45 Songs About Motherhood, From New Moms to Moms of Grown Kids

What is a good song about being a mom?

"The Mother" by Brandi Carlile, written for her daughter, is often called the most honest song about motherhood ever recorded. "Slipping Through My Fingers" by ABBA captures how fast it goes, and "In My Daughter's Eyes" by Martina McBride how a child changes the way a mother sees herself. For a new mom, "How Long Will I Love You" by Ellie Goulding is a gentle favorite.

Songs moms wrote about their children

1. "The Mother", Brandi Carlile: written for her daughter Evangeline, about everything a mother gives up and gains.
2. "Blue", Beyoncé: a love song to her daughter Blue Ivy.
3. "Protector", Beyoncé: about keeping her children safe.
4. "To Zion", Lauryn Hill: about choosing to have her son.
5. "The Sweetest Gift", Sade: a lullaby for her child.
6. "Lovin' You", Minnie Riperton: written partly as a lullaby for her daughter, Maya.
7. "Mother", Kacey Musgraves: a short, raw song about missing her mom and becoming one.
8. "Slipping Through My Fingers", ABBA: a mother watching her daughter leave for school.
9. "In My Daughter's Eyes", Martina McBride: how a daughter changes a mother.
10. "Never Grow Up", Taylor Swift: a wish to keep them small a little longer.
11. "Capri", Colbie Caillat: a mother's promise to her child.
12. "Lullaby", The Chicks: a soft question about how long you want to be loved.

Songs for new moms

13. "How Long Will I Love You", Ellie Goulding: a gentle forever song.
14. "You Cannot Lose My Love", Sara Groves: a mother's unconditional promise.
15. "In My Arms", Plumb: a lullaby every new mom understands.
16. "Godspeed (Sweet Dreams)", The Chicks: a bedtime blessing.
17. "(God Must Have Spent) A Little More Time on You", *NSYNC: often played in nurseries.
18. "Motherhood", JJ Heller: a quiet song about the everyday work of love.
19. "Hand to Hold", JJ Heller: a lullaby about always being there.
20. "Isn't She Lovely", Stevie Wonder: joy at a new arrival.

Songs about being a mom to a little boy

21. "Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy)", John Lennon: the song many moms sing to their sons.
22. "Slow Down", Nichole Nordeman: a mother asking her son's childhood to wait.
23. "You'll Be in My Heart", Phil Collins: a promise of protection.
24. "Simple Man", Lynyrd Skynyrd: a mother's advice to her son.
25. "Turn Around", Harry Belafonte: one minute small, the next grown.

Songs about motherhood being hard

26. "She Used to Be Mine", Sara Bareilles: from the musical Waitress, about missing who you were.
27. "You're Gonna Miss This", Trace Adkins: a reminder in the chaos.
28. "The Mom Song", Anita Renfroe: a whole day of mom instructions sung to the William Tell Overture.
29. "Rainbow", Kacey Musgraves: comfort when it feels like the storm will not end.
30. "Fight Song", Rachel Platten: for the days you need to keep going.
31. "I Hope You Dance", Lee Ann Womack: a mother's hopes, even on tired days.

Christian songs about motherhood

32. "Thy Will", Hillary Scott and The Scott Family: written after a miscarriage, about trust in a hard season.
33. "Mama's Song", Carrie Underwood: a daughter telling her mom she will be all right.
34. "Humble and Kind", Tim McGraw: written by Lori McKenna, a mom of five.

Songs about mothers, from their children

35. "A Song for Mama", Boyz II Men: the R&B thank-you to mom.
36. "Hey Mama", Kanye West: a son thanking the mother who believed in him first.
37. "Coat of Many Colors", Dolly Parton: about a coat her mother sewed from rags.
38. "The Best Day", Taylor Swift: childhood memories with her mom.
39. "Mama Liked the Roses", Elvis Presley: a tender tribute.
40. "Sweet DeAnn", Zach Bryan: written about his late mother.
41. "Mama", Spice Girls: a 90s thank-you to mom.
42. "Mother's Daughter", Miley Cyrus: about what a mother passes on.
43. "Mother", Meghan Trainor: a playful, confident tribute.
44. "Wind Beneath My Wings", Bette Midler: for the person who stood behind you.
45. "The House That Built Me", Miranda Lambert: a grown daughter going back to her childhood home.

R&B songs about motherhood

R&B has some of the most tender songs mothers wrote for their children: "Blue" by Beyoncé, "To Zion" by Lauryn Hill, "The Sweetest Gift" by Sade and "Lovin' You" by Minnie Riperton. From the other side, "A Song for Mama" by Boyz II Men is the classic thank-you to mom.

Pop songs about motherhood

For a pop playlist, "Never Grow Up", "Slipping Through My Fingers", "Capri", "How Long Will I Love You" and "Mother's Daughter" cover the whole arc from newborn to grown daughter.

Songs for a single mom

For the mom doing it on her own, choose songs about strength and gratitude: "A Song for Mama", "Fight Song", "Rainbow", "Mama's Song" and "Wind Beneath My Wings". Sent by a grown child, one of these with a single line of thanks often means more than any gift.

Songs about becoming a mom for the first time

The first weeks are a blur of joy and no sleep. "How Long Will I Love You", "In My Arms", "You Cannot Lose My Love" and "Isn't She Lovely" capture the wonder, while "She Used to Be Mine" is there for the moments a new mom misses her old self. A friend sending one with a meal and a note is a gift she will remember.

Songs about motherhood for a slideshow

For a baby shower, a first birthday or a Mother's Day video, open with "How Long Will I Love You" over the pregnancy photos, move to "Beautiful Boy" or "Isn't She Lovely" for the baby pictures and close with "Slipping Through My Fingers" for the most recent ones. Three songs of three minutes each cover about 150 photos.

Songs for a mom on Mother's Day

From a partner, "In My Daughter's Eyes", "The Mother" or "You Cannot Lose My Love" say "I see what you do". From grown children, "A Song for Mama", "Hey Mama" or "The Best Day" say thank you. Ideas for the gift itself are in our guide to what to give for Mother's Day.

How to use these songs

• Send one to a new mom in the first weeks with a note that she is doing great.
• Make a playlist for the 3 a.m. feeds: soft, slow and familiar.
• Play one at the baby shower while guests write wishes for the baby.
• Save one for later: a song from the first year becomes a gift at the 18th birthday.

A song about her own motherhood

All of these songs are about someone else's family. A personalized song can be about hers: the day each child was born, the nicknames, the first steps, the late nights and the small rituals that only your family has. It is a moving Mother's Day, baby shower or birthday gift, and one she will play for the kids when they are grown. See our guides to a Mother's Day song for a new mom, a Mother's Day song for mom and a new baby song for mom.

How to create a song about motherhood

1. Choose a style from 14 genres: acoustic, pop, country, lullaby-style ballad and more.
2. Add her name and up to two children's names.
3. Share three moments from her motherhood, 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 her a song about the mom she is: create her song and hear four previews for free.