165 Best Funeral and Memorial Songs to Celebrate Life
If youâre trying to find the perfect memorial songs to play at a funeral, this list of 165 songs is the best place to get started.
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Music is a powerful tool. It can evoke a wide range of emotions, and help people process and understand their emotions too.

When it comes to memorial services, the right songs can create a sense of comfort, peace, and even joy as we remember the life of a loved one.

This compilation list offers a variety of genres and tempos to create the perfect setting for a memorial service.

Whether you're looking for traditional hymns, uplifting songs, or reflective pieces, this list has something for everyone and for every kind of setting. We hope it helps you put together the perfect playlist for your memorial service.

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Traditional funeral songs

The opening moments, especially as guests arrive and gather, can be filled with a mix of emotions. Here, we've curated a selection of traditional funeral songs that you can use to create a sense of reverence and peace during this time.

These songs are ideal for background music as people enter the venue and settle in. Some of the hymns on this list are also perfect for communal singing during the service:

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"Amazing Grace" - Traditional

"Abide With Me" - Traditional

"Going Home" - Mark Knopfler

"How Great Thou Art" - Traditional

"Pie Jesu" - Andrew Lloyd Webber

"Nearer My God to Thee" - Traditional

"Danny Boy" - Traditional Irish

"My Old Kentucky Home" - Stephen Foster

"We Shall Overcome" - Various Artists

"Ave Maria" - Franz Schubert

"The Rose" - Bette Midler

"My Heart Will Go On" - CÃ©line Dion

"What a Wonderful World" - Louis Armstrong

"You Raise Me Up" - Josh Groban

"Bridge Over Troubled Water" - Simon & Garfunkel

"Let It Be" - The Beatles

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Uplifting memorial songs

Uplifting memorial songs can celebrate a life well-lived, inspire feelings of hope and comfort, and even encourage a sense of joy in remembering cherished memories.

Here's a selection of songs that can be used during eulogies, tributes, or video montages:

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"Sail Away" - Enya

"I See the Light (from Tangled)" - Mandy Moore

"Somewhere Over the Rainbow" - Israel Kamakawiwo'ole version

"You'll Never Walk Alone" - Gerry and the Pacemakers

"Lean on Me" - Bill Withers

"Sky Full of Stars" - Coldplay

"How Can I Keep From Singing?" - Pete Seeger

"I'll Stand By You" - The Pretenders

"Tightrope" - Michelle Williams

"Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy)" - John Lennon

"Rise Up" - Andra Day

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Celebration of life songs

Here are some fitting celebration of life songs that can be used during slideshows, during a shared meal, or in the background while an activity goes on.

These songs can help create a warm and joyful atmosphere as you honor the life that was lived:

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"What a Wonderful World" - Louis Armstrong

"I Can See Clearly Now" - Johnny Nash

"Beyond the Sea" - Bobby Darin

"Thank You for Being a Friend" - Andrew Gold

"My Way" - Frank Sinatra

"Forever Young" - Rod Stewart

"Here Comes the Sun" - The Beatles

"You've Got a Friend in Me" - Randy Newman

"This Ain't Goodbye" - Train

"Count on Me" - Bruno Mars

"Drops of Jupiter" - Train

"Knockin' on Heaven's Door" - Bob Dylan

"Free Bird" - Lynyrd Skynyrd

"See You Again" - Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth

"Always on My Mind" - Elvis Presley

"Calling All Angels" - Train

"Up Where We Belong" - Joe Cocker, Jennifer Warnes

"Home" - Daughtry

"I'll Remember You" - Elvis Presley

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Memorial songs for Dad

Losing a father can leave a deep void. He's often the one who teaches us strength, independence, and a sense of humor.

These memorial songs for Dad can help you process those emotions and celebrate the unique bond you shared.

Whether it's a song about a father's unwavering support, a tribute to his life and spirit, or a reflection on the lessons learned â this selection can be a powerful tool to remember the special qualities that made your father who he was.

