45 Thank You Songs for Friends, Parents, Teachers and Everyone Who Helped

What is the best song to say thank you?

For a friend, "Thank You for Being a Friend" by Andrew Gold is the classic. For a parent or mentor, "Wind Beneath My Wings" by Bette Midler and "You Raise Me Up" by Josh Groban are the songs people choose most. For something lighter and modern, "Thank U" by Alanis Morissette or "Grateful" by Rita Ora. The best choice is the one that sounds like the person you are thanking.

Classic thank you songs

1. "Thank You for Being a Friend", Andrew Gold: the 1978 song later made famous by The Golden Girls.
2. "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)", Sly and the Family Stone: a funk classic about gratitude for being yourself.
3. "I Thank You", Sam & Dave: a joyful soul thank-you.
4. "Thank You", Led Zeppelin: Robert Plant's tender love-and-thanks song.
5. "Thank You Friends", Big Star: a warm, slightly wry thank-you to everyone around.
6. "Thank You for the Music", ABBA: gratitude for the songs that carried you.
7. "Thanks for the Memory", Bob Hope and Shirley Ross: the 1938 standard, later recorded by Anita O'Day and many others.
8. "In My Life", The Beatles: thanks to the people and places that shaped you.
9. "With a Little Help from My Friends", The Beatles: for the friends who got you through.
10. "Lean on Me", Bill Withers: a thank-you and a promise in one.
11. "You've Got a Friend", Carole King or James Taylor: for the person who always shows up.
12. "To Sir with Love", Lulu: the classic thank-you to a teacher.

Modern thank you songs

13. "Thank U", Alanis Morissette: gratitude even for the hard lessons.
14. "Thank You", Dido: a quiet thank-you to someone who makes a bad day better.
15. "Grateful", Rita Ora: a song about appreciating how far you have come.
16. "Thank You Song", FKA twigs: gratitude after a dark time.
17. "A Moment Like This", Kelly Clarkson: thankfulness for a once-in-a-lifetime moment.
18. "Thank You", Celine Dion: a grateful ballad to the people who believed in her.
19. "Thank U, Next", Ariana Grande: a playful thank-you to the past.
20. "Count on Me", Bruno Mars: for the friend who never let you down.
21. "Teachers", Daft Punk: a shout-out list of the artists who taught them.
22. "Praise You", Fatboy Slim: big, joyful appreciation.

Thank you songs to a parent

23. "Wind Beneath My Wings", Bette Midler: for the person who stood behind you.
24. "You Raise Me Up", Josh Groban: about the people who lift you higher than you could go alone.
25. "Because You Loved Me", Celine Dion: thanks to the person who made you stronger.
26. "A Song for Mama", Boyz II Men: the R&B thank-you to mom.
27. "Hey Mama", Kanye West: a son thanking the mother who believed in him first.
28. "Thank God for Kids", The Oak Ridge Boys: gratitude from the parent's side.
29. "Thank You for Loving Me", Bon Jovi: for a parent or a partner who stayed.

R&B and soul thank you songs

30. "Thank God I Found You", Mariah Carey: grateful for the person who changed everything.
31. "Lovely Day", Bill Withers: thankful for the person who makes the day.
32. "Ain't No Mountain High Enough", Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell: thanks for always being there.
33. "I'll Be There", The Jackson 5: a promise in return for everything you were given.

Country thank you songs

34. "Thank God", Kane Brown and Katelyn Brown: a husband and wife thanking God for each other.
35. "Thankful For", Adam Sanders: a simple list of what really matters.
36. "Thank God I'm a Country Boy", John Denver: gratitude, fiddle included.
37. "Humble and Kind", Tim McGraw: a reminder to say thanks along the way.
38. "My Wish", Rascal Flatts: wishing back the good things someone gave you.

Christian and gospel songs of thanks

39. "Grateful", Hezekiah Walker: a gospel song of thanks.
40. "Give Thanks", Don Moen: a worship classic.
41. "10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)", Matt Redman: gratitude for every day.
42. "Goodness of God", Bethel Music: thanks for faithfulness through every season.
43. "Count Your Blessings (Instead of Sheep)", Bing Crosby: the gentle classic from White Christmas.
44. "Thankful", Josh Groban: a quiet song about counting what you have.
45. "How Great Thou Art": the hymn of thanksgiving sung in churches everywhere.

Songs to thank a friend

For a friend who showed up when it counted, "Thank You for Being a Friend", "Lean on Me", "You've Got a Friend", "Count on Me" and "With a Little Help from My Friends" are the go-to picks. Send the song with one line about the specific moment you are thanking them for. More picks in our list of songs about best friends.

Songs to thank a teacher or coach

For the end of the school year, a retirement or a graduation, "To Sir with Love", "You Raise Me Up", "Wind Beneath My Wings" and "Teachers" all fit. A class can record a short video of everyone singing the chorus, which teachers keep for years. For the gift side, see the best thank-you gift for a teacher and the best thank-you gift for a coach.

Gratitude songs for Thanksgiving

For the Thanksgiving table, mix the gratitude classics with songs everyone can sing: "Thank You for Being a Friend", "Lean on Me", "Lovely Day", "Count Your Blessings" and, for church families, "Give Thanks" or "Goodness of God". Let each person at the table pick one song for the playlist and say who they would dedicate it to.

Songs to thank nurses, caregivers and first responders

For the people who look after others for a living, "Hero" by Mariah Carey, "You Raise Me Up", "Lean on Me" and "Wind Beneath My Wings" say thanks without being heavy. For a nurse who cared for a family member, a card with the song title and a single sentence about what they did is often kept on a staff-room wall.

Songs to thank a boss or coworker

At work, keep it light and professional: "Thank You for Being a Friend" for a colleague who is leaving, "Lean on Me" for a team that pulled through a hard project, "With a Little Help from My Friends" for a retirement slideshow. For a boss or mentor who opened a door for you, "You Raise Me Up" or "Teachers" says it with a smile. See our list of retirement songs for farewell parties.

How do you say thank you with a song?

• Be specific. "Thank you for driving me to every practice for six years" beats "thanks for everything".
• Pick their kind of music. A country fan will feel it more in a country song.
• Do it unprompted. A thank-you on an ordinary day lands harder than on a holiday.
• Keep it short. One song, one line, then let it play.

A thank you song written for them

All of these songs thank someone else. A personalized thank-you song can name the person and the things they did: the late-night phone calls, the advice that turned out to be right, the casserole on the doorstep, the second chance. It is a way to say the things people usually only say at retirements and funerals, while they can still hear it. See our guides to a thank-you song for mom, a thank-you song for a teacher and how to thank someone who changed your life.

How to create a thank you song

1. Choose a style from 14 genres: soul, country, acoustic, gospel-inspired and more.
2. Add the name of the person you are thanking.
3. Share three things they did for you, 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.

Say thank you in a way they will never forget: create a thank you song and hear four previews for free.