You know you’ve officially veered into best friend territory with someone when you start making playlists together. And what playlist shared between best buds could be complete without a solid handful of best friend songs on it?
After all, romantic love gets more than its fair share of credit for inspiring music. But the foundational friendships in our lives can be just as (read: more) inspiring than any romance. That’s why it’s hardly surprising so many artists have put their feelings for the platonic loves of their lives to song. And, luckily for us, that means there’s a whole lot of bops in the running for top friendship songs.
Ready to celebrate your bestie and the love you have for each other? We’ve rounded up 47 of the most iconic songs about friendship, with best friend lyrics that’ll leave you and your ride-or-die saying: “Been there.” (And before you ask, yes, Taylor Swift songs about friendship made the cut!)
Listen to our best friend songs playlist on Spotify.
1. “True Blue,” boygenius
With their 2023 album “the record,” boygenius — the (now on-hiatus) supergroup formed by artists and best buds Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers, and Lucy Dacus — effectively wrote an album-long ode to platonic love. Of the trio’s lineup of best friend songs, “True Blue” may take the gold, with lyrics like: “And it feels good, to be known so well. I can't hide from you like I hide from myself.”
2. “Goodbye Earl,” The Chicks
Think Thelma and Louise in song form. This may be the best song for a best friend who’ll help you hide the body, and we’re pretty sure few BFF songs tell as good a story as this classic country murder ballad.
3. “I’ll Be There For You,” The Rembrandts
Like many of the songs about friendship on this list, this tune, made famous as the theme song of Friends, puts words to the feeling of intense loyalty and support among the best of buddies. The message may not be complex, but it doesn’t have to be. Here, simplicity is the point, with best friend lyrics like: “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.”
4. "Best Friend," Harry Nilsson
If you’ve seen the MTV show Rob & Big, you’ve heard this song. It’s a pure-hearted ode to the best person you know and one of the catchiest friendship songs ever.
5. “You’re My Best Friend,” Queen
Sure, this song may technically have been inspired by bassist John Deacon’s relationship with his wife, but it’s lived on as a bestie anthem ever since.
6. “Thank You For Being a Friend,” Andrew Gold
Gold wrote this song in 1978, dedicating it to his musical partner Brock Walsh. It’s the Cynthia Fee cover, though, that’s best remembered as the theme song for The Golden Girls. Put it on while eating midnight cheesecake with your own Dorothy-Blanche-Rose-Sophia crew.
7. “Anytime You Need a Friend,” Mariah Carey
Written during a time of pronounced loneliness and marital trouble in Mariah Carey’s life, this comforting track is the perfect song to send a friend who’s going through a rough moment.
8. “That’s My Best Friend,” Tokyo Vanity
New Orleans rapper Tokyo Vanity went viral in 2015 for this supremely Insta- and Vine-friendly hit, and the tutu-filled music video will make you want to be her best friend.
9. “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell
One of the most beloved best friend songs out there, this Motown classic is an especially sweet pick for BFFs separated by distance.
10. “Wannabe,” Spice Girls
Oh, the days of choreographing playground dances to this ditty and fighting over who got to be Baby. (Related: Why, pray tell, did so many of us want to be Baby?)
11. "Best Friends," Missy Elliott (feat. Aaliyah)
Best friend lyrics like these will resonate for anyone who’s ever hoped (and hoped, and hoped) their BFF will get out of a no-good relationship.
12. "Heroes," David Bowie
Although “Heroes” may have been inspired by the sight of Bowie’s producer kissing his girlfriend against the then-active Berlin Wall, it’ll add a solidly triumphant note to any BFF playlist. (Plus, we know you’re really thinking about that one scene from The Perks of Being a Wallflower here.)
13. “Best Friend,” Brandy
Brandy dedicated this song, off her self-titled debut album, to her younger brother and fellow singer, Ray J. That makes it an even sweeter BFF anthem for blood-related best friends.
