91 Mother-Son Dance Songs That Make for a Memorable Moment

The mother-son wedding dance, which is a dance shared between the groom and his mother at the start of the reception, is a long-standing tradition that many couples choose to honor on their big day. Though it’s not necessary to include one at your celebration, a dance with mom is a sweet moment for the groom to honor and recognize his mother or any mother figure in his life. Plus, she's probably been looking forward to this moment with her son for a long time, so it's nice to carve out some time for her during the party. 

The mother-son dance typically happens around the time of the father-daughter dance, which is usually after the bride and groom’s first dance. With that being said, you can always switch things up based on the celebration's schedule—some couples even use the family dances to transition between different parts of the reception, like from cocktail hour to reception or from reception to the opening of the dance floor). 

The song for the mother-son dance can be hard to pin down, so consider what artists, genres, or memories are beloved by both mother and son when trying to find the right music. Maybe mom introduced her son to The Beatles; maybe they both love country music? 

To help you make a decision, we gathered 91 mother-of-the-groom dance songs. From classics to modern hits, these songs span generations, linking mother and son through music for the perfect dance.

“Mother Like Mine,” by The Band Perry

Lyrics of Love: “She's our father's one great love/She's the one he wanted most/She's the light in the window of the house I grew up in”

“Mama Hold My Hand,” by Aloe Blacc

Lyrics of Love: “Momma, hold my hand/I don't think I can cross this road by myself”

“Bridge Over Troubled Water,” by Simon & Garfunkel

Lyrics of Love: “When you’re weary, feeling small/When tears are in your eyes, I will dry them all, all/I’m on your side, oh, when times get rough”

“God Only Knows,” by The Beach Boys

Lyrics of Love: “I may not always love you/But long as there are stars above you/You never need to doubt it/I’ll make you so sure about it”

“Home,” by Jack Johnson

Lyrics of Love: “So I, try, to understand, what I can’t hold in my hand, and where ever we are/Home is there too”

“I Say A Little Prayer,” by Aretha Franklin

Lyrics of Love: “I run for the bus, dear/While riding I think of us, dear/I say a little prayer for you”

“Because You Loved Me,” by Celine Dion

Lyrics of Love: “You were my strength when I was weak/You were my voice when I couldn't speak/You were my eyes when I couldn't see”

“Lean On Me,” by Bill Withers

Lyrics of Love: “Lean on me/When you're not strong/And I'll be your friend/I'll help you carry on”

“Days Like This,” by Van Morrison

Lyrics of Love: “When everything falls into place like the flick of a switch/Well my mama told me there'll be days like this”

“Letter to My Mother,” by Edwin McCain

Lyrics of Love: “Mama, how do I write the words to you/You were the only one who loved me true”

“You’ll Be In My Heart,” by Phil Collins

Lyrics of Love: “For one so small/You seem so strong/My arms will hold you/Keep you safe and warm/This bond between us/Can’t be broken/I will be here/Don’t you cry”

“The Wish,” by Bruce Springsteen

Lyrics of Love: “And if it's a funny old world, mama, where a little boy's wishes come true/Well I got a few in my pocket and a special one just for you”

“Beautiful Boy,” by John Lennon

Lyrics of Love: “Out on the ocean sailing away/I can hardly wait/To see you to come of age/But I guess we’ll both/Just have to be patient/‘Cause it’s a long way to go”

“I’ll Stand By You,” by The Pretenders

Lyrics of Love: “I’ll stand by you/I’ll stand by you, won’t let nobody hurt you/I’ll stand by you/Baby, even to your darkest hour, and I’ll never desert you”

“93 Million Miles,” by Jason Mraz

Lyrics of Love: “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”

“Forever Young,” by Rod Stewart

Lyrics of Love: “May good fortune be with you, may your guiding light be strong/Build a stairway to heaven with a prince or a vagabond”

“Small Bump,” by Ed Sheeran

Lyrics of Love: “You are my one, and only/You can wrap your fingers round my thumb and hold me tight”

“Thank You Mom,” by Good Charlotte

Lyrics of Love: “I'm sitting here, I'm thinking back/To a time when I was young, my memory is clear as day/I'm listening to the dishes clink/You were downstairs, you would sing songs of praise”

“Landslide,” by Fleetwood Mac

Lyrics of Love: “Oh, mirror in the sky/What is love?/Can the child within my heart rise above?”

