Songs to Play at My Own Funeral: Timeless Gems to Make Farewells Uniquely My Own
Have you ever thought, “If they play a song at my own funeral, I’d like it to be this one”? Some of you may also have felt, “I want to send off someone precious to me with this song.” In this article, we’ve gathered songs that are perfect for playing at your own funeral or for expressing gratitude to those who have supported you until now.
From massive hits to little-known gems, we’ve selected a wide range of tracks.
If you’re looking for music to color a final farewell, please use this as a reference.
- [Music Funeral] BGM to Remember the Deceased | Spotlight on Requiems and Dirges Praying for Peace
- [Bereavement Song] To you whom I can no longer meet... Tear-jerking songs about death
- [Songs of Bereavement] Songs about losing a loved one. Tracks to listen to while thinking of someone dear
- [Thank-You Song] A song to convey your feelings of “thank you” to someone special
- [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.
- A song I want people who have lost a beloved partner to listen to
- Masterpieces of requiems and dirges
- Songs that Teach the Value of Life | A Collection of Masterpieces Celebrating the Wonder of Living
- Masterpieces that sing about various lives. Recommended popular songs.
- [Classic and Contemporary Hits] Emotionally Stirring, Heart-Touching Songs
- Love, bonds, parting, cheers… songs so moving they pierce the heart and make you cry uncontrollably
- [For when you want to cry or feel sad] Tear-jerking masterpieces that make you cry when you listen
Songs to Play at My Funeral | Timeless Gems to Color Your Farewell in Your Own Way (21–30)
Will (suicide note).Cocco
A song by the female singer-songwriter Cocco that shocked the J-pop scene with its powerful, hard-hitting lyrics and alternative sound paired with a pop melody.
Included on her first album, Bougainvillea, it’s a track that stands out for its refreshing arrangement that contrasts with lyrics that feel, quite literally, like a will.
The message—wanting someone to move forward and forget you, yet still remember you from time to time—captures the unresolved emotions of the deceased.
It’s a superb number with a crystalline, floating quality that conveys a wish for those left behind to share the same feelings.
supernovaBUMP OF CHICKEN
The 11th single by BUMP OF CHICKEN, a four-piece rock band that has had a tremendous influence on Japanese rock bands since the 2000s and continues to evolve while taking on new challenges.
Released as a double A-side single together with “Karma,” the song features a beautiful arrangement centered on acoustic guitar and rich choral work.
The feeling of realizing the magnitude of something only after losing it may be felt most keenly at a funeral, where parting becomes forever.
This is a song that makes you feel the pain of farewell and teaches the importance of acting the moment something important comes to mind.
Close your eyesHirai Ken
This is the 20th single by singer-songwriter Ken Hirai, who has won support for his delicate yet emotional vocals featuring a distinctive edge voice.
Written as the theme song for the film “Crying Out Love, in the Center of the World,” many listeners may associate it with parting through death based on the movie’s imagery.
The lyrics portray an irreplaceable presence that cannot be forgotten and the resolve to keep living beyond that loss—essentially a message the departed might wish to leave for those who remain.
It’s an immortal masterpiece in which Ken Hirai’s rich expressive power illuminates life’s final moments.
contrailArai Yumi
A song by singer-songwriter Yumi Arai—affectionately known as Yuming—who now performs under the name Yumi Matsutoya.
It is the title track of her first album, “Hikoukigumo” (Vapor Trail), and regained the spotlight forty years later when it was used as the theme song for Studio Ghibli’s 2013 film The Wind Rises.
The lyrics link the fleeting nature of a vapor trail—brilliantly coloring the sky yet destined to disappear—with the fragility of life, prompting us to once again feel the presence of those who truly lived.
Its gentle melody and soft arrangement envelop the space, making it a comforting number suitable even for a funeral.
dearestKOH+
The second single by the musical duo KOH+, formed by female singer Kou Shibasaki and singer-songwriter Masaharu Fukuyama.
Written specifically as the theme song for the film “The Devotion of Suspect X,” it’s a track whose clear, transparent vocals and delicate arrangement feel wonderfully soothing.
The lyrics evoke unwavering love and the inability to accept parting, expressing emotions shared by both the deceased and those left behind.
It’s a powerful yet heartrending ballad that portrays the desire to remain connected somewhere, even after being separated.
era; age; time; periodNakajima Miyuki
This is the second single by singer-songwriter Miyuki Nakajima, the only solo artist to achieve the extraordinary feat of topping the singles chart across four decades—from the 1970s to the 2000s.
Selected as one of Japan’s 100 Best Songs, it is widely known across generations thanks to numerous cover versions by many artists.
Its lyrics, which make you believe that even if we part in this life we will meet again someday, leave a positive message that will resonate with attendees.
True to its title, it is a timeless masterpiece that ensures a funeral does not end in sadness alone, remaining unfaded even as the times change.
I long to see you now.MISIA
This is the 23rd single by the female singer MISIA, an artist whose name was born from the desire to “bring music to the people of ASIA,” and who, true to that name, has become a leading vocalist not only in Japan but across Asia.
Chosen as the theme song for the TV drama “JIN,” its beautiful melody, woven through her emotional vocals, truly stirs the heart.
The fact that those left behind would cry for you is, perhaps, proof that you left something meaningful in their lives.
It’s a song that overflows with feelings for loved ones and lends a lyrical touch to a funeral.