We read the ten funeral song lists that rank highest on Google and counted every song: 308 different songs, and 222 of them on only one list. They also leave out what families actually play. In the UK, where funeral homes keep count, the most-played funeral song of 2025 was Time to Say Goodbye, which only four of the ten lists include, and No. 5, Tina Turner's The Best, isn't on any of them.
So we checked each song before it went on our list: who wrote it and why, when it came out and how long it runs. Filter by the part of the service, who it's for and how it should feel, fit songs to a photo slideshow, and print a music planner for the funeral director.
The 20 funeral songs and hymns recommended most
We counted how many of the ten top-ranking funeral song lists recommend each song. These come up most. Tap one for its story and how long it runs.
- 1 Somewhere Over the Rainbow / What a Wonderful World Israel Kamakawiwo'ole 8 of 10 lists Uplifting
- 2 Amazing Grace Judy Collins 6 of 10 lists Faith
- 3 Supermarket Flowers Ed Sheeran 6 of 10 lists Comforting
- 4 Tears in Heaven Eric Clapton 6 of 10 lists Comforting
- 5 Wind Beneath My Wings Bette Midler 6 of 10 lists Comforting
- 6 Angels Among Us Alabama 5 of 10 lists Comforting
- 7 Ave Maria Andrea Bocelli 5 of 10 lists Faith
- 8 Go Rest High on That Mountain Vince Gill 5 of 10 lists Faith
- 9 How Great Thou Art Elvis Presley 5 of 10 lists Faith
- 10 Unforgettable Nat King Cole 5 of 10 lists Comforting
- 11 What a Wonderful World Louis Armstrong 5 of 10 lists Uplifting
- 12 When I Get Where I'm Going Brad Paisley feat. Dolly Parton 5 of 10 lists Faith
- 13 You Raise Me Up Josh Groban 5 of 10 lists Uplifting
- 14 Bridge Over Troubled Water Simon & Garfunkel 4 of 10 lists Comforting
- 15 Candle in the Wind Elton John 4 of 10 lists Comforting
- 16 Hallelujah Jeff Buckley 4 of 10 lists Comforting
- 17 I Can Only Imagine MercyMe 4 of 10 lists Faith
- 18 I'll Be Missing You Puff Daddy & Faith Evans feat. 112 4 of 10 lists Comforting
- 19 Knockin' on Heaven's Door Bob Dylan 4 of 10 lists Comforting
- 20 Let It Be The Beatles 4 of 10 lists Comforting
What families actually play at funerals
Nobody counts funeral songs in the US. In the UK, Co-op Funeralcare asks its funeral directors, and its 2025 chart covers more than 90,000 funerals. Here is its top 10, and how many of the ten top-ranking US lists include each song.
- Time to Say Goodbye: on 4 of the 10 US lists
- My Way: on 3 of the 10 US lists
- Over the Rainbow (Eva Cassidy): on 8 of the 10 US lists
- You'll Never Walk Alone: on 1 of the 10 US lists
- The Best (Tina Turner): on none of the 10 US lists
- Supermarket Flowers: on 6 of the 10 US lists
- Wind Beneath My Wings: on 6 of the 10 US lists
- Abide with Me: on 1 of the 10 US lists
- We'll Meet Again: on 2 of the 10 US lists
- You Raise Me Up: on 5 of the 10 US lists
The US lists agree on less than you'd think: between them they name 308 different songs, and 222 of those appear on only one list. Lists that call themselves the "most played" are editors' picks; we couldn't find a real count anywhere in the US.
Funeral songs for Mom, Dad, a husband or wife, or a grandparent
The songs that speak most directly to each loss. Each section below has more, and the Who it's for filter shows every song for that person.
For Mom
- Supermarket Flowers Ed Sheeran · 2017
- A Song for Mama Boyz II Men · 1997
- How Can I Help You Say Goodbye Patty Loveless · 1993
- Amor Eterno Juan Gabriel · 1990
- Julia The Beatles · 1968
For Dad
- Daddy's Hands Holly Dunn · 1986
- The Living Years Mike + The Mechanics · 1988
- Dance with My Father Luther Vandross · 2003
- Leader of the Band Dan Fogelberg · 1981
- You Should Be Here Cole Swindell · 2015
For a husband or wife
- Holes in the Floor of Heaven Steve Wariner · 1998
- When I'm Gone Joey + Rory · 2012
- I Still Believe Jeremy Camp · 2003
- Who Wants to Live Forever Queen · 1986
- Unforgettable Nat King Cole · 1951
For a grandparent
- Supermarket Flowers Ed Sheeran · 2017
- Holes in the Floor of Heaven Steve Wariner · 1998
- He Walked on Water Randy Travis · 1989
- Five More Minutes Scotty McCreery · 2017
- Grandma's Hands Bill Withers · 1971
Find the right funeral song
Pick the part of the service, who it's for and how it should feel. Every card shows when the song came out and how long it runs.
Part of the service
Who it's for
Feel
189 songs
Funeral hymns
The hymns families ask for most, from Amazing Grace to the Southern gospel songs the older generation grew up singing. Most churches have a pianist or organist who can play them, or you can play one of these recordings.
Amazing Grace
Judy Collins
John Newton, a former slave-ship captain who became a clergyman, wrote it in late 1772 for a New Year's Day sermon.
4:09
How Great Thou Art
Elvis Presley
Swedish minister Carl Boberg wrote the original poem in 1885; Elvis Presley's 1967 recording won him a Grammy for Best Sacred Performance.
3:02
It Is Well with My Soul
Audrey Assad
Horatio Spafford wrote it after his four daughters died in the 1873 sinking of the SS Ville du Havre, as his own ship passed near the spot.
4:11
Abide with Me
The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square
Henry Francis Lyte wrote it in 1847 as he was dying of tuberculosis, and it was first sung at his own funeral.
3:53
I'll Fly Away
Gillian Welch & Alison Krauss
Albert E. Brumley got the idea while picking cotton in 1928 and published it in 1932; it is often played at funerals, including New Orleans jazz funerals.
