Retirement songs are usually played in a farewell party for an outgoing member of a company or organization. If you are an old employee of a company and you are about to leave the company for some reason or the other, then, there will be a good chance that the company will arrange a farewell party for you.
A party is not an entertaining party without loud music and when the music played is meaningfully similar to the concept of the party then the quality of the party just gets that much better.
So far, we can see that a good farewell party needs to have good retirement songs played in it and henceforth, we have sorted out a list of the best songs about retirement. It can be played in any farewell party to make the party a blast!
What are retirement songs?
We can easily understand what retirement songs are usually about from the name itself. A song is marked as a “retirement song” when it usually carries the meaning of “goodbye” or “farewell” in its title or in its lyrics.
Many artists have compiled songs about farewell and goodbye using their own genre/style of music. There are many types of retirement songs out there and we have tried to list the best ones according to genre, concept, and popularity.
Artist’s expression behind retirement songs
Artists/Singers have used the concept of farewell and retirement in many different ways. Some have used the term to express a feeling or convey a message. In many cases, we have found that the song has a secret meaning that artist wanted to convey secretly in their way.
Artists have also used the term “retirement” to relay their thought processes in making the song. If we want to summarize this, then we’ll see that every artist has used “retirement” related concepts in his or her distinct way in their songs.
The following is a list of the best retirement songs to be played at a party:
Our List Of Best Retirement Songs
1. “This Ain’t Goodbye” by Train
This is a perfect song to start a retirement party with. This song clearly states that saying goodbye does not at all mean that it is an end to a relationship. Even after goodbye, in this case, retirement, staying in touch will definitely happen.
The song has soft piano music playing in its background. The clear vocal combined with the piano music to give a melodious tune that should be played to start any retirement party.
2. “Hello, Goodbye” by The Beatles
Not having a “Beatles song” in this list would be like not showing justice to their character. The Beatles are undoubtedly the most famous rock band of the 1960s and it was simply a matter of time before we had to include one of their songs in this list.
In this song “The Beatles” say that goodbye does not always have to mean “goodbye”. It can be meant to say “hello”. If you always mean “hello” when saying “goodbye”, then you don’t have to ever say or mean goodbye to anybody.
The meaning of this song makes it a brilliant retirement song that can be used to begin the party. The song can be used to gesture hello to the retirees even when saying goodbye.
3. “Hall of Fame” by The Script
This track is the most famous song of the band “The Script”. In fact, it is so famous that it has been used as background music for countless videos and recordings. The song is basically a motivational poetry that can be used to lift up the spirits of anyone and make him/her shine bright above all.
The music along with the lyrics makes a beautiful combination that has made it into one of the most used soundtracks in the world. This song is a befitting choice for a retirement song at a party.
4. “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” by Green Day
![Green Day - Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life) [Official Music Video]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/CnQ8N1KacJc/hqdefault.jpg)
The band “Green Day” is known for their alternative-rock/hipster kind of music but this track is contrary to that reputation. This song is a soft-rock type of song. Moreover, it mainly speaks about the grief of not achieving goals in life and then motivates to overcome those griefs and move forward with positive thinking. This song can be used as a retirement song to bid farewell to fellow colleagues. Especially to wish him/her the best of luck for the next job or phase of life.
Green Day has many famous tracks and this song is definitely one of them. This song is special because it is one of their softer songs and carries a lot of meaning. The simple acoustic guitar playing along with the lyrics makes a clean track of music. The vocal can be heard clearly to describe grief of failure and then the motivation to overcome those failures and move forward with positive thinking. If this song is played as retirement song in a party, then it will definitely add sentimental value to the.
5. “My Way” by Frank Sinatra
This song is one of the most classic songs about retirement on the list. With his signature vocal, Frank Sinatra uniquely sings the words of the song. The highlight of the song is a person who is on the verge of ending something and further describes how his journey to the end was. The lyrics also speak about the person desiring for the better in his continuation after the end.
This Frank Sinatra ballad pays homage to a special coworker or supervisor who made things happen. It is a great choice for use as a retirement song at a party.
6. “9 to 5” by Dolly Parton
This is a pop song by Dolly Parton. Released in late 1980, this is the most famous song played by Dolly Parton. This song perfectly emblems the struggles, anguishes, and unhappiness of a “9 to 5” office worker. It actually covers all the key aspects of an office worker.
This song can be happily used as a retirement song at any party to remind the retiree of all the painful things he/she can now happily give up from an office worker’s life.
7. “You’ve Got a Friend” by James Taylor
This is a retirement song that is charming and soft in nature and it mainly denotes that actual friends are there forever. You can never say goodbye to friends. Friends will pick you up when you are down, protect you, do anything good for you.
This song can be used in the party to let the retirees know that their colleagues are there for them forever, even after their retirement. The concept of this song makes it a perfect choice to be included in the playlist of retirement songs.
8. “100 Years” by Five for Fighting
This is a heartfelt and soulful ballad that showcases how important it is to live and enjoy the moments of life. The singer sings about how the enjoyable things in life change with age. He perfectly distinguishes the things enjoyable at different ages and compiles a great retirement song.
This song could be played in a retirement party to remind the retirees that priorities in life change with age.
