When a friend of mines dad died she told me the hardest decision when planning the funeral wasn’t the casket or the flowers. It was the music.
She went through her dad old phone looking at playlists he’d made for road trips trying to pick the one song that would sum up seventy eight years of a man.
She ended up choosing three. One for walking in, one for the photo slideshow and one for the very end that made the room laugh as well as cry. I think that’s the right way to think about it. There isn’t one perfect song for your dad but there could be the right song for each moment.
So I’ve got 50 funeral songs for dad sorted by the kind of dad he was and who’s choosing. Some were written by people about their own fathers. Some are the songs dads just seem to love. And a few are there for the dad who would have hated anything too gloomy.
Songs Written About Dads
These are the ones that were actually written by someone thinking about their own father. If you want a song where every line feels like it’s about him, start here.
1. Dance With My Father by Luther Vandross
Luther co wrote this with Richard Marx about his own dad, who died when Luther was just a boy. It’s about wishing for one more dance with him, and it won the Grammy for Song of the Year. I have yet to see anyone get through it at a funeral with dry eyes.
Good for: a daughter or son who wants something tender and slow for the reflection part of the service.
2. The Living Years by Mike + The Mechanics
Mike Rutherford and B.A. Robertson wrote this after both of them had lost their fathers. It’s about the things we never got around to saying while there was still time. If your relationship with your dad had its share of arguments, this one says what a lot of people feel and can’t put into words.
3. Leader of the Band by Dan Fogelberg
A son’s thank you to his father, who was a bandleader and music teacher. Dan wrote it while his dad was still alive, which somehow makes it hit even harder. It’s gentle and grateful, and it works beautifully for a dad who shaped who you turned out to be.
4. My Father’s Eyes by Eric Clapton
Clapton never met his own father, and this song is about seeing him in the face of his son. It’s a great pick if your dad was also a granddad, because it’s really about the way a father lives on through the generations after him.
5. Drive (For Daddy Gene) by Alan Jackson
Alan Jackson wrote this about his father letting him steer the boat and the old truck when he was a kid. If your dad was the one who taught you to drive, fish or back a trailer down a boat ramp, this one will feel like it was written for your family.
6. My Old Man by Zac Brown Band
This one’s about finally understanding your father once you’ve become a parent yourself. It’s warm, a bit rugged and very much a son’s song, though I’ve heard daughters choose it too.
7. Father and Son by Cat Stevens
Written as a conversation between a father and a son who don’t quite see eye to eye. It’s honest about the push and pull between generations, and it can be a lovely choice when the eulogy talks about how your dad let you find your own way.
8. Song for My Father by Horace Silver
No lyrics at all. This is a jazz instrumental Horace Silver wrote with his Cape Verdean father in mind. It’s perfect for a photo slideshow or for guests coming in, especially if your dad had a record collection he wouldn’t let anyone touch.
Funeral Songs for Dad From a Daughter
There’s something about the father and daughter bond that has its own soundtrack. A lot of these will probably take you right back to a wedding dance or a car ride home from practice.
9. Daddy’s Hands by Holly Dunn
Holly Dunn reportedly wrote this as a Father’s Day gift for her own dad. It’s about the hands that held you, worked hard and sometimes had to be firm. If your dad was a working man, this song is about as close as it gets.
10. Unforgettable by Natalie Cole and Nat King Cole
Natalie Cole recorded this as a duet with her late father, singing along with his original vocal decades after he died. Knowing that story changes how you hear it. It’s a stunning choice for a daughter saying goodbye.
11. Butterfly Kisses by Bob Carlisle
Sung from the dad’s point of view as he watches his little girl grow up. A lot of people know it from weddings, so if you had your father and daughter dance to it, playing it again at his funeral can feel like closing a circle. If you didn’t, you might find the wedding association a bit much.
12. Daddy’s Little Girl by The Mills Brothers
An old fashioned classic that plenty of dads chose for the father and daughter dance. It’s short, sweet and gently old-timey, which suits a dad who loved the older music.
13. Wind Beneath My Wings by Bette Midler
The song for the dad who stood quietly in the background and let you shine. It’s big and emotional, so it tends to work best toward the end of a service.
