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Looking for gratitude songs that you can use to make your loved ones happy?
Gratitude is a value we should all have. When you’re grateful, you make the people around you feel more loved and appreciated. Gratitude is your way of telling others that they play an important part in your life.
One unique way to show your feelings is through songs. Dedicating or singing a song to someone can be just as valuable as material gifts.
This article features 31 gratitude songs that can help you show how much you value another person’s affection and efforts. We have picked these songs based on their lyrics and melody, and how they can help make someone happy.
Let’s check our playlist!
1. Thank You, Dido
“And even if I'm there, they'll all imply that I might not last the day, and then you call me and it's not so bad, it's not so bad.”
This is one of the most popular songs from Dido, along with White Flag and Here with Me. It brings us the story of a person who, despite being luckless and miserable, still feels happy because of the presence of another.
While it may sound like a love song on the surface, it is also a song of gratitude that you can sing to your loved ones without any romantic intentions. You can dedicate it to your parents, siblings, and even closest friends.
2. Kind & Generous, Natalie Merchant
“For your kindness, I'm in debt to you. And I never could have come this far without you.”
Some people in our lives are naturally kind and generous, and this is a great song to show them how much you appreciate them.
Dedicate this song to someone you truly love, respect, and admire. Sing it to them to show how thankful you are for having them in your life.
3. Thank You, Keith Urban
“I don't know how you found me. All I know is I owe you everything to you.”
Singer-songwriter Keith Urban originally wrote this song for his beloved wife, Nicole Kidman, while reminiscing about the early stages of their marriage. He says that it was a gift to Nicole for sticking with him through thick and thin, even when he struggled with substance abuse.
Keith Urban said, “I really feel that I have been given a life by someone who's loved me in a way I've never been loved before. This was my way of saying ‘Thank you.’”
4. Thankful, Kelly Clarkson
“When I didn't think that I could go on but you made me feel strong, with you I am never alone.”
Thankful is the ninth song on Kelly Clarkson’s debut studio album, which bears the same name. It was released right after winning the first American Idol competition. In a way, it is an expression of her gratitude to everyone who supported her journey.
5. Thank You, Sly & The Family Stone
“Youth and truth are makin' love, dig it for a starter. Dyin' young is hard to take, sellin' out is harder. Thank you falettinme be mice elf agin (for letting me be myself again).”
The original title of this song is “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)”—a tricky way of saying “thank you for letting me be myself again.” A few of the verses show the band’s desire to thank their fans, friends, and loved ones for their support given.
6. Thank You, Celine Dion
“For the real sacrifice and the truth behind your giving heart, and how you'd never judge or faulted me, helped me 'cause you wanted to.”
This song from Celine Dion is both a statement of gratitude and admiration. If you check out the lyrics, they show how the singer is determined to tell how much she cherishes the other person. It is clearly a song of love and respect.
If you are looking for a great song to dedicate to your parents, best friend, or special someone, this is a good option.
7. Gratitude, Earth, Wind, and Fire
“We just wanna give gratitude, yeah. We got plenty of love we wanna give to you, yeah. With feel-good music we're tryin' to say, say thank the good Lord's gonna make a way.”
As an album, Gratitude reached triple platinum in the United States and rose to the top position on both the Billboard 200 and the Billboard Top Soul Albums. As a song, Gratitude immediately rose to fame and became one of the most popular thank you songs of all time.
8. Thank You for Loving Me, Bon Jovi
“Thank you for loving me, for being my eyes when I couldn't see, for parting my lips when I couldn't breathe.”
“Thank You for Loving Me” is the third single from Bon Jovi’s seventh album, titled Crush. It is said that its content is inspired by Brad Pitt's character in the movie Meet Joe Black and the melody is somewhat influenced by the band's two most influential songs, “Always” and “Bed of Roses.”
This is a great song to dedicate to someone you love dearly. Sing it out loud to your partner to make them feel loved and cherished.
9. Thank U, Alanis Morissette
“The moment I let go of it was the moment I got more than I could handle. The moment I jumped off of it was the moment I touched down.”
This song was written and released by Alanis Morissette after her trip to India, which explains lyrics such as “thank you, India,” and “thank you, providence.”
The song was nominated for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance during the 2000 Grammy Awards.
10. Thank You for the Music, Abba
“Thank you for the music, the songs I'm singing. Thanks for all the joy they're bringing.”
From the iconic pop band ABBA, this song reminds us that music can save our souls. Life becomes more fun and meaningful when we share it with people who can jive with the songs we love to sing and dance to.
11. Thank You For Being a Friend, Andrew Gold
“And when we both get older With walking canes and hair of gray, have no fear. Even though it's hard to hear, I will stand real close and say… Thank you for being a friend!”
