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