[Bereavement Song] To you, my precious one 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, my precious one whom I can no longer meet. Tear-jerking songs about death (121–130)
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.
brilliant; radiant; glittering; bright (sunlight)Miura Daichi
Daichi Miura, who has produced many dance songs, wrote and composed “Sansan” inspired by the story of the NHK morning drama Chimudondon.
It’s a ballad with a gentle vocal that touches the heart.
The lyrics depict the importance and preciousness of family, so even those who don’t know the story of Chimudondon will surely relate.
The song also reflects Miura’s feelings for his grandmother.
For that reason, he named it “Sansan,” taking inspiration from his grandmother’s favorite song, “Ai Sansan.”
Hide-and-seekRADWIMPS
A poignant song that portrays parting with a loved one.
It sings of a heart that continues searching for the one it loves, even after ten long years.
Released in March 2021 as the theme song for the drama “Tomorrow Smiles by Your Side,” it coincided with the tenth anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake.
This track gently embraces lost bonds, time gone by, and wishes for the future.
It is a song that stands beside those who have lost someone dear or who are confronting memories of the disaster.
You will surely find comfort in RADWIMPS’ warm sound.
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.
[Bereavement Songs] To you, my precious one I can no longer meet. Tear-jerking songs about death (131–140)
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.
lostPorunogurafiti
It’s a song by the rock band Porno Graffitti that portrays parting with someone dear.
It’s said that vocalist Akihito Okano wrote it for his late mother.
The track carries an overall somber atmosphere, progressing from a sound that feels like quietly facing one’s own heart to a poignant yet powerful chorus where emotions seem to overflow.
Using dreamlike language, it expresses the struggle to move forward while suffering through separation from something precious.
The unvarnished depiction of the pain of being unable to accept the farewell is another aspect that resonates deeply.
my starRozarīna
A heart-touching song by Rosalía themed around parting with someone precious.
It portrays, through her warm vocals, the sorrow of suddenly losing a loved one and the strength to keep moving forward while holding onto the light they left behind.
Released in August 2023, the track was chosen as the ending theme for Season 2 of the TV anime EDENS ZERO.
It’s a song that will surely resonate with those who have experienced saying goodbye to someone important, or who continue to cherish a loved one in their hearts.
It is an anthem of encouragement for everyone who, even while carrying sadness, strives to face forward with the light that person left within them.