Regardless of where we go, how far we reach, and how much we achieve, our parents will always be by our side, untiringly giving us love and support. On your special day, a mother-son and father-daughter dance take place to honor the role our parents have played in our lives.
Countless songs in countless genres have been written to applaud and show gratitude for our mothers. These include records from artists such as Adele, Beyoncé, The Beatles, Garth Brooks, and Jason Mraz.
20 Best Songs for the Mother-Son Wedding Dance
1. 93 Million Miles – Jason Mraz
93 Million Miles is the second single from Jason Mraz’s studio album Love Is a Four Letter Word released in 2012. The title is a reference to the distance between the Earth and the Sun. The song’s message is that regardless of where we are and what we achieve, we always have someplace to call home and a family who will welcome us. “Son, in life you’re gonna go far / If you do it right / You’ll love where you are / Just know that wherever you go / You can always come home.”
2. A Mother’s Prayer – K. Michelle
Michelle, a mother herself, released A Mother’s Prayer in 2013 and dedicated it to her son, Chase, and all the mothers in the world. The lyrics of this song detail a mother’s sentiments and wishes for her child’s future. “Those dreams you have, I want you to chase ’em, chase ’em / This bond that we got, let nobody break it, break it / Even when I’m on the road, and I can’t see your face, this music will never take your place / I love you Chase, I love my Chase.”
3. A Song For My Son – Mikki Viereck
Mikki Viereck’s A Song For My Son is a nostalgic and heartwarming song wherein a mother reminisces about her “little boy.” The chorus is a message from a mother to her son about married life and how he should be kind to his wife. But even if he is already married and will have his own family soon, he will always be her “loving son.”
4. Child of Mine – Carole King
Carole King’s Child of Mine was released in 1970 as a track in the album Writer. As the title of indicates, the song is a mother’s love song to her child. The lyrics speak of a mother’s wonder and appreciation for her child, and her confidence in how far they will go. “Nobody’s gonna kill your dreams / Or tell you how to live your life / There’ll always be people to make it hard for a while / But you’ll change their heads when they see you smile.”
5. Halo – Beyoncé
Beyoncé released Halo in 2009, which she co-wrote with Evan Bogart and Ryan Tedder. This song is one of her most successful and well-received pieces; the music video’s one billion views on YouTube is a testament to how popular it is. Although written with romantic love in mind, the lyrics could also describe the power of the love between a mother and her child.
6. House of Gold – Twenty One Pilots
7. How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You) – James Taylor
First sung by Marvin Gaye, James Taylor released his version of How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You) in 1975. It received commercial success, peaking at number five on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and number one on the Easy Listening chart. The lyrics talk about how special it is to be loved by someone one views as heaven-sent. The song shows gratitude not only for the love but also for how that love can help someone be a better version of themselves.
8. I Will Be Here – Steven Curtis Chapman
I Will Be Here was released in 1989 as part of Steven Curtis Chapman’s album More to This Life. The lyrics were written by Chapman as a vow to his wife that no matter what happens, regardless of their circumstances, he will stay by her side. With that said, the song can also be interpreted as a parent’s promise of unending and secure love to their child.
9. In My Life – The Beatles
Released in 1965, The Beatles’ In My Life has received critical acclaim for its composition and lyrics. The song has been included in numerous “best of all time” lists, including Rolling Stone and Mojo. According to Lennon, the lyrics are a “generalized meditation on his past,” remembering and honoring the places and people that were significant to him. “Though I know I’ll never lose affection / For people and things that went before / I know I’ll often stop and think about them / In my life I love you more.”
10. Mama Hold My Hand – Aloe Blacc
Aloe Blacc’s Mama Hold My Hand tells the story of a mother’s love and care throughout one’s life; it starts in one’s childhood and only gets stronger over time. “Momma told me that life’s gonna get rough / Take it day by day / But every once in a while I get scared / And I wish I could say / Mama, hold my hand / I don’t think I can cross this road by myself.” As we get older, so does our mothers. This song ends sweetly with a child now taking care of their mother.
11. Mom – Garth Brooks
Garth Brooks’ Mom is a conversation between God and an unborn child. God tells the child about what a mother is, “There’s someone down there waiting whose only goal in life / Is making sure you’re always going to be alright / A loving angel tender, tough, and strong / Come on, child, it’s time to meet your mom.”
