Songs About Death and Losing a Loved One: 100+ Songs for Grief

When someone you love dies music can make a difference to how you feel and cope. A song you’ve heard a hundred times before can become something new. Like it was written about them. Or you go looking for something that says what you can’t.

That’s what these songs about death are for. These are songs about death, grief and missing someone, whether you want to play one at a service, build a playlist for the car or just listen to one on a hard night.

They’re split by who you’ve lost, then by what the song does: getting through grief, saying goodbye, hoping to meet again etc. There’s also a section of songs written after a real loss so you know the story behind them.

If you’re planning a service our main list of funeral songs is the place to start. And if words help more than music right now these quotes about losing a loved one might be helpful.

Table of Contents

The Most Moving Songs About Losing Someone

These songs are the ones people look too after a death.

Tears in Heaven by Eric Clapton. Written after his four-year-old son died. Quiet, simple and almost unbearably honest.
Supermarket Flowers by Ed Sheeran. Sung from his mom’s point of view as she clears out her own mother’s hospital room.
Go Rest High on That Mountain by Vince Gill
Dance with My Father by Luther Vandross. A wish for one more dance with the dad he lost as a boy.
See You Again by Wiz Khalifa featuring Charlie Puth
I Will Remember You by Sarah McLachlan
The Living Years by Mike + The Mechanics. About the things left unsaid with a father who’s gone.
Remember Me from the film Coco. A gentle song about keeping someone alive by remembering them.
Who You’d Be Today by Kenny Chesney
Keep Me in Your Heart by Warren Zevon. Recorded after he learned he was dying. A goodbye to the people he loved.
Holes in the Floor of Heaven by Steve Wariner
Visiting Hours by Ed Sheeran

Songs Written After a Real Loss

Some songs become even more poignant once you know where they came from. Each of these was written by someone working through a death of their own.

Let It Be by The Beatles. Paul McCartney has said the “Mother Mary” in the song is his own mother, who died when he was 14 and came to him in a dream.
Julia by The Beatles. John Lennon’s song for his mother, who died when he was a teenager.
Here Today by Paul McCartney. Written after John Lennon was killed, as the conversation they never got to have.
Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny) by Elton John. Also written for John Lennon.
Missing You by Diana Ross. Lionel Richie wrote it for her as a tribute to Marvin Gaye.
Leader of the Band by Dan Fogelberg. A thank you to his father, a band leader and music teacher.
Drive (For Daddy Gene) by Alan Jackson. Memories of learning to drive with his late father.
You Should Be Here by Cole Swindell. Written after his dad died, about all the big moments he’s missing.
Over You by Miranda Lambert. Written with Blake Shelton about the death of his older brother.
Wake Me Up When September Ends by Green Day. Billie Joe Armstrong lost his father to cancer when he was 10.
Sometimes You Can’t Make It on Your Own by U2. Bono wrote it around the time his father was dying.
I Can Only Imagine by MercyMe. Bart Millard wrote it after his dad died.
Marjorie by Taylor Swift. For her grandmother, an opera singer.
Visiting Hours by Ed Sheeran. Written after the death of his friend and mentor Michael Gudinski.
Gone Too Soon by Michael Jackson. He dedicated it to Ryan White, a teenager who died of AIDS.
It Is Well with My Soul. The words were written by Horatio Spafford after his four daughters died in a shipwreck.
Precious Lord, Take My Hand by Thomas A. Dorsey. Written after his wife and newborn son died.

Songs About Losing a Mom

Losing your mom can feel like worst thing in the world. These songs are about mothers, memories and the pain of not being able to call her. There are more choices for a service in our funeral songs for mom.

Supermarket Flowers by Ed Sheeran
How Can I Help You Say Goodbye by Patty Loveless. The last verse sits at a mother’s bedside at the end of her life.
Let It Be by The Beatles
Julia by The Beatles
A Song for Mama by Boyz II Men
Jealous of the Angels by Jenn Bostic
Dancing in the Sky by Dani and Lizzy
The Best Day by Taylor Swift. A thank you to her mom for the childhood days they shared.
Wind Beneath My Wings by Bette Midler

Songs About Losing a Dad

A lot of the best songs about fathers were written by sons and daughters who’d just lost theirs. Our funeral songs for dad have more ideas including some lighter ones.

Dance with My Father by Luther Vandross
The Living Years by Mike + The Mechanics
Leader of the Band by Dan Fogelberg
You Should Be Here by Cole Swindell
Drive (For Daddy Gene) by Alan Jackson
Wake Me Up When September Ends by Green Day
Sometimes You Can’t Make It on Your Own by U2
I Can Only Imagine by MercyMe
Jealous of the Angels by Jenn Bostic
My Old Man by Zac Brown Band

Songs About Losing a Husband, Wife or Partner

When you lose the person you built a life with love songs can be hard to hear.

