50 Best Memorial Songs for a Funeral or Memorial Service

Classic Hymns and Traditional Songs

The songs most requested for a traditional church funeral or a religious memorial service.

• "Amazing Grace" — Traditional Hymn. The most universally recognized funeral hymn, often played on bagpipes or piano.
• "How Great Thou Art" — Traditional Hymn. A staple at Christian funerals, known for its soaring final verse.
• "It Is Well with My Soul" — Traditional Hymn. Written after profound personal loss, it's chosen for its message of peace.
• "Ave Maria" — Franz Schubert. A classical, often instrumental, choice for Catholic services.
• "Abide with Me" — Traditional Hymn. Common at British and military funerals.
• "Be Thou My Vision" — Traditional Hymn. An older Irish hymn chosen for its quiet, steady tone.
• "In the Garden" — Traditional Hymn. A gentler, more intimate hymn than most on this list.
• "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" — Traditional Hymn. Frequently paired with a eulogy or reading.

Modern and Pop Songs

Contemporary songs that have become memorial standards over the last few decades.

• "Hallelujah" — Leonard Cohen (or the Jeff Buckley version). Not written as a funeral song, but its reflective tone has made it one of the most requested.
• "Tears in Heaven" — Eric Clapton. Written after the loss of Clapton's son; one of the most direct songs about grief on this list.
• "You Raise Me Up" — Josh Groban. A common choice for honoring someone who supported others.
• "Wind Beneath My Wings" — Bette Midler. Often used to honor a mentor, parent, or quiet supporter.
• "My Heart Will Go On" — Celine Dion. A well-known choice for a spouse or partner.
• "Fix You" — Coldplay. A newer addition to memorial playlists, especially for younger services.
• "See You Again" — Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth. Frequently requested for memorializing a friend.
• "Angel" — Sarah McLachlan. A quieter, instrumental-leaning choice.
• "I Will Remember You" — Sarah McLachlan. Common for slideshows and video tributes.
• "Go Rest High on That Mountain" — Vince Gill. Written after the deaths of Gill's brother and Keith Whitley; one of the most requested country memorial songs.

Upbeat and Celebratory Songs

For families who want the service to feel more like a celebration of life than a traditional funeral.

• "Here Comes the Sun" — The Beatles. A gentle, hopeful choice that avoids feeling heavy.
• "What a Wonderful World" — Louis Armstrong. One of the most common non-religious closing songs.
• "Three Little Birds" — Bob Marley. Laid-back and comforting rather than somber.
• "Celebration" — Kool & The Gang. Chosen specifically to set a party-like tone for a celebration of life.
• "I Lived" — OneRepublic. Popular for honoring someone who lived fully or fought hard.
• "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)" — Green Day. Reflective without being mournful.
• "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" — Israel Kamakawiwoʻole. The ukulele version brings a lighter tone than the original.
• "Lean on Me" — Bill Withers. Often used to open a service rather than close it.

Non-Religious Songs

For a secular service, or families who want to avoid explicitly religious language.

• "My Way" — Frank Sinatra. A classic choice for honoring someone who lived life on their own terms.
• "Forever Young" — Rod Stewart. Common for a service honoring someone who passed young.
• "In My Life" — The Beatles. A reflective song about the people who shaped a life.
• "Photograph" — Ed Sheeran. A newer, widely used choice for slideshow tributes.
• "Simple Man" — Lynyrd Skynyrd. Frequently chosen to honor a father or grandfather.
• "The Way We Were" — Barbra Streisand. A common choice built around memory rather than loss.

Songs for a Parent

Songs specifically chosen to honor a mother or father.

• "Dance with My Father" — Luther Vandross. One of the most requested songs for honoring a father.
• "Butterfly Kisses" — Bob Carlisle. Often chosen by a daughter honoring her father.
• "A Song for Mama" — Boyz II Men. A common pick for honoring a mother.
• "My Wish" — Rascal Flatts. Frequently used for a parent, framed as a message they'd leave behind.
• "The Living Years" — Mike + The Mechanics. About the things left unsaid between a parent and child.
• "Godspeed (Sweet Dreams)" — The Chicks. Written as a parent's message to a child, but also chosen in reverse to honor a parent.
• "Humble and Kind" — Tim McGraw. A newer choice, often paired with a reading of the lyrics.

Songs for a Sibling

Songs chosen specifically to honor a brother or sister.

• "Ben" — Michael Jackson. A recurring choice for honoring a sibling, since the song's title doubles as a name.
• "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" — The Hollies. One of the most direct sibling-tribute songs available.
• "Bridge Over Troubled Water" — Simon & Garfunkel. A common choice for honoring a sibling who was a steady presence.
• "Count on Me" — Bruno Mars. A lighter, more modern option for the same idea.
• "Home" — Michael Bublé. Often used for a sibling who lived far away.

Songs for a Spouse or Partner

Songs chosen to honor a husband, wife, or long-term partner.

• "I Will Always Love You" — Whitney Houston or Dolly Parton. One of the most requested songs for a spouse.
• "Unchained Melody" — The Righteous Brothers. A classic choice for honoring a long marriage.
• "Your Song" — Elton John. Common for couples who shared it during their relationship.
• "The Way You Look Tonight" — Frank Sinatra. Frequently chosen for a first-dance song repurposed as a tribute.
• "Songbird" — Fleetwood Mac. A quieter, more intimate option than most on this list.
• "Annie's Song" — John Denver. Often chosen when the couple had a specific song from early in their relationship.

Frequently Asked Questions

Personalizing a Memorial Song

Every song on this list works as it is. But some families take it a step further: instead of just playing a song that reminds them of someone, they rewrite a piece of it so the song is actually about that person. SongRetold's memorial song page walks through exactly how families have done this — here's a closer look at a few of them.