Losing a loved one is never something we are ready to deal with and coping is a different process for all of us.
Many people find relief in music and there are plenty of songs to help you find a level of emotional comfort that helps you cross such a sad experience in a more peaceful way.
So, want some emotional songs for remembering your lost loved one? We put together more than 25 songs that will help you find your emotional balance through the loss of a loved one, being them a friend or a close family member.
- “Tears in Heaven”, Eric Clapton
“Tears in Heaven” helps you move past the loss of a loved one by letting your pain out first. Once you consume your pain, you will find it easier to reach the relief you need in order to cherish the memories you share and understand your emotions without allowing them to control you.
- “My heart will go on”, Celine Dion
Celine Dion has one of the most beautiful songs to listen to if you lose a person that is close to your heart. It might seem hard and even impossible to move on but this song reminds you that you can find the strength to go on by following your heart. And Celine Dion’s voice will be like honey to your ears every time you hear this song.
- “If tomorrow never comes”, Garth Brooks
Our time on Earth is limited and Garth Brooks reminds us to cherish it and create memories so that we fulfill our potential while we are here. Listening to this song will help you contemplate death in a more natural manner and understand how precious life is in all its aspects.
- “Time to say goodbye”, Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman
“Time to say goodbye” is one of those songs that can help you let go of the one who passed away so that you can start cherishing the moments you shared together. It brings you understanding and acceptance at the same time which will help you find the level of peace you need.
- Spirit in the sky, Norman Greenbaum
This tune is not only about coping with death in a healthy way but also about creating a perspective of what comes after death. You will find comfort to know that death is not the end but a transition phase and we all have to go through it sooner or later.
- “Highway to hell”, AC/DC
Highway to hell seems like a tough song to listen to but it is a great choice if you like rock music. Not everyone finds their comfort in slow tunes that romanticize the concept of death. There are people who relate to rock music much better and AC/DC brings you the strong perspective on death that you were looking for as well as the strength to move on.
- “Wind beneath my wings”, Bette Midler
Bette Midler reminds you that our loved ones are still with us even after they pass away. They are like the wind holding us together to move on with life and make the most of it. This song is the best to remind you of your loved ones who are not alive anymore but keeping their death in a positive concept.
- “Let it be”, The Beatles
You probably heard this song from The Beatles as it is one of the most beautiful songs of the band. If you listen to it as you are facing the loss of a loved one, you will find the comfort you need to “let it be” and move on with peace in your heart.
- “If I die young”, Band Perry
Losing a loved one at a premature age is twice as hard for family and friends. This song brings a new perspective on such an unfortunate event and helps close family members cope with such a tragedy. The story of the song is based on the death of a young girl who asks to be “sent away with a love song”.
- “Remember me”, Miguel
Remember me takes you on a journey to the realm of death and brings you the tools to cope in a more constructive way with the death of your loved one. It is a popular song that can help those who are fearing their own death as well.
- “Black parade”, My Chemical Romance
Talking about death, regardless of the context, can be challenging. But this “Black parade” song exemplifies such a conversation between a father and his son regarding death and its implications. You will feel guided through this concept every time you listen to this song.
- “Here without you”, Three Doors Down
Missing a loved one can be one of the saddest moments of our life. But with the right music and maybe the right company, we will be able to go through such moments in a more positive way. This song highlights the struggles we face when we miss our loved ones and helps us move on with faith in our hearts.
- “I will not say Goodbye”, Danny Gokey
Saying goodbye to someone we love is the hardest thing to do but death will make us do that regardless if we are ready or not. This Danny Gokey song helps us cross our grief in a way that consumes the regrets and leaves space for a new beginning. If you find it difficult to let go, this tune might help you get there.
- “Dead”, My Chemical Romance
Sometimes we are faced with a situation in which we need to say goodbye to someone we are not so connected with, but we shared a relationship with them. This can be challenging in particular but the “Dead” song from My Chemical Romance will help you move past this event in a moral and correct way.
- “See you again”, Carrie Underwood
Hope can be our best friend in terms of sadness. The hope that one day we will see our loved ones again can keep us going and control the grief before it controls us. Carrie Underwood gives us the strength and hope we need to believe that we will reunite with our loved ones when the time is right.
