40 Songs About Grandpa, for His Birthday, Father's Day and His Funeral

What is a good song to dedicate to your grandpa?

The song written for exactly this is "Grandpa (Tell Me 'Bout the Good Old Days)" by The Judds. For a grandpa who has passed, "I Wish Grandpas Never Died" by Riley Green has become the most shared song of the last few years. And for a grandpa who loves the old standards, nothing beats playing "What a Wonderful World" or "Unforgettable" and watching him sing along.

Country songs about grandpa

1. "Grandpa (Tell Me 'Bout the Good Old Days)", The Judds: a grandchild asking to hear how life used to be.
2. "He Walked on Water", Randy Travis: a boy's memories of his great-grandfather.
3. "I Wish Grandpas Never Died", Riley Green: a modern country tribute to the men who raised us.
4. "The Grandpa Song", Cody Johnson: a gentle song about what a grandfather passes on.
5. "Five More Minutes", Scotty McCreery: wishing for a little more time, starting with his grandpa.
6. "Remember When", Alan Jackson: a whole life together, for grandpa and grandma.
7. "The Gambler", Kenny Rogers: an old man's advice, perfect for a card-playing grandpa.
8. "Take Me Home, Country Roads", John Denver: for the grandpa who grew up on a farm.
9. "Love Without End, Amen", George Strait: about the love passed from father to son to grandson.
10. "Don't Blink", Kenny Chesney: a 102-year-old man's advice about how fast life goes.

Classic songs grandpa will love

11. "My Grandfather's Clock", Henry Clay Work: the 1876 song that gave us the name "grandfather clock".
12. "What a Wonderful World", Louis Armstrong: the gentle optimism so many grandfathers carry.
13. "Unforgettable", Nat King Cole: a standard from his youth.
14. "I'll Be Seeing You", Billie Holiday or Frank Sinatra: a WWII-era song for a veteran grandpa.
15. "Moon River", Andy Williams: tender and timeless.
16. "Old Time Rock and Roll", Bob Seger: for the grandpa who still dances at weddings.
17. "Old Man", Neil Young: a younger man seeing himself in an older one.
18. "You Are My Sunshine": the song so many grandpas sang to their grandkids.
19. "Stand by Me", Ben E. King: for the grandpa who was always there.
20. "Cat's in the Cradle", Harry Chapin: a reminder to make time while you have it.

Songs about grandpa passing away

21. "Go Rest High on That Mountain", Vince Gill: the country funeral song.
22. "When I Get Where I'm Going", Brad Paisley and Dolly Parton: peace and reunion.
23. "Ripple", Grateful Dead: quiet acceptance, chosen by many grandchildren.
24. "Danny Boy": the Irish ballad sung at countless grandfathers' funerals.
25. "My Way", Frank Sinatra: for a grandpa who lived life on his own terms.
26. "Somewhere Over the Rainbow", Israel Kamakawiwo'ole: gentle and hopeful.
27. "Holes in the Floor of Heaven", Steve Wariner: about loved ones still watching over us.
28. "Tears in Heaven", Eric Clapton: about meeting again.
29. "Hallelujah", Leonard Cohen or Jeff Buckley: for a reflective moment in the service.
30. "If Heaven Wasn't So Far Away", Justin Moore: wishing for one more visit.

Hymns for grandpa's funeral

31. "Amazing Grace": the most requested funeral hymn.
32. "How Great Thou Art": powerful for a man of faith.
33. "The Old Rugged Cross": a country-church favorite.
34. "In the Garden": gentle and personal.
35. "I'll Fly Away": hopeful, often sung by Alison Krauss and Gillian Welch.
36. "Precious Memories": about the memories that stay.
37. "It Is Well with My Soul": peace in loss.
38. "Abide with Me": the traditional evening hymn.
39. "Softly and Tenderly": a gentle call home.
40. "When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder": an old gospel favorite.

Songs for grandpa from a granddaughter or grandson

From a granddaughter, "Grandpa (Tell Me 'Bout the Good Old Days)", "You Are My Sunshine" and "What a Wonderful World" carry the most tenderness. From a grandson, "He Walked on Water", "Love Without End, Amen" and "The Gambler" fit the shared fishing trips and card games. At a funeral, a grandchild reading out why they chose the song, in one or two sentences, is often the moment people remember.

Songs for grandpa and grandma together

For a grandparents' anniversary or a joint celebration, "Remember When", "Through the Years", "Unforgettable" and "I'll Be Seeing You" honor them both. See also our list of songs for grandma and our guide to a 50th anniversary song for grandparents.

Songs for grandpa's birthday and Father's Day

For his birthday, play the hits from the year he turned 20: a 1960s or 1970s playlist with "Old Time Rock and Roll", "Take Me Home, Country Roads" and "Stand by Me" will have him telling stories all afternoon. For Father's Day or Grandparents Day, choose one song and send it with a photo of the two of you. More ideas in our guides to the best birthday gift for grandpa and a Father's Day song for grandpa.

Songs for a veteran grandpa

For a grandfather who served, "I'll Be Seeing You" and "We'll Meet Again" by Vera Lynn bring back the war years. "God Bless the U.S.A." by Lee Greenwood and "America the Beautiful" fit a Veterans Day visit or a memorial, and many families ask for "Taps" or "Amazing Grace" on bagpipes at a military funeral. Ask the funeral home early: military honors are arranged through the branch he served in.

Songs for a grandpa with dementia

Music memory often stays long after other memories fade. Play the songs from when he was 15 to 25: big band and crooners for grandpas born in the 1930s and 1940s, early rock and roll and Motown for those born in the 1950s. Hymns he sang every Sunday can bring him back for a few minutes too. Short sessions, his favorite chair and a song you can sing together work better than a long playlist.

Songs about grandpa for a slideshow

For a memorial or a milestone birthday slideshow, open with "My Grandfather's Clock" or "Grandpa (Tell Me 'Bout the Good Old Days)" over the black-and-white photos, move to "Remember When" for the family years and close with "What a Wonderful World" over pictures with the grandkids. Three songs of about three minutes each cover around 150 photos.

How to choose a song for grandpa's funeral

• Start with his music. The song he whistled in the garage often means more than any funeral standard.
• Ask the family. Each grandchild may remember a different song.
• Check with the venue. Some churches prefer hymns during the service and recorded songs at the reception.
• Plan three moments: one song as people arrive, one for reflection and one to close.

A song about your grandpa's story

Every song above is about someone else's grandfather. A personalized song can be about yours: where he grew up, the job he was proud of, the truck he drove for thirty years, his famous pancakes, his advice and the nickname he gave you. It makes a moving birthday or Father's Day gift while he can hear it, and a beautiful tribute at a memorial. See our guide to a birthday song for grandpa and a memorial song for grandpa.

How to create a song for grandpa

1. Choose a style from 14 genres: country, folk, swing, gospel-inspired and more.
2. Add his name, or what the grandkids call him.
3. Share three memories, each with one concrete detail.
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 the whole family can play and the lyrics as a PDF.

Give grandpa a song about his own life: create his song and hear four previews for free.