[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 I can no longer meet. Tear-jerking songs about death (11–20)
leap day personRADWIMPS
“Uruubito” is a ballad by RADWIMPS that portrays the sorrow of happiness—once thought to last forever—suddenly coming to an end.
Set to a wistful melody, it expresses the longing and regret of parting with a loved one.
The lyrics feel as if they share the weight of loss, stirring the hearts of many.
The gentle piano accompaniment softly embraces the listener’s emotions.
When you find yourself renewing your thoughts for someone you’ve lost, “Uruubito” will surely stay close by your side.
In times when you are enveloped in grief over losing someone dear, we recommend spending a quiet moment with this song.
Phantom LifeSEKAI NO OWARI
A heartrending song themed around life, death, and loss.
Its beautiful yet sorrowful melody leaves a strong impression, gently embracing the hearts of those who have experienced parting with someone dear.
Released in February 2010 as SEKAI NO OWARI’s indie debut, it features Fukase’s emotive vocals and Saori’s delicate piano tones that strike deeply at the listener’s heart.
The lyrics, which long for a reunion in dreams, convey profound love and lingering attachment.
When you want to face the grief of losing someone important, listening to this song and shedding tears might help.
It may just make your heart feel a little lighter.
A song dedicated to my belovedKuwata Keisuke
This work by Keisuke Kuwata, a song about the sorrow of losing someone dear, is a track that, along with its aching sadness, gives you the courage to face forward.
The grief expressed through images of the sea and waves, the unfailing tears, and the scene of lying alone amid the cries of cicadas and the sea wind are especially striking.
Included on the album “I LOVE YOU -now & forever-,” released in July 2012, it sold 432,000 copies in its first week on the Oricon Weekly Album Chart.
As a piece that speaks for the emotions felt after the earthquake disaster, it has comforted many people.
Give it a listen when you want to think of someone important and let your tears flow.
Theory of the Mindful HeartNEW!RADWIMPS
It’s one of RADWIMPS’ most treasured songs, where the band’s raw early impulse fuses with a profound worldview.
Released as a single in July 2006, it was also chosen as the ending theme for a CBC Television program.
Though the title carries a philosophical ring, the lyrics directly portray self-awareness, existential unease, and an intense longing for an irreplaceable other.
Its emotional rock sound, weaving stillness and surging energy, resonates with those burdened by grief and an inescapable loneliness, stirring the heart.
It’s a signature number you should hear when you’ve parted from someone dear, tried to force yourself to look ahead by sealing away your sorrow, and want to pause and face your own heart.
Our Elegy (You and I)NEW!sakaiyuu
This is a single by Yu Sakai, released in April 2012, used as the ending theme for the TV anime “You and Me 2.” It carries warm yet heartrending feelings addressed to a late best friend who inspired his path in music.
Rather than forcing oneself to overcome sorrow, the piece resonates with a heart that chooses to face forward while holding on to memories shared with someone precious, accompanied by delicate piano tones.
It’s a gentle ballad that stays by your side when you feel the urge to honor the value of days gone by and say “thank you” to someone you can no longer meet.
Our Let It BeNEW!Kamikita Ken
A soft yet resolute singing voice seems to seep into the depths of the heart.
This is a cover released in February 2012 by singer-songwriter Ken Uekita.
The song conveys a life carried on with the pain of loss and unforgettable promises, set to delicate acoustic sounds.
It was also included on the best-of album “BEST OF KKBOX,” released in October 2024.
It’s the kind of piece that will stay with you on nights when you want to remember someone dear and quietly shed tears.
[Bereavement Songs] To you, my precious one whom I can no longer meet. Tear-jerking songs about death (21–30)
PhoenixNEW!Saitō Kazuyoshi
This is a song included on Kazuyoshi Saito’s album “Tsuki ga Noboreba” (When the Moon Rises).
Released in September 2009, it is known for being written with deep feelings for Kiyoshiro Imawano, who passed away that May.
It goes beyond mere sentimentality, radiating the fiery spirit of a rock musician.
Imbued with a wish to keep being reborn like a phoenix, it carries a strength that looks forward even amid sorrow.
When you feel lonely after losing someone important, it can make you feel that the messages they left behind continue to live on within you.
While facing grief, it gently gives a push to keep living earnestly—why not let yourself be enveloped by such a warm and powerful voice?