30 Songs for Dad in Heaven, for the Funeral, Father's Day and Every Day You Miss Him

What is a good song for a dad in heaven?

The most-loved song for a dad in heaven is "Dance with My Father" by Luther Vandross, written about the father he lost as a boy. Close behind are "The Living Years" by Mike + The Mechanics, about the things we wish we had said, and "You Should Be Here" by Cole Swindell, written after his own dad died. Country fans often choose "Drive (For Daddy Gene)" by Alan Jackson. And the song that may matter most is the one he played in the truck every Saturday.

Songs about losing a father

1. "Dance with My Father", Luther Vandross: wishing for one more dance.
2. "The Living Years", Mike + The Mechanics: about the words we leave unsaid.
3. "You Should Be Here", Cole Swindell: the big moments he is missing.
4. "Drive (For Daddy Gene)", Alan Jackson: a son's memories of learning to drive with his dad.
5. "Leader of the Band", Dan Fogelberg: a tribute to a father who shaped everything.
6. "My Father's Eyes", Eric Clapton: about the father he never knew and the father he became.
7. "Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own", U2: written by Bono for his father.
8. "Daddy's Hands", Holly Dunn: strength and gentleness in the same hands.
9. "Heaven Was Needing a Hero", Jo Dee Messina: for a dad who was everyone's hero.
10. "I Drive Your Truck", Lee Brice: written about a brother, but beloved by anyone who still drives their dad's truck.

Country songs for dad in heaven

11. "Go Rest High on That Mountain", Vince Gill.
12. "If Heaven Wasn't So Far Away", Justin Moore: wishing for one more afternoon.
13. "Drink a Beer", Luke Bryan: a quiet goodbye by the water.
14. "When I Get Where I'm Going", Brad Paisley and Dolly Parton.
15. "The Best Day", George Strait: a son looking back at the days with his dad.
16. "Love Without End, Amen", George Strait: about a father's love that never runs out.

Classic and rock songs to remember him

17. "Tears in Heaven", Eric Clapton.
18. "Knockin' on Heaven's Door", Bob Dylan.
19. "Free Bird", Lynyrd Skynyrd: for a dad who did things his own way.
20. "My Way", Frank Sinatra.
21. "Bridge Over Troubled Water", Simon & Garfunkel.
22. "Hallelujah", Leonard Cohen or Jeff Buckley.
23. "In My Life", The Beatles.

Hymns and faith songs

24. "Amazing Grace".
25. "I Can Only Imagine", MercyMe.
26. "It Is Well with My Soul".
27. "How Great Thou Art".

Songs that celebrate him

28. "What a Wonderful World", Louis Armstrong.
29. "Forever Young", Bob Dylan: a father's blessing, written for his son.
30. "Three Little Birds", Bob Marley: for a dad who always said it would be all right.

Songs for dad in heaven, from a daughter

Daughters often choose "Daddy's Hands" by Holly Dunn, "Dance with My Father" by Luther Vandross or "Heaven Was Needing a Hero" by Jo Dee Messina. If he walked you down the aisle, the song from your father-daughter dance can be the most meaningful choice of all.

Songs from a son

Sons gravitate toward "Drive (For Daddy Gene)", "Leader of the Band", "The Best Day" by George Strait and "My Father's Eyes". Some also choose "Cat's in the Cradle" by Harry Chapin, the song about a father and son who never quite find the time, as a reminder to the next generation.

For a veteran dad

If your father served, military honors usually include "Taps" and the folding of the flag. Many families add "Amazing Grace" on bagpipes or "God Bless the U.S.A." by Lee Greenwood. The funeral home can help arrange honors with the local veterans' organization.

"Thank you for being my dad" songs

If you are looking for a song that simply says thank you, to a dad who is gone or one who is still here, the strongest choices are "The Living Years", "Leader of the Band", "Daddy's Hands" and "My Father's Eyes". All four say what many people never manage to say out loud: that he mattered, and that you noticed.

Playing his music

Often the most powerful choice is not a song about fathers at all, but his music: the classic rock album he played every Saturday, the country station in his truck, the crooner he sang along to in the kitchen. If you have his records or his old playlists, ask the family to pick the track that sounds most like him. Hearing it at the service tells everyone in the room exactly who he was.

His birthday and the anniversary

His birthday and the anniversary of his death are days to plan a small ritual: a drive on his favorite road, his favorite meal, a toast with his drink, a song played loud. Over time these rituals become how the family keeps him present, and how the grandchildren come to know the man behind the stories.

The first Father's Day without him

Father's Day can be hard in a way that catches people off guard: the ads, the cards in the store, the friends posting photos. Some people spend the day doing something he loved (fishing, a ball game, working on the car), others visit his grave or cook his signature dish. Playing his favorite songs, or a song that tells his story, can turn a painful day into a day of remembering.

A wedding without your dad

For a bride or groom whose father has passed, the wedding can bring the loss back sharply. Some dance with a grandfather, brother or uncle to one of these songs; others ask the DJ to play his favorite song while his photo appears on a screen, or leave a chair with his name on it. If you are planning the dance, our list of father-daughter dance songs includes a section for honoring a dad who has passed.

Music for his funeral

• Pick three to five songs: one as people arrive, one after the eulogy, one or two for the slideshow and one hopeful song at the end.
• Ask his friends which songs they associate with him, not just the family.
• Read the full lyrics before choosing.
• Send the files to the funeral home a few days early, and name one person to give the cue.

For more ideas by style, see our list of songs for a memorial service.

A song about your dad

Every song on this list was written about someone else's father. A personalized tribute song is about yours: his name, his work, his truck, his terrible puns, the fishing trips, the advice he gave that you only understood years later. Families play it at the service, at the graveside, on Father's Day or his birthday. Our guide to a memorial song for dad explains how families approach it.

How to create a song in memory of your dad

1. Choose a style from 14 genres: country, classic rock, acoustic, gospel-inspired, soul.
2. Add his name, or what you called him, and up to two more names.
3. Share two or three memories with one concrete detail each.
4. Review the lyrics, edit or regenerate them for free, and take the time you need.
5. Listen to 4 free 45-second previews and choose the one that sounds like him.

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

Other lists that may help: songs about losing your mom and funeral songs for grandma.

When you are ready: create a song in your dad's memory and hear the previews for free.