[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 (91–100)
Moon DropsRUI (Shibasaki Kou)
A hit song under Ko Shibasaki’s on-screen persona, RUI.
It was also used as the in-film song and main theme for the movie “Yomigaeri” (Resurrection).
The lyrics, rich with classical Japanese expressions, poignantly convey the sorrow of a love that has passed.
The theme is drawn in a circular way, and the lyrics, which avoid directly addressing life and death, are outstanding.
The stronger the desire to meet, the more it makes you think of the person you cannot see.
In terms of sales, it reached No.
1 on the Oricon weekly chart and was certified Triple Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of Japan—truly RUI’s signature song.
Ghost of the SeaYonezu Kenshi
Released in June 2019 as the theme song for the film Children of the Sea, this piece features poetic lyrics that evoke loneliness, nostalgia, and the ocean’s unpredictable beauty.
Images like an empty room and a chair steeped in the scent of the sea breeze symbolize lost connections and the fleeting nature of happiness, expressing how precious moments and feelings can be too important for words.
The song was a major hit, reaching No.
1 on the daily digital singles chart and recording over 120,000 downloads in its first week on the Oricon Weekly Digital Singles chart.
It’s a heartwarming track that offers comfort to those carrying the sorrow of losing someone dear.
[Bereavement Songs] To you whom I can no longer meet... Tear-jerking songs about death (101–110)
spin; weave; compose (e.g., a story)tota
Tota is an artist whose charm lies in her unadorned, sincere voice.
Since 2022, she has been sharing her music from home in the style known as a bedroom sound creator.
This song, released in 2023, features lyrics that express a wish—and offer encouragement—to live life to the fullest even in times of sadness or hardship, right up to the very end.
It’s curious how being alive can make us conscious of death, but the lyrics, which juxtapose life and death, are thought-provoking.
It’s a track you’ll want to listen to while savoring the words carefully.
A Farewell SongKumaki Anri
Anri Kumaki is a singer who has released many folk songs.
In her song “Hanamuke no Uta,” she sings about the things she wants to say to someone who has passed away.
If you, too, feel there’s something you wish you could convey, you will surely relate.
The song also gives voice to what the departed might want to say to those left behind.
Of course, we cannot truly exchange words, but listening to this song may offer a small measure of comfort.
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.
Memorial addressHamasaki Ayumi
“Memorial Address” portrays the feelings when someone precious disappears from right before your eyes.
It is the title track of the mini-album released in 2003 by Ayumi Hamasaki, a singer who also thrives as an actress and model.
The band arrangement gently enfolds the loneliness and anxiety of no longer being able to see a loved one.
Through her vocals—laid bare as if revealing her innermost heart—you can feel the unbearable ache.
It’s a song overflowing with the feeling of “If only I could have said just one more word…”
If I Hadn’t Met You ~Summer Snow Winter Flower~Aimer
Aimer, who captivates many fans with her distinctive voice and wide-ranging musicality.
The single “Anata ni Deawanakereba ~Natsuyuki Fuyuka~,” released on August 15, 2012, is also known as the ending theme for the anime “Natsuyuki Rendezvous” and is cherished as one of Aimer’s signature works.
This piece depicts the heavy theme of forbidden love through Aimer’s moving vocals, delicately expressing the depth and poignancy of love—such as powerful feelings for someone dear and the changes that meeting that person brings to one’s life.
Conveying the pain and loneliness of losing a loved one, yet also a heart full of gratitude, this song is recommended for those mourning someone who has passed away or for anyone who wants to look forward while thinking of someone precious.