14. “In My Life,” The Beatles
We know, we know. You were expecting “With a Little Help From My Friends,” and that works, too! But this one’s just too tender to pass over.
15. “Where You Lead,” Carole King
If King herself wasn’t enough of a draw, we’re pretty sure the Gilmore Girls-theme associations will add a sentimental spark to your playlist.
16. “You’ve Got a Friend,” James Taylor
Is it the right move to push James Taylor’s version over Carole King’s, given she wrote and recorded the song first? It probably isn’t. But there’s something a little extra-soothing about Taylor’s voice as he sings the words “Winter, spring, summer or fall, All you have to do is call, And I'll be there, yes, I will.”
17. “Best Friend,” Saweetie (feat. Doja Cat)
The first 30 seconds of the music video alone, in which real-life pals Saweetie and Doja Cat read each other’s thoughts as a dude mansplains objectification to them, should land this song on any fun friends song list. Behold the truly excellent line: “Bitch, please, that kind of crass virtue-signaling is nothing but a less overtly nefarious form of toxic masculinity.”
18. “Graduation (Friends Forever),” Vitamin C
Children of the late ‘90s and early aughts already knew this one was coming.
19. “We’re Going to Be Friends,” The White Stripes
An elementary school-befitting rhyme scheme and simple melody make this jingle a throwback nod to some of our earliest friendships.
20. "I'm Only Me When I'm With You," Taylor Swift
From her self-titled debut album, Swift’s real life bestie Abigail Anderson inspired this song. (Look out for Anderson in the music video!)
21. "You Can’t Make Old Friends," Kenny Rogers (feat. Dolly Parton)
Rogers and Parton have described themselves as “soul partners,” with a 30-year friendship that started when the two teamed up for karaoke song par excellence “Islands in the Stream.”
22. “Umbrella,” Rihanna
“When the sun shines, we’ll shine together.” Obviously the whole weather-analogy thing is why this lyric exists, but we mean! That’s kind of sweet.
23. “Waiting on a Friend,” The Rolling Stones
Okay, so even though Keith Richards’ disdain for Mick Jagger is well documented, this song, clearly about the brighter days of their friendship, is a tender one.
24. “God Only Knows,” The Beach Boys
You thought that, of The Beach Boys canon, we were going to say “Friends,” didn’t you? Well, we didn't.
25. “Super Trouper,” ABBA
Putting this on with your buds may just inspire you to rig up your own girl band, Donna and the Dynamos-style.
26. "Friends in Low Places," Garth Brooks
Blame it on your roots. But when this song comes on at the Nashville bar you’ll someday be dragged to for a bachelorette party, you and the crew will sing it.
27. “Cheetah Sisters,” The Cheetah Girls
What a moment this scene was for coordinated headbands and tracksuits!
28. “Hold On,” Wilson Phillips
Okay, so this one might only be a best friend song because of its use in Bridesmaids. But that’s kind of reason enough.
29. “Old Friends,” Simon & Garkfunkel
This one’s bittersweet. In it, Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel sing: “Can you imagine us years from today, sharing a park bench quietly? How terribly strange to be 70.” At the time the song was written, the famous songwriting duo were “really best friends,” as Simon put it, but a rift in the friendship began a couple of years later as they worked on their next album. Often considered their best work, it brings us to our next song about friendship…
30. “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” Simon & Garkfunkel
Fast forward a couple of years from “Old Friends,” and Simon and Garfunkel’s friendship was majorly on the rocks. Still, for the title song of their final studio album, Simon wrote the words: “When you're weary, Feeling small, When tears are in your eyes, I will dry them all, I'm on your side, When times get rough, And friends just can't be found.” Whether Simon intended it or not, it can be heard as a message about the commitment to still be there for someone, regardless of any setbacks a friendship has faced.
31. “Time After Time,” Cyndi Lauper
Because it’s not just an S.O. who’s deserving of these moody keyboard-synth chords! Lauper’s “True Colors” could be just as befitting of a BFF songs playlist, though.
