Watching kids grow up is one of the most rewarding experiences any parent can have, but childhood goes by fast, and the experience of raising children is different for everyone.
Regardless of the economic or social position you I’m confident you’ll find many songs on this list that resonate with you. We’ve compiled an epic list of songs about kids growing up from across all music genres, including country, rock, pop, and more. We’re confident you’ll find many songs on this list you’ll love.
Table of Contents
1. It Won’t Be Like This For Long by Darius Rucker
| Genre | Country |
| Year Released | 2008 |
| Album | Learn to Live |
Perhaps you know Darius Rucker for his role as lead vocalist in the alternative rock band Hootie and The Blowfish. While The Blowfish had six songs chart on the Billboard Hot 100, with three of them reaching the top ten, Rucker decided to take the path less traveled and blaze his trail in country music. His debut album, “Learn to Live,” was a smash hit amongst country music fans and produced such singles as “It Won’t Be Like This For Long,” in which he crooned about a young couple starting a family and getting out on their own.
Throughout the song, the young lady’s husband helps to get her through life’s harder moments by assuring her that whatever she’s going through won’t be like that program. The song begins with the couple listening to their newborn baby cry, and they reassure themselves by uttering this simple phrase. However, as life passes, they witness their young daughter growing and going through various milestones of her childhood. This time, they remind themselves to enjoy the moments because they won’t be like that for long.
2. There Goes My Life by Kenny Chesney
| Genre | Country |
| Year Released | 2004 |
| Album | When the Sun Goes Down |
Having a child grow up before your very eyes is yet another viewpoint in which you can experience the many changes that your son or daughter can go through. That’s the message that Kenny Chesney delivers in his touching Billboard Hot Country Songs number-one ballad “There Goes My Life.” Astonishingly, this is one of Kenny Chesney’s 55 top-ten hits, of which 23 of them shot to the top of the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts. If you ask me, Chesney has had one incredibly unbelievable and impressive career in country music.
The song opens up sounding like a traditional, run-of-the-mill country ballad. However, the song’s mood immediately takes precedence over anything else on the track. A young man who has just found out that he is going to be a father. He then transitions from the times he’s had when he’s put her to bed to when she packed her car down to move away. As he did his fatherly deeds of checking the oil and making sure that the car was suited for travel to the West Coast, he thought to himself one more time, “There Goes My Life.” There aren’t many songs on this list that can bring tears to my eyes, but this is certainly one of them.
3. Cat’s in the Cradle by Harry Chapin
| Genre | Folk Rock, Soft Rock |
| Year Released | 1974 |
| Album | Verities & Balderdash |
Whether you are familiar or not with the various works of Harry Chapin, I’m sure that you have heard his signature song, “Cat’s in the Cradle,” at least a few times in your life. During the first half of the song, it tells the bittersweet tale of the young man who wants to do things with his father, like play catch. Sadly, his father is busy working and never has the time to spend with his son. Unfortunately, this will affect shaping the young man that the boy will eventually become.
As the boy Turns into a young man, his father finds himself regretting all of the moments and milestones that he missed when his son was a young boy. Eventually, the boy moves off to be on his own, and the father finds himself missing his son even more. He makes several attempts to start meaningful conversations with his son, including inviting him to the house for coffee and conversation. When he was a teenager, the only thing that the young man wanted was to borrow the car keys. As he got older, he returned his father’s phone call by saying he would enjoy coming over if only he had the time. Like his father, he now finds himself allowing life to get in the way of the two spending time together.
4. Father & Son by Cat Stevens
| Genre | Pop, Alternative, Indie, Soft Rock |
| Year Released | 1970 |
| Album | Tea for the Tillerman |
I know that I can’t be the only person who continually got “Cat’s in the Cradle” by Harry Chapin and “Father & Son” by Cat Stevens confused as a young child. It was only when I got much older that I started to realize the difference between the two and appreciate both of them for what they were. Much like “Cats in the Cradle,” this tune is a conversation between father and son. The father is trying to impart some wisdom to his young son as he grows older in the first verse. During the second verse, it is now the son’s opportunity to speak to his father.
What I like best about this song is that it is simple, beautiful, and complicated all at the same time. I love the fact that there is nothing more than Cat Stevens singing and playing his acoustic guitar, although the message that he is delivering in this track is quite complicated. He uses alternating conversations to show how much different the parent-child relationship is once the child grows older and gets out on his or her own. This song is a grown, mature look at what one can expect to have with their children once they grow older. Things are indeed so much easier when the children are younger.
5. Growing Pains by Ludacris (Featuring Lil’ Fate and Leon Bryce)
| Genre | Rap, Hip Hop |
| Year Released | 2001 |
| Album | Word Of Mouf |
As we grow older, most of the time, we look fondly back at our childhood memories, even if we had to struggle through those times. Of course, this is exactly what we get in Ludacris’s track “Growing Pains,” which features Lil’ Fate and Leon Bryce. What I like the best about this song is that it directly contrasts the typical American tale of growing up with wealth and privilege in the suburbs. Still, Ludacris and his gang show that they have made the best of these times and are still here to tell about them.
This song also tells the tale of Innocence when they were still young enough to play with Transformers and GI Joes. However, it also shows how the crew graduated to committing Petty crimes while also enduring hardships like having one of your best friends commit suicide over his girl going to prom with another date. The track hits home because of how real it is. It gives a first-hand account of how inner-city youth can go from playing with toys to getting in trouble with the law. To me, it shows the true evolution of youth into adulthood, and that’s what grabs my attention the most.
6. Hold You Down by Donald Glover (Childish Gambino)
| Genre | Rap, Hip Hop |
| Year Released | Childish Gambino: Camp |
| Album | 2011 |
Donald. Glover (aka Childish Gambino) gives us the song with the most unique perspective on this list. This semi-autobiographical track allows us a glimpse into what it is like for a young black child to become a foster kid. He tells the tale of what it is like to “not be black enough” or “not be ‘hood’ enough” to wear certain outfits or to rock the latest hairstyle. Sadly, he is even made to feel like he doesn’t even belong in church. He then begs the question that even though young black people are scrutinized amongst their own people, how come they all look alike to the police?
The song goes on to show the scrutiny that he went through because he had some of the things that most of the kids he knew were not fortunate enough to have. They even went as far as to say that Glover wasn’t black because he was fortunate enough to have a father at home who cared about him. The phrase “hold you down” is another way of saying that someone has your back when things go wrong, but it also means that they will hold you back when you are trying to do better for yourself.
7. Mockingbird by Eminem
| Genre | Rap, Hip Hop |
| Year Released | 2004 |
| Album | Encore |
There is no secret that Marshall Mathers adores his daughter and would do anything within his power to make her happy. This is highly apparent in Eminem’s track “Mockingbird,” which appears on his album “Encore.” The track is a spin on the old nursery rhyme in which a father is letting his child know that he is prepared to get whatever makes the child happy, no matter what it is. However, Mathers uses his world-famous wordplay skills to change the lyrics to fit the relationship between him and his daughter, Haley.
I have always found that one of the most touching aspects of this song is how Eminem talks about how Haley had to grow out without a father because he was busy trying to make it in the music industry. He raps about some of the tough times the two had together, as well as some of the memories that the two of them shared. Now that he is a famous rapper, he firmly believes that he can buy his daughter anything that she wants, which makes him feel like he can make up for all of the things he missed while Haley was growing up.
8. Gracie by Ben Folds
| Genre | Alternative, Indie |
| Year Released | 2005 |
| Album | Songs for Silverman |
In his emotional track “Gracie,” Ben Folds reminisces about the moment that his baby girl Gracie was born. He talks about their relationship as she grows up, and she becomes more of a friend to him than his precious little girl. However, make no mistake. They will always share that special bond. What I like most about this track is that Ben Folds keeps it short and sweet, waxing poetically about how he will always love his daughter no matter what.
Simultaneously, he is recalling certain memories in Gracie’s life that he’ll never forget. What makes this even more special is that the memories he is reminiscing about are simple memories that we’ve all been through as parents. It just goes to show that you don’t realize that you’re in the middle of a moment until that moment has passed, and you should cherish every one of them.
