40 Songs About Grief and Loss, for the Days When You Miss Someone Most

What is a good song for someone who is grieving?

"Supermarket Flowers" by Ed Sheeran, written about his grandmother, and "Tears in Heaven" by Eric Clapton are the songs grieving people mention most. "Fix You" by Coldplay offers comfort, and "Wake Me Up When September Ends" by Green Day, written about the death of Billie Joe Armstrong's father, speaks to anyone counting the days since a loss.

Songs about losing a loved one

1. "Supermarket Flowers", Ed Sheeran: the small, everyday moments after a loss.
2. "Tears in Heaven", Eric Clapton: written after the death of his son.
3. "See You Again", Wiz Khalifa featuring Charlie Puth: about meeting again one day.
4. "Wake Me Up When September Ends", Green Day: grief that returns every year.
5. "In Loving Memory", Alter Bridge: written in memory of a band member's mother.
6. "marjorie", Taylor Swift: about a grandmother whose advice stays with you.
7. "Gone Too Soon", Daughtry: for a life cut short.
8. "Now and Then", The Beatles: the final Beatles song, finished decades after John Lennon's death.
9. "Bigger Than the Whole Sky", Taylor Swift: grief for a future that will not happen.
10. "Dancing in the Sky", Dani and Lizzy: imagining them happy and free.
11. "One Sweet Day", Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men: about meeting again someday.
12. "I Will Remember You", Sarah McLachlan: quiet and full of love.

Songs about grief and healing

13. "Fix You", Coldplay: comfort when nothing seems to work.
14. "Let It Be", The Beatles: peace in what you cannot change.
15. "Everybody Hurts", R.E.M.: comfort for anyone in pain.
16. "Fire and Rain", James Taylor: about loss and getting through it.
17. "Bridge Over Troubled Water", Simon & Garfunkel: someone to lean on.
18. "Hurt", Johnny Cash: a raw reflection on regret and time.
19. "Landslide", Fleetwood Mac: about time and change.

Songs about losing a parent

20. "Dance with My Father", Luther Vandross: wishing for one more dance.
21. "You Should Be Here", Cole Swindell: written after the loss of his father.
22. "My Father's Eyes", Eric Clapton: about the father he never knew.
23. "The Living Years", Mike + The Mechanics: about the words left unsaid.
24. "Daddy's Hands", Holly Dunn: a tribute to a father's hands.

For more, see our lists of songs about losing your mom and songs for dad in heaven.

Rock songs about grief

25. "One More Light", Linkin Park: about how much one life matters.
26. "Say Hello 2 Heaven", Temple of the Dog: Chris Cornell's tribute to a friend.
27. "Wish You Were Here", Pink Floyd: about missing someone.
28. "Knockin' on Heaven's Door", Bob Dylan: simple and universal.
29. "Angels", Robbie Williams: a ballad many families choose.

Faith songs for grief

30. "Trust in You", Lauren Daigle: faith when you do not understand.
31. "It Is Well with My Soul": the hymn written after a devastating loss.
32. "Scars in Heaven", Casting Crowns: picturing them free of pain.
33. "I Can Only Imagine", MercyMe: wonder at where they are now.
34. "Blessings", Laura Story: finding grace in pain.
35. "Even If", MercyMe: trust when the answer is not the one you prayed for.

Country songs about grief

36. "Go Rest High on That Mountain", Vince Gill: the country goodbye.
37. "If Heaven Wasn't So Far Away", Justin Moore: wishing for one more visit.
38. "Who You'd Be Today", Kenny Chesney: imagining the life they would have had.
39. "Over You", Miranda Lambert: written about a brother lost too young.
40. "I Drive Your Truck", Lee Brice: keeping someone close through the things they left.

Songs about missing someone who died

For the quiet moments when you just miss them, "Supermarket Flowers", "I Will Remember You", "Dance with My Father" and "Who You'd Be Today" say what is hard to put into words. Many people keep one song that belongs to the person they lost and play it on birthdays and anniversaries.

Songs about grief and loss of a friend or a child

Losing a friend or a child brings its own kind of grief. See our lists of songs about losing a friend and funeral songs for a son, which include songs written by parents and friends who lived through it.

How music can help with grief

• Let yourself feel it: a sad song can give you permission to cry.
• Make a memory playlist: the songs they loved, the ones from your time together.
• Share a song: send one to someone else who is grieving the same person.
• Balance the sad with the hopeful: follow a hard song with one that lifts you.
• Ask for help: if grief feels overwhelming, a grief counselor or support group can help.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, in the US you can call or text 988 at any hour.

Songs for a memorial or celebration of life

For the service itself, see our full list of funeral and memorial service songs, and for comfort, our songs about heaven.

A song written about the person you lost

Sometimes the song you need does not exist yet. A personalized memorial song can tell their story with their name, the memories you shared and what you want them to know. Families play it at the service, on anniversaries and whenever they want to feel close. See our guide to a memorial song.

How to create a memorial song

1. Choose a style from 14 genres: acoustic, country, pop and more.
2. Add their name.
3. Share three memories and what you want to say to them.
4. Review the lyrics and edit or regenerate them for free before any music is made.
5. Listen to 4 free 45-second previews and choose your favorite.

The full 3 to 4 minute song costs $24.99, or $29.99 for Premium with four full versions and editable lyrics. You get the MP3, a gift page you can share with family and the lyrics as a PDF.

Keep their story in a song: create a song and hear four previews for free.