The bond between brothers has inspired countless songs across all genres, from emotional tributes to playful tunes. Whether it’s about loss, loyalty, or sibling rivalry, these tracks cover the wide range of experiences shared between blood relatives. While some are about brothers lost too soon, others celebrate the unbreakable ties between siblings.
Be sure to check out the Songs About Brothers Playlist at the bottom of this page.
Best Songs About Brothers
1. “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother” – The Hollies
Lyric Sample: “But I’m strong, strong enough to carry him.”
This classic from the ’60s speaks to the selfless nature of brotherhood, where one brother helps the other no matter the burden. It’s all about unconditional support through life’s journey.
2. “Hey Brother” – Avicii ft. Dan Tyminski
Lyric Sample: “Oh, if the sky comes fallin’ down, for you, there’s nothin’ in this world I wouldn’t do.”
Avicii’s uplifting electronic dance track is a reminder that no matter the distance or circumstance, the sibling connection remains a constant and reliable support system.
3. “Brother” – Alice in Chains
Lyric Sample: “I know that pain, so don’t you run away like you used to do.”
Written by Alice in Chains frontman Jerry Cantrell about his little brother, this song centers is about the frustration of watching someone pull away. It deals with guilt, memory, and the hope that the bond isn’t completely gone.
4. “Highway Patrolman” – Bruce Springsteen
Lyric Sample: “Yeah, me and Frankie laughing and drinking, nothing feels better than blood on blood.”
This Springsteen track is about a police officer and his outlaw brother. It touches on the complexities of familial ties and the sacrifices made for family loyalty.
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5. “Brother” – Kodaline
Lyric Sample: “If I was dying on my knees, you would be the one to rescue me.”
This 2017 hit focuses on loyalty that lasts even as lives split in different directions. It’s about long-term commitment, protection, and sticking together no matter what.
6. “Where the Wild Things Are” – Luke Combs
Lyric Sample: “Little brother, you’d love it out here, out where the wild things are.”
This 2023 country track centers on a younger brother remembering an older sibling who chased freedom and risk. It’s about admiration, distance, and growing up with someone who never stayed in one place.
Related: “Where the Wild Things Are” Song Meaning
7. “Brother Sport” – Animal Collective
Lyric Sample: “I know it sucks that Daddy’s done, but try to think of what you want.”
“Brother Sport” is a 2009 indie track filled with tribal drums and multiple mantras. It’s about someone encouraging their brother to keep their head up during a rough family moment.
8. “Brother” – Madds Buckley
Lyric Sample: “And I left you alone, in a house, not a home.”
Madds Buckley’s 2022 track focuses on guilt, distance, and shared damage between siblings who grew up in chaos. Fire and destruction run through the lyrics as stand-ins for regret, blame, and the parts of childhood that never fully healed.
9. “Daniel” – Elton John
Lyric Sample: “Daniel, my brother, you are older than me.”
In this classic 1970s track, Elton John tells the story of a brother who leaves home, and the narrator’s admiration and longing for him. It’s a song about having an older sibling whose path diverges from your own.
Related: “Daniel” Song Meaning
10. “What’s Happening Brother” – Marvin Gaye
Lyric Sample: “War is hell, when will it end? When will people start getting together again?”
A track from Gaye’s iconic 1971 album What’s Going On, this song is about a man returning home from the Vietnam War. It moves between family concerns, money problems, and the larger question of what life looks like after war.
11. “Brother Mine” – Suzanne Vega
Lyric Sample: “I don’t know why you’re such a troublemaker, you’d think that maybe by now you’d see the light.”
This 2012 folk song follows an older sibling looking after a younger brother who keeps getting into trouble. It’s a mix of worry, discipline, and affection, showing how care often shows up in seemingly small moments.
12. “Brothers” – Dean Brody
Lyric Sample: “I said I’ll do anything you want, I’ll do anything so long as you don’t go.”
Brody’s 2019 country song is about a younger brother watching his older sibling leave for war and trying to stop him. He sings about sacrifice, separation, and how family responsibility shows up both before and after someone comes home changed.
13. “Blood Sandwich” – Aesop Rock
Lyric Sample: “I don’t really care about your plans, I just wanna say you’re my brother.”
“Blood Sandwich” is a hip-hop track in which Aesop Rock recalls moments with his brothers from childhood through adolescence. The song moves through specific memories while highlighting their ongoing bond.
14. “Little Brother” – Ella Vos
Lyric Sample: “Stay close, little brother, I know your true colors.”
