What song do most people want played at their funeral?

5 all-time favourite funeral songs My Way – Frank Sinatra/Shirley Bassey. Wind Beneath My Wings – Bette Midler/Celine Dion. Time to Say Goodbye – Sarah Brightman/Andrea Bocelli. Angels – Robbie Williams. Over the Rainbow – Eva Cassidy.

sunlife.co.uk - Best funeral songs to go out to - SunLife

What is the easiest jazz instrument to learn?

The saxophone is probably the easiest jazz instrument to learn. Although it can be quite difficult to master and play well, with a bit of practice...

Last updated Jul 8, 2019

Is your voice deeper in your head?

When you speak and hear your own voice inside your head, your head bones and tissues tend to enhance the lower-frequency vibrations. This means...

Last updated Jun 1, 2020

Promotion

Best funeral songs to go out to Posted on 21 June 2021

6 min read

The most popular funeral songs for a perfect send off

Ever thought what music you’d want at your funeral? It’s a bit like Desert Island Discs, choosing the funeral songs that mean something to you or say something about you. And finding the best tunes for a loved ones’ farewell can be challenging too. Where once it was Debussy’s Clair de Lune that sent the funeral congregation reaching for their handkerchiefs, today it’s more likely to be modern funeral songs like Robbie Williams’ ‘Angels’, or Led Zeppelin’s ‘Stairway to Heaven’. These changes reflect how more people are opting for a funeral as a celebration of life over a traditional service. If you’re starting to think about later life planning, finding out more about types of funeral cover could be a good place to start. To give you some inspiration for your funeral planning, here’s a selection of popular funeral songs as well as some more unusual choices.

Poignant and uplifting funeral songs

As you’d expect, sad songs feature highly in most top 10 funeral song lists. It’s not hard to see why these poignant and uplifting qualities are popular choices:

Sad funeral songs

I’ll See You Again – Westlife

– Westlife Over the Rainbow - Eva Cassidy

- Eva Cassidy Wind Beneath My Wings - Bette Midler

- Bette Midler Nothing Compares to You - Sinead O’Connor

Eva Cassidy – Over the Rainbow

Good funeral songs to raise a smile

There’s no rule that says happy songs aren’t appropriate. In fact, ‘Always Look on the Bright Side of Life’ is ever present in polls of modern funeral songs and was played (very appropriately) at Python Graham Chapman’s memorial.

Happy funeral songs

Always Look on the Bright Side of Life – Monty Python’s Life of Brian – Monty Python’s Life of Brian Bring Me Sunshine – Morecambe and Wise

– Morecambe and Wise Don’t Worry. Be Happy – Bobby McFerrin

– Bobby McFerrin What a Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong

– Louis Armstrong You Are the Sunshine of My Life – Stevie Wonder

Life of Brian

Songs for the funeral of a parent

A song at a funeral is a lovely way to pay tribute to a dearly loved parent. You’ll know when you’ve found the perfect funeral song because it will touch you and instantly remind you of your mother or father.

Funeral songs for Mum

- Carly Simon You Raise Me Up - Josh Groban

- Josh Groban Mama - Il Divo

- Il Divo Goodbye’s the Saddest Word - Celine Dion

- Celine Dion One Sweet Day – Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men

Josh Groban – You Raise Me Up

Funeral songs for Dad

Thank You for Being My Dad - Jon Barker

- Jon Barker In the Living Years - Mike & the Mechanics

- Mike & the Mechanics My Father’s Eyes - Eric Clapton

What does hard shifting feel like?

A car that is having difficulty accelerating, changing gears, or has a rough transition from gear to gear along with a clunk or thud feeling is...

Last updated Feb 17, 2020

What is the instrument of God?

In essence, being an instrument of God means setting a good example to convince other people to change their way of life and have a sacred...

Last updated Sep 2, 2020

Join almost HALF A MILLION Happy Students Worldwide

Pianoforall is one of the most popular online piano courses online and has helped over 450,000 students around the world achieve their dream of playing beautiful piano for over a decade.

Learn More »

Promotion

- Eric Clapton Dance With My Father – Luther Vandross

– Luther Vandross Hero – Mariah Carey

Eric Clapton – My Father’s Eyes

Interesting reading so far? If you're enjoying this article, we can send more like it straight to your inbox. Just let us know where to send them.

Songs to play at a funeral of a friend

The best songs for a friend are often those that take you back to good times and reflect the special bond you shared.

Funeral songs for a friend

Don’t You Forget About Me – Simple Minds

– Simple Minds Stand By Me – Ben E King

– Ben E King Smile – Nat King Cole

– Nat King Cole You’ll Never Walk Alone – Judy Garland / Gerry and the Pacemakers – Judy Garland / Gerry and the Pacemakers Perfect Day – Lou Reed

Perfect Day – Lou Reed

TV themes – a different take on a funeral song

If you can’t find an appropriate song, why not the theme tune from their favourite TV show? For footy fans there’s ‘Match of the Day’ and for daytime telly addicts, how about the ‘Countdown’ clock music?

TV themes popular as funeral songs

Only Fools and Horses

Coronation Street

Match of the Day

Great British Bake Off

Test Match Special - Booker T & the MGs ‘Soul Limbo’

Match of the Day theme tune

Good funeral songs to reassure

Perhaps the most touching song choices are those made by the deceased in their lifetime - songs they hoped would reassure and comfort the loved ones they left behind.

