Our friends in our lives are some of the most influential figures that we have throughout. Whether it’s a childhood best friend, a work friend, a college friend, or a high school friend – they leave their imprint on you somehow. And sometimes it can be difficult to articulate how they make you feel.
With music’s incredible ability to communicate how we feel to others, songs have been written about friends for years, and we can use these songs to help let those friends in our lives know how we feel.
Whether you’re looking for a good caption for Instagram, good ideas to help inspire you when doing something for a friend, or simply for your own entertainment, I know that this list I’ve compiled from Cosmopolitan, Oprah Daily, and Teen Vogue will tell you the best friend song lyrics to describe your own friends.
Below is a list of the 60 songs about friends, and their best lyrics are to follow.
1. “Raise Your Glass” – P!nk
2. I’ll Be There for You” – The Rebrandts
3. “22” – Taylor Swift
4. “Thank You for Being a Friend” – Andrew Gold
5. “We Can’t Stop” – Miley Cyrus
6. “Count on Me” – Bruno Mars
7. “Boy Problems” – Carly Rae Jepsen
8. “Bridge Over Troubled Waters” – Simon & Garfunkel
9. “Grrls” – Lizzo
10.“Lean on Me” – Bill Withers
11. “You’ve Got A Friend” – Carole King
12. “Best Friend” – Young Thug
13. “Royals” – Lorde
14. “No New Friends” – DJ Khaled (feat. Drake, Rick Ross, and Lil Wayne)
15. “Cheetah Sisters” – The Cheetah Girls
16. “Started From The Bottom” – Drake
17. “Hallelujah” – HAIM
18. “Real Friends” – Kanye West
19. “For Good” – Kristin Chenoweth & Idina Menzel
20. “Girl” – Destiny’s Child
21. “Where You Lead I Will Follow” – Carole King
22. “Wannabe” – The Spice Girls
23. “Clique” – Kanye West, Jay-Z, and Big Sean
24. “Young, Dumb & Broke” – Khalid
25. “Best Friend” – Brandy
26. “We Are Young” – Fun (feat. Janelle Monáe)
27. “Friends” – the Carters
28. “Stand by Me” – Ben E. King
29. “That’s What Friends Are For” – Dionne Warwick (feat. Stevie Wonder, Elton John, and Gladys Knight)
30. “Without You” – David Guetta (feat. Usher)
31. “Good Friend and a Glass of Wine” – LeAnn Rimes
32. “I’ll Be There” – Jess Glynne
33. “True Colours” – Cyndi Lauper
34. “Wind Beneath My Wings” – Bette Midler
35. “You’re My Best Friend” – Queen
36. “Umbrella” – Rihanna (feat. Jay-Z)
37. “Jumpin’ Jumpin’” – Destiny’s Child
38. “Hey Girl” – Lady Gaga & Florence Welch
39. “Friends” – Whodini
40. “See You Again” – Wiz Khalifa (feat. Charlie Puth)
41. “Graduation (Friends Forever)” – Vitamin C
42. “We Should Be Friends” – Miranda Lambert
43. “Help!” – the Beatles
44. “Best Friend” – Saweetie (feat. Doja Cat)
45. “I’m Only Me When I’m With You” – Taylor Swift
46. “Fellowship” – serpentwithfeet
47. “Count on Me” – Whitney Houston & CeCe Winans
48. “hope ur ok” – Olivia Rodrigo
49. “What About Your Friends” – TLC
50. “Best Friends” – Missy Elliott (feat. Aaliyah)
51. “I Turn to You” – Christina Aguilera
52. “7 rings” – Ariana Grande
53. “We Go Together” – Grease (1978)
54. “Time After Time” – Cyndi Lauper
55. “My Old Friend” – Tim McGraw
56. “Best Friend” – Pharrell Williams
57. “Friends” – Nas & Damian Marley
58. “Do It” – Chlöe and Halle
59. “Any Time You Need a Friend” – Mariah Carey
60. “Always Be Together” – Little Mix
1. “Raise Your Glass” – P!nk
“All my underdogs / We will never be never be, anything but loud / Maybe nitty gritty dirty little freaks”
While this is considered to be a party song, it’s a party song about having the time of your life with your mates. And truly, who else is there to have a good time with?