9. Ready, Set, Don’t Go by Billy Ray Cyrus (Featuring Miley Cyrus)
| Genre | Country |
| Year Released | 2008 |
| Album | Country Sings Disney |
It’s not very often that a father and daughter (who were each superstars in their own right) come together to record a song and appear in a television series and a movie together, but that’s exactly what Billy Ray Cyrus and his daughter Miley Cyrus were fortunate enough to do. In this saccharinely sweet acoustic song, Billy Ray has to force himself to admit that whether or not he’s ready for it, his daughter is growing up. It’s like he says in the opening verse, “She’s got dreams too big for this town, and she needs to give ’em a shot.”
Now, I know what most of you are thinking. Songs like these are practically a dime a dozen lately. What I find most interesting about this tune is that while Billy Ray finds himself wishing that he could leave with her, he doesn’t dare go because she would not be allowed to properly spread her wings and chase her dreams if he were tagging along. This epitomizes the age-old situation that every parent has gone through at some point during their children’s lives. The main difference is that Billy Ray Cyrus is wise enough to know that Miley needs to be on her own to flourish into a rising star and a bright young woman.
10. My Little Girl by Tim McGraw
| Genre | Country |
| Year Released | 2006 |
| Album | Reflected: Greatest Hits Vol. 2 |
Speaking from experience, there is nothing that can make you happier and prouder than the day that your first baby girl is born. From that moment, you become a sworn protector and defender of this little girl’s entire world. There is nothing quite like the feeling you get when you realize that you are responsible for this child’s entire life. Few songs are capable of capturing this feeling quite like Tim McGraw’s hit single “My Little Girl.” I enjoy how this song covers many of the small things, like the way that she smiles.
He also touches on the major life events that his daughter may someday experience, such as a Young Man asking for her hand in marriage. However, it’s not just the thoughtful song lyrics that make this Tim McGraw classic so thoroughly enjoyable. I love the thoughtful way that he has chosen to express his emotions and his adoration for his daughter in this track. He’s not simply singing a song to his daughter. He is pouring his emotions into a gift that she will always be able to take with her. This is one of those old songs that everyone knows, at least those who love country music.
11. The Kids Aren’t Alright by The Offspring
| Genre | Punk Rock |
| Year Released | 1998 |
| Album | Americana |
What makes this song different from most of the others on this list is that it is told from an adult’s perspective as he is looking back on his youth and on all of the Big dreams that most kids have while they are growing up. What I get from the lyrics is that Dexter Holland is reminiscing about the times he had growing up on one particular Street and his childhood and how that street is now worn out and dilapidated, much like those dreams that he once had. The lyrics also give a few specific examples to further illustrate how the dreams of our youth may not pan out exactly as we had planned.
One of these examples can be found in the second verse, where Holland sings about a young lady named Jamie who had a chance to make it big, but instead, she dropped out of high school and had a few kids. In that verse, he also mentions a guy named Mark who is having trouble finding a job, a guy named Jay who committed suicide, and someone named Brandon who overdosed on drugs. So much for the innocence of youth, right?
12. Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel) by Billy Joel
| Genre | Soft Rock, Pop Rock |
| Year Released | 1993 |
| Album | River Of Dreams |
Throughout the 1980s, singer and pianist Billy Joel made a name for himself as one of the most popular acts in music. While the singer sold over 150 million albums worldwide, his record sales dwindled a little in the 1990s. However, one of my favorite Billy Joel songs was found on 1993’s album “River Of Dreams.” Upon first listening, this beautiful piano-driven ballad seems to be nothing more than a loving father promising his adoring children that he will never leave them, and no matter what the circumstance, he will always be right by them.
Nevertheless, the more that I listen to this song, the more apparent its hidden message becomes to me. I firmly believe that wild Billy Joel may have written this song as a loving tribute to his child, I also think that it’s a way for him to express his just pleasure at the fact that, eventually, his children will have to grow up and lose their innocence in the process. Telling your child at bedtime that you can discuss certain issues another day may seem innocent enough. It can also be viewed as the singer’s way of procrastinating and answering some of life’s harder issues.
13. In My Room by The Beach Boys
| Genre | Surf Rock, Rock |
| Year Released | 1966 |
| Album | Best of the Beach Boys |
I know that I can’t be the only person that as a child thought that when things got hard, something as simple as escaping to my room would make things better. Lucky for us, we have the Beach Boys’ phenomenal song “In My Room,” which appeared on 1966’s “Best of The Beach Boys” to fall back on. I have always found that what has made this song even better is the lush, dreamy soundscape that accompanies the lyrics to this tune so perfectly.
Whatever the case, the point of this classic is that you are allowed to be yourself in your room. You don’t have to hide anything from anybody while you are in the safe solitude that only somewhere as private as your room can provide. I know that I can speak confidently in saying that if our rooms could speak, they would be able to tell some very interesting stories of things that occurred to us during some of our most formative years. Thankfully, those secrets are still ours to keep.
14. Letting Go by Suzy Boggus
| Genre | Country |
| Year Released | 1991 |
| Album | Aces |
While it has become fairly common for country singers to write songs about having to let go of their sons or daughters and allowing them to embark on their lifelong journeys, if you do it as well as the Suzy Boggus track “Letting Go.” But I find most interesting about this song is that instead of starting the story when the young lady was a little girl, Suzy Boggus goes straight for the proverbial emotional jugular when she starts her song with a vivid mental picture of her daughter moving out and getting ready to go to college.
However, she does touch on some of the memories she shares with her daughter from the past, such as a painting that is hanging on the wall that our daughter did in junior high. We’re also allowed to see things from the mother’s perspective, such as all of the free time she will now have without any children in the home. Still, hobbies such as working in the garden don’t seem to be nearly as peaceful and relaxing as they first appear when she realizes how quiet the home will now be without her daughter in it. Still, she has realized that she has to eventually let go, and that’s the beauty of this song.
15. Night Moves by Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band
| Genre | Rock |
| Year Released | 1976 |
| Album | Night Moves |
Let me start by saying that I adore this song, and I will make no qualms whatsoever about it. If I had to compile a list of the 50 greatest songs in Rock and roll history, there is no doubt that I would put this classic from Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band squarely on that list. While this song isn’t necessarily about a child growing up per se, it discusses the classic tale of a young boy who is well on his way to becoming a young man, and it is expertly delivered as only Bob Seger can deliver it.
This song is the story of a Young Man who is thinking back to his formative years, particularly a lover that he took when he was quite possibly in his teenage years, although the song never specifies his exact age. In my opinion, what makes this song so great is that it slowly builds until we reach the end of the song, where Seeger delivers the final lines barely above a whisper. To me, it adds so much more to this song than I could ever describe, and it never ceases to give me chills every time I hear it.
16. Same Drugs by Chance the Rapper
| Genre | Rap, Hip Hop |
| Year Released | 2016 |
| Album | Coloring Book |
Leave it to Chance The Rapper to write a poignant song about growing older but using drugs and drug use as a vehicle to carry his message throughout the song. First and foremost, this song is guilty of false advertisement because it was created by a young man called Chance The Rapper, but it is not a rap song. Ironically, the song and the video look like something that would have appeared on Sesame Street, barring some of the more colorful and adult-oriented topics that he chooses to use as the backdrop for his song.
While I can honestly say that I have never been what I would consider the biggest fan of Chance The Rapper, I will say that I can certainly appreciate the fact that he made the conscious decision to experiment with a completely different style than the music she is used to making. It takes a lot of courage to break away from a genre or style that you have established yourself in and made a career of, and I certainly applaud that. I like to be taken by surprise just as much as the next guy, but I’m not the biggest fan of this track.
