60 Funeral Songs That Offer Comfort To Those Grieving and Honor Those Who Have Passed
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Classic hymns and contemporary options.
When you have lost someone you love, selecting their funeral songs can be difficult. You are dealing with grief and all the other details that you have to take care of for a funeral, celebration of life or memorial. With all you have going on, searching through different music options may seem daunting. You want songs that convey a certain emotion or message. To make things easier, we've come up with a collection of the best funeral songs that are filled with hope, faith, mourning and strength.
The most popular funeral songs are those that are comforting as well as uplifting. Traditional and contemporary Christian songs fit this category well. However, there are also some great secular songs that convey a sentimental message that could have a lot of meaning for you. Music provides comfort in such an inspiring way. Whether you are celebrating the life of a loved one or are looking for comfort during this pain, a collection of meaningful songs will help mourners through this difficult time.
Here are 60 of the best funeral songs to play when you've lost someone.
Related: 40 Meaningful Songs About Death, Loss and Grief To Help You Cope
60 Best Funeral Songs
1. "You Raise Me Up" - Selah
"You Raise Me Up" is a beautiful song of comfort. In times of mourning, we need the strength that God gives us and he does raise us back up through faith in him. This leads to hope even in hard situations.
2. "It Is Well With My Soul" - Audrey Assad
Even through our sorrows, we can find comfort through God. This song makes a proclamation of peace through faith and trust in God during hardships and tragedies.
3. "I Will Rise" - Chris Tomlin
This song is all about the resurrection Christians will have to eternal life when he calls them by name.
4. "I Can Only Imagine" - Mercy Me
"I Can Only Imagine" was written and sung by Bart Millard, lead singer of Mercy Me. The song was inspired by the death of his father.
5. "Save A Place For Me" - Matthew West
This song was written by Matthew West after the passing of his grandmother. It expresses his longing for a future time when he will see her again.
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6. "Amazing Grace" - Celtic Woman
"Amazing Grace" is one of the most popular songs played at funerals. The strong message it conveys of peace and salvation after death brings comfort to mourners.
7. "Dancing With The Angels" - Monk & Neagle
"Dancing With Angels" is an uplifting song to play at funerals. We can rejoice at the thought of our loved one in heaven praising God with the angels.
8. "Jesus Promised Me A Home Over There" - Jennifer Hudson
This song focuses on the fact that death for Christians is going home to Jesus. It's comforting to know that death isn't final.
9. "Ancient Words" - Michael W. Smith
"Ancient Words" is all about getting comfort and strength from the Bible with words of life and hope.
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10. "You Can Close Your Eyes" - James Taylor
"You Can Close Your Eyes" is a very popular song that is played at funerals. This song was also performed at the 9/11 memorial.
11. "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" - Carrie Underwood
This is a popular hymn for funerals. It conveys the message that even though we go through difficult times, God's faithfulness never changes.
12. "Because He Lives (Amen)" - Matt Maher
The premise of this hymn is that because Christ lives so will we. Our fear can be wiped away with the knowledge that Christians will be made alive.
13. "How Great Thou Art" - Carrie Underwood
The lyrics of this song portray a hopeful message of comfort and power through God.
14. "A Thousand Years" - Christina Perri
The lyrics are about someone's heart waiting for a long time for another person to come into their life, and pledges to love that person for a thousand years and beyond, even after death.
15. "There Will Be A Day" - Jeremy Camp
This is a great song for funerals as it rejoices in the fact that there will be a day with no more fears and no more tears. When we see Jesus there will be no more pain or suffering.
Related: 40 Bible Verses About Death That Give Comfort And Hope For What Is To Come
16. "Messiah/You're Beautiful" - Phil Wickham
The lyrics of this song point to Christ who died and rose again for our sins and how we will join Him.
17. "See You Again" - Carrie Underwood
Death is not the end of the story. This song speaks about seeing a loved one again in heaven.
18. "Dance With My Father" - Luther Vandross
This is a beautiful song to honor a father during a funeral. It's so sentimental and is a special way of looking back at the life shared with a great dad.
19. "Lord I Need You" - Matt Maher
When we are grieving, we especially need the Lord. This song is great at funerals when we need so much comfort.
20. "With Hope" - Steven Curtis Chapman
This song was written for friends of the Chapmans whose daughter died. It was later sung to honor the victims of the Heath High School shooting.
21. "Cry Out To Jesus" - Third Day
This is a song for everyone who has ever lost someone. It reminds us to cry out to Jesus for comfort.
22. "I Need Thee Every Hour" - Fernando Ortega
A cry for help during mourning results in comfort, faith and perseverance.
23. "Supermarket Flowers" - Ed Sheeran
Here is a song about the loving memories of a mother. It's a perfect song for honoring a special mom.