9. “Oh, What A Beautiful Mornin” by Bing Crosby
This is a classic song first released in 1943. This song is a beautiful description of how mornings can be enjoyed. This musical melodiously describes the types of beauties in the mornings. It can be admired, sensed, and imagined after waking up in the morning.
As a retirement song, this can be played at the party to remind the retirees how they can enjoy the mornings as mentioned in the song and imagine like the singer in the song.
10. “When I’m 64” by The Beatles
The title alone of this song is good enough to make its way into the list of retirement songs. The lyrics of the song marks a question to the lover. If someone is old as 64 then will he/she be taken care of appropriately by their lover/well-wisher. In this case, colleagues can be related as caregivers to the retiring person.
Having two Beatles song in this list will definitely be a great gesture to their reputation and the meaning of this song will be in perfect harmony, f it is played in a retirement party.
11. “Hell Yeah” by Neil Diamond
This song talks about how a person can live a fearless life, confronting all the adversities in life and enjoying the positives. This is a great classic by a fairly famous artist. The music is soft with clear vocals. Moreover, itwill make a great addition to the retirement song list at a party.
This retirement song will praise the retirees for how fearless they were during their working days. At the same time, how they confronted adversities and cherished the good times. Playing this song at a retirement party will be great to applaud the valiant service they give over their lifetime.
12. “We Gotta Get Out of This Place” by The Animals
If this song is used as a retirement song, then it has to be used as a fun choice. Mostly because it portrays the office as an undesirable place to be in. The singer literally says he wants to leave the place as soon as possible by hook or by crook.
If you want to have some fun at the party and tease the retirees with the meaning of this song then it will be a very good option. Having this song will definitely add a great sense of humor to the party.
13. “Born to Be Wild” by Steppenwolf
This song can be used to showcase the wild, aggressive, intensive memories or incidents of the retiring person. If the outgoing person is a short-tempered, wild, aggressive kind of person, then this song should definitely be played to tease the person. Mostly it will remind him how his moments of hyper-activity are now simply a laughing point.
Another option of comedy would be to play this song in honor of a coworker who is known for being peaceful and laid-back. It will be completely opposite to the actual fact that the coworker was calm and peaceful. It will be a funny trick that can be pulled on a calm and peaceful retiring person.
14. “Cups” by Anna Kendrick
The lyrics of this song makes it a great choice for a retirement song. The singer sings, “you are gonna miss me when I’m gone” which is actually going to happen when the retiring person leaves the office. He will be missed in so many ways by his colleagues.
This song can be played at any retirement party regardless of the type of character the retiring person had. This song has a catchy upbeat tune and will definitely express the love for the outgoing person from his/her colleagues.
15. “Sitting on the Dock of the Bay” by Otis Redding
![[Sittin' On] The Dock Of The Bay](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/N-q559-hhUA/hqdefault.jpg)
This song portrays how lazy and daydreamer a person can be. If your retiring person was known to be a lazy and daydreamer kind then this song will surely be a befitting choice for his retirement party. This retirement song will definitely add a great sense of humor to the party.
The overall composition of the music of this retirement song has a lazy, laid-back kind of vibe. So, this song will definitely do justice to the reputation of the retiring person.
16. “Margaritaville” by Jimmy Buffett
This song is for all those retiring people who had the reputation of loving beaches, sunglasses, Hawaiian Shirts, shorts, and flip-flops. This song is a tribute to the passion for going on a beach holiday and enjoying the ambiance with a margarita in hand.
This retirement song has to be played at the party if your colleague had the above-mentioned reputation. You can even take it a step further by organizing a beach themed party as described in the song, if your retiring colleague was such an avid beachgoer.
17. “Hit the Road Jack” by Ray Charles
If you want to pinch your retiring colleague with a song then this is it. It literally says to go away and don’t come back anymore. Obviously, you will not want such a thing for your outgoing colleague. But, it will add an element of irony to your party and might even create confusion in the mind of your retiring colleague. If you play this retirement song in your party then there is no doubt that it will be an interesting one.
18. “You Haven’t Seen the Last of Me” by Cher
This is a song for those outgoing employees of an organization who were great in their work. Their iconic presence will be felt in the organization even after they will leave because of their outstanding, ground-breaking contribution they have done in their service period.
This is an outstanding choice for a retirement song if you want to show respect to an outgoing employee who has been outstanding with his service and his contribution to the organization will be persistent even after he/she has left.
19. “No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems” by Kenny Chesney
This song has to be used at your party if your outgoing colleague was a ready-to-retire kind of person. If he was always ready to go on a beach holiday, shirtless and in shorts, then this retirement song should definitely be played at your party.
20. “Survivor” by Destiny’s Child
If your outgoing colleague was a fighter, a person who always confronted obstacles and overcame them then this is definitely a retirement song to play at their party. It is a song for those who were “survivors” in their professional life and made themselves count in the professional world.
Final Thoughts
Retirement means you have a lot of free time for doing something else. Retirement means you don’t need to worry about your job responsibilities anymore. It brings the opportunity of going out to fulfill your hobbies that once you didn’t get the time to perform. Some people say retirement gives new birth to life.
Let us know in the comment section which retirement songs you like most. Also, share your favorite retirement songs that we missed in this list.
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