hit-wonder.

12. "One Friend" by Dan Seals

If you have a cherished best friend who has been by your side no matter what, then use this simple 1984 country song to convey your heartfelt appreciation. The narrator thanks his beloved friend for his deep and meaningful friendship. His longstanding buddy has always understood him, believed in him, and has helped keep him together:

Sometimes we took the hard road
But we always saw it through
If I had only one friend left
I'd want it to be you.

13. "Find Out Who Your Friends Are" by Tracy Lawrence (Featuring Tim McGraw & Kenny Chesney)

When you're in a quandry and can't make it out of the situation alone, that's when you find out who your true friends are, according to this 2006 county song. Maybe you're stuck in a ditch in the middle of nowhere or you've lost your job and need a place to stay. Perhaps you've received a devastating medical diagnosis or you need help moving. You've gonna need someone to call.

Whereas many folks may easily flock to your side during good times, beware of those fake, fairweathered friends. They scatter like the wind when trouble brews and their support is needed. There's nothing like a big situation to really evaluate the legitimacy of your friendships.

14. "Me and My Girls" by Selena Gomez

Selena Gomez and her girl gang are hitting the town in this salty 2015 pop song, and she has a point to make that she doesn't need a man to have a good time or feel validated.

This squad of girls is comprised of independent women who make their own money and use it to dress up to feel great. The only people they need to impress is themselves. They're just looking to dance and have a fun night on the town.

15. "In My Life" by The Beatles

Regarded my many people as one of The Beatles' greatest songs, this nostalgic 1965 pop single features a narrator tenderly addressing his beloved companion. As he fondly recalls his friends and lovers of the past, he emphasizes special love and appreciation for this friend whom he treasures above all others:

Though I know I'll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I'll often stop and think about them
In my life, I love you more.

Although both John Lennon and Paul McCartney are credited as songwriters, the two later disagreed on their relative contributions to the songwriting process. Rolling Stone recognized "In My Life" by adding it to their list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time."

16. "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" by Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell

Just because your romantic flame has fizzled doesn't mean your friendship with an ex-partner must also go by the wayside. (Ex-lovers can make some of the best quality friends as long as everyone knows where the boundaries are.)

In this 1967 R&B hit, which is also a Grammy Hall of Fame song, two former lovers pledge their loyalty to assist one another if ever needed. All they have to do is call and there's no obstacle that will keep them from helping one another. It's priceless to have a friend like that, even if the romance didn't work out.

17. "Real Friends" by Camilla Cabello

Tired of being used by fake friends who are in it for the wrong reasons, the narrator of this easygoing 2018 pop song feels distrustful and disillusioned. She's had it. What's the point of game playing, snide comments, and backbiting? Real friends don't do that.

Having grown tired of such catty behavior, the narrator decides to withdraw from the contrived social scene by staying home alone. Camilla Cabello was inspired to write this song by her experiences in Los Angeles where she encountered difficulty in meeting authentic people and making real friends.

18. "Thank You for Being a Friend" by Andrew Gold

Although this simple 1978 soft rock ode to a friend took only about an hour for Andrew Gold to write, it remains an enduring favorite. In part, that's because a cover of this hit tune became the theme song for the popular NBC sitcom, The Golden Girls (RIP, Betty White!).

The song narrator expresses appreciation for his pal and confidante who has a true heart. He wants his buddy to stand up and take a bow so that he can give the grand fellow the accolades he merits and shower him with much deserved gifts. Above all, he hopes that they will always remain this tight.

19. "Army" by Ellie Goulding

Dedicate this 2015 pop ditty to your BFF, that one irreplaceable person who accepts you regardless of how messed up you believe you are or how childlike you can sometimes behave. They are that

• cheerleader who pushes you to keep going when you feel like giving up
• trusted advisor you can call at 3 a.m., and
• loyal ally who defends you to others when others turn against you.

The two of you may not look invincible, but when you stand shoulder to shoulder, the power of your bond can make you feel like you can conquer any challenge! Don't lose this special connection.

20. "Friendship" by Chris Stapleton

There's a mile of hurt in this 2017 country song about the narrator's pal who is experiencing unknown hardship, as the song narrator oozes empathy for what may be bothering his good friend. As he channels the pain, the narrator reminds his chum about their enduring lifelong friendship and his steadfast commitment to help his buddy no matter what is needed. He promises to provide money, food, or companionship, if that would help his buddy through this difficult time. More importantly, he offers to lend a patient, listening ear because that's what real friends do.

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