Retirement Songs: Filter a Playlist for the Party, Slideshow or Send-Off
SongGiftly gives you a free retirement song playlist of 53 tracks you can filter by moment (the party, the slideshow or the send-off), by who is retiring (a coworker, a teacher, your dad or mom) and by vibe, from funny to heartfelt. Every track shows its artist and year. Open any song as a Spotify, Apple Music or YouTube search, heart your picks, then copy, download or share the list.
- Free, no sign-up
- Clean for the office
- Artist and year on every song
- Share your list
Showing 53 of 53 songs
Party
24 songsThe office lunch, the backyard party or the big night out.
Celebration
Kool & the Gang1980
The retirement party classic. Everyone from the newest hire to the boss knows the chorus.
- R&B & Soul
Takin' Care of Business
Bachman-Turner Overdrive1973
A rock anthem about the working week, best played on the day it ends for good.
9 to 5
Dolly Parton1980
The theme from the film 9 to 5, now a victory lap for anyone leaving the office.
- Country
Take This Job and Shove It
Johnny Paycheck1977
The famous country kiss-off. Only for a crowd that knows it is a joke.
- Country
Working for the Weekend
Loverboy1981
An arena-rock grin for someone whose every day is now the weekend.
It's Five O'Clock Somewhere
Alan Jackson & Jimmy Buffett2003
A sunny country duet about clocking out early. Fitting when the clock no longer matters.
- Country
Margaritaville
Jimmy Buffett1977
The easygoing beach anthem for the retiree who is already packing flip-flops.
- Country
- Folk & Soft Rock
Kokomo
The Beach Boys1988
Harmonies and an island daydream, ideal for a travel-bound couple.
Soak Up the Sun
Sheryl Crow2002
Breezy and bright, good for an outdoor party in the afternoon.
- Pop
- Rock
Three Little Birds
Bob Marley & The Wailers1977
A gentle, no-worries reggae classic for the first day with nothing on the calendar.
Don't Worry, Be Happy
Bobby McFerrin1988
Whistles, finger snaps and a cappella cheer. Hard to hear it without smiling.
I Gotta Feeling
The Black Eyed Peas2009
A sure-fire party starter once the speeches are done.
Don't Stop Believin'
Journey1981
The sing-along that gets the whole office on its feet.
Happy
Pharrell Williams2013
Light, clapping joy that suits a lunchtime office party.
Born to Be Wild
Steppenwolf1968
For the retiree who just bought a motorcycle, or a camper, or both.
Old Time Rock & Roll
Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band1978
A dad-approved dance floor filler from the Stranger in Town album.
Sweet Caroline
Neil Diamond1969
The sing-along every generation in the room can join.
September
Earth, Wind & Fire1978
Horns, groove and good memories. Works in any month.
- R&B & Soul
Ain't No Mountain High Enough
Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell1967
A Motown duet about always showing up for each other, for the colleague who always did.
- R&B & Soul
School's Out
Alice Cooper1972
The teacher's final bell, played loud. Good for a laugh in the staff room.
When I'm Sixty-Four
The Beatles1967
A playful Beatles tune about growing old together. Sweet for a couple retiring side by side.
Golden Years
David Bowie1975
A funky Bowie groove with the right title for the occasion.
Don't Stop Me Now
Queen1978
Pure momentum, for a retiree with a long list of plans.
Gone Fishin'
Bing Crosby & Louis Armstrong1951
A relaxed 1951 duet with a title that says where they will be on Monday.
- Jazz & Standards
Slideshow
16 songsPhotos of the career, the team and the people they leave behind.
Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)
Green Day1997
An acoustic look back that suits a career montage. Funny title, warm song.
We've Only Just Begun
Carpenters1970
A soft 1970 classic for a couple starting retirement together.
Thanks for the Memory
Bob Hope & Shirley Ross1938
The duet from the 1938 film The Big Broadcast of 1938, a gentle look back for the old photos.
- Jazz & Standards
Hall of Fame
The Script feat. will.i.am2012
A big, proud anthem for the photos of a long career.
- Pop
- Rock
The Best
Tina Turner1989
Tina Turner's big tribute anthem, for the colleague everyone will miss.
- Rock
- Pop
Here Comes the Sun
The Beatles1969
Warm and hopeful, for the first sunny morning with no alarm.
Thank You for Being a Friend
Andrew Gold1978
Later famous as The Golden Girls theme, a fond thank-you to a work friend.
You've Got a Friend
James Taylor1971
A quiet promise that the friendship lasts beyond the job.
- Folk & Soft Rock
Lean on Me
Bill Withers1972
For the one everyone leaned on for years. Easy for a team to sing.
- R&B & Soul
To Sir with Love
Lulu1967
The theme of the 1967 film about a teacher and his students. A natural thank-you to a retiring teacher.
Teach Your Children
Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young1970
Gentle harmonies about passing on what you know.
- Folk & Soft Rock
Wind Beneath My Wings
Bette Midler1988
A thank-you to the person who made everyone else look good.
