2024 High School Graduation Songs Guaranteed to Make You Cry

by Lisa Endlich Heffernan | November 10, 2023

Three notes into Pomp and Circumstance, and I was a sobbing mess. The iconic high school graduation song can reduce any parent to tears. But we went looking for more modern versions of this timeless tear-jerker, and here are the graduation songs we found.

If you want to make a video or create a graduation playlist for your end-of-year grad party, here are our suggestions: 18 more great ideas for graduation songs.

Here are Our Favorite Graduation Songs

Anna Kendrick – Cups (Pitch Perfect’s “When I’m Gone”)

Best Line: “You’re gonna miss me when I’m gone.” Does it get more wrenching than that?

Fun – We Are Young

Best Line: The chorus “We are young. So let’s set the world on fire. We can burn brighter than the sun”

Graduation (Friends Forever) – Vitamin C HD

Best Line: “As we go on, we remember. All the times we had together. And as our lives change, come whatever. We will still be friends forever.” This one had me crying just putting this together; I defy you to listen dry-eyed.

Tim McGraw – Humble And Kind

Best Line: “I know you got mountains to climb but always stay humble and kind.”

Give Me Freedom Give Me Fire by K’naan- Anthem of FIFA World Cup 2010 South Africa

Best Line: “Staying forever young, singin’ songs underneath the sun.” A song to get everyone on their feet.

Jason Mraz – 93 Million Miles

Best Line: ” ‘She told me, “Son, in life you’re gonna go far, and if you do it right, you’ll love where you are. Just know, that wherever you go, you can always come home.’ “

Alphaville – Forever Young

Best line: “It’s so hard to get old without a cause. I don’t want to perish like a fading horse. Youth’s like diamonds in the sun, And diamonds are forever.”