14. Dancing in the Sky by Dani and Lizzy
A simple, heartfelt song about wondering what heaven is like for the person you lost. It has become a go-to for families saying goodbye, and it’s gentle enough for younger family members to follow along.
Funeral Songs for Dad From a Son
Sons often tell me they want something that doesn’t feel too soft, but still says the thing they can’t say out loud. These do a good job of that.
15. Watching You by Rodney Atkins
A dad realizes his little boy has been copying everything he does, good and bad. If you grew up trying to be just like your father, this one will make a whole row of grown men look at their shoes.
16. Believe by Brooks and Dunn
It’s about an older man who teaches a young boy about faith and loss. It isn’t strictly about a father, but it’s perfect for any man who was a steady, quiet mentor to the people around him.
17. You Raise Me Up by Josh Groban
A big, soaring song about the person who carried you through hard times. It’s a hugely popular choice for a parent’s funeral, and it works whether your family is religious or not.
18. Cat’s in the Cradle by Harry Chapin
I’m including this one with a small warning. It’s a beautiful song, but it’s about a father who was always too busy, and then a son who becomes the same. Some families find it painfully honest in a healing way. Others find it stings. Only you’ll know which yours is.
Songs That Sound Like Dad Talking to You
These are written from a parent’s point of view, so when they play it can feel like your dad is the one singing. They’re especially comforting for kids and grandkids.
19. My Wish by Rascal Flatts
A list of everything a parent hopes for their child. It’s upbeat for a funeral song and feels like a blessing from your dad to the whole family.
20. Forever Young by Bob Dylan
Dylan wrote it for his son, and it’s basically a father’s prayer for his kids. The Rod Stewart version is a little more upbeat if you’d rather something warmer.
21. Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy) by John Lennon
Lennon wrote this lullaby for his young son. It’s soft and sweet, and it’s a gorgeous pick for a dad of sons, or a dad who was always the one doing bedtime.
22. Keep Me in Your Heart by Warren Zevon
Warren Zevon wrote this after he learned he was terminally ill. It’s a quiet goodbye asking to be remembered. If your dad knew his time was short, this one can feel like his own words.
23. Remember Me from Coco
In the movie, it’s the song a father sings to his little daughter before he has to leave. Grandkids who’ve seen the film will recognize it right away, which makes it a lovely way to include them.
24. You’ll Be in My Heart by Phil Collins
From Disney’s Tarzan, it’s a promise to always be there, no matter what. It’s another good one when there are young grandchildren in the room.
Country Funeral Songs for Dad
If your dad had the country station on in the truck every single day, these are the ones to look at first.
25. Go Rest High on That Mountain by Vince Gill
Probably the best known country funeral song there is. Vince Gill started writing it after Keith Whitley died and finished it after losing his own brother. It’s a gentle send off for a man who worked hard his whole life.
26. When I Get Where I’m Going by Brad Paisley and Dolly Parton
This one is about what’s waiting on the other side, and it’s full of hope rather than sadness. It’s a comforting choice if your family believes your dad is with people he’s missed.
27. One More Day by Diamond Rio
About wishing for just one more ordinary day with someone you love. It’s simple and sad in the best way, and it tends to hit everyone in the room at once.
28. Live Like You Were Dying by Tim McGraw
It came out the same year Tim McGraw lost his own father, baseball pitcher Tug McGraw. It’s about living boldly once you know time is short, and it’s a great choice for a dad who packed a lot of living into his years.
29. Heaven Was Needing a Hero by Jo Dee Messina
A tribute to someone who was taken too soon. It works especially well for a dad who was a first responder, served in the military or was simply the one everyone relied on.
30. Take Me Home, Country Roads by John Denver
Not a sad song at all, but it’s about going home. For a dad who loved the mountains, the back roads or just a good sing-along, it’s a sweet way to end the service.
Classic Songs for an Old School Dad
For the dad who thought music peaked somewhere around 1965. These are the crooners and standards that never go out of style.