“Sweet Pea,” by Amos Lee

Lyrics of Love: “Hey, sweet pea/Apple of my eye/Don't know when, and I don't know why/But you're the only reason I keep on coming home”

“Wildflowers,” by Tom Petty

Lyrics of Love: “You belong among the wildflowers/You belong in a boat out at sea/You belong with your love on your arm/You belong somewhere you feel free”

“(They Long To Be) Close To You,” by The Carpenters

Lyrics of Love: “On the day that you were born the angels got together/And decided to create a dream come true/So they sprinkled moon dust in your hair of gold and starlight in your eyes of blue”

"Sweetest Devotion," by Adele

Lyrics of Love: “The sweetest devotion/Hitting me like an explosion/All of my life, I've been frozen/The sweetest devotion I've ever known"

“Take Your Mama,” by Scissor Sisters

Lyrics of Love: “When you grow up, livin’ like a good boy oughta/And your mama, takes a shine to her best son/Something different, all the girls they seem to like you/Cause you’re handsome, like to talk and a whole lot of fun”

“Mother,” by Sugarland

Lyrics of Love: “She’s your mother, you love her/There won’t be another/Place like her again that you call home/She stands here to help you/there’s nothing she won’t do”

“The Best Day,” by Taylor Swift

Lyrics of Love: “I'm five years old/It's getting cold/I've got my big coat on/I hear your laugh/And look up smiling at you/I run and run”

“Teach Your Children,” by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

Lyrics of Love: “The one they picks, the one you’ll know by/Don’t you ever ask them why, if they told you, you will cry/So just look at them and sigh/And know they love you”

“My Mother’s Eyes,” by Frankie Valli

Lyrics of Love: “I’ll walk the straight and narrow/To reach my goal/God’s gift sent from above/A real unselfish love/I found in my mother’s eyes”

“Your Song,” by Elton John

Lyrics of Love: “And you, you’ll be blessed/You’ll have the best/I promise you that/I’ll pick a star from the sky”

“In My Life,” by The Beatles

Lyrics of Love: “All these places had their moments/With lovers and friends, I still can recall/Some are dead, and some are living/In my life, I’ve loved them all”

“The Baby,” by Blake Shelton

Lyrics of Love: “I guess she was tired by the time I came along/She'd laugh until she cried, I could do no wrong/She would always save me because I was her baby”

“I Look To You,” by Whitney Houston

Lyrics of Love: “I look to you/I look to you/After all my strength is gone/In you I can be strong"

“The Man I Want To Be,” by Chris Young

Lyrics of Love: “I wanna be a good man/A 'do like I should' man/I wanna be the kind of man the mirror likes to see/I wanna be a strong man”

“A Song For Mama,” by Boyz II Men

Lyrics of Love: “Mama, Mama you know I love you/You know I love you/Mama, Mama you're the queen of my heart”

“Hero,” by Mariah Carey

Lyrics of Love: “And then a hero comes along/With the strength to carry on/And you cast your fears aside/And you know you can survive”

“Mother,” by Overcoats

Lyrics of Love: “Mama, don’t you love him so?/Just wanna light the way wherever he goes/And kiss his forehead when he needs to know/He’ll have a home with you/You won’t be alone”

“Sweet Joy Of Mine,” by Joy Williams

Lyrics of Love: “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”

“My Wish,” by Rascal Flatts

Lyrics of Love: “My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to/Your dreams stay big, your worries stay small/You never need to carry more than you can hold”

“Hey, Ma,” by Bon Iver

Lyrics of Love: “Tall time to call your Ma/Hey Ma, hey Ma/Tall vote, you know you mope it up/Well, you wanted it your whole life/You're back and forth with light”

“Humble and Kind,” by Tim McGraw

Lyrics of Love: “Go to church ’cause your mamma says to/Visit grandpa every chance that you can/It won’t be wasted time/Always stay humble and kind”

“Old Pine,” by Ben Howard

Lyrics of Love: “We stood/Steady as the stars in the woods/So happy-hearted/And the warmth rang true inside these bones”

“Step,” by Vampire Weekend

Lyrics of Love: “Wisdom's a gift, but you'd trade it for youth/Age is an honor, it's still not the truth/We saw the stars when they hid from the world”

“Home,” by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes

Lyrics of Love: “Oh, home, let me come home/Home is wherever I'm with you/Oh, home, let me come home/Home is wherever I'm with you”