Comforting funeral songs

We’ll Meet Again - Vera Lynn

- Vera Lynn I’ll See You Again – Westlife

– Westlife You Are Not Alone – Michael Jackson

– Michael Jackson Tears in Heaven – Eric Clapton

– Eric Clapton Right Here Waiting – Richard Marx

Vera Lynn - We’ll Meet Again

Classical songs for a funeral

More traditional music is popular for a reason. You don’t have to be a classical music fan to be moved by the beauty and powerful emotions of these funeral requiems.

Classical funeral songs

Ave Maria – Schubert

– Schubert Nessum Dorma – Puccini

– Puccini Amazing Grace – Various artists

– Various artists Pie Jesu – Faure

– Faure Song for Athene – Sir John Tavener

Hayley Westenra - Ave Maria

Popular funeral hymns

Times have changed. It’s now more acceptable to have a mix of funeral hymns and popular music at a religious funeral service.

Popular funeral hymns

Abide With Me

Be Thou My Vision

The Old Rugged Cross

The Lord’s My Shepherd

Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah

Good funeral songs for a last laugh

Choosing songs for your funeral can be a great way to make everyone smile and have the last laugh (literally). Rumour has it a schoolmistress known for her strict ways chose the song ‘Ding Dong! The Witch is Dead’ as her parting shot!

Funny funeral songs

What is the heaviest song of Slipknot?

"Solway Firth" is a perfect example of the heaviest end of that spectrum, smashing Slipknot's full range of moods — creepy, cinematic, pummeling,...

Last updated Mar 23, 2021

Will all animals go to heaven?

So if all animals praise the Lord—and thus believe in Him—and if “whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life,” it stands to...

Last updated Dec 25, 2018

Promotion

Highway to Hell – ACDC

– ACDC I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead – Bon Jovi

– Bon Jovi Another One Bites the Dust – Queen

– Queen Ding Dong the Witch is Dead – From Wizard of Oz

– From Wizard of Oz Going Underground – The Jam

ACDC - Highway to Hell

Modern song choices follow trends

Every year the latest pop songs join the ranks of popular funeral songs. Some come and go quickly with changing trends. Others like Robbie Williams’ ‘Angels’ become a favourite almost instantly and remain popular.

Modern funeral songs

Bitter Sweet Symphony - The Verve

- The Verve Good Riddance ( Time of Your Life ) – Green Day

( ) – Green Day Lay Me Down - Sam Smith

Sam Smith – Lay Me Down

Songs for funerals that go the distance

So, what other funeral song choices have stood the test of time? We asked people who had recently arranged a funeral, what their music choices were. Here are a few that cropped up time and again.

5 all-time favourite funeral songs

My Way – Frank Sinatra/Shirley Bassey

– Frank Sinatra/Shirley Bassey Wind Beneath My Wings – Bette Midler/Celine Dion

– Bette Midler/Celine Dion Time to Say Goodbye – Sarah Brightman/Andrea Bocelli

– Sarah Brightman/Andrea Bocelli Angels – Robbie Williams

– Robbie Williams Over the Rainbow – Eva Cassidy

Brightman/Bocelli – Time to Say Goodbye

And finally, here are some of the more unusual choices. Whether or not these were inappropriate funeral songs depends on whose funeral it was. The great thing is that these days, anything goes!

Unusual funeral songs

Spirit in the Sky – Norman Greenbaum/Doctor and the Medics

– Norman Greenbaum/Doctor and the Medics Dancing Queen - Abba

- Abba We Are the Champions – Queen

– Queen Celebration – Kool and the Gang

– Kool and the Gang I’m Still Standing – Elton John

Queen – We Are the Champions

Which song would you want played at your send off? Mulling this over might get you thinking about what else you’d like for your funeral. And don’t forget to talk about your funeral arrangements because if you don’t, the people arranging your funeral may not know what to do. Our My Perfect Send-Off planner is designed to make recording your funeral wishes a little easier. It guides you through your options and let’s you save your answers ready for when they’re needed. We also have lots of information to help with funeral arrangements including 8 tips to make a funeral more personal, how to write a funeral eulogy, and poems for funerals. At SunLife, we offer a range of products and services that may be of interest, including over 50s life insurance, funeral cover and equity release.

sunlife.co.uk - Best funeral songs to go out to - SunLife

Do organ donors get paid?

The hospital or Tissue Bank will cover all medical expenses from the moment your family has given consent for the donation of organs / tissue....

Last updated Dec 25, 2019

Do any pianos have more than 88 keys?

Musical Innovation: A Grander Grand Piano : NPR. Musical Innovation: A Grander Grand Piano Most pianos have 88 keys, but craftsman Wayne Stuart has...

Last updated Aug 12, 2022

Promotion

Who does Eric Clapton think is the best guitarist?

However, the greatest, according to Eric Clapton, the bonafide guitar god, is Albert Lee. The guitarist has worked with some big names, including...

Last updated Jul 23, 2020

Promotion

What is the highest grade piano?

The highest piano Grade is 8. It requires very high technical skills, and the ability to play the instrument with the use of proper skills and...

Last updated Mar 31, 2020