17. The Suburbs (Continued) by Arcade Fire
| Genre | Alternative, Indie |
| Year Released | 2010 |
| Album | The Suburbs |
Hailing from Montreal, Quebec, Arcade Fire is an alternative, independent rock band fronted by husband and wife Win Butler and Régine Chassagne. Unfortunately, they have disbanded due to numerous allegations of inappropriate behavior by frontman Win Butler. However, before breaking up, Arcade Fire skyrocketed to the top of the alternative, independent scene, winning fans around the world due to their approachable style and their relatable lyrics. Founded in 2001, the band is critically acclaimed and has won several awards, including the 2008 Meteor Music Award.
In the title track to their album “The Suburbs,” the group waxes poetically about the various joys and misadventures they found while growing up in the suburbs. Some of the good times they had included running around and playing together, learning to drive, and finding themselves involved in neighborhood squabbles with kids from a few streets over. Although I’m not a fan of Arcade Fire’s style, I have to admit that I like this song because it hits home with any person who grew up in the suburbs. I was one of these people that the song hits home with and directly relates to. Whenever I hear it, it makes me think of my childhood and smile, but then again, I think that’s the point.
18. Return To Pooh Corner by Kenny Loggins
| Genre | Soft Rock |
| Year Released | 1994 |
| Album | Return To Pooh Corner |
If you were born in the 1980s, the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Kenny Loggins is either “Danger Zone,” which was the theme song from the hit movie Top Gun, or the titular track from another hit movie, Footloose. Logins even recorded the song “I’m Alright,” which peaked at the seventh spot in the Billboard Hot 100 charts. You can probably imagine my surprise when I learned that one of the top rock acts of the 1980s had now decided to make the switch to playing children’s music. However, that’s exactly what “Return To Pooh Corner” is.
Let me start by saying that this is the perfect track for anybody who grew up watching Winnie the Pooh. The theme of this song, as the title would indicate, is trying to get back to the simple times of his youth. Hence, the title “Return To Pooh Corner.” Loggins sings about how a plethora of things tend to get in the way as you grow older. During this soft, acoustic ballad, Kenny Loggins is asking for help to return to that simpler time when all he had to worry about was watching Winnie the Pooh and growing up.
19. My Wish by Rascal Flatts
| Genre | Country |
| Year Released | 2006 |
| Album | Me and My Gang |
As parents, our wish for our children as they grow and leave the nest is for them to find happiness in whatever they pursue. However, I have yet to find a song that expresses these wishes as eloquently as “My Wish” by country music sensation Rascals Flatts. Realistically, I don’t think that anybody looks forward to the time when their children grow older, become adults, and move out. It’s a bittersweet time in most of our lives, but it can be looked upon fondly by both parents and children alike.
Although none of us want to admit it, worrying about our children and the life that they lead once they move away is probably the top concern amongst any parent, you may ask. I like the way that this feeling was conveyed not only in the lyrics of this song but also in the music as well. We all want our children to grow as mature, responsible, and happy adults. We want them to see as much success as this world has to offer them, with as little worry as they can encounter along the way. The song does an amazing job of conveying those thoughts and emotions. This is one of my personal favorite country songs about kids growing up because I’m a huge Rascal Flatts fan.
20. Isn’t She Lovely by Stevie Wonder
| Genre | R&B, Soul, Pop |
| Year Released | 1976 |
| Album | Songs In the Key of Life |
Whenever a discussion of the best albums of all time comes up, you can bet your bottom dollar that Stevie Wonder’s 1976 classic “Songs In the Key of Life” will usually make the top ten. Despite his disabilities, Wonder is often mentioned amongst the most universally talented musicians across any genre, and “Isn’t She Lovely” is a prime example of his talents on full display.
Aisha Morris felt the need to write a song commemorating her birth. What he didn’t count on was that he had just written one of the most universally loved songs of all time.
Throughout the years, this song has been used to celebrate many occasions, such as weddings, births, or even when a particularly striking young lady happens to catch your eye. However, lest we forget that this song was originally written for the young lady who was the epitome of everything that Stevie Wonder thought was good and wholesome in the world. What’s even better about having a baby girl is that your love for them continues to grow as you watch them grow into the amazing person you know they can be.
21. The Mother by Brandi Carlile
| Genre | Singer-Songwriter |
| Year Released | 2018 |
| Album | By the Way, I Forgive You |
Although most of the songs on this list pertain to children growing up into Young adults, this acoustic ballad from Brandi Carlile delves into a topic that we have yet to cover. Her track “The Mother” is about how becoming a mother can help you to grow and mature into a person you never thought you could be. One of my favorite lines from this song is when Carlile sings, “The first things that she took from me were selfishness and sleep. She broke a thousand heirlooms I was never meant to keep.” Anybody who has ever had children knows that truer words have never been spoken.
Although I can’t personally speak on motherhood, I can say that one of the first things to go out of the proverbial window when I became a father was selfishness because you are now living for someone else, and everything you do affects them. Secondly, you can forget about sleep when you become a parent as well, but you have never felt so lucky to be so tired. I can listen to this song on repeat because I love the message, and I can feel the genuine, heartfelt emotions that Brandi Carlile put into this recording.
22. Blessed by Elton John
| Genre | Pop |
| Year Released | 1995 |
| Album | Made in England |
While some people write songs to celebrate the birth of their newborn child, and others write songs that commemorate when the child moves out and goes off to college, the dynamic songwriting team of Elton John and Bernie Taupin decided to write a song that is told from the viewpoint of someone who one-day dreams to be a mother or a father. He or she is looking forward to all of the amazing and wonderful things that they and their child will do together just as soon as they are fortunate enough to be blessed with one.
Speaking as an enormous fan of Elton John, I can hear the longing in his voice as he sings about how he wishes to celebrate these special moments with a child of his own. I also love how he makes no qualms about not knowing anything regarding what the child will look like, including the color of his or her hair or eyes. He is simply wrapped up in the anticipation of being able to bestow the love he has on another human being. This song gives me a newfound hope that there are children out there who can be loved just as much through the process of adoption as they could by their biological parents.
23. “In My Daughter’s Eyes by Martina McBride
| Genre | Country |
| Year Released | 2003 |
| Album | Martina |
Martina McBride is easily one of the most celebrated country music artists of this millennium. In addition to her numerous Grammy awards, CMA awards, and ACM awards, the gifted vocalist was also inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in June of 2021. She has also dominated the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart with an astonishing 20 top-ten songs, including “In My Daughter’s Eyes,” which was a touching song dedicated to her daughter. The song goes on to envision all of the things that her young daughter may see in her, as well as all of the things that McBride sees in her daughter.
Perhaps what I like best about this is the way that Martina McBride explains how her daughter was a miracle from God and how her daughter saved her. Not many people see their child as a blessing from above, the way that McBride does. That in itself makes this one of the country songs that I thoroughly enjoy listening to. My favorite part of the song comes toward the end when Martina McBride says that no matter what, she will always be present in her daughter’s eyes. To me, she is implying that she will always be with her daughter, whether physically or in spirit.
24. Forever Young by Bob Dylan And The Band
| Genre | Folk |
| Year Released | 1974 |
| Album | Planet Waves |
When you think of Bob Dylan, perhaps you think of a social activist or a poet. Maybe you think of a man who was so gifted and talented at writing that he won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2016. However, what you probably didn’t think of was someone who was so completely enamored with his daughter that he wrote one of the most poetically beautiful songs ever written about a child. That’s right. Along with his backing band (simply called The Band), Dylan wrote a song that is so completely beautiful that it has the power to bring even the toughest individual to tears.
While there are plenty of songs on this list that were written by some very talented artists and dedicated to their children, it’s not the soulful delivery that makes me enjoy this as much as I do. Instead, it’s the lyrics. I appreciate Bob Dylan’s use of hyperbole in this song, such as when he says that he hopes that his daughter builds a ladder to the moon. While we all know that this is a feat that is highly unlikely to be achieved in our lifetime, he believes that his baby can do anything that she says her mind to that makes this song so enjoyable and incredible.
