45 Songs About Peace, from Imagine to Where Is the Love

What is the most famous song about peace?

"Imagine" by John Lennon is the most famous song about peace, a gentle vision of a world without division that is sung at memorials and celebrations around the globe. "Give Peace a Chance" became the anthem of the 1960s peace movement, and "Peace Train" by Cat Stevens is a favorite hopeful sing-along.

Classic peace songs

1. "Imagine", John Lennon: the world's best-known song about peace.
2. "Give Peace a Chance", Plastic Ono Band: recorded during a 1969 "bed-in" for peace in Montreal.
3. "Peace Train", Cat Stevens: a hopeful 1971 hit.
4. "All You Need Is Love", The Beatles: first performed for a worldwide TV broadcast in 1967.
5. "Get Together", The Youngbloods: a gentle call to love one another.
6. "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding", Elvis Costello and the Attractions: a punchy Nick Lowe song.
7. "One Love", Bob Marley and the Wailers: a reggae anthem of unity.
8. "Love Train", The O'Jays: a joyful soul song about people coming together.
9. "Peaceful Easy Feeling", Eagles: a laid-back country-rock favorite.

Protest and anti-war songs

10. "Blowin' in the Wind", Bob Dylan: the questions every generation asks about war.
11. "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?", Pete Seeger: a folk song about the cycle of war.
12. "Universal Soldier", Buffy Sainte-Marie: a 1964 song about who is responsible for war.
13. "I Ain't Marching Anymore", Phil Ochs: a protest anthem of the 60s.
14. "War", Edwin Starr: a fierce 1970 number one.
15. "What's Going On", Marvin Gaye: a soulful plea for understanding.
16. "Sunday Bloody Sunday", U2: a cry against violence in Northern Ireland.
17. "Zombie", The Cranberries: a haunting response to the Troubles.
18. "99 Luftballons", Nena: a German pop hit about a war that starts by mistake.
19. "Russians", Sting: a Cold War song about our shared humanity.
20. "Wind of Change", Scorpions: a song inspired by the end of the Cold War.

Songs about world peace and unity

21. "Let There Be Peace on Earth", Jill Jackson and Sy Miller: a 1955 song sung in schools and churches everywhere.
22. "Ebony and Ivory", Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder: a call for racial harmony.
23. "Heal the World", Michael Jackson: a song about making the world better for children.
24. "Man in the Mirror", Michael Jackson: change begins with each of us.
25. "Pride (In the Name of Love)", U2: a tribute to Martin Luther King Jr.
26. "People Get Ready", The Impressions: a civil rights era song of hope.
27. "A Change Is Gonna Come", Sam Cooke: a soulful promise of a better day.
28. "Where Is the Love?", Black Eyed Peas: a 2003 hit asking why the world cannot get along.
29. "Waiting on the World to Change", John Mayer: a gentle song about hope and patience.

Christmas songs about peace

30. "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)", John Lennon and Yoko Ono: a holiday song with a peace message.
31. "Peace on Earth / Little Drummer Boy", Bing Crosby and David Bowie: an unlikely 1977 duet.
32. "Silent Night", traditional: the carol famously sung by soldiers during the 1914 Christmas truce.
33. "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day", Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: a poem about peace, written during the Civil War.

Songs about inner peace

34. "Let It Be", The Beatles: finding calm in hard times.
35. "Three Little Birds", Bob Marley and the Wailers: a cheerful song about letting go of worry.
36. "Here Comes the Sun", The Beatles: relief after a long winter.
37. "Weightless", Marconi Union: an ambient piece made to help listeners relax.
38. "Breathe (2 AM)", Anna Nalick: a song about taking a moment to breathe.
39. "Peace Like a River", Paul Simon: a quiet song about holding on.

Hymns and faith songs about peace

40. "It Is Well with My Soul", Horatio Spafford: a hymn of peace written after great loss.
41. "Peace in the Valley", Thomas A. Dorsey: a gospel classic recorded by Elvis Presley.
42. "Make Me a Channel of Your Peace", Sebastian Temple: based on the Prayer of Saint Francis.
43. "Dona Nobis Pacem", traditional: a simple Latin round meaning "grant us peace".
44. "Peace Like a River", traditional spiritual: a children's favorite in many churches.
45. "Shalom Chaverim", traditional: a Hebrew round wishing peace to friends.