Forever Young
Rod Stewart1988
A parent's blessing in Rod Stewart's rasp, warm over family photos.
Unforgettable
Nat King Cole1951
A velvet-voiced standard for the photos from the early years.
- Jazz & Standards
What a Wonderful World
Louis Armstrong1967
Slow and grateful, the soundtrack for the grandkids and the garden.
- Jazz & Standards
I Hope You Dance
Lee Ann Womack2000
Good wishes for the next chapter. Fits a teacher or a parent equally well.
- Country
Send-off
15 songsThe toast, the walk out on the last day and the final song.
The Best
Tina Turner1989
Tina Turner's big tribute anthem, for the colleague everyone will miss.
- Rock
- Pop
I Hope You Dance
Lee Ann Womack2000
Good wishes for the next chapter. Fits a teacher or a parent equally well.
- Country
My Way
Frank Sinatra1969
A proud look back on a career done on their own terms. The classic last song.
- Jazz & Standards
Hello, Goodbye
The Beatles1967
Bouncy and silly, for the walk out of the building.
Hit the Road Jack
Ray Charles1961
A two-minute, tongue-in-cheek push out the door. Best with someone who will laugh.
- R&B & Soul
Happy Trails
Roy Rogers & Dale Evans1952
The cowboy couple's sign-off song, a gentle and old-fashioned goodbye.
- Country
The Best Is Yet to Come
Frank Sinatra & Count Basie1964
Sinatra with the Basie band, swinging into the next chapter.
- Jazz & Standards
Closing Time
Semisonic1998
The last-call anthem, for the final song of the party.
This Ain't Goodbye
Train2009
A heartfelt see-you-later for a colleague who will still drop by.
- Rock
- Pop
Free Bird
Lynyrd Skynyrd1973
Nine minutes long with a famous guitar finale: the longest goodbye there is.
I'm Free
The Rolling Stones1965
A short Stones song with the perfect title for the last day.
Already Gone
Eagles1974
A bright, guitar-driven farewell for someone halfway out the door.
(I've Had) The Time of My Life
Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes1987
The Dirty Dancing finale, for one last dance with the team.
On the Road Again
Willie Nelson1980
For the retiree with a camper, a map and no return date.
- Country
Life Is a Highway
Tom Cochrane1991
A road-trip anthem for the drive home from the last day.
Find the Right Retirement Song for the Moment
An office lunch, a school assembly and a backyard party for Dad all need different music, and so do the toast, the slideshow and the walk out on the last day. Tap a moment and who the party is for, and the retirement song list narrows to what fits: a joke for the coworker who counted down the days, a thank-you for a teacher, a slow song for the family photos.
- Three moment tabs: party, slideshow and send-off
- Filters for a coworker, a teacher or a parent, plus vibe, genre and decade
- Artist and release year on every song, and no explicit originals
- Build your own list, reorder it, then copy, download or share it
Why Use This Retirement Song Playlist
Made for whoever got asked to pick the retirement songs.
Picked for retirements
Every retirement song here fits a send-off: songs about work and freedom, thank-you songs and party favorites, not a random chart.
Filters for who is retiring
Coworker, teacher or dad and mom, combined with a vibe: Funny, Heartfelt, Upbeat or Laid-back.
Safe for the office
None of the 53 songs carries an explicit flag on its original release, so you can play the list at work or at school.
Grouped by moment
Party, slideshow and send-off tabs show how many songs each part of the day has, so you can plan it in order.
Listen where you like
Links open a search on Spotify, Apple Music or YouTube. No embedded player, no account, nothing to install.
Share it with the team
Heart the songs you like, drag them into order and send one link to the colleague running the speaker.
How to Build a Retirement Playlist in Three Steps
From the first idea to the last song of the party.
- 1
Pick the moment and the person
Choose a tab (party, slideshow or send-off), then tap Coworker, Teacher or Dad or mom. Add Funny or Heartfelt to set the tone.
- 2
Listen and heart your picks
Tap a listen link to check a track in your own app, then tap the heart to add it to your list. Your picks stay saved on this device.
- 3
Order it and share it
Drag the songs into running order, then copy the list, download a text file or share your retirement playlist with whoever presses play.
What the Retirement Songs Playlist Can Do
A few tools that make choosing a retirement song easier.
Filters for the person and the tone
Options in the same row widen the list, and a second row narrows it. Coworker plus Funny leaves eight songs, from "9 to 5" by Dolly Parton to "Closing Time" by Semisonic.
Try the filtersA tab for each part of the farewell
The party tab has 24 songs, the slideshow tab 16 and the send-off tab 15, each with a live count that changes as you filter.
See the momentsBuild, copy and share your list
Collect up to 100 picks, name the playlist and drag the songs into order. Copy it as a numbered list, download a text file or share a link the whole team can open.
Start my listA song that is only about them
Inside the list, a card starts an original song about the retiree: their name, their years on the job, the jokes only the team gets. Send the MP3 or play it at the party.