31. My Way by Frank Sinatra
The dad song. For years it sat at the top of Co-op Funeralcare’s chart of the most requested funeral songs, and it only slipped to second place in 2021. It’s perfect for a stubborn, independent man who did things his own way and wasn’t sorry about it.
32. Danny Boy
The words were written by an English lawyer named Frederic Weatherly and set to an old Irish melody. It’s almost a requirement at an Irish American funeral, and it’s often played by a lone bagpiper or sung by a family friend.
33. Stand by Me by Ben E. King
For the dad who was always there, no matter what. It’s warm and a little upbeat, and it’s easy for the whole room to hum along to.
34. Bring Him Home from Les Miserables
In the musical, an older man prays for a young man he has come to love like a son. If your dad loved musicals, or if you just want something that feels like a prayer without being a hymn, this is beautiful.
Rock Songs for the Dad Who Liked It Loud
Some dads would be horrified by a funeral full of soft piano. These are for the man with the air guitar and the worn-out concert tee.
35. Free Bird by Lynyrd Skynyrd
It’s long, so it’s usually best at the very end or over the slideshow. The idea of a man who can’t be tied down suits a lot of free-spirited dads.
36. Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door by Bob Dylan
Short, simple and haunting. Dylan’s original is quiet, and the Guns N’ Roses cover is there if your dad preferred it louder.
37. Going Home (Theme from Local Hero) by Mark Knopfler
An instrumental by the Dire Straits frontman. It builds slowly into this big, uplifting guitar sound that works wonderfully as people leave the service.
38. Into the Mystic by Van Morrison
A dreamy song about sailing home. It’s calm and hopeful, and it’s a nice choice for a dad who loved the water.
Religious Funeral Songs for Dad
If your dad’s faith was a big part of his life, a traditional hymn or gospel song can say more than any pop song could. There are more ideas on our list of funeral hymns, but these three tend to be favorites for fathers.
39. I’ll Fly Away
An old gospel favorite with a toe-tapping melody that’s sad and joyful at the same time. It’s a wonderful choice for a Southern or country-loving dad of faith.
40. The Old Rugged Cross
A hymn so many of our grandfathers grew up singing in church. If your dad could sing every verse without looking at the hymnal, this is his.
41. Just a Closer Walk With Thee
A traditional gospel song that’s often played slow and then picked up into a jazz tune, New Orleans style. It works beautifully as a recessional.
Songs for a Military or Veteran Dad
If your father served, you can bring that into the music as well as the flag. Your funeral director can help you arrange military honors, and you might find our condolence messages for veterans and military eulogy examples useful while you plan.
42. Taps
The bugle call played at military funerals across the country. Eligible veterans can receive military funeral honors, which typically include the flag folding and the playing of Taps, so ask your funeral director about it.
43. Eternal Father, Strong to Save
Known as the Navy Hymn, it asks for protection for those at sea. It’s a beautiful pick for a Navy or Coast Guard dad, and it goes well with our funeral poems for sailors.
44. Amazing Grace on the Bagpipes
There’s nothing quite like it. A lone piper playing Amazing Grace as the casket leaves is something people remember for years.
Songs for Stepdads and Complicated Relationships
Not every dad story is a simple one. Some of the most important father figures weren’t related to us by blood, and some of our own dads were hard to love. Both deserve music that fits.
45. He Didn’t Have to Be by Brad Paisley
About a stepdad who chose to love a kid who wasn’t his. If your stepfather stepped up and raised you like his own, this song says it perfectly. Our eulogy examples for a stepfather might help with the words too.
46. The Greatest Man I Never Knew by Reba McEntire
About a father who was there in body but never really let anyone in. It’s sad and honest, and it gives space for the grief that comes with a relationship that never got the chance to be what it could have been. If that’s where you are, you’re not alone, and our page on the loss of an estranged parent talks a bit more about that kind of grief.
Upbeat Songs for the Dad Who’d Hate a Sad Funeral
My own dad used to say he wanted people laughing at his funeral or he wasn’t going. If your father was the same, an upbeat song for the exit can completely change how people leave the room.
