Songs about Grandma
Updated
The best-known songs about grandmothers are "Grandma's Hands" (Bill Withers), "Supermarket Flowers" (Ed Sheeran) and, for a laugh at Christmas, "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" (Elmo & Patsy). For songs to play for her, choose favorites from her generation like "You Are My Sunshine" or "Moon River".
Songs about grandmothers
| Song | Artist | Year | Why it fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grandma's Hands | Bill Withers | 1971 | A grandson's memories of his grandmother's care; the classic grandma song. |
| Supermarket Flowers | Ed Sheeran | 2017 | Written after his grandmother's death; best kept for a memorial. |
| Grandma's Feather Bed | John Denver | 1974 | A fun, foot-tapping song about childhood visits to Grandma's house. |
| Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer | Elmo & Patsy | 1979 | A comic Christmas classic; only for a grandma who laughs at it. |
Songs from her era
| Song | Artist | Year | Why it fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| You Are My Sunshine | Jimmie Davis | 1940 | The song many grandmothers sang to their grandchildren. |
| Moon River | Andy Williams | 1962 | A favorite of her generation, gentle and nostalgic. |
| Unforgettable | Nat King Cole | 1951 | Says exactly how the family feels about her. |
| Edelweiss | The Sound of Music (Broadway) | 1959 | For a grandma who knows every word of the musicals. |
| What a Wonderful World | Louis Armstrong | 1967 | Joy in ordinary days; lovely for a birthday. |
| Stand by Me | Ben E. King | 1961 | A song she probably danced to. |
| Smile | Nat King Cole | 1954 | Gentle and warm, for the grandma who always cheered everyone up. |
Songs about family and gratitude
| Song | Artist | Year | Why it fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind Beneath My Wings | Bette Midler | 1988 | For the grandmother who held the whole family together. |
| You Raise Me Up | Josh Groban | 2003 | Strength drawn from someone who believed in you. |
| Lean on Me | Bill Withers | 1972 | The family leaning on each other, with Grandma at the center. |
| Thank You for the Music | ABBA | 1977 | For a grandma who filled the house with singing. |
| Over the Rainbow / What a Wonderful World | Israel Kamakawiwo'ole | 1993 | Soft and hopeful; great over family photos. |
| In My Life | The Beatles | 1965 | Remembering the people who shaped you. |
| Let It Be | The Beatles | 1970 | Wise words, the way grandmothers give them. |
How to choose
For her birthday or Christmas, pick songs she already loves and play them at the gathering; save the more emotional songs for a speech or a video message.
If she isn't online, put the songs on a CD or play them from a speaker. A printed list of "songs that remind us of you" makes a lovely card.
Want a song that's only about her?
Tell us about your grandma (what you call her, her kitchen, her sayings, the grandchildren) and we'll write an original song with her name in it. You hear a free preview first.
Create a song for GrandmaQuestions
What is a good song about a grandmother?
"Grandma's Hands" by Bill Withers is the best-known; "Grandma's Feather Bed" is a fun one, and "Supermarket Flowers" is a moving choice for a memorial.
What songs can I play for my grandma's birthday?
Favorites from her era, like "You Are My Sunshine", "Moon River" or "Unforgettable", plus "Wind Beneath My Wings" for a speech.
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.