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"Take Me Home, Country Roads" - John Denver

"If I Die Young" - The Band Perry

"Daddy's Hands" - Holly Dunn

"You Can Let Go Now Daddy" - Patricia Maguire

"Tajabone" - IsmaÃ«l LÃ´

"Amandrai" - Ali Farka TourÃ© & Ry Cooder

"Hero" - Mariah Carey

"Father and Daughter" - Paul Simon

"Dance With My Father" - Luther Vandross

"My Father's Eyes" - Eric Clapton

"Thank You for Being My Dad" - Jon Barker

"You Raise Me Up" - Josh Groban

"Song for Dad" - Keith Urban

"Wind Beneath My Wings" - Bette Midler

"The Living Years" - Mike + The Mechanics

"Father" - Demi Lovato

"Have You Ever" - Brandy

"How Do I Live" - LeAnn Rimes

"For the Love of a Daughter" - Demi Lovato

"Hurt" - Christina Aguilera

"Before You Go" - Lewis Capaldi

"Someone You Loved" - Lewis Capaldi

"Daughters" - John Mayer

"Father of Mine" - Everclear

"Start Me Up" - The Rolling Stones

"Song for My Father" - Sarah McLachlan

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Memorial songs for Mom

Moms are the anchors in our lives, offering endless love, compassion, and guidance. They're our biggest cheerleaders and a constant source of comfort. This list of memorial songs for Mom can be a source of solace during this difficult time.

No matter the specific song, this selection can be a beautiful way to remember the unique qualities that made your mom who she was and the special bond you shared.

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"Dancing in the Sky" - Dani and Lizzy

"Jealous of the Angels" - Donna Taggart

"Mom" - Donna Taggart

"Heaven Was Needing a Hero" - Jo Dee Messina

"I'll See You Again" - Westlife

"Save a Place for Me" - Matthew West

"You Should Be Here" - Cole Swindell

"This I Promise You" - Donna Taggart

"Candle in the Wind" - Elton John

"The Scientist" - Coldplay

"The Perfect Fan" - Backstreet Boys

"Mama's Song" - Carrie Underwood

"I'm Already There" - Lonestar

"In the Garden" - Alan Jackson

"Precious Memories" - Alan Jackson

"Because You Loved Me" - CÃ©line Dion

"Sanctuary" - Nashville Cast, Charles Esten

"You'll Never Walk Alone" - Gerry & The Pacemakers

"How Do I Live" - LeAnn Rimes

"Total Eclipse of the Heart" - Bonnie Tyler

"I'll Be Missing You" - Diddy, Faith Evans, 112

"In My Veins" - Andrew Belle

"River of Tears" - Alessia Cara

"Only You" - Selena Gomez

"Too Hard to Say Goodbye" - Westlife

"I Will Reach You" - Westlife

"Not a Day Goes By" - Lonestar

"The Dead Don't Die" - Sturgill Simpson

"Dance with My Mother" - J-Sol, Hussain Manawer

"High" - Lighthouse Family

"Absent Friends" - Mike Denver

"Supermarket Flowers" - Ed Sheeran

"Visiting Hours" - Ed Sheeran

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Songs for reflection and mourning

Songs for reflection and mourning offer a quiet space to acknowledge the pain and loss of a loved one. These songs can be a soundtrack to the complex emotions that arise during this time.

This list provides a range of emotional textures to create a space for quiet reflection and remembrance:

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"Time to Say Goodbye" - Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman

"Carry You Home" - James Blunt

"Tears in Heaven" - Eric Clapton

"Wild Horses (Acoustic)" - The Rolling Stones

"Don't Wish Me Well" - Solange

"Hallelujah" - Leonard Cohen

"Tell Him" - Ms. Lauryn Hill

"To Zion" - Ms. Lauryn Hill, Carlos Santana

"Last Goodbye" - Jeff Buckley

"A Thousand Years" - The Piano Guys

"Possibility" - Lykke Li

"Stop Crying Your Heart Out" - Oasis

"Dancing in the Sky" - Dani and Lizzy

"Jealous of the Angels" - Donna Taggart

"Heaven Was Needing a Hero" - Jo Dee Messina

"I'll See You Again" - Westlife

"Save a Place for Me" - Matthew West

"You Should Be Here" - Cole Swindell

"The Wind Beneath My Wings" - Bette Midler

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Light-hearted songs to play at a funeral

Funeral services traditionally hold a somber tone, but that doesn't mean there's no room for celebrating a life well-lived.

Hereâs a selection of light-hearted songs that can be played at a funeral. This selection allows for a more nuanced remembrance, acknowledging both the loss and the love that endures.

Remember, the key is to choose songs that reflect the personality of the deceased and the overall tone you wish to create for the service.

