Funeral music is very personal and can often be what people remember most of the service. It can create moments of comfort, levity and healing. The music can convey feelings that words cannot. “Music is food for the soul” Even a simple tune can have a profound effect on the mood of a funeral. Some people can struggle with finding a significant and meaningful song to represent their loved one. There are so many different types of songs to choose from for the funeral and modern funerals have a broader range of music again. Personal song choices are a great way to feel connected to the deceased.
So before choosing a song it is important to read the lyrics. Some songs can have inappropriate language for the occasion or may not represent your loved one in the way you had hoped. Lyrics can be the most meaningful part of the song and we want to honor our loved ones. Use their favorite song or a song that had meaning to their life and family, people often have songs that are linked with special memories. To know what songs to pick you can look at the music collection of the deceased to see what they enjoyed, talk with family and friends to see if they have ideas to contribute. Once you have some ideas together create a possible playlist of the songs and review each song choice.
Make your choices based on the person you knew and loved. If a loved one was religious or spiritual choosing to include a requiem mass, hymns, prayers, healing sounds without music and poems in the funeral service can provide mourners with an opportunity to draw strength from their faith and find comfort in communal singing. Popular hymns include The Lord is My Shepard, How Great Thou Art and Here I am Lord to name a few.
Including Live music in a service or mass helps your loved ones celebrate the life of the departed perfectly and helps family and friends in reflection of the person’s life through music and song.
Most funeral services have at least two places for music, one for entering and one for the exit. These songs can set the tone for the ceremony. Think about how you want to make people feel. You can set two different tones with the music used at the start and end of a service and mourners can appreciate the contrast. Other music opportunities are with a slide show of photos or just a moment of reflection. Even funny songs can be used during the gathering if that’s what the deceased would have wanted to remember them by. Remember, a funeral is a celebration of life so the music you choose should reflect your loved one.
If you are struggling for ideas, we have some popular songs listed below to consider.
All I Have to Do is Dream – The Everly Brothers
Song – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbU3zdAgiX8
Lyrics – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lX0ws6y7p5g
Angel – Sarah McLachlan
Song – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1GmxMTwUgs
Lyrics – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozKsQnRHb-c
Angels – Robbie Williams
Song – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luwAMFcc2f8
Lyrics – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhZU9uX_iTY
Ave Maria – Sarah Brightman
Song – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7G6063cXeWc
Lyrics – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkEXTbjVgJ0
Because You Loved Me – Celine Dion
Song – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3XGynvy_V4
Lyrics – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_9QtL-L16o
Bye Bye Blackbird – Gene Austin
Song – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rX_75D0lC2o
Lyrics – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idnxXolHE9Q
Circle of Life – Elton John
Song – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwH9YvhPN7c
Lyrics – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt4G4NVgp_4
Forever Young – Alphaville
Song – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1TcDHrkQYg
Lyrics – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHIIATt0BaM
Gloomy Sunday – Billie Holliday
Song – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQ2AuLaClmk
Lyrics – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBIqLqUenz0
Goodbye My Lover – James Blunt
Song – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVyggTKDcOE
Lyrics – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jAyZ4njHsc
Hallelujah – Leonard Cohen
Song – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrLk4vdY28Q
Lyrics – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRsnjNt_Rhw
I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing – Aerosmith
Song – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-doQhcwDS8
Lyrics – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJIseEm1Pz0
I Will Always Love You – Whitney Houston
Song – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JWTaaS7LdU
Lyrics – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbCmXmaZgdM
Lullaby (Goodnight My Angel) – Billy Joel
Song – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcnd55tLCv8
Lyrics – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4PojbhoMrw
Memories – Barbra Streisand
Song – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWoQW-b6Ph8
Lyrics – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLaScTPAb54
My Heart Will Go On – Celine Dion
Song – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3QAqZQYLIQ
Lyrics – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qz9RTOKpLsM
My Way – Frank Sinatra
Song – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SXWX6qg0y4
Lyrics – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUUOKqKsfeM
Over the Rainbow – Judy Garland
Song – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSZxmZmBfnU
Lyrics – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtuZkayfDlw
Pennies from Heaven – Bing Crosby
Song – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xa-YV_ZjEzY
Lyrics – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULtQJCMWH04
Perfect – Ed Sheeran
Song – Ed Sheeran – Perfect (Official Music Video) – Bing video
Lyrics – Ed Sheeran – Perfect (Lyrics) – Bing video
Photograph – Ed Sheeran
Song – Ed Sheeran – Photograph (Official Music Video) – Bing video
Lyrics – Ed Sheeran – Photograph (Lyrics) – Bing video
Somewhere Over the Rainbow – Israel Kamakawiwo’ole
Song – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1bFr2SWP1I
Lyrics – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BeKhlUzPUc
Spirit In the Sky – Norman Greenbaum
Song – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2msh0jut2Y
Lyrics – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvpAVL1HMxM
Stay with Me – Sam Smith
Song – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pB-5XG-DbAA
Lyrics – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQdQwCvVSFo
Tears in Heaven – Eric Clapton
Song – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxPj3GAYYZ0
Lyrics – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqtyQuXo9zM
The Prayer – Andrea Bocelli & Celine Dion
Song – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8DGuvab_Lc
Lyrics – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovpjQPWn2rQ
Time to say Goodbye – Andrea Bocelli & Sarah Brightman
Song – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4L_yCwFD6Jo
Lyrics – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crQeiIl1E8c
Travellers Prayer – Slim Dusty
Song – Travellers Prayer — Slim Dusty – Bing video
Lyrics – SLIM DUSTY – TRAVELLER’S PRAYER LYRICS (songlyrics.com)
Unforgettable – Nat “King” Cole
Song – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFyuOEovTOE
Lyrics – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUMoiU3h750
We’ll Meet Again – Vera Lynn
Song – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsM_VmN6ytk
Lyrics – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbf9ZYi8eac
What a Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong
Song – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqhCQZaH4Vs
Lyrics – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3yCcXgbKrE
When You’re Smiling – Louis Armstrong
Song – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfsmmk93H3I
Lyrics – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EI2-x3eZdc
Wind Beneath My Wings– Bette Midler
Song – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0iAzMRKFX3c
Lyrics – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jorJh8DTMVM
You’ll be in My Heart – Phil Collins
Song – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0ZHlp6atUQ
Lyrics – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=git6DCXSqjE
You Raise Me Up – Josh Groban
Song – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJxrX42WcjQ
Lyrics – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oni0tO_HN30
Song – Ed Sheeran – Perfect (Official Music Video) – Bing video