12. Mother – Sugarland
Sugarland’s 2018 release, Mother, showcases how best mother and son wedding dance songs can encapsulate the love and bond shared between a mother and her child. “She’s a beacon, a harbor / A lighthouse, her armor / A promise and a blanket when it’s cold / You’ll understand it more when you get older / You’ve got each other.”
13. My Mother’s Eyes – Frankie Valli
Frankie Valli’s 1953 rendition of My Mother’s Eyes was a cover of George Jessel’s song, which was released in 1929. The lyrics speak of a mother’s ability to comfort, guide, and support her child, especially with her kind and tender eyes. “One bright and guiding light, / That taught me wrong from right, / I found in my mother’s eyes. / Those baby tales she told, / That road all paved in gold, / I found in my mother’s eyes.”
14. No Matter What – Calum Scott
15. Sweet Love of Mine – Joy Williams
Joy Williams paints a heartwarming picture with Sweet Love of Mine, standing out as a top pick for Best Mother Son Wedding Dance Songs. According to Williams, the lyrics to the song came to her while her son, Miles, was asleep in her arms. Because of this, the lyrics are incredibly personal and heartfelt. “Oh, my darling, sweet love of mine / I’ll hold you all through the night / I gave you your name; you gave me back my life / You’re the heart of me, oh, sweet love of mine.”
16. Sweetest Devotion – Adele
Sweetest Devotion is a track from Adele’s album “25,” released in 2015. Adele said in an interview that the song was written for her son; she described how “something much bigger has happened in my life.” With sweet lyrics such as “I’ve been looking for you, baby / In every face that I’ve ever known / And there is something ’bout the way you love me / That finally feels like home,” the song is a heartwarming tune ideal for the mother-son dance.
17. That’s What Mamas Do – Jason Matthews
From the 2008 album Hicotine, Jason Matthews’ That’s What Mamas Do is an homage to mothers and their acts of service borne out of love. The lyrics show how timeless and tireless a mother’s love is, “They raise you / Ground you / Build their whole world around you / With no care for the hell they’ll go through / That’s what mamas do.”
18. The Man You Have Become – No Limitz
19. The Perfect Fan – Backstreet Boys
Reba McEntire’s You’re Gonna Be rounds off this list, underlining the boundless love a mother holds for her child, making it a strong contender in the best mother song wedding dance song list.The Perfect Fan was written by Brian Littrell, a member of the Backstreet Boys, in collaboration with Thomas Smith. The song is the last track on their third studio album Millennium, which was released in 1999. As the title of the song denotes, the lyrics describe how one’s mother is usually their biggest supporter. One line from the song goes, “You were always there for me / Pushing me and guiding me / Always to succeed,” and the song ends with Brian saying, “I love you, mom.”
20. You’re Gonna Be – Reba McEntire
Reba McEntire’s You’re Gonna Be rounds off this list, underlining the boundless love a mother holds for her child, making it a strong contender in the best mother song wedding dance song list. It expresses a mother’s desire to do everything for her child, to give them everything she has to offer and more. “You’re gonna see that sometimes bad is good / We just have to believe things work out like they should / Life has no guarantees, but always loved by me / You’re gonna be.”
Reba McEntire’s You’re Gonna Be rounds off this list, underlining the boundless love a mother holds for her child, making it a strong contender in the best mother song wedding dance song list.
