Retirement songs for the party and the send-off
Updated
The most popular retirement songs are "Taking Care of Business" (Bachman-Turner Overdrive) and "9 to 5" (Dolly Parton) for laughs, "Celebration" (Kool & the Gang) for the party, "Here Comes the Sun" (The Beatles) for the new chapter, and "My Way" (Frank Sinatra) to honour a long career.
Funny songs about work
| Song | Artist | Year | Why it fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 to 5 | Dolly Parton | 1980 | The anthem of office life; everyone knows the chorus. |
| Take This Job and Shove It | Johnny Paycheck | 1977 | Only if the retiree has the sense of humour (and the boss isn't in the room). |
| Taking Care of Business | Bachman-Turner Overdrive | 1973 | A wink at all those years of getting the job done. |
| Working for the Weekend | Loverboy | 1981 | Every day's a weekend now. |
| School's Out | Alice Cooper | 1972 | For a retiring teacher, especially. |
| Hit the Road Jack | Ray Charles | 1961 | A cheeky send-off as they head out the door. |
Party songs
| Song | Artist | Year | Why it fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Celebration | Kool & the Gang | 1980 | The obvious party opener. |
| Don't Stop Me Now | Queen | 1978 | Energy for someone with big plans for retirement. |
| Happy | Pharrell Williams | 2013 | Upbeat and easy for every age group. |
| I Gotta Feeling | Black Eyed Peas | 2009 | Gets a younger team on the dance floor. |
| Freedom! '90 | George Michael | 1990 | Freedom, literally. |
| (I've Had) The Time of My Life | Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes | 1987 | For looking back fondly on a whole career. |
The next chapter
| Song | Artist | Year | Why it fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Here Comes the Sun | The Beatles | 1969 | A bright start to something new. |
| Margaritaville | Jimmy Buffett | 1977 | For a retiree heading somewhere warm. |
| Gone Fishin' | Bing Crosby & Louis Armstrong | 1951 | For the one who's going to be on the lake every morning. |
| On the Road Again | Willie Nelson | 1980 | For travel plans and the RV in the driveway. |
| Leaving on a Jet Plane | Peter, Paul and Mary | 1969 | For a retiree moving away or travelling the world. |
| The Best Is Yet to Come | Frank Sinatra | 1964 | Optimism about what comes after work. |
Heartfelt thank-yous
| Song | Artist | Year | Why it fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| My Way | Frank Sinatra | 1969 | Honours a career done their way. |
| Thank You for Being a Friend | Andrew Gold | 1978 | From the team to a colleague who became a friend. |
| Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) | Green Day | 1997 | Bittersweet and grateful; a good slideshow closer. |
| So Long, Farewell | The Sound of Music (Broadway) | 1959 | A playful goodbye to end the speeches. |
| Closing Time | Semisonic | 1998 | Ends on the idea that every ending is also a new beginning. |
| Thank You for the Music | ABBA | 1977 | A thank-you for a retiring music teacher or choir leader. |
How to choose
Mix one or two funny work songs with something heartfelt for the speeches. Ending on a warm song makes the moment land.
For a slideshow, choose songs about three minutes long and plan roughly 20 photos per song.
Check the retiree's taste: a country fan will enjoy "On the Road Again" more than a chart hit.
Want a song that's only about them?
Tell us about their job, the office legends and what they're retiring to, and we'll write an original song with their name in it. Hear a free preview first.
Create a retirement songQuestions
What is a good song for a retirement party?
"Celebration" and "9 to 5" are party favorites, with "Here Comes the Sun" or "My Way" for the speeches.
What song plays at the end of a retirement slideshow?
Something warm and reflective, such as "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)" or "(I've Had) The Time of My Life".
Sources
Song titles, artists and years are taken from the artists' published discographies and the songs' Wikipedia pages. Hymn years are when the text or tune was first published. Spotted a mistake? Email hello@bestsonggift.com and we'll fix it.