Top 20 Best Songs About the Weekend

Let’s be honest. If you work a mundane 9-5 job, you are looking to make the most of your time off. For the majority of us, that means the weekend.

Songwriters are no different, and a ton of songs have been written about the weekend. However you like to kick back, whether you’re a party animal or more reserved in your weekend activities, this playlist should get you excited for those priceless days after a hard week at work. 

So here it is, my list of the 20 best songs about the weekend in chronological order. Enjoy!

Top 20 Best Songs About the Weekend

A Sunday Kind of Love – Etta James (1960)

Etta James handles this beautiful song perfectly in her recording of the classic jazz standard. The song is about a yearning for a particular kind of lover. A reliable and caring partner to grow old with. Well, most of us are on the lookout for someone like that if we haven’t found them already.

The aching longing in Etta James’s deep and earthy vocals is what makes this track so special. The talent to convey that level of emotion is a rare thing, but James pulls it off effortlessly.

It’s no surprise that Rolling Stone magazine ranks her at number 22 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. She was a vocal powerhouse, the likes of which we’re unlikely to see again.

Another Saturday Night – Sam Cooke (1963)

Not all songs about the weekend are celebratory. In “Another Saturday Night,” Sam Cooke laments about another Saturday Night he will be spending alone. He’s been paid, but he’s not got anyone to share his night out with.

Cooke wrote this classic soul song whilst on tour in England. The hotels he was staying in wouldn’t allow any female guests, and it was getting to him. 

Despite the downbeat subject matter, the music was cheerful enough to send it as high as #10 on the Billboard Hot 100. And fill dancefloors all over the country.

Sunday Morning – The Velvet Underground (1966)

Have you ever been up all Saturday night getting wasted and found yourself wandering home on a Sunday morning whilst fresh-faced churchgoers pass you by? Then, you’ll be able to relate to this number from The Velvet Underground.

Unlike The Commodores’ reflections on the last day of the week, paranoid existential dread is the dominant emotion here. It’s nicely juxtaposed with a dreamy and carefree melody that stands in stark contrast to the darker lyrics.

It wasn’t a big hit at the time but has since gone on to be critically acclaimed. Numerous bands have covered the song over the years, including OMD, The Undertones, and Belle and Sebastian.

Friday on my Mind – The Easybeats (1966)

One of the most iconic weekend songs to ever come out of Australia, The Easybeats were one of the first bands to take aim at the drudgery of the working week. 

Each day gets appraised, with the mood slowly changing as the days go by. The unbridled enthusiasm that lets rip with the chorus is a joy to behold.

It’s a tribute to The Easybeats that their brand of garage rock with highly relatable lyrics still sounds as fresh today as it did almost 60 years ago. “Friday on my Mind” made it to the top of the Australian chart and placed a respectable 16th on the US Billboard Hot 100.

Sunday Morning Coming Down – Johnny Cash (1972)

Not everyone is having a blast at the weekend. Kris Kristofferson wrote this song about coming down from a night of drugs and booze on a Sunday morning. Johnny Cash added his gravelly voice to the mix and had a #1 hit on the US Country chart.

It’s a stark portrayal of a man at rock bottom, having to face the reality of his life coupled with a stinking hangover. Johnny cash’s mournful baritone lends itself perfectly to proceedings. 

Cash himself had experiences with substance abuse, having fought a running battle with alcohol, amphetamine, and barbiturate addiction. He knew what he was singing about in “Sunday Morning Coming Down.” 

Drive-In Saturday – David Bowie (1973)

It’s circa 2033. After an apocalyptic event, the survivors have forgotten how to have sex and have to remind themselves of how it’s done by watching vintage porn. Presumably at the drive-in on a Saturday. Yep. That sounds like a concept David Bowie would come up with.

“Drive-In Saturday” is a soulful number dripping with nostalgia for the doo-wop era of the 1950s. Taken from Bowie’s 1973 album, Aladdin Sane, the song peaked at #3 in the UK chart and constantly rides high in the greatest Bowie song articles.

Saturday’s Night’s Alright for Fighting – Elton John (1973)

Who would have thought that one of the rowdiest songs celebrating the weekend would have been written by Sir Elton John? The fact that the writer of “Candle in the Wind” also penned this ode to drinking and barroom brawling would probably surprise many.

The narrator is planning to get drunk and let loose on the town. Elton John has stated that the lyrics were inspired by the teenage drinking culture he was involved in as a young man. A culture that regularly resulted in fistfights down at the local pub. 

It’s shocking that the man with a penchant for powdered wigs and who spent $400,000 on flowers in one year alone would have been involved in such shenanigans.

Such is life…

The song made #7 and #12 in the UK and US charts, respectively. However, by Elton John’s standards of the time, this wasn’t great. Despite that, it went on to be one of his most loved songs, with John playing it over 1800 times at live shows.

