43 Best Songs About The Weekend

There’s nothing in life like waking up knowing the weekend is near. The daily grind can wear anyone down, but the relief of Friday night carries us through each weekday.

Let our list of the best songs about the weekend recharge your batteries and rejuvenate your soul – the weekend is always near!

1. “Another Saturday Night” by Sam Cooke

Song year: 1963

Pioneering soul singer Sam Cooke takes a stark look at the weekend in his ode to loneliness, “Another Saturday Night.”

Cooke wrote the song while touring alone in Europe. The feeling of having it all but nobody to share it with makes this soul single a relatably lonely weekend lament.

2. “Working For the Weekend” by Loverboy

Song year: 1981

Canadian rockers Loverboy scored one of the biggest hits of their career with “Working for the Weekend.”

The power-pop single encapsulates the feeling of anticipation that many feel while waiting for their real week, the weekend, to begin. The highly relatable and catchy songwriting helped catapult the Canucks to international fame.

3. “Kings of the Weekend” by Blink-182

Song year: 2016

Even though multi-platinum pop-punk band Blink-182 doesn’t live by the strict 9-5 life anymore, they still remember the joys of seeing bands on the weekend.

That pure joy and raw energy is in their track “Kings of the Weekend.” The song is a guitar-driven homage to bands that saved their lives, ironically performed by a band that now represents that to others.

4. “Friday I’m in Love” by The Cure

Song year: 1992

The only thing better than a Friday is a Friday where you realize that you’re in love.

This joyous realization of love is what The Cure and singer Robert Smith sing to the rafters in their classic alternative single “Friday I'm in Love.” The song’s energy and sentiment are infectious, helping the song chart globally.

5. “Lonely Weekend” by Kacey Musgraves

Song year: 2018

Modern country songstress Kacy Musgraves tackles loneliness and FOMO in her country ballad “Lonely Weekend.”

The singer admits that while struggling to fight feelings of isolation, she knows she won’t be alone forever. The realization makes the loneliness feel more profound and offers a light at the end of the tunnel for lonely listeners.

6. “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting” by Elton John

Song year: 1973

It might surprise some listeners that one of the most rambunctious songs about the weekend comes courtesy of Sir Elton John.

The singer-songwriter’s first single off Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting,” is a rowdy tale of barroom brawling that crept near the top of the charts in the U.S. and U.K.

7. “Easy” by Commodores

Song year: 1977

While many people report feeling anxiety on Sunday, the Commodores’ pop-soul single “Easy” takes a mellow point of view on the weekend's final day.

With singer Lionel Richie’s laid-back perspective on Sunday morning, all those Monday anxieties can fade away. The office will always be there, but the Commodores remind us to appreciate our slow mornings.

8. “Friday” by Rebecca Black

Song year: 2011

Rebecca Black innocently stumbled into the then-unknown power of social media and viral content with her ode to the weekend “Friday.”

The song and video captivated the internet under the banner of the worst music ever made, turning her teenage anthem into a national sensation. The single became a forebearer of early Millennial culture.

9. “Sunday Morning” by The Velvet Underground

Song year: 1966

While The Velvet Underground’s “Sunday Morning” is a nod to partying so hard on Saturday that you’re walking home while everyone else is leaving for church, the song still sounds as easy and beautiful as a Sunday stroll.

The band pioneered alternative music, but tracks like “Sunday Morning” show their softer, classic songwriting sensibilities and demonstrate why their influence has prevailed.

10. “Saturday Night” by Bay City Rollers

Song year: 1974

Scottish teen idols Bay City Rollers’ enthusiastically catchy and insistent single “Saturday Night” topped the pop charts in 1976.

The song’s stomping rhythm, catchy melody, and sing-along chorus beg for crowd participation, and the themes of dancing and partying during the weekend are universal. Due to its catchiness and relatability, the track is the subject of numerous samples and covers.

11. “Livin’ for the Weekend” by The O’Jays

Song year: 1975

The O’Jays’ mix of mellow Philly soul and light disco flourishes make their number one R&B single “Livin’ for the Weekend” a perfect track for Friday.

The band builds anticipation over light percussion and stabs of brass instruments until the song finally explodes into dancefloor-style of ‘70s soul. The result is a song that captures the slow-moving process of getting to Friday night.

