Funeral Songs for a Fisherman
About Funeral Songs for a Fisherman
The best funeral songs for a fisherman are "Bridge Over Troubled Water" by Simon & Garfunkel, "Sailing" by Rod Stewart, "The Water Is Wide," and "Many Rivers to Cross" by Jimmy Cliff. Water has always been a metaphor for life's journey — the currents, the depths, the final voyage. For someone who loved the water, these songs honour both the passion and the passage.
Top Songs for a Fisherman's Funeral
These songs carry the imagery of water, rivers, and the sea — honouring someone who found their peace on the water. Each one uses aquatic metaphors that feel natural at a fisherman's memorial.
“Bridge Over Troubled Water” — Simon & Garfunkel
The most powerful water metaphor in popular music. Being a "bridge" over troubled water means being a source of calm and safety — exactly what the water represented to the person you're honouring.
“Sailing” — Rod Stewart
Captures the freedom and peace of being on open water. For a fisherman or sailor, the act of sailing becomes a metaphor for the final journey — setting out toward something vast and unknown.
“The Water Is Wide” — Traditional
A folk song whose river imagery has comforted mourners for centuries. The wide water represents both the beauty of life and the crossing that death requires.
“Many Rivers to Cross” — Jimmy Cliff
Uses rivers as a metaphor for life's challenges and the determination to keep going. For someone who spent their life crossing and navigating waterways, the song becomes deeply personal.
“Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)” — Hillsong UNITED
A contemporary worship song about trusting faith in the deepest waters. Combines the ocean imagery a fisherman would love with the spiritual comfort a funeral needs.
Songs That Use Water to Honour a Life
Water has been humanity's metaphor for life's journey since the earliest stories. “Rivers of Babylon” uses the riverbank as a place of remembrance and longing. “Cool Water” captures the relief of finding what you've been searching for. “Red River Valley” uses the valley and its river to mark a farewell. These songs speak to the fisherman's understanding that water is both life-giving and relentless — it carries you forward whether you're ready or not.
For Scottish and Celtic connections, “Skye Boat Song” carries the romance of the sea crossing, and “The Dark Island” speaks of departure over dark waters. “Anchors Aweigh” works for fishermen with naval backgrounds — the act of raising anchor is the ultimate metaphor for setting sail one final time. “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole, with its Hawaiian ukulele, evokes island waters and peaceful departures — fitting for someone whose happiest moments were spent near the water.
Top 10 Funeral Songs for a Fisherman
The most-chosen funeral songs for fishermen and water lovers, ranked by how frequently families select them.
Somewhere Over the Rainbow
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.
Bridge Over Troubled Water
Simon and Garfunkel
A promise of support and comfort through life's troubled waters.
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.
Bridge Over Troubled Water
Simon & Garfunkel
A secular hymn of support. Dignified, grand, and speaks to the endurance of care. The 'silver girl' verse is often associated with aging gracefully.
Why it's meaningful: Functions as a non-religious hymn of unconditional support. The gospel-influenced piano builds to a cathartic climax.
Best moment: Reflection. Universally known and respected across all demographics.
Many Rivers to Cross
Jimmy Cliff
A soul-stirring song about perseverance through suffering, blending reggae with gospel intensity.
Why it's meaningful: The imagery of crossing rivers resonates with the journey from life to death. Raw, honest emotion without sentimentality.
Best moment: During the service or reflection. The vocal intensity commands silence.
Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)
Hillsong UNITED
A powerful worship song about trusting God in the unknown, with building dynamics that mirror the journey of faith.
Why it's meaningful: Death is the ultimate 'ocean' where feet may fail. The song's trust in God's faithfulness comforts those facing the unknown of loss.
Best moment: Reflection or communion. The building intensity mirrors the waves of grief.
Many Rivers to Cross
Jimmy Cliff
Jimmy Cliff's gospel-influenced masterpiece about perseverance through suffering.
Why it's meaningful: The imagery of rivers to cross becomes the journey through grief towards healing.
Best moment: During the service. The building emotion is cathartic.
Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)
Hillsong UNITED
A modern worship anthem about trusting God in the deepest, most uncertain waters.
Why it's meaningful: The image of walking on water in faith—even when the waves of grief threaten to overwhelm.
Best moment: During the service. The building arrangement creates powerful worship moment.
Bridge Over Troubled Water
Simon & Garfunkel
A promise of support and comfort through life
Why it's meaningful: Honors someone who was always there during hard times.
Best moment: Touching choice for someone who was a caregiver or protector.
The Water Is Wide
Traditional Scottish
Traditional Scottish folk ballad with haunting melody about love, longing, and the passage of time, often performed a cappella or with minimal accompaniment.
Why it's meaningful: The sparse arrangement and ancient melody create timeless beauty, honoring the depth of love that endures beyond death.
Best moment: Quiet reflection moments or honoring Scottish heritage.
Skye Boat Song
Traditional Scottish
Gentle waltz-time melody evoking the Jacobite journey — a safe passage 'over the sea' to another shore.
Why it's meaningful: The lullaby quality and imagery of a safe sea crossing makes it profoundly comforting, implying passage to the afterlife.
Best moment: Recessional or final farewell, especially for older generations or children.
All Funeral Songs for a Fisherman
Cool Water
Sons of the Pioneers (Bob Nolan)
A parched cowboy in the desert — the 'cool, clear water' as spiritual sustenance and afterlife peace. The cascading harmonies create cathedral-like sound.
