
Memorial Songs For Remembering Loved Ones Lost
Music accompanies all phases of life. Birth. Graduation. Marriage. Holidays. Death. Music is power. It communicates with our souls — our very being. Where words fail, music takes the lead.
Why Are We Listing Memorial Songs on a Wedding Site?
Unfortunately, life is complicated. Yes, a wedding day is one of the most important days for a bride. She has been planning it since her childhood. However, not every wedding is a fairytale wedding — at least not the Disney kind. Though you may have wished your father could walk you down the aisle, sadly, he has passed. Maybe you dreamed your mother would help plan all of the wedding details.
More than we’d like, life is not what is expected and special people close to us pass away, whether it be a parent, sibling, special relative, or friend. Memorial songs allow you to make room in your special day to celebrate the life and memories of your lost loved one.
When Can a Memorial Song Be Played at My Wedding?
At wedding ceremonies or receptions, a memorial song can be played in remembrance of a special person who has passed away. When is up to you? As always, we recommend chatting with your wedding planner and professional DJ.
When remembering a loved one during a wedding, we recommend having a special object at the wedding ceremony and wedding reception in their honor. An example would be to have a lit candle in remembrance.
How Do I Choose A Good Memorial Song To Play at My Wedding?
When selecting memorial songs, we suggest finding a song that was special between the wedding couple and the person no longer living. It can be any song you like. It doesn’t have to be a slow or sad song either. It’s a time set aside to honor your parent, friend, or family member. If you do not have a specific song in mind, we have listed our Top 100 Memorial Songs. Maybe one of these songs will We have songs from all genres to meet your needs. We have rap, rock, country, jazz, r&b, and much more.
Looking Down From Heaven
If you would like to think of someone who has passed away looking down on the bride and groom and/or looking over them, we would suggest the following songs: “Holes In The Floor Of Heaven” by Steve Wariner and “Angels Among Us” by Alabama. If it was a child that passed away, we suggest “Angels In Waiting” by Tammy Cochrane or “Tears In Heaven” by Eric Clapton. Eric Clapton wrote the song after he lost his son.
If you would like to remember a soldier, we suggest “Arlington” by Trace Atkins or “Live Like We Were Dying” by Tim McGraw. The song played for Princess Diana, “Candle In The Wind” by Elton John, would be great for remembering a classy woman.
People come and go, but their memories will live on. It is very difficult for you, as the wedding couple, to have a special loved one pass early and not be able to attend your wedding. Honoring them in song helps.
Top 3 Remembering a Father Songs
- Dance With My Father – Luther Vandross
- In the Living Years – Mike & the Mechanics
- Thank You for Being My Dad – Jon Barker
Top 3 Remembering a Mother Songs
- Two Of Us – Louis Tomlinson
- Mama – Il Div
- Supermarket Flowers – Ed Sheeran
Top 3 Remembering a Child Songs
- Tears in Heaven – Eric Clapton
- Heaven Bound Balloons – Granger Smith
- Who’d You Be Today – Kenny Chesney
Top 5 Remembering A Friend Songs
- See You Again – Wiz Khalifa feat. Charlie Puth
- Drink A Beer – Luke Bryan
- Broken Halos – Chris Stapleton
Top 3 Remembering A Loved One Songs
- Sad Song – We The Kings featuring Elena Coats
- Lay Me Down – Sam Smith
- My Heart Will Go On – Celine Dion
Top 3 Remembering A Military Person Songs
- Arlington – Trace Adkins
- The Ones Who Didn’t Make it Back Home – Justin Moore
- Some Gave All – Billy Ray Cyrus
What Music Is Appropriate for a Funeral?
What songs should you play at a funeral or celebration of life? We have some suggestions of how you can celebrate a loved one’s passing with one of these memorial songs.
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7. Tears In Heaven – Eric Clapton
Eric wrote this song after the passing of his son. Our favorite phrase in the song is as follows: “Beyond the door, there’s a peace I’m sure, and I know there’ll be no more, tears in heaven”.
6. One More Day – Diamond Rio
This is a great generic song for all the loved ones lost too early. One More Day is themed around having just one more day with a deceased friend or loved one and what we would do if we had the day.
5. Gone Too Soon – Michael Jackson
This song was dedicated to the memory of Micheal’s friend Ryan White, who was expelled from school for having HIV/AIDS.
4. Arlington – Trace Adkins
This is a great military-themed song. Our soldiers are our heroes and should be remembered and never forgotten. They have provided us our freedom.
3. When I Look To The Sky – Train
This song is a great current mainstream rock song. A great phrase in the song “When I look to the sky, something tells me you’re here with me and you make everything alright”.
2. People Are Crazy – Billy Currington
This is our oddball pick but one of our favorites. The song is about a man meeting a second man in a bar and the second man passes away. The chorus of the song is said by the second man at the bar – God is great, beer is good, and people are crazy. The first man leaves a six-pack on the dead man’s grave out of respect.
1. My Heart Will Go On – Celine Dion
This was the main theme song of the movie Titanic. The song is about how to carry on after the death of a loved one.
Similar song lists for further reading:
100 Memorial Songs To Play At Weddings
We have assembled a list of our favorites “in memory of” songs. The songs can be played during the wedding ceremony or the wedding reception. If we missed one that should be on the list, let us know in the comments.
Memorial dance song list curated by Matthew Campbell
Last Updated: February 23, 2021
Have a favorite, not on our list? Be sure to share your song at the bottom of the list.
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Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd.
Thanks Bridget. Great song and we will add it to the list!
I lost my son Michael who was only 18 tragically to a dui driver 2 months ago. Some very good songs are “Call Me” Shinedown “Pieces” Sum 41 Stonesour “Through the glass” “Coming Back Down” Hollywood Undead “Tangled up in you” Staind “Gone too soon” Simple Plan “Stop Crying Your eyes out” Oasis “If you could see me now” The Script “With Me” Sum 41 hope this helps some people out there as much as they’ve helped me.
Hi Charles. Sorry to hear about your son. Prayers for you and your family. Thank you for the song suggestions. We will add them to the list!
So Far Away by Avenged Sevenfold?
Thanks Mackenzie. Great song and we will add it to the list.
Great list! I have another addition cole swindale “you should be here”
Thanks Rosie and thanks for the great suggestion. We will definitely add it to the list.
These are all really great suggestions but I have another that might be fitting… “if heaven wasn’t far away” by Justin Moore
Thanks Patricia! Great song and we will add to the list.
I recently lost my son he was 38
I would like some suggestion for songs to play at his memorial
Hi Donna. Sorry for your loss. Many of the songs above are great. However, I would suggest playing songs more to his personality. For example, If he was an upbeat, fun loving guy, then have happy songs in celebration of his life instead of the stereotypical songs played at memorials. Hope this helps. God Bless.