Livin’ for the Weekend – The O’Jays (1975)

“Livin’ for the Weekend” is all about that feeling of anticipation you get as you prepare to go out on a Friday night. The song gets off to a slow start as preparations for the evening are made and then explodes into life halfway through as party time comes around.

It was a real dancefloor filler in classic 70s Soul style. As a result, it topped the US Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart. It was also a success in the pop chart, making it to #20 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Got a big weekend coming up? Put on this song dedicated to the weekend, and you can sense the level of excitement rise.

Easy – The Commodores (1976)

Those who haven’t overdone it on Saturday night will appreciate this song about being as chilled as a Sunday morning. 

The song is about a man who refuses to let a recent breakup get him down. He tried his best and is at peace with himself even though things didn’t work out. He’s gonna stay “Easy like Sunday morning.” 

On its 1976 release… 

It broke the Top 10 in a few countries, peaking at #4 in the US Billboard Hot 100. American rockers Faith No More had an even bigger hit with their cover version landing at #1 in Australia and Top 10 in multiple countries. 

As good as their cover is, you can’t beat Lionel Ritchie’s silky smooth voice in the original. That’s one big reason it is one of the best songs about the weekend.

Here Comes the Weekend – The Jam (1977)

A killer opening guitar riff and bass line open this song about living for the weekend by English Mod-Punk band, The Jam. The opening line of “From Monday morning I work for Friday night” sets the stage from the start.

The weekdays are acknowledged for what they are. A chance to earn money for the good times that the weekend will bring. You have no control during the week. But, come Friday night, you can make up for it by having the best time possible.

As a nod to how a large section of the working public lives, celebrations of the weekend don’t come much more positive than this.

Night Fever – The Bee Gees (1978)

The Bee Gees’ massive disco hit was made even more popular by the movie “Saturday Night Fever” starring John Travolta. Interestingly, The Bee Gees were asked to write a song called “Saturday Night” for the movie as that’s what it was originally going to be called. 

The band didn’t like the title. But, they already had a song called “Night Fever,” which they thought would work with the movie. They convinced the filmmakers to use the song and change the name of the movie to “Saturday Night Fever.”

It was a dancefloor filler… 

…especially as disco music became more mainstream thanks to the movie. It’s got one of those timeless disco beats that get people shuffling their feet. Barry Gibb’s trademark falsetto is at the height of its powers.

It was a huge worldwide hit, topping charts everywhere. It spent an impressive eight weeks on top of the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States. In the Billboard All-Time 100, it sits at #38.

Friday – J.J. Cale (1979)

J.J. Cale is an artist whose songs have been made more famous by other artists covering them. Eric Clapton’s hit “Cocaine” is a J.J. Cale original. He pioneered what’s called the “Tulsa Sound.” It’s a mix of Blues, Jazz, Rockabilly, and Country. Cale was one seriously cool dude.

“Friday” is another great song bemoaning the monotony of the 9-5 grind. And the eternal yearning for it to be over when Friday evening comes around.

It’s a pure foot tapper with J.J Cale’s improvised guitar licks running throughout. Cale has been cited as a major influence by Rock legends such as Neil Young, Eric Clapton, and Mark Knopfler. With a CV like that and songs like this, he’s one of the most important artists of 20th-century Rock music.

Friday Night, Saturday Morning – The Specials (1981)

Terry Hall delivers this lament to another Friday night wasted down the boozer in a comically deadpan fashion. It turns what could have been a depressing song into an amusing, if downbeat, reflection of 1980s nightlife for young men. 

How about this for a verse: “I’ll eat it in the taxi queue – Stand in someone else’s spew – Wish I had lipstick on my shirt – Instead of piss stains on my shoes.”

You know, I was a young man once…

And I’ve certainly been in that situation more than a few times. “Friday Night, Saturday Morning” was released as a B-side to their smash hit single, “Ghost Town.” 

Taken together, as an expression of the malaise and alienation felt by working-class youth during the Thatcher era, these two songs are hard to beat.

Working for the Weekend – Loverboy (1981)

If you want to celebrate the weekend to the sound of an 80s Power-Pop ballad, then you can’t go wrong with “Working for the Weekend” by Canadian rockers Loverboy.

This highly catchy song has a similar theme to many others on this list of the best songs about the weekend. Waiting for the weekly grind to be over so that the real reason for living, the weekend, can take its rightful place. We’ve all been there at some point.

It was a breakthrough hit for the band riding as high as #29 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The video is also worth a watch. It’s so bad, it’s good. The band is on stage, providing outstanding material for the subsequent mockumentary, “Spinal Tap.” The cringe is strong.

Everyday is Like Sunday – Morrissey (1988)

Professional misery and genius lyricist Morrissey laments about the tedious nature of everyday life in a coastal town that used to have more life. He doesn’t rate Sunday too highly, equating it with monotonous boredom.

The evocative lyrics and wistful music proved a hit with the British public. It was Morrissey’s second single after the break-up of The Smiths, and it peaked at #9 in the UK chart.

