Forrest Gump has an amazing soundtrack with a ton of songs that still get listened to today. In this list, we explore many of them, and talk about how they are important pieces of the classic movie. Sure, the music does help play into the idea that Forrest Gump comes across as a Baby Boomer fever dream, but we can also honestly say the soundtrack includes some of the best music of the 20th Century.
Sweet Home Alabama – Lynyrd Skynyrd
Forrest, played, of course, by Tom Hanks, is from the great state of Alabama, so there was no way anyone could construct a soundtrack of classic rock and roll tunes and not include “Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd Skynyrd. For Forrest and for his lifelong friend Jenny (Robin Wright) Greenbow, Alabama is home sweet home.
Sloop John B – The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys surprised everyone with their 1966 masterpiece Pet Sounds and while the album wasn’t a hit initially, it has become one of the most beloved albums ever. One song from the album, “Sloop John B” pops up in the background just as Lt. Dan (Gary Sinise) is about to shower when Gump arrives in Vietnam.
Respect – Aretha Franklin
There is no bigger icon from the 1960s than the late, great Aretha Franklin. Of course, she has to be included in any movie from the era, and she is with her classic “Respect” which is played as Gump and Bubba (Mykelti Williamson) first meet Lt. Dan.
On the Road Again – Willie Nelson
it’s a long road for Forrest Gump as he runs back and forth across America after his mother, played by Sally Field, dies. At one point, he even helps a man come up with the idea for the “Have a nice day” t-shirt. While he does, the great Willie Nelson song “On The Road Again” plays, which is all too appropriate.
Volunteers – Jefferson Airplane
When Forrest finds himself in the middle of a huge anti-war protest on The Mall in Washington DC, the music in the background is perfect for the moment. “Volunteers” by Jefferson Airplane was an anti-way anthem in the ’60s and its chaotic nature fits the chaotic scene like a glove.
Rebel Rouser – Duane Eddy
Although the movie starts in the 1950s, there isn’t much music from that decade. There are a few exceptions, like “Rebel Rouser” by guitar great Duane Eddy. The fast-paced instrumental adds to the intense moment when Forrest is first told to “run” by Jenny as he’s chased by bullies in a truck.
Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head – B.J. Thomas
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid was a huge hit in 1969 and from it came a huge music hit, “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head” by B.J. Thomas. Right around that era in the movie, Gump meets his third US president, Richard Nixon, as the song plays in the background.
Against the Wind – Bob Seger
A lot of great – and appropriate songs – play as Gump is running across America. “Against The Wind” by Bob Seger is certainly one of them, with the lyrics, “Against the wind, We were runnin’ against the wind, We were young and strong, we were runnin’ against the wind.”
California Dreamin’ – The Mamas and the Papas
“California Dreamin'” by The Mamas and the Papas is a quintessential 1960s folk rock song. In Forrest Gump, it pops up as Gump explains how often he wrote Jenny while he was in Vietnam. Jenny is, at that point, living in California, so without realizing it, Gump is dreaming of the Golden State.
Joy to the World – Three Dog Night
Gump gets to travel the world. As a world-class ping pong player, or all things, Gump ends up in China, bringing joy to the world, just like the classic by Three Dog Night pleads us all to do. It’s a stark contrast to some of the other songs in the sequence, which are most Doors songs, for some reason.
Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season) – The Byrds
“Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season) (1965)” by The Byrds is an iconic hippie anthem from the late ’60s, so there is no better choice of music for the scene when Jenny departs Washington and heads to California with her troublesome boyfriend. It’s a sad moment for Gump and he watches her wave goodbye from the bus after failing to convince her to return to Greenbow with him.
For What It’s Worth – Buffalo Springfield
You be hard-pressed to find a more iconic song relating to the Vietnam era than Buffalo Springfield’s “For What It’s Worth.” The anti-war anthem is one of the most recognizable songs of the ’60s, so of course it has to be included in the movie while Gump is in the jungles of Vietnam.
Hound Dog – Elvis Presley
One of the sillier scenes in Forrest Gump comes near the beginning when a young man from Mississippi is staying at the Gump’s boarding house. Of course, the man is Elvis Presley, though we never see his face – and his voice was actually done by Kurt Russell. He even learns to shake his hips by watching Forrest. Later, Forrest and his mother spot Elvis on TV performing “Hound Dog” on national TV.
Get Down Tonight – KC and the Sunshine Band
The 1970s are not kind to Jenny in Forrest Gump. She goes through some pretty dark times, but before things get really bad, she’s seen starting down that partying road at a nightclub as the KC and the Sunshine Band hit “Get Down Tonight” plays and she drinks and enjoys herself…maybe a little too much.
Mrs. Robinson – Simon & Garfunkel
Forrest Gump sure gets to meet a lot of Presidents and it seems whenever he does, a cool song is playing. When he meets Lyndon Johnson, the sweet sounds of “Mrs. Robinson” by Simon & Garfunkel is playing in the background. That song, of course, is part of one of the all-time great movies of the ’60s, The Graduate.
Get Together – The Youngbloods
The anthem “Get Together” by The Youngbloods pleads with people to come together for the good of everyone. Ultimately, that is what Forrest is trying to do too. He wants everyone to come together, whether he realizes that he does or not.
All Along The Watchtower – Jimi Hendrix
Bob Dylan wrote “All Along The Watchtower,” but Jimi Hendrix is responsible for the definitive version of it. Of course, it pops up in the Vietnam segment of Forrest Gump, as it became one of the defining songs of the era and of the war in Southeast Asia.
Go Your Own Way – Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac’s album Rumours is one of the highest-selling albums of all time and nothing says the 1970s quite like the songs on the album. As Forrest is running, one of the biggest hits from the record, “Go Your Own Way” plays as he and his newfound running friends do, indeed, go their own way. The song may be about a relationship falling apart, but it still fits the moment perfectly.
San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair) – Scott McKenzie
The summer of 1967 in San Francisco is known as the “Summer of Love” and to celebrate that, some record company execs came up with the idea to exploit that with a song like “San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)” by Scott McKenzie. Okay, so maybe it wasn’t execs, but the song still reads as a cheesy pop hit trying to be cool. It works in the movie though… kind of.
Fortunate Son – Creedence Clearwater Revival
It’s become a pop culture trope – Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Fortunate Son” playing over scenes from the Vietnam War in every movie about the war. It turns out, though, that the song doesn’t really show up in them like we think it does. The whole trope really just comes from the scene in Forrest Gump when Forrest and Bubba arrive in the country by helicopter, which is one of the only times it has actually been in a Vietnam War movie.
Medley: Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In – The 5th Dimension
The musical Hair was a cultural phenomenon in the late ’60s and a cover version of one of the songs from it, called “Medley: Aquarius/Let the Sunshine” by The 5th Dimension became a massive hit. It’s a little out of place in Forrest Gump as it plays over one of the ping-pong scenes, but it’s certainly period-appropriate.
Everybody’s Talkin’ – Harry Nilsson
The late ’60s were a rough time for Lt. Dan after he lost his legs in the war. In one scene, when he reunited with Forrest in New York City, Harry Nilsson’s “Everybody’s Talkin'” is playing as they struggle with his wheelchair. It’s a contrasting song for the chaotic scene, but somehow it just works.
I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch) – Four Tops
When Forrest and Bubba first arrive in Vietnam, there are a bunch of classic mid-’60s songs that play. Songs that were pretty typical to hear on the radio in Vietnam it seems. One of those, “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)” by the Four Tops is a stone-cold Motown classic to this day.
It Keeps You Runnin’ – The Doobie Brothers
Of course, while Forrest is running around the country, you just knew the filmmakers would have to include The Doobie Brothers’ classic “It Keeps You Runnin’.” Sung by the great Michael McDonald, the song has that perfect late-’70s vibe that fits the moment so well in the movie.
Mr. President (Have Pity on the Working Man) – Randy Newman
When Forrest and Lt. Dan set out to become shrimp boat captains, things don’t really work out for them at first. Appropriately, “Mr. President (Have Pity on the Working Man)” by Randy Newman plays as they try desperately to find shrimp to fish.
Running On Empty – Jackson Brown
During the running scenes in the movie, the filmmakers really try to make sure they cram in every song about running from the late ’70s. Jackson Brown’s “Running On Empty” just had to be included, though it might have been better for the end of the segment, rather than the beginning.
Hello I Love You – The Doors
We will concede that The Doors were one of the biggest bands of the late ’60s, but they seem over-represented on the soundtrack for Forrest Gump. A bunch of Doors songs are featured, including “Hello I Love You” which is played as Forrest dives headfirst into a tunnel while in Vietnam on the orders of Lt. Dan.
Hey Joe – Jimi Hendrix
The scene featuring “Hey Joe” by Jimi Hendrix in the movie is one of the harder scenes in the movie to watch as Jenny is hit by her sketchy boyfriend, triggering a violent response from Forrest as he wants to protect her. It’s an example of his unrequited love getting the better of him.
Let’s Work Together – Canned Heat
One of the most chaotic moments of the movie comes after Forrest goes back to Lt. Dan’s squalid apartment in New York on New Year’s Eve. The music over the scene, “Let’s Work Together” by Canned Heat ratchets up the tension well, and as viewers, we really just out of the situation.
Jesus On The Mainline – Alan Silvestri & Donny Gerrard
We’ve left all of the original score off of this list, of course, but it feels important to include one song by the score’s composer Alan Silvestri. “Jesus On The Mainline” is a traditional gospel tune that Silverstri reworked for the scene when Forrest meets Bubba’s family for the first time. It’s sung beautifully by Donny Gerrard.
Freebird – Lynyrd Skynyrd
One of the most distressful scenes in the movie is when Jenny, at her wit’s end with the chaotic partying and everything else in the late seventies, stands on the ledge of a building in her high heels. It’s a terrifying scene that almost leads to disaster and the stress is bolstered by the scintillating guitar solo from Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Freebird” as it happens.
People Are Strange – The Doors
The filmmakers really lean into The Doors on the soundtrack, for better or worse, but at least they do include one of the best songs by the band, “People Are Strange.” Forrest Gump is, indeed, strange, but we love him for it.
Finally, it’s worth noting that the most iconic scenes in the movie, of Forrest on the bench, aren’t really accompanied by any music, which is a great choice by the filmmakers.