2. “I’ll Be There for You” – The Rembrandts
“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)”
Besides being the iconic FRIENDS theme song (makes sense), the upbeat energy of this track is perfect for dancing along with your friends.
3. “22” – Taylor Swift
“Yeah, we’re happy, free, confused, and lonely in the best way / It’s miserable and magical, oh yeah / Tonight’s the night when we forget about the heartbreaks / It’s time, oh-oh / I don’t know about you, but I’m feeling 22 / Everything will be alright if you keep me next to you / You don’t know about me, but I’ll bet you want to / Everything will be alright (alright) if we just keep dancing like we’re 22”
Taylor Swift talks about both growing older, but living in the moment and having a good time with the important people in her life. In this case, everything will be alright, because you’re with your friends.
4. “Thank You for Being a Friend” – Andrew Gold
“Thank you for being a friend / Travelled down a road and back again / Your heart is true, you’re a pal and a confidant”
We all have secrets – that’s a fact of life because no one is perfect. But, there is something to be said about revealing those secrets to someone you love and trust, and who you know would never judge you.
5. “We Can’t Stop” – Miley Cyrus
“And we can’t stop (whoa) / And we won’t stop (whoa) / Can’t you see it’s we who own the night / Can’t you see it we who bout’ that life”
Another party song that treads a line of reminiscing and celebrating time spent with loved ones, this is a great song for the end of a party, where you grab your friends and swing them side to side as you sing along.
6. “Count on Me” – Bruno Mars
“Find out what we’re made of / When we are called to help our friends in need”
The entire “Count on Me” song is perfect when looking to describe your dedication to your close mates. But, this line in particular reflects on the impact of having relationships with people we care about impact us as human beings.
7. “Boy Problems” – Carly Rae Jepsen
“And I know she’s right / And I should not be offended / Yeah, I know what it looks like / From the outside / And I know she’s right” and / “What’s worse / Losing a lover or losing your best friend? / What’s worse is when you discover / You’re not good for each other”
A track about the ability of girl friends to tell you where you’re going wrong, and knowing they’re right, but ignoring them anyway. Until, you realise, that you’d rather die than lose your friend and a faulty relationship is standing in the way of that.
8. “Bridge Over Troubled Waters” – Simon & Garfunkel
“If you’ve got troubles, I’ve got ’em too / There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for you / We stick together and can see it through / ‘Cause you’ve got a friend in me / Yeah, you’ve got a friend in me”
A classic, Simon & Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Waters” talks about finding solace in identifying with each other’s struggles.
9. “Grrrls” – Lizzo
“Yo, where my best friend? / She the only one I know to talk me off the deep end (ah) / ‘Cause that’s my girl, we codependent / If she with it, then I’m with it / Yeah, we tussle, mind your business / That’s my girl, we CEO’s / And dancin’ like a C-E-ho / We about to throw them bows / Let’s f*** it up”
A fun track about your girls and your best friend, Lizzo acknowledges how deep friendship bonds can go, and well, make it a bit more playful.
10. “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 / For it won’t be long / ‘Til I’m gonna need / Somebody to lean on”
Arguably one of the most memorable songs on this list, we all of those moments where we want to comfort our friends going through a hard time. Withers articulates that desire.
11. “You’ve Got A Friend” – Carole King
“Now, ain’t it good to know that you’ve got a friend / When people can be so cold? / They’ll hurt you, yes, and desert you / And take your soul if you let them / Oh, but don’t you let them”
Another classic, this lyric, in particular, acknowledges the state of the world and some of the people in it but asks their friend to be careful and to not let that bring them down. This is a great song for long-distance friendships.