47. Mr. Blue Sky by Electric Light Orchestra
Pure sunshine. It’s a great way to send everyone out smiling, especially if your dad was the family optimist.
48. On the Road Again by Willie Nelson
For the dad who was never happier than when he was driving somewhere. It’s cheerful and a little playful, and people always get the joke.
49. Happy Trails by Roy Rogers and Dale Evans
A cowboy goodbye that’s gentle and sweet. It’s perfect for a dad who grew up on Westerns and signed off every phone call with “see you down the road.”
50. Gone Fishin’ by Bing Crosby and Louis Armstrong
For the dad whose happy place was a lake at dawn. It’s short, funny and fond, and it makes a perfect final song if you’re having a more relaxed celebration of life.
How to Choose the Right Funeral Songs for Your Dad
You have to find one song that does everything. Most services have natural spots for music and each one suits a different kind of song.
- As guests arrive. Soft, background music. Instrumentals or your dad’s favorite easy listening album work well here.
- The entrance or processional. Something slow and dignified as the family walks in or the casket is carried in.
- The reflection or slideshow. This is where the most personal, emotional song goes. If you’re doing a photo slideshow get the times right. At around five seconds a photo, 60 photos takes about five minutes, so you may need two songs.
- The exit or recessional. This is the last thing people hear so it sets the mood for the reception. Lots of families go a little brighter here.
A few questions can help you narrow down the list.
- What did he listen to? Not what sounds right for a funeral but what was on in the kitchen on a Saturday morning.
- Was there a song he always turned up, sang along to or made you listen to “properly”?
- Did he ever mention what he’d want played? It’s worth asking your mom, his siblings or his close friends. Dads sometimes say these things to everyone except their kids.
- What will the eulogy focus on? If the eulogy is full of funny stories a heavy song straight after can feel jarring.
Practical Things to Check Before the Funeral
Music is one of those details that can go wrong on the day if nobody checks ahead, so it’s worth a quick call or two.
Ask about church rules. Many churches have guidelines about music during a religious service. A Catholic funeral Mass, for example, usually calls for sacred music, so families often save a favorite secular song for the vigil, the graveside or the reception. Your priest or pastor will tell you what’s allowed.
Check the livestream. If the service is being streamed for relatives who can’t be there some streaming platforms automatically mute or block copyrighted recordings. Ask your funeral home how they handle it or plan to have that song play when the stream is paused.
Test the sound. Send the funeral home your songs a few days early and ask them to play each one before the service starts. Make sure it’s the right version too. There’s nothing worse than a live version with crowd noise when you wanted the studio one.
Think about live music. A family friend with a guitar or a grandchild who plays piano can make a song feel incredibly personal. Just give them an easy way out if they’re too emotional on the day.
Share the list. Print the song titles in the funeral program or make a playlist of your dad’s favorites and add a link or QR code so guests can listen later.
Funeral Songs for Dad FAQs
How many songs do you play at a funeral?
Most services have somewhere between two and four songs. Usually that’s one as people come in, one during a reflection or slideshow and one at the end. A celebration of life can be more relaxed with music playing throughout.
Can you play an upbeat or funny song at a dad’s funeral?
Yes, as long as it feels true to who he was. Lots of families save the lighter song for the very end so people leave with a smile. If you’re worried run it past a couple of family members first.
What is the most popular funeral song for a father?
My Way by Frank Sinatra is probably the most classic dad choice and it spent years at the top of funeral music charts. For songs written specifically about fathers, Dance With My Father and The Living Years are two of the best loved.
What’s a good funeral song for dad from a daughter?
Daddy’s Hands, Dance With My Father and the Unforgettable duet by Natalie Cole and Nat King Cole are three of the most meaningful. If you shared a father and daughter dance at your wedding playing that same song again can be really special.
Can I play a song if the church won’t allow it during the service?
Yes. You can play it at the graveside, over a slideshow at the visitation or at the reception afterward. Many families find those moments feel even more personal.
Final Thoughts
If you’re still working out what to say alongside the music you might find some comfort in our funeral poems for dad, tribute messages for a father and loss of father quotes. And if you want more options our full list of funeral songs has plenty more.
