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Looking for songs about family love to affirm the strength of your familial connections?
Life is better if you have a supportive family by your side.
Today’s collection of songs celebrates this unconditional love that has been the bedrock of stability for many of us. These tracks are all dedicated to the people who know us best and accept us even at our worst.
Add the songs featured here to your playlist for your next family reunion, or play the tracks whenever you miss being with family.
Enjoy!
Table of Contents
1. Family Is Family, Kacey Musgraves
via K A C E Y M U S G R A V E S
“Family is family, in church or in prison. You get what you get, and you don't get to pick 'em. They might smoke like chimneys, but give you their kidneys. Yeah, friends come in handy, but family is family.”
In this song, Kacey Musgraves perfectly captures how quirky, funny, and loyal family members can be. It is one of those songs that makes you grateful that you belong to a family, no matter how imperfect it is.
2. Dance With My Father, Luther Vandross
via Luther Vandross
“If I could get another chance, another walk, another dance with him. I'd play a song that would never, ever end. How I'd love, love, love to dance with my father again.”
This is a touching tribute to fathers who have been there for their children. It is the type of song that makes listeners appreciate all that their fathers have done for them.
3. Daddy's Hands, Holly Dunn
“Daddy's hands were soft and kind when I was cryin'. Daddy's hands were hard as steel when I'd done wrong. Daddy's hands weren't always gentle but I've come to understand. There was always love in daddy's hands.”
This song expresses appreciation for all the hard work that a father has done for his family.
Through the song, we get to know a father who guides, corrects, and supports a child as she grows up. And as the child grows, she realizes how loving her father is.
4. In My Daughter's Eyes, Martina McBride
via Martina McBride
“In my daughter's eyes, everyone is equal. Darkness turns to light and the world is at peace. This miracle God gave to me gives me strength when I am weak. I find reason to believe in my daughter's eyes.”
This song is about a mother’s love for her daughter.
Children naturally trust and depend on their parents, so parents have to work hard to be good moms and dads in order to be worthy of this trust that is given to them.
5. A Song for Mama, Boyz II Men
via Boyz II Men
“Mama, Mama, you know I love you. Mama, Mama, you're the queen of my heart. Your love is like tears from the stars, yes it is. Mama, I just want you to know lovin' you is like food to my soul. Yes it is.”
Boyz II Men dedicate this song to mothers. It is their tribute and expression of love for the women they consider the queens of their hearts.
6. Butterfly Kisses, Bob Carlisle
via BobCarlisleVEVO
“For butterfly kisses after bedtime prayer, sticking little white flowers all up in her hair. ‘Walk beside the pony, Daddy. It's my first ride.' ‘I know the cake looks funny, Daddy, but I sure tried.' Oh, with all that I've done wrong, I must have done something right.”
In this song, we hear a father reminisce about his daughter growing up, all the way to the time when he’s about to give her away at the altar. His heart is overflowing with the love he has for his daughter.
7. I Will Always Love My Mama, The Intruders
via The Intruders
“I'll always love my mama. She's my favorite girl. You only get one, you only get one, yeah. I'll always love my mama. She brought me in this world.”
This song is another tribute to mothers. It acknowledges that we all get only one mother in our lives, the one who has brought us into the world.
8. Mama, Spice Girls
via Spice Girls
“Back then I didn't know why, why you were misunderstood. So now, I see through your eyes, all that you did was love. Mama, I love you. Mama, I care. Mama, I love you. Mama, my friend.”
Most of us go through a rebellious phase while growing up. Our parents must have had a lot of headaches dealing with us during these periods of time!
This song is about realizing how much a mother has done for her children, especially during those angst-filled teenage years. Perhaps now that the child has grown, she and her mother can establish a closer relationship as friends.
9. Daughters, John Mayer
via John Mayer
“So, fathers, be good to your daughters. Daughters will love like you do. Girls become lovers, who turn into mothers. So, mothers, be good to your daughters, too.”
Here is a reminder to parents that children look up to their parents for examples of how to cope with life.
To help children find healthy relationships when they grow up, parents need to set good examples of how to treat each other.
