By Shelby Copeland via Oprah Daily
James Devaney / Getty Images
Music has a way of saying all the things we find hard to express. And when it comes to our true friends—the ones who have been there to uplift us during our darkest days, questionable haircuts, and happiest memories—a song lyric, like a heartfelt quote, can be the perfect way to capture the way we feel about them. We've curated a list of best friend songs to dedicate to your OG, the Gayle to your Oprah, (or vice versa), the Carrie to your Miranda, the... well, you get it. Play these pop hits, country ballads, rap tunes, and 90s throwbacks during your next girlfriend getaway, or blast them on a road trip with the volume cranked up. They won't even mind if you sing them a little off-key. That's the beauty of having a BFF.
1) "I'll Be There for You" by the Rembrandts
No, you’re not listening to an episode of Friends, but that is what the song, “I’ll be there for you,” is all about, and why it debuts at the top of our list. The Rembrandts released the single as part of their studio album L.P. in 1995.
Key lyrics:
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)
Listen Now
2) "Thank You for Being a Friend" by Andrew Gold
Though you may know “Thank you for Being a Friend” as the Golden Girls theme song, it was written by Andrew Gold, who released it as a single on his album All This and Heaven Too in 1978. He referred to it as a “just a little throwaway thing,” that only took him an hour to write. Years later, Cynthia Fee would go on to cover it and it was repurposed for the NBC show.
Key lyrics:
Thank you for being a friend
Traveled down a road and back again
Your heart is true, you're a pal and a confidant
Listen Now
3) "Count on Me" by Bruno Mars
Bruno Mars’s “Count on Me” is cheery and simple but gets to heart of what it means to be a friend— someone who you can count on in times of trouble. The song was released in 2010 on Doo-Wops & Hooligans, Mars’s debut album.
Key Lyrics:
Find out what we’re made of
When we are called to help our friends in need
Listen Now
4) "You've Got a Friend in Me" by Randy Newman
Randy Newman created “You’ve Got A Friend in Me” for the Toy Story movie franchise. It's the perfect song to dedicate to your childhood bestie.
Key lyrics:
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
Listen Now
5)"Lean On Me" by Bill Withers
Bill Withers’s “Lean on Me” was featured on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time as number 208. The song is an anthem for unity and camaraderie. Withers released it in June 1972 on his album Still Bill. Rolling Stone calls it his biggest hit.
Key lyrics:
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
Listen Now
6) "Best Friend" by Young Thug
Rapper Young Thug released his single “Best Friend” in 2015 and since then it’s been a go-to hook to celebrate friendship for birthdays, social media shout-outs, and any other time that you want the world to know “that’s my bestie, go best friend!” The song peaked at number 18 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart in 2016.
Key lyrics:
And that's my bestie, my bestie, my best friend, go best friend!
Listen Now
7)"No New Friends" by DJ Khaled ft. Drake, Rick Ross, and Lil Wayne
DJ Khaled collaborated with Rick Ross, Drake and Lil Wayne to release “No New Friends” in 2013. This track praises the loyal people who were with you from the very beginning. The song nods to Drake’s “Started From the Bottom,” where he raps about his journey to success and bringing his day-one friends to the top with him.
Key Lyrics:
No new friends, no new friends, no new friends...
Listen Now
8)"Real Friends" by Kanye West
Rapper and producer Kanye West released “Real Friends” with Ty Dolla Sign in 2016 on his album The Life of Pablo. In the song, West tries to discern who, of his friends and family, has his best interests at heart.
Key lyrics:
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
But how many honest? Trust issues
Listen Now
9) "Started From the Bottom" by Drake
When you’re succeeding in life, it’s important to recognize who’s encouraging you and who has never left your side. That’s exactly the kind of friendship that Drake raps about in “Started From The Bottom.” This first single from Drake’s album Nothing Was the Same peaked at number 6 on Billboard's Hot 100 in 2013.
