21 Best Songs About Wind

This fundamental element of wind (air) inspired some of the best songs ever written to create the most memorable recorded music.

It’s a metaphor that has helped create beautiful tributes, powerful protest songs, and songs from diverse genres, including country music and pop ballads.

Continue reading, and we’ll break down everything you need to know about the artists and bands who performed the best songs about wind and left an enduring impact on the music world.

The 21 Best Songs About Wind

We’ve covered a broad selection of genres and music artists with this playlist to make sure there’s something here to cater to all tastes in music.

This eclectic selection of songs explores how the wind has influenced everything from Broadway musicals to pioneering rock bands, tapping into the element’s primal force.

Here’s our playlist of the 21 best songs about wind:

21. “Candle In The Wind” – Elton John

Elton John wrote “Candle in the Wind” to pay tribute to one of the most iconic women in history, Marilyn Monroe.

This powerful song about the wind was played at the funeral of Princess Diana, becoming a huge hit once again.

With many hit releases in his discography, Elton John was responsible for some of best songs of all time, including “Your Song.”

20. “Meet Me In Chicago” – Buddy Guy

Buddy Guy’s blues hit “Meet Me in Chicago” was released in 2013 and is all about the famous windy city.

The lyrics refer to Buddy Guy’s desire to return home to Chicago from California and how lonely he feels without his lover.

A prolific artist, “Meet Me in Chicago” was released as part of his sixteenth studio album, Rhythm & Blues.

19. “Wind Of Change” – Scorpions

The Scorpions use the concept of wind as a metaphor for societal change in their song “Wind of Change.”

Here, the wind references the fall of the Soviet Union and the subsequent fall of the Berlin Wall in the wake of the German Reunification.

“Wind of Change” became something of an anthem for the people of Germany during this significant historical event.

18. “Blowin’ In The Wind” – Bob Dylan

Our first song about the wind by Bob Dylan featured in this playlist is “Blowin’ in the Wind,” which was written by Dylan in 1962.

While fans debated its meaning, Dylan likened the piece of music to a restless piece of paper waiting to come down from the skies.

“Blowin’ in the Wind” was released on Dylan’s album The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan in 1963, with the song inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame the following year.

17. “Seminole Wind” – John Anderson

John Anderson’s contribution to the collection of great songs about wind, “Seminole Wind,” recreates the weather with its interplay between piano and violin.

It’s a song that urges listeners to observe what’s happening around them and do their best to preserve the environment as the population grows.

One of America’s best country music singers, John Anderson, was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2014.

16. “The Wind Of Mayhem” – Bathory

With Bathory’s wind-themed heavy metal song, “The Wind of Mayhem,” you can take things up a notch.

With dynamic vocals, thrashing guitars, and intense percussion, this song is a head-banging classic for fans of the genre to enjoy.

Based in Sweden, Bathory helped to pioneer black metal music since the early 1980s and took its name from Elizabeth Bathory, a notorious murderer.

15. “Four Strong Winds” – Neil Young

Neil Young’s song “Four Strong Winds” was written by the Canadian singer Ian Tyson and is all about lost love.

One of the high points of Neil Young’s career, it’s a beautiful song with the lyrics, “But by then it would be winter, not too much for you to do and those winds sure can blow cold way out there.”

It was a hit for Neil Young, whose biggest hit on the Billboard Hot 100 charts was the 1972 song “Heart of Gold.”

14. “Ride Like The Wind” – Christopher Cross

As the name of this song about wind implies, “Ride Like the Wind” is a fast-paced, uplifting, and optimistic song.

It’s a breezy and fun song that’s easy to dance to and focuses on a man preparing to set out on a journey and looking for the right motivation.

With Eagles member Don Henley’s help with backing vocals, this great song became a big hit for Christopher Cross.

13. “My Kind Of Town” – Frank Sinatra

Frank Sinatra released the song “My Kind of Town” in the mid-1960s, about the original windy city, Chicago.  Johnny Mercer and Henry Mayer are behind the track’s lovely lyrics.

As you might expect from a song by Sinatra at the peak of his career, it’s a big band masterpiece with plenty of warmth and great vocals.

Frank Sinatra is one of the most singable artists of the twentieth century, with some of the best karaoke songs to his credit, such as “My Way.”

12. “Winter Winds” – Fotheringay

The theme explored in the Fotheringay song “Winter Winds” is as melancholy as you might expect from the name.

It’s a haunting and moving song that evokes a feeling of sadness and loneliness with its outstanding vocals and instrumentation.

The song “Winter Winds” was released in 1971, and the band Fotheringay was formed by Sandy Denny after she left Fairport Convention in 1969.

11. “The Wind Cries Mary” – Jimi Hendrix

One of the most famous songs to have been written and performed by Jimi Hendrix is “The Wind Cries Mary,” released in 1968.

Hendrix reportedly wrote the song in response to an argument with his girlfriend at the time and his dissatisfaction with her lumpy mashed potatoes.

Jimi Hendrix wrote many great tracks throughout his short but impressive career, including one of the best songs about fire, the aptly titled “Fire.”

