The idea of peace has been a driving force for musicians across generations, sparking countless songs that call for understanding, harmony, and a better world. From protest songs to slow ballads, artists have used their platforms to sing about everything from personal serenity to global unity. Whether it’s about longing for peace on earth, celebrating peacefulness in love, or speaking out against war, this list covers it all.
Be sure to check out the Songs About Peace Playlist at the bottom of this page.
Best Songs About Peace
1. “Heal the World” – Michael Jackson
Lyric Sample: “Heal the world, make it a better place, for you and for me and the entire human race.”
Michael Jackson’s moving ballad asks everyone to take responsibility for making the world a better place. He reminds us that real change starts with love and compassion.
2. “Imagine” – John Lennon
Lyric Sample: “Imagine all the people, living life in peace.”
John Lennon’s iconic song is all about imagining the world without borders, possessions, or war. It’s a call for people to envision a shared human experience without conflict.
Related: “Imagine” Song Meaning
3. “Peace Train” – Cat Stevens
Lyric Sample: “Now I’ve been smiling lately, thinking about the good things to come.”
This uplifting 1970s folk-rock song encourages the journey toward peace and unity. It’s a joyful, optimistic invitation for everyone to board and join the movement.
Related: Best Songs About Trains
4. “One Love” – Bob Marley & The Wailers
Lyric Sample: “Let’s get together and feel alright.”
Marley’s reggae classic is a feel-good tune that asks everyone to find a common bond. It’s a call for unity and a celebration of peace on earth through love and brotherhood.
5. “We Are the World” – USA for Africa
Lyric Sample: “Well, send them your heart, so they’ll know that someone cares.”
This 1985 charity single brought together some of the biggest music stars of the decade to raise money for famine relief in Africa. The song is a huge, communal statement about global unity and helping those in need.
6. “What’s Going On” – Marvin Gaye
Lyric Sample: “Picket lines and picket signs, don’t punish me with brutality.”
With “What’s Going On,” Gaye asked serious questions about war, violence, and injustice. He wanted people to talk to each other and bring an end to the fighting.
Related: “What’s Going On” Song Meaning
7. “Waiting on the World to Change” – John Mayer
Lyric Sample: “We just feel like we don’t have the means to rise above and beat it.”
“Waiting on the World to Change” is about the frustration of wanting peace and progress but feeling powerless. The song leans on the belief that a better world will eventually arrive.
8. “All You Need Is Love” – The Beatles
Lyric Sample: “All you need is love, all you need is love, love is all you need.”
This 1960s classic is a simple but enduring message that love can bridge divides and bring people together. The song frames love as the key to solving many of the world’s problems.
9. “One Day” – Matisyahu
Lyric Sample: “One day this all will change, treat people the same, stop with the violence, down with the hate.”
Matisyahu blends reggae with a message of hope and a desire for peace on earth. He looks forward to a time when all conflict and prejudice will end.
10. “War” – Edwin Starr
Lyric Sample: “War, huh, good God, what is it good for? Absolutely nothing.”
This funk-infused Motown track is a forceful protest against armed conflict. Starr’s vocals leave no room for doubt about the song’s anti-war message.
Related: Best Vietnam War Songs
11. “Peaceful World” – John Mellencamp
Lyric Sample: “Everything is cool as can be in a peaceful world.”
Mellencamp mixes road trip imagery with a straight-talking call for unity and action. “Peaceful World” is about finding peace through what people choose to do, not just what they say.
12. “A Change Is Gonna Come” – Sam Cooke
Lyric Sample: “It’s been a long, a long time coming, but I know a change is gonna come.”
Sam Cooke’s 1964 civil rights song is a promise of a better future. It carries a sense of hope that one day, equality and peace will prevail.
13. “Let There Be Peace on Earth” – Vince Gill
Lyric Sample: “Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.”
Vince Gill’s rendition of this classic hymn is a reminder that personal responsibility is the first step toward wider change. The song’s simple message says peace starts inside each person.
14. “Get Together” – The Youngbloods
Lyric Sample: “Everybody get together, try to love one another right now.”
This folk-rock classic is a straightforward call for unity and mutual affection. It became a theme song for a generation seeking to connect and build a more peaceful society.
15. “Peace in the Valley” – Elvis Presley
Lyric Sample: “There will be peace in the valley for me, some day.”
Elvis sings about hope for a place free from pain and sorrow. “Peace in the Valley” is about looking forward to a peaceful future where troubles no longer exist.
16. “We Shall Overcome” – Pete Seeger
Lyric Sample: “We are not afraid, we are not afraid, we are not afraid today.”
This folk hymn became a rallying cry during the civil rights movement. The song is a message of determination and hope, telling people they will eventually achieve their goals of equality and peace.
17. “What a Wonderful World” – Louis Armstrong
Lyric Sample: “I see trees of green, red roses too, I see them bloom for me and you.”
Louis Armstrong’s signature song is a tribute to the beauty and harmony of nature and humanity. It’s a reminder to appreciate the simple wonders of the world around us.
Related: Best Songs About Nature
18. “Give Peace a Chance” – Plastic Ono Band
Lyric Sample: “All we are saying is give peace a chance.”
Recorded during a famous “bed-in” protest, this chant-like song became a key anti-war track during the late ’60s. John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s song became a rallying cry for activists everywhere.
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19. “I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing (In Perfect Harmony)” – The New Seekers
Lyric Sample: “I’d like to build the world a home and furnish it with love.”
