40 Graduation Songs to Add to Your Playlist, from Beyoncé to Green Day

If there's any occasion that can send you on a roller coaster of emotions, it’s graduation day. Not only are you officially bidding farewell to school dances, pep rallies and midnight cramming sessions, but you’re also embarking on a new journey and exploring new opportunities. It’s a milestone that can make you feel excited one moment and anxious the next. But thanks to our favorite artists, there’s a host of graduation songs to help you process this strange mix of emotions.

Maybe you’re looking for an upbeat classic that’ll have you up and dancing, like Simple Minds’ “Don't You (Forget About Me).” Or maybe you’d prefer a playful anthem about refusing to grow up, like “Opposite of Adults” by Chiddy Bang. Keep reading for 40 of the best graduation songs that capture this rite of passage, from country tracks to pop hits.

Standout 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

Inspired by her own experience with high school friends, Vitamin C takes us down memory lane with this sweet tune about graduating.

Standout lyrics: My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to / Your dreams stay big, your worries stay small

Jeffrey Steele may have written the song as a tribute to his daughter, but the lyrics will resonate with graduates who are leaving home.

Standout lyrics: Slow change may pull us apart / When the light gets into your heart, baby / Don't you, forget about me

It’s impossible to hear this classic without thinking of John Bender and his classmates in The Breakfast Club.

Standout lyrics: Staring at the blank page before you / Open up the dirty window / Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find

In this fun anthem, Natasha encourages listeners to carve their own paths and enjoy every step of the journey.

Standout lyrics: If the sun comes up / And I still don't wanna stagger home / Then it's the memory of our betters / That are keeping us on our feet

James Murphy walks us through his younger years, complete with wild adventures and bad decisions.

Standout lyrics: I know I can / Be what I wanna be If / I work hard at it / I'll be where I wanna be

Nas encourages young kids to steer clear of drugs and pursue their biggest dreams in this upbeat tune. It’s a powerful message that’ll empower any graduate.

Standout lyrics: Here's to the nights we felt alive / Here's to the tears you knew you'd cry / Here's to goodbye / Tomorrow's gonna come too soon

This song reminds us that it’s never easy to move on. Play this as you reminisce on your best memories with your BFFs.

Standout lyrics: Here we are this is the time / Like a dream coming to life / We live for moments like these / We come alive in moments like this

One of the biggest lessons we learn in school is the importance of living in the moment, which is a key message in this song.

Standout lyrics: It's something unpredictable / But in the end, it's right / I hope you had the time of your life

Fun fact: This song was inspired by Billie Joe Armstrong’s girlfriend after she moved away. But because of its nostalgic lyrics, the track became a staple at high school proms and graduations.

Standout lyrics: So just think of your future / Think of a new life / Don't get lost in the memories / Keep your eyes on a new prize

This criminally underrated track is unlike any other Paramore song you'll hear, and the lyrics will inspire you to focus on what’s ahead.

Standout lyrics: Don't worry about the future / Or worry, but know that worrying / Is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing Bubble gum

Luhrmann drops several gems in this classic, spanning from friendship advice to planning for the future. TBH, this could double as a commencement speech.

Standout lyrics: Can I Graduate / To the bastard talking down to me / Your whipping boy calamity / Cross your fingers / I'm going to knock it all down,

While the song was originally inspired by the band’s experience with getting signed to a label, it also captures the angst that some graduates feel as they move closer to adulthood.

Standout lyrics: Some will win, some will lose / Some were born to sing the blues / Oh, the movie never ends / It goes on and on, and on and on

It's one karaoke staple that'll have every graduate singing along at the top of their lungs.

Standout lyrics: It's time now to sing out / Although it's not the end / To celebrate, remember a year in the life of a friend

This sentimental track was made for milestones, whether it be a first-generation college graduate getting their diploma or Michael Scott spending his last days at Dunder Mifflin in The Office.

Standout lyrics: It's times like these you learn to live again / It's times like these you give and give again / It's times like these you learn to love again

You’ll have a deeper appreciation for your friends when you listen to this poignant song, which talks about hope and interpersonal relationships.

Standout lyrics: I don't wanna grow up / Wish I'd never grown up / Could still be little / Oh, I don't wanna grow up

Swift reminds us that growing up and establishing your independence is a scary step—something that all graduating teens can relate to.

Standout lyrics: This could be the year / This could be the moment you've been waiting / Your whole life to show the world that you are ready

The lyrics are fitting for grads as they bid farewell to high school and enter adulthood.

Standout lyrics: And I'll take with me the memories / To be my sunshine after the rain / It's so hard to say goodbye to yesterday

Originally written for the 1975 film Cooley High, this cover will have you reaching for a tissue within the first few seconds.

