Do you have siblings? If so, you know that they can be both a blessing and a curse. Living under the same roof with them can either drive you insane or make you appreciate someone to go to other than Mom and Dad.
In other words, brothers and sisters can be your best friends or worst enemies. Not surprising that siblings often provide plenty of fodder for songwriters to celebrate or lament!
So, whether you’re happy or frustrated with your sis or bro, we’ve put together a list of 12 of the best songs about siblings. Let’s get started.
1. “We Are Family” By Sister Sledge
If you’re looking for a song that celebrates the special bond between siblings, then look no further than the 1979 single “We Are Family.” This signature song by Sister Sledge quickly became a worldwide hit. It reached #8 on the UK charts and #2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.
The song is about the importance of family and the bond between brothers and sisters. It celebrates the joys of being part of a close-knit family unit. It also shows how living life and experiencing the world together bring them joy and hope for the future.
The powerful message of the song is as relevant now as it was forty years ago. The infectious beat and soulful vocals make it a joy to listen to, and it’s no wonder that it became such a massive hit all over the world.
2. “I Drive Your Truck” By Lee Brice
Notable for its poignant lyrics, “I Drive Your Truck” by Lee Brice is an emotional story about a man who has lost his older brother in combat. The lyrics are so heartfelt that even if you’re a grown man, you just might find it hard to fight the tears.
To deal with the pain of his loss, the narrator visits his brother’s grave. It has been a hard time for him, even after he has cussed, prayed, and said goodbye. The pain made him question God. But nothing else makes him feel closer to his brother than driving around his truck.
This is a way for him to remember all the good times they had. It is his coping mechanism, and he feels his brother’s presence more in his truck. The song is a great reminder that even though our loved ones might be gone, their memories will always be with us.
Related: For more like this song, check out our list of songs about brothers here.
3. “Little Sister” By Jewel
When you have a little sister, you feel responsible for them. Especially if they look up to you. In Jewel‘s “Little Sister,” she sings about someone who’s trying to quit from using drugs but finds it hard to do so.
In the lyrics, Jewel sings, “Trying to stop, you said it hurts so bad.” And it’s sad what it has done to this person. She is “a zombie in a body with no soul.”
You can almost feel what Jewel feels as she sings this song. Since she uses “little sister,” it could actually refer to anyone close to you. Perhaps a friend or anyone is going through the same thing.
4. “Orange Sky” By Alexi Murdoch
Up next is one of those songs open to different interpretations. Alexi Murdoch‘s “Orange Sky” is a song that mentions “brother” and “sister” in the lyrics so this song could be about the love of home or family.
What the rest of the song says is that love is the key. Murdoch sings about his brother being with him in this line: “It’s a long road we’ve been walking on.” His sister, on the other hand, has been a shoulder he can lean on. He sings, “And you know, my sister, my heart’s been broken.”
The line “I stood beneath an orange sky” references the end of the day when the sky turns orange. This is a metaphor that the narrator realizes at the end of the day. That love is our salvation, as proven in the line, “My salvation lies in your love.”
5. “Footprints” By Molly Kate Kestner
For many of us, finding out we’re going to have a baby sister or brother is exciting. That’s how the narrator of Molly Kate Kestner‘s “Footprints” feels, though at first, it doesn’t sound like a good idea to have a sibling.
The first verse of the song talks about her feeling worried that her parents might love her less. But then she finds in her new baby brother a best friend. As they both grow up, we see her as the guiding light for her brother.
What’s most touching is how she tells him that he doesn’t have to fill her shoes. He’s free to forge his own path. But when he gets lost, she tells him, “You can follow the footprints I left for you.”
6. “Come Dancing” By The Kinks
If your brother wrote a song for you, then you must be very special. The Kinks‘ “Come Dancing” was written by lead vocalist Ray Davies, who has six older sisters.
Davies remembers the part of his childhood at a time when her sisters went dancing with their boyfriends. Dancing was one of the things they enjoyed doing. However, the men would be disappointed at the end of the night when they dropped off the ladies. They would only get a peck on the cheek.