12. “Best Friend” – Young Thug
“That’s my best friend, that’s my best friend, flexin’” and “And that’s my bestie, my bestie, my best friend, go best friend”
One of the more modern tracks on this list, “Best Friend” is a simple song about appreciating and hyping up your best friend.
13. “Royals” – Lorde
“My friends and I, we’ve cracked the code / We count our dollars on the train to the party / And everyone who knows us knows / That we’re fine with this, we didn’t come from money”
A popular track about not conforming to societal norms, this song in particular identifies a group of people, your friends, not doing so. It’s unifying and acknowledging.
14. “No New Friends” – DJ Khaled (feat. Drake, Rick Ross, and Lil Wayne)
“No new friends, no new friends, no new friends / I still ride with my day one n*****, I don’t really need / No new friends, no new friends, no new friends / I stay down from day one”
This is for those friendships that have survived years of turmoil, distance, and living your own life. For those friends who have always been there and realise, you just don’t need anyone else but them.
15. “Cheetah Sisters” – The Cheetah Girls
“Cause we are sisters, we stand together / We make up one big family / Though we don’t look the same / Our spots are different, different colours / We make each other stronger / That ain’t never gonna change / We’re cheetah girls, Cheetah sisters.”
Disney is known for its ability to create good tracks about friendship and sisterhood. This song is no different.
16. “Started From the Bottom” – Drake
“No new n*****, n**** we don’t feel that / F*** a fake friend, where your real friends at? / We don’t like to do too much explainin’ / Story stay the same through the money and the fame / ‘Cause we started from the bottom, now we’re here / Started from the bottom, now my whole team f*****’ here”
Another track for the long-term mates, it’s simple and effective. There’s nothing like celebrating your wins with the people who were there with you for your lows.
17. “Hallelujah” – HAIM
“I met two angels, but they were in disguise / Took one look to realize / Tell ’em anything and they will sympathise / These arms hold me tight / Old fears, helped to ease them in my mind / New tears say that they will dry in time”
A beautiful ballad about how having a good friend makes one feel, and the appreciation for those feelings.
18. “Real Friends” – Kanye West
“Real friends, how many of us? / How many of us, how many jealous? Real friends / It’s not many of us, we smile at each other”
This track specifically focuses on successful people and the constant question of whether or not they can trust the intentions of the people around them – but, they still have a few good friends, and that’s all that matters.
19. “For Good” – Kristin Chenoweth & Idina Menzel
“Like a comet pulled from orbit / Like a ship blown from its mooring / As it passes a sun / By a wind off the sea / Like a stream that meets a boulder / Like a seed dropped by a bird / Halfway through the wood / In the wood / Who can say / If I’ve been changed for the better? / I do believe I have been changed for the better”
A gorgeous song comparing the strength of a friendship to the strength of the earth, Chenoweth and Menzel sing a beautiful track about how friends can change you with that strength for the better.
20. “Girl” – Destiny’s Child
“Girl, you don’t have to be hiding / Don’t you be ashamed to say he hurt you / I’m your girl, you’re my girl, we your girls / Don’t you know that we love ya?”
A track for the girls – Destiny’s Child’s “Girl” is a beautiful ode to a friend who’s had their heart broken, letting her know that they’ll always be there, no matter what happens.
21. “Where You Lead I Will Follow” – Carole King
“If you’re out on the road / Feeling lonely, and so cold / All you have to do is call my name / And I’ll be there on the next train”
Another song for those long-distance friendships, “Where You Lead I Will Follow” is a song about always being there for someone, no matter the distance.
22. “Wannabe” – The Spice Girls
“If you wanna be my lover, you gotta get with my friends / (Gotta get with my friends) / Make it last forever, friendship never ends”
A certified classic, “Wannabe” is an iconic track about entering a new relationship with someone, and the importance of your new partner and your girl friends’ friendship.
23. “Clique” – Kanye West, Jay-Z, and Big Sean
“Ain’t nobody fresher than my m********* clique / As I look around, they don’t do it like my clique”
“Clique” is a club classic – no one can ever do it like you and your mates.