3:58
The Old Rugged Cross
Alan Jackson
Evangelist George Bennard wrote it in 1912, and a choir of five sang the finished hymn in Pokagon, Michigan, in June 1913.
3:06
In the Garden
Randy Travis
C. Austin Miles, a former pharmacist, wrote it about Mary Magdalene at the empty tomb; it was published in 1912.
3:21
Blessed Assurance
Alan Jackson
Blind hymn writer Fanny Crosby wrote the words in 1873 after her friend Phoebe Knapp played her a new tune on the piano.
1:56
Because He Lives
Gaither Vocal Band
Bill and Gloria Gaither wrote it in 1969 and 1970 while expecting their son Benjamin; it first came out as an album title track in 1971.
7:23
Sweet Beulah Land
Squire Parsons
Squire Parsons wrote it while working as a schoolteacher and church music director; it won the Singing News Fan Award for Song of the Year in 1981.
4:25
Mansion Over the Hilltop
Elvis Presley
Ira Stanphill wrote this Southern gospel song in 1949, and Elvis Presley recorded it for his 1960 album His Hand in Mine.
2:58
Where the Roses Never Fade
Gaither & The Whites
Jack and Elsie Osborn and Jim Miller wrote it, and Stamps-Baxter published it in 1942; Hymnary.org finds it in 61 hymnals.
3:01
Just a Closer Walk with Thee
Patsy Cline
Kenneth Morris first published it in 1940, and it is among the most-played hymns at New Orleans jazz funerals.
2:48
Nearer, My God, to Thee
Michael W. Smith
Sarah Flower Adams wrote it in 1841; some Titanic survivors reported that the ship's band played it as the ship sank.
5:13
The Lord's My Shepherd (Crimond)
Westminster Abbey Choir
This Psalm 23 paraphrase first appeared in the 1650 Scottish Psalter; sung to the tune Crimond, it was heard at Queen Elizabeth II's state funeral in 2022.
3:06
Precious Memories
Alan Jackson
Alan Jackson's 2006 hymn album, named for this 1925 J.B.F. Wright hymn, began with a song he recorded for his father-in-law's funeral.
4:22
Peace in the Valley
Elvis Presley
Lyndon B. Johnson asked for this 1939 Thomas A. Dorsey song at his funeral, where Anita Bryant sang it in 1973.
3:24
Softly and Tenderly
Alan Jackson
Will L. Thompson wrote and composed it in 1880, and it was sung at the funeral of Martin Luther King Jr.
3:18
Farther Along
Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt & Emmylou Harris
Its authorship is disputed, but it first appeared in a 1911 hymnal; Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris recorded it for Trio in 1987.
4:08
What a Friend We Have in Jesus
Alan Jackson
Joseph Scriven wrote it as a poem in 1855 to comfort his mother in Ireland while he was living in Canada.
2:16
Great Is Thy Faithfulness
Carrie Underwood & CeCe Winans
Thomas Chisholm wrote the poem in 1923 about God's faithfulness over his lifetime, and Billy Graham used the hymn often at his crusades.
4:22
Christian funeral songs
Contemporary Christian songs, many of them written after a loss in the songwriter's own family.
I Can Only Imagine
MercyMe · 2001
Bart Millard drew on his father's death to write it; MercyMe first recorded it in 1999 and released it as a single in 2001.
4:12
Scars in Heaven
Casting Crowns · 2021
Mark Hall began writing it while watching his mother care for her own parents as they were dying.
4:40
Homesick
MercyMe · 2004
Bart Millard wrote it after the band lost nine people they were connected to in a short span of time.
3:40
I Will Rise
Chris Tomlin · 2008
Louie Giglio challenged Chris Tomlin to write a song for people in their darkest times of grief; they wrote it with Jesse Reeves and Matt Maher.
5:00
10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)
Matt Redman · 2011
Matt Redman wrote it with Jonas Myrin, and it won two Grammy Awards in 2013, including Best Contemporary Christian Music Song.
4:23
Even If
MercyMe · 2017
MercyMe built it around a sample of the hymn It Is Well with My Soul, and it led Billboard's Christian Airplay chart for 19 straight weeks.
4:15
Praise You in This Storm
Casting Crowns · 2005
Mark Hall and Bernie Herms wrote it, inspired by the band's time with Erin Browning, a girl who died of cancer.
5:05
I Still Believe
Jeremy Camp · 2003
Jeremy Camp wrote it after the death of his first wife, Melissa; the story later became a feature film named after the song.
4:45
Thank You
Ray Boltz · 1988
Ray Boltz wrote it overnight for a Pastor Appreciation Day at his church, and it won Song of the Year at the 1990 Dove Awards.
5:45
In Christ Alone
Keith & Kristyn Getty · 2006
Keith Getty and Stuart Townend wrote it in 2001, and a 2019 BBC Songs of Praise poll ranked it Britain's third favorite hymn.
4:39
Thy Will
Hillary Scott & The Scott Family · 2016
Hillary Scott wrote it while going through a miscarriage, which she called the rawest place she had ever been.
3:57
Held
Natalie Grant · 2005
Christa Wells wrote it on her own, and Natalie Grant's 2005 recording won Wells the Dove Award for Songwriter of the Year.
4:22
We Shall Behold Him
Sandi Patty · 1981
Dottie Rambo wrote it, and Sandi Patty sang it at every one of her concerts until she retired from touring in 2016.
5:52
Redeemer
Nicole C. Mullen · 2000
Nicole C. Mullen said the Book of Job inspired it, and it won the 2001 Dove Award for Song of the Year.
5:02
Gospel songs for a homegoing
The gospel songs that turn a funeral into a homegoing, from Mahalia Jackson to CeCe Winans.
Precious Lord, Take My Hand
Mahalia Jackson
Thomas A. Dorsey wrote it in 1932 after his wife and newborn son died; at Martin Luther King Jr.'s request, Mahalia Jackson sang it at his funeral.
4:12
His Eye Is on the Sparrow
Mahalia Jackson
Civilla Martin and Charles Gabriel wrote it in 1905, and Mahalia Jackson's recording was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2010.
3:46
Goin' Up Yonder
Walter Hawkins · 1975
Walter Hawkins released it on his 1975 album Love Alive; one PopMatters critic wrote that it can turn a funeral into a homegoing service.
9:55
Soon and Very Soon
Andraé Crouch · 1976
Andraé Crouch released it in 1976, and his choir sang it at Michael Jackson's public memorial in Los Angeles in July 2009.
4:50
Total Praise
Richard Smallwood · 1996
Richard Smallwood wrote it while caring for his mother, who had dementia, and a dying friend; it was sung at Aretha Franklin's funeral in 2018.
4:57
Never Would Have Made It
Marvin Sapp · 2007
Marvin Sapp wrote it as a tribute after his father, Henry Lewis Sapp Jr., died; he says it came to him the Sunday after the burial.
6:55
Take Me to the King
Tamela Mann · 2012
Tamela Mann's 2012 single topped Billboard's Gospel Songs chart for 19 weeks and later became the highest-certified gospel song in the US.
4:48
Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
Fisk Jubilee Singers · 1909
Wallace Willis, a Choctaw freedman, probably composed it in the late 1860s; the Fisk Jubilee Singers' recording is in the National Recording Registry.
2:58
Oh Happy Day
The Edwin Hawkins Singers · 1969
The Edwin Hawkins Singers' gospel arrangement of a 1755 hymn reached No. 4 on the US singles chart in 1969.
3:11
Move On Up a Little Higher
Mahalia Jackson · 1947
W. Herbert Brewster wrote it around the image of climbing toward heaven; Mahalia Jackson's 1947 recording entered the National Recording Registry in 2005.
3:23
Goodness of God
CeCe Winans · 2021
Bethel Music first released it in 2019; CeCe Winans's 2021 live version reached No. 2 on Billboard's Hot Gospel Songs chart.
4:58
We Fall Down
Donnie McClurkin · 2000
Donnie McClurkin's live recording from London reached No. 2 on Billboard's Adult R&B chart and won a 2001 Dove Award.
4:52
Catholic funeral songs
Songs sung at Catholic funeral Masses. Popular songs usually aren't used during the Mass itself, so many families play them at the wake or the reception instead; the parish music director can tell you what your parish allows.
On Eagle's Wings
Michael Joncas · 1979
Michael Joncas wrote it in 1976 for the funeral of a friend's father; it was later sung at the funerals of Beau Biden and Luciano Pavarotti.
4:15
Be Not Afraid
St. Louis Jesuits · 1975
Jesuit Bob Dufford began writing it on a 1972 retreat, while unsure of his future as a priest, and it was published in 1975.
4:37
Here I Am, Lord
Dan Schutte · 1981
Dan Schutte wrote it in 1979 for a deacon's ordination Mass; a 2013 Songs of Praise survey named it Britain's fifth most popular hymn.
4:03
Song of Farewell
Ernest Sands · 1990
Ernest Sands wrote it in 1990, taking its refrain from the In Paradisum chant; hymnals assign it to the funeral liturgy and the committal.
3:30
Ave Maria
Andrea Bocelli · 1995
Schubert composed it in 1825 as Ellen's prayer to Mary in Walter Scott's The Lady of the Lake; it is often sung with the Latin Hail Mary.
4:26
I Am the Bread of Life
Suzanne Toolan · 1966
Sister Suzanne Toolan composed it in 1966, drawing on the Bread of Life passage in John 6 and the raising of Lazarus in John 11.
3:27
Prayer of St. Francis
Sebastian Temple · 1967
Sebastian Temple set the prayer to music in 1967, and the hymn was part of the 1997 funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales.
3:24
Panis Angelicus
César Franck · 1872
César Franck set this verse of a Thomas Aquinas hymn in 1872 for tenor, harp, cello and organ, and added it to a Mass he had written.
Classic funeral songs for the older generation
The standards and pop songs people over 60 grew up with, including most of the UK's most-played funeral songs.
My Way
Frank Sinatra · 1969
Frank Sinatra recorded Paul Anka's English lyric in one take in December 1968; UK surveys from 2005 to 2014 often named it the song most played at funerals.
4:36
Wind Beneath My Wings
Bette Midler · 1988
Bette Midler sang it at the Prayer for America service at Yankee Stadium after 9/11; a 2002 UK poll found it the most-played song at British funerals.
4:54
What a Wonderful World
Louis Armstrong · 1967
Bob Thiele and George David Weiss wrote it for Louis Armstrong; it topped the UK chart in 1968 and was reissued after the film Good Morning, Vietnam.
2:19
Unforgettable
Nat King Cole · 1951
In 1991 Natalie Cole released a duet with her late father's recording of it, which won the Grammy for Record of the Year.
3:12
We'll Meet Again
Vera Lynn · 1939
Vera Lynn first recorded it in 1939 as servicemen left for war; Queen Elizabeth II referred to it in her April 2020 pandemic broadcast.
3:00
You'll Never Walk Alone
Gerry & The Pacemakers · 1963
Rodgers and Hammerstein wrote it for Carousel, where it comforts a young widow; Gerry and the Pacemakers' 1963 cover became Liverpool FC's anthem.
2:40
Over the Rainbow
Eva Cassidy · 1992
Eva Cassidy died of melanoma at 33 in 1996, little known beyond Washington, D.C.; BBC Radio 2 airplay two years later made this her signature song.
5:00
Bridge Over Troubled Water
Simon & Garfunkel · 1970
Paul Simon wrote it for Art Garfunkel to sing; it spent six weeks at No. 1 in 1970 and won the Grammys for Record and Song of the Year.
4:56
Knockin' on Heaven's Door
Bob Dylan · 1973
Bob Dylan wrote it for the 1973 western Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid, to play under the death of a frontier lawman.
2:30
Candle in the Wind
Elton John · 1973
Elton John and Bernie Taupin wrote it in 1973 for Marilyn Monroe; John sang a rewritten version in public only once, at Princess Diana's funeral in 1997.
3:49
In My Life
The Beatles · 1965
John Lennon wrote the words as a look back at the people of his youth, and Mojo named it the best song of all time in 2000.