Why it's meaningful: Acknowledges the harshness of life and the ultimate relief at journey's end. The harmonies of the Sons of the Pioneers are otherworldly.
Best moment: Prelude as mourners arrive. Sets solemn beauty for graveside or open-air services.
Red River Valley
Traditional / Marty Robbins
'From this valley they say you are going, we will miss your bright eyes and sweet smile.' The gentlest of cowboy farewells.
Why it's meaningful: Simple enough for everyone to sing together. Fosters communal support in close-knit family services.
Best moment: Congregational sing-along or graveside. Popular in family-led services.
Sailing
Rod Stewart
A metaphor for life's journey over sweeping orchestration — Stewart's voice riding the waves between longing and homecoming.
Why it's meaningful: Death as a final voyage home. For those who loved the sea, travel, or simply the idea of the soul's journey to its destination.
Best moment: Processional or exit. The building arrangement creates a sense of departure and arrival.
Rivers of Babylon
The Melodians
A reggae adaptation of Psalm 137, expressing longing for a homeland and spiritual comfort in exile.
Why it's meaningful: The biblical roots give it spiritual weight while the reggae rhythm brings warmth. Longing for 'home' becomes longing for heaven.
Best moment: During the service. Bridges secular and sacred beautifully.
Rivers of Babylon
The Melodians
A reggae interpretation of Psalm 137—longing for a homeland while in exile.
Why it's meaningful: The exile from a beloved place mirrors the exile of death from the world of the living.
Best moment: For someone with Caribbean heritage. The reggae rhythm lifts the psalm.
Anchors Aweigh
U.S. Naval Academy Band
The official song of the United States Navy, celebrating naval service and tradition.
Why it's meaningful: Honors the naval service and maritime heritage of sailors.
Best moment: Traditional for Navy veteran services.
The Dark Island
Traditional Scottish
A haunting air associated with the Hebrides. Less familiar than Amazing Grace but deeply, authentically Scottish.
Why it's meaningful: Evokes the Scottish landscape — mist, mountains, and sea. A sophisticated alternative to Amazing Grace for those wanting authentic heritage.
Best moment: Graveside lament or quiet reflection moment.
The Dark Island
Traditional
A beloved Scottish slow air about longing for home, originally written about the Isle of Lewis.
Why it's meaningful: The theme of longing for a distant, peaceful home resonates as a metaphor for the soul's final journey.
Best moment: During the service or wake. Beautiful on pipes or as a slow instrumental.
By the Rivers
Toots & the Maytals
A joyful reggae spiritual that celebrates faith and community with Toots Hibbert's powerful vocals.
Why it's meaningful: Toots' voice carries the weight of genuine faith. The rhythm lifts spirits while the words offer spiritual comfort.
Best moment: Celebration of life. Brings energy and faith together.
Related Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best funeral song for a fisherman?
"Bridge Over Troubled Water" by Simon & Garfunkel is the most popular funeral song for someone who loved the water. The water metaphor — being a bridge when someone's going through rough seas — resonates deeply at a fisherman's memorial. "Sailing" by Rod Stewart is the second most-requested, capturing the peace and freedom of being on the water. "The Water Is Wide" is a traditional folk song whose river imagery feels timeless and deeply personal for anyone who spent their life near water.
What songs have water or ocean themes for funerals?
Songs with water themes include "Many Rivers to Cross" by Jimmy Cliff, which uses rivers as a metaphor for life's challenges. "Rivers of Babylon" captures exile and longing through river imagery. "Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)" by Hillsong UNITED is a contemporary worship song about faith in deep waters. "Cool Water" is a western standard about longing and relief. "Anchors Aweigh" works for naval veterans who also fished. "Skye Boat Song" carries the romance of the Scottish seas. These songs work because water imagery naturally carries ideas of journey, depth, and passage.
What are good funeral songs for someone who loved sailing?
"Sailing" by Rod Stewart is the most obvious choice — it captures the peace of being on open water. "The Dark Island" is a Scottish song about departure across the sea. "Skye Boat Song" combines the romance of sailing with a journey metaphor. "Bridge Over Troubled Water" works for the idea of safe passage. "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" by Israel Kamakawiwoʻole, with its Hawaiian ukulele, evokes island waters and peaceful departures. For sailors specifically, "Anchors Aweigh" carries both naval tradition and the act of setting sail one final time.
Are there hymns suitable for a fisherman's funeral?
Yes. "Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)" by Hillsong UNITED is a contemporary worship song built entirely around water and faith imagery — walking on water, trusting in the deep. "By the Rivers" draws on Psalm 137 with its riverbank imagery. Many traditional hymns use water metaphors: "Shall We Gather at the River," "Deep River," and "Peace Like a River" all connect faith with water. For a fisherman who was also a person of faith, these hymns honour both their spiritual life and their love of the water.
How do you personalise a fisherman's funeral with music?
Beyond choosing water-themed songs, consider the specific type of water the person loved. A river fisherman might connect more with "The Water Is Wide" or "Red River Valley." A sea fisherman might prefer "Sailing" or "The Dark Island." A lake fisherman might respond to "Bridge Over Troubled Water" or "Cool Water." The key is matching the song's imagery to the specific landscape. Also consider songs the person actually listened to while fishing — these personal choices often carry more emotional weight than thematically perfect picks.