[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, my precious one 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 your loved one (131–140)
Let’s go home.Fuji Kaze
A masterpiece by Fujii Kaze that gently depicts the boundary between life and death.
Closing out the album HELP EVER HURT NEVER, this work was released in May 2020.
With abstract, poetic language, it weaves reflections on parting from a loved one and thoughts about the world after one’s own absence.
In the music video, set in Kamisu City, Ibaraki Prefecture, the striking image of walking down a straight road while pushing a sofa on wheels stands out.
Embracing the feelings of trying to move forward while letting go of inner conflict and sorrow, this piece quietly envelops the hearts of those who have lost someone dear.
I want to keep gazing at you.ZARD
It’s a song included on the album “TODAY IS ANOTHER DAY.” While the song as a whole isn’t strictly about bereavement, it was written with the feelings of concern that arose upon learning from a fan letter that a high school fan had died in a motorcycle accident, and for the students and family facing that death head-on.
ALONEB’z
From the intro, you’re drawn straight into the grand ballad world of B’z.
It’s also a rare song in which vocalist Koshi Inaba plays the piano.
I believe that love is something inseparable from human life.
Within it, heartbreak can sadly happen, and unfortunately, sometimes that parting comes through a lover’s death—an experience that those who’ve been married and spent many years together are almost certain to face.
The lyrics portray that poignant scene: even if you’re lucky enough to meet someone, in the end you’re left alone.
Precisely because of that, this song makes you want to cherish the time you can be together now and make it joyful.
formulaOkazaki Taiiku
The lyrics about bereavement penned by Okazaki Taiiku, whose compositional and directorial talents are outstanding.
If we think of it that way, does “Shiki” mean a funeral? The distorted world that only those numbed by grief can see deepens the sorrow.
Interpreting this song as being about bereavement is one possibility; it could also be thoughts about parting with someone important or experiencing something overwhelmingly sad.
How did it sound to you?
A love song dedicated to youHamada Shogo
Many people may have unexpectedly had the experience of someone they care deeply about even appearing in their dreams.
The song sung by Shogo Hamada is a love song to his late wife who appeared in a dream.
The lyrics are striking for expressing both gratitude to his wife, who conveyed a message in the dream to the self who still cannot accept their parting, and the determination to live strongly.
It’s a ballad where a poignant sorrow and inner strength coexist, vividly evoking the image of someone struggling with all their might to overcome the grief of farewell.
Wind NagiSuga Shikao
Singer-songwriter Shikao Suga captivates fans with a musical style that blends soul and funk into J-pop and with lyrics that deftly portray human psychology.
Kaze-nagi, the track that closes his sixth album TIME, was used as an insert song in the TV anime Honey and Clover II.
Its story—about the sorrow of having to keep walking forward while thinking of someone precious you’ve lost—is a path that everyone encounters at least once in life.
This heart-wrenching ballad, driven by arpeggios on acoustic guitar, intensifies the sense of yearning.
AM11:00HY
It’s one of the great love songs in J-pop, but it can also be heard as a song that reflects on someone who has passed away.
The refreshing melody brings back vivid memories of the happy days the two shared.
The scene of going out on a drive date captures raw, genuine feelings.
The beloved person’s cheerful profile may come to mind, leaving you with a pang of sorrow.
Still, the two of you in those memories are eternal, and they will never fade.
