Yep, it’s that time of year again. High school and college seniors the world over are busy taking their final exams and preparing for one of the most revered rites of passage for young adults today: graduation.

The graduation ritual encompasses many things, including the commencement ceremony itself, graduation parties, and you guessed it, graduation music! Whether played at a ceremony by a school’s concert band, or as part of a student-edited photo montage at a senior dinner, it’s guaranteed that certain songs will continue to conjure up memories of graduation for years to come.

So what makes a good graduation song? It’s simple, really. The song should make you reflect in some way upon where you’ve been, the friendships you’ve made, and where you’re heading next. I think you’ll find that the songs listed below all meet this criteria.

If you happen to be graduating soon, then congrats! What song(s) are being used for your graduation ritual? And if you’ve already graduated, I’d be interested in knowing what song(s) still conjure up memories of that special time. For the record, The Sheriff can no longer listen to the Green Day song Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) without being reminded of his senior year in high school.

Guitar, Bass & Drum Tab of Popular Graduation Songs