[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 (131–140)
amberSEKAI NO OWARI
An emotionally moving song by SEKAI NO OWARI that gently sings about how memories with loved ones continue to live on in our hearts, with “farewell”—an inevitable part of life—as its theme.
It quietly portrays the bonds that remain within us even when they can no longer be seen, the anxiety of forgetting, and the gratitude we feel for those precious presences that continue to influence our lives even now.
Released in March 2025 and written as the theme song for the film “The Boy and the Dog,” the track is also included on the album “Nautilus.” It is a song that stands beside those facing the sorrow of losing someone dear and the changing relationships that come with the passage of time.
Song of LifeTakeuchi Mariya
A song sung by Mariya Takeuchi that conveys the preciousness of life.
While questioning the meaning of life, it delicately depicts bonds with the people around us and the joys of everyday living.
The lyrics, carried by gentle piano tones, resonate deeply with listeners.
It was created in 2008 as an insert song for the NHK morning drama “Dandan,” and was later released in 2012 as a single by Takeuchi herself.
It’s often performed at life milestones such as weddings and graduation ceremonies.
Recommended for those who have lost someone dear or who wish to feel the sanctity of life.
apoptosisOfisharu Higedan Dism
Human cells are constantly renewing themselves, and it’s said that each cell’s death is programmed.
This grand, floating-feel track overlays the death and regeneration of cells with the finite span of human life.
Its content, which makes you ponder how to face the inevitable farewell drawing ever closer and what you can do until that moment, is heart-wrenching.
The way the timbre shifts—from an unreal, electronic sound in the first half to a more organic, band-driven sound in the latter—also evokes the image of someone gradually accepting that farewell.
Beyond this starry skyMayo Okamoto
It is said to be a song inspired by a letter from a female fan who had lost a loved one.
Listening with that in mind, each memory and promise it recounts resonates with aching poignancy, and the sound—stripped of instruments to the bare minimum—deepens the sorrow even further.
Encountering a song like this makes you appreciate the simple, nameless happiness of having someone you can argue with, someone you can vent to.
The B-side of this single, “Help me II,” is also a popular, drama-style track.
Please give it a listen if you have the chance.
existenceWANIMA
This is a gem-like ballad by WANIMA, woven with deep gratitude and love for a grandmother.
Inspired by member KENTA’s experiences of being raised by his grandmother from childhood, the song vividly depicts memories from a seaside town.
Its mid-tempo melody and heartfelt vocals richly express warm feelings toward someone precious.
Released in March 2025, the track was written for Flower Gift Service “Hana Cupid” and used as the theme song for their Mother’s Day campaign commercial.
The CM featuring Shohei Miura drew attention as well, and the song has garnered notice as the band’s first ballad-style track.
It’s a piece I wholeheartedly recommend to those carrying the sorrow of losing someone dear or wishing to convey gratitude to the precious people in their lives today.
TSUZUKUikimonogakari
Even if a farewell is painful, isn’t it important not to forget the time you spent with that person and to keep living while holding on to those memories? This song also conveys a message to someone who is no longer here, but beyond sadness, you can feel strength and warmth in its sound.
Sometimes, pausing in sorrow after a parting may be a necessary step.
Yet this song seems to teach us that what truly matters is moving forward while carrying those feelings with us.
dearestFukuyama Masaharu
This is a ballad about parting with someone precious.
Released under KOH+, the duo of Masaharu Fukuyama and Kou Shibasaki, it was later self-covered by Fukuyama.
The song portrays a pure and heartrending love in which one sacrifices oneself to protect a beloved.
Released in October 2008, it gained attention as the theme song for the film “The Devotion of Suspect X.” It was also used in a commercial for Toshiba’s REGZA LCD TVs.
This is a recommended track for those grieving the loss of someone dear or those who wish to give everything for the one they love.