It’s impossible to overstate just how significant the influence of a loving mother can be. Strong moms provide everything from the essentials, such as food and shelter, to guidance and unconditional support.
Jump ahead to these sections:
- Songs for Mom’s Birthday, Mother’s Day, or Another Special Day
- Songs About Mom From a Son
- Songs About Mom From a Daughter
- Country Songs About Mom
- R&B Songs About Mom’s Love
- Pop Songs About Mom’s Love
That’s why many feel the urge to let their mothers know how much they appreciate them. They might do so as part of a Mother’s Day message, a birthday message, or simply an impromptu tribute.
Regardless, expressing those emotions can be much easier with the right song. The following are a few songs about Mom worth considering.
Tip: If you recently lost your mother, you might be sorting through the complex life she left behind. Our post-loss checklist can help you understand what tasks you should tackle next.
Songs for Mom’s Birthday, Mother’s Day, or Another Special Day
Dedicating a song about Mom to your mother on a special day is a simple but easy way to make the day even sweeter. Songs you might dedicate include:
1. "The Mother" by Brandi Carlile
Brandi Carlile actually wrote this song to explore the various ways her life changed when she became a mother. Thus, it’s a perfect tune for one of the most important days in a mother’s life: the day she becomes a grandmother.
2. “Mama, I’m Coming Home” by Ozzy Osbourne
There are many reasons mothers and their children may be separated for periods of time. Even a child’s first semester of college can be trying if a mother isn’t used to being away from them. That naturally makes the day they reunite very special, and this is an ideal song for such a day.
3. “The Hand That Rocks the Cradle” by Glen Campbell
This old-fashioned ode to the strength and love of all good mothers is a common pick for Mother’s Day celebrations. It simply expresses feelings many can relate to.
4. “You Can’t Hurry Love” by The Supremes
The day one of her children gets married is another important landmark in a mother’s life. Consider paying tribute to Mom on your wedding day with this song about the romantic advice mothers give their children.
5. "Birthday" by The Beatles
When a song is this catchy and upbeat, the fact that it’s not specifically about a mother’s birthday doesn’t change the fact that it’s also a great pick if you’re looking for a birthday song for Mom.
Songs About Mom From a Son
You can find plenty of songs about mom from a son in just about every popular music genre. These are a few worth mentioning.
6. "The Perfect Fan" by Backstreet Boys
Who would have expected the Backstreet Boys to give us one of the greatest metaphors for the love a mother can have for her son? In this song, the boy band icons sing about how a mom can be your “perfect fan,” giving you the support, admiration, and inspiration you need to continue pursuing your dreams.
7. “The Wish” by Bruce Springsteen
“The Wish” is a moving tribute to a mother because a specific experience from Bruce Springsteen's life inspired it. Growing up, Springsteen’s family didn’t have much money, so his desire to have a guitar as a child seemed like nothing more than a wish. Despite this, his loving mother continued saving until she could finally afford to give her son the gift that would lay the foundation for his musical career.
8. “For Martha” by Smashing Pumpkins
Break out the tissues. Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan wrote this epic tribute to his mother’s love after she passed from cancer.
9. “You Raise Me Up” by Josh Groban
Sometimes, the ideal song for a mother is one that’s general, and thus universal. “You Raise Me Up” is such a tune, expressing how mothers help their sons overcome the struggles they face throughout life.
10. "You’ll Be In My Heart" by Phil Collins
This emotion-packed song from Disney’s Tarzan is a somewhat unique entry on a list of songs about mothers and sons. While the perspective for most of these songs is that of the son, this one’s perspective is actually that of a mother telling her song how their love for each other will always keep them together in spirit.
Songs About Mom From a Daughter
There’s no shortage of songs about Mom from a daughter either! Examples include:
11. "Mom" by Meghan Trainor
The lyrics to this song may be simple, but that’s because the love a daughter has for her mother can be beautiful in the simplest way. The refrain “Ain’t nobody got a mom like mine” reminds listeners that the relationship all daughters have with their mothers is unique.
12. “Where You Lead” by Carole King
Carole King probably wasn’t thinking about moms when she wrote this song, but sometimes, songs can take on new meaning thanks to pop culture. No Gilmore Girls fan can hear the lyrics “Where you lead, I will follow” without remembering the mother-daughter duo that was Rory and Lorelai Gilmore.