Standout lyrics: You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains / You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas / I am strong, when I am on your shoulders / You raise me up to more than I can be

This beautiful track will also move you to tears as you reflect on the impact of your loved ones.

Standout lyrics: Whenever you remember times gone by / Remember how we held our heads so high / When all this world was there for us / And we believed that we could touch the sky

This song will make you want to grab your best friend and reminisce about your best moments together.

Standout lyrics: The times when we would play about / The way we used to scream and shout / We never dreamt you'd go your own sweet way

Because parting ways with your friends is never easy.

Standout lyrics: Listen as your day unfolds / Challenge what the future holds / Try and keep your head up to the sky

This sunny tune is a testament to the power of positive affirmations. Give this one a listen for when you need a confidence boost.

Standout lyrics: I want to leave my footprints on the sands of time / Know there was something that, something that I left behind

Channel your inner Beyoncé with this emotional R&B ballad about leaving your mark in the world.

Standout lyrics: You just call out my name / And you know, wherever / I am I'll come runnin' / To see you again

Although it’s common for high school friends to grow apart after graduation, this song will inspire you to keep in touch with your closest pals.

Standout lyrics: I will remember you, will you remember me? / Don't let your life pass you by Weep not for the memories

McLachlan reminds us that even though time flies, we continue to remember those who left an impression on us.

Standout lyrics: Tonight We are young / So let's set the world on fire / We can burn brighter than the sun

Is it even possible to listen to the chorus without singing along at the top of your lungs?

Standout lyrics: Here come bad news talking this and that / Well give me all you got, don't hold back / Well I should probably warn you I'll be just fine / No offense to you don't waste your time

Graduation season can be bittersweet. But knowing you’ve come this far calls for a dance party.

Standout lyrics: I haven't been this scared in a long time / And I'm so unprepared so here's your valentine / Bouquet of clumsy words, a simple melody This world's an ugly place, but you're so beautiful

Did you know that the lyrics were inspired by the classic teen movie, Can't Hardly Wait (which also featured music by Blink 182)?

Standout lyrics: Today's my graduation / So long to education / Didn't learn a thing anyway!

If you’re looking to add some J-Pop to the mix, try Bonito’s “Graduation,” where the singer recounts her special day.

Standout lyrics: Started from the bottom, now we're here / Started from the bottom, now the whole team here

Celebrate how far you and your pals have come with this catchy number.

Standout lyrics: Look at the valedictorian scared of the future / While I hop in the Delorean / Scared-to-face-the-world complacent career student / Some people graduate, but we still stupid

West gives us plenty to think about with his thought-provoking lyrics, which challenge the idea that college degrees are required to become successful.

Standout lyrics: I'll reach out my hand to you / I'll have faith in all you do / Just call my name and I'll be there

This chart-topping love song will hit home for anyone who’s parting ways with their high school sweetheart.

Standout lyrics: Every time I hear that song I'll go back, I'll go back / We all have a song that somehow stamped our lives / Takes us to another place and time

We’ve all had that moment where a song takes us straight back to a high school memory–and Chesney knows that feeling all too well.

Standout lyrics: I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance / Never settle for the path of least resistance / Livin' might mean takin' chances, but they're worth takin' / Lovin' might be a mistake, but it's worth makin'

This iconic country song fits almost every occasion, whether you’re a new mom welcoming a baby or a highschooler who's moving away to college.

Standout lyrics: But how do you thank someone / Who has taken you from crayons to perfume?/ It isn't easy, but I'll try

In this Oscar-nominated song, Lulu shows her gratitude to a mystery mentor, making it the perfect ode to your favorite teachers.

Standout lyrics: No more pencils, no more books / No more teachers, dirty looks / Out for summer, out 'til fall / We might not come back at all

Anyone who knows this track will tell you that there’s something satisfying about singing, “Schooooool’s out! For! Ever!!!”

Standout lyrics: I've heard it said / That people come into our lives for a reason / Bringing something we must learn / And we are led / To those who help us most to grow

Since life-changing friendships are, by far, one of the best parts of high school, you’ll appreciate this gorgeous duet between Elphaba and Glinda.

Standout lyrics: When you're happy like a fool / Let it take you over / When everything is out / You gotta take it in

Who doesn’t love a feel-good anthem about living your best life?

Standout lyrics: Tell mommy I'm sorry / This life is a party / I'm never growing up

Making it through school is the best feeling, but a small part of us will always cherish the simpler days, when homework was our biggest problem.

Standout lyrics: Say, won't you stay forever, stay / If you stay forever, hey / We can stay forever young

Speaking of not wanting to grow up, Avril perfectly captures the sentiment with this pop rock tune. Plus, the prom-themed music video will give you “Complicated” vibes.

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