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"Send Me on My Way" - Rusted Root

"After the Storm" - Mumford & Sons

"The Parting Glass" - The Dubliners

"No Regrets" - Ronnie Drew

"Sea of Love" - Cat Power

"The Last Rose of Summer" - Nina Simone

"Blackout" - Freya Ridings

"The Other Side" - David Gray

"Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien" - Ãdith Piaf

"The Cello Song" - The Piano Guys

"Grief Came Riding" - Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

"Don't Look Back in Anger" - Oasis

"Who Wants to Live Forever" - Queen

"Shine - Edit" - David Gray

"Watching You Without Me" - Kate Bush

"Variations on a Theme by Erik Satie" - Blood, Sweat & Tears

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Instrumental and classical memorial music options

While vocals can add a powerful layer of emotion, instrumental and classical pieces offer a timeless beauty for memorial services. These selections can be particularly fitting for processional music, as people enter the venue, or as background music to create a certain ambiance.

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"Barber: Adagio for Strings" - Samuel Barber, Sir Simon Rattle

"Symphony No. 5: IV. Adagietto" - Gustav Mahler, Berliner Philharmoniker

"Nimrod" - Edward Elgar, The Coldstream Guards Band

"Irish Tune from County Derry" - Percy Grainger, Dallas Wind Symphony

"Cantus in Memory of Benjamin Britten" - Arvo PÃ¤rt, Staatsorchester Stuttgart

"The Lark Ascending" - Ralph Vaughan Williams, London Philharmonic Orchestra

"Pachelbel Canon in D" - Pachelbel String Quartet

"Air on a G String" - Johann Sebastian Bach

"Adagio in G Minor" - Tomaso Albinoni, Chamber Orchestra of Europe

"Ave Maria, D. 839" - Franz Schubert, RenÃ©e Fleming

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Modern tributes for a celebration of lifeÂ

As memorial services evolve, so too does the music selection. Modern tributes for a celebration of life can be a great way to honor a loved one in a way that feels fresh and personal. These contemporary songs often speak to themes of hope, resilience, and the enduring power of love.

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"Heaven" - Avicii

"Bloom (Online Bonus Track)" - The Paper Kites

"Carry Me (Like a Fire in Your Heart)" - Chris de Burgh

"Take Me Home" - Us The Duo

"Higher Love" - James Vincent McMorrow

"Follow the Sun" - Xavier Rudd

"Sanctuary" - Nashville Cast, Charles Esten

"You'll Never Walk Alone" - Gerry & The Pacemakers

"How Do I Live" - LeAnn Rimes

"Total Eclipse of the Heart" - Bonnie Tyler

"I'll Be Missing You" - Diddy, Faith Evans, 112

"In My Veins" - Andrew Belle

"River of Tears" - Alessia Cara

"Only You" - Selena Gomez

"Ghost of You" - Selena Gomez

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Choosing memorial service music can be a very personal and emotional process. We hope this compilation list provides a starting point for finding the perfect songs to honor your loved one's memory.

Remember, music is just one element in creating a meaningful memorial service. It's also a time to share memories, offer condolences, and celebrate the life that was lived.

Take your time in planning the service, and don't hesitate to ask family and friends for input on the music selection or other aspects of the day.

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Next steps

You can help set the mood for your service by picking the right memorial service songs that complement the life and legacy of your loved one.

We hope this list helps you make the perfect playlist for your occasion. Next comes the work of planning and organizing it.

If youâre still planning out your memorial event in the Los Angeles area, consider using Meadow.

At Meadow, we understand the weight of this moment. We offer a more compassionate and meaningful way to celebrate a life well-lived with customized memorial planning services.

Our team of caring memorial planners will partner with you during this tender time to create an occasion as remarkable as the life it honors.

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With our licensed team, you can expect:

A weight off your shoulders: Our memorial planners will take care of every detail, and theyâll be in the background at your memorial, making sure everything runs smoothly.

The perfect location: Our planners help you find the perfect location, whether thatâs an idyllic beachfront, your loved oneâs favorite restaurant, or the comfort of your own home.

Transparent pricing: Starting from $1,295 for a basic cremation, our memorial prices are transparent and easy to understand.

The personal touch: Our memorial planners will make sure your loved oneâs presence is felt throughout the occasion.

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