35+ Songs About Helping & Caring for Others | Cake Blog (2023)

Music can be a friendly reminder of the bonds we share. During difficult times in our lives, we often experience the give-and-take of helping and being helped, caring, and being cared for.

Jump ahead to these sections:

• Modern Pop Songs About Helping Others
• Country Songs About Helping Others
• Christian or Religious Songs About Helping Others
• Gospel Songs About Helping Others
• Children’s Songs About Helping Others

Whether you’re in a season of giving—or one where you’ve accepted help from friends—these songs can remind you of how powerful those bonds are.

The people you help may not be in the position to appreciate it right now but you can listen to a few songs to remember what it’s all about.

Tip: Add each of these songs to a digital playlist for easy access. If you're sending these songs to a loved one, consider gifting them a Spotify gift cardfor a better listening experience.

Modern Pop Songs About Helping Others

Catchy pop songs can help create a feeling of positivity. They tend to get stuck in your head too!

1. "Count on Me” by Bruno Mars

With his peppy beats, Bruno Mars turns his crooning style to discussing kindness and being a good friend, not just romance. Always good for a pick-me-up and a reminder to be helpful.

2. "Stand By You” by Rachel Platten

Rachel Platten’s pop ballad says that “even if we’re breaking down, we’ll find a way to break through.” Her focus is ongoing through the tough parts of life with someone else, an incredibly important way to care for those you love.

3. "Here for You” by Kygo

This song appeals to friends and family members who know they would accompany each other through both the highs and lows of life.

4. "You've Got a Friend” by James Taylor

While not the most recent song on the list, James Taylor’s song offers a simple lesson that, even if someone doesn’t want help right now, being a friend to them is a powerful way to break down barriers and grow closer.

5. "Hey Brother” by Avicii

Avicii’s electronic song offers powerful lyrics about rekindling a closeness and trust between brothers. It can apply to any friendship where helping each other is becoming a bigger part of your connection.

6. "Umbrella” by Rihanna

Rihanna celebrates both helping and caring for someone in a romantic relationship and more broadly “weathering” the tough times together in her famous and fun song about standing under her umbrella.

7. "You’ll Never Walk Alone” by Josh Groban

Groban’s operatic vocals are an inspiration to anyone who ever feels like they are going through a hard time.

Country Songs About Helping Others

Lending a hand is a natural choice in many rural communities where country music got its start. Whether you're in the big city or a wide-open place, you’ll find plenty of inspiring country songs here.

8. "I Won’t Let Go” by Rascal Flatts

Every line of this song discusses making sure you stick it out with those you love, promising a faithful friend’s care.

9. "Somebody’s Daughter” by Tenille Townes

This empathetic song reminds us to always see those we’re helping as complex human beings with a history.

10. "Anyway” by Martina McBride

This song of commitment and faithfulness promises to weather the tough times even when you don’t feel up to it.

11. "Try a Little Kindness” by Glen Campbell

This country song offers the reminder that kindness helps us see past our prejudices and biases.

12. “Temporary Home” by Carrie Underwood

This song laments on homesickness. It might help when you feel like you're constantly moving on, or when you're trying to help those in that situation.

13. "The Promise" by Sturgill Simpson

This love song is full of reassurances that the singer will stick around and be a helpful part of someone’s life. It can be inspiring when you're busy caring for someone yourself.

14. "In My Daughter’s Eyes” by Martina McBride

Parents spend a lot of time helping and caring, and Martina McBride reminds us of how we are seen by those we spend so much time caring for.

Christian or Religious Songs About Helping Others

Christians encourage each other to be kind based on the work of their role model Jesus. These songs beautifully showcase that kindness requires your energy and time, but is deeply worth it.

If you're planning to feature these songs in a virtual funeral using a service like GatheringUs, make sure to identify which songs belong in the memorial slideshow, ceremony, and/or reception.

15. "I Will Carry You” by Michael W. Smith

Smith’s soulful piano and comforting assurance of the power of prayer is one way to feel how much you care for someone.

16. "Do Something” by Matthew West

This song by Matthew West focuses on the idea that we have to be the method by which a higher power like God makes change in the world.

