[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 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 Whom I Can No Longer Meet... Tear-Jerking Songs About Death (41–50)
One more time, One more chanceYamazaki Masayoshi
A classic tear-jerker, Masayoshi Yamazaki’s “One more time, One more chance.” It was released in 1997, but it’s a timeless masterpiece that’s been loved ever since.
It’s also well known as the theme song for the 1996 film “The Moon and a Cabbage,” starring Yamazaki himself, and for Makoto Shinkai’s animated film “5 Centimeters per Second.” It’s a heartbreaking song about knowing that person is no longer here, yet finding yourself searching for them all the same.
You in OctoberNEW!Sekitori Hana
There are times when your heart just can’t keep up with the sudden parting from someone dear.
Sung by singer-songwriter Hana Sekitori, this piece is a track from her mini-album “Chūkurai no Hanashi,” released in November 2012.
With a warm, enfolding gentleness, her voice weaves together the sorrow and sense of loss that come from losing someone important without any time to prepare your heart.
True to its title that evokes the season when autumn’s presence can be felt, the song carries a subtly lonely atmosphere, one that naturally overlays itself with the memories of someone you’ve lost.
The restrained, unexplanatory choice of words is part of its charm, allowing it to resonate with each listener’s own experiences.
It’s a song you’ll want to hear when you can’t accept a farewell to someone precious and want to look back on your memories.
ever freeNEW!Hamasaki Ayumi
A masterpiece that sings of quiet pain and renewal, leaving a deep afterglow in the heart.
It begins with scenes that evoke parting and expresses a gentle freedom found beyond sorrow.
The restrained, translucent vocals resonate in listeners’ chests like a requiem.
The lyrics were written by Ayumi Hamasaki, and the song was included as a coupling track on her 14th single “vogue,” released in April 2000.
This work is recommended for those who have lost someone dear and are suffering from a sense of loss.
It will gently stay by your side when you want to quietly reflect on memories and face forward with warmth.
Thank youkurimusora
Some of you may be wanting to express gratitude to someone you can no longer meet.
The song that speaks for those feelings is “Arigatou” (“Thank You”).
It’s a track by the singer-songwriter Kumurisora.
The lyrics are based on real experiences shared by him and his mother, looking back on various memories while conveying thanks.
Because it features many memories that almost anyone might relate to, you’ll likely find yourself connecting with it too.
Another appeal is the beautiful high-tone vocals that soothe the heart.
Next to…takahashi chiaki
“Next to You…” is a song that honestly expresses the feeling of finding yourself thinking about someone who shouldn’t be by your side.
Chiaki Takahashi, who plays Azusa Miura in the game The Idolmaster, performs the vocals.
As the protagonist gazes at an unchanging natural landscape, scenes unfold where memories of a loved one arise, stirring a bittersweet longing.
Her vocals—imbued with both power and beauty—convey the swelling emotions that come from thinking about someone you love, creating a track that truly resonates.
Why not lend an ear to its gentle sound, which tenderly accompanies the loneliness and sorrow of parting?
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.
Beautiful daysNEW!arashi
A track that became a hot topic as the theme song for the drama “Ryusei no Kizuna,” starring Kazunari Ninomiya.
Released in November 2008, it is Arashi’s 24th single.
It delicately portrays the feeling of continuing to think of someone while carrying lost time and unreturned feelings.
The warm, mid-tempo melody further accentuates the poignancy.
Perfectly aligning with the drama’s worldview, the song won the Best Drama Song at the 59th The Television Drama Academy Awards.
It’s a moving ballad that gently stays close to your heart when you want to look back on the beautiful memories you shared, even while bearing sadness.