“Only One,” by Kanye West feat. Paul McCartney

Lyrics of Love: “And when you cry, I will cry/ And when you smile, I will smile/And next time when I look in your eyes/We'll have wings and we'll fly"

“Montezuma,” by Fleet Foxes

Lyrics of Love: “Oh, how could I dream of/Such a selfless and true love/Could I wash my hands of/Just looking out for me”

“Do I Make You Proud,” by Taylor Hicks

Lyrics of Love: “My heart is full/Of endless gratitude/You were the one/The one to guide me through”

“Handprints On The Wall,” by Kenny Rogers

Lyrics of Love: “Days go by so quickly/Summer turns to fall/Seems like only yesterday/That you began to crawl/So don't be afraid to take that step/I'll catch you when you fall”

“That’s What Mamas Do,” by Jason Matthews

Lyrics of Love: “And when she bows her head to pray/You can bet she's saying one for you/That's what mamas do/They raise you/Ground you build their whole world around you”

“My Mother’s Eye,” by Etta Jones

Lyrics of Love: “One bright and guiding light/That taught me wrong from right/I found in my mother's eyes”

“He Gets That From Me,” by Reba McEntire

Lyrics of Love: “His curly hair and his knobby knees/The way the sun brings those freckles out/Talkin’ talk never miss a beat/Yeah he gets that from me/He gets that from me”

“Stand By Me,” by Ben E. King

Lyrics of Love: “When the night has come/And the land is dark/And the moon is the only light we’ll see/No I won’t be afraid/Oh, I won’t be afraid/Just as long as you stand, stand by me”

“What A Wonderful World,” by Louis Armstrong

Lyrics of Love: “I hear babies cry/I watch them grow/They'll learn much more/Than I'll never know/And I think to myself/What a wonderful world”

“There You’ll Be,” by Faith Hill

Lyrics of Love: “In my dreams, I’ll always see you soar above the sky/In my heart, there will always be a place for you, for all my life/I’ll keep a part of you with me”

“Time After Time,” by Cyndi Lauper

Lyrics of Love: “If you’re lost, you can look and you will find me/Time after time/If you fall, I will catch you, I’ll be waiting/Time after time”

“I’ll Be There,” by the Jackson Five

Lyrics of Love: “I’ll reach out my hand to you/I’ll have faith in all you do/Just call my name and I’ll be there (I’ll be there)"

“Loves Me Like A Rock,” by Paul Simon

Lyrics of Love: “Oh, my mama loves me, she loves me/She get down on her knees and hug me/Oh, she loves me like a rock/She rock me like the rock of ages”

“Child of Mine,” by Carole King

Lyrics of Love: “Although you see the world different than me/Sometimes I can touch upon the wonders that you see/And all the new colors and pictures you've designed/Oh yes, sweet darling, so glad you are a child of mine”

“Then They Do,” by Trace Adkins

Lyrics of Love: “I look over at their pictures/Sittin' in their frames/I see them as babies/I guess that'll never change/You pray all their lives/That someday they will find happiness”

“You Raise Me Up,” by Josh Groban

Lyrics of Love: “You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains/You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas/I am strong, when I am on your shoulders/You raise me up to more than I can be”

“Blessed,” by Elton John

Lyrics of Love: “And you, you'll be blessed/You'll have the best, I promise you that/I'll pick a star from the sky/Pull your name from a hat/I promise you that, I promise you that”

“Have I Told You Lately,” by Rod Stewart

Lyrics of Love: “Have I told you lately that I love you/Have I told you there's no one else above you/You fill my heart with gladness/Take away all my sadness/Ease my troubles, that's what you do”

“Unforgettable,” by Nat King Cole

Lyrics of Love: “Unforgettable/That's what you are/Unforgettable/Tho' near or far”

“Wind Beneath My Wings,” by Bette Middler

Lyrics of Love: “Did you ever know that you're my hero/And everything I would like to be/I can fly higher than an eagle/For you are the wind beneath my wings"

“Mother,” by Pink Floyd

Lyrics of Love: “Mama's gonna keep baby healthy and clean/Ooh baby, ooh baby, ooh baby/You'll always be baby to me”

“My Love, My Life,” by ABBA

Lyrics of Love: “You are still my love and my life/Still my one and only"

“Simple Man," by Lynyrd Skynyrd

Lyrics of Love: “You'll find a woman and you'll find love/And don't forget, son, there is someone up above"

“Mama Said,” by The Shirelles

Lyrics of Love: “Mama said there'll be days like this/There'll be days like this, my mama said"

