Graduation songs in Western music with great lyrics—heartfelt, beautiful messages.

Don’t Worry, Be HappyBobby McFerrin

Bobby McFerrin – Don’t Worry Be Happy (Official Music Video)

If you start from the premise that life inevitably involves difficulties, even the smallest good things can feel truly delightful.

As words of encouragement for young people about to enter society, few pieces of advice are as compelling as the phrase, “Don’t worry, be happy.” Released in 1988, this work is a classic that reached No.

1 on the U.

S.

charts.

Look What You’ve DoneDrake

Look What You’ve Done

Drake’s classic “Look What You’ve Done.” You might wonder, “Do rappers even have songs themed around graduation?” While this track isn’t actually about graduation, it’s well known for being frequently played at graduation ceremonies overseas.

Its “tsundere”-style lyrics—maintaining a tough, streetwise vibe while clearly expressing gratitude to his mother—are especially memorable.

It’s a catchy piece crafted to be enjoyable for both hip-hop fans and those who usually aren’t into the genre.

HappyPharrell Williams

Pharrell Williams – Happy (Official Video)

I want to greet graduation day with a happy heart! For anyone who feels the same, this song is a perfect fit.

In the music video, you can see people of various races and ages dancing in their own styles throughout the city.

Everyone’s wearing dazzling smiles, and it makes you want to start dancing too.

Here, the lyrics are everyone’s dance.

It was released in 2013.

Closing TimeSemisonic

Semisonic – Closing Time (Official Music Video)

Semisonic, an alternative rock band that was hugely active from the late 1990s to the early 2000s.

While they aren’t all that well-known in Japan, they’re a popular band in the U.

S.

, and their song “Closing Time” was a major hit there.

The lyrics are crafted in an abstract way, making the deeper meaning a bit hard to grasp, but it likely conveys the importance of switching gears and moving forward even when your environment changes.

In that sense, the lyrics are a perfect fit for a graduation ceremony, don’t you think?

Don’t YouSimple Minds

Simple Minds – Don’t You (Forget About Me)

Simple Minds is a rock band from Scotland.

They debuted in the late 1970s, when new wave was starting to become mainstream, and they’ve gained international popularity.

Their song “Don’t You” is known as one of their hits and is popular overseas as a staple for graduation ceremonies.

The lyrics express the feeling of cheering on someone important.

It’s truly a perfect theme for a graduation ceremony.

Be sure to give it a listen.

Just A FriendBiz Markie

Biz Markie – Just A Friend (Official Video)

Rapper Biz Markie—this is the song that catapulted him to fame: “Just A Friend.” From the title, it sounds like a friendship song, right? But it’s actually a bittersweet love song.

The lyrics express the sadness of having the person you like introduce you as “just a friend.” I hope you’ll listen to this track and think about what friendship really means.

Although the lyrics are written from a male perspective, women will surely relate as well.