The Ultimate Guide to the Best Funeral Songs and Hymns of All Time

Funeral music can bring people comfort and joy at times of loss and grief by bringing the community together to sing or just to listen and be present together. Numerous funeral hymns and songs have remained popular for decades and continue to be sung by mourners throughout the world.
The funeral songs you choose will be a key part of setting the tone for the funeral or memorial service. Some are somber, while others are more celebratory of life or even humorous. Many go to one's relationship with God.

When choosing funeral hymns or songs, consider which ones your loved one may have enjoyed, along with  ones you feel will help you and your family and friends most. Music is a powerful tool in processing grief.

Your funeral director will be able to provide just about any song imaginable piped into the 'viewing room.' Just let  him/her know what you want. Music is excellent to use as background as people visit and meaningful to be played/sung during the service itself.

We, of course, write eulogies. If you find yourself in need of an appropriate and beautiful eulogy written - when it is just too difficult to write yourself - we can help.

The following are some of the most used and prefered funeral songs. Clicking on a title will take you to the 'sheet music' for each. You can type the title into Youtube to listen to the song.

Christian Funeral Hymns and Songs - Traditional

1. A Mighty Fortress is Our God
2. Abide with Me
3. All Things Bright and Beautiful
4. Amazing Grace
5. Be Not Afraid
6. Beautiful Savior
7. Down to the River to Pray
8. Goin’ Home
9. Here I Am, Lord
10. His Eye Is On The Sparrow
11. Holy, Holy, Holy
12. How Great Thou Art
13. I Am The Bread of Life
14. I Know That My Redeemer Liveth
15. It Is Well With My Soul
16. I Was There To Hear Your Borning Cry
17. Just a Closer Walk with Thee
18. Let There Be Peace on Earth
19. Lift High the Cross
20. Make Me a Channel of Your Peace (Prayer of St. Francis)
21. Old Rugged Cross
22. One Bread, One Body
23. Simple Gifts
24. Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
25. The Lord is My Shephard –Psalm 23
26. Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus M
27. We’ll Understand It Better By and By
28. What a Friend We Have in Jesus
29. When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
30. When They Ring Those Golden Bells
31. Will the Circle Be Unbroken

Contemporary Christian Songs Appropriate for Funerals

1. 10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord) by Matt Redman
2. All the Way My Savior Leads Me by Chris Tomlin
3. Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone) by Chris Tomlin
4. Because He Lives by Bill & Gloria Gaither
5. Blessings by Laura Story
6. Cry Out to Jesus by Third Day
7. Dancing with the Angels by Monk & Neagle
8. Don’t Cry by Kirk Franklin
9. Going Home by Bill & Gloria Gather
10. Go Rest High on that Mountain by Vince Gill
11. Homesick by MercyMe
12. I Can Only Imagine by MercyMe
13. I’ll Fly Away by Hezekiah Walker
14. In Christ Alone by Natalie Grant
15. I Will Rise by Chris Tomlin
16. Knowing What I Know About Heaven by Guy Penrod
17. No More Night by David Phelps
18. On Eagles Wings by Michael Joncas
19. Save A Place for Me by Matthew West
20. Somewhere Somehow by Amy Grant
21. Soon and Very Soon by Andrae Crouch
22. Sweetest Name I Know by Bart Millard
23. There Will Be a Day by Jeremy Camp
24. Thy Will by Hillary Scott & The Scott Family
25. Till We Meet Again by Kirk Franklin
26. (Untitled Hymn) Come to Jesus by Mark Hayes
27. Welcome Home by Michael W Smith
28. What a Day That Will Be by Jim Hill
29. Who Am I by Casting Crowns
30. You A

Military Funeral Songs

1. America The Beautiful
2. Dixie’s Land
3. El Captain by John Philip Sousa
4. Eternal Father, Strong to Save (The Navy Hymn)
5. Reveille – Trumpet
6. Semper Paratus (Always Ready, US Coast Guard)
7. Taps – Trumpet
8. The Battle Hymn Of The Republic
9. The Caissons Go Rolling Along
10. The Marine’s Hymn
11. The Stars and Stripes Forever
12. Wild Blue Yonder (To the Men Who Fly the US Air Force)

Cultural Funeral Songs - Traditional

1. Aloha ‘Oe (Hawaiian)
2. Ashokan Farewell (Americana Folk)
3. Be Thou My Vision (Irish)
4. Carrickfergus (Irish)
5. Danny Boy (Irish)
6. Hi’ilawe (Hawaiian)
7. It’s a Long Way to Tipperary  (British/Irish)
8. Sweet Beulah Land  (Americana)
9. Time to Say Goodbye (Con te partiro) – Sarah Brightman & Andrea Bocelli (Italian)
10. Waltzing Matilda (Australian)
11. You Are Mine by David Haas