"I'll Always Love My Mama," by The Intruders

Lyrics of Love: “I'll always love my mama/She's my favorite girl/I'll always love my mama/She brought me in this world"

“Sweet Child O' Mine," by Guns N' Roses

Lyrics of Love: “She's got a smile that it seems to me/Reminds me of childhood memories/Where everything was as fresh as the bright blue sky"

“Never Alone,” by Lady A

Lyrics of Love: “Wherever you fly/This isn't goodbye/My love will follow you, stay with you/Baby, you're never alone"

"Mama Said," by Lukas Graham

Lyrics of Love: “When mama said that it was okay/Mama said that it was quite alright/Our kind of people had a bed for the night/And it was okay"

“River," by Leon Bridges

Lyrics of Love: “In my darkness I remember/Momma's words reoccur to me/Surrender to the good Lord/And he'll wipe your slate clean"

“Hey Mama," by Kanye West

Lyrics of Love: “You know I love you so, I'll never let you go/I wrote this song just so you know no matter where you go Imma love you" 

“A Mother’s Prayer,” by K. Michelle

Lyrics of Love: “Last night I prayed on a fallen star/That you never have a broken heart/Though the world is cold, just remember who you are/And I pray that you never have a rainy day”

“God Made You Beautiful,” by Beyoncé

Lyrics of Love: “When you were born, the angels sighed in delight/They never thought they'd see such a beautiful sight/You took the breath and the world was right again/Tears were shed, how we had been blessed”

“Close Your Eyes” by Michael Bublé

Lyrics of Love: “Close your eyes/Let me tell you all the reasons why/Think you're one of a kind/Here's to you/The one that always pulls us through”

“Nobody’s Love,” by Maroon 5

Lyrics of Love: “You can make a grown man cry/If you ever said, ‘Goodbye’/Never let you go, oh, why?”

"You Are the Sunshine of My Life," by Stevie Wonder

Lyrics of Love: “You are the sunshine of my life/That's why I'll always stay around/You are the apple of my eye/Forever you'll stay in my heart”

“You’ve Got a Friend in Me,” by Randy Newman

Lyrics of Love: “You got troubles, I've got 'em too/There isn't anything I wouldn't do for you/We stick together and see it through/'Cause you've got a friend in me”

“The Rainbow Connection,” by The Muppets

Lyrics of Love: “What's so amazing that keeps us stargazing/And what do we think we might see?/Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection/The lovers, the dreamers, and me”

"The Wonder of You," by Elvis Presley

Lyrics of Love: “Oh oh oh/When no one else can understand me/When everything I do is wrong/You give me hope and consolation”

"The One Thing," by Shakira

Lyrics of Love: “Every time I see your smile/Every time I hear your laugh/Baby, you bring a new sunshine over my way"

"Like My Mother Does," by Lauren Alaina

Lyrics of Love: “When I love I give it all I've got/Like my mother does/When I'm scared, I bow my head and pray/Like my mother does"

"God's Been Good to Me," by Keith Urban

Lyrics of Love: "And everything I have, and everything I see/Is just another reminder that God's been good to me"

"If I Didn't Have You," by Thompson Square

 Lyrics of Love: "You are my heart/Every breath I breathe/I'm safe in your arms/You rescue me"

"Mom," by Meghan Trainor

 Lyrics of Love: "But ain't nobody got a mom like mine/Her love's 'til the end, she's my best friend/Ain't nobody got a mom like mine"

"Remedy," by Adele

Lyrics of Love: "No river is too wide or too deep for me to swim to you/Come whatever/I'll be the shelter that won't let the rain come through"

"Only One," by Kanye West ft. Paul McCartney

Lyrics of Love: "And if you knew how proud I was/You'd never shed a tear, have a fear, no, you wouldn't do that"

"I Just Called to Say I Love You," by Stevie Wonder

Lyrics of Love: "I just called to say I love you/I just called to say how much I care, I do/I just called to say I love you/And I mean it from the bottom of my heart"

"I'll Be There," by Mac Miller

Lyrics of Love: "Hey, see, I was six years old with a dream/When my moms told me I can do anything/Said she'd be there forever, no matter what's the weather"

"Return to Pooh Corner," Kenny Loggins

Lyrics of Love: "After all's said and done I was watching my son/Sleeping there with my bear by his side/So I tucked him in, I kissed him and as I was going/I swear that the old bear whispered "Boy welcome home"'