The bond between mother and son is something special, that transcends time, culture, and musical genres. Many artists have written songs about the relationship they have with their mothers. Here are the top songs from mother to son that you can play for your daily serving of motherly love.
1. “Mama Said” by Lukas Graham
Song Year: 2015
The narrator in Graham’s pop song, “Mama Said” tells a timeless childhood story about a mother reassuring her children. The mother in the song would tell her children to not listen to naysayers and continue to act with good morals. Graham then sings that those who made fun of him are now the same people buying tickets to his concerts.
The mother and father in the song raised the children to act correctly without going tit for tat against the naysayers and finger pointers. The song also tells sons (and daughters) that it’s best to listen to your parents.
2. “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” by Israel “IZ” Kamakawiwo’ole
Song Year: 1990
When I was young, my mother would sing ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’ to me whenever I got upset or scared. She admittedly doesn’t have Israel Kamakawiwo’ole’s famous voice, but every time I hear him sing about the dreams you can achieve in the sight of a rainbow, I think of her.
Mothers want their sons to reach their desired goals no matter how high they have to soar. To all the sons out there, close your eyes and envision rainbows as you keep working towards your goal.
3. “93 Million Miles” by Jason Mraz
Song Year: 2012
Jason Mraz muses about her mother telling him that he will go far in his life as he works hard to achieve his dreams. She also tells him that if he ever had to come home during his adult life, her doors would always be open.
Even if you’re 93 million miles away, your momma is never out of reach – and it’s never too late to come home to her.
4. “The One Thing” by Shakira
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m59ZvGZb42Q
Song Year: 2014
Shakira thinks about how her life seemed empty before reflecting on how she changed her life for the better after she gave birth to her son, Milan. The song tells the story of a sad, broken, and directionless woman who doesn’t know where she’s going or what she’s doing until her life is changed by her firstborn child.
Shakira wrote this song for her first son, Milan. It’s an upbeat, energetic song just like him. Having him brought purpose and joy into her life, so if you’re a mom with an uplifting connection to your son, then you’ll love this song.
5. “You Raise Me Up” by Josh Groban
Song Year: 2003
If you’re a mom, raising your child might feel like you’re fighting an uphill battle. Josh Groban touches on how a mother feels when things in her life are getting to her. Sure, you could interpret the song to be about relying on God, but it’s not a leap to read it as the challenges that a mother faces and overcomes with the help of her children. Everyone needs support and Josh Groban shows that people cannot succeed in life without the aid of others.
This song can be for anyone just besides mothers to their sons because it does not specify a maternal bond with a son. It can relate to couples, siblings, and best friends as well.
6. “Boy” by Lee Brice
Song Year: 2017
Lee Brice artfully melodizes how a song will act as he grows up in his hit single, “Boy.” Mothers may feel that their sons will get into trouble because of their naturally headstrong and independent nature.
When you listen, think about the conflict you might have experienced in your own life.The narrator proudly acknowledges that their son will be an innovative person and a rebel who is trying to test every limit he can. There is something bittersweet about how the narrator acknowledges that their son is growing up while stil wishing he was a little boy.
7. “You Will Always Be My Son” by Anthem Lights
Song Year: 2018
Anthem Lights opens up the song with the song narrator peering down at his son and seeing how physically alike they are. The narrator fears that their son may make the same mistakes as them.
However, a mother listening to this song can acknowledge that no matter what happens as her son grows up, no matter the mistakes, he will always be her son. This is a quintessential coming-of-age song that parents fear accepting their children growing up, but then they finally do.
8. “I Say A Little Prayer” by Arethra Franklin
Song Year: 1967
Arethra Franklin sings about a mother’s important desire to pray for their son when she wakes up in the morning. The song narrator proclaims that even before she puts on her makeup and before she rises from bed, she says a prayer for this person she loves in her life. While the song does not directly mention the word, “son”, a mother can play this song for her son and he will get the picture of how he feels.
9. “Watching You” by Rodney Atkins
Song Year: 2006
A mother listening to “Watching You” by Rodney Atkins will smile at the opening lyrics of riding on the streets as the son in the song eats his Happy Meal from McDonald’s. Later in the song, it is eluded that son says a four-letter swear word.
The song narrator asks how he learned to say a word such as that one and he professes that he has been watching his parent. This is a reminder to always watch how you act in front of your children because they pick up on everything.
10. “Lean on Me” by Bill Withers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkaexjc-1os
Song Year: 1972
Funk hit, “Lean on Me” by Bill Withers is a hit song you see everywhere from commercials to hearing it in supermarkets. Withers shows a message from mothers to sons to rely on them when they need them most. Life will always throw you challenges, but you can always confide in your mother when things get tough! She will always be there for you, no matter what.
Not everyone can handle life by themselves as help is essential to get through challenges. A mother showing a son this song can show him that she will always be there for him.
11. “Forever Young” by Rod Stewart
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwG6g5boyF4
Song Year: 1988
“Forever Young” is a prayer from a parent to a child that they are brave through the challenges they face even as they stay as young as they can for as long as possible. The prayer continues hoping that the child will not love in vain, be moral, and treat people as they treat them with respect and dignity.
The symbolism of the song’s allusion to flying away pertains to a child moving out. The parent hopes that the child has learned enough from them to implement in their life so that they are ready for the real world. Every parent hopes that they have raised their children to become successful in their lives and use what they have taught them to achieve what their hearts set out to do.
