Songs About Missing Someone - Music for Longing & Remembrance
The ache of missing someone doesn't follow a schedule. It hits in the grocery store, in the car, at 2am. These songs won't make that go away, but they might make you feel less alone in it.
Why These Songs Hit Different
Someone Else Put Words to Your Feeling
“See You Again” was written after Paul Walker died. “Tears in Heaven” came from Eric Clapton losing his son. “Supermarket Flowers” is about Ed Sheeran's grandmother. These songs resonate because they come from real loss—and when you're in the thick of missing someone, hearing that someone else has been there matters.
Songs for Missing the Deceased:
Songs for Missing the Living:
Different Types of Songs About Missing Someone
These songs help us cope with the permanent absence of someone we love.
These songs capture the pain of physical separation with hope for reunion.
These songs reflect on how relationships and people change over time.
These songs focus on eternal love and the hope of eventual reunion.
Songs Worth Listening To
Some of these will wreck you. Others might feel like a hug. Scroll through and see what speaks to where you are right now—grief doesn't come in one size.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Georgia on My Mind
by Ray Charles
Ray Charles\\
Why it's meaningful: The longing for Georgia represents nostalgia for home and better times, honoring those who cherished their roots.
Best moment: Perfect for Georgia natives or honoring homesick souls.
End of the Road
by Boyz II Men
Boyz II Men\\
Why it's meaningful: The raw emotion in accepting that we\\
Best moment: Emotional choice for 90s music lovers or expressing the finality of loss.
You Raise Me Up
by Josh Groban
An uplifting tribute to someone who was a source of strength.
Why it's meaningful: Celebrates how loved ones lift us up and continue to inspire even after death.
Best moment: Powerful during tributes or as a recessional.
Hurt
by Johnny Cash
Cash\\
Why it's meaningful: The raw emotion and reflection on mortality resonates deeply at end-of-life celebrations.
Best moment: Powerful for services honoring those who lived complex, full lives.
Fix You
by Coldplay
A song about wanting to help heal someone\\
Why it's meaningful: Speaks to the desire to comfort those in grief and the promise of eventual healing.
Best moment: Moving during services for those who were caregivers or healers.
10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)
by Matt Redman
A modern worship song about finding reasons to be grateful even in sorrow.
Why it's meaningful: Encourages thankfulness for a life lived while trusting in divine comfort.
Best moment: Uplifting during Christian services focused on celebration rather than mourning.
The Sound of Silence
by Simon & Garfunkel
A profound meditation on isolation, communication, and the spaces between words.
Why it's meaningful: Captures the profound silence left by someone\\
Best moment: Powerful during quiet reflection or meditation periods.
Lean on Me
by Bill Withers
A gospel-influenced song about mutual support and community in times of need.
Why it's meaningful: Reminds mourners they don\\
Best moment: Uplifting for community-focused or church services.
Blackbird
by The Beatles
A song about awakening, freedom, and taking flight after darkness.
Why it's meaningful: Symbolizes the soul\\
Best moment: Meaningful for those who overcame significant challenges.
If You\\
by Tim McGraw
A soldier\\
Why it's meaningful: Pays tribute to fallen soldiers and the families they leave behind.
Best moment: Deeply moving for military funerals.
Dance With My Father
by Luther Vandross
A tender reflection on memories of dancing with a beloved father.
Why it's meaningful: Celebrates the special bond between fathers and children.
Best moment: Touching tribute for fathers who were loving and present.
The Scientist
by Coldplay
A song about wanting to go back to the beginning and fix what went wrong.
Why it's meaningful: Expresses the regret and longing that often accompanies loss.
Best moment: Resonates with those processing complicated relationships.
Jealous of the Angels
by Donna Taggart
An Irish singer\\
Why it's meaningful: Honestly expresses the envy we feel toward heaven for taking our loved ones.
Best moment: Particularly moving with its Celtic arrangement and heartfelt delivery.
Concrete Angel
by Martina McBride
A powerful song about a child\\
Why it's meaningful: Addresses difficult losses and celebrates the end of suffering.
Best moment: Provides comfort when a child\\
Using These Songs
For personal grief: Put on headphones. Let yourself feel whatever comes up. Some people find it helpful to have a dedicated “crying time” with these songs rather than fighting tears all day.
For funerals: These work well for photo slideshows or as people enter/exit. “See You Again” and “I Will Remember You” are especially common. Just preview any song you're considering—some hit harder than others.
For anniversaries: Many people return to specific songs on death anniversaries or birthdays. Having a ritual can help mark these difficult days.
Common Questions
What's the difference between songs about missing someone who died vs. someone who's away?
Songs about death often carry finality—"Tears in Heaven" asks "Would you know my name if I saw you in heaven?" Songs about distance carry hope of reunion—"A Thousand Miles" is about traveling to see someone. For funerals, the death-focused songs tend to resonate more, though "See You Again" works for both since it was written for a death (Paul Walker) but speaks to reunion.
Is it weird to listen to sad "missing you" songs on repeat?
Not at all. Grief researchers call this "oscillation"—you naturally move between confronting loss and avoiding it. If listening to "Supermarket Flowers" ten times helps you process your mum's death, that's your process. The only concern is if you feel stuck months later; that might be worth talking to someone about.
Can I use a song about missing a romantic partner for missing a family member?
Absolutely. "I Will Always Love You" gets played at parent funerals all the time. The specific romantic context often fades when the emotion fits. Just listen to the lyrics—if anything feels wrong for the relationship, skip it.
What if a song makes me cry every time—should I avoid it?
Depends what you need. Sometimes crying is exactly the release you're looking for. Other times you need to function. Many people have "crying songs" they put on when they need to let it out, and avoid them when they need to hold it together. Both are healthy.