A word of warning… 

Don’t listen to this song if you’re feeling at all down. It’s unlikely to make you feel any better. For those that like a good wallow, you’ll get along just fine with “Everyday is Like Sunday.” No one does misery better than the Bard of Manchester.

Friday I’m in Love – The Cure (1992)

This song was written by one of the most notoriously miserable men in music. Therefore, nobody expected such an exuberant and catchy pop song from perennial moper Robert Smith.

The song perfectly captures that feeling that school kids and people working jobs they don’t like get when Friday afternoon comes around. It’s still hard to believe that Robert Smith set out to make a happy song about the weekend, but that’s what he achieved. 

He’s not being ironic either… 

It’s the authenticity of the song and the organic joy it exudes that helped it resonate so much with the public.

“Friday I’m in Love” was one of The Cure’s biggest hits, making the Top 10 in charts worldwide. Likewise, it’s become one of their most recognizable songs in a career that spans over four decades.

Friday – Ice Cube (1995)

The universal theme of living it up at the weekend gets the Hip Hop treatment in Ice Cube’s 1995 track “Friday.” The track is taken from a movie of the same name, also written and produced by Ice Cube.

The movie is about life growing up in the hood, with the song focusing on a weekend of partying. In this case, that involves smoking fat blunts, drinking Hennessey, and chasing women.

If this sounds like your idea of a good time and you like your Hip Hop raw and unfiltered, you’re sure to enjoy this bonafide weekend classic.

Sunday – Sonic Youth (1998)

For those of you who like a bit of edginess to their songs about the weekend, this gem from Alternative Rock band Sonic Youth should be on your playlist. “Sunday” is one of their more accessible songs. 

There’s still a serious amount of angular and distorted guitar work going on in this ode to spending Sunday with that perfect friend or lover.

There’s an energetic beat running through the piece. One that breaks into a frenzied crescendo of awesome noise typical of the band before settling back into the earlier up-tempo beat. 

Not every song on this list was a big hit… 

And this song didn’t make much of an impact at the time. Its best showing was #72 in the UK charts. However, the band was Rock luminaries, creating some of the most unique Rock music of the last 40 years. 

Uptown Funk – Mark Ronson (Feat. Bruno Mars) (2014)

“Uptown Funk” was a gigantic hit all over the world on its release. Celebrations of strutting your funky stuff on a Saturday night don’t get much more fun than this.

Musical influences abound on this feel-good track. From James Brown and Prince to Cameo and the Sugarhill Gang. It feels like Ronson channeled the spirit and groove of some of the greatest acts and mixed them into “Uptown Funk.” Bruno Mars’s infectious energy and bravado steal the show.

It seems that Ronson borrowed a little too heavily from certain artists, several of which filed lawsuits. This would explain the number of credited songwriters, eleven at the last count.

Commercially, it was one of the biggest hits of the decade… 

It reached #1 in nineteen countries and made the Top 10 in another fifteen. It spent an incredible 15 weeks on top of the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States.

The excellent video was also a sensation featuring Bruno Mars and his band dancing in a city street. As of 2023, it is the eighth most watched video ever on YouTube, with over 4.6 billion views.

House Every Weekend – David Zowie (2015)

Let’s finally bring things slightly up-to-date with this feel-good dance track from British DJ and producer David Zowie. “House Every Weekend” was a break-out summer hit in the UK, reaching #1 in the single charts.

It’s a celebration of getting out on the town at the weekend and busting some moves on the nearest dancefloor. Preferably to the finest house music. 

Dance music became the soundtrack of the weekend warrior from the start of rave culture in the late 80s to the present day. “House Every Weekend” continues in a long line of house music classics that are made for dancing the weekend away.

Looking for More Great Tunes?

Well, take a look at our detailed articles on the Best Songs about Friday, the Best Songs About California, the Best Songs About Cars, the Best Songs About Work, Jobs, And Working Hard, and the Best Songs About Not Giving Up for more awesome song selections.

Of course, you’ll want to listen to them. So, check out our in-depth reviews of the Best Headphones for Music, the Best Headphones For Rock & Metal Music, the Best Headphones Under $200, and the Best Wireless Bluetooth Headphones you can buy in 2023.

And, don’t miss our comprehensive reviews of the Best Party Speakers, the Best Tailgate Speakers, the Best Wireless Outdoor Speakers, the Loudest Portable Bluetooth Speakers, and the Best Waterproof Speakers currently on the market.

Final Thoughts on Best Songs About the Weekend

So, there you have it. Twenty of the greatest songs about the weekend. Whilst most are party anthems celebrating not being at work, there are a few darker numbers thrown in for good measure.

Hope you enjoyed them. If you want to purchase an MP3 of any featured songs, just click on the link in the song title. Finally, if I made any glaring omissions, please let us know in the comments below.

Until next time, happy listening.