The Very Best Songs About Washington, DC

Discover the very best songs about Washington, DC. Whether it’s home, you’re traveling there tomorrow, or are fascinated by its grand and often divisive political character, we have your back.

From The United States Army Bandto The Decemberists, from Parliament to Beyoncé, from Lead Belly to Bob Dylan, from Gil Scott-Heron to R.E.M., we’ve gathered the very best songs about Washington, DC in one place.

Start with our top ten songs about the District, and then explore by genre—including classical, alternative, hip hop, rock, R&B and soul, blues, country, singer/songwriter, country, satire from the Capitol Steps, Christmas, and even a reggae tunes.

You’ll find all the best songs about Washington, DC right here.

Top 10 Songs About Washington, DC

1. National Emblem March – Spirit of America Ensemble (iTunes | Amazon) Composed on a train tour by Edwin Eugene Bagley in 1902, and published in 1906, this piece was cited by John Philip Sousa as one of the most effective street marches ever written
2. The District Sleeps Alone Tonight – The Postal Service (iTunes | Amazon) Ben Gibbard wrote this 2003 track about being an outsider in The District after his girlfriend moved to DC
3. Washington, DC – The Nighttime Adventure Society (Artist) Emerging indie band plays and sings an infectiously pleasant ode to their one-time home and Capital
4. Washington DC – The Magnetic Fields (iTunes | Amazon) Despite the city’s power, architecture and beauty, none are the inspiration behind this 90s track from the Magnetic Fields
5. Chocolate City – Parliament (iTunes | Amazon) George Clinton’s spoken vocals hypothesize about an all-African American cabinet in the White House in this 1975 funk track
6. DC or Nothing – Wale (iTunes | Amazon) Washington rapper Wale shares his story of growing up and struggling to survive in DC in this explicit 2011 track
7. Hail to the Chief – The United States Air Force Band (iTunes | Amazon) The official Presidential Anthem for the United States frequently precedes or accompanies the sitting President’s arrival
8. State of the Union – Chicago (iTunes | Amazon) Singer Roger Lamm tells of his call to “tear the system down” in this funky 1972 rock classic
9. The Bagman’s Gambit – The Decemberists (iTunes | Amazon) Lead singer Colin Meloy sings of an unattainable love met in a DC bathroom stall who happens to be unattainable target of the national authorities as well
10. Washington DC 5/91 – Ellis Paul (iTunes | Amazon) Singer/songwriter Ellis tells of summer day in DC amidst the landmarks and tourists in this soothing DC ditty

Want more of the best songs about  Washington, DC? Check our list below for more favorites, standbys, classics, and a few oddball selections. No matter your musical taste, you can find a sound you like among the best songs about Detroit. Like us on Facebook or check out more top 10 songs for other great cities and destinations.

CLASSICAL PATRIOTIC SONGS ABOUT DC

• The Star Spangled Banner – United States Air Force Heritage of Band (iTunes | Amazon)
• The Army Goes Rolling Along – United States Army Band (iTunes | Amazon)
• Wild Blue Yonder (U.S. Air Force Song) – The United States Air Force Band (iTunes | Amazon)
• Anchors Away – United States Navy Band (iTunes | Amazon)
• Marine’s Hymn – United States Marine Band (iTunes | Amazon)
• Semper Paratus (The United States Coast Guard Song) – United States Coast Guard Band (iTunes | Amazon)
• Liberty Fanfare – United States Navy Band (iTunes | Amazon)
• Marine’s Hymn (Slow Version) – United States Marine Band (iTunes | Amazon)
• The Washington Post March (1988) – United States Marine Band (iTunes | Amazon)
• The Washington Post March (1890) – United States Marine Band (iTunes | Amazon)
• Easter Monday on the White House Lawn – United States Marine Band (iTunes | Amazon)
• The Stars and Stripes Forever – United States Army Band (iTunes | Amazon)

COVERS OF “THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER”  

• The Star Spangled Banner (A Cappella) – Beyoncé (iTunes | Amazon)
• The Star Spangled Banner – Whitney Houston (iTunes | Amazon)
• The Star Spangled Banner (Live at Woodstock) – Jimi Hendrix (iTunes | Amazon)
• The Star Spangled Banner (Live) – KISS (iTunes | Amazon)
• The Star Spangled Banner – Lee Greenwood (iTunes | Amazon)
• The Star Spangled Banner – The Charlie Daniels Band (iTunes | Amazon)
• The Star Spangled Banner (The National Anthem) – Jordin Sparks (iTunes | Amazon)
• The Star Spangled Banner – Jennifer Hudson (iTunes | Amazon)
• The Star Spangled Banner – The Cactus Cuties (iTunes | Amazon)
• The Star Spangled Banner – Melanie May (iTunes | Amazon)
• The Star Spangled Banner – Miri-Ben Ali & Doug E. Fresh (iTunes)
• The Star Spangled Banner – Julie Roberts (iTunes | Amazon)