Peace songs from around the world

Many cultures have their own songs of peace. "Dona Nobis Pacem" is a Latin round sung in schools and churches, "Shalom Chaverim" is a Hebrew round that wishes peace to friends and "Kumbaya", an African American spiritual, became a campfire song of togetherness. "We Shall Overcome", rooted in gospel hymns, became the anthem of the American civil rights movement and has been sung at peaceful protests around the world.

Peace songs by decade

• 1960s: "Blowin' in the Wind", "All You Need Is Love" and "Give Peace a Chance" defined the era's peace movement.
• 1970s: "Imagine", "Peace Train", "What's Going On" and "One Love" carried the message into soul, pop and reggae.
• 1980s: "Sunday Bloody Sunday", "Ebony and Ivory", "Russians" and "99 Luftballons" reflected the Cold War and conflicts of the time.
• 1990s: "Wind of Change", "Heal the World" and "Zombie" responded to a changing world.
• 2000s: "Where Is the Love?" and "Waiting on the World to Change" brought peace songs to a new generation.

Why do so many songs call for peace?

Songs can say what speeches cannot. During the civil rights movement and the Vietnam War, folk, soul and rock musicians turned their worries about violence and injustice into songs millions could sing together. A simple chorus can carry a big idea across borders and generations, which is why "Imagine" and "Blowin' in the Wind" still feel urgent today.

The story behind Imagine

John Lennon recorded "Imagine" in 1971 at his home studio in England, playing a white piano. He later said the lyrics were inspired by poems from Yoko Ono's book Grapefruit, and in 2017 she was officially credited as a co-writer. The song has been performed at the Olympics and at countless memorials and New Year celebrations around the world.

The story behind Give Peace a Chance

In 1969 John Lennon and Yoko Ono spent a week in bed at a hotel in Montreal, inviting reporters in to talk about peace. On the last days they recorded "Give Peace a Chance" in the hotel room with friends and visitors singing along. Within months, crowds at anti-war rallies were singing the chorus together.

Songs about peace for the International Day of Peace

The United Nations celebrates the International Day of Peace every year on September 21. Schools and communities often mark it with "Imagine", "Let There Be Peace on Earth", "Heal the World" and "Where Is the Love?", sung by choirs or played during a moment of silence.

Peace songs for kids and school programs

For children, choose songs with simple, hopeful messages: "Let There Be Peace on Earth", "Dona Nobis Pacem", "Heal the World", "Three Little Birds" and "Peace Like a River" are easy to learn and lovely in a group. For holiday programs, see our Christmas songs for kids.

Peace songs for Martin Luther King Jr. Day

"Pride (In the Name of Love)", "People Get Ready" and "A Change Is Gonna Come" are moving choices for an MLK Day service or classroom. See our Black History Month songs for more songs about civil rights and unity.

Songs about peace for a memorial or funeral

For a service, peace songs offer comfort without sadness. "It Is Well with My Soul", "Peace in the Valley", "Make Me a Channel of Your Peace" and "Imagine" are common choices. See our Christian funeral songs for more hymns.

Peace songs for Veterans Day and Memorial Day

On days that honor those who served, peace songs remind us what the sacrifice was for. "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?", "Blowin' in the Wind" and "Let There Be Peace on Earth" are thoughtful additions to a ceremony. See our Veterans Day songs for more.

Using peace songs in the classroom

Peace songs are a gentle way to start conversations about kindness, conflict and community. Teachers often pair "Imagine" or "Where Is the Love?" with a writing activity about what a peaceful world would look like, teach "Dona Nobis Pacem" as a round to show how voices can work together or ask students to illustrate a line from a song of their choice. Younger children enjoy "Let There Be Peace on Earth" with simple hand motions.

Songs about peace and love for a wedding

For a wedding with a message of harmony, "All You Need Is Love" makes a joyful recessional, "One Love" and "Love Train" bring everyone to the dance floor and "Make Me a Channel of Your Peace" is a moving choice for a church ceremony.

Songs for a calm, peaceful day

For a quiet morning, a meditation or a slow evening at home, build a playlist of "Let It Be", "Here Comes the Sun", "Weightless", "Three Little Birds" and "Peaceful Easy Feeling". For more uplifting music, see our songs about hope, and for the group behind "Where Is the Love?", our Black Eyed Peas songs.

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