35 Songs About Brothers, From Classic Anthems to Songs About Losing a Brother

What is a good song to dedicate to your brother?

"He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" by The Hollies is the classic: a song about carrying someone because they are family. For something modern, "Brother" by Kodaline and "Hey Brother" by Avicii are the most shared. And for a brother who has passed, "I Drive Your Truck" by Lee Brice and "Over You" by Miranda Lambert are among the most moving songs ever written about losing one.

Classic songs about brothers

1. "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother", The Hollies: the brotherhood anthem, later covered by Neil Diamond.
2. "Brothers in Arms", Dire Straits: about the bond of people who went through hard times together.
3. "My Brother's Keeper", The Neville Brothers: from a family band that lived it.
4. "Brothers Under the Sun", Bryan Adams: brotherhood that crosses every border.
5. "He Was My Brother", Simon & Garfunkel: an early song about a friend who was as close as family.
6. "Lean on Me", Bill Withers: what brothers do for each other.
7. "Stand by Me", Ben E. King: a promise to be there.
8. "Ain't No Mountain High Enough", Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell: nothing will keep you apart.

Modern songs about brothers

9. "Brother", Kodaline: about always having each other's back.
10. "Hey Brother", Avicii: a promise to a brother, with a verse for a sister too.
11. "Brother", NEEDTOBREATHE featuring Gavin DeGraw: about showing up for each other.
12. "Brother", Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros: warm, loose and full of love.
13. "Count on Me", Bruno Mars: a simple promise between siblings.
14. "See You Again", Wiz Khalifa featuring Charlie Puth: a tribute about friends who became family.
15. "Brother", Alice in Chains: a raw acoustic song written by Jerry Cantrell about his brother.
16. "Brother, My Brother", Blessid Union of Souls: about friendship that becomes brotherhood.

Country songs about brothers

17. "I Drive Your Truck", Lee Brice: inspired by a family who lost a son and brother in Afghanistan.
18. "Over You", Miranda Lambert: written with Blake Shelton about losing his older brother.
19. "Go Rest High on That Mountain", Vince Gill: begun after the death of his brother.
20. "Love Without End, Amen", George Strait: family love passed down between brothers and sons.
21. "The Best Day", George Strait: days you remember forever.
22. "Remember When", Alan Jackson: memories of growing up together.

Hip-hop songs about brotherhood

23. "They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)", Pete Rock and C.L. Smooth: a tribute to a friend who was like a brother.
24. "Big Brother", Kanye West: about his relationship with Jay-Z, a big brother in the business (clean edit recommended).
25. "I'll Be Missing You", Puff Daddy and Faith Evans: for a brother in spirit who is gone.
26. "Just the Two of Us", Will Smith: a family bond song, here for a big brother and a little one.

Songs for a brother and sister

27. "We Are Family", Sister Sledge: the sibling anthem.
28. "Come Dancing", The Kinks: Ray Davies remembering his older sister.
29. "No Way Out", Phil Collins, from Brother Bear: about a brother's regret and the hope of forgiveness.
30. "You've Got a Friend in Me", Randy Newman: the friendship every sibling pair grows into.
31. "Little Sister", Elvis Presley: rock and roll about siblings.
32. "Are You Sleeping, Brother John?": the round that older siblings sing to wake up younger ones.

Songs about losing a brother

33. "Tears in Heaven", Eric Clapton: about meeting again.
34. "Hallelujah", Leonard Cohen or Jeff Buckley: a reflective moment at a service.
35. "Wish You Were Here", Pink Floyd: missing someone who is no longer around.

Together with "I Drive Your Truck", "Over You" and "Go Rest High on That Mountain" above, these are the songs families choose most often to remember a brother.

Songs about brothers' love

Brothers rarely say "I love you" out loud, which is exactly why these songs work: "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother", "Brother" by Kodaline, "Lean on Me" and "Count on Me" all say it for you. Send one after a long time apart, or play it at a family gathering when everyone is finally in the same room.

Songs for brothers in the military

For a brother who serves, or brothers who served together, "Brothers in Arms" by Dire Straits, "I Drive Your Truck" by Lee Brice and "Arlington" by Trace Adkins are the songs most often played at homecomings, deployments and memorials. Many families add "Taps" at a military service.

Rock songs about brothers

For a rock fan, start with "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" and "Brothers in Arms", then add "Brother" by Alice in Chains, "Brothers Under the Sun" by Bryan Adams and "Wish You Were Here". It is a short playlist that covers loyalty, distance and loss.

Songs for your brother's wedding

At a brother's wedding, the best man or a sibling can add a short tribute with a song: "Brother" by Kodaline, "Count on Me", "Stand by Me" or "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" under a slideshow of the two of you growing up. Keep it to one song and three or four photos per minute.

Songs for your brother's birthday

For his birthday, choose a song from the year you shared a room, or one you both screamed in the car on family trips. Send it with a photo from back then. Ideas for the gift itself are in our guide to the best birthday gift for a brother.

Songs about brothers growing up

For brothers who shared a bunk bed and a bike, songs about childhood fit best: "Remember When", "The Best Day", "Stand by Me" and "Count on Me" bring back the backyard, the fights and the making up. For an older brother who looked out for you, add "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother".

How do you dedicate a song to your brother?

• Keep it casual. Most brothers prefer a text with the song and one line over a speech.
• Use a shared memory. "This was on when we drove to the lake in '09" lands every time.
• Pick his music. A rap fan will feel "Big Brother" more than a ballad.
• Do not wait. The songs about losing a brother are a reminder to say it now.

A song written about your brother

Every song above is about someone else's brother. A personalized song can be about yours: the nickname, the shared bedroom, the fights over the TV remote, the time he had your back, and the man he became. It is a birthday, wedding or just-because gift he will not see coming. See our guides to a birthday song for your brother and a memorial song for a brother, and our list of songs about sisters.

How to create a song for your brother

1. Choose a style from 14 genres: rock, country, hip-hop, acoustic and more.
2. Add his name, or what you call him.
3. Share three memories, each with one concrete detail.
4. Review the lyrics and edit or regenerate them for free before any music is made.
5. Listen to 4 free 45-second previews and choose your favorite.

The full 3 to 4 minute song costs $24.99, or $29.99 for Premium with four full versions and editable lyrics. You get the MP3, a gift page and the lyrics as a PDF.

Give your brother a song about the two of you: create his song and hear four previews for free.