24. "Abide With Me" - Audrey Assad
The writer of this song was Henry Francis Lyte, the pastor of a small church. He wrote it when he was feeling deep anguish over leaving his congregation because he was sick with TB. The song was written to find comfort.
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25. "Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus" - Casting Crowns
When we mourn, we need to trust in Jesus for hope, comfort and peace.
26. "In the Sweet By And By" - Dolly Parton
The lyrics of this song are about meeting a loved one again in heaven.
27. "It's Time To Say Goodbye" - Sarah Brightman
An emotional goodbye song that will give you chills.
28. "Leaning On The Everlasting Arms" - Selah
When we don't have the answers, we can lean on the everlasting arms to find comfort.
29. "10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)" - Matt Redman
This song is a reminder that we have so much to be thankful for even when times are hard.
30. "Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)" - Chris Tomlin
Because the song focuses on God's grace, it can provide comfort in grieving.
31. "Homesick" - Mercy Me
In Christ, there are no goodbyes. This is a great reminder after losing a loved one.
32. "In Christ Alone" - Lauren Daigle
The song's message of resurrection brings peace to those who are mourning and reminds them that their loved one is now in heaven.
33. "Go Rest High On That Mountain" - Vince Gill
This song was released after the death of Vince Gill's brother. It's a song of peace after a life of struggles.
34. "On Eagles Wings" - Josh Groban
Another great funeral song that offers comfort and hope to all that are grieving.
35. "Praise You In The Storm" - Casting Crowns
One of the greatest storms in life is losing a loved one. This song helps us to praise God even through all of the hurt.
36. "Scars In Heaven" - Casting Crowns
As the tears fall, we can find comfort in the fact that there are no scars in heaven.
37. "One More Day" - Diamond Rio
This song is very popular at funerals as we all wish for one more day with a loved one.
38. "Thy Will" - Hillary Scott
Even when we don't understand, we can find comfort in the fact that God has a perfect plan.
39. "What A Day That Will Be" - Drew Parker
A reminder of how wonderful heaven will be. The song brings comfort and peace.
40. "Heaven Song" - Phil Wickman
A song about looking forward to heaven and all its glory.
41. "I Hope You Dance" - Lee Ann Womack
This is a great song for celebrating a life led to the fullest.
42. "Hallelujah" - Pentatonix
This song covers a lot of emotions. It tells a story of love remembered and mourned and finding peace.
43. "I'll Think About You" - We Are Messengers
This song brings hope to the hurting.
44. "Gone Too Soon" - Daughtry
Daughtry wrote this song for parents who lost a child. It's a fitting and emotional song for a funeral.
45. "Tears In Heaven" - Eric Clapton
This song brings comfort to many who have lost a child. Eric Clapton wrote this following the death of his 4-year-old son.
46. "No More Night" - David Phelps
The chorus says it all, "No more night, no more pain. No more tears, never crying again. And praises to the great, I am. We will live in the light of the risen Lamb."
47. "The Anchor Holds" - Ray Boltz
This song gives so much comfort. God is our anchor in the worst of storms.
48. "When I Get Where I Am Going" - Brad Paisley
A message about heaven and how we don't have to cry for those who are there.
49. "When I'm Gone" - Joey + Rory
An emotional funeral song written by the singer knowing that cancer would prevent her from seeing her daughter grow up.
50. "The Lord Is My Shepherd" - Stuart Townend
A song of trust and faith that brings comfort to grievers.
51. "The Old Rugged Cross" - Alan Jackson
This song brings a lot of comfort as we cling to the old rugged cross that we exchange some day for a crown.
52. "Hero" - Mariah Carey
Here is a touching song of tribute to a parent.
53. "Goodbye's The Saddest Word" - Celine Dion
Losing a mom is hard. This song provides a great tribute to moms and provides comfort.
54. "Heavens Now My Home" - Libby L. Allen
A comforting and peaceful song about God calling someone home.
55. "Wake Me Up When September Ends" - Green Day
This song was written by Billie Joe Armstrong about his late father, who died of esophageal cancer when the singer/guitarist was just ten years old. A rendition of this song would give mourners a chance to express their collective grief together.
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56. "Don't Forget To Remember Me" - Carrie Underwood
Although this song is about the sadness of saying goodbye in general, it's a good song to pay tribute to a loved one who has passed and how they never will be forgotten.
57. "Hello After Goodbye" - Legacy Five
This is a song full of hope and how we will be seeing each other again.
58. "Till We Meet Again" - Kirk Franklin
Another song filled with hope about meeting again.
59. "My Sweet Lord" - George Harrison
A song about wanting to see and be with the Lord which provides comfort to those who are grieving.
60. "Broken Halos" - For King + Country
"Broken Halos" was written for those who passed away young. It's a good tribute song to play at funerals.
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