Songs about Grandpa
Updated
The classic songs about grandfathers are "Grandpa (Tell Me 'Bout the Good Old Days)" (The Judds), "My Grandfather's Clock" and, for UK families, "Grandad" (Clive Dunn). Songs about fathers and family, like "Father and Son" (Cat Stevens) and "The Living Years", also suit a grandfather well.
Songs about grandfathers
| Song | Artist | Year | Why it fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grandpa (Tell Me 'Bout the Good Old Days) | The Judds | 1986 | A granddaughter asking about simpler times; the classic grandpa song. |
| My Grandfather's Clock | Henry Clay Work | 1876 | A gentle old song about a long life, often sung to children. |
| Grandad | Clive Dunn | 1970 | A UK number one that many grandparents remember from their own family days. |
| Old Man | Neil Young | 1972 | A younger man seeing himself in an older one. |
Songs about fathers and family
| Song | Artist | Year | Why it fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Father and Son | Cat Stevens | 1970 | Advice passed between generations. |
| The Living Years | Mike + The Mechanics | 1988 | About saying things while there's still time. |
| Watching You | Rodney Atkins | 2006 | A boy copying the man he looks up to; great for a grandpa who's a role model. |
| Daddy's Hands | Holly Dunn | 1986 | Hard-working, gentle hands; fits many grandfathers too. |
| Turn! Turn! Turn! | The Byrds | 1965 | A song about the seasons of life. |
Songs from his era
| Song | Artist | Year | Why it fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| My Way | Frank Sinatra | 1969 | For a grandpa who did things his own way. |
| What a Wonderful World | Louis Armstrong | 1967 | Gratitude for a long life and a big family. |
| Stand by Me | Ben E. King | 1961 | A song he'll know every word of. |
| Fly Me to the Moon | Frank Sinatra | 1964 | For a grandpa who loves the old crooners. |
| Gone Fishin' | Bing Crosby & Louis Armstrong | 1951 | For the grandpa who'd rather be by the water. |
| On the Road Again | Willie Nelson | 1980 | For a country fan who loves a road trip. |
| Danny Boy | Traditional (lyrics by Frederic Weatherly) | 1913 | A traditional favorite, especially in Irish families. |
| You'll Never Walk Alone | Gerry and the Pacemakers | 1963 | Comfort and, for Liverpool fans, an anthem. |
| Unforgettable | Nat King Cole | 1951 | Says what the family feels. |
How to choose
Ask what was on the radio when he was in his twenties; songs from that decade usually mean the most.
For his birthday or Father's Day, mix his favorites with one song from the grandchildren. For a memorial, see our funeral songs lists.
Want a song that's only about him?
Tell us about your grandpa (his work, his hobbies, the advice he always gives) and we'll write an original song with his name in it. You hear a free preview first.
Create a song for GrandpaQuestions
What is a good song about a grandfather?
"Grandpa (Tell Me 'Bout the Good Old Days)" by The Judds is the best-known; "Grandad" by Clive Dunn is a UK favorite, and "Father and Son" suits any generation.
What songs suit a grandpa's 80th birthday?
Songs from his twenties and thirties, plus a family favorite like "What a Wonderful World" for the speeches.
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.