Key lyrics:
Started from the bottom, now we're here
Started from the bottom, now my whole team f****** here
Listen Now
10) "True Colors" by Cyndi Lauper
Cyndi Lauper recorded “True Colors” on her second album. In October 1968, the song hit number one on Billboard's Hot 100. The lyrics, by songwriters Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly, are an encouraging reminder to live authentically. Since its release, the song has been sampled and recorded by many artists and remains a staple of pop culture. It's a reminder that your best friend will always see you at your most beautiful.
Key lyrics:
But I see your true colors
Shining through
I see your true colors
And that's why I love you
So don't be afraid to let them show
Your true colors
True colors are beautiful
Like a rainbow
Listen Now
11) "Girl" by Destiny's Child
Destiny’s Child’s “Girl” was a single on the group’s album Destiny Fulfilled in 2014. Kelly Rowland admitted that the song was written for her during a time that she was in an abusive relationship. The lyrics reflect group members Beyoncé and Michelle’s plead for Rowland to confide in them and be honest with herself.
Key lyrics:
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?
Listen Now
12) "Wannabe" by the Spice Girls
“If you wannabe my lover, you gotta get with my friends” is the iconic line from the British pop group. The debut single peaked at #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart in 1997. The song is fun and upbeat, and places friendships with your gals ahead of romantic relationships. Though, the Spice Girls have since admitted that they have no idea what zig-a-zig-ah means.
Key lyrics:
If you wanna be my lover, you gotta get with my friends
(Gotta get with my friends)
Make it last forever, friendship never end
13)"Clique" by Kanye West, Jay-Z and Big Sean
Rappers Kanye West, Big Sean, and Jay-Z teamed up to create “Clique” in 2012. Label G.O.O.D. Music released the track on its collaboration album, Cruel Summer. The song is ideal for a group of friends raising a glass to each other.
Key lyrics:
Ain't nobody fresher than my m********* clique, clique, clique, clique, clique
As I look around, they don't do it like my clique, clique, clique, clique, clique
Listen Now
R&B star Brandy released “Best Friend” in 1995 as a single for her self-titled album. In a 2014 interview with Billboard on the album's 20th anniversary, Brandy shared that the song was dedicated to her brother, Ray J, another star in the entertainment industry. You can see the pair dancing together in the song’s music video. This goes to show that sometimes the closest friends you have are your family.
Key lyrics:
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
Listen Now
15) "Friends" by The Carters
The Carters—Beyoncé and Jay-Z—released “Friends” as part of their surprise album Everything Is Love in 2018. The couple has dozens of Grammy Awards combined and their work has led them both to be powerhouse names in the entertainment industry. This song is like a tribute to the friends that stood by them along the way in their journey. In the song, Jay-Z personally shouts out some of his longtime pals.
Key lyrics:
My friends, real friends, better than your friendsThat'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
Listen Now
16)"That's What Friends Are For" by Dionne Warwick ft. Stevie Wonder, Elton John, and Gladys Knight
“That’s What Friends Are For” was covered in 1985 with star-studded artists: Dionne Warwick, Stevie Wonder, Elton John and Gladys Knight. The original recording by Rod Stewart came three years prior. This new edition was made with a cause: to raise funds to support AIDS research. Not only did it peak at number one on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart, but it's popularity led it to win a Grammy Award for song of the year and the best pop performance by a duo or group with vocal in 1986.
Key lyrics:
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
17) "Good Friend and a Glass of Wine" by LeAnn Rimes
When you have a “Good Friend and a Glass of Wine,” you have all you need to feel relaxed, refreshed, and revived. LeAnn Rimes’s single was released from her album Family in 2008. The song is perfect for grabbing your closest gals and decompressing from whatever the world throws your way.
Key lyrics:
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
18)"You're My Best Friend" by Queen
The British rock group Queen originally released “You’re My Best Friend” in 1975 on their album A Night at the Opera until it was later re-released as a single. John Deacon, the band’s bass player, actually admitted that he wrote the piece about his wife. The hit was certified platinum by the RIAA in September 2016, with 1 million copies sold. It's a great one for weddings, if your spouse does happen to be your BFF.