24. “Young, Dumb & Broke” – Khalid
“I’m so high at the moment / I’m so caught up in this / Yeah, we’re just young, dumb and broke / But we still got love to give”
A rather lyrically ambiguous song, this track discusses what’s like to be young and broke, experiencing new things for the first time, with someone you love by your side.
25. “Best Friend” – Brandy
“I 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 / Through the good times and the bad ones / Whether I lose or if I win / I know one thing that never changes, and / That’s you as my best friend”
For those friends who have been there since you were little and have been there through every little thing you’ve been through, “Best Friend” by Brandy sings about how loyal and stable her best friend is. And everyone deserves someone like that.
26. “We Are Young” – Fun (feat. Janelle Monáe)
“Tonight / We are young / So let’s set the world on fire / We can burn brighter than the sun”
This early 2010s track was one of the most iconic sounds about living a fun and authentic young adulthood. But, most importantly, doing so with your best friends.
27. “Friends” – the Carters
“My friends, real friends, better than your friends / That’s how we keep poppin’ out that Benz, yeah / No foes, real friends, we ain’t even got to pretend, yeah / Get bands, get bands, spend it all on my friends”
It’s nice to know that Beyoncé and Jay-Z share their riches with their friends – and share the wealth and love. Can I be their friend too?
28. “Stand By Me” – Ben E. King
“If the sky that we look upon / Should tumble and fall / Or the mountain should crumble to the sea / I won’t cry, I won’t cry / No, I won’t shed a tear / Just as long as you stand / Stand by me”
Ben E. King’s track talks about being unafraid of the obstacles of life as long as their friend is by their side.
29. “That’s What Friends Are For” – Dionne Warwick (feat. Stevie Wonder, Elton John, and Gladys Knight)
“Keep smiling, keep shining / Knowing you can always count on me, for sure / That’s what friends are for / For good times and bad times / I’ll be on your side forever more / That’s what friends are for”
Warwick, Wonder, John and Knight band together to create a wholesome song about the happiness that having good friends brings you, and knowing that you’ll never be alone.
30. “Without You” – David Guetta (feat. Usher)
“I can’t win, I can’t reign / I will never win this game without you / Without you”
While it could be argued that “Without You” is a love song, there is something to be said about having friends that you feel like you can’t live without.
31. “Good Friend and a Glass of Wine” – LeAnn Rimes
“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”
After those rough days at work or school, there’s nothing like calling up your best friend and just venting about everything. And by the end, you’re smiling, and you have no what you would do without your best friend.
32. “I’ll Be There” – Jess Glynne
“When all the tears are rolling down your face / And it feels like yours was the only heart to break / When you come back home and all the lights are out / And you’re getting used to no one else being around / Oh, oh, I’ll be there”
This is a track that is perfect when one of your friends are going through a rough time. Letting them know that they aren’t alone, no matter what.
33. “True Colours” – Cyndi Lauper
“But I see your true colours / Shining through / I see your true colours / And that’s why I love you / So don’t be afraid to let them show / Your true colours / True colours are beautiful / Like a rainbow”
“True Colours” discusses knowing what is inside someone’s heart and soul, and loving every single bit of them.
34. “Wind Beneath My Wings” – Bette Midler
“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”
A song I recently sent to my own best friend, “Wind Beneath My Wings” talks about the strength one feels when leaning on a supportive friend and knowing that you wouldn’t be where you are without them.
35. “You’re My Best Friend” – Queen
“Ooh, you make me live / I’m happy at home / You’re my best friend / Oh, you’re my best friend / Ooh, you make me live / You’re my best friend”
Freddie Mercury sings about how having a best friend makes him feel – alive, at home, happy… friends really do make your life better.
36. “Umbrella” – Rihanna (feat. Jay-Z)
“When the sun shines, we’ll shine together.”
