It’s not uncommon for us to use songs like bookmarks for life’s big moments. We hear a song at a wedding or a funeral and then the next time we hear it, it transports us back.
That’s why music is such an important consideration for a funeral. Pick funeral songs that embody your loved one – you’ll forever associate your choices with them.
Now, every guide under the sun lists the same songs again and again – and whilst that’s because they are genuinely the most popular funeral songs in terms of times chosen, we decided to put it to our community instead…
The result? The best list to assist in picking a funeral song that has meaning behind it. We’ve also got some of our member’s stories behind them.
Sections
Things to consider when choosing a funeral song
Given the gravity of your funeral song choices, it’s easy to get stuck deciding between a thousand different artists and songs. In these instances, we recommend choosing those that most closely match the preferences of your loved one, rather than random songs you hear on the radio (or those that you / your family like).
“I really struggled to pick funeral songs. I realise, looking back, that I was trying to please my family, rather than choosing based on my dad. I wanted everyone to feel like they had a connection to dad via the songs, rather than just something he loved to listen to. My advice? Don’t think of how the songs will be perceived. Don’t strive to appease. Pick based on the person you lost – choose something that embodies them.” Ryan, Untangle member
Songs and stories from our community
The thing about a grief community is that everyone can relate – every member has been ‘there’.
Whilst almost any person can curate a list of songs, the following have real stories behind them:
Some other songs to have come out of the Untangle community include:
- These Dreams – Heart
“Mum and I used to sing this together.” Eleanor - The sound of Silence – Disturbed
“I remember hearing him sing it it for the first time. Then when he passed, the lyrics had so much more meaning.” Jaye - Brothers in Arms – Dire Straits
“My husband was in the army for 22 years and the police for 20 years.” Mandy - This Must Be Love – Phil Collins
“My partner said this is how he felt about me and our relationship.” Jules - Wind Beneath My Wings – Better Middler
“Mum used to sing this song whenever we had family karaoke.” Eleanor - Mockin’ Bird – Dusty Springfield
“My wife’s favourite female singer. I had to chose this as her funeral funeral” Colin - Last Time – Yavid
“Our favourite artist released it after he passed.” Kay
- Somebody – Depeche Mode
“My husband chose it a couple of weeks before he died. It makes me so tearful as the words are so poignant as he use to sing it to me ” Jenny - Behold the Light – White Sun
“Every morning my son would listen as I would hold him and dance in our living room to greet the day.” Claire - Will You Know My Name? – Eric Clapton
“A year before her death they appeared all together with this song in a school concert.” Yulia - Perfect Duet – Ed Sheeran & Beyoncé
“My dad’s favourite song in the whole world.” Vanessa
The most popular funeral songs
By popular, we mean those that are frequently chosen across the UK – the list derives from surveys and our community members.
- You’ll Never Walk Alone – Gerry and the Pacemakers
Note: this overtook Frank Sinatra’s My Way as the most popular funeral song to be played in the UK. - My Way – Frank Sinatra
- The Long and Winding Road – The Beatles
Written in 1970, this was famously performed by George Michael at Linda McCartney’s tribute concert. - Imagine – John Lennon
- The Chain – Fleetwood Mac
- Bridge Over Troubled Water – Simon & Garfunkel
- We’ll Meet Again – Vera Lynn
A song that captured the heart of the nation during the Second World War and forever after. - The Best – Tina Turner
- Somewhere Over the Rainbow – Eva Cassidy
Funeral songs for dad
For some, it’s an easy choice – perhaps there’s a song that encapsulated him; maybe he had said which song he had always wanted to go out to. For others, it’s not so easy – it certainly wasn’t for me. There wasn’t one song that typified my dad. I had to go searching for inspiration.
With that in mind, here’s a collection of songs that have proven themselves to be both touching and popular songs for dad:
- Dance with My Father – Luther Vandross
- Tears in Heaven – Eric Clapton
- Old Man – Neil Young
- Go The Distance – Michael Bolton
“He always said it made him feel like he could do anything. And ge deserved a series welcome at the pearly gates.” Keisha - Wake Me Up When September Ends – Green Day
- Comfortably Numb – Pink Floyd
- Life On Mars – David Bowie
- A Case Of You – Joni Mitchell
- My Father’s Eyes – Eric Clapton
- Sailing – Rod Stewart
“Dad had it at his mum’s funeral and dad requested it at his. It utterly destroyed me.” Clare
Funeral songs for mum
Choosing a song to say goodbye; it’s one of the hardest things you’ll ever have to go through. But, before you even think of a song, sit back, think of your mum – what were her best qualities? What are some of your favourite memories together? Now, is there a song that encapsulates those times? If so, choose it. If not, see if any of the songs below capture her spirit. Even if they don’t, hopefully they give you a steer in the right direction.
