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 a loved one. Tracks to listen to while thinking of someone dear
- 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.
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Songs about losing friends: bereavement, betrayal, and separation (21–30)
eightIU
Singer-songwriter IU, who is so popular in South Korea that she’s called the “Nation’s Little Sister” and is also active as an actor, released the digital single “Eight” on May 6, 2020.
The song drew attention for her collaboration with BTS member SUGA.
The lyrics, which feel like she’s addressing a friend who took their own life, convey a sense of loneliness and despair at being left behind.
It’s a sentimental number whose pop sensibility is laced with melancholy, with melodies and arrangements that tug at the heart.
Hiroamazarashi
This is a song included on the album “Hata,” released by amazarashi in October 2014.
It was created by Hiromu Akita in memory of a friend who passed away, imbued with the sorrow and poignancy of losing a companion.
The song is characterized by lyrics and a melody that strike deeply at the listener’s heart.
It carefully depicts the emotional nuances of those who have experienced a sudden farewell, expressing both the grief of losing someone dear and the determination to cherish memories with that person.
As a piece that stands beside those who have lost a friend or are trying to overcome parting with someone important, it will surely serve as a source of comfort for many.
Thank youMACO
This song by MACO is a work filled with deep emotion that conveys heartfelt gratitude and love.
Released in July 2014, it gently embraces feelings for a friend who has been lost.
The harmony of piano tones and warm vocals sinks deeply into the listener’s heart.
The lyrics express lingering attachment and gratitude toward a cherished person who can no longer be met, making it a song that stands beside those who have experienced parting and loss.
This ballad, which reawakens the gratitude sleeping in the heart, is a must-listen for anyone who has experienced the loss of someone dear.
Beautiful daysNEW!arashi
A track that became a hot topic as the theme song for the drama “Ryusei no Kizuna,” starring Kazunari Ninomiya.
Released in November 2008, it is Arashi’s 24th single.
It delicately portrays the feeling of continuing to think of someone while carrying lost time and unreturned feelings.
The warm, mid-tempo melody further accentuates the poignancy.
Perfectly aligning with the drama’s worldview, the song won the Best Drama Song at the 59th The Television Drama Academy Awards.
It’s a moving ballad that gently stays close to your heart when you want to look back on the beautiful memories you shared, even while bearing sadness.
I’m afraid to believe.Mizuno Atsu
Atsu Mizuno, a Vocaloid producer who drew attention after their original song “Ikiru” entered the Hall of Fame on Niconico and became a huge hit with 10 million views on YouTube.
Their track “Shinjiru Koto ga Kowai,” which entered the CeVIO Hall of Fame on April 7, 2022, is striking for its ensemble featuring a delicate yet commanding piano.
The lyrics evoke the fear of being betrayed by others and the disappointment in oneself that follows—feelings many who’ve had similar experiences will likely relate to.
It’s a sentimental Vocaloid number that conveys the universal darkness of society within a short runtime.
ever freeNEW!Hamasaki Ayumi
A masterpiece that sings of quiet pain and renewal, leaving a deep afterglow in the heart.
It begins with scenes that evoke parting and expresses a gentle freedom found beyond sorrow.
The restrained, translucent vocals resonate in listeners’ chests like a requiem.
The lyrics were written by Ayumi Hamasaki, and the song was included as a coupling track on her 14th single “vogue,” released in April 2000.
This work is recommended for those who have lost someone dear and are suffering from a sense of loss.
It will gently stay by your side when you want to quietly reflect on memories and face forward with warmth.
I remember your warmth.NEW!Teshima Aoi
It feels as if the gentle singing voice seeps all the way into the depths of your heart.
This is a song by Aoi Teshima, who is active across a wide range of genres including film music.
It’s a message song that quietly traces the memory of someone’s presence who is no longer there, and the lingering warmth that remains even after it’s gone.
It’s the kind of song that makes you cry helplessly as it brings back thoughts of a loved one that quietly stay with you in everyday life.
Included on the album “Ren’dez-vous,” released in July 2014, this track drew attention when it was featured in a commercial for FANCL’s additive-free skincare.
It’s a song we hope will be heard by anyone who wants to recover from the grief of losing someone important, or who wishes to quietly look back on the days they spent together.