2:26
The Rose
Bette Midler · 1979
Amanda McBroom wrote it; Bette Midler sang it over the closing credits of her 1979 film The Rose and won a Grammy for it.
3:41
Smile
Nat King Cole · 1954
At Michael Jackson's 2009 memorial, Brooke Shields called Charlie Chaplin's tune his favorite song, and his brother Jermaine then sang it.
2:56
Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season)
The Byrds · 1965
Pete Seeger took almost all of its words from Ecclesiastes 3, so the Byrds' 1965 version is the U.S. No. 1 hit with the oldest lyrics.
3:49
He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother
The Hollies · 1969
Lyricist Bob Russell was dying of lymphoma when he co-wrote it; a 2012 charity version for Hillsborough causes became the UK's Christmas No. 1.
4:22
Wish You Were Here
Pink Floyd · 1975
Many hear it as Pink Floyd's tribute to former bandmate Syd Barrett, and David Gilmour has said he never plays it without remembering him.
5:38
Country funeral songs
Country has more songs about loss than any other genre, and it's the top pick in the memorial songs people make on our site.
Go Rest High on That Mountain
Vince Gill · 1994
Vince Gill began it after Keith Whitley's death in 1989 and finished it after his own brother, Bob, died in 1993.
5:16
When I Get Where I'm Going
Brad Paisley feat. Dolly Parton · 2005
With Dolly Parton singing harmony, Brad Paisley took it to No. 1 on the country chart in 2006; it was her 25th No. 1 there.
4:08
Angels Among Us
Alabama · 1993
Randy Owen sang it at Dale Earnhardt's funeral in 2001, and Alabama says hundreds of letters told the band the song was a blessing.
4:08
The Dance
Garth Brooks · 1989
Garth Brooks's 1990 video pairs it with people who died chasing a dream, from rodeo champion Lane Frost to the crew of the Challenger.
3:36
If I Die Young
The Band Perry · 2010
Kimberly Perry said that despite the title she wrote it about celebrating life; it became the Band Perry's first No. 1 country hit.
3:43
I Will Always Love You
Dolly Parton · 1974
Dolly Parton wrote it in 1973 as a thank-you and farewell to her mentor, Porter Wagoner, when she set out on her own.
2:54
Temporary Home
Carrie Underwood · 2009
Carrie Underwood took the idea from Rick Warren's book The Purpose Driven Life, which calls this world a temporary home; it topped the country chart in 2010.
4:30
I Hope You Dance
Lee Ann Womack · 2000
Written by Mark D. Sanders and Tia Sillers, Lee Ann Womack's single topped the country chart and won the Grammy for Best Country Song.
4:55
One More Day
Diamond Rio · 2000
Diamond Rio's single found a wider audience after NASCAR's Dale Earnhardt died in 2001, then got heavy radio play as a tribute to the victims of 9/11.
3:36
Live Like You Were Dying
Tim McGraw · 2004
Tim Nichols and Craig Wiseman wrote it about friends who learned they had cancer; McGraw released it months after his father, pitcher Tug McGraw, died.
5:00
Believe
Brooks & Dunn · 2005
Ronnie Dunn and Craig Wiseman's story of a grieving old neighbor's faith won the CMA awards for Song and Single of the Year in 2006.
5:39
There You'll Be
Faith Hill · 2001
Diane Warren wrote it for the 2001 film Pearl Harbor, and Celine Dion passed on it before Faith Hill recorded it.
3:41
Over You
Miranda Lambert · 2011
Miranda Lambert wrote it with Blake Shelton about his older brother, killed in a car accident when Shelton was a teenager; it won CMA Song of the Year.
4:16
Who You'd Be Today
Kenny Chesney · 2005
Aimee Mayo and Bill Luther wrote it to someone who died too young; Kenny Chesney's single reached No. 2 on the country chart.
4:15
Drink a Beer
Luke Bryan · 2013
Chris Stapleton and Jim Beavers wrote it; Luke Bryan, who lost both his brother and his sister, took it to No. 1 on country radio in 2014.
3:23
Sissy's Song
Alan Jackson · 2008
Alan Jackson wrote it after Leslie "Sissy" Fitzgerald, who kept house for his family, died in a 2007 motorcycle accident, and recorded a simple version for her funeral.
3:03
Take Me Home, Country Roads
John Denver · 1971
One of West Virginia's official state songs, it was played at Senator Robert Byrd's funeral at the state capitol in 2010.
3:13
The Gambler
Kenny Rogers · 1978
Songwriter Don Schlitz said it may have been a gift from his father, who died the year he wrote it; Kenny Rogers's recording won a Grammy.
3:31
Broken Halos
Chris Stapleton · 2017
Chris Stapleton said people who died before their time inspired it, and he recorded it the day after a longtime friend died.
3:01
Modern funeral songs
Pop, rock, R&B and hip-hop from the 1990s on.
Supermarket Flowers
Ed Sheeran · 2017
Ed Sheeran played it at his grandmother's funeral, where his grandfather urged him to put it on the album.
3:41
Tears in Heaven
Eric Clapton · 1992
Eric Clapton wrote it with Will Jennings about his four-year-old son, Conor, who died in a fall in 1991; it won three Grammys.
4:32
Time to Say Goodbye (Con te partirò)
Sarah Brightman & Andrea Bocelli · 1996
Bocelli and Brightman's duet topped Co-op Funeralcare's 2025 chart of more than 90,000 UK funerals, the second chart in a row it led.
4:05
You Raise Me Up
Josh Groban · 2003
Rolf Løvland's melody was first performed at his mother's funeral; Josh Groban's cover spent six weeks atop the adult contemporary chart.
4:50
See You Again
Wiz Khalifa feat. Charlie Puth · 2015
Commissioned for Furious 7 as a goodbye to actor Paul Walker, who died in a 2013 crash, it spent 12 weeks at No. 1 on the Hot 100.
3:50
My Heart Will Go On
Céline Dion · 1997
Celine Dion's theme from Titanic won the Academy Award for Best Original Song and the Grammy for Record of the Year.
