Departure songs in Western music: world-famous classics and popular tracks.

From graduation to bidding farewell to the departed…

Even when we say “a new beginning,” there are many kinds of departures.

Whether you’re the one sending someone off or the one being sent off, everyone has experienced some kind of departure in one way or another.

Here, we introduce a selection of English-language “songs for setting out” that are reputed to be relatable and perfect for those moments.

We’ve carefully chosen heartwarming tracks that will encourage you when you’re feeling down or anxious and accompany you through moving, emotional times—please take a look.

Based on feedback from music lovers who reached out to our site, we researched and curated this list with care.

Playlist

Departure songs in Western music: world-famous classics and popular tracks.
	Title	Playlist	Review
1	Don’t Look Back In AngerOasis		This is an introduction to a classic Oasis song.
2	See You AgainWiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth		A graduation song themed around parting with a best friend
3	New DayAlicia Keys		Alicia Keys' powerful new song
4	Shake It OutFlorence & The Machine		Florence's cross-genre fusion song
5	When We Were YoungAdele		Adele’s famous song, a moving track about a breakup
6	FireworkKaty Perry		Katy Perry’s empowering song
7	SINGMy Chemical Romance		An inspiring song by My Chemical Romance
8	One Way RoadOasis		Introduce Oasis’s moving songs
9	RunSnow Patrol		Introduction to Snow Patrol's classic song, Run
10	LeavingSkrillex		A Skrillex song themed around a breakup
11	Here I Go AgainWhitesnake		Whitesnake, appealing for high skill and vocals
12	The ClimbMiley Cyrus		Miley's encouragement song
13	Goodbye Yellow Brick RoadElton John		A song about Elton John setting out on a journey to stay true to himself
14	Bridge Over Troubled WaterCharlotte Church		Introducing classic songs by Simon & Garfunkel
15	CrossroadsCream		Introduction to Cream’s classic song Crossroads
16	Goodbye To A WorldPorter Robinson		The Mysterious Western Music of the Young Genius DJ
17	You Raise Me UpCeltic Woman		The grand choral piece by Celtic Woman
18	Born to RunBruce Springsteen		A powerful rock song for people moving to Tokyo
19	Too Good At GoodbyesSam Smith		A sentimental masterpiece that fuses Sam Smith’s beautiful vocals with R&B influences.
20	Go! feat Mai LanM83		M83's distinctive cosmic musicality
21	This Time TomorrowThe Kinks		The Kinks' 1970 signature song
22	We’re All In This Together (From “High School Musical”)High School Musical Cast		Ode to High School Graduation
23	Counting StarsOneRepublic		OneRepublic singing of the courage and hope of a journey
24	Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song)Billy Joel		A song by Billy Joel that depicts the working-class immigrant spirit
25	50 Ways to Leave Your LoverPaul Simon		Paul Simon's 1975 hit song
26	Morningtown RideThe Seekers		A Lullaby for a Child’s Night Train Journey
27	Leaving on a Jet PlanePeter, Paul & Mary		John Denver's folk song becomes a hit
28	Best FriendJason Mraz		A gently expressed song about gratitude and parting with a friend
29	Start AnewBeady Eye		A cheer song that supports a new step forward
30	A song for DepartureManic Street Preachers		Album tracks by Manic Street Preachers
31	Time To Say GoodbyeSarah Brightman		Sarah Brightman, a masterpiece of love and departure
32	PompeiiBastille		A masterpiece depicting the eruption of Vesuvius
33	Castle on the HillEd Sheeran		A moving song portraying love for one’s hometown and youthful days
34	Story of My LifeOne Direction		A moving, heartwarming ballad by a British band
35	HomeIsabel LaRosa		Isabel LaRosa announces a new song born from her experience of leaving her hometown
36	He Won’t GoAdele		Expressing the courage to start a new relationship through Adele’s moving song
37	RunAir		Yell 2007 Farewell Theme Song
38	Song To WoodyBob Dylan		Bob Dylan's 1962 song
39	RUN PAINT! RUN! RUN!Captain Beefheart		Captain Beefheart's Inimitable Musical World
40	May It BeEnya		Enya’s Celtic music is a big hit in Japan
41	Way We Won’tGrandaddy		Grandaddy's Loneliness Theme Song
42	Street Of DreamsGuns N’ Roses		Guns N' Roses' departure song
43	When This Is OverHayden		Haydn’s moving love song
44	Like It’s OverJai Wolf feat. MNDR		A collaboration song by Jai Wolf and MNDR
45	Have It AllJason Mraz		Warm your heart with Jason Mraz’s uplifting song
46	I Know It’s OverJeff Buckley		A heartrending song that portrays the anguish of love’s end
47	Say GoodbyeKrewella		Krewella’s 2014 EDM track
48	SoonMy Bloody Valentine		Signature song of My Bloody Valentine
49	Gonna Leave YouQueens of the Stone Age		Queens of the Stone Age
50	Please Read The LetterRobert Plant and Alison Krauss		Robert Plant's songs
51	Go or Go AheadRufus Wainwright		Rufus’s soul-stirring song of self-discovery
52	Runnin’ AwaySly & The Family Stone		Released by an American funk soul band in 1972
53	Leave HomeThe Chemical Brothers		An inspiring classic by The Chemical Brothers
54	Till The End Of The DayThe Kinks		A song by the Kinks from 1965 that celebrates the joy of living
55	It’s AlrightBlack Sabbath		My heart is healed by the cheering song for Bill Ward.
56	We’re leavingDeVotchKa		DeVotchKa is a multi-instrumental ensemble formed in Denver.
57	DepartureCrystal Stilts		A 2008 work by a New York post-punk band
58	Without YouDillon Francis feat. Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs		A collaborative track by a DJ, released in 2013
59	Leave or StayThe Cars		Boston rock band The Cars 1987 song
60	No ExpectationsThe Rolling Stones		The Rolling Stones' 1968 blues song