25. He Gets That from Me by Reba McEntire
| Genre | Country |
| Year Released | 2003 |
| Album | Room to Breathe |
I know that I can’t be the only person guilty of claiming that their child gets something special from them, especially when it’s something that we are particularly proud of. The reigning Queen of Country Music takes us on an interesting journey with her touching and heartwarming track “He Gets That from Me.” The song begins innocently enough as McIntyre notices all of the little things that her son gets from her, like his freckles and his curly hair. However, you have to be prepared for an emotional curveball when listening to this song.
Eventually, we find out that the young boy’s father is no longer with him. Reba sees plenty of things that remind her of his father, such as his love for playing guitar and his crooked little smile. While Reba McEntire has always had the vocal talent to bring down the proverbial house during any song, I especially enjoy the emotion and thoughtfulness that she has put into this song. It’s almost as if you can feel the same heartache she went through when she lost her husband through the way she chooses to express it in her words. Do yourself a favor and give this one a listen.
26. Then They Do by Trace Adkins
| Genre | Country |
| Year Released | 2003 |
| Album | Greatest Hits Collection, Vol. 1 |
Anyone who has had children is familiar with all of the little things that they tend to do daily that drive you crazy, whether it’s taking too long to get ready in the morning or fighting over which seat the children will sit in on the way to school. It’s always something. Without fail, you quietly whisper to yourself that you can’t wait until the day when all of these intricacies stop and you can get some peace. That is, until they do stop. and you find yourself missing some of the things that drove you crazy. That’s the point behind this track from country music’s Trace Adkins.
I enjoy the way that Trace Adkins allows this song time to breathe and grow organically. None of the major life events that he touches on towards the end of the song feel forced. They feel completely natural, just like they would happen in each of our everyday lives. Personally, I think that this is what makes this song so enjoyable and so listenable. As you listen to the lyrics, you can either reminisce about some of these things that have happened between you and your child, or you can look forward to these events when you have a child of your own.
27. Here’s To Never Growing Up by Avril Lavigne
| Genre | Alternative Rock, Pop Punk |
| Year Released | 2013 |
| Album | Avril Lavigne (Expanded Edition) |
Do any of you recall a specific time in your lives in which you were enjoying that time so much that you would probably declare that you never wanted to get older? I’m pretty sure that we have all had more than a few times like this that we can recall. Most of these times tend to take place in your formative teenage years. However, little did you know that you still had so much to learn. Canadian pop-punk princess Avril Lavigne captures that essence and the unadulterated Joy of that moment in her track “Here’s To Never Growing Up.”
I love how the overall popi feel of this song goes so well with Lavigne’s lyrics. Of all of the songs on this list, I would be as bold as to mention that none of them capture the essence of being young and never wanting to grow old as much as “Here’s To Never Growing Up.” Whether or not her Canadian brand of pop-punk is your musical cup of tea, I’m sure that we can all agree on the fact that there is a certain catchiness about this tune that makes you want to shout it from the top of your lungs whenever you hear it.
28. GHOST! by Kid Cudi
| Genre | R&B, Soul, Rap, Hip Hop |
| Year Released | 2010 |
| Album | Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager |
There is a certain excitement and a definitive danger that comes with having to grow up on your own without anyone to serve as a mentor and guide you along the way. While living that kind of lifestyle may indeed be pretty scary, Kid Cudi explains that certain freedoms come with choosing to live your life this way, and these experiences are the ones that eventually take shape and make you into the adult you have become. It’s almost as if you wouldn’t trade these moments for anything because they became who you are.
If you can relate to these feelings, kid cooties unique hybrid sound of Soul, Hip Hop, and R&B may be exactly what you’re looking for. I enjoy the way that the lyrics to this track contrast its beat. While I feel like these lyrics would be better suited for a rock or a punk song, it’s the unique contrast they provide with the song’s trippy, hip-hop atmosphere that gives the song a New Life that it may not have achieved if the lyrics were delivered in any other way.
29. The Best Day by George Strait
| Genre | Country |
| Year Released | 2000 |
| Album | Latest Greatest Straitest Hits |
If Reba McEntire is the undisputed queen of country music, then George Strait is its king. This wildly successful country star has had an incredible 86 songs reach the top ten on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart, with an almost unbelievable 46 of those songs reaching the top spot. One of those songs that climbed to the top of the chart and stayed there for three weeks was George Strait’s single “The Best Day.” The song is about a boy who has finally reached one of life’s most important milestones. He gets to go on a weekend camping trip with his dad.
There are certain milestones you look forward to when you were growing up, and getting to go off somewhere for a weekend with nobody but your dad is one of those milestones that practically every young boy looks forward to. What separates George Strait’s song from plenty of other songs that tackle the same subject is the enthusiasm with which he sings when he is tackling the parts in the song that are spoken by the young boy. It’s genuine excitement that you can feel each time you put this record on.
30. Dancin’ Away With My Heart by Lady Antebellum
| Genre | Country |
| Year Released | 2011 |
| Album | Own the Night |
Sometimes, people are fortunate enough to capture that one moment in time that they will remember for the rest of their lives. The moment that Lady Antebellum’s lead vocalist Hillary Scott is referring to is during a dance in which she felt so content being in this other person’s arms that she never wanted that dance to end. Sadly, as most moments do, this one had to end when the young couple parted ways, and they each headed off to college and into the rest of their lives for whatever awaited them.
That memory (along with that young man) made a lasting impression on Scott as she still thinks about it today. Although the song has a bittersweet ending because the young man heads off to college and the couple ends up losing touch, Hillary Scott seems like she is quite content with having the memory of the times the two of them had together to fall back on. Sometimes, we have to grow up, even if it’s the last thing that we want to do. If you enjoy this song, you’ll probably love our list of songs about time passing here.
31. When I Grow Up by Garbage
| Genre | Alternative, Rock1 |
| Year Released | 1998 |
| Album | Version 2.0 |
If your formative years happen to fall in the 1990s, chances are that you had a major crush on Garbage lead vocalist Shirley Manson. However, if you look beyond Manson’s good looks, you will discover a unique band that had an electronica meets pop type of vibe that most people enjoyed. Although the lyrics to this song are somewhat obscure, Manson has stated that the song is about growing into your sexuality and finding out what you prefer during that time of your life. There’s no hidden message. It’s basically about growing into your body and finding what makes you happy.
What I like best about this song is that it doesn’t try to mask hidden messages in lyrics that would otherwise suggest a different topic. Shirley Manson and company wanted to write a song about growing into your sexuality and discovering your feelings at that tender time in your life, that’s exactly what they did. You have to respect them for that. However, the irony of these lyrics isn’t lost on me as this song has been included on the soundtrack for movies like the Adam Sandler comedy Big Daddy.
32. Ivy by Frank Ocean
| Genre | R&B, Soul, Hip Hop |
| Year Released | 2016 |
| Album | 1Blonde |
Sometimes you don’t do most of your “growing up” during your teenage years. There are times during our adult lives when an event happens that forces us to grow up and face the consequences or deal with whatever has happened. The latter is what we get from Frank Ocean’s song “Ivy,” which appeared on his 2016 album “Blonde.” As the story goes, before deciding on the finished product, Ocean debuted a rough draft of the song while performing a show in Munich, Germany. The fans thoroughly enjoyed Ocean’s new song, and as they say, the rest is history.
What I like about this song is if you pay attention to the lyrics, neither party is blaming the other for their breakup. They are both accept accountability and admit that there are things that they could have done that might have made the relationship last longer than it did. What I like most about this song is that instead of going the traditional route and using a classical piano, Frank Ocean chooses to use an electric keyboard. However, after listening to the song a few times, you begin to feel like the electric piano fits the mood and the tempo of the song perfectly.
33. Coat of Many Colors by Dolly Parton
| Genre | Country |
| Year Released | 1971 |
| Album | Coat of Many Colors |
One cold, hard fact of life that plenty of us have to deal with at a young age is that children can be extremely cruel, especially if you are from a poor family who can’t afford to dress you in the latest styles or by you the latest gadgets or playthings. This is a lesson that was given to us firsthand by none other than Dolly Parton when she sang her song “Coat of Many Colors.” In case you aren’t familiar with a poor family who was given a box of colorful rags that the mother used to show a coat for the youngest daughter because it was getting cold outside.