4:40
Hallelujah
Jeff Buckley · 1994
Jeff Buckley recorded Leonard Cohen's song for his only complete album, Grace; Fenway Park played his version in 2013 to honor the Boston Marathon bombing victims.
6:54
Angel
Sarah McLachlan · 1997
Sarah McLachlan sang it to close the 2011 dedication of the Flight 93 Memorial; it spent 12 weeks atop the adult contemporary chart.
4:30
Angels
Robbie Williams · 1997
In a 2005 Music Choice survey of more than 45,000 people, Britons named it the song they would most like played at their funeral.
4:25
Lay Me Down
Sam Smith · 2013
Its 2015 video, filmed in one take in a London church, shows Sam Smith at the funeral of their husband; that release reached No. 8 in the US.
4:14
Dancing in the Sky
Dani and Lizzy · 2013
Vancouver twin Lizzy Nelson wrote it after a friend died; once she and her sister Dani posted it, it passed 700,000 YouTube views by August 2013.
3:34
One Sweet Day
Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men · 1995
Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men wrote it with people from their own lives and the AIDS epidemic in mind; it was performed at Princess Diana's memorial service.
4:41
Wake Me Up When September Ends
Green Day · 2004
Billie Joe Armstrong wrote it about his father, who died in September 1982; the title reportedly comes from what he told his mother on the day of the funeral.
4:46
Fix You
Coldplay · 2005
Chris Martin wrote it to comfort Gwyneth Paltrow after her father, Bruce, died, building it on a keyboard her father had given her.
4:55
Memories
Maroon 5 · 2019
Adam Levine wrote it after the death of Maroon 5's longtime manager, Jordan Feldstein, in 2017; it reached No. 2 on the Hot 100.
3:09
Everybody Hurts
R.E.M. · 1992
In Co-op Funeralcare's 2025 survey of UK funerals, R.E.M.'s ballad was the most-played indie song.
5:20
Uplifting songs for a celebration of life
Warm, hopeful songs for walking out, the reception or a celebration of life.
Somewhere Over the Rainbow / What a Wonderful World
Israel Kamakawiwo'ole · 1993
The official video includes scenes from Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's 1997 funeral, attended by about 10,000 people, and the scattering of his ashes off Mākua Beach.
5:07
Spirit in the Sky
Norman Greenbaum · 1969
Norman Greenbaum wrote the words in 15 minutes after seeing Porter Wagoner sing gospel on TV, and says funeral directors told him only Danny Boy is requested more.
4:03
When the Saints Go Marching In
Louis Armstrong · 1938
A spiritual turned jazz standard, it is traditionally played at New Orleans jazz funerals; Louis Armstrong and his orchestra recorded it in May 1938.
3:39
The Best
Tina Turner · 1989
Tina Turner's hit re-entered Co-op Funeralcare's UK funeral top 10 at No. 5 in 2025, which Co-op linked to the tributes paid after her death.
4:16
Here Comes the Sun
The Beatles · 1969
George Harrison wrote it at Eric Clapton's country house on a spring day in 1969; it is the Beatles' most-streamed song on Spotify.
3:06
Three Little Birds
Bob Marley & The Wailers · 1977
A friend recalled canaries at Bob Marley's Hope Road windowsill, while his I Threes backing singers say the birds were them; it came out on Exodus in 1977.
3:07
Lean on Me
Bill Withers · 1972
Bill Withers wrote it missing the close community of Slab Fork, the West Virginia coal town where he grew up; it spent three weeks at No. 1.
4:18
Seasons of Love
Original Broadway Cast of Rent · 1996
Jonathan Larson died the night before Rent's first preview, and the cast opened that night by singing this song in his honor.
4:06
Happy Trails
Roy Rogers & Dale Evans · 1952
Dale Evans wrote it as the sign-off for The Roy Rogers Show, and she and her husband released it as a record in 1952.
2:55
I Lived
OneRepublic · 2013
Ryan Tedder wrote it for his four-year-old son; the video follows Bryan Warnecke, a 15-year-old fan living with cystic fibrosis.
3:55
Light-hearted songs, if it was them
For someone who'd want everyone smiling. Families really do choose these, often for walking out or the reception.
Always Look on the Bright Side of Life
Monty Python · 1979
The other Pythons sang it at Graham Chapman's 1989 memorial service, and a 2005 Music Choice poll found it Britain's third-most-wanted funeral song.
3:58
Ring of Fire
Johnny Cash · 1963
Johnny Cash's 1963 hit placed No. 4 on both the rock and the country lists in Co-op Funeralcare's 2025 chart of UK funerals.
2:45
Prop Me Up Beside the Jukebox (If I Die)
Joe Diffie · 1993
In Joe Diffie's No. 3 country hit, the singer says he isn't afraid of dying and just wants to stay himself afterward, right by the jukebox.
3:46
When I Get to Heaven
John Prine · 2018
Three generations of John Prine's family sang along on this track from The Tree of Forgiveness, his final album.
3:43
Don't Worry, Be Happy
Bobby McFerrin · 1988
Bobby McFerrin got the idea from a poster of a Meher Baba saying in a San Francisco apartment; it became the first a cappella No. 1 on the Hot 100.
4:47
Dropkick Me, Jesus
Bobby Bare · 1976
Memphis songwriter Paul Craft framed this plea to Jesus as a football kick, and Bobby Bare's 1976 recording reached No. 17 on the country chart.
2:11
Funeral songs for Mom
Songs written about losing a mother, from John Lennon's Julia to Juan Gabriel's Amor Eterno.
Julia
The Beatles · 1968
John Lennon wrote it about his mother, Julia, who was killed by a car when he was 17; it's the only Beatles track he sang and played alone.
2:55
Let It Be
The Beatles · 1970
McCartney said it came from a dream in which his mother, Mary, who died of cancer when he was 14, reassured him things would be all right.
4:03
Mama Liked the Roses
Elvis Presley · 1970
Johnny Christopher, a co-writer of 'Always on My Mind', wrote it, and Elvis released it in 1970 as the B-side of 'The Wonder of You'.
2:47
A Song for Mama
Boyz II Men · 1997
Babyface wrote and produced it as the theme for the 1997 film Soul Food, and it spent two weeks at No. 1 on the R&B chart.
