Friendship songs in Western music with great lyrics. Beautiful, moving messages that touch the heart.

All I Wanna DoSheryl Crow

Sheryl Crow – All I Wanna Do

Listening to the breezy, feather-light sound, many of you might find yourselves narrowing your eyes with a sudden wave of nostalgia.

The singer is Sheryl Crow, who enjoys immense popularity for her style that fuses rock and country.

This piece captures an ordinary moment in an afternoon bar, and its message—forget the complicated stuff and “just have fun”—conveys an easy, unburdened sense of comfort.

That carefree mood also seems to portray the preciousness of new encounters and unpretentious time spent with close friends.

Released in July 1994 as a single from her debut album, Tuesday Night Music Club, it became one of her signature songs, winning Record of the Year at the Grammys the following year.

Put it on for a drive or as weekend background music, and you’re in for the best time.

Break The RulesCharli XCX

Charli XCX – Break The Rules [Official Video]

It’s a thrilling song by the popular British singer-songwriter Charli XCX, with a title that’s basically like “Break the Rules.” Released as a single in 2014, it became a smash hit.

Set to her signature lively electro–synth-pop, the lyrics are a teenage anthem.

The line “I don’t wanna go to school” is a wish that any teen stuck in a boring routine has probably imagined at least once.

With a message that powerfully affirms, “This is how we do things,” it’s the perfect track to blast at full volume when you’re gathered with your closest friends.

Best FriendJoJo feat. Elisha La’verne

JoJo feat. Elisha La’verne – Best Friend

It’s easy to confuse her with the American female singer of the same name who dominated the R&B scene in the mid-2000s, but the artist featured here is a British singer.

She only released one album, and only in Japan, so she remains fairly obscure.

Still, since the one and only Elisha La’Verne handled production, R&B fans may remember her.

This gem strikes a perfect balance between Jojo’s unadorned vocals, melodies that appeal to Japanese tastes, and smooth tracks steeped in a ’90s vibe.

Add it to your playlist the next time you’re enjoying a drive with close friends.

Live ForeverOasis

Oasis – Live Forever (Official HD Remastered Video)

A band that epitomized ’90s Britpop, Oasis released this truly timeless classic in August 1994 from their debut album Definitely Maybe.

Standing apart from the despair-laden worldview of the then-dominant grunge scene, the song raises a powerful anthem of “affirming life.” Its lyrics, as if vowing eternity, sound like they sing of the invincible feeling of youth spent with irreplaceable friends, and of bonds that remain unshakable no matter what.

As the band’s first entry into the UK Top 10, this track will surely give you the courage to move toward the future while holding dear the precious memories you share with your friends.

It’s a hope-filled song to play when you want to reaffirm an irreplaceable friendship.

Just Friends (Sunny)Musiq Soulchild

Musiq – Just Friends (Sunny) (Official Video)

Music Soulchild is an artist highly acclaimed in the US R&B scene.

His appeal, above all, lies in his incredible coolness and depth—whether in the tracks or the vocals, there’s not a hint of anything superficial.

“Just Friends (Sunny)” is one of his hit songs, and its lyrics capture that more-than-friends, not-quite-lovers space.

The ambiguity—do they want to stay friends, or is it something more?—feels undeniably sexy.

It’s a quintessential R&B piece.

FriendsMeghan Trainor

Meghan Trainor – Friends (Lyrics)

Meghan Trainor, known for incorporating genres like doo-wop and soca into pop music, brings us a friendship anthem with “Friends.” The track is a laid-back piece with a touch of reggae.

The lyrics convey a message to a best friend: I’ll always be by your side.

It’s a song where the mood of the melody and the content of the lyrics are perfectly in sync.

Be sure to check out the Japanese translation as well!

My FriendsRed Hot Chili Peppers

Red Hot Chili Peppers – My Friends [Official Music Video]

A hidden gem by the indisputable powerhouse of rock, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, showcasing their mellow side.

It’s included on One Hot Minute, the only album released during the period when Dave Navarro—renowned for his work with Jane’s Addiction—was in the band as guitarist.

While it may lack the typical funk flavor associated with the Peppers, it highlights Flea’s strength as a songwriter, Navarro’s simple yet wistful guitar work, and Anthony Kiedis’s gentle vocals and melodies.

The message to a friend in pain isn’t baselessly positive; it’s realistic and serious.

Precisely because of that, it carries a persuasive power that truly resonates with listeners.