13. “Sadie” by The Spinners
This song about mothers and daughters deserves a spot on this list because, in the track’s intro, The Spinners dedicate the song to the various young mothers they knew growing up.
14. “Mama Said” by The Shirelles
Mothers give their daughters many gifts. One of the most common is practical life wisdom. “Mama Said” expresses a daughter’s appreciation for this gift beautifully.
15. "Oh, Mother" by Christina Aguilera
Not all mothers have easy lives. However, as this song reminds us, just as a mother can support her daughter through the years, a daughter can return the favor.
Country Songs About Mom
Many country artists focus on family in their music. Thus, it makes sense they’d often write songs about Mom, such as these hits:
16. "Mama Tried" by Merle Haggard
Not all songs about mothers need to focus on the ways a strong relationship with Mom can lead to a happy life. In “Mama Tried,” Merle Haggard sings about a man who turned to a life of crime, despite his mother trying her best.
17. “Mother” by LeAnn Rimes
Sometimes we turn away from our mothers because we don’t understand they wanted the best for us, even if that meant raising us in ways we thought were unfair. “Mother” by LeAnn Rimes points out that we can also return to our mothers and let them know we’re sorry when we grow older and realize we misjudged them.
18. “I Hope You Dance” by Lee Ann Womack
“I Hope You Dance,” another song from a mom’s perspective, is a pop-country classic that explores the dreams mothers have for their children.
19. “Mama’s Song” by Carrie Underwood
Dedicate this song to Mom if you want to let her know you’ll always be her child, even when you start your own family.
20. "Angels" by Randy Travis
This is a perfect song for a mom who’s both a country fan and a Christian. Randy Travis, whose faith contributes to his lyrics, sings about how no one with a good mother could claim they don’t believe in angels, because they’ve already met one.
R&B Songs About Mom’s Love
If your mom is more of an R&B fan than a country fan, consider dedicating one of these songs about Mom to her.
21. "Ring Off" by Beyonce
A mother’s love takes many forms. As this song from Beyonce illustrates, sometimes a mother can show her love by spending years thinking she needs to stay in an unhealthy relationship for the good of her children.
22. “Baby Mama” by Fantasia
Motherhood is never easy. That said, as “Baby Mama” by Fantasia so beautifully illustrates, being a single mother is an even greater challenge.
23. “December 4th” by Jay-Z
All songs about family have the potential to be special. However, this song is particularly special because the track actually features Jay-Z’s mother herself describing his birth and childhood.
24. “Dance” by Nas
Are you looking for R&B funeral songs for Mom? Consider this track. The lyrics express a simple but powerful emotional experience many can relate to: the longing to have Mom back after she passes.
25. "Look What You’ve Done" by Drake
Again, many of the strongest “Thank you for everything, Mom” songs don’t shy away from the fact that the relationship a child has with their mother isn’t always without conflict. This song features Drake reflecting on the fights he had with his mother, while also explaining how she always offered him love and support.
Pop Songs About Mom’s Love
Pop songs about Mom are effective tributes because they’re often very universal, as these examples illustrate:
26. "The Best Day" by Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift’s ode to moms has so many fans because it’s specific enough to sound genuine, but universal enough to appeal to a wide audience. The lyrics strike this balance throughout the verses by describing a range of common mother-child experiences.
27. “Mama” by The Spice Girls
Like “Mother” by LeAnn Rimes, this Spice Girls tune explores how sometimes children don’t realize their mothers only have their best interests at heart until they mature and gain perspective.
28. “What Mama Say” by Jason Mraz
Mom sets the rules. Sure, kids might not always enjoy that arrangement, but this song points out that when Mom’s rules are fair, following them can set you up for a healthy and stable life.
29. “Turn to You” by Justin Bieber
Justin Bieber has a polarizing effect (some absolutely love him, others, well, not so much), but there’s no denying this is one of the pop star’s most heartfelt tunes. It pays tribute to his mom, whose efforts as a single mother helped him achieve stardom.
30. "Let it Be" by The Beatles
The Beatles’ massive following qualifies them as a pop group in the eyes of many. Despite releasing dozens of the most popular songs of all time, the band’s “Let it Be,” about advice Paul McCartney’s late mother gave to him in a dream, remains one of their absolute classics.
Songs About Mom: Expressing Love with the Power of Music
Don’t worry if you’re not sure how to let your mom know how much she means to you. With these songs about Mom, you can easily make your feelings clear in a way she’ll definitely appreciate.