[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 (21–30)
PhoenixNEW!Saitō Kazuyoshi
This is a song included on Kazuyoshi Saito’s album “Tsuki ga Noboreba” (When the Moon Rises).
Released in September 2009, it is known for being written with deep feelings for Kiyoshiro Imawano, who passed away that May.
It goes beyond mere sentimentality, radiating the fiery spirit of a rock musician.
Imbued with a wish to keep being reborn like a phoenix, it carries a strength that looks forward even amid sorrow.
When you feel lonely after losing someone important, it can make you feel that the messages they left behind continue to live on within you.
While facing grief, it gently gives a push to keep living earnestly—why not let yourself be enveloped by such a warm and powerful voice?
afterglowNEW!Sugimoto Rarara
It’s a song that gently unfolds from an image like gazing up at stars twinkling in the night sky, carrying a deep longing for someone precious who has been lost.
Singer-songwriter Lalala Sugimoto created it over a decade ago; it remained unsung for a long time, but after time passed, she internalized it in her own way, re-recorded it, and released it digitally in June 2022.
It was later included on the album “Even If It’s Broken, I Love It,” released in September 2023.
The delicate acoustic sound woven by piano and percussion tenderly envelops the passage of time and the sorrow lingering deep in the heart.
When you want to quietly shed tears under the night sky, remembering someone dear you can no longer meet, please listen softly.
[Songs of Bereavement] Songs about losing someone dear. Tracks to listen to while thinking of a loved one (31–40)
Hello,my friendNEW!Matsutōya Yumi
It’s a classic song that, alongside late-summer imagery, conveys a heartfelt longing for someone one can never meet again.
Released as a single in July 1994, it is widely cherished as one of Yumi Matsutoya’s signature works.
It was also used as the theme song for the Fuji TV drama “A Summer with You,” and remains etched in many people’s memories.
Contrary to its title, which sounds like a greeting for a reunion, the song quietly embraces the pain of loss and portrays a protagonist who holds dear the memories of days gone by.
Its forward-looking message—seeking a sliver of hope even within sorrow—resonates deeply.
It’s a companion for nights when you remember someone important and let the tears fall softly.
Because you’re not hereNEW!Tamaki Kōji
This song delicately portrays the sense of loss when a loved one is no longer by your side, along with a quiet, prayer-like wish that lingers deep in the heart.
Crafted by Koji Tamaki, one of Japan’s foremost singer-songwriters, it was released in 2012 as the opening track of Anzenchitai’s album “The Ballad House ~Just Old Fashioned Love Songs~.” Beginning with a gentle piano tone and gradually layering in the band’s sound, the arrangement brings out the depth of his rich, resonant voice.
Transcending a simple farewell, the piece speaks to the loneliness and warmth that come with living itself.
It’s a song I’d like those seeking music to gently accompany their pain to listen to quietly.
Even if I’m not there.Hirai Dai
This is a heartwarming ballad themed around a letter to an unborn child.
Carried by gentle piano and strings, Dai Hirai’s clear, pure vocals delicately weave a message of love to the children of the future.
As it conjures images of family, it expresses a profound love and a powerful wish that they live happily even after we are gone—conveying the depth of affection for an irreplaceable presence.
Released digitally in January 2022, the song is included on the album “HOPE / WISH.” Its music video, a collaboration with Tekken’s flipbook-style animation, also garnered a strong response.
It’s a song to listen to when you want to sort out your feelings for someone precious or when you feel anxious about the future.
Wrapped in warm affection, the vocals are sure to soothe your heart.
tearsSEKAI NO OWARI
A soul-stirring, gem-like ballad from SEKAI NO OWARI that delicately portrays the aching sorrow of losing a dear friend.
It carefully traces the journey of two people who, despite an unfavorable first impression of each other, grow into irreplaceable “brothers.” The questions addressed to heaven carry both the heartbreak of longing for a reunion and gratitude for the days they shared, leaving a powerful impact on listeners.
Released in July 2021, the song is included on the album “scent of memory” and was chosen as the theme song for SEKAI NO OWARI’s first large-scale exhibition, THE SECRET HOUSE.
A resonant track that offers comfort to anyone who has experienced parting with someone important.
amberSEKAI NO OWARI
An emotionally moving song by SEKAI NO OWARI that gently sings about how memories with loved ones continue to live on in our hearts, with “farewell”—an inevitable part of life—as its theme.
It quietly portrays the bonds that remain within us even when they can no longer be seen, the anxiety of forgetting, and the gratitude we feel for those precious presences that continue to influence our lives even now.
Released in March 2025 and written as the theme song for the film “The Boy and the Dog,” the track is also included on the album “Nautilus.” It is a song that stands beside those facing the sorrow of losing someone dear and the changing relationships that come with the passage of time.