[Bereavement Song] To you whom I can no longer meet... Tear-jerking songs about death
I thought it was only natural for you to be by my side, but one day you suddenly disappeared…
If you’ve experienced the death of someone dear, you probably can’t help but feel, “No matter how much time passes, I can’t forget,” and “I wish I could see them once more.”
At the same time, you might be trying to move forward by putting a lid on your grief and forcing yourself to face ahead.
In this article, we introduce songs themed around “death,” told from a variety of perspectives.
Surely there will be a song that stays close to your sorrow.
When times are hard, please give them a listen.
- [Songs of Bereavement] Songs about losing someone dear. Tracks to listen to while thinking of a loved one.
- [Memorial Song] A moving classic and love song dedicated to a beloved person embarking on a journey to heaven
- A song I want people who have lost a beloved partner to listen to
- [Tearjerker] Songs that make your heart tremble with tears & moving tracks with lyrics that touch the soul
- Songs to Play at My Own Funeral: Timeless Gems to Make Farewells Uniquely My Own
- A song about losing a friend: bereavement, betrayal, and separation.
- [Music Funeral] BGM to Remember the Deceased | Spotlight on Requiems and Dirges Praying for Peace
- [So touching it makes you cry] A heartbreakingly wistful and sad song that tightens your chest
- [Dark Songs] A carefully curated selection of deeply dark tracks and heartbreaking songs that accompany you in tough times
- “I Want to See You”: A love song that makes you cry when you listen to it while you can’t meet
- Love, bonds, parting, cheers… songs so moving they pierce the heart and make you cry uncontrollably
- A classic song that sings of gratitude to one’s parents. Thank you, Dad and Mom!
- Farewell Song: A goodbye song. A tearful parting song.
[Bereavement Songs] To You Whom I Can No Longer Meet... Tear-Jerking Songs About Death (71–80)
canaryYonezu Kenshi
The song Canary, created by singer-songwriter Kenshi Yonezu—known for hits like Lemon and Paprika—and film director Hirokazu Kore-eda, who brought Shoplifters to the world, is included on the 2020 album STRAY SHEEP.
It’s a track filled with “love” that we hope will reach those who lost someone dear due to the coronavirus and those who couldn’t be there at their loved one’s final moments.
No matter the circumstances, my heart is by your side.
The lyrics, which make you feel that way, will move you to tears.
Spirit Boat (Shoro Nagashi)sadamasashi
Spirit Boat, quietly suffused with the ache of loss, is a masterpiece that gently weaves together sorrow for a beloved person now gone and the occasional glimmer of hope for reunion.
Masami Yoshida of Grape sings with a tender, wistful tone that deepens the song’s emotion.
Even on nights steeped in grief, this song will stay by your side and help you find a hope that tomorrow will surely bring.
I urge you to listen—so it can moisten a heart churned by sorrow and soften the unbearable feeling of loss.
Within it drifts a sense that healing will come with the passage of time.
LeoYuuri
This is a song by singer-songwriter Yuri that explores the bond between a dog and its owner.
It portrays the relationship with a dog who is both family and a friend, telling the story from their first meeting to their farewell.
The lyrics, narrated from the perspective of the pet dog “Leo,” are particularly striking, depicting how the two grow together and how their relationship evolves while a deep, unwavering love remains unchanged.
As Leo senses his own end approaching, the song plainly expresses his cherishing of their shared memories and his wish not to be forgotten.
Alongside the sorrow of an inevitable parting, the song also conveys a sense of hope to keep moving forward into the future.
Lullaby of a Jagged HeartChekkāzu
The Day You Disappeared portrays a poignant longing for a lost loved one.
Set to a warm melodic line, the lyrics trace the feelings of enduring a farewell to an unforgettable presence, resonating deeply with listeners.
The tender yet aching vocals evoke a vivid sense of nostalgia for days gone by and a hope for reunion, offering encouragement to all who wish to overcome their grief.
This song, which teaches the meaning of continuing to think of someone dear, quietly stays close to those who carry a hole in their hearts and becomes a source of strength.
If you’re suffering in silence, why not take a detour and lend it your ear?
The End of SummerMoriyama Naotaro
A gem-like ballad by Naotaro Moriyama that gently sings of the parting that comes at the fleeting end of summer.
Released in August 2003, this work was used as the ending theme for TV Asahi’s “Netto Koshien” and reached No.
6 on the Oricon charts.
Its acoustic tones and strings weave a melody that resonates deeply, comforting those who carry thoughts of someone precious they have lost.
Like summer memories fading, it evokes the bittersweet feeling of memories slowly receding, while also conveying the strength to keep looking forward and walking on.
The Postbox in Heavenkimaguren
Formed in 2005 and based in Yokosuka, Kimaguren have expressed hometown pride and deep human connections through their music.
Their fourth single, “Tengoku no Yūbin Posuto” (“Heaven’s Mailbox”), is a particularly moving work.
The song was created around the concept of entrusting thoughts for a lost loved one to a letter and sending it to heaven.
The lyrics capture lingering attachment, memories of the departed, and a wish to look forward, all conveyed through the act of writing a letter.
While it conveys a strong will to overcome sadness and loneliness, it also carries a hope for reunion.
It is a song that resonates deeply and invites empathy from anyone who is thinking of someone precious they have lost.
The Day I Became a JewelBUMP OF CHICKEN
It’s a song by BUMP OF CHICKEN that depicts the sorrow of losing someone important and the loneliness that has crept into everyday life.
The fast tempo and layered, airy tones create a unique atmosphere, evoking the image of moving forward while carrying anxiety.
The lyrics contrast the daily life when that loved one was still by your side with the days after they’re gone, conveying the complex emotions that arise as the everyday gradually changes.
While holding on to the wish to see them once more, the song also carries an unsteady resolve—telling oneself it will be okay and pressing on.