[Songs of Bereavement] Songs about losing a loved one. Tracks to listen to while thinking of someone dear
A collection of songs themed around the loss of loved ones—partners, family, friends, and others dear to you.
There are songs steeped in deep sorrow, songs that express gratitude for the time shared in life, songs that look back on memories, and even songs told from the perspective of those who have passed away.
Though presented from many angles, all of them overflow with love for the departed and for those left behind.
If you are suffering from a sense of loss, or wish to sort through your feelings for someone precious who has gone on ahead, please give these a listen.
We cannot forget the reality of parting, but as you listen, you will likely find yourself able to look back on the days you spent together with a calmer heart.
- [Bereavement Song] To you whom I can no longer meet... Tear-jerking songs about death
- A song I want people who have lost a beloved partner to listen to
- [Memorial Song] A moving classic and love song dedicated to a beloved person embarking on a journey to heaven
- Farewell Song: A goodbye song. A tearful parting song.
- [Tearjerker] Songs that make your heart tremble with tears & moving tracks with lyrics that touch the soul
- [Music Funeral] BGM to Remember the Deceased | Spotlight on Requiems and Dirges Praying for Peace
- A song about losing a friend: bereavement, betrayal, and separation.
- Songs to Play at My Own Funeral: Timeless Gems to Make Farewells Uniquely My Own
- Songs that Teach the Value of Life | A Collection of Masterpieces Celebrating the Wonder of Living
- [Thank-You Song] A song to convey your feelings of “thank you” to someone special
- A Tearful Farewell Song: A Love Song About Parting with Someone You Love
- [Dark Songs] A carefully curated selection of deeply dark tracks and heartbreaking songs that accompany you in tough times
- [Thank You] A classic song expressing gratitude to one’s parents. A number loved across generations.
[Songs of Bereavement] Songs for those who have lost someone dear. Tracks to listen to while thinking of a loved one (61–70)
Prayer FlowerHirai Dai
A gem of a ballad that gently sings of the sorrow of losing a loved one and the gratitude that remains, carried by a tender, warm melody.
Dai Hirai’s ukulele tones and soft vocals gently embrace his boundless love for his late grandmother.
Released as a single in October 2011 and included on the album “ALOHA,” this song is imbued with an eternal sentiment for the person who taught him the strength to live and the meaning of love.
In March 2021, it was featured on the love-song compilation CD series “It Was Surely Love,” winning the hearts of a new generation.
A heartwarming piece that deeply resonates with those who have experienced parting from someone dear or who wish to express their gratitude.
FlowerJUJU
JUJU is a singer-songwriter known for her deep emotional expression and diverse musical style.
Her single “Hana” (Flower), released on November 23, 2022, serves as the theme song for the film “Motherhood,” delicately portraying the complexities of the mother–daughter relationship.
The song’s appeal lies in how it uses the metaphor of flowers to depict the diversity of human relationships and the beauty of each individual’s existence.
Like flowers that grow in different environments, it celebrates the importance of each of us living and shining in our own ways and at our own pace.
It’s highly recommended as an empowering message for those trying to overcome difficult times or who feel they are losing sight of their true selves.
apoptosisOfisharu Higedan Dism
The human body is constantly renewing its cells to stay in good condition, and it is said that each cell’s death is programmed.
This grand, floating track layers that programmed cell death over the finite span of a human life.
It makes you reflect on how we will face the parting that is death, which inevitably draws closer, and what we can do before it arrives.
The first half features an unreal, electronic sound, while the second half unfolds into a more organic band sound, evoking the process of accepting farewell.
One LoveEXILE
A track included on EXILE’s fifth original album, “EXILE EVOLUTION,” released in 2007.
The sorrow and pain of losing someone precious are immeasurable.
The lyrics of this song read like a message from someone who has passed away to those left behind.
It’s a moving song that, while thinking of the person who’s gone, encourages you to live positively.
Memories from todayAimer
Aimer is a hugely popular singer-songwriter.
With her distinctive, breathy vocals as her weapon, she delivers numerous masterpieces with exceptional expressiveness and vocal skill.
In this song, she pours out a heartfelt longing for a beloved person who has passed away.
Reading the lyrics, the female protagonist seems to be someone who puts on a brave face in front of others.
Yet, she also carries a vulnerable side within, and she candidly confesses how much she wants to see that special person and how lonely she feels—an honesty that is deeply moving.
The music video depicts a father and a little girl, but it’s a song I hope everyone who has lost someone dear—be it a parent, a partner, or a family member—will listen to.
Thank you…KOKIA
“Arigatou…” released in 1999 by singer-songwriter KOKIA, is a song filled with gratitude for a loved one who has been lost.
Sung in KOKIA’s straightforward, warmly resonant voice, its simple yet powerful lyrics convey deep appreciation for someone dear and a resolve to live strongly from here on.
It frees listeners’ hearts from the pain of loss.
Even the “thank you” left unsaid will surely reach them if you keep thinking of it.
Why not listen while looking up at the sky, thinking of the one you love?
NonfictionHirai Ken
This is a song by Ken Hirai, a singer-songwriter known for his alluring husky high-tone voice.
The song is about a friend who took their own life.
If you learned that a friend chose to end their life, you would of course feel the sorrow of their absence, but also a swirl of emotions like anger and the frustration of not having been able to support them.
Alongside those tangled, complicated feelings, the song also expresses a simple, straightforward longing—“I want to see you.” It carries a warmth that seems to stay close to the grief of those left behind.