When someone you love dies it can help to picture them somewhere peaceful. Where they’re not hurting anymore and where you’ll maybe get to see them again.
That’s what so many songs about heaven are about. They can be old hymns your grandparents sang, country songs, worship songs or pop songs that are on funeral playlists because they say what people hope is true.
So we have got some of the beat of them together here. They’re split by style first, then by what the song does: a loved one watching over you, meeting again, a child in heaven and a few happier ones for a send-off with a lighter feel.
If you’re planning a service our main list of funeral songs covers every style. And if you’re looking for words rather than music these missing someone in heaven quotes might help.
The Most Popular Songs About Heaven
These are the songs people ask for most when they want something about heaven.
- Tears in Heaven by Eric Clapton. Written after his four year old son died. It asks whether they’ll know each other in heaven.
- I Can Only Imagine by MercyMe. Bart Millard wrote it after his dad died, wondering what it will be like to stand before God.
- Go Rest High on That Mountain by Vince Gill
- Holes in the Floor of Heaven by Steve Wariner. The idea that rain is the people we’ve lost, crying down on us.
- Over the Rainbow by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole. His gentle ukulele version, often played with What a Wonderful World.
- Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door by Bob Dylan
- I’ll Fly Away. An old gospel favorite. The Alison Krauss and Gillian Welch version is a lovely one.
- Dancing in the Sky by Dani and Lizzy
- Jealous of the Angels by Jenn Bostic
- Scars in Heaven by Casting Crowns
- If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away by Justin Moore
- Angels by Robbie Williams
Christian Songs About Heaven
These modern worship songs hold on to the hope of heaven without pretending the loss doesn’t hurt. They work well at a church service or for anyone with a strong faith. There are more in our Christian funeral songs.
- Homesick by MercyMe. About aching to be where your loved one is now.
- Scars in Heaven by Casting Crowns. The comfort that the people we lost aren’t hurting anymore.
- I Will Rise by Chris Tomlin
- Home by Chris Tomlin
- Where I Belong by Building 429
- Thank You by Ray Boltz. A dream of heaven, where people come up to thank someone for the good they did.
- We Shall Behold Him by Sandi Patty
- Heaven Is the Face by Steven Curtis Chapman
- I Will Carry You (Audrey’s Song) by Selah
- Glory Baby by Watermark
Hymns and Gospel Songs About Heaven
Older hymns and gospel songs have a lot to say about heaven. Many families pick one because it was a favorite of the person who died or because it’s the one everyone in the room already knows. Our list of funeral hymns has more traditional choices.
Traditional Hymns
- I’ll Fly Away
- When We All Get to Heaven
- In the Sweet By and By
- Shall We Gather at the River
- Beulah Land
- How Great Thou Art. The last verse looks ahead to being taken home.
- It Is Well with My Soul
- Mansion Over the Hilltop
- Swing Low, Sweet Chariot. A spiritual about being carried home.
- Will the Circle Be Unbroken. The Carter Family recorded a well-known version.
- Life’s Railway to Heaven
- This World Is Not My Home
- Just a Closer Walk with Thee
Gospel Songs
- Peace in the Valley by Thomas A. Dorsey. Elvis Presley’s version is a favorite.
- Soon and Very Soon by Andraé Crouch
- Goin’ Up Yonder by Walter Hawkins
- Angel Band by The Stanley Brothers. A bluegrass song about angels carrying someone home.
- Up Above My Head by Sister Rosetta Tharpe
- Ain’t No Grave by Johnny Cash. Released after his own death.
SEE MORE: Catholic Funeral Songs
Country Songs About Heaven
Country music talks about heaven a lot and usually in a very down to earth way.
- Go Rest High on That Mountain by Vince Gill. He started it after country singer Keith Whitley died and finished it after losing his brother.
- Holes in the Floor of Heaven by Steve Wariner
- If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away by Justin Moore. All the people he’d go visit if he could just drive there.
- If Heaven by Andy Griggs
- When I Get Where I’m Going by Brad Paisley featuring Dolly Parton
- See You Again by Carrie Underwood
- Temporary Home by Carrie Underwood
- Angels Among Us by Alabama
- Believe by Brooks and Dunn
- Three Wooden Crosses by Randy Travis
- Heaven Was Needing a Hero by Jo Dee Messina
- I Believe by Diamond Rio
- If You Get There Before I Do by Collin Raye
- When I Get to Heaven by John Prine
Pop and Rock Songs About Heaven
Not every song about heaven is a religious one. These are a good fit if the person who died loved more modern songs.
- Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door by Bob Dylan, or the Guns N’ Roses version
- Angels by Robbie Williams
- Over the Rainbow by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole
- Spirit in the Sky by Norman Greenbaum
- Heaven by Los Lonely Boys
- Supermarket Flowers by Ed Sheeran. Sung from his mom’s point of view after her own mother dies.