As her mother was sowing the coat for her, the daughter watched in amazement and listened attentively as her mother told her the biblical story of Joseph and his coat of many colors. After hearing that story, the young girl became very proud of her coat until she wore it to school one day, and the other little children made fun of her coat, which was made from rags. It was at this moment when she felt like she had to do the ground thing and make herself feel better by telling her classmates the story her mother told her.
34. Teenagers by My Chemical Romance
| Genre | Emo, Pop Punk |
| Year Released | 2006 |
| Album | The Black Parade |
In 2005, My Chemical Romance released what many believe to be the best album of their career. This was their third studio album, the concept album called “The Black Parade.” Now, I don’t know about most of you, but I have to admit that I am a sucker for a good concept, which is why I have to say that I appreciate this album. If you aren’t familiar with the story, it revolves around someone who is simply known as The Patient, who is dying of cancer, reminiscing about his life as he waits for death to approach.
Although the track “Teenagers” doesn’t fit into the story of “The Black Parade,” it paints a portrait of how cynical The Patient has become and how he hasn’t been allowed to grow up the way most normal teenagers do. It also makes sense if you look at it from the perspective of The Patient being groomed to become a violent, angry man. Personally, my favorite interpretation is that of The Patient growing increasingly resentful as he looks at the youth around him and realizes that he has never been afforded the chance to be a kid and act his age.
35. Jack & Diane (Storytellers) by John Mellencamp
| Genre | Rock, Pop |
| Year Released | 1982 |
| Album | American Fool |
Is it just me, or was John Cougar Mellencamp seemingly on every radio station on the air in the 1980s? I have to admit that I was somewhat taken aback at the lack of Billboard hits that Mellencamp had to his credit. The singer from America’s Heartland only had ten top-ten singles to his credit, with only one of those tracks reaching the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. However, the one single that did score on the charts and reach the top spot was his sing-along classic “Jack & Diane,” which told the story of two teenagers growing up in Indiana who were coming returns with entering puberty and developing an attraction to each other.
What I like best about this song is both the riff and the sing-along chorus that makes this song one of the most infectious earworms you could ever possibly get stuck inside your head. I also like how it shows that long after you think that you are done with that face of your life. It’s also a fantastic, toe-tapping song that practically anybody can instantly recognize and sing along to.
36. Lions and Tigers by Sleater-Kinney
| Genre | Indie, Alternative Rock |
| Year Released | 2002 |
| Album | One Beat |
Hailing from Olympia, Washington, and formed in 1994, Sleater-Kinney is fronted by vocalist and rhythm guitar player Corin Tucker, although the band has experienced several lineup changes over their astonishing 30 years together. They have all been named as one of America’s most essential rock bands of the 2000s. Although I have never personally been a fan of this band, I have to admit that upon first listening, this track sounded much different than anything I had ever heard from the group. Most vans believe that when you look closely at the lyrics and then analyze the nursery rhyme style of the song, there is no doubt that Corin Tucker wrote this song for her son.
No matter how much attention Sleater-Kinney corners from credits, nor how much backlash they may receive from fans who do not like this particular tune, I appreciate the courage that it took for them to step outside of their box and write something that was this meaningful, pure, honest, and true. In a time where most people see songwriting as something of a basic formula, I like the fact that Corin Tucker was willing to put her heart on her sleeve and write something that she could channel all of her happiness and joy into.
37. Fifteen by Taylor Swift
| Genre | Pop, Country |
| Year Released | 2008 |
| Album | Fearless |
Love her or hate her, Taylor Swift has become a poster child for modern pop country and is one of the most successful musical acts today. In 2008, Swift released the appropriately titled “Fearless,” which featured the track “Fifteen.” This song was written about a subject that was very close to Taylor Swift’s heart. It is about something as simple and nerve-wracking as being a teenage girl on your first day of high school. Never have I seen nor heard such a vivid description of how impossible nervous something as simple as going to high school can create.
I like how this song can take you back to that particular moment in your life, no matter what your gender. High School made most of us a nervous wreck, and I like how this track takes you back to that time and helps you to relive some of those moments now that most of us are old enough to appreciate them for what they were. For those of you who are young enough to be going through this process and are still new to most of the things that Taylor Swift addresses in this song, I wish you nothing but the best of luck. Trust me, you will get through it, and you will smile about it later.
38. Fade Away by Oasis
| Genre | Alternative, British Pop |
| Year Released | 1994 |
| Album | Definitely Maybe |
I may be telling myself a little by giving away my age, but I can remember when everyone thought that this new band from England called Oasis was going to be the second coming of The Beatles. Although Oasis and several songs that charted much higher than fade away, this has got to be one of my personal favorites from Noel and Liam Gallagher and the rest of the crew. I like that the tempo rock vibe adds something of a rebellious attitude to this song. It simply wouldn’t work as an acoustic ballot, and I’m glad that they chose to release it in this style.
Over the years, I have read several interpretations of this song. However, I have to say that my favorite interpretation is that the band is raucously sending off the innocence of their youth and welcoming their transition to being responsible adults while also kicking and screaming the whole way. There comes a time when we all have to come to maturity and say goodbye to the rebellious attitude of our past, although we don’t have to like it. That’s what I like so much about this song. They’re giving into the inevitable, but they are raising just enough hell along the way to make it interesting.
39. The Man You Have Become by No Limitz
| Genre | Country |
| Year Released | 2007 |
| Album | I Know What I Know…and that’s not everything. |
When a father or mother tells their child that they are proud of their son, they are saying that the child has come a long way from where he started to make them proud of who he is now. That’s the point that Dana Blayone and Sherry Crawford (otherwise known as No Limitz) are saying in their beautifully heartfelt track “The Man You Have Become.” This song has such a simple but iconic message that it has become one of the most requested mother-son dances at most of today’s weddings.
What I think makes this song most effective is that these two ladies don’t need anything but the simple strum of an acoustic guitar somewhere in the background to convey how proud they are of their sons. They choose to let their lyrics be the vehicle for carrying this message instead of letting the music dictate what is being said. At the end of the day, if you are looking for a song to show your son how proud you are of the man he’s become, or if you are looking for a way to thank your mother for helping to shape you into who you are, this song should easily be one of your top choices.
40. Sun Goes Down by Lil Nas X
| Genre | Rap, Hip Hop |
| Year Released | 2021 |
| Album | MONTERO |
Rapper Lil Nas X has an uncanny gift of using figurative language in his songs to express the way he feels or to illustrate a time in his life when he felt a specific way about something. For years, people have used the metaphor “the sun goes down” as a way to portray death or suicide. However, that’s not to say that the rapper is suicidal, but it does say that certain events in his childhood may have made him feel somewhat suicidal. However, he has had to grow up psychologically and learn valuable coping skills to be comfortable in his skin since then.
As you may already be aware, Lil Nas X is one of a very select few rap and hip-hop artists who are openly gay. If I had to guess, I would say that he was ridiculed incessantly throughout his childhood and teenage years for nothing more than simply being who he was born to be. It must have taken some serious growth for him to be able to look past all of the haters and detractors and to be proud of who he is without refusing to change. Now that’s courage…
41. Lullaby by The Dixie Chicks
| Genre | Country |
| Year Released | 2006 |
| Album | Taking the Long Way |
Formerly known as The Dixie Chicks, the chicks certainly have a way of speaking their minds and not hesitating to let anybody know how they feel about certain topics. I guess that’s why you can say that I found this track to be a bit confusing. To be honest, it would be used as a song to dedicate to your significant other, or it could be a gentle, sweet lullaby written for a newborn child. Because of the title, I have opted to go with the ladder when it pertains to the meaning of this song.
I know that I can speak from personal experience when I say that having a child can change your life for the better and that change will last you throughout the rest of your days. That must have been what Dixie Chicks lead vocalist Natalie Maines was experiencing when she and her bandmates wrote the beautifully surreal track “Lullaby,” which was featured on 2006’s “Taking a Long Way.” I like this tune because of its adaptability, but I can also see its appeal to first-time parents.
