Best Funeral Songs 2025 - Top Memorial Music & Funeral Playlist
Choosing music for a funeral is one of those tasks that sounds simple until you're actually doing it. We've compiled data from funeral directors, grief counselors, and families who've been through this to help you find songs that genuinely fit—not just what's popular, but what actually works.
Why Some Songs Work and Others Don't
What We've Learned From Thousands of Services
A funeral director once told us: “The song doesn't have to be perfect. It has to be true.” The music that works isn't always the most beautiful or the most sad—it's the song that makes people think, “Yes, that was them.” A Rolling Stones fan deserves something different than someone who hummed hymns while gardening.
Safe Choices:
For Different Moods:
Unexpected Hits:
What Families Are Actually Choosing in 2025
The Big Shift: Bocelli Overtakes Sinatra
For over a decade, “My Way” held the top spot. In 2024, Co-op Funeralcare's annual survey (90,000+ services) showed “Time to Say Goodbye” finally taking the lead. The shift reflects changing generations—and maybe a desire for something less defiant, more tender.
Overtook “My Way” in 2024, remains the most requested song in 2025
Held #1 for over a decade, still a perennial favorite for celebrating independence
Viral TikTok hit written in remembrance, especially popular with Gen Z and Millennials
Gen Z’s Top Pick
Younger generations favor this peaceful, hopeful version
Finding the Right Fit
These are the songs people grew up hearing at funerals. There's power in that familiarity—mourners know what's coming and can lean into it.
Pop and rock songs at funerals used to raise eyebrows. Now they're standard. If your dad loved Eric Clapton, “Tears in Heaven” says more than any hymn could.
As people arrive:
Something gentle. Amazing Grace, Ave Maria, or instrumental music lets people settle.
After the eulogy:
The emotional peak. Hallelujah, Time to Say Goodbye—songs that release the grief.
As people leave:
Something with forward motion. Here Comes the Sun, What a Wonderful World.
Parents:
Wind Beneath My Wings, The Dance, You Raise Me Up
Spouses:
Unchained Melody, At Last, All of Me, their wedding song
Grandparents:
Precious Lord, How Great Thou Art, songs from their era
The Full List: 30 Songs That Work
These aren't just popular—they're proven. Each has been used at thousands of services and consistently delivers what families need: a moment of genuine connection. Browse, listen to samples, and trust your gut. You'll know when something fits.
Amazing Grace
by Traditional
A timeless hymn of redemption and hope that has comforted mourners for centuries.
Why it's meaningful: This beloved hymn speaks of salvation and the journey from loss to grace, offering profound comfort to those grieving.
Best moment: Often played during the processional or as a closing hymn.
Taps
by Traditional Military
The iconic bugle call played at military funerals, symbolizing final rest and peace.
Why it's meaningful: A deeply reverent tribute that honors military service and sacrifice.
Best moment: Traditionally played during the flag folding ceremony or final farewell.
Precious Lord, Take My Hand
by Mahalia Jackson
Written by Thomas Dorsey after losing his wife and infant son, this deeply personal hymn has become the quintessential gospel funeral song.
Why it's meaningful: Its heartfelt plea for divine guidance through life\\
Best moment: Perfect for processional or during reflection moments.
When the Saints Go Marching In
by Louis Armstrong
The quintessential New Orleans jazz funeral song, starting somber then exploding into joyful celebration during the second line.
Why it's meaningful: Embodies New Orleans jazz funeral tradition - mourning the loss while celebrating the soul\\
Best moment: Recessional or second line celebration, especially for New Orleans funerals.
Stairway to Heaven
by Led Zeppelin
Epic rock ballad building from gentle acoustic opening to soaring electric climax, considered one of the greatest rock songs ever.
Why it's meaningful: The journey from quiet to powerful mirrors life\\
Best moment: Powerful choice for brothers or classic rock lovers, especially the acoustic opening.
In My Life
by The Beatles
The Beatles\\
Why it's meaningful: Perfectly balances honoring the past while acknowledging loss -
Best moment: Universal choice for honoring anyone, celebrating their place in your life\\
Hallelujah
by Leonard Cohen
A haunting meditation on love, loss, and the complexity of human emotion.