- “Everybody hurts”, REM
Normalizing grief and death is not something we can easily do especially when we have to deal with it ourselves. “Everybody hurts” by REM gives us that perspective of normality as we listen to each lyric. It helps us understand that death and sadness are also part of life and we have to accept them as such.
- “Hurt”, Christina Aguilera
A more popular tune that can help you deal with the loss of a loved one is “Hurt” by Christina Aguilera. Trying to understand our own pain is struggling and consuming which is why this song focuses on our emotions. Healing comes from inside each one of us and so does the power to move on. Christina Aguilera adds importance to the idea that we have to try and forgive people while they are alive instead of blaming them and finding reasons to be distant.
- “Holes in the floor of heaven”, Steve Wariner
This song from Steve Wariner focuses on the fact that our loved ones watch over us from heaven after they pass away. The artist lost his grandmother as well as his wife and the way he incorporates their deaths into the lyrics of this tune is comforting for everyone who goes through similar tragedies.
- “When I’m gone”, Joey+Rory
Thinking of our own death is a challenging thought to entertain. It can trigger so many emotions and aspects that we might find ourselves looking at the rest of our life in a different manner. This song helps us keep a balance between thoughts about death and those we will leave behind when we are gone. The song follows the story of a woman who assures her lover that he will find the strength to move past her imminent death.
- “Dancing in the sky”, Dani and Lizzy
Another song that will help you understand that death is a transition rather than an ending is “Dancing in the sky”. This song also adds a joyful vibe over the concept of death so you will understand that your loved ones reached a blessed space where they feel safe and peaceful.
- “Heaven was needing a hero”, Jo Dee Messina
Sometimes we can cope with death better if we understand that our loved ones were called to a better world. “Heaven was needing a hero” is one of those songs that help you feel at peace with the fact that your loved one reached a better place and they are helping others wherever they are.
- “Gone too soon”, Michael Jackson
“Gone too soon” reflects that we are never ready to lose someone we love and there is no right timing for that. If you lost a loved one and you feel like you lost them too soon, this Michael Jackson tune will help you find peace and understand the way you will move on without grieving more than you have to.
- “Fire and rain”, James Taylor
James Taylor wrote this song after he lost his childhood friend. The song touches on other aspects such as his struggles with drugs as well as the way he handled fame. Losing a close friend is not only painful but it leaves a void that this song helps you cope with from the first time you hear it.
- “One more day”, Diamond Rio
If you find yourself wanting to spend one more day with the person you lost, this Diamond Rio song will be right down the alley of your heart. You are not alone and understanding that wanting one more day is a circle that would never end unless you address it and move on, is the deep vibe of this song.
- “Not a day goes by”, Lonestar
If you lost someone close to you, you might find yourself thinking of them often. Missing them can become part of your new life and there is nothing wrong with that as long as you address your emotions in a healthy and positive manner. “Not a day goes by” can help you move past not only death but a painful breakup as well.
- “Heaven got another angel”, Gordon Garner
We find comfort and peace in believing that people we love become angels after they die. This tune reinforces this idea and brings us the emotional balance we need to cope with the loss of a loved one. If you are struggling to think of your friend or family member after they passed away, on a more positive note, you will find this song very helpful and supportive.
Coping with death is something we are forced to do more than once in our life. But it is very important to take the time to understand our emotions and not rush the grief process. We all deal with such tragedies in our own way and we move on how we can in order to find peace. These songs will alleviate your pain and give you the power to continue your life cherishing the memories of your lost ones.
Irina Maria Tracy is a published author, writer, and journalist who lives in Bucharest, Romania. She completed her journalism and mass communication degree from the University of Bucharest and went on to publish some top books in the fiction genre. Some of her top books include 'Haunted Aliens' 'Vampires Rapture' 'Adverbs of Love' etc. Irina also worked as an investigative journalist for a year and even collaborated with a TV channel for a political talk show (Bah TV). She loves writing and has contributed to many top magazines and newspapers such as the 'Story Magazine' 'Curentul Newspaper' and many others.