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 someone dear. Tracks to listen to while thinking of a loved one.
- [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: Exquisite Masterpieces to Color Your Farewell in Your Own Way (31–40)
waxing; filling up; becoming full; growing (e.g., the moon growing fuller)Fuji Kaze
A love song by Fujii Kaze that wraps the magnitude of loss in a wistful voice and warm piano melodies.
It beautifully and delicately portrays parting from a loved one, becoming a source of comfort that lets you walk toward the future while staying close to cherished memories.
Serving as the theme song for the film “My Girlfriend Is a Serial Killer” released in March 2024, it skillfully expresses life’s impermanence and the preciousness of continuing to love despite it.
This work stands beside those who have experienced a farewell with someone dear or who love someone deeply, while also prompting us to reflect on the meaning of life.
cherry blossoms drifting awayUtada Hikaru
A gem of a ballad by Hikaru Utada that gently embraces the hearts of all who have experienced parting with someone precious.
Like cherry blossoms that bloom and fall, it gracefully portrays the transience of life, quietly singing of longing for those we’ve lost and the resolve to keep looking forward and living on.
The simple, piano-centered arrangement highlights the delicate vocals, making this a deeply moving masterpiece.
Released in November 2012 as the theme song for the film Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo, it was later included on the album Fantôme.
For those grieving the loss of someone dear, or striving to move forward from that sense of loss, this song offers profound empathy and gentle comfort.
Departures ~memory~Hisaishi Joe
A gem-like instrumental piece that colored the film Departures (Okuribito).
The profound tones performed by thirteen of Japan’s leading cellists and the lyrical melodies strike straight to the heart.
Meticulously crafted by Joe Hisaishi, the music beautifully conveys, alongside the film’s themes, both the solemnity and warmth inherent in the profession of a nokanshi—those who prepare the deceased for their final journey.
Also included on the album “Songs of Hope: The Essential Joe Hisaishi Vol.
2,” this work was released as the film’s soundtrack in September 2008 and won the Japan Academy Prize for Best Music that year.
It was also used in the 2010 stage adaptation, where live performances captivated audiences.
This is a highly recommended piece for moments of parting with someone dear—when you wish to quietly send them off while cherishing the memories you shared.
I can’t put it into wordsofukōsu
Partings from those dear to us, encounters with the ones we love, and emotions too deep for words.
This gem of a ballad, released by Off Course in February 1982, gently sings of such delicate moments in life.
Kazumasa Oda’s clear, pure voice and the beautiful melody seep deep into the heart.
The song is included on the album “over” and was released as a double A-side single with “Kimi ni Okuru Uta.” In 1999, it was chosen for a life insurance company’s commercial, once again moving the hearts of many.
It’s a song to play when your feelings for someone overflow or when you want to express gratitude to someone precious.
A flower that blooms only hereKobukuro
A classic by Kobukuro whose gentle, embracing melody and heartfelt lyrics leave listeners with a warm feeling.
The song carries a message about reexamining the irreplaceable things found only in a particular place, even when facing life’s hardships, resulting in a piece filled with quiet hope.
Released in May 2005 as the theme song for the Nippon TV drama “Ruri no Shima,” it was born from the encounter with a story set on an island in Okinawa.
With lyrics that portray rich natural scenery and a sense of inner peace, it captured the hearts of many.
It’s a recommended song for those who, in moments of seeing off a loved one, wish to offer gratitude to the departed along with warm memories.
Songs to Play at My Funeral | Exquisite Masterpieces to Color Your Farewell in Your Own Way (41–50)
One more time,One more chanceYamazaki Masayoshi
This is the fourth single by singer-songwriter Masayoshi Yamazaki, who continues to captivate fans with his distinctive, emotional vocals and multi-instrumental prowess.
The song was used as the theme for his first starring film, Tsuki to Kyabetsu (The Moon and a Cabbage), and is also known as one of his signature tracks.
While it’s often perceived as a love song, many parts of the lyrics can be felt to resonate with feelings for a beloved person who can no longer be seen.
It’s a wistful number that echoes an unending love for someone who has passed away.
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.
In conclusion
Imagining your own funeral is never pleasant.
However, if you’d like to express your gratitude and various feelings through background music, please use this article as a guide and start selecting songs little by little—thinking, “This song would convey my thanks,” or “If they played that song, I could have a farewell that feels true to me.”