A song about losing a friend: bereavement, betrayal, and separation.
We can lose friends in many ways—sudden bereavement, betrayal, or realizing you can no longer reach them.
This article introduces songs themed around losing a friend.
I’ve gathered a range of tracks: from moving ballads to songs with bright melodies that bring tears once you read the lyrics.
Losing a dear friend is painful, no matter how it happens.
I hope you’ll find a song among these that brings some comfort to your heart.
Please try listening to the ones that match how you’re feeling.
- [Songs of Bereavement] Songs about losing someone dear. Tracks to listen to while thinking of a loved one.
- Farewell Song: A goodbye song. A tearful parting song.
- Songs to listen to when you've been betrayed. Classic hits about betrayal.
- [Bereavement Song] To you whom I can no longer meet... Tear-jerking songs about death
- [Memorial Song] A moving classic and love song dedicated to a beloved person embarking on a journey to heaven
- [A moving friendship song] For dear friends and best friends. Songs of friendship that make you feel the bond.
- [Songs to Listen to When You Want to Die] I want to disappear... A song to support you who feel that way
- Masterpieces about best friends. Recommended popular songs.
- A song I want people who have lost a beloved partner to listen to
- A farewell song for a dear friend—an uplifting graduation song that conveys heartfelt gratitude.
- [For Women] A Song to Gift Your Dear Friend | A Curated Selection of Heart‑Touching Friendship Songs!
- [Tears of Joy] Beautiful Friendship Songs with Lyrics You’ll Want to Gift to a Dear Friend
- Friendship Songs: Rediscover Your Bonds! A Carefully Curated Selection of Moving Masterpieces That Will Bring You to Tears
Songs about losing a friend. Bereavement, betrayal, separation (11–20)
Sleeping BeautySEKAI NO OWARI
A gem-like ballad that gently wraps the grief and sense of loss from losing someone precious in a fairy-tale worldview.
On a morning after waking, the inability to accept the reality that a loved one is no longer there is woven into a fantastical story.
With SEKAI NO OWARI’s signature dreamy melody and tender vocals that stay close to profound sorrow, the song delivers true comfort to listeners’ hearts.
Released in July 2012, it was also used in a commercial for NTT Plala.
When you can’t face the memory of a painful farewell or want to sort out your feelings for someone dear, this song will gently embrace your heart.
stepsPakuyuna
Ayumi (Steps) portrays someone trying to move forward while thinking of the person who has supported their heart.
It was created in 2022 by singer-songwriter Park Yuna, who is active mainly on social media such as TikTok and YouTube.
The song is imbued with her feelings for her dear friend who has passed away.
The lyrics unfold a dialogue between two people who spent their youth together, evoking scenes of them talking about their dreams and hopes.
Her clear, translucent vocals convey genuine emotion.
Please receive the message overflowing with love and gratitude for a cherished friend she can no longer see.
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.
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.
squallMONGOL800
It’s a grand, dramatic slow ballad.
Unstoppable tears are likened to incessant rain, depicting deep sorrow and a sense of loss.
The lyrics are marked by profound feelings for a loved one and the sadness that comes with that love.
Included on the album “Daniel,” released in August 2006, it was MONGOL800’s first new work in about two and a half years.
Recommended as a song that gently accompanies those who are experiencing deep grief after losing someone precious.
my starRozarīna
A heart-touching song by Rosalía themed around parting with someone precious.
It portrays, through her warm vocals, the sorrow of suddenly losing a loved one and the strength to keep moving forward while holding onto the light they left behind.
Released in August 2023, the track was chosen as the ending theme for Season 2 of the TV anime EDENS ZERO.
It’s a song that will surely resonate with those who have experienced saying goodbye to someone important, or who continue to cherish a loved one in their hearts.
It is an anthem of encouragement for everyone who, even while carrying sadness, strives to face forward with the light that person left within them.
Songs about losing friends: bereavement, betrayal, and separation (21–30)
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.