ALTERNATIVE SONGS ABOUT DC

• (Don’t Go Back To) Rockville – R.E.M. (iTunes | Amazon)
• I’m Just a Bill – Deluxx Folk Implosion (iTunes | Amazon)
• Embassy Row – Pavement (iTunes | Amazon)
• DC Song – Aden (iTunes | Amazon)
• And the Washington Monument Blinks (Alternate Version) – Q and Not U (iTunes | Amazon)
• Dead City – The Hint (iTunes | Amazon)
• The City – Dismemberment Plan (iTunes | Amazon)
• The City (Remixed by Ev) – Dismemberment Plan (iTunes | Amazon)
• You’re My Miss Washington DC – Nation of Ulysses (iTunes | Amazon)
• Mt. Pleasant Isn’t – The Evens (iTunes | Amazon)
• Wheaton Calling – Burning Airlines (iTunes | Amazon)
• D.C. Will Do That To You (I) – Smart Went Crazy (iTunes | Amazon)
• D.C. Will Do That To You (II) – Smart Went Crazy (iTunes | Amazon)
• Traffic on U Street – Gist (iTunes | Amazon)
• Mt. Pleasant – Tuscadero  (iTunes | Amazon)
• Potomac – Vehicle Flips (iTunes | Amazon)
• Walk In Washington – Scapegoat (Amazon)
• Banned In DC – Bad Brains (iTunes | Amazon)
• Washington, DC – Split (iTunes | Amazon)
• 13th and Euclid – The Dismemberment Plan (iTunes | Amazon)

HIP HOP SONGS ABOUT DC

• Chillin’ – Wale feat. Lady Gaga (iTunes | Amazon)
• Welcome To DC – Mambo Sauce (iTunes | Amazon)
• DC Joint – Only Built for Washingtonians (Instrumental) – Damu The Fudgemunk (iTunes | Amazon)
• DC Joint (Ward 4 Version) – Damu The Fudgemunk (iTunes | Amazon)
• MetroSong – GoRemy (iTunes | Amazon)
• Abraham Lincoln: The Rap – GoRemy (iTunes | Amazon)
• Arlington: The Rap – GoRemy (iTunes | Amazon)
• I’m In DC Trick – LMAO (iTunes)
• Welcome to Washington – Smart Songs (iTunes | Amazon)

R&B & SOUL SONGS ABOUT DC

• DC is Tropical – LIONIZE (iTunes | Amazon)
• Washington DC – Gil Scott-Heron (iTunes | Amazon)
• Rock Creek Park – The Blackbyrds (iTunes | Amazon)
• DC City – Roy Ayers (iTunes | Amazon)

ROCK SONGS ABOUT DC

• Idiot Wind – Bob Dylan (iTunes | Amazon)
• Washington is Next! – Megadeath (iTunes | Amazon)
• Rumble – Link Wray (iTunes | Amazon)
• Washingtron – Tru Fax and the Insaniacs (iTunes | Amazon)

SHOWTUNE SATIRE SONGS ABOUT DC         

• Obama Meets Osama – Capitol Steps (iTunes | Amazon)
• Embattled Hymn of the Republicans – Capitol Steps (iTunes | Amazon)
• Hilary’s Way – Capitol Steps (iTunes | Amazon)
• Scalia – Capitol Steps (iTunes | Amazon)

BLUES SONGS ABOUT DC

• Washington DC Hospital Center Blues – Skip James (iTunes | Amazon)
• Washington DC Hospital Center Blues – Garland Jeffreys (Amazon)
• Bourgeois Blues – Lead Belly (iTunes | Amazon)

SINGER/SONGWRITER SONGS ABOUT DC

• Route 42 – Rene Moffatt (iTunes | Amazon)
• Come Down To DC – Army of Me (iTunes | Amazon)
• By George, It’s Washington – Carol Boyd Leon (iTunes | Amazon)

COUNTRY SONGS ABOUT DC

• White House Blues – Bill Monroe (iTunes | Amazon)

REGGAE SONGS ABOUT DC

• Babylon System – Bob Marley (iTunes | Amazon)

CHRISTMAS & HOLIDAY SONGS ABOUT DC     

• Christmas Eve in Washington – Maura Sullivan (iTunes | Amazon)
• Christmas Eve in Washington – US Air Force Concert Band and Singing Sergeants (iTunes | Amazon)
• Christmas in Washington – Steve Earle (iTunes | Amazon)
• Barackin’ Around the Christmas Tree – Capitol Steps (iTunes | Amazon)

SUGGEST SONGS ABOUT WASHINGTON, DC

Is there a great, good, or not half-bad song about Washington, DC or that takes place in Washington that we missed? Drop us a line or contact us on Facebook and let us know. If it’s a fit, we’ll be sure to add it to our list of the best songs about Washington, DC.