Whether it’s birds singing in the trees or seasonal allergies that have tipped you off, the arrival of spring comes with a wave of feelings. But for such a well-celebrated season, there doesn’t seem to be a lot of music out there intended to ring it in. And with spring seeming to get shorter every year, there’s no time like the present to appreciate the springtime.
So here’s a robust list of songs that either have something to do with springtime directly, or that manage to evoke that same sense of warmth and wonder that spring represents.
Top 22 Songs About Spring
1. “Waiting for the Sun” by The Doors
According to the band, this song took a lot longer to get right than they’d anticipated. So long, in fact, that it didn’t make it onto the album of the same name. But with a result like this, they’re easily forgiven for the delay. Springtime can be like that too with winter seeming to drag on endlessly.
Just when you think it might start to get warm, that harshness comes back in, denying the buildup that the song demands. Then at the end, it settles into that warm, summery tone that sounds more like heat waves and days on the beach than biting winds and blizzards. “Waiting for the Sun” is a perfect musical metaphor for the season.
2. “Mr. Blue Sky” by Electric Light Orchestra
Very few songs are guaranteed to bring a smile to a face like “Mr. Blue Sky” has historically been. Considered progressive rock in its day, the unique sound of this song is hard to match and harder to outclass. In just 5:02, “Mr. Blue Sky” transcends several genres and takes the listener on an aural roller coaster.
Such timelessness isn’t bad for a song written in 1977. The tight harmonies and liberal use of a vocoder are still a surprising treat for the ears, even in today’s age.
3. “Spring Affair” by Donna Summer
Looking for something with more of a disco feel? Then give Donna Summer’s “Spring Affair” a listen. Delightfully smooth and airy vocals pair well with the raindrop-like staccato meandering of the keyboard synths. Add in a jazzy bassline, and you have a simple, catchy little tune that should get more love than it does.
The dirty sax in the bridge could easily drag the track down, but instead, the instrument is subtle and adds texture to the song overall. Need a song to send to people who say they don’t like disco? This could be the one that pulls them in. It’s just that charming.
4. “After the Storm” by Kali Uchis, Bootsy Collins, and Tyler, the Creator
One of many tracks that jumped on the bandwagon of modern retro-inspired music, “After the Storm” is an excellent collaborative effort. Jazz, disco, and spoken verse come together to make this mellow tune into an excellent follow-up for a rainy spring day.
What really stands out about this track is the lyricism. Not content with merely a catchy hook and a good rhythm, the writers crafted the lyrics to read like a desperate plea in the face of depression. Given how hard seasonal depression can make it to get out of bed at times, this song is undoubtedly a springtime mood-setter.
5. “Bloom” by Troye Sivan
There’s a lot of innuendo rolling around in “Bloom,” but since spring is all about rebirth and renewal, it’s only fitting we put at least one of these types on this list. The music video doesn’t make it any more subtle either; there’s yonic imagery everywhere, with plenty of emphasis on flowers (along with Troye’s ruby-red lips).
A decidedly modern track, the lyrics and instrumentals stand out here more than the vocal performance itself. But that same monotone performance is what allows the listener to focus on those lyrics. It gives the listener space to wonder just what Troye means when he asks them to take a trip into his garden instead of being a distraction.
6. “April Come She Will” by Simon and Garfunkel
Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel were an iconic duo back in the day, known for their folksy sound, tight harmonies, and enchanting lyrics. But there’s more to them than just the iconic “Sound of Silence.” A certain nostalgic magic floats through their music, and “April Come She Will” is no exception to the rule. Though short, the song takes the listener on more of a journey in less than two minutes than others do in five.
It’s hard to say whether the duo is singing about the coming and going of seasons or a revolving door of girlfriends, but either way, it’s a pretty little track. If you like soft and sweet, then you’ll enjoy this one.
7. “Can’t Stop the Spring” by the Flaming Lips
What is even going on in this track? The intro and outro sound like someone accidentally dropped a classical record in the middle of their navel-gazing album. The lyrics are hard to make out, the vocals can barely be called singing, and let’s be completely honest here: it was probably made while everyone was on drugs.