5:03
How Can I Help You Say Goodbye
Patty Loveless · 1993
Its three verses trace three goodbyes, the last her mother's death; co-writer Burton Banks Collins said his grandmother spoke the title to him shortly before she died.
4:59
The Baby
Blake Shelton · 2002
A son rushes home to Louisiana but arrives just after his mother dies; Shelton's recording spent three weeks at No. 1 on the country chart in 2003.
3:55
Two of Us
Louis Tomlinson · 2019
Tomlinson wrote it about his mother, Johannah Deakin, who died of leukemia in December 2016 at age 43.
3:38
Bye Mom
Chris Janson · 2021
Janson and co-writer Brandon Kinney wrote it as a tribute to Kinney's mother, who had died shortly before; it came out in 2021.
4:00
Amor Eterno
Juan Gabriel · 1990
Juan Gabriel wrote it in 1984 after losing his mother, and it became the most-played song at funerals and memorials in Mexico.
7:03
Coat of Many Colors
Dolly Parton · 1971
Parton's mother sewed her a coat from rags while telling her the story of Joseph; Dolly wrote the song on the back of a dry-cleaning receipt.
3:03
I'll Always Love My Mama
The Intruders · 1973
Kenny Gamble's mother, Ruby, inspired this Philly soul song, which reached No. 6 on the R&B chart in the summer of 1973.
6:37
Can the Circle Be Unbroken (By and By)
The Carter Family · 1935
A.P. Carter reworked an older hymn into this story of a mother's death and funeral; the Carter Family's 1935 record first brought it wide attention.
3:07
Sweet DeAnn
Zach Bryan · 2019
It closes DeAnn, the 2019 debut album Bryan named after his mother, who died in 2016; he recorded it in an Airbnb while stationed with the Navy.
3:25
Funeral songs for Dad
Most of these were written by a son or daughter after their own father died.
Dance with My Father
Luther Vandross · 2003
Vandross wrote it with Richard Marx about his father, who died when Luther was eight; it won the 2004 Grammy for Song of the Year.
4:26
Drive (For Daddy Gene)
Alan Jackson · 2002
Jackson's tribute to his father, Eugene, who died in 2000, recalls fixing up an old truck and driving a boat on the lake; it hit No. 1 country.
4:03
The Living Years
Mike + The Mechanics · 1988
Mike Rutherford and BA Robertson wrote it after realizing their fathers had died around the same time; it topped the Hot 100 in March 1989.
5:30
Leader of the Band
Dan Fogelberg · 1981
Fogelberg wrote it for his father, Lawrence, a bandleader who gave many interviews about the song before he died in August 1982.
4:16
Daddy's Hands
Holly Dunn · 1986
Dunn meant it only as a Father's Day gift for her father, a minister; it reached No. 7 country and earned two Grammy nominations.
3:29
Even Though I'm Leaving
Luke Combs · 2019
Across three scenes, a son asks his father not to go, the last at his father's death; it spent five weeks at No. 1 on Country Airplay.
3:45
You Should Be Here
Cole Swindell · 2015
Swindell wrote it with Ashley Gorley for his father, who died unexpectedly while Cole was on tour after signing his record deal; it reached No. 1.
3:10
Daddy Doesn't Pray Anymore
Chris Stapleton · 2015
Stapleton wrote it around 2005 after his father skipped saying grace at a meal, and recorded it only after his dad died in 2013.
4:10
My Old Man
Zac Brown Band · 2017
Zac Brown wrote it with Niko Moon and Ben Simonetti about his father's example; the last verse has the father hearing the tribute from heaven.
3:47
Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own
U2 · 2004
Bono wrote it about his father, Bob Hewson, sang a version at his funeral in 2001, and it won the 2006 Grammy for Song of the Year.
5:05
Love Without End, Amen
George Strait · 1990
Aaron Barker's song moves from a father's forgiveness to a dream at heaven's gate; Strait's recording spent five weeks at No. 1 in 1990.
3:05
Everything I Own
Bread · 1972
David Gates wrote it in memory of his father, who died in 1963 before Bread's success; Gates said his wife knew at once it was about his dad.
3:07
Because You Loved Me
Celine Dion · 1996
Diane Warren described it as a tribute to her father; Celine Dion's recording, the theme of Up Close & Personal, reached No. 1 in the U.S. in 1996.
4:34
Funeral songs for a husband or wife
Songs about losing the person you shared a life with.
Who Wants to Live Forever
Queen · 1986
Brian May wrote it after seeing Highlander's scene of an immortal's wife growing old and dying; Britons voted it fifth for their own funerals in a 2005 poll.
4:57
When I'm Gone
Joey + Rory · 2012
Friend Sandy Lawrence wrote it as a dying wife's reassurance to her husband; fans pushed it up iTunes after Rory said in 2015 that Joey's cancer was terminal.
3:54
Holes in the Floor of Heaven
Steve Wariner · 1998
A man who lost his grandmother and later his young wife sees rain as their tears from heaven; it was both CMA and ACM Song of the Year.
4:49
Wish You Were Here
Mark Wills · 1998
Wills told Billboard that, sad as it sounds, he saw it as an optimistic love song about life after death; it became his first No. 1 country hit.
4:02
Waitin' on a Woman
Brad Paisley · 2007
An old man on a mall bench says he'll wait for his wife in heaven too; Andy Griffith played him in the video for Paisley's 2008 No. 1.
5:01
Love, Me
Collin Raye · 1991
A grandson sees his grandfather weep over an old note from his dying wife; it was Collin Raye's first No. 1 and is often chosen for funerals.
3:52
Remember When
Alan Jackson · 2003
Jackson wrote this look back at his life with his wife, from first love to raising children; the video shows him dancing with his wife, Denise.
4:31
Funeral songs for a grandparent
For Grandma or Grandpa, including songs the grandkids will know.
I Wish Grandpas Never Died
Riley Green · 2019
Green wrote it for his grandfathers, Buford Green and Lendon Bonds, who share the writing credit; Brad Paisley persuaded him to record it.
