10 Songs About Wind and Windy Days You’ll Love

Songs about wind can of course be literal, as they detail what it’s like to experience a cool breeze or survive an extremely windy day.  But then there’s music that uses wind as a metaphor for something deeper and more introspective, like an old lover or newfound relationship.  So in this article, I’m going to share with you my favorite songs that use the theme of wind in both manners.  Hopefully, you’ll find one or two of these songs to be memorable enough to add to your playlist!

Songs About Wind You Will Enjoy

Let’s begin with an awesome track by Mumford and Sons.

10) “Winter Winds” by Mumford and Sons (2011)

This track seems to be both a well-known hit from fans, and simultaneously unknown by the rest of the world. I stumbled across it looking for songs to put on this list, and fell in love with it. On the surface, it’s a song about wind. When you look more into it, it’s a melodic art piece about loneliness and wanting to find love. 

In this case, the reference to “winter winds” may be symbolic of that cold loneliness that we’re all trying to fight through in this life. Whatever it may be, this song is beautiful and absolutely a great way to start off this list. 

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9) “She’s Like the Wind” by Patrick Swayze (1987)

I may or may not have put this song on here almost solely because of my emotional tie to the film it originated from, Dirty Dancing. Knowing that the late, great Patrick Swayze (who was an incredible actor, I might add) wrote some of the lyrics himself makes it that much better. 

As the title implies, it is a lovelorn track about a man who loves a woman that he just can’t be with (which, of course, we know ends up changing by the end of the movie). It’s heart wrenching and resonates with anyone who has wanted so badly to be with someone that they just couldn’t be with. The song performed well on its own (outside of the film), and for good reason. It will continue to be one that is loved by both Dirty Dancing and Patrick Swayze fans alike for years to come. 

8) “Watch the Wind Blow By” by Tim McGraw (2002)

I grew up listening to country music, and I have always had a soft spot for Tim McGraw (both my mother and sister loved his music). This song is no exception. I probably know every word to this song forwards and backwards with how many times I’ve heard it, and I continue to love it still. It is a simple, sweet love song about how all the singer wants to do is spend time with his significant other, even if all they are doing is sitting watching the wind blow. 

This track has all the sweet charm of any country love song, not to mention an intoxicating rhythm that is what gets the song stuck in my head when I listen to it. It’s got beautiful piano chords underlining the lyrics, and it makes it that much more romantic. This song is the carefree, “I don’t care what I’m doing as long as it’s with you” type of love that we all want. 

7) “Wind of Change” by Scorpions (1990)

This song is one of the more serious ones on this list. The German band wrote and released it after performing at the Moscow Music Peace Festival, which was the first time Western heavy-metal bands were permitted to play in the Soviet city. The song ended up being released after the Berlin Wall came down, and quickly became an anthem of peace celebrating the end of the Cold War. At its heart, that’s what the song is: a message of peace that urges everyone to put their differences aside and get along. 

From the opening whistle, to the hard-hitting electric guitar, and of course lead singer Klaus Meine’s vocals, the track is enchanting. It draws you in and forces you to hear what it has to say. It has an incredible message, and continues to be one of the band’s best-known songs for a reason. It’s truly incredible in every way and has absolutely left its mark on the history of rock music. 

6) “Must Have Been the Wind” by Alec Benjamin (2020)

The newest release on this list, and one that leans more toward a pop or indie genre. I have been a fan of Alec Benjamin pretty much since he first started making music in 2018, and this is definitely one of his songs that pulls at my heartstrings a little too hard. It is one that dives into human kindness, and being there for people that need it. The lyrics tell a story of a man worrying for the health of a neighbor when he hears suspicious sounds that may suggest some kind of abuse. 

This song is gentle and melodic, with the plucking of an acoustic guitar complimenting Benjamin’s soft but heartfelt voice. The chorus is catchy, despite the depressing subject matter. This is definitely a song that hurts to listen to, but is one that I catch myself playing on a regular basis. It is just a beautiful testament to being there for others when you think they need you, and honestly is something that I think more people need to hear. 

5) “Candle in the Wind” by Elton John (1973)

This is a classic song written for a classic woman. Though the lyrics were originally written for Marilyn Monroe, it also became associated with Princess Diana years later. It offers a moving message about the celebration of a life that was cut too short. Life is fragile, and could be extinguished as easily as the flame of a candle getting blown out by the wind. 