12. “Humble and Kind” by Tim McGraw
Song Year: 2016
The two virtues of humbleness and kindness go a long way which is the message of Tim McGraw’s “Humble and Kind.” While the little ones in the song do not understand why mom tells them to go the church or to go visit grandpa, the mother continues to push these two virtues as she raises her children.
The chorus outlines different ways to practice these virtues such as holding the door for people in public, saying please for what you want, and saying thank you when you get what you want or even something unexpected. A mother who raises her son to be humble and kind will have a daughter-in-law that thanks them in the long run.
13. “Just the Two of Us” by Will Smith
Song Year: 1997
Will Smith’s “Just the Two of Us” pays homage to Bill Withers’ song with the original name that he released 17 years earlier. Smith talks about the early days of raising his son by looking into his bassinet and hoping that he becomes great in his life no matter if he is an MC, doctor, or another profession. He also discusses how redirecting his son is important even though he wants to be friendly with him, too. This song is about a balance of discipline, love, and assistance when child-rearing.
14. “Here For You” by Neil Young
Song Year: 2005
The song narrator in “Here For You” by Neil Young showcases that while this person misses the other that they know they cannot hold this individual down. Even if the lonely person does not feel good and wants to come back to the person with the old heart, the person with the old heart says that the lonely person can come and go as they please.
Neil Young continues to list the ways he would be here for this loved one in his life. In a mother and son’s terms, if a son ever needed his mother, she would welcome him back home in open arms.
15. “The Wish” by Bruce Springsteen
Song Year: 1998
“The Wish” by Bruce Springsteen opens with a mother and a son shivering while in the snow. They make their way down to the music store. The boy later discovers a Japanese guitar underneath the Christmas tree.
The song’s narrator further reflects on life with his mother such as how she would doll herself up with makeup before going out. It continues with memories that the children have of their mother. By the end of the song, it transitions into the children as adults and they are looking at the guitar that she purchased for Christmas years ago.
16. “My Wish” by Rascal Flatts
Song Year: 2014
The lead singer of Rascal Flatts originally wrote this for his daughter who was going off to college. However, a mother can dedicate this song to her son. Mothers can hope for their sons to have slow days that lead to wonderful gains in their desired goals.
The song goes through the hopes that a parent has for their child such as hoping that they find their soulmate, find new beginnings and that they remember their parent always loves them. While parents have these many hopes for their children, life will happen as it does with different plans than what someone anticipates. The song highlights that a wish can come true from a mother to a son as long as they put faith in their little one.
17. “Sweetest Devotion” by Adele
Song Year: 2015
It’s one thing to find a significant other. But it is another thing to devote your life to your children whether you have a significant other or not. “Sweetest Devotion” by Adele is about one person recognizing that another person is the most important thing in their life.
Later in the song, the narrator says that no matter what, this person will always be theirs. It does not directly state a mother and son bond or a significant other bond, so the lyrics are open to interpretation.
18. “I’ll Stand By You” by The Pretenders
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLpmj059JFA
Song Year: 1994
The Pretenders weren’t pretending with the lovely meaning of their song “I’ll Stand By You.” The song opens by stating the person crying does not have to be afraid to come to the song narrator for comfort, help, and healing. This is what a mother does for a son whenever he is feeling troubled.
The Pretenders melodize that they will stand by this person that they love and not let anyone hurt them. A mother protecting his son is one of her main priorities and will do everything in her power to be sure nothing hurts him.
19. “You Had To Be There” by Tim McGraw
Song Year: 2009
“You Had To Be There” is about an estranged father-and-son relationship. However, the song’s narrator mentions how his mother would have trouble teaching him to throw a ball because she would have to work hard to support the single-parent household. The male song narrator tells his father that he had to be there to fully understand the gravity of what life was like without him around.
The mother did everything that she could to raise the boy in the song. By interpretation, the song narrator may be speaking for the mother that she wants to tell the father that he should have been there for his son as well.
20. “The Best Day” by Taylor Swift
Song Year: 2008
Taylor Swift melodizes in her song “The Best Day” about reflecting on the greatest time that she has had with her parent. As she continues to recount her memories with her father, home movies play on the official video.
Sons that love Taylor Swift would appreciate this sweet song that pays homage to their relationship with their mother. They can do the same thing and make a video of mother and son videos just as they did for this official video when making a gift for Christmas or a birthday.
21. “You’ll Be In My Heart” by Phil Collins
Song Year: 1999
Released on the soundtrack of the 1999 Disney movie “Tarzan” and currently trending on Facebook and Instagram reels, “You’ll Be In My Heart” by Phil Collins is a legendary mother-to-son song.
This song shows that no matter what happens as their son grows that a mother will keep her child in her heart. Whether mothers bore biological children or adopt their children, they will be different beings as the song highlights. However, their differences will bring them together through a mother and child bond.
22. “Your Song” by Elton John
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlPlfCy1urI
Song Year: 1971
Elton John’s “Your Song” comes in last but certainly not least with a lovely melody about a mother who appreciates their son. While the song’s narrator wishes to have enough money to buy a large house and to give her son everything in the world, the narrator appreciates how much this person means to them in their life. A great appreciation for family and those in one’s life is shown in this song.
Best Songs From A Mother To Her Son, Final Thoughts
Whether you need a song about mothers to sons for an upcoming wedding or a mother who wants to profess her love through a song for her son’s birthday, these songs from a mother to her son are a wonderful fit. Sometimes words cannot express how much a mother loves her son. Just turn on a song and let that do the talking, or singing rather!