Will Fenton
Looking for heartfelt songs about the father-son bond?
I’ve compiled the most poignant songs about sons to celebrate that special relationship.
These emotional tunes capture the love, joy, and pride of watching your boy grow up.
Get ready for touching lyrics about fatherhood and undying paternal bonds.
Top picks of the best songs about sons
- Selah Sue – “You”
- Peter Gabriel – “Father, Son”
- The Pretenders – “I’ll Stand By You”
- Carole King – “Child of Mine”
- Alicia Keys – “Speechless”
- Adele – “My Little Love”
- Will Smith – “Just The Two Of Us”
- Ciara – “I Got You”
- DMX – “Letter To My Son (Call Your Father)”
- Brad Paisley – “Anything Like Me”
30 Songs About Sons
1. Selah Sue – “You”
In 2020, Belgian singer and songwriter Selah Sue released one of the sweetest songs dedicated to her son.
She managed to capture the pure and genuine feeling of becoming a mother.
“Stay a little longer
All I need is time in your embrace
It’s always so much better
Never in my life I’ve felt this way.”
2. Peter Gabriel – “Father, Son”
Peter Gabriel’s “Father, Son” is a personal song about the father-son relationship.
It’s inspired by the fact that Gabriel wasn’t as close to his father as he wanted to.
Emotions like these are very complex, but he managed to express them in a very creative and sentimental way.
“Remember the breakwaters down by the waves
I first found my courage
Knowing daddy could save
I could hold back the tide
With my dad by my side.”
See also: Best Father’s Day Songs
Don’t forget to pin this playlist for later!
3. The Pretenders – “I’ll Stand By You”
“I’ll Stand By You” could easily be described as one of the most beautiful songs about a son.
In fact, it’s a song about love and support, which is the most important thing in a family.
So, whether “I’ll Stand By You” is a song about friendship, romantic love, or parenting, really depends on how you see it.
“Oh, why you look so sad?
Tears are in your eyes
Come on and come to me now
Don’t be ashamed to cry
Let me see you through.”
4. Carole King – “Child of Mine”
“Child of Mine” is a beautiful, piano-driven song about the love for a child.
So, if you’re searching for a good song to dedicate to your son, Carole King’s “Child of Mine” is a good choice.
If you’re not so sure, just look at the lyrics:
“You don’t need directions
You know which way to go
And I don’t want to hold you back
I just want to watch you grow
You’re the one who taught me
You don’t have to look behind.”
5. Alicia Keys – “Speechless”
In her 2010 song “Speechless”, Alicia Keys is singing about her newborn son Egypt.
Some other Keys’ songs are also inspired by her family life (like “Blended Family”), but “Speechless” seems to be the most direct one.
“When I wake up in the morning babe
Can’t believe my eyes
Sweetest little part of destiny
Oh yeah, ’cause you are now in my life.”
6. Adele – “My Little Love”
In her song “My Little Love”, released on her new album “30”, Adele is talking to her son Angelo.
It’s a very sentimental and delicate song.
And Adele sounds more honest and vulnerable than ever.
“My little love
Tell me, do you feel the way my past aches?
When you lay on me, can you hear the way my heart breaks?
I wanted you to have everything I never had
I’m so sorry if what I’ve done makes you feel sad.”
7. Will Smith – “Just The Two Of Us”
Will Smith dedicated this cover version of Bill Withers’ timeless classic to his son.
And as it turns out, “Just The Two Of Us” could be a great song for your son.
“Just the two of us
We can make it if we try
Just the two of us.”
8. Ciara – “I Got You”
“Hush little baby don’t you cry
Momma’s gonna love you all your life
And if you ever need a friend
Momma’s right there till the very end.”
When you look at the lyrics of Ciara’s “I Got You”, it becomes pretty clear that it’s one of her songs about sons.
The song is honest and sweet, and if you’re a mom, very relatable.
9. DMX – “Letter To My Son (Call Your Father)”
Father-son relationships aren’t always easy, and everybody has their own story and experience.
“Letter To My Son (Call Your Father)” talks about all the regrets and difficulties of being a father.
The song was released on DMX’s posthumous album “Exodus.”
“Should’ve been there, but I let you down
Not too late, not too late
I can’t give you yesterday
But I can learn from my mistakes
Not too late, it ain’t too late.”
10. Brad Paisley – “Anything Like Me”
If you’re looking for a country song about sons, you can always turn to Brad Paisley.
“Anything Like Me” is a sweet, relatable song about the excitement of seeing your son growing up and becoming more and more like you.
“And I started wonderin’ who he was gonna be
And I thought heaven help us if he’s anything like me
He’ll probably climb a tree too tall and ride his bike to fast
End up every summer wearin’ somethin’ in a cast.”
11. Elvie Shane – “My Boy”
“He ain’t my blood, ain’t got my name
But if he did, I’d feel the same
I wasn’t there for his first steps
But I ain’t missed a ball game yet.”
Elvie Shane was reportedly inspired to write “My Boy” after seeing a Facebook post saying: “I don’t have a step-son, I have a son that was born before I met him.”
So, “My Boy” is about the love and respect in a blended family.
12. Cat Stevens – “Father & Son”
“Father & Son” by Cat Stevens is a conversation between a father and son.
That’s not always a pleasant conversation; sometimes we don’t have the same worldview as our parents or our kids.
Although the song doesn’t tell a real story, it was influenced by the singer’s relationship with his own father.
Stevens didn’t follow the path of his father (he didn’t join the family business), but that didn’t affect their relationship.
13. Mumford and Sons – “Little Lion Man”
Many people think that “Little Lion Man” refers to Marcus Mumford’s son.
It could also be a song about maturing and the realization you’re not what you used to be.
So, maybe “Little Lion Man” is one of the father-to-son songs, and maybe it’s about the kid in all of us.
Either way, it’s a fantastic song that deserves a spot on this list.
“Rate yourself and rake yourself
Take all the courage you have left
And waste it on fixing all the problems
That you made in your own head.”
14. Sly & The Family Stone – “Family Affair”
“Family Affair” perhaps isn’t one of the typical songs for sons, but it definitely has an important message.
It’s a funky tune with quirky lyrics about being there for your family no matter what.
In a way, the lyrics can be interpreted like this: whatever happens and whatever you do, it will be alright, because it’s a family affair.
“Mom loves the both of them
You see, it’s in the blood
Both kids are good to mom
Blood’s thicker than the mud.”
15. Rascal Flatts – “My Wish”
“My Wish” by Rascal Flatts sounds like a letter you would give to your son on his graduation day.
And if you like country rock, why not make it a song for your son?
“But more than anything, more than anything
My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to
Your dreams stay big, your worries stay small
You never need to carry more than you can hold.”
16. Coldplay – “Daddy”
Coldplay’s Chris Martin said he was inspired to write “Daddy” while he was away from his family a lot.
It’s a very tender and sentimental song about a son and his absent father.
Although it’s not a personal story, it’s very relatable and genuine. It’s actually quite heartbreaking.
“Daddy, are you out there?
Daddy, won’t you come and play?
Daddy, do you not care?
Is there nothing that you want to say?”
17. Radiohead – “Sail To The Moon”
Radiohead’s Thom Yorke apparently dedicated “Sail To The Moon” to his son Noah.
And although Yorke isn’t a person who would write a typical father-to-son song, the lyrics seem pretty clear.
It’s not a typical song anyway.
“Maybe you’ll
Be president
But know right from wrong
Or in the flood
You’ll build an ark.”
18. Cheryl Crow – “Lullaby For Wyatt”
Cheryl Crow wrote this gentle ballad for her adopted son Wyatt.
It was her way of expressing her unconditional love, and she also suggested that you have to be prepared for letting your child go once they’re grown up and independent.
“How do I keep you from losing your way
Hope you will find love like I did someday
But love is letting go
And this I’ll know
‘Cause you were mine
For a time.”
19. Phil Colins – “You’ll Be In My Heart”
“You’ll Be In My Heart” could be a beautiful song for a son.
It’s about strong bonds and always being there for someone.
The song is also featured in a Disney animated film “Tarzan.”
“For one so small
You seem so strong
My arms will hold you
Keep you safe and warm
This bond between us
Can’t be broken
I will be here don’t you cry.”
20. Lauryn Hill – “To Zion”
If you look at the lyrics of “To Zion”, you’ll see it’s one of the most honest and touching songs about loving a son.
Lauryn Hill has a son Zion with Rohan Marley, one of Bob Marley’s sons.
She didn’t plan the pregnancy, which explains the lyrics:
“I knew his life deserved a chance
But everybody told me to be smart
Look at your career they said
Lauryn, baby use your head
But instead I chose to use my heart.”
21. Jason Mraz – “93 Million Miles”
“93 Million Miles” is a heartwarming song about home and family.
In this tune, Jason Mraz is a son, and he is remembering his mother’s words:
“Son in life you’re gonna go far
If you do it right
You’ll love where you are
Just know that wherever you go
You can always come home.”
22. Captain Fantastic Soundtrack – “Sweet Child O Mine”
This sweet, emotional version of the timeless hit “Sweet Child O Mine” is featured in the movie “Captain Fantastic.”
The movie tells a story of a father (Viggo Mortensen) who decided to raise his six children in the wilderness, isolated from society.
It’s a unique movie full of interesting ideas and emotional moments.
23. John Lennon – “Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy)”
This is arguably one of the most beautiful and feel-good songs about having a son.
John Lennon dedicated it to his son Sean. He’s the only child he had with Yoko Ono.
“Close your eyes
Have no fear
The monster’s gone, he’s on the run
And your daddy’s here.”
24. Elton John – “Blessed”
Elton John’s “Blessed” tells a story of a person who is dreaming about having a child.
It’s a strange feeling, imagining your future child. It’s like you can feel the love already, but you have no idea what it truly feels like.
It’s exciting, intimidating, and beautiful at the same time.
“Hey you, you’re a child in my head
You haven’t walked yet
Your first words have yet to be said
But I swear you’ll be blessed.”
See also: Songs About Having a Baby
25. Anthem Lights – “You Will Always Be My Son”
“You Will Always Be My Son” is a classic father-to-son song.
The title sounds a bit too obvious, but it’s the intention that matters. It’s important to let your kids know you’ll always be there for them, and make them feel safe and loved.
And in light of the above, Anthem Lights’ song about a son is quite a tearjerker.
“I don’t ever wanna let you go
But I can’t wait to get to watch you grow
And no matter what this life might bring
I want you to know that you will always be
You will always be my son.”
26. Neil Young – “Here For You”
“In the spring, protective arms surrounding you
In the fall, we let you go your way
Happiness I know will always find you
And when it does, I hope that it will stay.”
Neil Young wrote “Here For You” about his daughter, but if you look at the lyrics, it can also be a song about a son.
It’s about being there for your kid, even when they sail away on their own path.
27. Céline Dion – “A New Day Has Come”
If you’re a fan of Céline Dion, you’ll probably want to dedicate this song to your son.
She wrote “A New Day Has Come” while she was taking some time off to be with her son.
It’s an uplifting tune that captures the excitement of becoming a parent.
“Through the darkness and good times
I knew I’d make it through
And the world thought I had it all
But I was waiting for you.”
28. Shakira – “The One Thing”
In “The One Thing”, Shakira sings about her son.
This song was her way of expressing unconditional love and support.
“You are the one thing that I got right
It’s a fickle world, yeah, it’s a fickle world
You turned the darkness into sunlight
I’m a lucky girl, yeah, I’m a lucky girl.”
29. Roo Panes – “Daydreamer”
One of the things that every parent should teach their son is to be a daydreamer.
Our society has taught us that sons should be raised to be strong. But there are numerous other traits little boys should learn: empathy, tenderness, curiosity, creativity…
“Do you wonder where you’d be if you’d ever dared a daydream?
Oh I wonder where I’d be if it hadn’t been for daydreams.”
30. Jack Johnson – “You Remind Me Of You”
You should definitely put “You Remind Me Of You” on your songs for my son playlist.
It’s simple but very tender, thoughtful, and positive.
It’s everything you need for a song to dedicate to your child.
“Your mama gave you those windows
To your beautiful soul
Your daddy got more love for you
Then you could ever know.”
Final Thoughts
We hope you enjoyed our today’s playlist!
And maybe you’ve even found a perfect song for your son.
Either way, songs like these can remind us to appreciate our family bonds.
When life becomes challenging or overwhelming, a family should be a source of comfort and tranquility.
And to have that is that’s the most precious thing.
Similar Articles
