Nothing beats songs about good times that transport you back to a special moment in your life. A poignant lyric can make you feel like you’re reliving that event. Songs about the past might evoke positive and negative emotions, but they all make you feel something powerful.
The tracks listed below are excellent examples of songs about memories and remembering good times.
Songs About Memories and Remembering Good Times
1. When We Were Young, Adele
via Adele
“Let me photograph you in this light
In case it is the last time
That we might be exactly like we were
Before we realized.”
Adele is one of the most gifted artists of the twenty-first century. This song is about running into an old flame and recalling the beauty of the relationship. The protagonist of the song sees a former boyfriend one night and is immediately struck with nostalgic thoughts of when they were young and in love. For most people, bumping into an ex would elicit strong emotions, especially if the relationship ended abruptly.
2.Photograph, Ed Sheeran
via Ed Sheeran
“We keep this love in a photograph
We made these memories for ourselves
Where our eyes are never closing
Hearts are never broken
And time's forever frozen, still.”
In this pop song, Ed Sheeran sings about photographs of a former love. He knows that she will never be alone as she has pictures from their relationship to remind of her of all the good times they shared together. It is a slow and tender song, which makes you fall in love with Ed Sheeran’s voice for sure.
3. White Christmas, Bing Crosby
via Bing Crosby
“I'm dreaming of a white Christmas
Just like the ones I used to know
Where the treetops glisten and children listen
To hear sleigh bells in the snow.”
This song, which dates back to the 1940s, is a timeless classic. The evocative lyrics conjure images of the perfect Christmas replete with children, sleigh bells, carols, and, of course, snow! This song was so well received that, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, it is still the best-selling Christmas song ever written, as well as the best-selling single across all categories.
4. 7 Years, Lukas Graham
via Lukas Graham
“Once I was twenty years old, my story got told
Before the morning sun, when life was lonely
Once I was twenty years old.”
This is a terrific song to listen to if you want to reflect on the past. Beginning at the age of seven, the songwriter discusses the things he has learnt from his family, friends, and life in general. He cites three ages: seven, eleven, and twenty. He then looks to the future and imagines how his life will be when he is thirty and sixty years old. It's a well-written song that makes you think about your life and the direction you're headed in.
5. Remember the Time, Michael Jackson
via Michael Jackson
“Do you remember
When we fell in love?
We were young and innocent then
Do you remember
How it all began?
It just seemed like heaven, so why did it end?”
This track is about running into an old flame and recalling the time you were madly in love. Like many classic Michael Jackson tracks, the video took the song to whole other level. Set in Ancient Egypt, it features truly spectacular choreography with dancers costumed in colorful Ancient Egyptian attire. Watch out for the pharaoh, who is far from pleased with the amorous attention the King of Pop bestows upon his wife.
6. Glory Days, Bruce Springsteen
“Glory days well they'll pass you by
Glory days in the wink of a young girl's eye
Glory days, glory days.”
Bruce Springsteen is one of the most well-known and successful singer/songwriters of his generation. Glory Days is a song about hooking up with old pals and reminiscing about your glory days. The song features a former high school baseball star and a woman who “could turn all the lads’ heads back in school.” It's a beautiful, bittersweet song about the golden days we all experience in our lives.
7. Summer of ’69, Bryan Adams
via Bryan Adams
“Oh, when I look back now
That summer seemed to last forever
And if I had the choice
Yeah, I'd always wanna be there
Those were the best days of my life.”
This upbeat anthem is a perfect representation of songs about good times. A terrific old-school rock tune about the summer of 1969, the songwriter recalls friends, forming a band, drive-in movie theaters, an old sweetheart, and being too busy working to appreciate all those things. It's another fantastic song about the golden days of our youth.
8. Photograph, Nickelback
via Nickelback
“This is where I grew up
I think the present owner fixed it up
I never knew we ever went without
The second floor is hard for sneakin' out.”
The opening line of this post-grunge rock song, “look at this photograph,” refers to images that evoke memories of the past. The songwriter returns to his childhood, looking through photograph after photograph, recalling both happy and sad times. This isn't a love song, but rather a song about the harsh but nevertheless valuable lessons life teaches us.