Why it's meaningful: Cohen's masterpiece captures the bittersweet nature of life and love, resonating deeply at farewell moments.
Best moment: Perfect for reflection during the service or viewing.
Time to Say Goodbye
by Andrea Bocelli & Sarah Brightman
A powerful duet about parting that combines classical grandeur with emotional depth.
Why it's meaningful: The soaring vocals and orchestral arrangement create a moment of beautiful farewell.
Best moment: Often chosen for the final farewell or committal.
How Great Thou Art
by Traditional Hymn
A majestic hymn praising God
Why it's meaningful: Offers hope of reunion in heaven and celebrates faith
Best moment: Powerful as a congregational hymn or solo performance.
Somewhere Over the Rainbow
by Israel Kamakawiwoʻole
A gentle ukulele version that transforms the classic into a peaceful farewell.
Why it's meaningful: The Hawaiian rendition brings a sense of peace and the promise of a better place.
Best moment: Creates a serene atmosphere during reflection or exit.
God Bless the U.S.A.
by Lee Greenwood
A patriotic anthem expressing love for America and gratitude for those who serve.
Why it's meaningful: Celebrates the values and freedoms that veterans fought to protect.
Best moment: Inspiring as a processional or during military honors.
Unchained Melody
by The Righteous Brothers
A timeless ballad about enduring love and longing that spans generations.
Why it's meaningful: Speaks to the eternal nature of true love, even beyond death.
Best moment: Beautiful for services celebrating long marriages.
Requiem
by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Mozart\\
Why it's meaningful: Combines the majesty of classical music with the solemnity of the Catholic mass for the dead.
Best moment: Appropriate for formal Catholic services or classical music lovers.
Adagio for Strings
by Samuel Barber
One of the most emotionally powerful pieces in classical music.
Why it's meaningful: Expresses grief with such depth that it has become synonymous with mourning and remembrance.
Best moment: Creates a profound atmosphere during the most solemn moments of the service.
Bridge Over Troubled Water
by Simon and Garfunkel
A promise of support and comfort through life\\
Why it's meaningful: Celebrates those who were sources of strength and refuge for others.
Best moment: Perfect for honoring someone who was always there for others.
The Prayer
by Celine Dion & Andrea Bocelli
A beautiful duet prayer for guidance and protection in multiple languages.
Why it's meaningful: Combines English and Italian to create a universal prayer for peace and guidance.
Best moment: Creates a transcendent moment during the service.
Going Up Yonder
by Walter Hawkins
This uplifting anthem celebrates the promise of heaven and eternal life, transforming grief into hope.
Why it's meaningful: A staple in Black Protestant funeral traditions, it focuses on the glorious reunion awaiting believers in heaven during homegoing services.
Best moment: Powerful as a recessional or celebration of life moment.
Soon and Very Soon
by Andraé Crouch
This triumphant song anticipates the joy of seeing Jesus and being reunited with loved ones in heaven.
Why it's meaningful: Based on Revelation 21:3-4, it speaks of no more crying or dying. Performed at Michael Jackson\\
Best moment: Celebratory recessional or closing hymn.
I\\
by Albert Brumley
This song uses the metaphor of a bird freed from prison to describe the soul\\
Why it's meaningful: The most recorded gospel song of all time with over 1,000 versions, celebrating joyous liberation death brings to believers.
Best moment: Perfect for New Orleans jazz funerals and celebration of life services.
It Is Well With My Soul
by Horatio Spafford
Written as Spafford\\
Why it's meaningful: Despite devastating loss, Spafford declared
Best moment: Powerful testimony of faith during the darkest moments.
One Sweet Day
by Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men
A powerful duet about missing someone and looking forward to reunion -
Why it's meaningful: The soaring harmonies and emotional vocals create a cathartic release while offering hope of eventual reunion and expressing unspoken love.
Best moment: Emotional peak moment during service, allows congregants to fully feel their grief.
I Can Only Imagine
by MercyMe
Written by lead singer Bart Millard about his father\\
Why it's meaningful: For families of faith, this song processes grief through the lens of eventual reunion in God\\
Best moment: Powerful for Christian services, building from quiet contemplation to triumphant hope.
A Song for You
by Donny Hathaway
Donny Hathaway\\
Why it's meaningful: One of the most personal and vulnerable R&B songs ever recorded, celebrating profound love that transcends time.
Best moment: Perfect for honoring deep love and connection with spouse or parent.
It\\
by Boyz II Men
Boyz II Men\\
Why it's meaningful: The harmony-driven vocals capture the collective grief of saying goodbye, making it perfect for young people or tight-knit groups.
Best moment: Powerful for younger generations or honoring friendships and brotherhood.
Free Bird
by Lynyrd Skynyrd
Southern rock anthem about freedom and living without constraints, featuring one of rock\\
Why it's meaningful: For free spirits who refused to be caged, this song celebrates independence and the soul\\
Best moment: Perfect for brothers or men who lived boldly and valued freedom.
Knockin\\
by Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan\\
Why it's meaningful: The tired resignation in the lyrics honors those ready to rest after life\\
Best moment: For honoring lives of struggle or those ready to lay down burdens.
Stand by Me
by Ben E. King
Ben E. King\\
Why it's meaningful: The promise to stand by someone no matter what honors relationships built on unwavering loyalty and support.
Best moment: Perfect for honoring sisters, brothers, or anyone who stood by you.
Fire and Rain
by James Taylor
James Taylor\\
Why it's meaningful: Written about the death of a friend, this song captures the specific shock and ongoing pain of unexpected loss.
Best moment: Powerful for sudden losses or honoring those who struggled with mental health.
Landslide
by Fleetwood Mac
Stevie Nicks\\
Why it's meaningful: The honest confrontation with time\\
Best moment: Powerful for honoring women\\
While My Guitar Gently Weeps
by The Beatles
George Harrison\\
Why it's meaningful: The guitar literally weeps through Clapton\\
Best moment: Powerful for honoring guitar players or classic rock lovers.
A Note on Rankings
We weighted our list using data from Co-op Funeralcare's annual surveys, conversations with funeral directors across the UK and US, and patterns from grief support communities. But here's the truth: rankings matter less than resonance.
“Amazing Grace” isn't #1 because it's objectively the best song ever written. It's there because generation after generation has found comfort in those words. Your mum's favorite Motown track might serve her memory better than anything on this list.
Use this as a starting point, especially if you're drawing a blank. But the right song is ultimately the one that makes you think: “Yes. That's them.”
Common Questions
What are the most requested funeral songs right now?
According to Co-op Funeralcare's 2024 survey of 90,000+ UK funerals, "Time to Say Goodbye" by Andrea Bocelli now holds the top spot, overtaking Frank Sinatra's "My Way" which dominated for over a decade. Other consistently requested choices include "Amazing Grace," "Hallelujah," and "Wind Beneath My Wings." Interestingly, "Dancing in the Sky" by Dani and Lizzy has surged in popularity with younger families after going viral on TikTok.
How do I choose songs when I'm overwhelmed with grief?
Start with what you know they loved. Check their Spotify or old CDs. Ask family members what songs remind them of your loved one. Many people find that a mix works well: something meaningful to the person who died, something comforting for mourners, and something hopeful for the ending. Your funeral director has likely helped hundreds of families with this decision and can offer guidance without pressure.
Is it okay to play non-religious songs at a church funeral?
This depends entirely on the church and officiant. Many clergy welcome meaningful secular music, especially during photo tributes or as people enter and exit. Some churches have restrictions during the formal liturgy. The best approach is simply to ask. Most officiants want to honor your wishes while respecting their traditions, and a brief conversation usually finds a good middle ground.
What if the song I want makes everyone cry?
Tears at a funeral aren't a failure—they're often a release that people need. That said, balance matters. Grief counselors often suggest bookending an emotional song with something more grounding. "Tears in Heaven" might be followed by something hopeful. The goal isn't to avoid emotion but to guide people through it.
How long should funeral songs be?
Most services use 3-5 songs, typically 3-4 minutes each. Longer songs can be faded or edited. The processional while people enter might run 4-5 minutes, reflection pieces during or after readings work well at 3-4 minutes, and recessional songs often play until the family has exited. Your funeral director can help time everything.