This ballad is moving, melodic, and powerful. Elton John was truly a master of lyrics in the case of this masterpiece, and his well-known piano talent truly makes it all that much better. Something about the piano makes this song that much more emotional, and I truly do not think it would have turned out the same if he had chosen to use any other instrument. Candle in the Wind is an incredible tribute to lives that deserve to be celebrated. I mentioned earlier that Wind of Change left its mark on rock music history, but I think this song has absolutely made a name for itself in the music industry in its entirety. 

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4) “Dust in the Wind” by Kansas (1978)

This song means everything and nothing at the same time. It truly is a work of art. Within the lyrics is a lamenting message that, no matter what we do, time goes on without us. Whether we grow to achieve our dreams and make a name for ourselves, or ultimately do nothing with our lives, one day we will die and time will continue to tick regardless. I think the message of this song is incredibly unique, if not painful. 

Dust in the Wind makes us face our morality through its haunting melody and raw emotion. Something about the guitar picking makes my stomach drop when I hear it, but in a good way. If getting a visceral reaction out of their audience is what the band hoped to achieve with this track, they succeeded. This was a song I was familiar with growing up, but didn’t actually know the name of until later in life. It is incredible for what it is, and another song on this list (out of many) that I truly hope continues to thrive for years to come. 

3) “They Call the Wind Mariah” by Sam Cooke (1961)

Admittedly, this is a song that many different musical artists have covered over the years, but I just like Sam Cooke’s version the best. I feel like this song’s meaning is open to interpretation. Some view it as a lovelorn tale of a man yearning after a woman; others interpret it as a celebration of the power of wind and how it can take you to many different places. Regardless of what you may believe the true meaning of this song is, it is one that pays tribute to the wind and what it can mean for different people. 

The song has an almost quirky instrumental behind it, with the lighthearted plucking of string instruments. The bouncy, intoxicating rhythm makes the song that much more catchy. Sam Cooke’s voice is just absolutely incredible and lends itself well to this song. Though it is not originally his, he fits it very well.

2) “Anyway the Wind Blows” by Eric Clapton and J.J. Cale (2006)

To me, this is a song about just living life. Doing things you enjoy, and letting the wind take you where it wants you to go. Like They Call the Wind Mariah, I think the meaning of this song is open to interpretation. It’s one of those songs where the audience is invited to take it and make it their own. Whatever they may need the song to mean, that’s what it means. This is one that can help people get through hard times, or inspire them to chase their dreams. It truly is whatever the listener needs it to be. 

This song has an incredible rhythmic blues feel to it. The guitar strumming is addictive, and reminds me of a group of musicians sitting around, fiddling with their instruments, just having a good time. Clapton and Cale’s voices are absolutely perfect for this style of music, and they make such a powerful duo that it’s difficult to imagine any other pair performing this song. It truly feels as though this track was made for them and them alone. 

I could listen to this song for hours, and probably write about it for even longer. It was incredibly close to being first on this list, but was just narrowly edged out by a song with just a little bit of a deeper meaning than this one. But I do very much love this track nonetheless, and it definitely took its rightful place on this list. 

1) “Blowin’ in The Wind” by Bob Dylan (1963)

Rightfully taking its place as number one on this list, is Bob Dylan’s legendary track. It was inspired by and derived from the song No More Auction Block. Dylan said he didn’t intend it to be a protest song, but it quickly became one that people used when they wanted their voices to be heard. This song was one that cemented Dylan as a lyricist whose words reflected the reality of America, and he became loved for how real and raw his music was. 

This song is one that promotes peace, and reminds us that all humans deserve a life of happiness and freedom to liberty. These facts are as undeniable as the existence of the wind. The instrumentals in the track are gentle and rhythmic, and though they greatly supplement the lyrics being sung, give Dylan’s voice the spotlight. Everything about the song is seemingly understated (except for maybe the harmonica) but powerful at the same time. I get goosebumps every time I listen to it. 

It is understandable that this song is one of the of Dylan’s most famous tracks. I genuinely don’t think I can even put into words how amazing I think this song truly is. It isn’t in your face but gets its point across regardless. It is a song that needed to be written, and I’m just so happy Bob Dylan was the one that gave it the voice it deserves. 

Conclusion

It’s always interesting to see how artists can take a concept like songs about wind and morph it to mean a hundred different things. It’s a big reason why we love music, because we can appreciate content on its face for what it is, while also appreciating the lyrics songs that probe deeper or use figurative language in a vivid, meaningful manner.

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