Funeral Recessional Songs:
Uplifting Exit Music for Closure
Funeral recessional songs provide gentle closure as mourners depart, offering hope and comfort during the transition from formal service to what comes next. From Louis Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World" to timeless hymns like "Amazing Grace," recessional music balances reverence with optimism, honoring loss while celebrating life.
The Role of Recessional Music
The recessional is a crucial moment in funeral services - it signals the formal service's end and provides emotional transition as families and mourners depart. Unlike the solemn processional, recessional music offers gentle uplift, hope, and closure.
Good recessional songs strike a delicate balance: they acknowledge the sadness of loss while offering comfort and hope for the future. Whether through the gentle optimism of "What a Wonderful World," the spiritual promise of "Amazing Grace," or the peaceful beauty of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," recessional music helps mourners transition from the intensity of grief toward remembrance, gratitude, and hope.
Uplifting Recessional Songs
These songs offer hope, peace, and gentle closure. They provide appropriate dignity while lifting spirits and offering comfort as mourners depart the service.
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.
You Raise Me Up
by Josh Groban
An uplifting anthem about finding strength through support and faith.
Why it's meaningful: Celebrates how loved ones lift us up and continue to inspire even after death.
Best moment: Powerful during eulogies or as a tribute to someone who was a source of strength.
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's joyful march to heaven.
Best moment: Recessional or second line celebration, especially for New Orleans funerals.
What a Wonderful World
by Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong's optimistic celebration of life's beauty, with his gravelly voice finding wonder in simple things.
Why it's meaningful: Honors those who found joy in life's simple beauties, celebrating a life lived with appreciation and gratitude.
Best moment: Uplifting choice for celebration of life services or optimistic souls.
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.
See You Again
by Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth
A modern anthem about the pain of separation and hope for eventual reunion.
Why it's meaningful: Speaks to the universal experience of missing someone while celebrating the bond that death cannot break.
Best moment: Powerful during video tributes or as a closing song.
Bridge Over Troubled Water
by Simon & Garfunkel
An anthem of support and comfort during life's most difficult moments.
Why it's meaningful: Celebrates those who served as bridges for others during troubled times.
Best moment: Powerful tribute for caregivers and supportive loved ones.
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's storms.
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's memorial service.
Best moment: Celebratory recessional or closing hymn.
I'll Fly Away
by Albert Brumley
This song uses the metaphor of a bird freed from prison to describe the soul's release from earthly struggles.
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.
See You Again
by Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth
A modern anthem about loss and reunion, combining rap verses with soaring chorus about seeing loved ones again after a long journey.
Why it's meaningful: Resonates strongly with younger generations while offering hope of eventual reunion. The blend of grief and celebration works for contemporary services.
Best moment: Perfect for younger sons or modern celebration of life services.
Fix You
by Coldplay
"When you try your best but you don't succeed" - Coldplay's anthem for those struggling through grief, promising that lights will guide you home.
Why it's meaningful: Acknowledges that some things cannot be fixed, while offering comfort that we are not alone in our brokenness. The building intensity mirrors grief's waves.
Best moment: Powerful during reflection or photo tributes, honoring both pain and hope.
One Sweet Day
by Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men
A powerful duet about missing someone and looking forward to reunion - "Sorry I never told you all I wanted to say."
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's death, imagining what it will be like to stand before God in heaven.
Why it's meaningful: For families of faith, this song processes grief through the lens of eventual reunion in God's presence, transforming loss into hopeful anticipation.
Best moment: Powerful for Christian services, building from quiet contemplation to triumphant hope.
Free Bird
by Lynyrd Skynyrd
Southern rock anthem about freedom and living without constraints, featuring one of rock's most iconic guitar solos.
Why it's meaningful: For free spirits who refused to be caged, this song celebrates independence and the soul's need to soar.
Best moment: Perfect for brothers or men who lived boldly and valued freedom.
You Raise Me Up
by Josh Groban
Josh Groban's soaring ballad about being lifted by someone's strength and support.
Why it's meaningful: Honors those who lifted us to be more than we could be alone, celebrating their empowering influence on our lives.
Best moment: Beautiful for honoring sisters, mothers, or anyone who raised us up.
A Change Is Gonna Come
by Sam Cooke
Sam Cooke's civil rights anthem about perseverance through hardship, with sweeping orchestration and hopeful message.
