Songs About Peace, Love, and Tolerance
published 3/9/21; updated 5/10/23
by Catharine Hannay, founder of MindfulTeachers.org
Continuing the popular series of Song Playlists for Teachers, here are a variety of songs about lovingkindness and widening our circles of compassion.
Teachers, please note: With such a multicultural audience teaching young children through adults, I can’t guarantee that all of the songs and videos will be appropriate for your particular context. I’ve include brief descriptions to help you choose, but please preview anything you plan to share with your students.
Everyone is Different, Lanny Sherwin
official video (lyrics in video description)
Children’s song about appreciating diversity.
If you teach younger kids, you might like the playlist of Children's Songs about Mindfulness, Kindness, Self-Acceptance, & Gratitude
Free and Equal Blues, Josh White
In this blues song from the 1940s, a man goes to his doctor and discovers that our skin may be different hues, but everybody’s got the same color blood.
If you're looking for more anti-racist songs, check out the Songs about the Civil Rights Movement and #blacklivesmatter
Higher Love, Steve Winwood
lyrics; audio of Ndlovu Youth Choir; performance by Kelly Clarkson
A contemporary African twist on an English pop song from the 1980s.
I Want to Live in a Friendly World, Leon Bibb
Children’s song about living in a world where our neighbors will be friendly, not judging us because of ethnicity or religion.
Love and Mercy, Brian Wilson
lyrics; audio; performance by Libera boys’ choir
Choral interpretation of a song by the troubled musical genius Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys. (The film Love and Mercy and documentary Long Promised Road are both quite moving accounts of his life.)
Lullaby for a Child in War, Mike Nobel
An adult sings words of comfort to a frightened child. See also: Lullaby for the Traveling Child by Mehdi Amenian.
Nyansapo: The Wisdom Knot, Steven Chesne
audio; video with images of the chants, performers, and researchers
This is an interweaving of peace prayers from many different traditions, part of the Sapient project.
Peace, Joy DiDonato for The Lullaby Project
audio; this is part of a project pairing singers with pregnant women and new parents, to write lullabies for their children; more information at carnegiehall.org.
Praying for Peace, Kayo Musiq & Berklee College of Music
This song was written by a Berklee student who was born in Nigeria.
Put a Little Love in Your Heart, Jackie DeShannon
lyrics; video of international virtual choir recorded during quarantine
Same Blood, Kyshona Armstrong
video (lyrics not available)
Seeds of Freedom, Manu Chao
lyrics; video by Playing for Change
Latin reggae song performed by musicians around the world.
Selam Salam Shalom Shlomo, Karibuni
video (lyrics and translation in video description)
If you like this song, check out the Multilingual Song Playlist on Unity, Diversity, Peace and Tolerance
Song of Peace; A Native Tongue Called Peace
official video featuring children promoting peace and harmony between various ethnic groups in Manipur, India
Undivided, TimMcGraw and Tyler Hubbard
Country song about coming together despite our differences in ethnicity, religion, politics, etc.
Universal Love, Colby Jeffers (ft. Brenn, Reflectionz, & Xandra Black)
lyrics (scroll down to page 12); lyric video
Rap song inspired by his Baha’i faith.
We Shall Be Free, Garth Brooks
lyrics; cover by Justin Green; video of Garth Brooks with the Muppets
When there’s equality, compassion, and justice, we’ll all be free.
(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding, Nick Lowe
lyrics; audio of Elvis Costello and the Imposters; Nick Lowe and the Southsea Alternative Choir (song starts at :45)
What the World Needs Now, David Hal and Burt Bacharach
lyrics; Virtual Orchestra; HipHop Remix by Hip Hop Saves Lives
We’ve got enough of everything else, what we need is love.
Wider Circles, Rising Appalachia
lyrics; video of live performance
Speaking the truth, supporting each other, and widening our circles (of influence and compassion).
Related Posts
There are many other song playlists and resources on community, compassion, and diversity here at MindfulTeachers.org, including the following posts: