Though it’s not something we like to think about, we will eventually have to say goodbye to our loved ones, and they to us. Funerals offer a formal way to do this, often including music. Alongside religious and classical pieces, popular songs are now commonly chosen, whether they were favorites of the deceased or hold special meaning for their loved ones. Here are some of today’s most popular funeral songs.
Frank Sinatra – My Way
Frank Sinatra’s poignant 1969 classic, “My Way,” begins with the memorable line, “And now the end is near, and so I face the final curtain,” making it a fitting choice for a farewell. The song has been widely covered, most notably by Elvis Presley and Sid Vicious. “My Way” is an English adaptation of French songwriter Jacques Revaux’s 1967 composition, “Comme d’habitude.”
Bob Dylan – Knocking on Heaven’s Door
Bob Dylan’s “Knocking on Heaven’s Door” is one of the most fitting songs for a funeral, originally written for the 1973 movie *Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid*. While Dylan’s original version is frequently played, cover versions by Eric Clapton and Guns N’ Roses are also popular choices.
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Celine Dion – My Heart Will Go On
Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On,” made famous by its place on the soundtrack of the beloved 1997 movie *Titanic*, holds a special place in many hearts. This mournful ballad, which captures the struggle of moving on without a loved one, sold 18 million copies and won an Oscar, a Golden Globe, and four Grammys.
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Elton John – Candle in the Wind
Elton John’s “Candle in the Wind,” originally written in 1973 as a tribute to Marilyn Monroe, is a poignant lament for any life cut short. John notably performed a revised version of the song at the 1997 funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales, which became the second best-selling single ever, with 33 million copies sold.
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John Lennon – Imagine
John Lennon’s “Imagine,” his most famous song outside of The Beatles, gained added poignancy after his tragic murder in 1980. Although it’s a popular choice at funerals, the song does stir some controversy due to its openly atheistic and anti-religious lyrics.
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Whitney Houston – I Will Always Love You
Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You,” one of the best-selling singles in history, gained fame from its inclusion in the 1992 movie *The Bodyguard*. Houston’s powerful version is a popular choice for funerals, though some may opt for the more subdued original recording by the song’s composer, country legend Dolly Parton.
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Simon & Garfunkel – Bridge Over Troubled Water
“Bridge Over Troubled Water,” the title track from Simon & Garfunkel’s acclaimed 1970 album, is a moving and uplifting song about finding hope during difficult times. While the original version by Simon & Garfunkel remains the most beloved, the song has been covered by many esteemed artists, including Elvis Presley and Aretha Franklin.
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The Pretenders – I’ll Stand By You
The loss of a loved one is an incredibly difficult time, making “I’ll Stand By You”—with its message of unwavering support through hardship—a fitting choice for a funeral. The original 1994 version by The Pretenders is the most popular, but cover versions by Carrie Underwood, Shakira, and British girl group Girls Aloud are also often selected.
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Eric Clapton – Tears in Heaven
Eric Clapton’s 1991 song “Tears in Heaven,” which envisions reuniting with a loved one in the afterlife, is a poignant choice for a funeral. The song holds special emotional weight as Clapton wrote it in tribute to his four-year-old son, who tragically died after falling from a window.
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Cyndi Lauper – Time After Time
Cyndi Lauper’s 1983 song “Time After Time,” from her debut album *She’s So Unusual*, is widely regarded as one of the most poignant love songs ever written. Lauper’s original version is a popular choice for funerals, as are various covers, including a 1985 recording by jazz legend Miles Davis.
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Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth – See You Again
“See You Again,” written and recorded for the *Furious 7* soundtrack, serves as a tribute to actor Paul Walker following his tragic death in a 2013 car accident. This heartfelt lament to a lost friend became a massive hit, selling over 20 million copies and amassing nearly two billion streams.
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Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men – One Sweet Day
Mariah Carey’s 1995 collaboration with Boyz II Men, “One Sweet Day,” is a touching ballad that imagines a heavenly reunion with a lost loved one. The song was composed and recorded as a tribute to friends of the artists who had died from AIDS during the height of the epidemic.
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The Beatles – Let It Be
“Let It Be,” one of the most tender and spiritual songs by The Beatles, is the title track from their final released album. Written primarily by Paul McCartney, the song was inspired by a dream in which McCartney saw his mother, who had passed away when he was a teenager.
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Stevie Wonder – Knocks Me Off My Feet
Though never released as a single, “Knocks Me Off My Feet,” from Stevie Wonder’s 1976 album *Songs in the Key of Life*, is one of his most beloved songs. This simple, heartfelt declaration of love is a popular choice for funerals, along with re-recordings by artists like Luther Vandross and Donell Jones.
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Ed Sheeran – Supermarket Flowers
Ed Sheeran’s “Supermarket Flowers,” from his 2017 album *÷ (Divide)*, has become a popular choice for funerals. Although the lyrics seem to reference a lost mother, Sheeran wrote the song as a tribute to his late grandmother.
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Sarah McLachlan – Angel
“Angel,” the best-known song by Canadian singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan, was inspired by the 1996 death of keyboard player Jonathan Melvoin from an accidental heroin overdose. The song’s elegiac quality, with its poignant lyrics, melody, and sparse arrangement of piano and vocals, makes it a fitting choice for funerals.
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Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman – Time To Say Goodbye
The operatic “Time to Say Goodbye” is a fitting choice for funerals, as its title suggests. Featured as the title track of soprano Sarah Brightman’s 1996 album, the song is a re-recording of tenor Andrea Bocelli’s “Con te partirò,” with additional English lyrics.
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Michael Jackson – You Are Not Alone
Michael Jackson’s “You Are Not Alone,” the last number one single of his career, offers comforting lyrics about enduring love despite distance, making it a potentially soothing choice after a personal loss. However, the 1995 track might be controversial today due to high-profile allegations against Jackson and the notorious crimes of songwriter R. Kelly.
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Gerry and the Pacemakers – You’ll Never Walk Alone
Originally a show tune from the 1945 musical *Carousel*, “You’ll Never Walk Alone” is best known for its 1963 recording by British rock band Gerry and the Pacemakers. Widely chosen for funerals around the world, the song holds special significance in Liverpool, where it serves as the semi-official anthem of Liverpool Football Club.
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Led Zeppelin – Stairway to Heaven
“Stairway to Heaven,” from Led Zeppelin’s 1971 untitled fourth album, became the band’s anthem and one of the most popular rock songs ever. Its title alone makes it a fitting choice for a funeral, even though the enigmatic lyrics are often open to interpretation.
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Puff Daddy and Faith Evans – I’ll Be Missing You
Recorded as a tribute to the murdered Notorious B.I.G., Puff Daddy’s 1997 single “I’ll Be Missing You” is a reworking of The Police’s “Every Breath You Take” with new lyrics. The song not only honored the legacy of Notorious B.I.G. but also significantly boosted Sean Combs’s profile, who was then known as Puff Daddy.
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Jeff Buckley – Hallelujah
Leonard Cohen’s 1984 track “Hallelujah” is often described as a secular hymn and has been widely covered, but none have matched the emotional impact and lasting appeal of Jeff Buckley’s 1994 version. Included on Buckley’s sole studio album *Grace*, the haunting and soulful rendition carries additional poignancy due to the singer’s untimely death by drowning in 1997.
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What a Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong
“What a Wonderful World” offers a sweet and optimistic view of the world and its often-overlooked beauty, making it a cherished choice for funerals. The original 1967 recording by Louis Armstrong is the most popular, though the song has also been covered by a diverse range of artists, including Willie Nelson, Barbra Streisand, and Johnny Ramone.
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Sinéad O’Connor – Nothing Compares 2 U
Though written by Prince and initially recorded by the short-lived group The Family, “Nothing Compares 2 U” is most famously associated with Sinéad O’Connor’s 1990 version. This harrowing lament to lost love has gained even more poignancy since O’Connor’s untimely death in 2023.
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Israel Kamakawiwo’Ole – Somewhere Over the Rainbow
Judy Garland’s original rendition of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” from *The Wizard of Oz* is a classic, but Israel Kamakawiwo’ole’s 1990 cover has recently gained significant popularity. The Hawaiian singer’s tender ukulele version became well-known after being featured in numerous film soundtracks and TV commercials in the 2010s, and has since become a prominent choice for funerals.
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AC/DC – Highway to Hell
Indeed! Not everyone prefers a somber farewell, and some with a dark sense of humor choose to have AC/DC’s hard rock classic “Highway to Hell” played at their funeral. The song is the title track from the Australian band’s 1979 album, which was their last with singer Bon Scott before his death from alcohol poisoning in 1980.
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The Calling – Wherever You Will Go
The debut single and only major hit from rock band The Calling, “Wherever You Will Go,” was a top ten hit worldwide in 2001. As a mournful reflection on lost love, it’s no surprise that the track has become a popular choice for funerals.
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Pink Floyd – Wish You Were Here
The title track from Pink Floyd’s 1975 album, “Wish You Were Here,” is one of the band’s most emotional songs. Written as a tribute to their troubled founding member Syd Barrett, the reflective lyrics and mournful melody make it a fitting choice for a final farewell.
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Sting – Fields of Gold
“Fields of Gold,” a reflective and melancholic ballad from Sting’s 1993 album *Ten Summoner’s Tales*, is a popular choice for funerals. In addition to Sting’s original version, the deeply emotive cover by the late Eva Cassidy is also frequently selected.
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Pearl Jam – Last Kiss
Pearl Jam’s rendition of “Last Kiss,” recorded for a 1999 charity album for Kosovar refugees, became one of their biggest hits due to unexpected radio interest. The mournful love song, originally recorded by its principal composer Wayne Cochran in 1961, is Pearl Jam’s fourth major version of the track.
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Norman Greenbaum – Spirit in the Sky
Unusually upbeat for a song about death, Norman Greenbaum’s 1969 hit “Spirit in the Sky” provides a lively alternative to more solemn funeral songs. Despite its gospel-inspired lyrics that mention having “a friend in Jesus,” Greenbaum himself is Jewish.
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The Police – Every Breath You Take
British post-punk band The Police scored their biggest hit with “Every Breath You Take” in 1983, which remains a popular choice at funerals for those who view it as a classic love song. Despite this, Sting has openly admitted that the song is actually written from the perspective of an obsessive stalker.
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Beyoncé – Halo
Beyoncé’s 2008 song “Halo,” with its themes of a person being granted angelic status, has become a popular choice for funeral music. In addition to the single version, an acoustic rendition that Beyoncé performed in a Singaporean children’s hospital is also widely requested.
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Bette Midler – The Rose
Recorded for her 1979 film of the same name, Bette Midler’s “The Rose” is one of her most beloved songs and won her a Grammy and a Golden Globe. The melancholic love song has been covered several times, including notable versions by Conway Twitty in 1982 and Irish boy band Westlife in 2006.
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The Smiths – Asleep
British indie rock pioneers The Smiths were never known for their upbeat songs, and 1986’s “Asleep” is a particularly somber example. Sung from the perspective of someone seemingly welcoming death, hearing this track at a funeral could be cathartic for some but might be too intense for others.
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Billie Holiday – I’ll Be Seeing You
A popular standard since its inclusion in the 1938 stage musical *Right This Way*, “I’ll Be Seeing You” has been recorded by many icons, including Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra. However, the 1944 rendition by Billie Holiday is the most frequently requested version at funerals, due to its mournful yet hopeful quality.
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Mariah Carey – Hero
Mariah Carey, known for her R&B ballads, has a standout track in her 1993 song “Hero.” This song is a popular choice for funerals as it not only pays tribute to the person who has passed away but also reminds the bereaved of their own inner strength.
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Lynyrd Skynyrd – Free Bird
Lynyrd Skynyrd’s 1973 rock ballad “Free Bird,” with its imagery of a soul flying free, is a widely requested funeral song. The track gains additional poignancy due to the fact that several band members died in a plane crash in 1977.
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Garth Brooks – The Dance
The closing track from Garth Brooks’ 1989 debut album, “The Dance,” is a reflective ballad that remains one of his most beloved songs. Its themes of love and loss make it a fitting choice for a funeral.
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Nat King Cole – Smile
Many of us dread leaving our loved ones in distress and hope to be remembered with fondness. Nat King Cole’s 1954 recording of “Smile,” with its message of staying strong and hopeful despite hardship, may offer comfort to the grieving.
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