- I Will Follow You into the Dark by Death Cab for Cutie. A quiet promise to follow someone wherever they go.
- Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin. Not really about the afterlife, but often requested for a classic rock fan.
- Heaven Is a Place on Earth by Belinda Carlisle. A love song, but a bright one for someone who made life feel that way.
- Dancing in the Sky by Dani and Lizzy
- Jealous of the Angels by Jenn Bostic
R&B and Hip Hop Songs About Heaven
These songs speak to a friend or family member lost too soon, with the hope that they’re somewhere better now.
- One Sweet Day by Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men. About seeing a lost friend again someday.
- Heaven by Beyoncé. A quiet piano song about letting someone go home.
- See You Again by Wiz Khalifa featuring Charlie Puth
- Tha Crossroads by Bone Thugs-n-Harmony
- I’ll Be Missing You by Puff Daddy featuring Faith Evans and 112
- Goin’ Up Yonder by Walter Hawkins
Songs About a Loved One Watching Over You
A lot of people feel the person they lost is still close by. These songs are about that feeling and they can be a comfort when the house feels too quiet.
- Holes in the Floor of Heaven by Steve Wariner
- Angels Among Us by Alabama
- I Believe by Diamond Rio. About feeling someone near long after they’re gone.
- Jealous of the Angels by Jenn Bostic
- Supermarket Flowers by Ed Sheeran
- If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away by Justin Moore
- Heaven Was Needing a Hero by Jo Dee Messina. A good one for a dad or anyone who was a hero to their family.
- Angels by Robbie Williams
If you’d like a few words to go with the music these ways to say heaven gained an angel work well on a card, an order of service or a memorial post.
Songs About Meeting Again in Heaven
These songs look ahead to the day you’re together again. They tend to suit a husband or wife, a parent or a lifelong friend.
- If You Get There Before I Do by Collin Raye. A long-married couple promising to wait for each other.
- When I Get Where I’m Going by Brad Paisley featuring Dolly Parton
- See You Again by Carrie Underwood
- See You Again by Wiz Khalifa featuring Charlie Puth
- If Heaven by Andy Griggs
- Thank You by Ray Boltz
- Scars in Heaven by Casting Crowns
- Will the Circle Be Unbroken
- In the Sweet By and By
- We’ll Meet Again by Vera Lynn. Not about heaven, but older generations often love it at a send-off.
- Tha Crossroads by Bone Thugs-n-Harmony
Songs About a Child or Baby in Heaven
When a child dies it can be hard to find any song that doesn’t hurt. These are ones other parents have found some peace in. Please listen all the way through first as some are very emotional.
- Tears in Heaven by Eric Clapton
- Heaven Is the Face by Steven Curtis Chapman. Written after his young daughter died.
- I Will Carry You (Audrey’s Song) by Selah. Written for Todd and Angie Smith’s baby daughter, Audrey.
- Glory Baby by Watermark. For a baby who went to heaven before you could meet them.
- Dancing in the Sky by Dani and Lizzy
- Jealous of the Angels by Jenn Bostic
- Who You’d Be Today by Kenny Chesney
- Over the Rainbow by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole
Upbeat Songs About Heaven
Not every goodbye has to be slow. If the person you lost would’ve wanted people clapping along these have a bit more life in them. They work well for walking out at the end of a service or at a celebration of life.
- When the Saints Go Marching In. A traditional choice at New Orleans jazz funerals.
- I’ll Fly Away
- When We All Get to Heaven
- Spirit in the Sky by Norman Greenbaum
- When I Get to Heaven by John Prine. A playful look at everything he plans to do once he gets there, from his final album.
- Up Above My Head by Sister Rosetta Tharpe
- Soon and Very Soon by Andraé Crouch
- Heaven Is a Place on Earth by Belinda Carlisle
- Goin’ Up Yonder by Walter Hawkins
- Ain’t No Grave by Johnny Cash
Tips for Choosing a Song About Heaven
- Think about who will be in the room. A worship song might mean everything to some guests and feel uncomfortable to others. If the family has mixed beliefs a song like Over the Rainbow or Angels can be a good middle ground.
- Listen to every verse. A chorus can sound perfect while a verse goes somewhere you didn’t expect. Check the entirety of the song before it goes on the order of service.
- Check with the church or venue. Some churches only allow hymns or sacred music during the service itself. Pop and country songs can often be played before or after instead.
- Use it for a slideshow. Slower songs about heaven work well behind photos. Pick one that’s long enough or line up two or three.
- Their favorite still counts. If they loved a song that has nothing to do with heaven use it anyway. It’ll say more about them than anything on a list.
- Keep one for yourself. A song about heaven can be something to come back to on their birthday or the anniversary long after the funeral.
I’ve always found songs about heaven are less about the place and more about the person. You hear one and suddenly picture them there.
I hope one of these does that for you.