[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 see... Tear-jerking songs about death (81–90)
Say it.Yorushika
This is one of Yorushika’s signature songs, a poignant portrayal of an eternal farewell to a loved one.
In contrast to its bright melody, the lyrics delicately weave the protagonist’s complex feelings as they struggle to accept the other person’s death, leaving a deep impression.
Included on the June 2017 album “Summer Grass Stands in the Way,” the song resonated with many, with its music video surpassing 100 million views.
It is sure to gently comfort those who have lost someone dear or carry unspoken feelings they never had the chance to convey.
touch-me-not (balsam flower)Nakajima Miyuki
Released in 1978, Miyuki Nakajima’s song “Housenka” is a masterpiece filled with poignancy and deep emotion.
The piece was created as a tribute to a friend, portraying the sorrow and heartache of facing the sudden death of someone dear.
Its warmly enveloping melody and lyrics that sink into the heart are sure to resonate with anyone who has experienced heartbreak or the loss of a loved one.
I hope that listening to this song will help ease your pain, even just a little.
A world without youto shiki
This is a song about parting with someone dear.
As the phrase “a world without you” suggests, it expresses feelings for someone you will never meet again.
Toshiki’s gentle vocals beautifully convey regret for a lost love and a deep sense of nostalgia, touching the listener’s heart.
Vivid images—like you gazing at the autumn leaves or playing the guitar I taught you—rise before our eyes with striking realism.
Released in August 2022, the song gained traction on social media and resonated with many people.
For those who have lost someone important or are carrying the pain of heartbreak, it will be a song that offers solace.
Thank youJUJU
A song by JUJU that expresses gratitude to a cherished person through poignant lyrics and a warm, soulful voice.
It was also chosen as the theme song for the film “Tsunagu.” Many listeners have said the lyrics—imbued with the quiet beauty of love and gratitude for the days spent together—moved them to tears.
It’s a piece that speaks to those who want to treasure memories with a loved one or who carry thoughts of someone they’ve lost.
Listen while gazing up at the sky, and surely your feelings of “thank you” will reach that special person.
Dear daysHirai Ken
A song in which Ken Hirai’s vocals spin a tale of longing for a loved one that grips the heart.
A bond that doesn’t fade with time, memories burned in even when you try to forget.
It conveys the aching feeling of continuing to hold deep love while accepting a fate that doesn’t even allow an embrace.
Released in May 2011, it was used as the theme song for TBS Television’s 60th anniversary drama JIN: The Final Chapter.
It’s sure to resonate with those who have lost someone precious, or who cherish their bond with a loved one despite being buffeted by the times and by fate.
things that have formShibasaki Kou
A multitalented artist who continues to showcase her gifts as both a singer and an actress, Kou Shibasaki is widely loved for her signature song “Katachi Aru Mono,” which served as the theme for the TBS drama “Crying Out Love, in the Center of the World.” Through music, this piece conveys a poignancy and the profound depth of love that words alone cannot express.
In particular, its themes—strength and gentleness in watching over a loved one from afar, feelings for those we’ve lost, and hope for a new future—are universally relatable.
It’s a song that stays close to the hearts of those healing from heartbreak or the loss of someone dear, gently giving them the strength to move forward, little by little.
[Bereavement Songs] To you whom I can no longer meet… Tear-jerking songs about death (91–100)
SamsaraMiyata Satoshi
A grand song that contemplates the meaning of living and parting.
Over a long life, we experience many meetings and farewells.
When people meet, they will one day part, and that is deeply painful and sad.
When we lose someone, we can’t help but think that if we had never met, they might still be alive.
Even so, this song tells us that the fact the two met holds a precious meaning.
