The moon is a constant presence in the night sky, and it’s no surprise that musicians have been singing about it for decades. While many of these songs literally describe the moon and moonlight, others use it as a metaphor for everything from heartbreak to a new beginning.
Whether it’s about a harvest moon, a full moon, or just dancing in the moonlight, this collection includes tunes that capture every kind of lunar feeling.
Be sure to check out the Songs About the Moon Playlist at the bottom of this page.
Best Songs About the Moon
1. “Moondance” – Van Morrison
Lyric Sample: “Well, it’s a marvelous night for a moondance.”
“Moondance” has a cool jazz feel and describes a special moment with a loved one under a clear moonlit night. The song blends jazz, folk, and ’70s pop into a date-night favorite.
2. “Talking to the Moon” – Bruno Mars
Lyric Sample: “I know you’re somewhere out there, somewhere far away.”
Mars sings a late-night ballad about missing someone and uses the moon as an imagined confidant. It’s about a long-distance relationship where the moon is a shared point of connection.
3. “Harvest Moon” – Neil Young
Lyric Sample: “Because I’m still in love with you, on this harvest moon.”
Neil Young uses the harvest moon to describe a long-lasting, comfortable relationship. It’s about a love as steady and reliable as the changing of the seasons.
Related: Best Songs About Autumn
4. “Fly Me to the Moon” – Frank Sinatra
Lyric Sample: “Fly me to the moon, let me play among the stars.”
This iconic song is a smooth, jazzy serenade that equates the moon to the pinnacle of happiness. Sinatra sings about wanting to experience pure joy and love.
Related: Songs About Flying and Best Love Songs
5. “Blue Moon” – The Marcels
Lyric Sample: “Blue moon, you saw me standing alone.”
The Marcels turned this classic standard into a doo-wop hit in the early 1960s. “Blue Moon” is about finding someone after a long stretch of loneliness.
Related: Best Songs with Colors in the Title
6. “Dancing in the Moonlight” – King Harvest
Lyric Sample: “Dancing in the moonlight, everybody’s feeling warm and right.”
This upbeat soft rock hit uses moonlight as the setting for carefree, communal joy. It’s an easy-going, sing-along song about people letting go of weekday worries.
7. “Moonshadow” – Cat Stevens
Lyric Sample: “I’m being followed by a moonshadow.”
Written after a near-fatal bout with tuberculosis, Cat Stevens imagines losing parts of himself but still carrying on. The moonshadow becomes a symbol of hope in the face of fear.
8. “To the Moon & Back” – Savage Garden
Lyric Sample: “I would fly to the moon and back, if you’ll be, if you’ll be my baby.”
This late ’90s hit tells the story of a girl scarred by neglect who dreams of escaping to a place where love feels safe. The moon becomes a symbol of devotion and the possibility of a better world.
9. “Bad Moon Rising” – Creedence Clearwater Revival
Lyric Sample: “Don’t go around tonight, well, it’s bound to take your life.”
This classic rock song uses a “bad moon rising” as a symbol of impending doom or trouble. It describes an inescapable feeling of coming disaster.
Related: Best Halloween Songs
10. “Man on the Moon” – R.E.M.
Lyric Sample: “If you believe there’s nothing up his sleeve, then nothing is cool.”
“Man on the Moon” is a tribute to comedian Andy Kaufman, who was famous for creating bizarre performance art. The song asks whether we are willing to believe in something even when we know it is a trick.
11. “Moon” – Björk
Lyric Sample: “To risk all is the end all and the beginning all.”
Björk’s song is about rebirth and the cycles of the moon. It’s about taking risks, failing, and starting over, with the moon marking those changes.
12. “Moon River” – Audrey Hepburn
Lyric Sample: “Moon river, wider than a mile, I’m crossing you in style some day.”
From the movie Breakfast at Tiffany’s, this tune uses the image of a “moon river” as a symbol for a journey toward a destination. The river represents a path to freedom and adventure.
Related: “Moon River” Song Meaning
13. “Sleeping Satellite” – Tasmin Archer
Lyric Sample: “I blame you for the moonlit sky.”
Archer questions whether the moon landing and space race happened too fast. The song uses the moon as a way to think about human ambition and the price of reaching for the stars.
14. “Moonlight” – Grace VanderWaal
Lyric Sample: “The light from your eyes made it feel like we were dancing in the moonlight.”
VanderWaal remembers someone who once brought joy and light into her life. She looks back on the happy times they spent together.
15. “Shame on the Moon” – Bob Seger
Lyric Sample: “Oh, blame it on midnight, ooh, shame on the moon.”
“Shame on the Moon” describes the struggles and feelings men face in relationships. It’s about how late-night misunderstandings and mistakes can happen when emotions run high.
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16. “Walking on the Moon” – The Police
Lyric Sample: “Giant steps are what you take, walking on the moon.”