He Stopped Loving Her Today by George Jones. Often called the saddest country song ever recorded.
Holes in the Floor of Heaven by Steve Wariner. A man loses his grandmother and later his wife, but feels them both still watching.
Monday Morning Church by Alan Jackson. A widower whose faith is shaken after his wife dies.
Just a Dream by Carrie Underwood. A young woman whose fiancé is killed while serving.
The Dance by Garth Brooks. Grateful for the time together, even knowing how it ended.
If Tomorrow Never Comes by Garth Brooks
I Will Follow You into the Dark by Death Cab for Cutie
Fields of Gold by Eva Cassidy. Written by Sting, but her version is the one many people know.
Visiting Hours by Ed Sheeran
My Immortal by Evanescence
Gone Away by The Offspring
One More Day by Diamond Rio. About wishing for just one more ordinary day together.

Songs About Losing a Child

Nothing really fits when a child dies. These are songs other parents have found some comfort in but please listen first and be prepared. Some are very emotional.

Who You’d Be Today by Kenny Chesney. About wondering who someone would have grown into.
Ronan by Taylor Swift. Written with Maya Thompson about her little boy, using words from her blog.
Small Bump by Ed Sheeran. Ed has said it’s about a friend who lost a baby.
Glory Baby by Watermark
Held by Natalie Grant
Gone Too Soon by Michael Jackson
Dancing in the Sky by Dani and Lizzy
To Where You Are by Josh Groban
Thy Will by Hillary Scott and The Scott Family

Songs About Losing a Brother or Sister

A sibling is often the person who’s known you longest. These songs are about that kind of bond and the space it leaves.

Over You by Miranda Lambert
I Drive Your Truck by Lee Brice. Keeping a brother close by driving his old truck, mud and all.
Go Rest High on That Mountain by Vince Gill
Drink a Beer by Luke Bryan. About hearing the news and going somewhere quiet to take it in.
See You Again by Wiz Khalifa featuring Charlie Puth. Written for Paul Walker, about a friend who was like a brother.
Who You’d Be Today by Kenny Chesney
Gone Too Soon by Michael Jackson

Songs About Losing a Friend

Friends are the family we choose and losing one is always heartbreaking. A song you both loved might mean more than anything here but these are a good start.

I’ll Be Missing You by Puff Daddy featuring Faith Evans and 112. A tribute to The Notorious B.I.G.
See You Again by Wiz Khalifa featuring Charlie Puth
Here Today by Paul McCartney
Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny) by Elton John
Missing You by Diana Ross
One Sweet Day by Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men. Both had lost people close to them when they wrote it together.
My Old Friend by Tim McGraw
It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday by Boyz II Men
Tha Crossroads by Bone Thugs-n-Harmony. For Eazy-E and others they’d lost.
Life Goes On by 2Pac
Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd

Songs About Losing a Grandparent

Grandparents often leave us with the kindest memories.

Supermarket Flowers by Ed Sheeran
Marjorie by Taylor Swift
Grandma’s Hands by Bill Withers. A loving look back at the grandmother who helped raise him.
Holes in the Floor of Heaven by Steve Wariner
In My Life by The Beatles. About the people and places you remember, some still here and some gone.
We’ll Meet Again by Vera Lynn
I’ll Be Seeing You by Billie Holiday
Danny Boy. Many versions. A favorite for families with Irish roots.

Songs About Losing Someone Who Served

For a soldier, veteran or anyone who served these songs honor the sacrifice as well as the person.

Arlington by Trace Adkins. Told by a young soldier laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery.
If You’re Reading This by Tim McGraw. A letter home from a soldier who didn’t make it back.
Riding with Private Malone by David Ball
Some Gave All by Billy Ray Cyrus
Just a Dream by Carrie Underwood
Taps. The bugle call played at military funerals.

Songs About Grief and Missing Someone

These aren’t always about death directly. They’re about the missing and the days when it all feels too much. Good for a playlist when you need to let it out.

I Will Remember You by Sarah McLachlan
Remember Me from Coco
Ghost by Justin Bieber. About settling for the memory of someone when you can’t have them close.
Fix You by Coldplay
Everybody Hurts by R.E.M.
Hold On by Chord Overstreet
My Immortal by Evanescence
Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd
One More Day by Diamond Rio
In My Life by The Beatles
Let It Be by The Beatles
Somewhere Only We Know by Keane
You’ll Never Walk Alone by Gerry and the Pacemakers. First sung in the musical Carousel, just after a death.

