[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 (51–60)
the same storyHanbaato Hanbaato
When asked, “What’s your favorite Humbert Humbert song?” I think many people would name this one: the hugely popular “Onaji Hanashi” (“The Same Story”).
At first it seems like a brisk, charming back-and-forth that makes you smile, but as the exchange unfolds, its meaning hits you and it becomes a guaranteed tearjerker.
It’s obvious, yet undeniable: you can’t make new memories with someone who’s gone—there’s no “from here on out.” This song makes you truly want to tell the people you love that you love them, so you won’t have any regrets.
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.
shooting starNEW!Shiono-ya Sayaka
A gently sung ballad about the inability to fully accept parting with a loved one and the memories that continue to shine in one’s heart.
It is a ballad with lyrics written by Sayaka Shionoya herself.
This track opens the mini-album “S with,” released in October 2015, and it was also chosen as the theme song for the film “While the Shooting Star Stays,” which premiered in November of the same year.
Its beautiful melody tenderly accompanies a story about trying to move forward while bearing the loss of someone precious.
Imbued with thoughts for lost time and the message that memories can become a source of strength to live, it resonates deeply with those in sorrow, offering the courage to face forward with warm memories.
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.
[Bereavement Songs] To you, my precious one whom I can no longer meet. Tear-jerking songs about death (61–70)
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?
Maplesupittsu
A gemlike ballad that gently embraces the aching feeling of being unable to accept an eternal farewell.
While tucking away the other person’s smile and voice deep in the heart, a quiet resolve to move forward still resonates.
Released as a single from the album “Fake Fur,” recorded in March 1998, it was used as the theme song for Fuji TV’s drama “Over Time” and TV Asahi’s special drama “A Mother’s Last Day.” Featuring Spitz’s characteristically delicate arrangement and Masamune Kusano’s tender vocals, this piece has continued to be covered by numerous artists.
For those trying to overcome parting with a loved one or face the sense of loss within, it offers companionship and the courage to gradually look ahead.
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.