4:10
Five More Minutes
Scotty McCreery · 2017
McCreery wrote it after his grandfather's death, wishing for more time with a loved one; it became his first No. 1 on Country Airplay.
4:01
He Walked on Water
Randy Travis · 1989
Allen Shamblin based it on his great-grandfather 'Poppy' Fugate, an old cowboy; Travis chose it because it reminded him of his own grandfather.
3:25
Marjorie
Taylor Swift · 2020
Swift's tribute to her grandmother, opera singer Marjorie Finlay, passes on Finlay's advice and includes samples of her soprano voice.
4:18
Grandma's Hands
Bill Withers · 1971
Withers wrote it about his grandmother Lula, who took him to church as a boy; it reached No. 18 on the soul chart in 1971.
2:00
In Color
Jamey Johnson · 2008
An old man walks his grandson through black-and-white photos of the Depression, World War II and his wedding; it won 2009 ACM and CMA Song of the Year.
4:51
Remember Me (Reunión)
Anthony Gonzalez & Ana Ofelia Murguía · 2017
In Pixar's Coco, Miguel sings it with his great-grandmother, Mamá Coco, to stir her memories; the song won the Oscar for Best Original Song in 2018.
1:14
My Grandfather's Clock
Johnny Cash · 1959
Henry Clay Work's 1876 song, about a clock that stops for good when its owner dies, sold close to a million copies of sheet music.
2:48
Funeral songs for a friend
Songs written for friends, bandmates and the people who were always there.
I'll Be Missing You
Puff Daddy & Faith Evans feat. 112 · 1997
Puff Daddy and Faith Evans, the rapper's widow, recorded it for the Notorious B.I.G. after his 1997 murder; it borrows the Police's 'Every Breath You Take'.
5:07
Here Today
Paul McCartney · 1982
McCartney wrote it in 1981 as an imagined conversation with John Lennon, killed the year before, and has said it can overcome him onstage.
2:29
Gone Too Soon
Michael Jackson · 1991
Jackson dedicated it to his friend Ryan White, a teenager who died of AIDS, and Usher sang it beside Jackson's casket at his 2009 memorial.
3:22
Friends
Michael W. Smith · 1983
Smith and his wife, Debbie, wrote it for a Bible-study friend who was moving away; he sang it at George H. W. Bush's state funeral in 2018.
4:22
For Good
Idina Menzel & Kristin Chenoweth · 2003
Stephen Schwartz built its first verse from his daughter's answer when he asked what she would say to a best friend she'd never see again.
5:07
You've Got a Friend
James Taylor · 1971
Carole King wrote it and recorded it first, on Tapestry; James Taylor's version topped the Hot 100 in 1971, and both won Grammys for it.
4:29
It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday
Boyz II Men · 1991
Written for the 1975 film Cooley High, it reached No. 2 on the Hot 100 in Boyz II Men's 1991 a cappella version and topped the R&B chart.
3:08
Irish funeral songs
Old Irish songs of parting and home, often sung at the wake as well as the funeral.
Danny Boy
Johnny Cash · 2002
Frederic Weatherly set his words to the Irish tune Londonderry Air in 1913; Johnny Cash recorded it for American IV, the last album released in his lifetime.
3:19
The Parting Glass
The Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem · 1959
Long sung to end a night among friends in Scotland and Ireland, it reached a wide audience through the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem's 1959 recording.
2:37
Carrickfergus
The Dubliners · 1975
Named for a town in County Antrim, this old Irish folk song was played at John F. Kennedy Jr.'s funeral in 1999.
3:59
The Last Rose of Summer
Celtic Woman · 2007
Thomas Moore wrote the poem in 1805 at Jenkinstown Castle in County Kilkenny, and it was published with an old harp air in 1813.
3:37
The Isle of Innisfree
Bing Crosby · 1952
Irish policeman Dick Farrelly got the idea for it on a bus to Dublin; it became the theme of The Quiet Man and a 1952 hit for Bing Crosby.
3:03
Songs for a veteran's funeral
Eligible veterans are entitled to military funeral honors: at least two service members fold and present the flag, and Taps is played. Your funeral director requests them; they're free.
Taps
United States Army Ceremonial Band · 1862
Federal law makes Taps, by a bugler or a recording, part of the minimum honors at an eligible veteran's funeral, along with folding and presenting the flag.
1:02
Eternal Father, Strong to Save (Navy Hymn)
United States Navy Band
William Whiting wrote it in 1860 for those at sea; it became the US Navy Hymn and was sung at the funerals of presidents including John F. Kennedy.
1:54
Battle Hymn of the Republic
The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square
Julia Ward Howe wrote it in 1861; the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's recording won a Grammy, and Andy Williams sang it at Robert F. Kennedy's funeral.
4:48
Mansions of the Lord
United States Military Academy Glee Club · 2002
Randall Wallace wrote the words for the 2002 film We Were Soldiers, and it served as the recessional at President Ronald Reagan's 2004 funeral.
Arlington
Trace Adkins · 2005
Co-writer Dave Turnbull was inspired after meeting the father of Marine Cpl. Patrick Nixon, who died in battle in 2003.
4:07
If You're Reading This
Tim McGraw · 2007
Tim McGraw debuted it at the 2007 ACM Awards with 100 relatives of fallen soldiers on stage under a Families of Fallen Heroes banner.
4:06
Instrumental funeral music
For walking in, the slideshow or the quiet moments when words would be too much. Lengths vary by performance.
Adagio for Strings
Samuel Barber · 1936
Barber arranged it from his string quartet in 1936; it was played at the funerals of Albert Einstein in 1955 and Princess Grace of Monaco in 1982.
9:22
Canon in D
Johann Pachelbel
Little known for centuries, it caught on after Jean-François Paillard's 1968 recording and is now played at both weddings and funerals.
Nimrod (Enigma Variations)
Edward Elgar · 1899
Elgar's ninth Enigma variation portrays his friend August Jaeger, and it is always played at London's Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday.
3:27
Air on the G String
Johann Sebastian Bach · 1730
Bach wrote the Air for his Orchestral Suite No. 3; violinist August Wilhelmj's 1871 arrangement, playable on one string, gave it its popular name.