12. “Friday on My Mind” by The Easybeats

Song year: 1966

The Easybeats’ “Friday on My Mind” is consistently ranked as one of the greatest Australian songs of all time. It’s easy to see why – the garage rock single is catchy, raw, and relatable.

Alternating between sad-sounding minor chords during the verses and happy-sounding major chords during the chorus, the band captures the pure enthusiasm of a Friday night that has finally arrived.

13. “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down” by Johnny Cash

Song year: 1970

The weekend isn’t all fun and games, as evidenced by Johnny Cash’s stark portrait of substance abuse in “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down.”

Written by Kris Kristofferson, the song would become a minor hit for Ray Stevens before The Man in Black lent his gravelly gravitas to the destitute tale and took it to number one on the country charts.

14. “Saturday in the Park” by Chicago

Song year: 1972

The soft rock swoon of Chicago’s “Saturday in the Park” is a perfect auditory aid for a weekend stroll.

Its strutting piano rhythm and soulful horn section sound like a blast of Saturday sunshine. And the vignettes of people hanging out in the park only amplify the song’s feel-good nature.

15. “Weekend Warrior” by Iron Maiden

Song year: 1992

Heavy metal pioneers Iron Maiden make fun of the intense fandom surrounding soccer in the U.K. on their 1992 track “Weekend Warrior.”

Known as hooliganism, these intense rivalries between soccer fans have led to many violent clashes. Iron Maiden lays bare the absurd nature of this behavior with their trademark barrage of guitars.

16. “Here Comes the Weekend” by Roxette

Song year: 1992

A common theme in many songs about the weekend is loneliness. It seems that no matter how badly we want a break from life, that break means nothing without someone to share it.

So, Roxette’s “Here Comes the Weekend” captures an ironic look at the impending Saturday night. Instead of excitement, there is dread at another lonely weekend, where the empty nights feel more lonesome.

17. “Chattahoochee” by Alan Jackson

Song year: 1992

Alan Jackson sings about the nostalgia of youth and the joy of a down-home country party in his hit single “Chattahoochee.”

Coming of age in a small town is simple. There’s a lot of hanging out by the river and aimlessly driving around. Jackson captures the joy of Friday nights spent drinking and dreaming in an undeniably authentic way.

18. “S-S-S-Saturday” by Bowling For Soup

Song year: 2011

Bowling For Soup’s goofy brand of pop-punk is the perfect sound to capture the joy of a drunken Saturday night, and the band does just that on their track “S-S-S-Saturday Night.”

Sometimes, there isn’t any other point to the evening than just having a drink and enjoying yourself. Bowling For Soup details such a night, as they take shots, rock out to Ozzy, and dance the night away.

19. “High ‘N’ Dry (Saturday Night) by Def Leppard

Song year: 1981

English rockers Def Leppard feed into the excess-driven world of ‘80s rock with their ode to getting wild on Saturday night, “High ‘N’ Dry (Saturday Night).”

While the song wasn’t a single in the U.S., it has become one of the band’s signature tracks. Its partying ethos helped set the tone for the hair metal genre that would dominate the decade.

20. “Friday” by J.J. Cale

Song year: 1979

With his signature mix of shuffling dance rhythms and jam-band-inspired guitar work, J.J. Cale runs through every day of the week in his track “Friday” until he reaches the eponymous day.

It’s a light-hearted and familiar lament about the monotony of the working week that goes down as easy as the beer Cale drinks on Tuesday.

21. “A Sunday Kind of Love” by Etta James

Song year: 1960

Etta James uses the weekend as a metaphor for lasting love in her soulful single “A Sunday Kind of Love.”

It’s easy to fall in love when everything is easy going on a Saturday night, but James is looking for love that lasts to Sunday morning and through the week.

22. “Love on the Weekend” by John Mayer

Song year: 2016

Guitar maestro John Mayer has flirted with jazz, blues, and psychedelia, but “Love on the Weekend” finds the singer-songwriter in his pop-rock comfort zone.

Mayer is no stranger to romance. Tracks like “Your Body is a Wonderland” wooed millions. This 2016 single finds the singer anticipating a weekend getaway with his hallmark romantic charm.