Key lyrics:
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
19) "Jumpin' Jumpin'" by Destiny's Child
Ladies, are you craving a night out with your girls? We’ve got a hit for you. “Jumpin’ Jumpin'” by Destiny’s Child is single from the group’s album, The Writing’s on the Wall. The album was certified platinum 8 times in a span of three years by the RIAA.
Key lyrics:
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'
20) "Friends" by Whodini
The hip hop trio Whodini created “Friends” in 1984. A regional news site in Alabama interviewed the group’s lyricist Jalil Hutchins who talked about the impact of the song’s lifespan. “The younger generation may not study all the words, but they know that song.” The track is a hip-hop classic that reminds us that being a good friend is more about what you do than what you say.
Key lyrics:
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
Listen Now
21) We Can't Stop by Miley Cyrus
“We Can’t Stop” was Miley Cyrus’s lead single from her 2013 album Bangerz. This song and its music video represented a breakout image for Cyrus as an adult, separate from her adolescent persona from her career at Disney. The song was a huge success, peaking at #2 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart (and she went on to peak at #1 with the album’s second single “Wrecking Ball” just two months later). Though there are no explicit mentions of a best friend in this hit, the carefree lyrics entice you to be emboldened, let go, and party, and who better to do that with than our friends?
Key lyrics:
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
Listen Now
22)"Graduation (Friends Forever)" by Vitamin C
“Graduation (Friends Forever)” is pop singer Vitamin C’s single on her debut self-titled album. The lyrics describe growing up, but not growing apart.
Key lyrics:
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
Listen Now
23) "Help!" By The Beatles
The Beatles released “Help!” in July 1965. The hit landed in Rolling Stone’s top 50 spot for Greatest Songs of All Time. John Lennon, who wrote the track, told the magazine, “Subconsciously, I was crying out for help. I didn't realize it at the time…”
Key lyrics:
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?
Listen Now
24)"Count on Me" by Whitney Houston and CeCe Winans
Whitney Houston and CeCe Winans came together for “Count on Me” in the soundtrack for Waiting to Exhale. The soulful song is perfect for friends who help lift each other up in times of need.
Key lyrics:
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
Listen Now
25) "I'm Only Me When I'm With You" by Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift released “I’m Only Me When I’m With You” in 2004 as a bonus track of the deluxe edition of her debut album. The music video for the track is personal and heartwarming, full of moments with her close friends and family snipped together in a montage.
Key lyrics
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
26) "What About Your Friends" by TLC
The hip hop and R&B girl group TLC released "What About Your Friends" as a single on their 1992 debut album. The lyrics are about determining who your true friends are. In a 2017 interview with Billboard, group member Chilli said: "We’ve all been back-stabbed by people we thought were our true friends and that’s a life lesson that you learn as you get older."
Key lyrics:
What about your friends?
Will they stand their ground,
Will they let you down again?
What about your friends?
Listen Now
27) "I Turn to You" by Christina Aguilera
Christina Aguilera covered All-4-One's "I Turn to You" and released it as a single on her debut album in 2000. Months after, the track peaked at the number three spot on Billboard's Hot 100 chart. The ballad is smooth and slow and encourages you to feel safe with the friends you love.
Key lyrics:
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
Listen Now
28)"We Go Together"
Whether this song makes you want to break out your leather or break out in dance, the message of the Grease showtune still holds strong. The closing track of the movie ends with the cast making a vow that they'll always be together.
Key lyrics:
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!
29)"My Old Friend" by Tim McGraw
Country music star Tim McGraw released "My Old Friend" as a single in 2005 on his album Live Like You Were Dying. The song is like an apology letter from one friend to another for growing apart, as some friendships do. The goal is to be appreciative of your friends while they're still there.
Key lyrics:
My old friend, I apologize
For the years that have passed
Since the last time you and I
Dusted off those memories
Listen Now
Nas and Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley collaborated on Distant Relatives in 2010, which gave birth to the track "Friends." The album was intended to empower Black communities; the song infuses elements of rap, reggae and samples from the African diaspora. As Marley says in the song, "Your real friends will serve you long."
Key lyrics:
Your real friends will serve you long
Acquaintances will fade
Your real friends won't do you wrong
Real friend don't change