5:07
Clair de lune
Claude Debussy · 1905
Debussy began his Suite bergamasque around 1890 and revised it before 1905; its third movement takes its name from a Paul Verlaine poem.
4:58
Going Home (Largo, New World Symphony)
Antonín Dvořák · 1893
Dvořák wrote it in 1893 while working in America; his pupil William Arms Fisher later added words to its theme as the song Goin' Home in 1922.
Adagietto (Symphony No. 5)
Gustav Mahler · 1902
Mahler wrote it for harp and strings in 1901 and 1902, and Leonard Bernstein conducted it at the funeral Mass for Robert F. Kennedy.
9:06
Amazing Grace (bagpipes)
The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards · 1972
The Scottish regiment's pipe band recording reached No. 1 in 1972 in the UK, Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
2:41
No songs match all of these. Try another choice or clear the filters.
Funeral playlists with run times
Ready-made playlists for each part of the day, with their total time. Tap Copy playlist to paste one into your music app or send it to the funeral director.
A funeral service
27 min · 6 songs
One song to walk in, a hymn, a song after the eulogy, two for the slideshow and one to walk out.
- Air on the G String Johann Sebastian Bach
- Amazing Grace Judy Collins
- Go Rest High on That Mountain Vince Gill
- Supermarket Flowers Ed Sheeran
- Somewhere Over the Rainbow / What a Wonderful World Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
Show all 6 songs
- I'll Fly Away Gillian Welch & Alison Krauss
Hymns everyone knows
35 min · 10 songs
For the visitation, a hymn sing or a church service.
- Amazing Grace Judy Collins
- How Great Thou Art Elvis Presley
- It Is Well with My Soul Audrey Assad
- The Old Rugged Cross Alan Jackson
- In the Garden Randy Travis
Show all 10 songs
- Abide with Me The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square
- Just a Closer Walk with Thee Patsy Cline
- Blessed Assurance Alan Jackson
- Precious Memories Alan Jackson
- I'll Fly Away Gillian Welch & Alison Krauss
A 10-minute slideshow
10 min · 3 songs
About 100 photos at 6 seconds each.
- Dancing in the Sky Dani and Lizzy
- Angels Among Us Alabama
- In My Life The Beatles
Celebration of life
49 min · 12 songs
Warm and hopeful, for the reception or a celebration of life.
- Somewhere Over the Rainbow / What a Wonderful World Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
- Here Comes the Sun The Beatles
- I Hope You Dance Lee Ann Womack
- Three Little Birds Bob Marley & The Wailers
- Lean on Me Bill Withers
Show all 12 songs
- The Best Tina Turner
- Live Like You Were Dying Tim McGraw
- Take Me Home, Country Roads John Denver
- Spirit in the Sky Norman Greenbaum
- Seasons of Love Original Broadway Cast of Rent
- My Way Frank Sinatra
- When the Saints Go Marching In Louis Armstrong
Graveside
11 min · 4 songs
Short and quiet, for the committal.
- Amazing Grace (bagpipes) The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards
- Precious Lord, Take My Hand Mahalia Jackson
- Danny Boy Johnny Cash
- Taps United States Army Ceremonial Band
How to plan the music for a funeral
There's no set number of songs. A common plan in funeral directors' guides: quiet music as guests arrive and leave, two or three hymns or songs during the service, and one or two songs for a photo slideshow. Write your choices on the music planner below and give it to the funeral director a few days ahead.
Ask about church rules first
At a Catholic funeral Mass the music is part of the worship, so popular songs aren't used during the Mass itself. Many families play them at the wake or the reception instead; where they can go depends on the diocese, so ask the parish music director (the Diocese of Orange's guide is a good example). Other churches have their own rules: a Latter-day Saints chapel funeral, for one, doesn't include video presentations. If the service is at a church, ask the pastor before you plan.
Bring the songs instead of streaming them
Most funeral homes can play music from a phone, a laptop or a USB stick; ask yours how they'd like it. Download the songs rather than streaming them, so an ad or a weak signal can't interrupt. On Spotify, only Premium accounts can download. Bring a backup.
If the service is livestreamed
Facebook and YouTube scan livestreams and can mute or cut copyrighted recordings, even when the funeral home has a music license, the National Funeral Directors Association warns. Ask the funeral home how it streams; many use their own streaming service.
Military honors for a veteran
By federal law, an eligible veteran's family can ask for military funeral honors: at least two service members fold and present the flag, and Taps is played by a bugler or a recording. The funeral director makes the request, usually with at least 48 hours' notice and the veteran's DD-214, and the honors are free (Military OneSource).
Live music
For an organist, a soloist or a bagpiper, ask the parish music director or the funeral director. They usually know who plays locally.
What people tell us when they make a song in memory of someone
When someone makes a song on our site, they tell us about the person it's for. We counted what came up in this year's songs made in memory of someone.
- About 1 in 25 songs made on our site is an in-memory song.
- Who they're for: a mom or dad (27%), a husband, wife or partner (23%), then a boyfriend or girlfriend, friends, children, grandparents, brothers and sisters, and pets.
- People write about who the person was. Their sense of humor comes up in 29% of these stories and their kindness in 24%. What they taught the family comes up in 13%, against 4% of other songs.
- "I miss you" appears in 19% of them, against 2% of other songs.
- Country is the favorite: 56% of songs for a late parent or grandparent are country.
From the in-memory songs people previewed on MakeCustomSongs.com, July 26 to November 7, 2026, counted by the words they used. We never share anyone's story.
A song made from their story
Every song above was written about someone else. A memorial song can be about the person you're missing: their name, the things they did, what they taught you. Here's one from our memorial songs page, a son's tribute to his dad, Frank.
Country
Take Your Time
A fictional son's tribute to Frank, whose patient bicycle-repair lessons become something he passes on to his own children.
Example song written from a made-up story. We never share customers' songs.
A song with their name in it
Tell us about them: their name, what they loved and the things they always said. You'll hear a free preview in minutes, and you only pay if you love it.
Create your free preview