[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 meet… Tear-jerking songs about death (91–100)
Blue HabitatKitanitatsuya
Tatsuya Kitani is a singer-songwriter who also performs as the bassist for sajou no hana and serves as a support member for Yorushika.
His digital-only single “Ao no Sumika,” released on July 7, 2023, was chosen as the opening theme for the TV anime Jujutsu Kaisen: Hidden Inventory/Premature Death.
The lyrics evoke a state of mind trapped by feelings for a precious person one can no longer meet—something that may make the hearts of those with similar experiences ache.
In contrast to the shadowy lyrics, the refreshing rock sound lingers in the ears, making it a striking number.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Let me hear the poetry of the wind.Kuwata Keisuke
“Let Me Hear the Poem of the Wind” is a ballad that sings of longing for someone who has passed away.
It is performed by Keisuke Kuwata, who is also active as the vocalist of Southern All Stars.
The lyrics are said to be inspired by the story of a novel based on surfer Natsuki Iijima.
Not only does the song empathize with the feeling of missing a departed loved one, but by the end it turns into an encouraging anthem that gently gives you a push forward.
It’s also a track that showcases Kuwata’s guitar playing, making it perfect for those who want to be soothed by a calm melody.