42. Letter To Me by Brad Paisley
| Genre | Country |
| Year Released | 2007 |
| Album | 5th Gear |
Everybody has had at least one moment in their life that they wish that they could go back and change. If this describes you, then Brad Paisley’s hit track “Letter To Me” would suit you perfectly. What Paisley does in this song is envision what he would say to the teenage version of himself. He covers a multitude of hardships that he went through when he was a teenager but makes sure to reassure himself that everything will work out for him in the end. One event, in particular, was a rough breakup that he went through after dating a girl for seven months.
Of course, there are other events that he warns his younger self about, such as making sure that his tank is full of gas before he leaves to go on a date and always making sure that he comes to a complete stop at one particular stop sign in his hometown. My guess is that’s where the police officers like to stay and hand out tickets. Perhaps the most important advice that he gives is that he should always assume that his mother and father are right about anything they say. I’m sure most parents who are reading this would agree with that sentiment.
43. Rockabye by Clean Bandit (Featuring Sean Paul and Anne Marie)
| Genre | Dance, Electronica, Pop |
| Year Released | 2018 |
| Album | Speak Your Mind |
If you have ever wondered what the track “Rockabye” from the English electronic dance group Clean Bandit means, wait no further. Grace Chatto from Clean Bandit has said in an interview that the song’s lyrics are about a single mother doing whatever she has to do to ensure that her baby boy has a better life than what she had. Throughout the track, she is showering her baby boy with all of the adoration and love that she can muster for him. It’s also about making the best of what you have to do to provide a living for you and your family.
In the video for this song, the mother has to work as an exotic dancer so that she can provide the life that she feels her baby deserves. However, she seems to be having a really good time while she is dancing, which makes the viewer wonder if she enjoys exotic dancing or if her mind is in a completely different place so that she doesn’t have to think about what she’s doing to make a living for her family? Unfortunately, this may have to remain one of life’s mysteries.
44. Mama’s Song by Carrie Underwood
| Genre | Country |
| Year Released | 2009 |
| Album | Play On |
Unfortunately, there comes a time when we all have to realize that our babies are grown, and it’s time to let them go and leave the proverbial nest. However, convincing one parent of this may be a little easier than convincing the other to let go. Of course, I’m referring to Carrie Underwood’s track “Mama’s Song,” in which she is trying to convince her mother that she has learned all of the lessons she’s been taught and it’s time for her to learn what it is to get out and live life on her own.
Now, I want all of you to do me a huge favor. Please do not misconstrue what I am saying. I’m not saying that it’s easy for a little girl to convince her dad that she’s ready to be out in the world on her own, nor is it easier for a son to convince his mom that he’s ready for everything that the world has to throw at him. However, I’m sure that we are all aware that it is twice as difficult for a young girl to convince her mom that she wants to be on her own, in her place.
45. A Mother’s Prayer by Céline Dion
| Genre | Pop |
| Year Released | 2004 |
| Album | Miracle |
Canadian singing sensation Celine Dion knocks it out of the proverbial Park with her touching, beautiful song that was written around the time that she gave birth to her first child. “A Mother’s Prayer” conveys unconditional love that only a mother can have for a child. What makes this song so genuine is that Celine Dion was going through her pregnancy and childbirth while she was in the process of writing this track. What you get from that is pure emotion that only an experience of this magnitude can teach and an experience that is like no other.
What I like best about this song is Celine Dion’s voice, which can only be described as pure. I’m sure that there’s another way to describe how beautiful her singing voice is, but it seems like the best word to describe her style is pure. I love the way that her voice carries and how she pours every ounce of her emotion into what she is singing. If you add these two together, it equates to a style of music that most people will be able to respect and appreciate, no matter if they like the genre or not.
46. Forever Now by Michael Bublé
| Genre | Vocals, Pop |
| Year Released | 2018 |
| Album | Heart |
I like Michael Bublé’s vocal style. He reminds me of a young Frank Sinatra or one of those other pruners who made such fantastic songs during the Golden Age. However, while they’re singing voices may sound quite similar, this is not a song that Old Blue Eyes would have ever written. Don’t get me wrong, Frank loves his children, but this song is a love letter to how much better having a young child has made Michael Buble’s life. I think that the message being delivered in this song matches perfectly with the simple piano playing in the background.
Some songs rely on the power of the music to carry their message, and there’s nothing wrong with that. However, I had always preferred when the vocal delivery was more powerful, and the music was content to simply play in the background to help usher in the message. This is what we get in Forever Now.” I also like how this song portrays the feeling of being a father, like everything is pure and brand new. Let’s just hope that it stays that way forever.
47. Slow Down by Nichole Nordeman
| Genre | Christian |
| Year Released | 2017 |
| Album | Every Mile Mattered |
One of life’s greatest mysteries continues to be why young children want to grow up so quickly while adults want them to stay young forever. In Nichole Nordeman’s “Slow Down,” she is singing to her newborn child and trying to convince them that they don’t need to grow up too quickly. They should take all the time that they need to stay young and innocent for as long as possible. However, the child seems to want to Branch off on his or her own and grow up just as quickly as they can.
I like how the lyrics to this song visit each perspective, even if it may not be told from separate perspectives. Instead, the song is sung from the mother’s point of view, although she does have a working knowledge of what the baby wants and she certainly knows what she wants. The funny thing is that while the mother can wish whatever she chooses, there is no stopping father time, and the baby will continue to grow no matter how much she wants him or her to stay this young.
48. The Climb by Miley Cyrus
| Genre | Country Pop |
| Year Released | 2009 |
| Album | Hannah Montana: The Movie |
Miley Cyrus was destined for stardom practically from the day she was born. The young actress and singer has appeared in the Disney Channel television series Hannah Montana, as well as starring in the feature film “Hannah Montana: The Movie.”In addition to starring in the lead role in that film, Cyrus also sang on the movie’s soundtrack. After testing out her vocal shops, the young star branched out to establish a musical career of her own in both country and pop. Now, Miley Cyrus is both an accomplished actress and a bona fide singing sensation.
Today, we are going to cover one of her earliest hits. Her track “The Climb” is one of Cyrus’s 12 Billboard top-ten hits. This track reflects on the everyday struggles that we all face in life, as well as the perseverance that it takes to make it through these struggles and come out a better person for it. I like the fact that this track could be construed as semi-autobiographical, as I’m sure that Miley Cyrus has had to face lots of obstacles in becoming the young superstar she is now. That’s a pretty impressive feat if I say so myself. If you’re looking for songs about kids growing up for a slideshow or just to listen to and enjoy, this is one I highly recommend.
49. Concrete Angel by Jackie Evancho
| Genre | Pop, Singer-Songwriter |
| Year Released | 2009 |
| Album | Prelude to a Dream |
While most children were trying to decide what game they were going to play and which friends they were going to hang out with on the weekend, Jackie Evancho was busy releasing a platinum-selling EP and nine albums from 2008 to 2010. That means that when she released this amazing cover of a Martina McBride classic, Jackie was only nine years old. At the age of 10, Jackie also finished second place on the 5th season of the variety show America’s Got Talent. Sounds like someone had to do a little rowing before their time, doesn’t it?
I guess that this is why you can say that I chose Jackie’s cover of the song instead of the Martina McBride original. Becoming a young singing sensation requires you to do quite a bit of growing up before your time, and Jackie seems to be handling it quite well, especially a song of this subject matter. The song is about child abuse and is about how it eventually ended up killing the girl that the song is about. This song is emotional enough to make even the hardest of people shed a tear, and that’s what I like most about it.
50. Castle On The Hill by Ed Sheeran
| Genre | Pop |
| Year Released | 2017 |
| Album | ÷ |
As of 2023, Ed Sheeran has sold over 39.1 million albums worldwide, including a whopping 14 million in the United States alone. With over 13.7 million units sold, “÷ (Divide” is the Irish pop singer’s highest-selling album to date. Coincidentally, that is also the album that features Sheeran’s hit single “Castle On The Hill.”The title refers to a place that was very special to Ed Sheeran when he was younger, where lots of important milestones took place in his young life. Although he says it’s been quite some time since he’s seen fields, he still refers to this place as home and longs to go back.