Originally a jingle for a famous soda commercial, this song became an optimistic pop hit about unity. The catchy tune says that the key to a better world is harmony and shared happiness.
20. “Changes” – 2Pac
Lyric Sample: “That’s just the way it is, things’ll never be the same.”
This hip-hop classic addresses issues of racial inequality and police brutality, calling for a radical shift in society. 2Pac looks at the barriers to true peace and understanding.
21. “Peace” – Norah Jones
Lyric Sample: “Peace when the day is done.”
This jazz track is about finding a quiet place where worries fade away. Jones sings about how peace can come from slowing down and looking inside yourself.
22. “People Got to Be Free” – The Rascals
Lyric Sample: “All the world over, so easy to see, people everywhere just wanna be free.”
The Rascals’ uplifting 1968 soul track is about people everywhere wanting the freedom to live without fear. “People Got to Be Free” became a prominent message during a time of social and political upheaval.
23. “Peaceful Easy Feeling” – Eagles
Lyric Sample: “‘Cause I got a peaceful, easy feeling, and I know you won’t let me down.”
This early Eagles hit is a perfect example of a song about personal peacefulness. It describes a sense of calm and contentment that comes from a new relationship.
24. “Put a Little Love in Your Heart” – Jackie DeShannon
Lyric Sample: “Put a little love in your heart, and the world will be a better place.”
DeShannon’s positive 1960s pop song encourages everyone to show more kindness to one another. The simple message suggests that even a small amount of love can make everything better.
Related: Best Songs with “Heart” in the Title
25. “Love and Peace or Else” – U2
Lyric Sample: “Lay down your guns, all you daughters of Zion.”
“Love and Peace or Else” is a call for an end to conflict, asking people to lay down their weapons and open their hearts. It warns that peace and love are needs the world cannot ignore.
26. “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” – Bobby McFerrin
Lyric Sample: “In every life we have some trouble, when you worry you make it double.”
This cheerful tune is a reminder that a person can choose to be happy and at peace despite life’s problems. It’s a joyful way to approach stressful situations.
Related: Best One-Hit Wonders
27. “Peace of Mind” – Boston
Lyric Sample: “All I want is to have my peace of mind.”
“Peace of Mind” is a ’70s rock song that describes feeling stuck in the rush and pressure of life and work. It’s about wanting calm and clarity amid all the noise and competition.
28. “Pray for Peace” – Reba McEntire
Lyric Sample: “There’s power in the number of us praying here on earth.”
In this slow country tune, Reba asks for peace through prayer and togetherness. It shows how hope grows stronger when people come together.
29. “Living in the Moment” – Jason Mraz
Lyric Sample: “With peace in my mind, with peace in my heart, with peace in my soul.”
This 2010s pop track encourages letting go of worries and focusing on the present to find peace. Mraz invites us to live fully and with ease in whatever moment we’re in.
30. “Peacekeeper” – Fleetwood Mac
Lyric Sample: “Peacekeeper, take your time, wait for the dark of night.”
“Peacekeeper” is about the struggle to protect peace in a world full of conflict. It looks at the challenge of holding onto hope when everything feels uncertain.
31. “Where Is the Love?” – The Black Eyed Peas
Lyric Sample: “People killing, people dying, children hurt, you hear them cryin’.”
This early 2000s hit questions why there is so much hatred and conflict in the world. The Black Eyed Peas asked a straightforward question to get people thinking about ways to make a change.
32. “Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)” – George Harrison
Lyric Sample: “Give me hope, help me cope with this heavy load.”
George Harrison asks for love and peace to help deal with life’s struggles in this ’70s folk track. It’s a straightforward request for calm and strength in the face of hardship.
33. “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright” – David Lee Murphy & Kenny Chesney
Lyric Sample: “Don’t go hitting that panic button, it ain’t near as bad as you think.”
This country song takes a laid-back approach to hard times, reminding us that worry rarely helps. It’s about finding steady ground when life feels out of control.
34. “Peace is Free” – Black Stone Cherry
Lyric Sample: “Don’t you bring your sadness down on me when peace is free.”
“Peace is Free” is a rock track that’s all about letting go of anger and standing up for better days. It stresses that peace doesn’t cost anything but requires effort to hold onto.
35. “Peace Like a River” – Paul Simon
Lyric Sample: “You can run out your rules, but you know you can’t outrun the history train.”
Paul Simon’s folk track is about facing tough moments while holding onto hope for peace. It shows that even when life gets difficult, better days can still arrive.
36. “Better Days” – Ant Clemons & Justin Timberlake
Lyric Sample: “There’s a light at the end of the tunnel, keep your eyes on the road ahead.”
This 2020s R&B track has an uplifting message to push through tough times. It’s all about resilience and staying hopeful through life’s challenges.
37. “Peace” – Depeche Mode
Lyric Sample: “I’m leaving bitterness behind, this time I’m cleaning out my mind.”
“Peace” is a synth-pop song that tells the story of someone working through their regrets and anger to find inner peace. It’s about choosing to bring positivity into the world despite past struggles.
Conclusion
These songs about peace show that the desire for harmony and understanding is a constant theme in music. From songs about war and peace to songs about personal tranquility, these tracks capture the many ways we think about and pursue peace.
If you enjoyed this list, you might also like our picks for Songs About Nature, Songs About Time Passing, and Songs About Friendship.
