[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.
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- 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 about losing someone dear. Songs I want to listen to while thinking of a loved one (71–80)
Goodbye, thank youNatsukawa Rimi
Released in 2005 as Rimi Natsukawa’s ninth single.
The lyrics and composition were by Kentaro Kobuchi of Kobukuro, and the words express gratitude to someone who has passed away.
With its gentle vocals and sound that move the heart, it’s a song we’d like to dedicate to everyone who has lost someone dear.
DeparturesAI
AI, who has captivated many with her crystal-clear voice, added lyrics to and performed the theme song from the film Departures, resulting in the song of the same name, “Okuribito.” In addition to her beautiful vocals, please pay attention to the melody composed by Joe Hisaishi.
Another point worth mentioning is the content of the lyrics: they liken sorrow to a blade, depicting the agony of its pain.
Those who feel a similar sorrow or pain will likely find their eyes welling with tears.
The Day I Became a JewelBUMP OF CHICKEN
This song from the 2016 album “Butterflies,” when you take a careful look at the lyrics, can feel like it’s about bereavement.
You can quickly tell it depicts a breakup with someone dear, and it shows how deeply I’m plunged into despair by that parting—there are even lines that make you think you might no longer be in this world.
If you’ve experienced the loss of someone important, you may find parts that resonate with your own feelings.
It’s a track that carries a sense of hope—overcoming sorrow and wanting to see as much of the world as possible, including the parts you couldn’t see.
contrailMatsutōya Yumi
This song, which was featured as the theme for Studio Ghibli’s The Wind Rises and enjoyed a revival hit, was originally written during the period when she performed under the name Yumi Arai and was provided to the singer Izumi Yukimura.
A self-cover version was later released.
The lyrics are drawn from her experience of losing a friend, conveying emotions that feel like a fragile wish.
Her clear, expansive vocals gently seep into the depths of the heart.
It’s a classic of Japanese music that deserves to be sung for generations to come.
AND I LOVE YOUDREAMS COME TRUE
The song, for which vocalist Miwa Yoshida wrote both the lyrics and the music, carries a message to her late husband, Ken Sueda.
The lyrics are striking in the way they convey memories of a beloved person who has passed away and express gratitude up to now, and because they are rendered in plain, unadorned words, the message comes through directly.
You can also sense the loneliness of no longer being able to meet, as well as the effort to overcome sorrow, giving the impression that it portrays an unsteady, wavering heart.
Goodbye, my beloved.Hana＊Hana
This is the signature song by the female duo Hana*Hana, released as a single in 2000.
It became a major hit after being selected as the theme song for the drama “Oyaji.” Many people might still sing it at karaoke even today.
The song is a message written by Izumi Kojima, who wrote both the lyrics and music, to her late grandfather.
It’s about someone precious you can’t help but keep remembering no matter how much time passes.
The lyrics resonate as they portray the frustration of not being able to move on, while still trying to look forward.
Things that have formShibasaki Kou
A song that strings together the words of a woman who is leaving this world, leaving her loved one behind.
It’s a track by Ko Shibasaki, who not only acts but is also active as a serious musician.
We don’t often hear the words of someone about to set off on their final journey, and songs are usually from the perspective of those left behind.
But when you listen to this song, you realize, “Departing while leaving someone you love behind is just as painful as being the one left behind.” Within the lyrics—filled with the sorrow of leaving a loved one and the guilt of having to go—you can feel a steady, genuine love that warms the heart.