Graduation day is a big event, no matter if it’s your middle school, high school, or college graduation. The song you play at graduation will be a song that you will remember for the rest of your life. Here’s 10 songs to choose from, and 10 you won’t be disappointed in.
10. School’s Out – Alice Cooper Every year of school I would always wishfully think of a way into the school’s office and find a way to put this song on the intercom. Well, it never happened, but it’s still a neat idea to have. This song is a very cliché, but on a list of songs about graduation, c’mon, how can this one be left out?
9. Graduation Day – Chris Isaak
I’m not a huge fan of this song honestly, but it’s still a good song for a graduation. It’s a country song, so some smaller towns (especially those in the South) may have a soft spot in their heart for this song. I don’t have too much to say about this one, and that’s one of the reasons it’s near the beginning of the list. It’s worth a listen if you like country, or if you’re looking to fill a graduation playlist with a slower finishing song.
8. Graduation Day – Kanye West
Consecutive songs named “Graduation Day”! Before I go any further, I’ve got to admit, this song should NOT be played at any graduation under that of college level. Even then, handle it with some caution. I’d recommend this song for a get-together with friends rather than an official school function. This song is a great candidate for a mix-tape when you’re together with some (college-level!) friends.
This song was a tremendous ending to the Breakfast Club, and it’s a terrific ending to a school career. This song will be sure to touch everyone’s heart, especially any movie buffs out there who have seen the Breakfast Club. Because the lyrics don’t pertain to a graduation I had to put it a little higher on the list than I would have liked to. Still, it’s a great song and you should definitely check it out.
6. Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) – Green Day
The title of the song may seem counterintuitive to the graduation theme (or, maybe not), but the grade above me in school had this as their class song for four years, and almost everyone seemed to enjoy it. This song has seen quite a bit of radio play since its release (although it has slowed down), so if you’re looking for something “unique” this may not be up your alley. This is also one of the songs that fits well into a middle school graduation… definitely worth the listen.
5. You’re Gonna Miss This – Trace Adkins
Growing up in a small Texas town, country music is the norm, so it’s common to see plenty of high schools around my hometown with this song. However, if you’re not familiar with country music, this one is worth the listen. The lyrics “You’re gonna miss this, You’re gonna want this back, You’re gonna wish these days, Hadn’t gone by so fast” speak true to all graduates, and will one day ring true for any to-be graduates.
I had nearly forgotten this one until a friend reminded me of this song. This song just screams graduation, particularly high school and college graduations. This song may have seen more radio time than Green Day’s “Good Riddance”, but it has to be in consideration for a graduation song. The chorus of the song “Look at this photograph, every time I do it makes me laugh” just grows truer and truer with every memory.
3. Graduation (Friends Forever) – Vitamin C
A funny side note aside from this article, I just happened to stumble upon this song within the past week. Too bad I hadn’t heard it before my high school graduation, because it’s got great lyrics for a graduation. I’m not crazy about the music, but the lyrics are an A+ in terms of graduation. Put this one high on your final list of songs for
graduation.
2. Here’s To the Night – Eve 6
Here’s to Eve 6 for writing this song because it’s absolutely great. I don’t know whether or not they intended this for graduation or not, but I do know they made a great song. The video (which is personally one of my favorite videos ever) even captures that “graduation night” feeling. It’s a little on the slower side, but that even makes it a little more “graduation-esque”. Breaking off a bit from the graduation theme, this is also a great song to play at camps, summer trips, etc. Make sure you check out this song and put it on the ballot for your school’s graduation committee. It was hard for me to not put this at number one so make sure you check this one out for sure.
Finally, number one on the list! When our high school graduating class of 2009 picked this for our graduation song, I wasn’t exactly thrilled. In hindsight though, I’m starting to realize that it wasn’t a bad choice in all. In fact, it was a very good song to pick. It’s got a “folky” sound to it, and it’s a slower song, so expect the tears to flow. The lyrics summarize much of high school (especially coming from a small Texas town), but towards the end is where you find the real nugget of the song. I very highly recommend this song for graduation.
“It’s been a lonely winding journey,
and we’ve lost a few along the way.
Still we’ve hung in there through the tribulations,
now it’s time to celebrate.
It’s our graduation day.”
All lyrics gathered from Artists.letssingit.com
All songs can be purchased off Itunes
