Funeral Songs
A selection of funeral songs.
Funeral Songs and Music
Funeral songs, can be so comforting during a civil funeral service.
Choosing appropriate music for a funeral service is a deeply important part of creating a meaningful, comforting, and personal farewell.
Music has the power to express what words often cannot, it can evoke memories, offer solace, reflect the life of the person who has passed, and provide support to grieving loved ones.
Here’s a curated list of appropriate and popular funeral music selections, categorised to help families or individuals find the right tone for their service. These can serve as suggestions or starting points depending on the person’s taste, faith, or the atmosphere they want to create.
Sad funeral songs
I’ll See You Again – Westlife
Over the Rainbow – Eva Cassidy
Wind Beneath My Wings – Bette Midler
Nothing Compares to You – Sinead O’Connor
Wish You Were Here – Pink Floyd
Old Photographs – Jim Capaldi
Your Long Journey – Emmylou Harris
Funeral songs for Mum
Like a River – Carly Simon
You Raise Me Up – Josh Groban
Mama – Il Divo
Goodbye’s (The Saddest Word) – Celine Dion
One Sweet Day – Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men
Mama This One’s for You – Beth Hart
Supermarket Flowers – Ed Sheera
Funeral songs for a friend
Don’t You Forget About Me – Simple Minds
Stand By Me – Ben E King
Smile – Nat King Cole
You’ll Never Walk Alone – Judy Garland / Gerry and the Pacemakers
Perfect Day – Lou Reed
Classical funeral songs/music
Ave Maria – Schubert
Nessum Dorma – Puccini
Amazing Grace – Various artists
Pie Jesu – Faure
Song for Athene – Sir John Tavener
Do not Stand at my Grave and Weep – Libera
Adagio In G Minor – Albinoni
Adagio For Strings – Barber
Nimrod (Enigma Variations) – Elgar
All-time favourite funeral songs
My Way – Frank Sinatra/Shirley Bassey
Wind Beneath My Wings – Bette Midler/Celine Dion
Time to Say Goodbye – Sarah Brightman/Andrea Bocelli
Angels – Robbie Williams
Over the Rainbow – Eva Cassidy
Unforgettable – Nat King Cole
Angel – Sarah McLachlan
Happy funeral songs
Always Look on the Bright Side of Life – Monty Python’s Life of Brian
Bring Me Sunshine – Morecambe and Wise
Don’t Worry. Be Happy – Bobby McFerrin
What a Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong
You Are the Sunshine of My Life – Stevie Wonder
Over the Rainbow – Israel Kamakawiwoʻole
Funeral songs for Dad
Thank You for Being My Dad – Jon Barker
In the Living Years – Mike & the Mechanics
My Father’s Eyes – Eric Clapton
Dance With My Father – Luther Vandross
Hero – Mariah Carey
Monsters – James Blunt
Comforting funeral songs
We’ll Meet Again – Vera Lynn
I’ll See You Again – Westlife
You Are Not Alone – Michael Jackson
Tears in Heaven – Eric Clapton
Right Here Waiting – Richard Marx
Smile – Nat King Cole
Memories – Elvis Presley
Remember Me – Diana Ross
Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien – Édith Piaf
Drink A Beer · Luke Bryan
Modern funeral songs
Bitter Sweet Symphony – The Verve
Lay Me Down – Sam Smith
Someone Like You – Adele
My Immortal – Evanescence
There You’ll Be – Faith Hill
How Do I Live – LeAnn Rimes
Supermarket Flowers – Ed Sheeran
Unusual funeral songs
Spirit in the Sky – Doctor and the Medics
Dancing Queen – Abba
We Are the Champions – Queen
Celebration – Kool and the Gang
I’m Still Standing – Elton John
Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life – Monty Python
Popular funeral hymns
Abide With Me
Be Thou My Vision
The Old Rugged Cross
The Lord’s My Shepherd
Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah
All Things Bright and Beautiful
Praise My Soul, The King of Heaven
Jerusalem