17. "If We Are The Body” by Casting Crowns

Referencing a metaphor from the Bible about each Christian being part of the “body of Christ,” Casting Crowns encourages people to be kind, helpful, and caring. Because everyone is an outreach of Christ’s love.

18. "Give Me Your Eyes” by Brandon Heath

This song about seeing a hurting world from God’s perspective can help awaken compassion in us all.

19. "We Build” by Nichole Nordeman

Nordeman’s song discusses the way that teamwork can be helpful in the wake of tragedy. Difficult times can prompt us to refocus our efforts to be kind and diligent toward those who matter to us most.

20. "Banner of Love” by Luminate

This is a positive song about having a reputation for loving those around you and being caring.

21. "Hands and Feet” Audio Adrenaline

This song, like others of the Christian/religious genre, focuses on how it's hard to help or care for others without getting out of one’s comfort zone. In the line, “I’ll go where you send me,” it references the ways that helping others may send you on a journey.

Gospel Songs About Helping Others

A gospel song can be an inspiring reminder to be unselfish and compassionate toward others.

22. "Will the Circle Be Unbroken” by John Lee Hooker

A typical song of mourning, this song also reminds us that connections to those we love are very important.

23. "I Will Be Here” by Steven Curtis Chapman

Chapman’s song was originally addressed to his wife and focuses on how in both good times and bad, he’ll stay nearby and be a constant presence in her life. This song may be reaffirming for other family members or friends as well.

24. "Others” by Israel Houghton

This song is all about noticing the tough things in life but still reaching out to care for others.

25. "Glorious Day” by Michael Bleeker and Mark Hall

Discussing the hopeful message of their own beliefs, Hall and Bleeker talk about how the love of God motivates them because of the impactful and sacrificial story that is at the heart of the Christian religion.

26. "Follow You” by Leeland

This song discusses how the example of Jesus should inspire us to make similar choices to care for and help other people.

27. "Let It Start With Me” by No Other Name

This song, like many of the songs inspired by faith, focuses on taking up the responsibility to help others first, rather than waiting to be asked by someone.

28. “I Smile” by Kirk Franklin

Kirk’s focus is on how you can help others even when everything is difficult in your life by simply smiling and taking life a day at a time.

Children’s Songs About Helping Others

Children need concrete lessons about the world, and a great one to pursue is the idea of helping those around them. These songs will help them understand and participate.

29. "People Helping Other People” by Barney

This song helps children understand that the “helping professions” are key to how our world works.

30. "I Am a Helping Hand” by Crossroads’ Kids Club

In this song, children get examples of how they can help around their homes and communities.

31. "Helping Hand” by Doc McStuffins

This popular children’s song is about how helping is part of a good friendship.

32. "What I Am” by Will.I.Am

This affirming song about identity and positivity helps motivate children to live up to the high ideals they have for themselves.

33. "Fill Your Bucket Song” By The Learning Station

Using the analogy of helping someone as a way to “fill their bucket” of happiness, this song encourages cooperation and kindness.

34. "Bestest Friend” by Koo Koo Kanga Roo

Friendship is tied to how we help each other when the hard times come in this fun and upbeat song, such as the line, “you pick me up if I ever trip.”

35. "Best Friends Forever” by Veggie Tales

This song, while silly, reminds children to be affirming to their friends using catchy texting slang.

Lending a Hand to Others in Song

Whether we are teaching children to care for their siblings or reminding ourselves to be good caregivers of those in our families and friend groups, we can all use a reminder to put others first.

Whether we help someone else by processing grief with them throughwatching a movie, we help to clean out a family member’s home, or we just share a book that changed our lives, we can impact one another. By making difficult, unselfish choices, we get a more meaningful life. Great music can remind us of that benefit.

Post-loss tip: A difficult situation that might call for an uplifting song is when you are the executor for a deceased loved one. The emotional and technical aspects of handling their unfinished business can be overwhelming without a way to organize your process. We have a post-loss checklistthat will help you ensure that your loved one's family, estate, and other affairs are taken care of.