23. “Sunday” by Sonic Youth

Song year: 1998

Even post-punk luminaries Sonic Youth enjoy the weekend. Their single “Sunday” is a fitting nod to the birth of a new week and sharing it with your favorite person.

With a dash of wisdom and a heavy dose of angular electric guitars, “Sunday” finds the perennially edgy art-rock band at their most accessible.

24. “Finally Friday” by George Jones

Song year: 1992

Country music captures the spirit of the working class like no other music. That’s why when George Jones sings about making it to the weekend in “Finally Friday,” he sings it like he means it.

Backed by slide guitars and with some big bills in his pocket, Jones knows the weekend is fleeting. But it’s part of what makes it so sweet.

25. “Out on the Weekend” by Neil Young

Song year: 1972

Neil Young’s country ballad “Out on the Weekend” captures the sorrow of heartbreak over soaring pedal steel guitar licks and acoustic strumming.

The song finds Young running from love while running towards a new life, using the weekend as a metaphor representing a reprieve from a reality that’s waiting just past Sunday night.

26. “Here Comes the Weekend” by The Jam

Song year: 1977

English mod-punk progenitors The Jam make their case for living life to the fullest on their snarling track “Here Comes the Weekend.”

The band recognizes that the work week can be rough and tumble for the working class, but instead of complaining, they insist that the weekend is time to grab the reins and take control.

27. “Saturday Night” by 2 Chainz

Song year: 2017

2 Chainz took his edgy trap hip-hop sound and made it more accessible for mainstream audiences with the soulful track “Saturday Night.”

Over a hard-hitting beat and slinky-sounding blues guitar, the rapper brags about his status and skills while reframing the concept of seizing the day as an eternal Saturday night.

28. “Weekend in the Dust” by David Byrne and St. Vincent

Song year: 2012

Indie-rock guitar maestro St. Vincent and legendary Talking Heads singer David Byrne teamed up for the quirky and soulful track “Weekend in the Dust.”

With a busy, trap-inspired beat and soulful horns, the song’s tale of a faltering relationship takes the shape of a weekend ending. It’s a bittersweet metaphor made palatable by the song’s infectious groove.

29. “Saturday Nite” by Earth, Wind & Fire

Song year: 1976

No feel-good party is complete without a track by ‘70s soulsters Earth, Wind & Fire. So, it makes sense that one of the best songs about the weekend comes courtesy of the band’s groovy “Saturday Nite.”

The group goes straight for the dancefloor jugular with their funky bass and guitar stabs. There are no metaphors here, only an infectious and joyful groove.

30. “Big Weekend” by Tom Petty

Song year: 2006

A later entry in Tom Petty’s impressive catalog, “Big Weekend” finds the iconic singer-songwriter still searching for the spark of magic found in a weekend on the road.

With production help from ELO’s Jeff Lynne, the track sounds like a lost B-side from Full Moon Fever era Petty. All the while, the theme reminds us that Petty was an artist that never stopped searching.

31. “Saturday Night” by Eagles

Song year: 1973

The Eagles’ sophomore record leaned heavily into country-western themes, with tracks like “Saturday Night” sounding like they’re coming from behind a dusty saloon’s swinging doors.

With tight vocal harmonies and acoustic guitar strums, the band reminisces about past Saturday nights – when love and life seemed so much simpler.

32. “Drive-In Saturday” by David Bowie

Song year: 1973

David Bowie’s single “Drive-In Saturday” tells the story of future societies that have to watch old films to remember how to make love.

It’s a bizarre tale but par for the course for the early ‘70s incarnation of the singer as an androgynous alien from the future. The song’s nostalgic themes enhance the music’s doo-wop and soul motifs.

33. “Friday Night Fever” by George Strait

Song year: 1981

George Jones is a faithful husband, but that doesn’t mean that his feet don't get itchy on the weekends. That’s the theme of his mellow defense of the honky-tonk siren song, “Friday Night Fever.”

Jones’ voice and instrumentation are a perfect match for a barroom, making his declaration of fidelity surprising and refreshing. Sometimes, a person just needs a Friday night on a barstool!

34. “Saturday Nite Is Dead” by Graham Parker & The Rumour

Song year: 1979

Graham Parker’s raw approach to pop songcraft took pages out of the punk and new-wave playbook while managing to sound fresh and unique.

His track “Saturday Nite is Dead” is bursting with raw energy from its uptempo pace and punk instrumentation, but the lyrics reveal the singer has already started feeling out of touch with the nightlife and young crowd.

35. “Saturday Night (Is The Loneliest Night of the Week) by Frank Sinatra

Song year: 1945

Even The Chairman of the Board fought the blues on the weekend. Frank Sinatra’s classic version of “Saturday Night (Is the Loneliest Night)” has the signature Sinatra orchestration and swing, but we find the singer all alone.

It’s hard to believe that Sinatra was ever alone, but the singer is so convincing that you feel an immediate connection and empathy at his performance.

36. “Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F)” by Katy Perry

Song year: 2011

Katy Perry’s technicolor pop vision came to life on the electro-pop single “Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F).”

Over an infectious beat and catchy melody, the rainbow-haired singer sings about a raucous night out full of dancing and devoid of regrets. Perry’s charm and lack of inhibitions are contagious and helped the single climb to the number one spot on the Billboard charts.

37. “One More Saturday Night” by Grateful Dead

Song year: 1972

Though initially recorded for a member’s solo album, the Grateful Dead began performing “One More Saturday Night” as a full band in the early ‘70s. They would eventually record a version on their classic live album Europe ‘72.

The song’s lyrics detail a surreal scene where gods, presidents, and the citizens of the planet all decide to party on Saturday night.

38. “Everyday Is Like Sunday” by Morrissey

Song year: 1988

Morrissey, the former singer of the pioneering English jangle-pop group The Smiths, proved that he wasn’t a flash in the pan by releasing his successful solo single “Everyday is Like Sunday” after the group disbanded.

The song is an extended look at the dreary nature of a seaside town in the offseason – the perfect backdrop for the singer's typically morose lyricism.

39. “(Looking For) The Heart of Saturday Night” by Tom Waits

Song year: 1974

Tom Waits takes his ragged bluesman voice and focuses his lyrics on the eternal quest for fun on his track “(Looking For) The Heart of Saturday Night.”

Waits’ has made his career out of character studies of people on the margins, and even this tale of fun on the weekend has a subtext of otherness that makes it feel lit by a bar’s neon sign.

40. “Friday” by Ice Cube

Song year: 1995

The eponymous single from Ice Cube’s classic movie Friday is all about a laid-back weekend spent partying and looking for love.

Though the movie tackles fairly heavy subjects of violence, Ice Cube’s track is content to celebrate the more universal themes of having a good time once the workweek is over. The song and movie are so popular that they transcend hip-hop and have become part of the pop culture canon.

41. “Saturday Night at the Movies” by The Drifters

Song year: 1964

While streaming services have changed the way we watch movies, there’s still nothing like a date night at the movies. The Drifters put a soulful point on this fact with their track “Saturday Night at the Movies.”

The song’s imagery of kissing, popcorn, and technicolor screens will transport anyone directly to a movie theater seat next to their sweetheart.

42. “Sunday Morning” by No Doubt

Song year: 1995

No Doubt took over the musical landscape in the mid-’90s with their alternative-minded brand of ska.

Singer Gwen Stefani found her niche by channeling a breakup into multi-platinum hits. With “Sunday Morning,” the final single off the album Tragic Kingdom, the singer finds herself happily on the mend from heartbreak.

43. “Friday Night, Saturday Morning” by The Specials

Song year: 1981

The Specials sing about partying so hard that they can hardly talk, but they still know what they're going to do – drink and dance the night away.

While the hard-partying trope is often the stomping grounds of hard rock bands, these rude boys know a thing or two about cutting loose on the weekends!

Top Songs About The Weekend, Final Thoughts

Based on the number of songs artists write about the weekend, it’s clear that five o’clock on Friday afternoon is never too far from anyone’s mind – even on Monday morning!

Though the weekend can sometimes feel lightyears away, with so many great songs dedicated to Saturdays and Sundays, all it takes is loading up your playlist with our best songs about the weekend to fast forward to Saturday night.