10. “Song Of The Wind” – Santana

Santana is another popular music act well known for his impressive guitaring, as is evident on the track “Song of the Wind.”

Bringing beautiful strings and percussion along with guitars, “Song of the Wind” is a wonderful music ensemble that captures the essence of the wind.

Santana has continued to release music over the decades, since the early 1970s, albeit with varying line-ups of his backing band members.

9. “Against The Wind” – Bob Seger And The Silver Bullet Band

Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band tackled the subject of wind as something to fight against in an uphill battle, compared to having the wind in your sails.

“Against the Wind” features lyrics reflecting an old relationship and the realization that the couple had the world against them.

The song was released as part of the album Against the Wind in 1980 and was released as a single that reached number five on the Billboard Hot 100 charts.

8. “The Wind” – Zac Brown Band

A wonderful bluegrass-inspired song about the wind from the Zak Brown Band is “The Wind,” one of the most fun songs on the subject.

Featuring a great country melody and square dance vibes, it’s one of those songs that puts you in the mood for dancing, particularly with the fiddle arrangements.

The official music video for “The Wind” was directed by Mike Judge, best known for the hit cartoon series King of the Hill.

7. “The Winds Of Winter” – Ramin Djawadi

Anyone who has watched the hugely successful fantasy television series Game of Thrones will be familiar with Ramin Djawadi’s evocative composition about the wind, “The Winds of Winter.”

The series used the song to deliver an impending sense of something huge on the horizon, with a haunting atmosphere throughout the track.

In addition to his work composing music for Game of Thrones, Djawadi also penned the score to several hit movies, including Clash of the Titans, Jack Ryan, and Pacific Rim.

6. “Summer Breeze” – Seals And Kroft

Seals and Kroft brought their trademark harmonies and beautiful instrumentation to the table for their excellent song about wind, “Summer Breeze.”

The lyrics “Summer breeze, makes me feel fine, blowing through the jasmine in my mind” evoke the combination of senses heightened during the summer, including smell and touch.

The song “Summer Breeze” was released in 1972 on the album of the same name and was released as a single that peaked at number four on the Adult Contemporary charts.

5. “Hickory Wind” – The Byrds

A mellow country music song reflecting childhood experiences, “Hickory Wind” by the Byrds is the perfect addition to anyone’s nostalgic playlist.

The lyrics reminisce about the fun of childhood, exploring the natural world and climbing trees, and the motivation these memories have for returning to where we grew up.

The Byrds released “Hickory Wind” on their sixth studio album, Sweetheart of the Rodeo, one of the more popular country music albums from 1968.

4. “Wild Is The Wind” – David Bowie

Another great song about the wind written as a tribute to someone special is “Wild is the Wind” by David Bowie, which he performed after the passing of singing icon Nina Simone.

“Wild is the Wind” is one of Simone’s most enduring songs, and Bowie does full justice to her impressive vocal style on this respectful cover version.

Bowie wrote hundreds of songs throughout his long and illustrious career, including one of the best songs about death you can listen to, “Lazarus.”

3. “They Call The Wind Maria” – Sam Cooke

“They Call the Wind Maria” was originally written in the early 1950s for the Broadway musical Paint Your Wagon and was set during the California gold rush.

With a hint of cowboy and country music influences, “They Call the Wind Maria” is a song that captures feelings of longing and how it feels to be separated from your loved ones.

Alan J. Lerner wrote the lyrics, and Frederick Loewe wrote the music for this short but exceptionally sweet song by Sam Cooke that remains popular today.

2. “Idiot Wind” – Bob Dylan

We are returning to Bob Dylan for another great song that uses wind as a metaphor, although Dylan isn’t using the subject as a protest song this time.

“Idiot Wind” is all about a romance gone wrong and the realization that both parties were foolish and there was no chance the relationship would work.

Bob Dylan released “Idiot Wind” on the album Blood on the Tracks, often cited as the best album from the prolific artist’s discography.

1. “Wind Beneath My Wings” – Bette Midler

Bette Midler effortlessly straddled the music and movie industry throughout her career with “Wind Beneath My Wings,” one of the most popular songs she released.

“Did you ever know that you’re my hero? You’re everything I wish I could be,” the lyrics continue, “I could fly higher than an eagle, for you are the wind beneath my wings.”

In addition to “Wind Beneath My Wings,” Bette Midler also performed one of the best songs about spring, “Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most.”

Summary

We hope you’ve enjoyed this complete playlist exploring the best songs about wind ever written.

The artists have used the wind element in various ways, from iconic tributes to beautiful women, crafting hauntingly beautiful melodies, or creating hard-hitting death metal tracks.

Whether the subject is being used as a metaphor for a turbulent relationship or in the context of the passing seasons, it’s helped great artists to compose incredible music.

Undoubtedly, the wind will continue to create heartfelt and exciting music in the years to come, both as a poetic device and an inspiration for harmonies and instrumental arrangements.

What’s the best song about wind, in your opinion? Leave a comment below.