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)
planetariumOtsuka Ai
The 10th single by singer-songwriter Ai Otsuka, used as the image song for the first season of the TV drama “Boys Over Flowers.” With a melancholic arrangement that features Japanese motifs and evokes a summer night sky, it’s a heartrending number.
The lyrics, which conjure feelings for someone you can no longer meet, are likely to resonate with many attending a funeral.
It’s a song that vividly brings back memories of the deceased for a final farewell, depicting the sorrow of those left behind.
Tears Flowing EndlesslyNatsukawa Rimi
This is the third single by singer Rimi Natsukawa, who won the Grand Prix at the Nagasaki Kayō Festival during her junior high school years, becoming the youngest winner in history.
Renowned for a voice said to have the power to heal, she has performed numerous classic songs.
Originally a song by Ryoko Moriyama, it has since been covered by many artists after Rimi Natsukawa’s rendition.
The lyrics, which look back on memories with a loved one, are enough to move both those departing and those left behind to tears.
Embracing sadness and loneliness alike, it’s a number that gently adorns a funeral, etching memories of the individual into the heart.
Songs to Play at My Funeral: Exquisite Masterpieces to Color Your Farewell in Your Own Way (31–40)
Always With MeKimura Yumi
This is the debut single by Osaka-born singer Yumi Kimura, who soothes fans’ hearts with her gentle, self-accompanied vocals on the lyre-like instrument known as the lyre.
Chosen as the theme song for the Studio Ghibli film Spirited Away, its airy arrangement featuring a distinctive timbre is wonderfully comforting.
Though it speaks of present sadness, its message that we will meet again someday seems to wipe away the grief of those left behind and gently encourage them.
It’s a song that tenderly envelops a funeral space, evoking the wishes of the departed and the resolve of those who remain.
FlowerORANGE RANGE
This is the eighth single by ORANGE RANGE, a five-piece rock band from Okinawa known for their high-energy songs and live performances, as well as a rock sound that incorporates a wide range of musical elements.
The track was used as the theme song for the film “Be with You,” and its catchy melody and lyrical arrangement are truly pleasing.
The lyrics, which express the resolve to live strongly until the day we meet again even after parting, convey a powerful bond between those left behind and the deceased.
It’s a moving rock ballad that evokes the determination to keep walking on behalf of those who have passed away.
Like the flow of a riverMisora Hibari
This is the 304th single by Misora Hibari, a singer who reigned as the queen of the Showa-era music scene and also thrived as an actress and entrepreneur.
It was the last single she released during her lifetime, and having been selected as one of the One Hundred Best Japanese Songs, it remains beloved across generations.
Its message, depicting the grand flow of life, evokes the image of reaching completion at a funeral—the final destination.
It’s a fitting number to mark the end of a life, with those left behind sending you off as they reflect on their memories with you.
Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125 “Choral,” from the 4th movement: “Ode to Joy”Ludwig van Beethoven
An immortal masterpiece woven by a grand orchestra and chorus.
Ludwig van Beethoven completed it over the course of about nine years while battling his lost hearing.
At its premiere in May 1824, the audience erupted in thunderous applause, but the already deaf Beethoven did not notice until a singer turned him around—an episode that has been passed down as deeply moving.
In Japan, this work is also known for being performed nationwide at the end of the year.
It is a piece that resonates with the heart, one that sends off life’s farewells not only with sorrow, but with gratitude for the path traveled and with hope.
existenceWANIMA
This is a gem-like ballad by WANIMA, woven with deep gratitude and love for a grandmother.
Inspired by member KENTA’s experiences of being raised by his grandmother from childhood, the song vividly depicts memories from a seaside town.
Its mid-tempo melody and heartfelt vocals richly express warm feelings toward someone precious.
Released in March 2025, the track was written for Flower Gift Service “Hana Cupid” and used as the theme song for their Mother’s Day campaign commercial.
The CM featuring Shohei Miura drew attention as well, and the song has garnered notice as the band’s first ballad-style track.
It’s a piece I wholeheartedly recommend to those carrying the sorrow of losing someone dear or wishing to convey gratitude to the precious people in their lives today.