Songs About Grief & Loss of A Loved One

Unfortunately in our lifetime we will all face the inevitable….. the loss of a loved one – be it a parent, grandparent, sibling, child, family member, close friend, significant other or even a family pet. The death of that loved one has got to be one of the most powerful events that we will face in our lifetime. I also believe that almost everyone who has ever lost someone they really loved will remember them through the power of music – by a song that relates to a memorable experience in their life – a moment that is frozen in time. Everyone has there own personal way of coping with grief and it varies from person to person. Sometimes it helps to cleanse your mind with tears when emotions build up inside – and to have a support group nearby to turn to for emotional support.

Remember A Lost Loved One Through Song

Most people should be able to relate to at least one song from the list below. When all is said and done, it takes time to heal and eventually we all learn to move on – never to forget – but hold a place in your heart for that loved one that is no longer here in the physical sense but with you always in spirit. I hope you will find something special in the music below that you can relate to….. and help in the healing process. This may also help you in putting together a custom cd to play or distribute to guests at a funeral , memorial service or celebration of life. I realize not all of the songs below are appropriate for such but are included here because of the grief, suffering or loss of a loved one contained within the lyrics.

Music has a way of touching your soul like nothing else can – without any thought process – just pure human emotion. Consider these as songs from the heart…..

Songs About Grief & Loss of A Loved One

1. Alone Again (Naturally) – Gilbert Sullivan (1972)
2. Angel – Sarah McLachlan (1998)
3. Ballad of The Green Berets – SSgt. Barry Sadler (1966)
4. Believe – Brooks & Dunn (2005)
5. Billy & Sue – BJ Thomas (1966)
6. Billy Don’t Be A Hero – Bo Donaldson & The Heywoods (1974)
7. Blind Man In The Bleachers – Kenny Starr (1976) [also see listing for Last Game of The Season by David Geddes below]
8. Candle In The Wind – Elton John (1973)
9. Can’t Cry Hard Enough – Williams Brothers
10. Car Crash – The Cadets
11. Concrete Angel – Martina McBride (2003)
12. Crying In The Rain – The Everly Brothers (1962)
13. Daddy Sang Bass – Johnny Cash (1969)
14. Daddy’s Hands – Holly Dunn (1986)
15. Dance With My Father – Luther Vandross (2003)
16. Don’t Laugh At Me – Mark Wills (1998)
17. Don’t Take The Girl – Tim McGraw (1994)
18. Ebony Eyes – The Everly Brothers (1961)
19. El Paso – Marty Robbins (1959)
20. Emma – Hot Chocolate (1975)
21. Everything I Own – Bread (1972)
22. Fly – Celine Dion
23. Girlfriend In A Coma – The Smiths (1987)
24. Go Rest High On That Mountain – Vince Gill (1995)
25. God Only Cries – Diamond Rio (2006)
26. Gone Away – The Offspring (1997)
27. Gone Too Soon – Michael Jackson (1993)
28. Grown Men Don’t Cry – Tim McGraw (2001)
29. He Walked On Water – Randy Travis (1990)
30. He Was A Friend of Mine – Bob Dylan, Bobby Bare, Willie Nelson, The Byrds, The Grateful Dead, The Black Crows
31. Heaven Was Needing A Hero – Jo Dee Messina
32. Hello This Is Joannie (The Telephone Answering Machine Song) – Paul Evans (1978)
33. Help Pour Out The Rain (Lacey’s Song) – Buddy Jewell (2003)
34. Here Today – Paul McCartney
35. Holes In The Floor of Heaven – Steve Wariner (1998)
36. Honey – Bobby Goldsboro (1968)
37. How Can I Help You Say Goodbye – Patty Loveless (1994)
38. How Far Is Heaven – Kitty Wells
39. I Can Never Go Home Anymore – The Shangri-Las (1965)
40. I Can Only Imagine – MercyMe (2001)
41. I Guess It Never Hurts To Hurt Sometimes – Oak Ridge Boys (1984)
42. I Miss My Friend – Darryl Worley (2002)
43. I Miss You – Miley Cyrus
44. I Miss You A Little – John Michael Montgomery (1997)
45. I Will Remember You – Sarah McLachlan (1999)
46. If You’re Reading This – Tim McGraw
47. I’ll Be Missing You – Puff Daddy & Faith Evans (1997)
48. I’ll Wait For You – Joe Nichols (2006)
49. Into The Fire – Bruce Springsteen
50. Joey – Sugarland (2009)
51. Keep On Singing – Helen Reddy, Austin Roberts
52. Last Game of The Season (Blind Man In The Bleachers) – David Geddes (1975)
53. Last Kiss – J. Frank Wilson (1964), Wednesday (1973), Pearl Jam (1999)
54. Leader of The Pack – The Shangri-Las (1964), Twisted Sister
55. Leah – Roy Orbison (1962)
56. Little Rosa – Red Sovine
57. Love Me – Collin Raye (1991)
58. Moody River – Pat Boone (1961)
59. Mother I Miss You – John Tesh
60. Mr. Ambulance Driver – The Flaming Lips (2006)
61. Never Forget You – Mariah Carey (1994)
62. Nobody Knows – Tony Rich Project (1995), Kevin Sharpe (1996)
63. Objects In The Rear View Mirror May Appear Closer Than They Are – Meatloaf (1993)
64. Oh Very Young – Cat Stevens (1974)
65. One More Day – Diamond Rio (2001)
66. One Sweet Day – Mariah Carey & Boys II Men (1995)
67. Patches – Clarence Carter (1970)
68. Patches – Dickey Lee (1962) [different song than above]
69. River of Tears – Eric Clapton
70. Rocky – Austin Roberts (1975)
71. Roses For Mama – Red Sovine, C.W. McCall
72. Run Jeannie Run – Jeannie C. Riley (1968)
73. Run Joey Run – David Geddes (1975)
74. Running Bear – Johnny Preston (1959)
75. Seasons In The Sun – Terry Jacks (1974)
76. Shannon – Henry Gross (1976)
77. Slipped Away – Avril Lavigne (2004)
78. Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own – U2
79. Somewhere Out There –  James Ingram & Linda Ronstadt (1986)
80. Tears In Heaven – Eric Clapton (1992)
81. Teddy Bear – Red Sovine (1976)
82. Teen Angel – Mark Dinning (1959)
83. Tell Laura I Love Her – Ray Peterson (1960)
84. Terry – Twinkle (1964) [a hit in Canada & The UK – never charted in the US]
85. The Car – Jeff Carson (1995)
86. The Christmas Shoes – Newsong (2000)
87. The Dance – Garth Brooks (1990)
88. The Last Goodbye – Red Sovine
89. The Living Years – Mike & The Mechanics (1989)
90. The Other Side of The Crash/Over & Out (of Control) – Thursday (2006)
91. The Three Bells – The Browns (1959)
92. Three Wooden Crosses – Randy Travis (2002)
93. Two Hour Honeymoon – Paul Hampton (1960)
94. When I Get Where I’m Going – Brad Paisley & Dolly Parton
95. Who You’d Be Today – Kenny Chesney (2005)
96. Wildfire – Michael Martin Murphy (1975)
97. Will The Circle Be Unbroken – Johnny Cash
98. Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again – (lyrics by Andrew Lloyd Webber – from The Phantom of The Opera)
99. Wreck On The Highway – Roy Acuff (1942)
100. Wreck On The Highway – Bruce Springsteen [inspired by Roy Acuff but a different version than above]

Here’s a LINK to a wonderful site entitled The Memorial Music Library containing hundreds of  Songs For Grief & Loss where you can choose the appropriate song you may be  searching for by type, message, theme, designated person to honor or by genre. Several of the songs you’ll even be able to listen before you to decide to purchase and/or download it through iTunes or somewhere else online.