But is “Can’t Stop the Spring” still a fun track? Absolutely. Very little about it is technically or musically “correct,” but that was never the point of listening to the Flaming Lips to start with. It’s weird, it’s fun, and it’s peak British Invasion.
8. “Spring Again” by Biz Markie
Here’s one for the hip-hop fans out there. Lyricism is the name of the game here, though much can be said for the sampling and mixing of the backing track. What’s fascinating about “Spring Again,” however, is the chorus portion. In many modern hip-hop songs, the artist will sample the sung portion of the song or find a different vocalist.
But that doesn’t seem to be the case here. Instead, the chorus is oversung by someone without vocal training. Possibly by the rapper himself, or by one of his close friends. This choice may initially sound strange, but it gives this underrated track a unique flavor that you don’t find in more over-produced rap and hip-hop today. There’s an earnestness to this sort of thing that more professional fare lacks.
Just like how we feel when the snow finally melts.
9. “It Might as Well Be Spring” by Frank Sinatra
Classic and polished, this is the one your mom (or grandmother?) will probably enjoy the most. A slow, crooning ballad, “It Might as Well Be Spring” is Frank Sinatra at his most Frank Sinatra. There are big band horns in the bridge, there are fluttering woodwinds, there are sweeping strings, and then there are Sinatra’s vocals.
Frank Sinatra is one of those artists who was so prolific during his lifetime that he probably has a song or two for every season, situation, and emotion. No imitator has come close to matching the sheer size of his discography. And at the same time, none have managed to come close to matching his filmography, either.
10. “Here Comes the Sun” by the Beatles
1969 was a wild year for music. Entire albums from that year could make it onto this list. But since it would probably be a faux pas to point to the “Days of Future Passed” album and say “pretty much that,” this will have to do.
“Here Comes the Sun” is from a high point in the Beatles’ discography before their music started sounding like it could give the listener a contact high. High production values combined with a down-to-earth sound create a crisp, pretty little track that everyone has heard in at least one commercial.
11. “Tuesday Afternoon” by the Moody Blues
Alright, let’s put at least one more track from 1969 on this list. “Tuesday Afternoon” is just one track in a forty-two-minute long rock opera by the Moody Blues, and the whole thing is worth listening to if you get the chance. But this track is one of a couple that made it onto the radio individually, and for that, it gets a mention.
Also known as “The Afternoon (Tuesday?),” the track is so crisp that it’s hard to believe it’s as old as it is. The low, driving piano, the droning keyboard, the acoustic guitar, and the almost tentative vocals lend it an ethereal quality that’s hard to describe. But somewhere between the lyrics and the instrumental, you can feel the crisp, cool air of spring.
12. “Lullaby of Spring” by Donovan
Now for something with a more Scottish flair, you should definitely give “Lullaby of Spring” a listen. You may need to pull up some lyrics to understand what’s being said in places, but it’s a surprisingly uplifting song once you know what the singer is going on about. Getting back to the underlying meaning of spring, there’s a lot about new growth and rebirth in this track.
Plus, it lives up to its name as a lullaby too. It doesn’t get much simpler than a man and his guitar.
13. “A Father’s First Spring” by the Avett Brothers
Folksy and sweet, the Avett Brothers bring a measure of much-needed sincerity with this track about fatherhood and explaining having to leave home to a baby daughter. You can feel the achingly gentle sentiment written into every measure of this song; whoever Eleanor is, she’s a lucky little girl. “A Father’s First Spring” is all for her.
Though there probably won’t be many covers of this particular ballad in the future due to how personalized it is, it’s still a lovely track that deserves recognition.
14. “Dog Days Are Over” by Florence and the Machine
Any number of Florence tracks could fit onto this list simply for how upbeat and catchy they are. But “Dog Days Are Over” has that element of triumph that trumps all of them in terms of how well it fits the end of an ugly, cold season and the beginning of a bright new one.
The moving vocals and driving beat are enough to get anyone dancing along.
If you like indie or alternative music, you owe it to yourself to listen to Florence.