Davies claimed to have written the song about his sister, Rene, who had a weak heart. The night she went dancing, she had a heart attack. This song was meant to remind him of his sister’s love for dancing.
7. “Angels In Waiting” By Tammy Cochran
Like the preceding song on this list, Tammy Cochran‘s “Angels in Waiting” was written for siblings. It is a heartfelt song that mentions siblings in the form of two brothers.
This poignant song is personal to Cochran as it is about her two brothers who died from cystic fibrosis. It tells of their time together as children and how they knew that time was limited. In the song, Cochran makes a promise to them that they would live on through her.
She refers to her brothers as angels in waiting who left “sweet memories” that she would treasure forever.
8. “Oh, Sister” By Bob Dylan
It’s not new when songwriters pen a song that ends up being interpreted in different ways, such as “Oh, Sister.” It was first performed live in 1975 and appeared on Bob Dylan’s album Desire. Emmylou Harris performed harmony vocals for the recording.
On the surface, Dylan’s song appears to be about a sister and brother who are estranged. The lyrics are from the brother’s point of view, as he asks his sister not to treat him like he’s a stranger and turn away from him. He emphasizes this further by saying that life is too short, and tomorrow, he could be gone.
However, there is a possible hidden meaning as well. This is evidenced by the capitalization of “Father” in the lyrics, hinting at a religious undercurrent.
9. “My Sister” By Reba McEntire
A song with a sibling in the title, “My Sister” was released in March 2005 from Reba McEntire’s album, Room to Breathe. It peaked at #16 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.
In the song, McEntire sings about calling her sister. She remembers the two of them playing with dolls, fighting, and then laughing again.
Then, she tells her sister about someone she met and wonders if she should bring him home for Christmas. At the same time, she remembers a time when her sister brought home a boyfriend who didn’t make a good impression.
The song concludes with wishing they could hang out again. She adds that despite everything, she appreciates her sister.
10. “Waitin’ On Joe” By Steve Azar
Sometimes, what your sibling does just makes you feel exasperated. Listen to Steve Azar‘s “Waitin’ on Joe,” released in 2002 from the album of the same title. It reached #28 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart.
This song begins with the singer lamenting the fact that his brother is late for a good-paying job. He’s told him numerous times not to be late. But now the boat they were to work on is leaving without them since Joe hasn’t arrived yet.
Things take a sharp turn near the end of the song. The singer finds out that his brother didn’t arrive because, in his hurry to make it on time, he was in an accident and passed away.
11. “Brother” By Kodaline
The bond between brothers is solid, as you can tell from Kodaline’s “Brother.” The single was released in 2017 from their album Politics of Living. Though it didn’t chart in the U.S., it reached #8 on the Irish Homegrown Top 20.
This alternative rock song tells of two brothers who were once close but have taken different paths in life. The singer tells how they would still be there to rescue each other in times of trouble.
The song is not clear on the exact relationship between the brothers. It first tells of them being together when they were young. Later on, it says they are not of the same blood. Also, there are references to being in the trenches and under fire, which could indicate that this song is about military brotherhood.
12. “Sister” By Dave Matthews Band
Oftentimes, it’s the brother-brother or sister-sister bond that songwriters sing about. Even in reality, it’s not often you hear about a brother and a sister sharing a strong relationship. But that is the case in “Sister” by Dave Matthews Band.
Many assume that “Sister” was about Matthews’ older sister, whom her husband murdered in 1994. However, his bond with his younger sister inspired the song.
In the lyrics, Matthews shares memories with his sister Jane. They used to do things such as counting stars and playing together. He also describes the closeness of their bond. He says he feels her tears running down his face when she cries.
Summing Up Our List Of Sibling Songs
Are you coping with the loss of a sibling or expressing gratitude and joy in experiencing life together? Songs across different genres and eras show us how special bonds between siblings can be.
Our relationships with our brothers and/or sisters may not be the same. Some may have grown close and done stuff together, while others are aloof toward each other.
No matter how you look at it, siblings are family. And family makes our lives more meaningful. So love them or hate them, they will remain a part of you.