Other Mother-Son Dance Songs For the Wedding
-
- Always Be Your Baby – Natalie Grant
- I Hope You Dance – Lee Ann Womack
- The First Lady in My Life – Paul Todd
- Through the Years – Kenny Rogers
- Mom – Meghan Trainor
- A Mother Like Mine – The Band Perry
- Letter to My Mother – Edwin McCain
- Mother’s Day – Kellie Pickler
- Close to You – The Carpenters
- My Wish – Rascal Flatts
- Like My Mother Does – Lauren Alaina
- Mama’s Song – Carrie Underwood
- Mother – John Lennon
- God Only Knows – The Beach Boys
- You Raise Me Up – Josh Groban
- Do I Make You Proud – Taylor Hicks
- Momma’s Boy – Michael Bublé
- To Where You Are – Josh Groban
- Oh Mother – Christina Aguilera
- I Got You – Ciara
- Song for Mama – Boyz II Men
- Turn to You – Justin Bieber
- Somebody’s Hero – Jamie O’Neal
- Mama – Il Divo
- Mother Like You – U2
- Never Alone – Lady Antebellum
- Days Like This – Van Morrison
- You’re My Best Friend – Queen
- Forever Young – Rod Stewart
- Angels – Randy Travis
- Have I Told You Lately – Van Morrison
- Mom – Earth, Wind & Fire
- Mother’s Love – Karen Taylor-Good
- He Gets That from Me – Reba McEntire
- A Mother’s Love – Mark Masri
- My Front Porch Looking In – Lonestar
- Then They Do – Trace Adkins
- Mother – Ashanti
- Thank God for Moms – O.C. Supertones
- Mom – Lucero
- Mother, I Thank You – Michael Bolton
- Because You Loved Me – Celine Dion
- Blessed – Elton John
- A Mother’s Love – Jim Brickman
- There You’ll Be – Faith Hill
- Wind Beneath My Wings – Bette Midler
- Hero – Mariah Carey
- Mama – Spice Girls
- Bridge Over Troubled Water – Simon & Garfunkel
- Landslide – Fleetwood Mac
- Just the Way You Are – Billy Joel
- Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong
- Child of Mine – Bette Midler
- I’ll Stand By You – The Pretenders
- The Best Day – Taylor Swift
- Isn’t She Lovely – Stevie Wonder
- What a Wonderful World – Israel Kamakawiwo’ole
- Forever – The Beach Boys
- In My Daughter’s Eyes – Martina McBride
- Over the Rainbow – Judy Garland
- You Light Up My Life – Debby Boone
- Mama – Chris Bowers-Castillo
- Somewhere Out There – Linda Ronstadt & James Ingram
- Coat of Many Colors – Dolly Parton
- Momma – Boyz II Men
- Simple Man – Lynyrd Skynyrd
- Photograph – Ed Sheeran
- Your Song – Elton John
- Have I Told You Lately That I Love You – Rod Stewart
- Mother’s Little Helper – The Rolling Stones
- A Song for Mama – Boyz II Men
- Mama Said – The Shirelles
- The Rose – Bette Midler
- You’ve Got a Friend – James Taylor
- Mama Liked the Roses – Elvis Presley
- Sweet Child o’ Mine – Guns N’ Roses
- Mother and Child Reunion – Paul Simon
- Always on My Mind – Willie Nelson
- Mother Nature’s Son – The Beatles
- Don’t Forget to Remember Me – Carrie Underwood
- Mama’s Pearl – The Jackson 5
- I’ll Always Love My Mama – The Intruders
- The Hand That Rocks the Cradle – Glen Campbell & Steve Wariner
- Mother of Mine – Neil Reid
- Mama Can’t Buy You Love – Elton John
- The Best Day – George Strait
- Mama – BJ Thomas
- Look What You’ve Done – Bread
- I.O.U. – Jimmy Dean
- Mama, I’m Coming Home – Ozzy Osbourne
- Mama Tried – Merle Haggard
- Mom and Dad’s Waltz – Lefty Frizzell
- I Remember Mama – Shirley Caesar
- Two of Us – The Beatles
- Mom – Garth Brooks
- Mother – Pink Floyd
- Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy) – John Lennon
- Time in a Bottle – Jim Croce
- Dear Mama – 2Pac
- I Turn to You – Christina Aguilera
- The Long and Winding Road – The Beatles
- If I Could – Barbra Streisand
- A Mother’s Prayer – Celine Dion
- Forever Young – Bob Dylan
- Angels – Robbie Williams
- Every Mother’s Dream – Theresa James
- If It Wasn’t for a Woman – Kellie Pickler
- Mama’s Hand – Queen Naija