An iconic and catchy song, saying: no matter where I am, I want you right next to me.
37. “Jumpin’ Jumpin’” – Destiny’s Child
“All you ladies leave your man at home / The club is full of ballers and their pockets full grown / And all you fellas leave your girl with her friends / ‘Cause it’s eleven thirty and the club is jumpin’, jumpin’”
For the girls nights – this is the perfect song to celebrate and embrace the much needed girl time.
38. “Hey Girl” – Lady Gaga & Florence Welch
“Help me hold my hair back / Walk me home ’cause I can’t find a cab / And we dance down The Bowery / Held hands like we were 17 again / And then it’s 4am / The sun is creepin’ up again / Don’t you leave me / Oh, darling don’t you leave me / Hey girl, hey girl / We can make it easy if we lift each other”
Two feminist icons came together to write a song about the importance of supporting women and each other and not tearing them down.
39. “Friends” – Whodini
“Friends – how many of us have them? / Friends – ones we can depend on / Friends – how many of us have them? / Friends – before we go any further, let’s be / Friends”
We all have friends, people we can depend on. And well, Whodini gets it.
40. “See You Again” – Wiz Khalifa (feat. Charlie Puth)
“First, you both go out your way and the vibe is feelin’ strong / And what’s small turned to a friendship, a friendship turned to a bond / And that bond’ll never be broken, the love will never get lost / And when brotherhood come first, then the line’ll never be crossed / Established it on our own when that line had to be drawn / And that line is what we reached, so remember me when I’m gone”
Even though “See You Again” is a sad song about losing a friend, it stresses the importance of remembering that friend, no matter what.
41. “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”
For younger readers, here is a track about moving on from school without your friends, and never forgetting the impact of those friends you made.
42. “We Should Be Friends” – Miranda Lambert
“I don’t know you well, but I know that look / And I can judge the cover ’cause I wrote the book / On losing sleep and gaining weight / On pain and shame and crazy trains”
This is a song telling women not to be ashamed of themselves and that we all go through it. It’s a matter of life, so embrace it.
43. “Help!” – the Beatles
“Help me if you can, I’m feeling down / And I do appreciate you being ’round / Help me get my feet back on the ground / Won’t you please, please help me?”
The Beatles “Help” is a rather sad plea, the writer asking the friends around them to help them through this tough time. And, they do. Because that’s what friends do.
44. “Best Friend” – Saweetie (feat. Doja Cat)
“I’ma hype her every time, that my mothеrfuckin’ friend / She been down since thе jellies and the bobos / Now we steppin’ out the G in Manolos / When we pull up to the scene, they be filled with jealousy / If a bitch get finicky, she gon’ bring that energy”
For the ones with ride-or-die friends, the kind of friends you would do absolutely anything for – this song is for you.
45. “I’m Only Me When I’m With You” – Taylor Swift
“I’m only up when you’re not down / Don’t wanna fly if you’re still on the ground / It’s like no matter what I do / Well, you drive me crazy half the time / The other half I’m only trying / To let you know that what I feel is true / And I’m only me when I’m with you”
Taylor Swift’s own best friend features in the music video for “I”m Only Me When I’m With You,” which tells you everything you need to know. Best friends are the people that know us inside and out, and love us anyway.
46. “Fellowship” – serpentwithfeet
“The silly face you make when I say, “Hello” / I never understood deep, deep breaths (ah-ha) / ‘Til you came around and you just changed the way I laughed”
This song recounts a sweet memory one has of their friend, and how their friend has impacted them over time, which is what a good friend does.
47. “Count on Me” – Whitney Houston & 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 / Call on me, I will be there / Don’t be afraid / Please believe me when I say / Count on me”
Houston and Winans sing together about a neverending friendship, no matter the struggles either of them face in life. Reminding the other, that even when life gets hard, they can count on them.