Classic Rock/Pop

1. Ain’t No Mountain High Enough by Marvin Gaye
2. Back Home Again by John Denver
3. Beautiful Boy by John Lennon
4. Blackbird by The Beatles
5. Blowin’ In the Wind by Bob Dylan
6. Bridge Over Troubled Water by Simon & Garfunkel
7. Bright Eyes by Art Garfunkel
8. Candle In The Wind by Elton John
9. For the Good Times by Kris Kristofferson
10. Hey Jude by The Beatles
11. In My Life by The Beatles
12. Into the Mystic by Van Morrison
13. Landslide by Fleetwood Mac
14. Longer by Dan Fogelberg
15. Morning Has Broken by Cat Stevens
16. My Way by Frank Sinatra
17. Only the Good Die Young by Billy Joel
18. Over the Rainbow by Judy Garland
19. Seasons in the Sun by Terry Jacks
20. Smile by Nat King Cole
21. Spirit in the Sky by Norman Greenbaum
22. Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin
23. Stand By Me by Ben E King
24. The Long and Winding Road by The Beatles
25. The Sound of Silence by Simon & Garfunkel
26. We’ll Meet Again by Vera Lynn
27. What a Wonderful World by Louie Armstrong
28. Where Have All The Flowers Gone by Pete Seeger
29. Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd
30. Vincent (Starry, Starry Night) by Don McClean

Modern Rock/Pop

1. Angel by Sarah McLachlan
2. Angels by Robbie Williams
3. Bittersweet Symphony by The Verve
4. Fields of Gold by Eva Cassidy
5. Fix You by Coldplay M
6. Goodbye My Lover by James Blunt
7. Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen
8. Halo by Beyoncé
9. How Long Will I Love You by Ellie Goulding
10. How to Save a Life by The Fray
11. I’ll Follow You Into the Dark by Death Cab for Cutie
12. I Will Always Love You by Whitney Houston
13. I Will Remember You by Sarah McLachlan
14. I Will Wait by Mumford and Sons
15. Keep Me In Your Heart by Warren Zevon
16. Lay Me Down by Sam Smith
17. Make You Feel My Love by Adele
18. My Immortal by Evanescence
19. Never Tear Us Apart by INXS
20. One Sweet Day by Mariah Carey
21. Tears in Heaven by Eric Clapton
22. The Funeral by Band of Horses
23. To Where You Are by Josh Groban
24. Wind Beneath My Wings by Bette Midler
25. You Raise Me Up by Josh Groban

Country

1. Help Pour Out the Rain by Buddy Jewell
2. Holes In the Floor of Heaven by Steve Wariner
3. If Tomorrow Never Comes by Garth Brooks
4. I’m Already There by Lonestar
5. Jealous of the Angels by Jenn Bostic
6. Live Forever by Billy Joe Shaver
7. See You Again by Carrie Underwood
8. The Dance by Garth Brooks
9. When I Get Where I’m Going by Brad Paisley
10. When I’m Gone by Joey + Rory

 From Broadway/Musicals

1. Borrowed Angels by Kristin Chenoweth
2. Goodnight, Sweetheart from ‘Holiday in Mexico’
3. If Ever I Would Leave You from ‘Camelot’
4. Moon River from ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’
5. Someone to Watch Over Me from ‘Oh Kay!’
6. Somewhere from ‘West Side Story’
7. Thank You for the Music from ‘Mamma Mia’
8. The Party’s Over from ‘Bells Are Ringing’
9. You’ll Be In My Heart from ‘Tarzan the Broadway Musical’
10. You’ll Never Walk Alone from ‘Carousel’
11. Who Can I Turn To from ‘The Roar of the Greasepaint…’

 
Secular Funeral Songs

1.  “You Can Close Your Eyes” – James Taylor
   
2.  “Tears in Heaven” – Eric Clapton
3.  “Hallelujah” – Jeff Buckley
4.  “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” – Israel Kamakawiwo’Ole
   

Funeral songs that will open the floodgates

1.  “Feels Like Home” – Chantal Kreviazuk
   
2. “Asleep” – The Smith’s
3. “Satisfied Mind” – Jeff Buckley
4.  “Blower’s Daughter” – Damien Rice

Funeral songs for  romantic spirit

1. “Halo (Acoustic)” – Beyonce
   
2. “Only For You” – Heartless Bastards
3. “I’ll Be Seeing You” – Billie Holiday

 
Inspiring and Uplifting

1. “Follow the Sun” by Xavier Rudd
   
2. “Everywhere” – Michelle Branch
3. “Wherever You Will Go” – The Calling
4. “Spirit In The Sky” – Norman Greenbaum

Celebration of life

1. “Drops of Jupiter” – Train
   
2.  “I’ve Had The Time Of My Life” – Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes
3. “Forever Young” – Rod Stewart
4.  “Elephant Gun” – Beirut

Funeral songs with humor

1. “Keg On My Coffin” – The Push Stars
   
2.  “Dropkick Me Jesus” – Bobby Bare
3. “Roll Me Up And Smoke Me When I Die” – Willie Nelson
4.  “Prop Me Up Beside The Jukebox (If I Die)” – Joe Diffie
5. “Ring of Fire” – Johnny Cash“Highway to Hell” – ACDC

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