32. “Oo-De-Lally,” Roger Miller
It was a toss up between this and “You’ve Got a Friend In Me” for bestie songs from the Disney and Pixar universes. But honestly, Robin Hood and Little John deserve more credit than they nowadays get. (Also, if Roger Miller’s “King of the Road” isn’t on your road trip playlist, do you even have a road trip playlist?)
33. “Count On Me,” Bruno Mars
This playground-jingle of a friendship song sees Bruno Mars singing about the tight bond among best friends, namely the people who will “sail the world to find you.” Like other best friend songs on this list, the message here — much like the unspoken agreement between best buds — is simple. Per the lyrics: “You can count on me 'cause I can count on you.”
34. “Hymn,” Kesha
This us-against-the-world track is an ode to friendships that begin as a bond between outsiders. In it, Kesha sings: “After all we've been through. No, we won't stand and salute. So we just ride, we just cruise. Livin' like there's nothing left to lose.”
35. "Me & My Girls," Selena Gomez
Not to be confused with the Fifth Harmony song of the same name — one that, in a way only a song released in 2015 could, sees the girl group singing about “taking duck face selfies right and left” — this Selena Gomez song is an homage to girls’ night. The vision? Flying down the highway, dressed to kill, and ready to take on whatever the night brings.
36. “Friends,” BTS
Sung by Jimin and V, the song chronicles the pair’s friendship, predating their time as BTS bandmates. Fun fact: It’s also the second song ever from Korean artists to be featured in a Marvel movie, with a spot in Eternals.
37. “No New Friends,” DJ Khaled (feat. Drake, Lil Wayne, and Rick Ross)
Given this song’s title inspired a near-ubiquitous catchphrase, it kind of has to be included as an ode to our “day one” friends.
38. "This One's for the Girls,” Martina McBride
Feeling in the mood for some early-aughts, women-driven country music? This sing-along was pretty much made for a karaoke night with friends.
39. “Friends,” The Carters
Don’t know what you’d do without your crew? Per this track’s best friend lyrics, neither do Beyoncé and Jay Z. In it, they call their friends “closer than kin, our souls exposed,” and that’s something a lot of us in committed best friendships will relate to.
40. “Long Live,” Taylor Swift
A big part of friendship is agreeing to bear witness to each other’s lives and share in the memories we make. Off of “Speak Now,” this Taylor Swift friendship song is an ask to old friends to not forget memories made together, and to make sure we remember them in turn.
41. “Graceland Too,” Phoebe Bridgers (feat. Julien Baker and Lucy Dacus)
Bridgers’ best friends and boygenius bandmates Baker and Dacus join her on this banjo-filled track about caring for a friend who’s struggling with addiction and mental health issues. Despite the pain of that, Bridgers sings: “I would do anything you want me to, I would do anything for you.”
42. “Hallelujah,” HAIM
On a very different, very sober note: Those who’ve lost a best friend may resonate with this beautifully stripped-down ballad, inspired by the loss of Alana Haim’s best friend to a car accident when she was 20.
43. "That’s What Friends are For," Dionne Warwick
Queen of Twitter Dionne Warwick brings together a few pals you’ll recognize — Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight and Elton John — in this track that’s set to the tempo of an eighth grade slow dance.
44. “Wind Beneath My Wings,” Bette Midler
This one’s for those times on the road with your bestie when you need a true power ballad to belt out.
45. “Always Be Together,” Little Mix
Released just a year after they won The X Factor, “Always Be Together” is the group’s “friends for life” love letter to each other.
46. “Stand By Me,” Ben E. King
It’s inspired countless covers, features memorably in the 1986 coming-of-age movie of the same name, and definitely belongs on the playlist.
47. “Call Me,” Blondie
This one’s simply for when your best friend needs a, shall we say, gentle reminder to return your FaceTimes. (Spoiler: It’s me. I’m the best friend who needs that reminder. Sorry, Adam!)
