[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 a loved one. Tracks to listen to while thinking of someone dear
- [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
- [Thank You] A classic song expressing gratitude to one’s parents. A number loved across generations.
- Farewell Song: A goodbye song. A tearful parting song.
[Bereavement Songs] To you whom I can no longer see... Tear-jerking songs about death (81–90)
tearsSEKAI NO OWARI
SEKAI NO OWARI, whose win of the Japan Record Award’s Grand Prize is still fresh in our memories.
They’ve released countless great songs, but the one I especially want you to hear is “tears.” At first listen, it may seem like a song that looks back on memories with a friend who lives in a distant town.
However, it was actually written in memory of a friend who passed away.
Knowing that might change the way you hear it.
Another appeal is that, while it can make you cry, it’s also sprinkled with humor throughout.
red collarYoshida Yamada
If you watch the music video, you’ll see it’s a heartwarming song written about a beloved pet dog who has passed away.
The lyrics, carried by a simple guitar accompaniment, are filled with the bond, memories, and love shared until now.
Of course, if you listen while thinking of someone precious to you, I think you’ll find it’s a wonderful song that resonates with your cherished memories and feelings.
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.
Missing YouMirei Touyama
Mirei Toyama is a singer-songwriter who is also active in the United States.
Missing You is a project she created jointly with Hiroki Terai, a producer known for promoting therapeutic crying (“ruikatsu”).
The song portrays the sorrow and loneliness of a girl who has lost her beloved mother.
Be sure to watch it together with the “tear-jerking music video” produced by Hiroki Terai—it will help you visualize the scenes depicted in the lyrics more vividly.
Also, since the lyrics don’t specify a particular relationship, listeners can interpret them in various ways and relate it to different people.
If you wish for a miracle…JUJU
Among JUJU’s songs, “If You Wish for a Miracle…” is known as a real tearjerker.
It was released in 2006 as her third single.
The music video portrays a woman who has been diagnosed with a terminal illness and her partner, and it’s a song that will likely bring anyone who has lost a loved one to illness to tears.
In the lyrics, it feels as though the woman’s feelings and the man’s feelings are expressed in turn.
It’s a song you’ll want to listen to when you can’t face your grief.
Eternal Beingpigstar
This song served as the opening theme for the PC game “Period.” With powerful guitars and drums, it’s an energetic track.
The lyrics, woven around the theme of life, are deeply philosophical.
Losing someone dear is truly heartbreaking and painful.
But listening to this song can inspire a hopeful feeling—that life is always connected, and you can meet again anytime.
[Bereavement Songs] To you whom I can no longer meet… Tear-jerking songs about death (91–100)
DearNakajima Mika
A song by Mika Nakashima that sings of feelings for a beloved person who has been lost.
The lyrics, woven with her gentle, translucent voice, are filled with deep love for someone she can never meet again and the memories they shared.
Released in April 2011, it also drew attention as the theme song for the film “Rebirth” (Youkame no Semi).
After about half a year of hiatus, this track became a new starting point for Nakashima.
When you want to face the sorrow of losing someone dear, try listening while looking up at the sky.
It will surely stay close to your heart.