- Oh, Mother – Christina Aguilera
- Thank You Mom – Good Charlotte
- Mama Said – Metallica
- Turn! Turn! Turn! – The Byrds
- Thank You – Dido
- All That I Am – Rob Thomas
- Letter to Me – Brad Paisley
- Thank God for Kids – Oak Ridge Boys
- The Best Day – Atmosphere
- The Circle Game – Joni Mitchell
- Mother – Danzig
- In My Life – The Beatles
- Mama’s Arms – Joshua Kadison
- My Mother’s Eyes – Bette Midler
- A Mother’s Love – Karen Taylor-Good
- Mother Like Mine – The Band Perry
- I.O.U – Lee Greenwood
- Mama – Connie Francis
- Moments – Emerson Drive
- You’re Gonna Be – Reba McEntire
- Mother and Child – Paul Simon
- Three Times a Lady – Commodores
- Don’t Forget to Remember – Bee Gees
- Mother – Tori Amos
- Humble and Kind – Tim McGraw
- You Decorated My Life – Kenny Rogers
- The Baby – Blake Shelton
- Mother Like You – Kacey Musgraves
- Mother’s Daughter – Miley Cyrus
- Mother’s Intuition – Justin Timberlake
- My Old Man – Zac Brown Band
- Mother’s Love – Mark Masri
- Mother – Sugarland
- Child of Mine – Carole King
- The Things We’ve Handed Down – Marc Cohn
- Mother, Did You Watch – Terri Clark
- Mama’s Broken Heart – Miranda Lambert
- Mama Said Knock You Out – LL Cool J
- Moments to Remember – The Lettermen
- Teach Your Children – Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
- Children Song – Robert Miles
- Blue – Beyonce
- So Far to Find You – Casting Crowns
- You’re Gonna Miss This – Trace Adkins
- Mother’s Love – James and Bobby Purify
- Thank You Mom – Boyz II Men
- The Perfect Fan – Backstreet Boys
- To Zion – Lauryn Hill
- Someday – Michael Bublé
- Mother – Kacey Musgraves
- I’ll Be There – Mariah Carey
- A Mother’s Prayer – Rachael Lampa
- Mother – Florence + The Machine
- Song for My Mother – Jane’s Addiction
- Song for Mama – Patti Labelle
- Beautiful In My Eyes – Joshua Kadison
- Sunrise, Sunset – from Fiddler on the Roof
- Sweetest Devotion – Adele
- Mama’s Boy – Otis Redding
- The Way You Look Tonight – Frank Sinatra
- Because of You – Kelly Clarkson
- Over The Rainbow/What A Wonderful World – Israel Kamakawiwo’ole
- 93 Million Miles – Jason Mraz
- It’s Your Song – Garth Brooks
- Mother’s Prayer – Bonnie Barbey
- Mother and Son – Wedding Music Central
- Mother Like Mine – Kacey Musgraves
- Stand by Me – Ben E. King
- Mother’s Day – Blink-182
- Everything I Own – Bread
- My Yiddishe Momme – Tom Jones
- The Wind – Cat Stevens
- Julia – The Beatles
- Two Of A Kind, Workin’ On A Full House – Garth Brooks
- Cinderella – Steven Curtis Chapman
- My Little Girl – Tim McGraw
- “A Mother’s Prayer” – Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli
- I Hope You Dance – Gladys Knight
- You Are The Sunshine Of My Life – Stevie Wonder
- Love Can Build A Bridge – The Judds
- Unforgettable – Nat King Cole and Natalie Cole
- What a Difference You’ve Made in My Life – Ronnie Milsap
- Lean On Me – Bill Withers
- A Mother’s Song – T Carter Music
- Mother’s Eyes – Ethan Bortnick
- There Goes My Life – Kenny Chesney
- The One Thing – Shakira
- Sweet Child Of Mine – Sheryl Crow
- You’ll Be In My Heart – Phil Collins
- I Got You Babe – Sonny and Cher
- Mama – LunchMoney Lewis
- How Sweet It Is – James Taylor
- Find Your Wings – Mark Harris
- Here Comes The Sun – The Beatles
Final Thoughts
This curated list of mother-son wedding dance songs beautifully captures the profound bond between parents and children. With artists spanning from legends like The Beatles to modern icons like Adele, each song resonates with the timeless emotions and memories shared in this unique relationship. Whether you’re a parent or a child, these tracks offer a heartfelt reflection on the deep, unwavering connection that exists within families.