48. “hope ur ok” – Olivia Rodrigo
“Well, I hope you know how proud I am you were created / With the courage to unlearn all of their hatred / God, I hope that you’re happier today / ‘Cause I love you, and I hope that you’re okay”
A beautiful track discussing the hardships of her friends, Rodrigo crafts a song about being proud of her friends and their growth, despite their difficulties.
49. “What About Your Friends” – TLC
“What about your friends? / Will they stand their ground? / Will they let you down again? / What about your friends?”
TLC sings about the importance of friends and analysing your friendships. If you don’t have a friend you can truth, then they’re not a friend.
50. “Best Friends” – Missy Elliott (feat. Aaliyah)
“I’ll still be there for you / In your time of need, you can lean on me / Come on, I’ll be there for you”
Another track talking about being dependable, and reminding their friends that they’ll always be there for them.
51. “I Turn to You” – Christina Aguilera
“For a shield from the storm / For a friend, for a love / To keep me safe and warm / I turn to you / For the strength to be strong”
And this track is the other side of coin, being the person who is turning to their friend for comfort, and the gratitude that comes with being able to do that.
52. “7 rings” – Ariana Grande
“Wearing a ring, but ain’t gon’ be no “Mrs.” / Bought matching diamonds for six of my bitches/ I’d rather spoil all my friends with my riches”
Ariana Grande’s famous “7 rings” about seven matching rings she bought her friends after breaking up with Pete Davidson. I mean… that’s pretty cool thing to do for your friends.
53. “We Go Together” – Grease (1978)
“We go together/ Like rama lama lama ka dinga da dinga dong / Remembered forever / As shoo-bop sha wadda wadda yippity boom de boom / Chang chang changitty chang sha-bop / That’s the way it should be / Wah-oooh, yeah!”
The classic musical is a tale of young love, coming of age, and friendships. Well, “We Go Together” is one of the best friend (and love) songs of all time.
54. “Time After Time” – Cyndi Lauper
“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”
An old, incredibly recognisable song, “Time After Time” is iconic for good reason. The original, no matter what happens, I’ll be there song.
55. “My Old Friend” – Tim McGraw
“My old friend, I apologize / For the years that have passed / Since the last time you and I / Dusted off those memories”
A rather sad song about losing touch with your friend over time, and reminiscing about some of the best parts of your old friendship.
56. “Best Friend” – Pharrell Williams
“My best friend told me (What?) / You be actin’ tough, that’s fine (Uh-huh) / But the weight of the world can really crush one’s mind / So let it out, P (What?) Let it out, P (What?) / See, you won’t even know you hurt sometimes / Until you in conversations, it comes out in a line / So let it out, P (What?) Let it out, P (What?) / Let it out, P (What?) My n****, let it out”
Sometimes, our best friends can sense when we’re off before we do. And for that, we should be grateful that they see us in ways we never could.
57. “Friends” – Nas & Damian Marley
“Your real friends will serve you long / Acquaintances will fade / Your real friends won’t do you wrong / Real friend don’t change”
This song stresses the importance of how people will move in and out of your life, whether you want them to or not, but friends will always be there to support you through it.
58. “Do It” – Chlöe & Halle
“I’m just with the crew / We ain’t out here looking for boo / ‘Cause some nights be better with you / It’s a “homies only” kind of mood”
A party song for when you’re going out with your friends, a ‘homies only’ mood is always welcome.
59. “Any Time You Need a Friend” – Mariah Carey
“If you just believe in me / I will love you endlessly / Take my hand / Take me into your heart / I’ll be there forever baby / I won’t let go”
Mariah Carey emphasises that she will always be there whenever a friend is need, and will give them all the love in the world.
60. “Always Be Together” – Little Mix
“I am here, find me, in the sky / Destine with the moon at night / Your heartbeat is disguised as my, lullaby / Be happy, and know that I’m / Watching you travel far and wide / Waiting for us to meet again”
Girl-band Little Mix sing to each other about the beauty of having close friends, and the love we feel when we watch them go on to do incredible things. And that even when they’re off doing those incredible things, we’re with them.