40 Songs About Kindness, Compassion and Helping Others

What is a song that represents kindness?

"Humble and Kind" by Tim McGraw is the song most people connect with kindness: a list of simple advice for living well. "Treat People with Kindness" by Harry Styles says it in the title, and "Try a Little Kindness" by Glen Campbell is the classic. For helping others, "Lean on Me" by Bill Withers is the one everyone knows.

Songs about being kind

1. "Humble and Kind", Tim McGraw: advice for a good life.
2. "Treat People with Kindness", Harry Styles: a joyful, gospel-tinged anthem.
3. "Try a Little Kindness", Glen Campbell: the 1969 classic.
4. "Hands", Jewel: about doing good with what you have.
5. "Be Kind", Marshmello and Halsey: a modern pop plea.
6. "Put a Little Love in Your Heart", Jackie DeShannon: a 60s call for kindness.
7. "What the World Needs Now Is Love", Jackie DeShannon: the Bacharach classic.
8. "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding", Elvis Costello: a rock plea for decency.
9. "Give a Little Bit", Supertramp: about sharing what you can.
10. "Kind and Generous", Natalie Merchant: a thank-you to someone kind.
11. "What a Wonderful World", Louis Armstrong: seeing the good around you.
12. "People Help the People", Birdy: a gentle reminder to help.

Songs about helping others

13. "Lean on Me", Bill Withers: we all need someone.
14. "With a Little Help from My Friends", The Beatles: getting by together.
15. "Bridge Over Troubled Water", Simon & Garfunkel: being there in hard times.
16. "Stand by Me", Ben E. King: loyalty in a song.
17. "You've Got a Friend", Carole King: a promise to be there.
18. "Hello in There", John Prine: about noticing lonely older people.
19. "If Everyone Cared", Nickelback: what could change if we all did.
20. "Hey Brother", Avicii: always there for family.

Songs about kindness and love for the world

21. "Man in the Mirror", Michael Jackson: change starts with you.
22. "Heal the World", Michael Jackson: a song for a kinder world.
23. "Where Is the Love?", Black Eyed Peas: asking a hard question.
24. "Imagine", John Lennon: hope for a better world.
25. "One Love", Bob Marley: unity and peace.
26. "Get Together", The Youngbloods: the 60s anthem of unity.
27. "Love Train", The O'Jays: a joyful call to come together.

Kindness songs for kids and school

28. "You've Got a Friend in Me", Randy Newman: friendship first.
29. "Count on Me", Bruno Mars: being there for friends.
30. "We're All in This Together", from High School Musical: teamwork.
31. "Colors of the Wind", from Pocahontas: respect for others.
32. "The More We Get Together": a simple classroom song.
33. "Make New Friends": the traditional round about old and new friends.
34. "Try Everything", Shakira: being brave and supportive.

Christian songs about kindness

35. "Do Something", Matthew West: about acting instead of waiting.
36. "Love One Another": a simple song many churches sing with children.
37. "Goodness of God", Bethel Music: gratitude for kindness received.
38. "Hands and Feet", Audio Adrenaline: about serving others.
39. "The Servant Song": a hymn about helping one another.
40. "Jesus Loves Me": the first song of love many children learn.

Pop songs about kindness

Modern pop has plenty of kindness anthems: "Treat People with Kindness", "Be Kind", "Count on Me" and "Hey Brother" are easy to add to a playlist for teens. Pair them with the classics so every generation hears something it knows.

Rock songs about kindness

Rock fans can start with "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding", "Give a Little Bit" and "If Everyone Cared", then add "Man in the Mirror" as a crossover favorite. These work well for a charity event or a volunteer day.

Songs for World Kindness Day

World Kindness Day is celebrated on November 13. Schools and workplaces often mark it with a playlist, a kindness challenge or a thank-you note campaign. "Humble and Kind", "Treat People with Kindness", "Lean on Me" and "We're All in This Together" are the favorites for the day.

Kindness songs for the classroom

Teachers often pair a song with a short activity: after "Count on Me", students write one way they can help a classmate; after "Humble and Kind", they talk about one kind thing someone did for them. For teacher appreciation, see our songs for teachers.

How to thank someone who was kind to you

• Be specific: name what they did and how it helped.
• Pay it forward: do something kind for someone else and tell them.
• Send a song: one of the songs above, with a short note.

More ideas are in our list of thank-you songs.

A song about someone's kindness

For a neighbor, a teacher, a nurse or a friend who showed up when it mattered, a personalized song can tell the story of their kindness: their name, what they did and what it meant to you. It is a thank-you they will never forget, and one they can share with the people who know them.

How to create a thank-you song

1. Choose a style from 14 genres: acoustic, country, pop and more.
2. Add their name.
3. Share what they did and how it made a difference.
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.

Thank someone for their kindness with a song: create a song and hear four previews for free.