In the second half of the song, Sharon is reminiscing about his childhood home while he heads there singing “Tiny Dancer.” It’s at this point where he starts thinking about some of the old friends he had when he lived there and how most of them still live close by, although it seems like a few of them have fallen on hard times. At the end of the song, Ed hints at the fact that this is where he may have met his first love, as he sings that he misses the way that this person made him feel and goes on to declare that it was real.
51. Boy by Lee Brice
| Genre | Country |
| Year Released | 2017 |
| Album | Lee Bice |
In Lee Brice’s song “Boy,” the singer is speaking directly to his son, who is still quite young. He goes through a laundry list of things that he did in and around that town when he was younger and predicts that his boy will go through the same things as he grows. However, when he gets to the matter of his son being stubborn, of course, he blames that on the boy’s mother. I like the fact that Lee Brice covers all of the stereotypical things that most people expect a young boy in a small town to do.
However, my favorite part comes at the end of the song when Brice tells his son that eventually he’s going to want to come back to the same town he wanted to burn down, settle down, raise a family, and call this town his home. Unfortunately, I know that sentiment all too well because I have gone through exactly what this song is about, and I am back home and raising a family in a town I couldn’t wait to get out of. That’s okay. I know that boy’s going to be happy because I know how happy I am.
52. The Circle Game by Joni Mitchell
| Genre | Folk |
| Year Released | 1966 |
| Album | JONI MITCHELL – LIVE RADIO BROADCASTS |
In the 1960s, Joni Mitchell was known as perhaps the best folk singer around due to her angelic voice and thought-provoking lyrics. She has been cited as an inspiration by some of the most well-known singers in the music industry. However, one of the singer’s most overlooked talents was her ability to write songs that did not pertain to subjects of protest or war. For example, her track called “The Circle Game” is one of the most beautiful songs regarding the circle of life that I believe I’ve ever heard. However, before the internet, the song was quite hard to find.
The subject of the song is a little boy who likes to run outside and play, catch fireflies in a jar, and is afraid of thunderstorms. Mitchell concedes that these are all fears that we have to conquer in the name of growing up. She also uses the metaphor of writing a carousel with painted horses to represent the Earth rotating around the Sun once per year. Mitchell even covers some of the more important milestones as you get older, like learning to drive. One of my favorite parts of this song happens in the last verse when Mitchell describes trying to use his feet to slow the carousel down. Doesn’t everyone try to slow the passage of time at least a little as they get older?
53. Young by Kenny Chesney
| Genre | Country |
| Year Released | 2003 |
| Album | No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems |
Kenny Chesney has been one of country music’s most popular singers for at least the last two decades. With over 30 million albums sold worldwide and an incredible 23 songs that have reached the top spot on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, is there any wonder why he is often considered to be amongst the most successful country musicians to ever pick up a guitar? One of his biggest hits was the Billboard number two track “Young,” which was featured on his Billboard number one hit album “No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems.”
What I like most about Kenny Chesney is that he is always injecting something from another genre into his brand of country music. For instance, he is quite well known for adding riffs that sound like they came straight from Bob Marley songs or using riffs that sound like they come either from a John Mellencamp or Bryan Adams song (much like this one). In this song, Chesney reminisces about some of the good times he had when he was younger while simultaneously wishing that he could go back and relive those days.
54. I Hope You Dance by LeeAnn Womack (Featuring Sons Of the Desert)
| Genre | Country |
| Year Released | 2000 |
| Album | I Hope You Dance |
I have heard LeeAnne Womack’s song played on several occasions ranging from the birth of a child to a couple who is unfortunately going through a divorce. However, I have always found that the lyrics for the song work best when you picture it as a tune that is being dedicated by a mother to her newborn baby. I mean, let’s face it. How many couples do you know that wish great things for each other and remain the best of friends after going their separate ways? I know I don’t know many of them.
When listening to the song, if you envision it as a song that a loving mother has written for her cherished newborn, it is one of the most beautiful songs ever written for that occasion. In particular, one of my favorite lyrics from this track is when Womack sings, “I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean.” The reason that I love this line so much is because she is telling her child that she hopes that she never loses her sense of wonder and amazement, which is something that I can wish for everybody.
55. Bound By Blood by Danzig
| Genre | Hard Rock, Metal |
| Year Released | 2007 |
| Album | The Lost Tracks of Danzig |
This song can be found on the 2007 double album “The Lost Tracks of Danzig,” but in my opinion, this track is far too good to be hidden in a b-sides and rarities compilation. In my not-so-humble opinion, it sounds like it would have fit in perfectly with either Danzig’s second or third album. Trust me, there are a few songs that this track could have easily taken the place of on those albums. With that said, let’s get back to brass tacks. This song holds a special place in my heart because I used to sing it to my 10-year-old when she was a baby.
Although the song’s riffs may be a bit heavy to play for an infant or a toddler, the lyrics that I find are so beautiful, especially against the metal backdrop of Danzig’s backup band. I love how he promises his son or daughter that he will never leave them alone and will always be right by their side because they are (yep, you guessed it) bound by blood. There’s something to be said for a hulking, tattooed metal frontman promising something as sensitive as always being there for his newborn child. It just doesn’t get any more metal than that.
56. Ill Mind of Hopsin 6 (Best Friend) by Hopsin
| Genre | Rap, Hip Hop |
| Year Released | 2006 |
| Album | Ill Mind of Hopsin Series |
Marcus Hopsin is a gifted rapper who is most well known for his ”Ill Mind of Hopsin” series. The series consists of nine individual tracks that cover a wide variety of topics from religion to dealing with your ex-partner to getting something off your chest that you want to say to your children. Fortunately, the sixth installment in this series doesn’t pertain to any of those subjects. Instead, this song sees Marcus Hopsin reflecting on growing up with his best friend before his best friend became addicted to chemical substances. Instead of talking to his friend, he finds himself mourning with his friend’s mother for the person that he used to be.
Make no mistake, though. His friend is not dead. He is in a coma that has been brought on by his issues with drug addiction. To me, this song illustrates the point that blood doesn’t always dictate who your family is. There are people whom you are not biologically related to that are more family to you than your blood relatives have ever been. What makes it even harder is when you see your best friend go steadily downhill over something that could have been prevented in the first place, and that’s what makes this song such a masterpiece to me.
57. Hollow by Pantera
| Genre | Metal, Groove Metal |
| Year Released | 1992 |
| Album | Vulgar Display of Power |
Out of all of the bands on this list, perhaps Pantera’s inclusion surprises me the most, although I have loved this song and the album it’s featured on since it was released in 1992. So, I guess it shouldn’t surprise me that much. Don’t get it twisted here. “Hollow” can’t easily be passed over because it is the last song on “Vulgar Display of Power.” Besides, the song starts like a ballad which is a direct contradiction to the sound of almost every other song on the album, which is considered hardcore, groove metal.
However, make no mistake. This song is indeed a ballad in which lead vocalist Philip Anselmo finds himself mourning the loss of his friend, who is now in a coma due to a drug overdose. He talks about being close to his friend’s mother, and he never hesitates to lend her an ear when she needs to cry. He also stresses the importance of making best friends but also expresses how hard it can be to watch that same friend suffer like he has been suffering. The song picks up at the end when Philip is expressing his anger at God and his friend. Coincidentally, this is probably my favorite part of the song. Do yourself a favor and check it out.
58. Alive by Pearl Jam
| Genre | Grunge, Alternative Rock |
| Year Released | 1991 |
| Album | Ten |
In my opinion, there is nothing that will make you grow up faster than finding out that the person whom you thought was your dad your whole life was someone who stepped in to help raise you after your biological father died. Although I know that this sounds like something that should belong on an episode of Jerry Springer, this is the gist of what Pearl Jam’s mega-hit song “Alive” is about. Interestingly enough, the song is told from the perspective of the young boy’s mother, whom he chooses to shut out after finding out this heart-wrenching news.