Why it's meaningful: Written shortly before Cooke's death, this honors those who fought for justice and believed in better days ahead.
Best moment: Powerful for activists, civil rights advocates, or those who persevered through injustice.
Choosing the Right Tone
Traditional Services
- • Reverent yet hopeful
- • Classic hymns or timeless melodies
- • "Amazing Grace," "Going Home"
- • Maintain dignity and formality
- • Gentle, peaceful closure
Best for: Church services, formal funerals, elderly
Celebration of Life
- • More uplifting and optimistic
- • Celebrate joy and life lived
- • "What a Wonderful World," "Here Comes the Sun"
- • Warmer, brighter tone
- • Hope and gratitude emphasized
Best for: Non-traditional services, celebration events, younger deceased
Timing Your Recessional Music
Coordination
- • Start music as family begins to exit
- • Continue until all attendees have departed
- • Funeral director will cue the music start
- • Allow for natural fade at end
- • Have backup song ready if procession is long
- • Test sound system beforehand
Song Length
- • Ideal length: 3-5 minutes
- • Account for venue size and number of attendees
- • Smaller venues: 2-3 minutes sufficient
- • Large churches/venues: 4-5 minutes or two songs
- • Music can fade mid-song if needed
- • Better slightly too long than awkward silence
Common Questions
What are the best funeral recessional songs?
The best funeral recessional songs include "What a Wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong, "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" by Israel Kamakawiwoʻole, "Amazing Grace," "Here Comes the Sun" by The Beatles, "Going Home," and "I Can Only Imagine." Recessional music should offer hope, closure, and gentle uplift as mourners depart.
Should recessional music be different from processional music?
Yes, recessional music is typically more uplifting and hopeful than processional music. While processionals set a solemn, reverent tone for entering, recessionals provide closure and send mourners forward with comfort and hope. Think "Canon in D" (processional) vs "What a Wonderful World" (recessional). The recessional should feel like a gentle transition from grief toward remembrance.
How long should a funeral recessional song be?
Funeral recessional songs typically last 2-4 minutes, enough time for the family and attendees to exit the service. Choose songs between 3-5 minutes that can be faded appropriately. The music should continue until everyone has left or transitioned to the next part of the service. Have a second song ready if the procession is longer than expected.
Can you use upbeat songs for funeral recessionals?
Yes, gently upbeat or optimistic songs work beautifully for recessionals, especially for celebration of life services. Songs like "What a Wonderful World," "Here Comes the Sun," or "Lean on Me" provide hopeful energy without being inappropriately cheerful. The key is maintaining dignity while offering comfort and hope. Avoid songs that are too energetic or party-like unless specifically requested.
What is the purpose of recessional music at funerals?
Recessional music provides closure, comforts mourners as they depart, and offers a bridge from the service to what comes next. It should help people transition from the intense emotions of the service toward remembrance and hope. Good recessionals leave attendees with a sense of peace, celebrating the deceased's life while acknowledging loss. The music signals the formal service has ended.
Should I choose religious or secular music for the recessional?
This depends on the service type and deceased's preferences. Religious services often use hymns like "Amazing Grace" or "How Great Thou Art" for recessionals. Secular services might choose "What a Wonderful World" or "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." Many families blend both - hymns for church services, secular classics for celebration of life events. Choose what honored the deceased and comforts attendees.
Can I use the same song for processional and recessional?
While possible, it's generally better to use different songs to mark the service's journey from entry to closure. However, some families choose a meaningful song like "Amazing Grace" for both moments, representing the full circle of the service. If using the same song, consider different arrangements - solemn version for processional, uplifting arrangement for recessional.
What if the family wants a joyful recessional for a celebration of life?
Celebration of life services can feature more joyful recessionals like the deceased's favorite upbeat song, "Don't Stop Believin'," "I Will Survive," or personalized choices. Communicate this to attendees so they understand the tone. Balance joy with respect - the music should celebrate life without seeming irreverent. Many families save highly personal, upbeat songs for post-service gatherings rather than the formal recessional.
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Sarah Mitchell
Funeral Music CuratorFormer church music director with 15 years of experience helping families choose meaningful funeral music. Created YourFuneralSongs after losing her mother in 2019.