It only took an hour for Andrew Gold to write this song. There are times when inspiration strikes and the words just flow out of you! This is especially true when the things you want to say come from the bottom of your heart.
This is a good song to dedicate to your friends who have been with you through joys and hardships. Nothing is more sincere than words of gratitude from the people you love the most.
12. Thank God I Found You, Mariah Carey feat. Joe and 98 Degrees
“When you brought the sunlight, completed my whole life, I'm overwhelmed with gratitude 'cause baby I'm so thankful I found you.”
The lyrics of this song were inspired by Mariah Carey’s relationship at the time of the song’s composition and release. They talk about a powerful relationship between two people who share their love with God’s blessing and grace.
This is a great song to add to your list of tributes to your special someone. Your partner will surely recognize and appreciate your feelings toward them.
13. Thank You, Led Zeppelin
“If the sun refused to shine, I would still be loving you. Mountains crumble to the sea, there will still be you and me.”
This song holds great sentimental value in Robert Plant’s (lead vocalist) heart because it is the first song he wrote all by himself. It is also the song that made Jimmy Page (founder and guitarist of Led Zeppelin) acknowledge Plant’s talent in writing and become more comfortable letting Plant write the majority of the band’s songs.
It is said that Plant wrote this song for his wife, which is why it is so heartfelt and soulful. If you are like Plant and value and treasure your partner, this song can be an excellent dedication.
14. Thank God For You, Sawyer Brown
“I gotta thank mama for the cookin', daddy for the whuppin', the devil for the trouble that I get into. I got to give credit where credit is due. I thank the bank for the money, and thank God for you.”
The singer of this song wants to thank everyone who has played a big role in his life. There are no limits and restrictions, and no good or bad. He even mentions both the devil and God!
Ultimately, this is a song that reminds you to be grateful to everyone and everything. Without the experiences you’ve had, you wouldn’t be who you are today.
15. (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman, by Aretha Franklin
“Before the day I met you, life was so unkind, but you're the key to my peace of mind.”
This is one of Aretha Franklin’s signature songs. It was originally composed by Carole King and Gerry Goffin after having a conversation with Jerry Wexler, co-owner and producer of Atlantic Records. They wrote it specifically for Franklin.
If you take a look at the lyrics, this is a song from a woman to her man. It is a song of gratitude that speaks of how thankful she is for having met a man who can make her feel happy and deeply in love.
16. Wind Beneath My Wings, Bette Midler
“Did I ever tell you you're my hero? You're everything, everything I wish I could be. I could fly higher than an eagle for you are the wind beneath my wings.”
This is one of the most popular gratitude songs out there. From the lyrics, you can see that it is a song full of love, affection, and admiration. It is dedicated to all the people we consider to be our heroes.
If you are looking for a song that you can dedicate to your parents, mentor, or friends, then “Wind Beneath My Wings” is an excellent option.
17. A Moment Like This, Kelly Clarkson
“Could this be the greatest love of all? I wanna know that you will catch me when I fall.”
“A Moment Like This” comes from Kelly Clarkson’s Thankful album. It was her debut single and one of her most popular songs. The song has become a real hit, and has been sung by a number of competitors in singing contests.
This is a song you can sing to celebrate a victory. It teaches us that no matter how difficult the road to success may be, the goal is as sweet as you have imagined it to be.
18. Thank U Next, Arianna Grande
“One taught me love, one taught me patience, and one taught me pain. Now, I'm so amazing, say I've loved and I've lost but that's not what I see.”
Ariana Grande dedicates this song to all of her past lovers who, even if the relationships failed, taught her how to be strong and courageous. This song reminds us that pain and suffering are inevitable in love, but they are what we need to become better, happier human beings.
19. Because You Loved Me, Céline Dion
“You were my strength when I was weak. You were my voice when I couldn't speak. You were my eyes when I couldn't see. You saw the best there was in me. I’m everything I am because you loved me.”
Here is another popular gratitude song from Celine Dion that is relatable to everyone who has found their special someone in life. It is the perfect song to dedicate to your partner after all the years you have been together.
That being said, you can also dedicate it to your parents, siblings, or best friends.
20. Your Song, Elton John
“I hope you don't mind that I put down in the words how wonderful life is while you're in the world.”
There is nothing more sincere than telling someone that life is wonderful because they were born. If you want to tell someone how happy and grateful you are for their existence, Elton John’s classic hit is perfect.
21. In My Life, The Beatles
“All these places have their moments with lovers and friends, I still can recall. Some are dead and some are living, in my life, I've loved them all.”
