[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 never meet again... Tear-jerking songs about death (11–20)
Smiling downONE OK ROCK
ONE OK ROCK’s “Smiling Down” seems to mean “Smiling Back” when translated into Japanese.
It’s said to be a song dedicated to a friend who passed away young, modeled after K, the vocalist of the Japanese alternative rock band Pay money To my Pain.
The lyrics, which speak of how you’ve disappeared leaving only your song behind, are heart-wrenching.
Lostyama
A delicate, heartrending ballad by yama that tenderly reflects the feelings of a protagonist who has experienced parting with someone dear.
With a clear, translucent voice, it gently embraces a heart-rending sense of loss and a regret that never fades.
Released in August 2022, the song was featured as an insert track in the film “The Lines That Define Me.” It is also included on yama’s album “Versus the night,” and is cherished as a piece that stands beside anyone who has faced a profound loss in life.
This is a song that quietly stays close to those trying to move forward while bearing sadness, and to those who have lost someone precious and closed their hearts.
The Final RiverCHEMISTRY
If you’re looking for a song that will make you cry your heart out, this is the one I want you to hear.
The pure, delicate, and beautifully layered vocals are stunning, making it a perfect fit for a gentle, classic ballad.
The lyrics, written from the perspective of someone who has passed away, convey gratitude and love to those left behind.
If someone felt this way about you, you’d end up in tears, wouldn’t you? It’s a song that will undoubtedly leave you in tears, yet with a warm feeling in your heart.
formulaOkazaki Taiiku
A gemlike ballad by Okazaki Taiiku that depicts the transience and beauty of life.
From memories of preschool, to the loneliness of youth, and finally the loss of memory in old age, it portrays a person’s life across three times of day—morning, evening, and night.
Setting aside Okazaki Taiiku’s characteristic humor to confront the theme of life’s end, this work was included on the album “XXL” and released in June 2017.
For those living with dementia and those who have seen a loved one through their final moments alike, it offers profound empathy and comfort to all who face farewells and the fading of memories.
LemonYonezu Kenshi
This song, “Lemon,” was a massive hit in 2019 (Heisei 31/Reiwa 1) and continues to be a hit even now.
It’s often thought of as a love song about a romantic breakup, but for me—someone who suddenly lost my beloved wife at the age of 36—I deeply understand its profound meaning.
He stakes everything on this love, and expresses the sudden separation from the person to whom he swore eternal love not in explicit terms, but by calling it a bitter lemon.
“That precious person remains my light forever” — as someone who has lived through this, those words really hit home.
I think there are times in life when we have to accept a reality that feels like a lie.
This is the one song I recommend for those moments.
dearestKOH+
The song Saiai, which mourns a lost presence, is a hymn of love woven from translucent emotions within a heartrending melody.
The melody spun by KOH+ is like a sunset quietly sinking into a sea of deep sorrow.
Even knowing reunion is impossible, tender feelings overflow from the depths of the heart…
Within it is a cry of the soul that longs to remain connected, even across time.
For anyone who grieves a departed loved one, this is a song that stays close to the heart and offers healing through tears.
[Bereavement Songs] To You I Can No Longer Meet... Tearjerking Songs About Death (21–30)
Thank you…KOKIA
This is “Arigatou” by KOKIA, released in 1999.
There are so many things we want to say to someone who has passed away, but when I listen to this song, I feel that the words “thank you” are number one.
The lyrics are heartrending and packed with the feeling of longing for someone, and combined with KOKIA’s vocals, it’s a tear-jerking song that brings you to tears.