In this 2017 pop song, Ella Vos sings about supporting her younger brother when he’s struggling and staying by his side through tough moments. It’s about a sister being present when her brother needs someone.
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15. “Brother” – Gerard Way
Lyric Sample: “And can I sleep on your couch, to the pound of the ache and pain?”
Gerard Way sings about reaching out to his brother for support while struggling with sobriety and restless nights. The song captures reliance on a sibling during difficult, self-destructive moments.
16. “My Little Brother” – Art Brut
Lyric Sample: “My little brother just discovered Rock & Roll.”
This quirky indie-rock song follows a younger brother diving headfirst into rock music and youthful rebellion. It shows the older brother noticing his enthusiasm and worrying about the risks that come with that.
17. “Alfie” – Lily Allen
Lyric Sample: “I just can’t sit back and watch you waste your life away.”
Another song from a sister to her brother, Lily Allen calls out her younger sibling, actor Alfie Allen, for his lack of motivation and ambition. It’s a humorous and loving intervention disguised as a catchy pop tune.
18. “Brother” – NEEDTOBREATHE ft. Gavin DeGraw
Lyric Sample: “Brother, let me be your shelter, never leave you all alone.”
NEEDTOBREATHE’s biggest hit is about offering steady support to a brother during the toughest stretches of life. It’s about showing up consistently, being someone to call, and helping each other get through difficult times.
Related: Best Songs About Friendship
19. “I Drive Your Truck” – Lee Brice
Lyric Sample: “I find a field, I tear it up, ’til all the pain’s a cloud of dust.”
This 2012 country song follows a man coping with the loss of his brother by driving his truck and holding onto things he left behind. It’s about grief, memories, and how routine becomes a way to stay connected.
20. “The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia” – Vicki Lawrence
Lyric Sample: “Well, they hung my brother before I could say.”
Vicki Lawrence’s classic tells a dark story about a brother wrongly executed for a murder he didn’t commit. It’s revealed that his sister knows the truth and committed the crime herself.
Related: Best Songs About Revenge and Best Songs About Georgia
21. “Brother” – Amy Winehouse
Lyric Sample: “Now you must look out for her the way she did for you.’”
In this early-2000s track, Winehouse addresses her younger brother as he grows up, telling him to take responsibility and look after their mother. It’s a song about how family roles change over time.
22. “My Brother” – Thomas Mac
Lyric Sample: “That’s my brother, that’s my man, that’s my blood and my best friend.”
Mac’s 2025 country tune portrays a brother as a constant source of backup, loyalty, and late-night rescue when things go wrong. It’s about knowing exactly who to call when it matters.
23. “Me and Baby Brother” – War
Lyric Sample: “Me and baby brother used to run together.”
“Me and Baby Brother” is a 1970s funk track about someone looking back on growing up with a younger brother and the time they spent side by side. It turns into a repeated plea for him to come back.
24. “Hey Brother” – Caleb Hearn
Lyric Sample: “If I could, I’d let you take a walk in my shoes, but you’re meant to wear yours and not mine.”
“Hey Brother” is a 2021 acoustic track framed as a check-in from an older brother who’s watching his sibling grow up from a distance. It’s about giving advice without trying to control the path the younger brother ends up taking.
25. “Little Brothers” – Stacy Hirano (from Phineas and Ferb)
Lyric Sample: “Even when you break my toys, you will always be my little brothers.”
A fun and lighthearted song from the Phineas and Ferb show, this song is from the perspective of an older sister dealing with the chaos of younger siblings. It’s a mix of mild annoyance with affection.
26. “Brother” – Murder by Death
Lyric Sample: “I know there’s better brothers but you’re the only one that’s mine.”
“Brother” is a 2006 indie rock song about a man who keeps falling back into the same destructive patterns, including breaking the law. Despite his frustration, the narrator stays loyal and refuses to turn his brother in.
27. “He Was My Brother” – Simon & Garfunkel
Lyric Sample: “He died so his brothers could be free.”
This 1960s folk track tells the story of the death of an older brother during the Freedom Rides, killed for standing up against injustice. It’s about grief, remembrance, and the cost of fighting for others’ freedom.
Conclusion
Songs about brothers capture the complexity of sibling relationships, from the joy of shared memories to the pain of loss. Whether it’s a celebration of loyalty, a tribute to a fallen sibling, or just about the ups and downs of growing up together, these songs remind us of the unique bond between brothers.
If you enjoyed this list, you might also like our picks for Songs About Sisters and our other Songs About Family lists!