15. “Spring Break-Up” by Luke Bryan
Fine, let’s throw in some country while we’re at it. This has all the elements of the modern country genre, including mentions of social media, a southern twang, and a fiddle having fun in the background. “Spring Break-Up” is exactly what it says on the tin. It’s about a hook-up that didn’t lead to anything, and now the singer is nipping it in the bud before it can get serious.
Any modern country fan should feel right at home with this track. The only way it could get more country is if he mentioned trucks and guns. Does the Jeep on the album cover count as a truck? Country fans, discuss.
16. “Beautiful Day” by U2
Just because a singer can occasionally be a hooting gibbon doesn’t mean he can’t make good music. For all the controversy that Bono invites into his life for his opinions on things, he still knocked it out of the park with “Beautiful Day.” Between his vocals and the Edge’s guitar work, this track has become well-known both on the radio and in numerous commercials.
This is the kind of song best played with the windows down and the wind in your face as you belt out the lyrics in the car. U2 is definitely the kind of band that knows what audience they’re playing for.
17. “Lent” by Autoheart
Autoheart isn’t that well-known of a band outside of alternative and indie circles, but their lyricism is unsurpassed. “Lent” is no exception, with its beat carried by a low, chugging piano that keeps its rhythm with the singer’s perfect embodiment of anxiety. It compares the idea of the Catholic holiday of Lent to a controlling relationship, drawing a parallel between religion and abuse.
That may sound like a heavy topic to attribute to a season like spring, but it’s a good reminder that not everyone experiences the turn of seasons the same way. It’s also exactly the kind of lyrical genius that one can expect from Autoheart, an underappreciated band worth getting into.
18. “Passing Through (Can’t the Future Just Wait)” by Kaden MacKay
Sometimes a song, much like spring, doesn’t go where you think it will. It changes and wanders and finds ways to surprise you, just when you think you’ve gotten a handle on it. “Passing Through” is one of those songs. Somehow these curious, pondering lyrics with their meandering melody never manage to end up in the spot they’re supposed to, and it’s fascinating.
There is no real chorus. There are no real verses. The song sounds both old and new at the same time. Kaden MacKay has a plain, unassuming vocal delivery that’s almost flat, and yet he has perfect pitch control. If you listen to it once, you’ll almost definitely be listening to it more than that just to try and absorb it.
19. “Honeybody” by Kishi Bashi
When all you need is a song for dancing in the living room while doing a good spring clean, Kishi Bashi’s “Honeybody” has you covered. It’s both innocent and naughty, managing to be childish in a way that says being an adult means getting to decide what being an adult is.
The sentiment behind it rings true in a quintessentially millennial way, casually suggesting board games and Dungeons and Dragons while sipping a Coca-Cola. With commercialism being so intrinsic to the millennial experience, it’s no wonder that branding and ideas tied to it show up in millennial music like this.
20. “Ready Now” by Dodie
Though few artists bring to mind the softness of springtime like Dodie, the track “Ready New” is one of her sweetest, most earnest tracks. It’s hopeful in a way that’s almost defiant and uplifting, without being saccharine. The lyrics seem to come from a place of having been shown the light after a dark, terrible time, rather than being happy for the sake of happiness.
It’s fitting this track was used for an adaptation of something as subtly nuanced in its positivity as Moominvalley. It may be a show for kids, but there are some heavy topics tucked away in there.
21. “Raindrops” by Eurielle
Few things usher in the springtime like a rainstorm. “April showers bring May flowers,” or so goes the saying. Eurielle aims to capture this in her song “Raindrops.”
In this floating, ethereal melody, Eurielle evokes the image of sitting beside the window and watching the rain fall gently outside. A hint of French lyrics add to the romantic feeling of watching your breath fog up the window as you count the drops. While she sings about the rain, the lyrics hint to a deeper consideration– perhaps a relationship on the cusp of change.
22. “April In Paris” by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong
To polish off the list, let’s end things right with a duet between two legends. Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong are both household names in their own right, but putting them together for a song is a recipe for greatness.
Ella’s sultry, smooth alto in the first part is almost like a bird’s song, while Louis brings his signature low rasp and mastery of the saxophone for added depth.
Good music is easy to find, but “April In Paris” is a rare gem that demonstrates the full range of two musical greats. If that sounds like it’s up your alley, give it a listen.