- Your Song – Elton John
- Angel – Sarah McLachlan
- Supermarket Flowers – Ed Sheeran
- In My Life – The Beatles
- You are the Sunshine of My Life – Stevie Wonder
- Mama – Spice Girls
- Dear Mama – 2Pac
- Sweetest Devotion – Adele
- The Rose – Westlife
Funeral songs for the older generation
The beauty of music lies in nostalgia – hearing a song that an older relative loved can evoke powerful images of them in their heyday, and there’s so much beauty in that. For me, the process of picking funeral songs for grandma was incredibly powerful experience – her spirit was in the room; it was palpable. That came through playing some of the records that she ALWAYS listened to. I have a picture of her from when she was in her late twenties – that’s the person I always picture dancing to them.
Here are some of the most popular funeral songs for the older generation:
- Wind Beneath My Wings – Bette Midler
- We’ll Meet Again – Vera Lynn
- Time To Say Goodbye – Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman
- How Great Thou Art – Elvis Presley
- Valley of Tears – Buddy Holly
- I’ll Be Seeing You – Bing Crosby
- Make You Feel My Love – Bob Dylan
- Ave Maria – Franz Schubert
- Nimrod – Edward Elgar
Modern funeral songs
This is very much a fluid category, in that the top 40 of the time will equate to ‘modern’ – whatever that means. When we asked our community, there were plenty of classic songs, but they certainly didn’t dominate. In fact, there was a perfect blend of ‘modern’ vs ‘classic’.
A selection of popular modern funeral songs, as chosen by the Untangle community:
- All of Me – John Legend
- Just the Way You Are – Bruno Mars
- Shut up and Dance – Walk the Moon
- Visiting Hours – Ed Sheeran
- Lost Without You – Freya Ridings
- A Sky Full of Stars – Coldplay
- Thinkin Bout You – Frank Ocean
- Free Fallin’ – John Mayer
- Halo – Beyonce
Uplifting funeral songs
Funerals are always going to be one of the toughest things you’ll ever have to go through – there’s no denying that, but they’re also a celebration of life and the impact our lost one had on all of our lives.
My dad always wanted people to smile – he sure cracked enough jokes to try to make that the case. Whilst it was one of the saddest days of my life, I’m glad I chose happy, uplifting songs that reflected him.
With this in mind, a selection of uplifting funeral songs as chosen by the Untangle community:
- Always Look on the Bright Side of Life – Monty Python
- Bring Me Sunshine – Morecambe and Wise
- Three Little Birds – Bob Marley
- What a Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong
- Live Forever – Oasis
- Hero – Mariah Carey
- You’re My Best Friend – Queen
- Fly Me To The Moon – Frank Sinatra
- Easy – The Commodores
Funny funeral songs
The theme of this post is very much choose something that embodies your loved one. Always one to crack a joke? Forever finding the funny in things? These might inspire you to find the one to prick everyone’s ears.
Funeral songs to sure raise a smile:
- Another One Bites The Dust – Queen
- Highway to Hell – ACDC
- Ding Dong! The Witch Is Dead – The Munchkins
- Ha Ha You’re Dead – Green Day
- Blaze Of Glory – Bon Jovi
- Going Underground – The Jam
- Monkey Gone to Heaven – The Pixies
- Should I Stay or Should I Go? – The Clash
Do I need to obtain copyright for music played at a funeral?
No. PRS for Music and PPL consider funerals to be private functions, requiring no copyright licence to play the songs of your choosing. If, however, the service is going to be recorded and/or live streamed, then a licence may well be required.
We really hope this helps you on your way to finding the right funeral song. If you’re planning a funeral, check out our guides to the wake, scattering ashes, how to write a eulogy, remembering them on the death anniversary, understanding grief symptoms and more.
And, as always, if you want to share how you’re feeling or perhaps ask questions to others who have lost, do not hesitate one bit – it’s exactly why our free grief community exists. Download the Untangle Grief app.
Updated on:
