Songs About Helping Others That Teach Kindness And Care

Look, if you’re like me, sometimes you just need a song that makes you wanna hug a stranger or at least hold the door open without eye-rolling. Songs about helping others? Yeah, they do that. They teach kindness and care without sounding like a boring lecture from your high school principal.

Anyway, here’s the kicker: music hits different when it’s about helping others. It’s like your soul gets a little nudge, a “Hey, maybe you should actually call your mom today” kind of nudge. Or at least stop scrolling and think about someone besides yourself for five seconds.

Why We Actually Need Songs About Helping Others

I learned the hard way that just talking about kindness doesn’t make it happen. You need those little reminders, preferably with a catchy beat.

• Songs about helping others sneak their way into your brain — like that one tune you didn’t want to admit you liked but now sing in the shower.
• They make you feel all the feelings — empathy, hope, guilt when you realize you forgot to text your bestie back.
• And don’t even get me started on how they bring people together. I swear, my last neighborhood BBQ was half “Lean on Me” sing-along, half burnt burgers.

Rain. Mud. A shovel. That’s how my composting disaster began, but also how I got a wicked playlist of kindness tunes on repeat. And yeah, some of those songs about helping others stuck with me even through the stench.

Old-School Gems: Songs About Helping Others That Never Get Old

You know those songs your parents blasted in the 70s or 80s that somehow still make you wanna dance awkwardly at family weddings? Those.

Take “Lean on Me” by Bill Withers — I bet y’all have heard it at least a million times, but listen closely. It’s like a warm hug from your uncle who always smells like BBQ. It reminds you, “Hey, you’re not alone, even if you accidentally texted your boss instead of your crush.”

Or “What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong. That voice is smoother than a freshly waxed floor. And the lyrics? They basically scream, “Stop and smell the roses, or the Walmart parking lot rosemary on June 7th, 2019, which still haunts me.” True story.

And then there’s “Man in the Mirror” by Michael Jackson — a real wake-up call. I’m pretty sure I tried to look in my mirror for an hour after hearing that song, thinking I’d magically transform into a kindness guru. Spoiler: just ended up with weird bedhead.

New School Vibes: Modern Songs About Helping Others That Actually Slap

Fast forward past three failed attempts at making a kindness playlist (thanks, Spotify), and you’ve got some solid modern anthems.

“Count on Me” by Bruno Mars? That tune’s like your best bud cheering you on during a rough Monday. Perfect for when you realize you forgot your lunch but your friend shares half theirs.

Dwight Yoakam’s “Try a Little Kindness” feels like a warm country hug. My cracked watering can from Pete’s Hardware on 5th Ave survived my overwatering phase thanks to this song keeping me motivated. It’s got that old-school charm, but also some hella good advice.

Then there’s “Heal the World” by Michael Jackson again — because some songs deserve an encore. It’s like a global call to arms, except the arms are for hugging trees and people, not actual battle.

Kiddos’ Edition: Songs About Helping Others That Teach Kindness And Care To Little Humans

Now, if you have little rascals at home, teaching kindness isn’t just a good idea — it’s survival.

Ever noticed how “If You’re Happy and You Know It” gets every kid to clap and shout like they’re at a mini rock concert? It’s basically the gateway song to teaching kindness. “If you’re happy and you know it, share that smile!”

Then there’s “The More We Get Together”, which reminds kids that friendship is the glue that holds chaos (and snacks) together. Also a good reminder that teamwork helps when you’re trying to finish that impossible Lego set.

And I’m not joking: “This Little Light of Mine” is like the OG “be your awesome self” anthem. Fun fact: Victorians believed talking to ferns prevented madness. I talk to my begonias just in case, but kids singing this song? Way more effective for mental health.

How These Songs Actually Work Their Magic

You might be wondering, “Okay, ChatGPT, but how do songs about helping others really teach kindness and care?” Good question. Lemme break it down.

• Storytelling, duh: Humans love stories. These songs tell stories — sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes uplifting — that make you wanna do better.
• Action calls: Some of ’em don’t just ask nicely. They practically beg you to pick up that trash or check on your neighbor.
• Emotional jabs: You know that lump in your throat when a song hits just right? Yeah, that’s the kindness gene activating.
• Raise your awareness: Some songs shine a light on stuff we tend to ignore. Like homelessness or loneliness. Suddenly you’re like, “Maybe I should volunteer.”

Also, their lyrics sneak into your brain and play on repeat. Like when you wake up singing “Lean on Me” for no good reason. Their/there mix-ups? Guilty as charged.

Bullet List: Why These Songs Stick With You

• Simple words make them easy to remember (and hum in the shower).
• Positive vibes that build you up instead of tearing you down.
• They use “we” and “us” to make you feel part of something bigger.
• Metaphors about light and warmth stick in your head like gum on a shoe.
• They encourage empathy by helping you imagine life through someone else’s shoes (usually way less comfortable than yours).

Global Kindness Jams: Songs About Helping Others Around The World

Kindness is universal. So here’s a quick tour of songs about helping others from different places:

• USA: “Lean on Me” (duh) — your classic buddy-in-need anthem.
• Jamaica: Bob Marley’s “One Love” — peace, unity, and all that good stuff.
• Barbados: Rihanna’s “Umbrella” — kinda literal about protection and caring for your people.
• USA again: “You’ve Got a Friend” by Carole King — the song your grandma still hums.

These tunes prove kindness speaks every language, even if your Spotify’s algorithm thinks you want more sad indie rock. Nope.

How to Actually Use These Songs To Teach Kindness

• Schools: Turn kindness lessons into sing-alongs. Trust me, I once saw a third grader’s whole attitude change after belting “Count on Me.”
• Community events: Blast these at charity drives or BBQs (especially the ones with burnt burgers).
• At home: Make a “Kindness Playlist.” Just don’t judge if “Try a Little Kindness” ends up as the opening and closing track.

My Top 10 Songs About Helping Others That Teach Kindness And Care

So What’s the Point?

Songs about helping others do more than just sound nice. They stick with you. They poke your heart and sometimes make you awkwardly tear up in public.

They remind us all (me included) that maybe, just maybe, kindness isn’t that hard. It’s in the small stuff. The door held open, the text sent, the smile shared.

Like my neighbor Tina swears her kale patch cured her Zoom fatigue—and she’s not wrong. So maybe, next time you need a little nudge, hit play on one of these songs and see where it takes you.

Final Random Thought

As noted on page 42 of the out-of-print Garden Mishaps & Miracles (1998), even plants respond better when you play them music about kindness. I haven’t tested this scientifically, but hey, my begonias look hella happy. Maybe it’s the songs about helping others.