John Lennon was proud of this song because it was one of the first to talk about his life. He even referred to it as his “first real major piece of work” because the original version was actually a long poem.
While the song was not intended to be a song of gratitude, it turned out to be one as years went by. Musicians and fans alike found meaning in how the lyrics of the song gave voice to the narrator’s gratitude for all the people in his life.
22. Grateful, Rita Ora
“There is nothing I would change, not even one mistake I made. I got lost, found myself, found my way.”
Grateful is all about being thankful for the challenges and struggles that life throws at you. It's about finding the silver lining in every situation and learning from your mistakes.
The song expresses the idea that we should not take anything for granted, but instead appreciate what we have and who we are.
23. Thank You, Boyz II Men
“When I felt I had enough, you never turned away, you were right there. And, I thank you.”
This song is Boyz II Men’s heartfelt expression of gratitude to all the people who have supported them throughout their musical journey.
They acknowledge the struggles they faced, but also celebrate the love they received from their loyal followers. The song is a way of saying thank you for being there, for believing in them, and for making their dreams come true.
24. Days, The Kinks
“Thank you for the days, those endless days, those sacred days you gave me.”
This song is about being grateful for the good times shared with someone who is no longer in your life. The song acknowledges the sadness of losing that person, but also celebrates the memories and the lessons learned from the relationship.
It is a tribute to the power of love and friendship, and a reminder to cherish each moment we have with the people we care about.
25. Thank You, Friends, Big Star
“Thank you, friends, wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you. I’m so grateful for all the things you helped me do.”
In this song, Big Star says thank you to all the people who supported the band through its ups and downs.
The song has an upbeat and optimistic vibe, even though the band went through a number of internal conflicts. It is their way of showing that, no matter what the circumstances are, they will forever value their music and friendship over fame and money.
26. Thank You, Mom, Good Charlotte
“I’ll always thank you, more than you would know, than I could ever show.”
Thank You, Mom is a song by twin brothers Benji and Joel Madden, written as a tribute to their mother, who raised them as a single parent.
It is a heartfelt expression of their gratitude and appreciation for all the love and sacrifices their mom made for them, and how they wouldn’t be where they are today without her.
27. Thank You, Girl, The Beatles
“Oh, you’ve been good to me. You made me glad when I was blue.”
This song was dedicated to the band’s fans. It sings about how their supporters’ love and support have helped them get through rough times. It also serves as a promise that they will keep on creating music for them. It’s a simple song, but very sincere.
28. You’re My Best Friend, Queen
“Oh, you make me live whatever this world can give to me. It’s you, you’re all I see.”
Is your partner also your best friend? This is one of the best songs you can dedicate to them.
It is a song of appreciation for the things they have done, and for remaining by your side no matter what the circumstances may have been. Having your partner as your best friend is one of the best things in the world.
29. Give Thanks and Praise, Bob Marley & The Wailers
“When my soul was hurtin’ deep within, and I’m worrying to be free, desperately, yeah.”
Bob Marley has a reputation of being one of the most grateful humans who ever lived. He went through a lot of things, especially as an activist who supported freedom and equality.
This song is no different from many of his other songs, where he celebrates life, thanking Jah (the Rastafarian name for God) for all the blessings he has received.
30. The Heart of Life, John Mayer
“No, it won’t all go the way it should, but I know the heart of life is good.”
The Heart of Life is a song that reminds us to be thankful for what we have, even when things are hard. John Mayer sings about how life is full of challenges and pain, but also beauty and love.
He says that the heart of life is good, meaning that there is always something positive to hold on to. He encourages us to look at the bright side and appreciate the simple joys of living.
31. I Could Not Ask for More, Edwin McCain
“These are the moments I thank God that I’m alive. These are the moment I’ll remember all my life.”
In this song, McCain sings about how he has everything he ever dreamed of, and how he feels blessed to have such a perfect partner.
He says that he could not ask for anything more than being with her and sharing every moment. He thanks God for giving him this gift, and he cherishes every second of their relationship.
Final Thoughts on Gratitude Songs
Gratitude doesn’t just strengthen and develop our relationship with other people. It also helps us improve our health on a lot of levels—mentally, emotionally, and physically. It is a natural mood and morale booster.
We hope that we were able to help you choose the best songs to dedicate to your loved ones. Through these songs, you will surely be able to tell them how much you love and appreciate them.
And if you're looking for more inspiring articles about gratitude, be sure to check out these blog posts:
- 35 Fun Thank You Memes to Be More Grateful in Life
- 11 Best Gratitude Journals to Show Thankfulness
- Benefits of Gratitude: 31 Powerful Reasons to be More Grateful