Unfortunately, from that moment, the subject of the song develops a deep-seated hatred for his mother. Speaking matter of fact, it has gotten so bad that when his mother asks him if something is wrong he responds with “Of course there is. You’re still alive.” While this may seem like an inappropriate response, especially when answering a question your mother asks you, I try to put myself in the young man’s position. I wonder how I would react if I had just found out that my entire life until this point had been a lie. I think I’d be pretty angry.
59. I Don’t Want To Grow Up by Ramones
| Genre | Punk Rock |
| Year Released | 1995 |
| Album | ¡Adios Amigos! |
While the majority of the songs on this list can be considered fairly serious, The Ramones are never a band that should be taken seriously. Perhaps that’s why I enjoy their music so much. For example, let’s take a look at their punk rock classic “I Don’t Want To Grow Up,” which is featured on their 1995 comeback album “¡Adios Amigos!” The Ramones are proof that sometimes having a sense of humor can take you further in the music industry than eight-minute songs about wizards and dragons. For example, they have been through countless lineup changes, but it seems as though nobody notices because their musical formula stays the same.
Another example of this New York-based punk rock outfit’s refusal to grow up can be seen in the video for this song, which is an animated cartoon. The lyrics are indicative of a typical punk rocker who refuses to grow up because he says that when you do grow up, things never turn out the way that you imagined them to. Towards the end of the song, he admits that the main catalyst for him not wanting to grow up is the fact that he has to see his parents fight all the time, so he equates that with what you do when you grow up.
60. Time by Pink Floyd
| Genre | Progressive Rock, Classic Rock |
| Year Released | 1973 |
| Album | The Dark Side Of the Moon |
Okay, here is the part of the article where I admit that I am a diehard, bona fide Pink Floyd fan. However, perhaps the most controversial part of my Pink Floyd fandom is that I much prefer the David Gilmour lead version of Pink Floyd to the Syd Barrett lead version of the English progressive Rock outfit. Still, how can you argue with results like two of Pink Floyd’s most classic albums of all time, “The Dark Side Of the Moon” and “Wish You Were Here?”The song that we are discussing in this entry can be found on the former, which at one point was also the best-selling album of all time.
If you listen closely to the lyrics of the classic Pink Floyd track “Time,” you will see that this song is about the passage of time, or as we have so eloquently put it on this list, growing up. In the song, Gilmore’s lyrics take you from childhood when he says that he is waiting for something or someone to show you the way. He then transitions into singing about adulthood and about how you will eventually stop aging and pass into the next life. If you like this song, check out our full playlist of songs about getting older.
61. Alright by Superglass
| Genre | Alternative, Indie |
| Year Released | 1995 |
| Album | Garage Days |
Founded in Oxford, England in 1993, Superglass is an English alternative rock group that was formed by Gaz and Rob Coombes. Gaz was the lead vocalist of the band and played with them guitar while Rob was the lead guitarist and sang backup vocals. The song that we are covering in this entry, which is called “Alright,* was one of their biggest international singles and propelled them to international stardom. One of the lesser-known facts about Superglass is that their debut album was the highest-selling British debut album since the Beatles released “Please Please Me.” Before going their separate ways, the band managed to release five full-length albums and one compilation album.
The song “Alright” tackles the topic of these lads wanting to stay young forever. They have no intention of ever growing old because growing old brings about more responsibility than they care to have. They are quite happy with going clubbing all night and sleeping all day and aren’t about to have anything or anybody change their minds. Sadly, their Fame didn’t last forever as they broke up in 2010, citing the age-old reason of “creative differences.”
62. December 4th by Jay-Z
| Genre | Rap, Hip Hop |
| Year Released | 2003 |
| Album | The Black Album |
Shawn Carter, who is perhaps best known by his stage name of Jay-Z, is at the top of quite a few lists of the greatest rappers of all time. Even Eminem cites Carter as the best rapper in the game and the best he’s ever heard. Not only is Jay-Z an incredible rapper, but he is also a brilliant businessman. Carter is the first rapper to achieve a net worth of over 1 billion dollars, and according to CNBC, he is now worth 2.5 billion dollars. In 2003, Jay-Z was at the height of his popularity when he released his album simply titled “The Black Album,” not to be confused with the Metallica album of the same name.
So, you may be asking yourself, “Why would I be including the opening track from that record that was narrated by Carter’s mother?” Well, let’s start with the title. “December 4th” is Jay Z’s birthday. His mother recalls him being the biggest child she delivered, but he was also the only one who did not cause her any pain to deliver. She says that that is when she knew that he would be something special. After Carter takes over wrapping, he begins to cite all of the things that made him who he is, especially growing up as a young child in the Marcy Projects. What I like best about this song is while most people don’t want to grow up and do everything they can to put it off, Carter certainly made something special for himself and made his mother proud in the process.
63. When You Were Young by The Killers
| Genre | Alternative Rock |
| Year Released | 2006 |
| Album | Sam’s Town |
“When You Were Young” from The Killers is a unique song in the fact that it was equally written for members of the band. It’s not very often that you see a song that each member of the band had an equal turn in writing these days. However, The Killers managed to accomplish it. You may be saying that that’s impressive, but what does it have to do with growing up? Well, according to the members of the band, the song is about growing up and moving on in the world while also leaving the past behind you.
Written using Bruce Springsteen as an inspiration for this song, it is also about how your perceptions change as you get older. Because their debut album was such a success with fans and critics, the killers were incredibly nervous about releasing “Sam’s Town,” along with their first single from the album, which was “When You Were Young.” However, after the initial release of the song, the band knew that they had something special on their hands, and there was no need to worry. Another interesting fact about this song is that it is not the original version of the track. The original version was used in the video game Guitar Hero III.
64. Northampton’s Child by Slowthai
| Genre | Rap, Hip Hop |
| Year Released | 2019 |
| Album | Nothing Great About Britain |
This song by English rapper Slowthai has an incredible message to deliver. This is the story of his mother, who gave birth to his older sister when she was 17 and then gave birth to him. After her parents put her out, she ended up on public assistance and got a flat from the council. Later, she fell in love with a drug dealer, which forced her and her kids to grow up much more quickly than they had anticipated. He then goes on to rap about many of the things that the family was forced to do to have clothes on their back and food on the table.
The one thing that I like about this song is that no matter how hard the family had to work, they found a way to stay together and make things work. Even if each member of the family had to work 12-hour shifts just to make ends meet, that’s what they did, and they never complained. It is a lesson to be learned from this song. They may have had to grow up the wrong way, but they never strayed from their principles and family values, and that’s something that should be admired.
65. Boys Will Be Boys by Dua Lipa
| Genre | Pop |
| Year Released | 2020 |
| Album | Future Nostalgia |
Within the past few years, Dua Lipa has become one of the most recognized names in pop music. While the singer has a reputation for cutting to the chase and telling it like it is, that fearless attitude shines through even more on her track “Boys Will Be Boys.” You see, in the inner City, young ladies are taught to walk home before it gets dark and to always put their car keys between their knuckles in case they have to fight their way out of a dangerous situation. It’s a shame that they have to be taught this, but unfortunately, that’s the way it is in the inner city.
She goes on to list some of the other various things that she has been taught to do to either fend off boys or to avoid drawing attention to herself altogether. One of the most valid points that she makes in the song is when she says that they try to laugh at it all so as not to worry about it, but there’s really nothing funny going on here. As a father of two young girls, I would much rather teach my daughters their self-worth instead of having to teach them tricks to avoid drawing attention to themselves and getting in trouble.
Wrap Up:
That does it for this playlist. Let us know if there are any great songs that we should add to it in the comments section below.
Hi, my name is Kevin and I’m from Butler, Pennsylvania. I’ve been obsessed with music and audio gear for as long as I can remember. I started this website to help people find professional advice related to a wide range of audio topics. We have a number of Audio Engineers on our team who have been designing and fixing audio gear for decades.