Songs About Dying and Saying Goodbye

Some songs are sung from the point of view of the person who’s leaving. They can be a comfort if you sat with someone at the end or if they knew they were going.

Keep Me in Your Heart by Warren Zevon
Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door by Bob Dylan. Written for a western film, sung from the side of a dying lawman.
Seasons in the Sun by Terry Jacks. A dying man saying goodbye to the people he loves.
Temporary Home by Carrie Underwood. The last verse is about an old man in a hospital bed, ready to go.
Live Like You Were Dying by Tim McGraw
If I Die Young by The Band Perry
Who Wants to Live Forever by Queen
Sign of the Times by Harry Styles. He has said he imagined a mother with only a few minutes left, telling her child to go on without her.
Dust in the Wind by Kansas
Turn! Turn! Turn! by The Byrds. Words taken from Ecclesiastes: a time to be born and a time to die.
How Can I Help You Say Goodbye by Patty Loveless

Songs About Seeing Them Again

If you believe you’ll be together again these songs hold on to that hope.

I Can Only Imagine by MercyMe
See You Again by Carrie Underwood. Not the Wiz Khalifa song, but a hopeful one about meeting again someday.
When I Get Where I’m Going by Brad Paisley featuring Dolly Parton
If Heaven by Andy Griggs
Homesick by MercyMe
We’ll Meet Again by Vera Lynn
Go Rest High on That Mountain by Vince Gill
Dancing in the Sky by Dani and Lizzy

Country Songs About Losing a Loved One

Country music has never shied away from death. Lots of these come from writers who’d been there.

Go Rest High on That Mountain by Vince Gill
He Stopped Loving Her Today by George Jones
Who You’d Be Today by Kenny Chesney
You Should Be Here by Cole Swindell
Drive (For Daddy Gene) by Alan Jackson
Monday Morning Church by Alan Jackson
Holes in the Floor of Heaven by Steve Wariner
I Drive Your Truck by Lee Brice
Drink a Beer by Luke Bryan
Believe by Brooks and Dunn
Three Wooden Crosses by Randy Travis
How Can I Help You Say Goodbye by Patty Loveless
One More Day by Diamond Rio

Rock and Classic Songs About Death

Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door by Bob Dylan, or the Guns N’ Roses version
Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd
Who Wants to Live Forever by Queen
Abraham, Martin and John by Dion. Remembers lives cut short.
Candle in the Wind 1997 by Elton John. His rewrite for Princess Diana.
Dust in the Wind by Kansas
Wake Me Up When September Ends by Green Day
Sometimes You Can’t Make It on Your Own by U2
Everybody Hurts by R.E.M.
Gone Away by The Offspring
Keep Me in Your Heart by Warren Zevon

Hip Hop and R&B Songs About Losing Someone

Hip hop and R&B artists have written some of the most direct songs about grief there are, often for friends lost far too young.

I’ll Be Missing You by Puff Daddy featuring Faith Evans and 112
See You Again by Wiz Khalifa featuring Charlie Puth
Tha Crossroads by Bone Thugs-n-Harmony
Life Goes On by 2Pac
Dance with My Father by Luther Vandross
One Sweet Day by Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men
It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday by Boyz II Men
A Song for Mama by Boyz II Men
Missing You by Diana Ross
Gone Too Soon by Michael Jackson

Christian Songs and Hymns About Death and Loss

Faith doesn’t make the grief go away but these songs keep the sorrow and the hope together. You’ll find more in our Christian funeral songs.

It Is Well with My Soul
Precious Lord, Take My Hand by Thomas A. Dorsey
I Can Only Imagine by MercyMe
Homesick by MercyMe
Held by Natalie Grant. About being held by God when the worst happens.
Thy Will by Hillary Scott and The Scott Family
Even If by MercyMe
Blessings by Laura Story
Never Would Have Made It by Marvin Sapp
I’ll Fly Away
Abide with Me
Amazing Grace

SEE MORE: Songs for a Celebration of Life

Ways to Use Music While You Grieve

Music can help long after the funeral is over. A few ideas that other people have found helpful:

Make a playlist just for them. Mix their favorite songs with a few from this page. Play it on their birthday or on the anniversary.
Let yourself cry to it. A sad song can be a safe place to let grief out especially if you’ve been holding it together for everyone else.
Write while you listen. Put a song on and write down whatever it brings up. Our grief journaling prompts can give you somewhere to start.
Share a song with someone grieving. If you don’t know what to say to a friend sending a song with a short note (“this made me think of your mom”) can mean a lot.
Listen to the song first. Before you play one at a service or send it to someone check every verse. Some songs that sound right have lyrics that might not fit.
Skip what hurts too much. It’s okay if a song you used to love is too painful right now. You can come back to it later, or never if you don’t want to.