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 friends: death, betrayal, separation (1–10)
The Day I Became a JewelBUMP OF CHICKEN
This song poignantly portrays the sorrow of parting with a friend.
It was included on BUMP OF CHICKEN’s 8th album, “Butterflies,” released in February 2016, and was also featured in a Calpis Water commercial.
Its arrangement conveys a quiet intensity, and the lyrics impressively express the feeling of cherishing a lost bond like a precious gem.
There’s also an anecdote about the band convening at the studio at 3 a.m.
It’s a track that gently pushes those who are trying to face forward despite the pain of farewell.
If you’ve experienced losing someone important or find yourself remembering a friend you’ve grown apart from, this is a song you should definitely listen to.
NonfictionHirai Ken
A gem of a song crafted by Ken Hirai around the theme of losing a friendship.
Released in June 2017 as the theme song for the TBS drama “A Small Giant,” it features lyrics that resonate deeply as they depict the many ways we lose friends—through sudden partings, betrayal, and more.
Hirai’s uniquely clear vocals and powerful melody brilliantly express emotions swaying between despair and hope.
This work will surely become a source of comfort for those who, while burdened by the sorrow of losing a friend, are trying to move forward.
Many listeners will relate to the lyrics that capture an everyday moment—comparing bottled drinks while reflecting on the past.
It’s a song we especially recommend to anyone who has experienced parting with someone important.
KagomeYuuri
Singer-songwriter Yuuri, who became widely known after the explosive hit of “Dry Flower.” His second indie release, the digital-only single “Kagome,” features a heavy, piano-led ensemble that creates an atmosphere seemingly charged with anger.
The lyrics, depicting a heart worn down by the daily cycle even as it mourns a friend who chose death, may prompt many listeners to reflect on their own lives.
It’s a melancholic number that invites you to sense the glimmers of salvation within its dark worldview.
I miss youRADWIMPS
A song by RADWIMPS released on March 11, 2021, marking ten years since the Great East Japan Earthquake.
It deeply portrays the feelings of those who lost loved ones in the disaster.
The phrase “I want to see you” is repeated many times, powerfully conveying that earnest longing.
This work is part of the earthquake-related songs RADWIMPS have released every year on March 11, created with deep empathy and respect for the victims and their families.
Included on the concept album “2+0+2+1+3+1+1 = 10 years 10 songs,” it resonates with many as a message to keep the memory of the disaster from fading.
It’s a song we hope those who have experienced the loss of someone dear will listen to.
Say it.Yorushika
Yorushika are a two-piece rock band featuring literary lyrics and guitar-driven sound, who enjoy immense popularity despite keeping their appearances private.
Their song “Itte,” included on their first mini-album Summer Grass Is in the Way, opens with a snappy guitar riff that sticks in your ears.
The lyrics, which depict a reality you notice but don’t want to believe, evoke the image of someone trying to move forward even amid sorrow.
It’s a track whose contrast with its pop melody is striking—a number whose sense of speed and aching wistfulness will shake your heart.
Until the day I can no longer rememberback number
A heart-stirring ballad by back number that delicately captures the pain of loss.
It carefully depicts the sorrow of losing someone precious and how those memories become a part of oneself.
Released in October 2011 as their third single, it became one of the band’s signature songs.
It received high acclaim, including reaching No.
1 on the Billboard Japan Singles chart.
It’s a song you’ll want to listen to alone on a cold winter night.
It will resonate with those who have experienced heartbreak or parting, offering comfort and empathy.
Surrender yourself to back number’s delicate vocals and let them draw you into the cherished memories within your heart.
Blue HabitatKitanitatsuya
Tatsuya Kitani is a singer-songwriter who also shines as a bassist, performing with members of sajou no hana and supporting Yorushika.
His track “Aono Sumika,” included as the title song of his third EP, was selected as the opening theme for the TV anime Jujutsu Kaisen: Hidden Inventory/Premature Death.
The lyrics portray how relationships can change with time and circumstances, prompting us to reflect on how difficult it is to find someone we can truly understand.
It’s a refreshing rock tune with a striking, fast-paced ensemble.