2021 High School Graduation Songs Guaranteed to Make You Cry

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 are looking to make a video or create a graduation playlist for your end of year grad party, here are our suggestions. Are are 15 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.”

Matt Simons – You Can Come Back Home


Best Line: “Today we say goodbye so you can come back home again.”

Here are more graduation ideas you may love:

High School Graduation Gifts for Him- He Will Love These!

21 Absolutely Fabulous High School Graduation Gifts for Her

Graduation Party Ideas: How to Celebrate for Your Senior’s Big Day

About Grown and Flown

Mary Dell Harrington and Lisa (Endlich) Heffernan are the co-founders of Grown and Flown the #1 site for parents of teens, college students and young adults, reaching millions of parents every month. They are writers (Lisa is a New York Times bestselling author), moms, wives and friends. They started the Grown and Flown Parents Facebook Group and are co-authors of Grown and Flown: How to Support Your Teen, Stay Close as a Family, and Raise Independent Adults (Flatiron Books) now in paperback.

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