9. Memories, Maroon 5
via Maroon 5
“There's a time that I remember, when I did not know no pain
When I believed in forever, and everything would stay the same
Now my heart feel like December when somebody say your name
‘Cause I can't reach out to call you, but I know I will one day, yeah.”
This acoustic pop song is about looking back on a past relationship. Specifically, raising a glass to the memory of a lost love, lamenting the fact that that person in no longer a part of your life. While bittersweet in tone, the song has an upbeat message. Even if love dies, we can still cherish memories of the past and all the good times we shared with someone special.
10. Family Reunion, The O’Jays
via The O’Jays
“It's been a long, long time
Since we've had the chance to get together
Nobody knows the next time we see each other
Maybe years and years from now.”
This upbeat R&B song is about the family bond and the joy of being with loved ones. The message isn’t complicated or esoteric – the song emphasizes the importance of maintaining close bonds with your parents, siblings, and extended family. More specifically, the lyrics celebrate times when loved ones get together to reminisce about the old days and the importance of enjoying the moment. As the sample lyrics above state, “Nobody knows the next time we see each other, maybe years and years from now.”
11. Strawberry Wine, Deana Carter
via Deana Carter
“I still remember when thirty was old
And my biggest fear was September when he had to go
A few cards and letters and one long-distance call
We drifted away like the leaves in the fall.”
What greater memory than a lady's first love? This song reflects on “her first taste of love.” The lyrics describe a youthful relationship and the influence it had on the rest of a young woman’s life. How, every year, she returns to a special place to remember the romance. This song will resonate with anyone who identifies somewhere special with a romantic chapter in their life.
12. Don’t You Worry Child, Swedish House Mafia
“There was a time; I used to look into my father's eyes
In a happy home, I was a king I had a golden throne
Those days are gone, now the memories are on the wall
I hear the sounds from the places where I was born.”
This song is about the important lessons learned from childhood. In the composition, the vocalist recalls events from his upbringing that may have left him fearful of life. Ultimately, his father's words have a calming effect, “don't worry, don't worry, child. See, Heaven has a plan for you.” Although a dance track, it has a deeper message that many people will relate to.
13. Memories, Shawn Mendes
via Shawn Mendes
“Let's write our story
And let's sing our songs
Let's hang our pictures on the wall
All these precious moments
That we carved in stone
Are only memories after all.”
In this moving song, Shawn Mendes remembers a past love, but not in a sad or heartbreaking way. Rather, he remembers how beautiful it was to have experienced that love in the first place. Mendes sings about his relationship with special someone. The song is not only a perfect illustration of lost love and old memories but a vocal and melodic delight.
14. Celebration, Kool and The Gang
“Celebrate good times, come on
Let's celebrate
Celebrate good times, come on
Let's celebrate.”
With its infectious beat and catchy lyrics, this is undoubtedly one of the most famous tunes of the disco era. A celebratory, energetic, R&B anthem, it’s all about those great moments in life that we look back on with the most fondness. The line “we're going to celebrate and have a wonderful time,” encapsulates the spirit of song. This is a classic track with everlasting appeal.
15. Good Old Days, Macklemore ft. Kesha
via Macklemore LLC
“I wish somebody would have told me babe
That someday, these will be the good old days
All the love you won't forget
And all these reckless nights you won't regret
‘Cause someday soon, your whole life's gonna change
You'll miss the magic of the good old days.”
The final song on our list is a fantastic tune with a stirring piano intro. Then, Kesha's voice comes in, lamenting the loss of the good old days, and Macklemore raps about regrets and not losing out on tomorrow by dwelling on the past. The lyrics convey a poignant message that encapsulates every song featured here about memories and remembering the good times.
Final Thought on the Best Songs About Memories and Remembering Good Times
Most people have experienced good and bad times in their lives. Whether it's love, life, success, failure, or something else, these experiences help us to develop as individuals and look forward to a brighter future. These songs remind us of the ‘good old days,’ but also encourage not to linger on the past.
If you're in the mood for more music, here are other song collections that you might like:
- 29 Best Songs About Gratitude & Being Thankful
- 31 Songs About Freedom and Living an Independent Life
- 27 Best Songs About Going on an Adventure
Finally, if you want to use these songs to make a lasting change to your life, then check out these 100 LIFE GOALS that can help you wake up each morning with a sense of enthusiasm about making progress toward what's important..