See the playlistExample: A Retirement Party Playlist From Arrival to Send-Off
Ten retirement songs in four parts, all from the list above.
Arrivals: 1. "Celebration", Kool & the Gang (1980). 2. "9 to 5", Dolly Parton (1980). 3. "Takin' Care of Business", Bachman-Turner Overdrive (1973). The toast: 4. "The Best Is Yet to Come", Frank Sinatra and Count Basie (1964), played softly under the speeches. The slideshow: 5. "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)", Green Day (1997). 6. "Thank You for Being a Friend", Andrew Gold (1978). 7. "Wind Beneath My Wings", Bette Midler (1988). The send-off: 8. "Hello, Goodbye", The Beatles (1967). 9. "My Way", Frank Sinatra (1969). 10. "Happy Trails", Roy Rogers and Dale Evans (1952). For a teacher, swap in "To Sir with Love" by Lulu (1967); for Dad, "On the Road Again" by Willie Nelson (1980).
Retirement Songs for a Coworker, a Teacher, Dad or Mom
The For filter in four short lists of retirement songs.
For a coworker
A retirement song for coworkers can tease or thank: "Takin' Care of Business" by Bachman-Turner Overdrive (1973), "Thank You for Being a Friend" by Andrew Gold (1978) and "This Ain't Goodbye" by Train (2009).
For a teacher
A teacher retirement song should say thank you: "To Sir with Love" by Lulu (1967), "Teach Your Children" by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (1970) and, for laughs, "School's Out" by Alice Cooper (1972).
For Dad
Songs for the open road and the fishing trip: "On the Road Again" by Willie Nelson (1980), "Born to Be Wild" by Steppenwolf (1968) and "Gone Fishin'" by Bing Crosby and Louis Armstrong (1951).
For Mom
Warm thank-yous and good wishes: "Wind Beneath My Wings" by Bette Midler (1988), "I Hope You Dance" by Lee Ann Womack (2000) and "What a Wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong (1967).
Retirement Song Planner: Party, Slideshow or Send-Off
What each moment needs, with a classic, a funny and a heartfelt retirement song from the list.
| Retirement Song Planner: Party, Slideshow or Send-Off | Party | Slideshow | Send-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it needs | Songs every generation dances to | Warm songs that let the photos speak | A clear goodbye, proud or playful |
| Classic pick | Celebration | Wind Beneath My Wings | My Way |
| Funny pick | 9 to 5 | Hit the Road Jack | |
| Heartfelt pick | Thank You for Being a Friend | Happy Trails | |
| Sing-along pick | Sweet Caroline | Lean on Me | Hello, Goodbye |
| Songs in the tab | 24 | 16 | 15 |
Retirement Songs by Vibe, From Funny to Heartfelt
A taste of each filter. Every song is a real release, with the artist and year checked.
Funny
A funny retirement song for the room that loves a joke: "Take This Job and Shove It" by Johnny Paycheck (1977), "Working for the Weekend" by Loverboy (1981) and "Golden Years" by David Bowie (1975).
Heartfelt
A heartfelt retirement song for the toast or the card: "My Way" by Frank Sinatra (1969), "You've Got a Friend" by James Taylor (1971) and "Unforgettable" by Nat King Cole (1951).
Party
A retirement party song list that fills the floor: "September" by Earth, Wind & Fire (1978), "Sweet Caroline" by Neil Diamond (1969) and "Don't Stop Believin'" by Journey (1981).
Slideshow
A retirement slideshow song carries about 40 photos at five seconds each: "Here Comes the Sun" by The Beatles (1969), "Lean on Me" by Bill Withers (1972) and "Thanks for the Memory" by Bob Hope and Shirley Ross (1938).
Beach and travel
For the retiree who is already packing: "Margaritaville" by Jimmy Buffett (1977), "Kokomo" by The Beach Boys (1988) and "Three Little Birds" by Bob Marley & The Wailers (1977).
A couple retiring together
"We've Only Just Begun" by Carpenters (1970), "When I'm Sixty-Four" by The Beatles (1967) and "The Best Is Yet to Come" by Frank Sinatra and Count Basie (1964).
Make Them a Retirement Song of Their Own
Every retirement song on this list was written for someone else. An original song can be about them: their name, their career, the jokes the whole team knows, from $19.99. Retiring parents? See our song for dad and song for mom pages too.
Pick from the playlist firstRetirement Song FAQ
What to play, for whom, and how the playlist works.
What is a good retirement song?
What are funny retirement songs?
What are good retirement party songs?
What is a good retirement slideshow song?
What is a good teacher retirement song?
What is a good retirement song for a coworker?
What song should play as they leave on the last day?
What are good retirement songs for Dad or Mom?
What songs suit a couple retiring together?
Are these songs clean enough for an office party?
Are there songs about retirement itself?
Can I listen to the songs here?
Can I save and share my retirement playlist?
Can I get a retirement song written about them?
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