There is no room for toxicity if you want your children to be able to form healthy relationships with others, and with themselves as well. [Check out these online quizzes to know if you have a toxic personality.]
10. He Didn't Have to Be, Brad Paisley
via BRADPAISLEY
“And now, all of a sudden, oh it seems so strange to me. How we've gone from something's missing to a family. Looking through the glass, I think about the man standing next to me. And I hope I'm at least half the dad that he didn't have to be.”
Based on a survey done by the US Census Bureau, 1 out of 4 children in American households live without a father. A large number of social ills can be traced back to individuals growing up in fatherless homes.
In this song, Brad Paisley gives tribute to the stepdads and other father figures who step up to the plate when the real fathers cannot. The singer recalls touching details of how his stepfather supported him in crucial moments in his life.
11. Child of Mine, Anne Murray
via Anne Murray
“Although you see the world different from me. Sometimes I can touch upon the wonders that you see. All the new colors and pictures you've designed. Oh, yes, sweet darling. So glad you are a child of mine.”
Here’s a song that describes a parent’s love and pride for their child. In this song, the parent admits that the child has a different outlook from them. Nevertheless, it is a source of pride for the parent that their child has this viewpoint, which they consider wonderful.
The song is also about how a loving parent supports their child in achieving their dreams. They have confidence that their child will succeed.
12. Family, Dolly Parton
via Dolly Parton
“When it's family, you forgive them for they know not what they do. When it's family, they're a mirror of the worst and best in you. When it's family… let me be all that I should be to the family.”
If you’re looking for a great song to play at a family reunion, you might want to consider this track from Dolly Parton.
In this song, she sings about how family members can have different characteristics. Some may be pleasant, and you can get along fine with them. Others may be annoying, and their actions might be an embarrassment to the family.
Regardless, they are all part of the family. We accept them as they are.
13. These Are My People, Rodney Atkins
via Rodney Atkins
“But these are my people, this is where I come from. We're givin' this life everything we got and then some. It ain't always pretty, but it's real. It's the way we were made, wouldn't have it any other way. These are my people.”
We all come from different backgrounds, and some are less ideal than others.
This song is about being proud of one’s humble beginnings. Life may have been difficult, but you were likely helped along by friends who were as close as family.
14. Grandma's Hands, Bill Withers
via Bill Withers
“Grandma's hands used to hand me a piece of candy. Grandma's hands picked me up each time I fell. Grandma's hands, boy they really came in handy. She'd say, ‘Mattie, don't you whip that boy. He didn't drop no apple core.' But I don't have Grandma anymore. If I get to heaven I'll look for Grandma's hands.”
Looking for a song specifically written for grandmothers? Here’s one from Bill Withers.
In this song, we hear about a loving grandmother who was always there for her grandchild. When she passed, her grandson had sweet memories of her.
15. We Are Family, Sister Sledge
via Sister Sledge
“We are family. I got all my sisters with me. We are family. Get up everybody and sing. Everyone can see we're together as we walk on by. (And) we fly just like birds of a feather. I won't tell no lie. All of the people around us they say can they be that close. Just let me state for the record, we're giving love in a family dose.”
Sister Sledge was a musical group from the 1980s and was composed of sisters. We Are Family is one of their most popular songs. It celebrates the loving bond they share as sisters. It is a bond so strong that even the people around them can sense it.
Final Thoughts on Family Love
The ties that bind family members together are strong, even if we disagree sometimes. We still manage to band together if one of our own needs our support.
We hope that this collection of songs about family love can be a source of inspiration for you to love your family more.
If you can’t get enough of thematic song collections, here are a few more that you can check out:
- 25 Songs About Home (Leaving and Coming Back)
- 21 Songs About Belonging to a Community and Coming Together
- 21 Songs About Freedom and Living an Independent Life
- 21 Songs About Change and Starting a New Path in Life
- 27 Best Songs About Working Hard in Life
- 15 Songs About Acceptance of Others (and Yourself)
- 16 Best Songs About Unrequited Love
Finally, if you want to use these songs to make a lasting change to your life, then check out these 100 LIFE GOALS that can help you wake up each morning with a sense of enthusiasm about making progress toward what's important..