This 1970s reggae-rock track has moon imagery to describe being in love and taking big emotional steps. It’s about feeling weightless and free when you’re with someone you care about.
17. “Pink Moon” – Nick Drake
Lyric Sample: “And none of you stand so tall, pink moon gonna get ye all.”
“Pink Moon” is about the pink moon as a sign that something unavoidable is coming. Drake twists what is usually a symbol of spring and renewal into a darker message about fate.
18. “The Killing Moon” – Echo & the Bunnymen
Lyric Sample: “He will wait until you give yourself to him.”
This 1980s post-punk track is about the clash between fate and free will, where resistance is ultimately impossible. The “killing moon” represents the inescapable pull of destiny.
19. “Bark at the Moon” – Ozzy Osbourne
Lyric Sample: “Listen in awe and you’ll hear him, bark at the moon.”
“Bark at the Moon” is about a man transformed into a monster seeking revenge after being wronged. He roams the night, attacking his targets while howling at the moon.
20. “Mr. Moonlight” – The Beatles
Lyric Sample: “Mr. Moonlight, come again please, here I am on my knees, begging if you please.”
In this lesser-known Beatles song, John Lennon asks the moon for help in finding love. The song personifies the moon, treating it like a trusted friend who brought a relationship into his life.
21. “Goodnight Moon” – Shivaree
Lyric Sample: “Now goodnight moon, I want the sun, if it’s not here soon, I might be done.”
This alt-rock song is about feeling scared and unsafe while alone at night. It lists the small dangers and strange noises that make bedtime unsettling.
22. “Moon Over Bourbon Street” – Sting
Lyric Sample: “Oh, you’ll never see my shade, or hear the sound of my feet.”
Sting, influenced by Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire, tells the story of a man cursed with a dark, hidden life. It’s about his struggle to control violent impulses while moving through New Orleans under the moonlight.
Related: Best Songs About Books
23. “Moon” – Kanye West
Lyric Sample: “I wanna go to the moon, don’t leave so soon, how could I get through?”
Kanye West, Kid Cudi, and Don Toliver sing about seeking peace and comfort during moments of struggle and loneliness in this hip-hop track. The moon represents a place of escape and a source of calm as they process their emotions.
24. “Blue Moon of Kentucky” – Bill Monroe
Lyric Sample: “Shine on the one that’s gone and left me blue.”
“Blue Moon of Kentucky” is a bluegrass classic about a man’s loneliness and sadness after his lover has left. He asks the moon to keep shining on the one who has gone.
25. “Rises the Moon” – Liana Flores
Lyric Sample: “But after sunlit days, one thing stays the same, rises the moon.”
Flores sings about moving through difficult days and finding small moments of stability in this folk tune. The rising moon marks the shift from the struggles of the day to a quieter, calmer time.
26. “New Moon on Monday” – Duran Duran
Lyric Sample: “I light my torch and wave it for the new moon on Monday.”
This ’80s pop song is about taking action and making a fresh start despite uncertainty. The “new moon” symbolizes a moment to embrace new possibilities.
Related: Best Songs About Mondays
27. “Moonlight Feels Right” – Starbuck
Lyric Sample: “We’ll lay back and observe the constellations, and watch the moon smilin’ bright.”
This catchy 1970s track is a lighthearted tune about a romantic evening. The moonlight sets the scene for fun, flirtation, and spontaneous adventure.
28. “By the Light of the Silvery Moon” – Doris Day
Lyric Sample: “To my honey, I’ll croon love’s tune.”
Doris Day’s version of this old love song is a classic. It’s a cheerful, romantic tune about two people getting together under the moon for a date.
29. “Under the Moon of Love” – Showaddywaddy
Lyric Sample: “Little darling, let’s walk, let’s talk, under the moon of love.”
“Under the Moon of Love” is about enjoying a romantic moment together. Showaddywaddy revived the song in 1976 with a more upbeat version, turning it into a UK hit.
30. “Hey Moon” – John Maus
Lyric Sample: “Hey moon, it’s just you and me tonight.”
“Hey Moon” is a 2010s indie track about spending a quiet night with the moon as a companion. It’s about finding comfort and a sense of calm in the moon’s presence while the world sleeps.
31. “Here Comes the Moon” – George Harrison
Lyric Sample: “Though dark, the mirror in the sky, reflects us our light.”
Harrison celebrates the arrival of the moon as a calming presence in the night sky. It’s about marking a peaceful transition, much like he did with “Here Comes the Sun.”
Conclusion
From old-time crooners to ’80s rockers, the moon has inspired plenty of fantastic songs across most genres. Whether it symbolizes a fresh start, a broken heart, or a moment of pure bliss, it remains a source of creative inspiration. Its light, its mystery, and its ever-changing shape have ensured it remains a favorite subject for songwriters.
If you enjoyed this list, you might also like our picks for Songs About Nature and Songs About the Sun.
