[Songs of Bereavement] Songs about losing someone dear. Tracks to listen to while thinking of a loved one.
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
- A classic song that sings of gratitude to one’s parents. Thank you, Dad and Mom!
[Songs of Bereavement] Songs about losing someone dear. Tracks to listen to while thinking of your loved one (51–60)
You are dead.Kanzaki Iori
The aching feelings pierce both the ears and the heart.
This piece is a track included on the third EP, “Ensnared by Freedom,” released in August 2024, with the music video unveiled in December.
The lyrics spun by Kanzaki Iori poignantly depict the grief of losing a loved one and the magnitude of their presence, striking close to home.
The intense fixation on “you” and a sharp distrust of the world are powerfully expressed, resonating deeply with listeners.
It’s a song that makes you reflect on life’s impermanence and the essence of love.
A piece I especially want those feeling lonely to hear.
Becoming a Thousand WindsAkiyama Masashi
“A Thousand Winds” is a song beloved by people of all ages.
Sung from the perspective of someone who has passed away, its lyrics say “don’t be sad,” and Masafumi Akikawa’s mystical voice is surely known by almost everyone.
In fact, this piece is a translation of the American memorial poem “Do not stand at my grave and weep,” set to music.
Reading the original poem will deepen your understanding of the lyrics even further.
It’s also worth noting that there are versions by other artists.
I want to see you.sawada chikako
Chikaco Sawada’s “Aitai” (“I Want to See You”) overflows with the longing to see a loved one who has passed away.
Released in 1990 as her fourth single, the song won the Grand Prix at the 24th All Japan Cable Broadcasting Awards and became Sawada’s biggest hit.
Its gentle sound and lyrics about the sorrow that your precious someone is no longer here resonate deeply.
Listening to it, the words “Why did you have to disappear when we had promises?” pierce your heart and bring you to tears.
Rather than suppressing grief in your heart, recognizing your true feeling of “I want to see you,” even though it’s painful, may be a first step toward seeing reality from a different perspective.
Please give it a listen.
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.
[Songs of Bereavement] Songs about losing a loved one. Tracks to listen to while thinking of someone dear (61–70)
A world without you is heartbreaking.CHIHIRO
Even as time passes, this song portrays the surge of sorrow that wells up when you recall memories of someone dear.
Because it’s based on CHIHIRO’s real experience of losing someone important, the expression of grief feels strikingly authentic.
With a piano-centered, heartrending sound, it vividly conveys the ache of feelings that can no longer reach their destination and the way sadness grows within the heart.
Another key point is that the remembered scenes are from ordinary, everyday life, which strongly underscores the pain of being unable to do even the simplest things anymore.
Song of CandyBUMP OF CHICKEN
A gem-like ballad by BUMP OF CHICKEN that sings of deep bonds and trust.
Featured on the album “orbital period,” this song explores the essence of “believing.” It portrays a relationship so profound that one completely trusts the other—so much so that even betrayal might go unnoticed.
Fujiwara Motoo’s delicate lyricism unfolds through cosmic-scale storytelling of the two’s encounter and the “candy” as a symbol imbued with a soul.
It’s a recommended track for those who have experienced parting from someone dear, or for anyone who wants to trust someone deeply.
Its heartfelt lyrics and beautiful melody will gently embrace the listener’s heart.
The Final RiverCHEMISTRY
This is a song performed by CHEMISTRY, created as the theme song for the film The Elephant’s Back.
Yasushi Akimoto, the author of the original novel, wrote the lyrics, which reflect the story’s theme of looking back on one’s life as death approaches.
Even amid the sorrow of nearing death, the lyrics convey the sense of happiness at having met a loved one and express a message of gratitude to that person.
The sound carries no sense of tragic despair about death; instead, it has a warm atmosphere that seems to express the happiness within the heart.