Funeral & Celebration of Life Songs (Memorial CD)

Funeral songs and memorial songs don’t have to be sad. The best choices tend to sound like the person: a hymn from their church, the band they saw twelve times, the song they sang badly in the car. Use the lists below for ideas, and don’t worry about what is “proper.” For the hymns we’ve named one well-known recording each, so you can find the exact version.

What music should play as people arrive at a funeral?

Quiet instrumentals and gentle songs suit the arrival at a funeral, such as River Flows in You by Yiruma, Clair de Lune by Claude Debussy and Fields of Gold by Eva Cassidy. People are talking softly and greeting each other as they find their seats.

01River Flows in YouYiruma · 2001Solo piano, flowing and calm. Lets people settle without words.
02Clair de LuneClaude DebussyQuiet, moonlit piano. Any good solo piano recording works.
03Gymnopédie No. 1Erik SatieSlow, spare piano that fills a room without asking for attention.
04Fields of GoldEva CassidyA soft, plain-spoken cover about years shared and remembered.
05UnforgettableNat King Cole · 1951A warm, unhurried standard for someone of that generation.
06SmileNat King ColeGentle encouragement to keep going through sadness.
07HallelujahJeff Buckley · 1994Quiet guitar and voice: Jeff Buckley’s take on Leonard Cohen’s song.
08Bridge Over Troubled WaterSimon & Garfunkel · 1970A promise of comfort that builds slowly. Speaks to the people grieving.

What are the best hymns for a funeral?

Traditional funeral hymns include Amazing Grace (Judy Collins), How Great Thou Art (Elvis Presley) and I’ll Fly Away (Gillian Welch), each listed with one well-known recording. If the congregation will sing, check which hymns the church or officiant knows and what accompaniment is available. If the hymns will be played as recordings instead, these versions are easy to find.

09Amazing GraceJudy Collins · 1970Sung almost unaccompanied, with a choir joining. Clear and calm.
10How Great Thou ArtElvis Presley · 1967Elvis’s gospel reading of the hymn. Builds to a big finish.
11In the GardenAlan Jackson · 2006A gentle country take on the old hymn.
12I'll Fly AwayGillian Welch · 2000With Alison Krauss. Hopeful bluegrass gospel that lifts the mood without breaking it.
13The Old Rugged CrossAlan JacksonPlain, reverent and familiar to most older churchgoers.
14Take My Hand, Precious LordMahalia JacksonGospel at its most powerful. A request for comfort and guidance.
1510,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)Matt Redman · 2011A modern worship song many congregations know by heart.
16Ave MariaAndrea BocelliSung by Bocelli. A natural fit for a Catholic service.
17Abide with MeEmeli SandéA modern recording of the evening hymn, simple and slow.
18It Is Well with My SoulAudrey AssadA spare, modern recording of the hymn about peace in hard times.
19Will the Circle Be UnbrokenNitty Gritty Dirt BandCountry-gospel about meeting again. Comforting and communal.

What song should play during a funeral service?

Common songs for the funeral service or tribute include Supermarket Flowers by Ed Sheeran, My Way by Frank Sinatra and Wind Beneath My Wings by Bette Midler. One song here, often after the eulogy, gives people a few minutes to sit with their thoughts. Choose something the person loved, or something that says what the family can’t.

20Supermarket FlowersEd Sheeran · 2017Written from the point of view of a family clearing a hospital room. Hard to hear, very true.
21My WayFrank Sinatra · 1969For someone who lived life on their own terms.
22Wind Beneath My WingsBette MidlerA thank-you to the person who held everyone up.
23I Can Only ImagineMercyMeA Christian song wondering what it will be like to meet God.
24Go Rest High on That MountainVince GillA country farewell, gentle and hopeful. Widely played at services.
25AngelSarah McLachlanPiano and voice, about finding comfort and release.
26You Raise Me UpJosh Groban · 2003Gratitude for someone who made you stronger. Builds big.
27See You AgainWiz Khalifa · 2015With Charlie Puth. Written as a farewell to a friend, and widely played at memorials since.
28The DanceGarth BrooksGlad for the time you had, even knowing how it ends.
29Tears in HeavenEric Clapton · 1992Quiet acoustic grief, written after Clapton’s own loss.
30Dancing in the SkyDani and LizzyA simple, gentle song imagining a loved one at peace.

How many songs do you need for a memorial slideshow?

A memorial slideshow of 100 photos runs about 12 minutes, or three to four songs. The songs should carry the pictures without pulling focus. The table assumes about seven seconds a photo and three and a half to four minutes a song:

Photos	Running time	Songs
50	About 6 minutes	2
100	About 12 minutes	3 to 4
150	About 18 minutes	5
200	About 23 minutes	6

31In My LifeThe Beatles · 1965Remembering places and people with love. Short, so it pairs well with a few photos.
32PhotographEd SheeranAbout keeping someone close through pictures. Made for a slideshow.
33LandslideFleetwood Mac · 1975About change and getting older. Soft acoustic guitar.
34Forever YoungRod Stewart · 1988A parent’s blessing for a child. Works for a long life well lived.
35Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)Green Day · 1997Acoustic and bittersweet, a thank-you for the good times.
36MemoriesMaroon 5 · 2019A toast to the people who aren’t here. Gentle and singable.
37You'll Be in My HeartPhil Collins · 1999A promise to always be near. Lovely for a parent or grandparent.
38I Hope You DanceLee Ann Womack · 2000Advice for living fully. Often chosen for mothers and grandmothers.
39Somewhere Only We KnowKeane · 2004Piano-led and wistful, about a place two people shared.
40The StoryBrandi CarlileA life written in the lines on a face. Builds to a powerful vocal.

Time the slideshow to the music, not the other way round: if the last song ends before the last photo, the room sits in silence. Our playlist length calculator adds up a song list so you know the total before you build the slides.

What are good recessional songs for a funeral?

Good recessional songs for a funeral are a little more hopeful, like What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong, Over the Rainbow by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole and Time to Say Goodbye by Andrea Bocelli. The last song sets the feeling people carry out of the room.

41What a Wonderful WorldLouis Armstrong · 1967Gratitude for ordinary beauty. Lets people leave on a gentle note.
42Over the RainbowIsrael Kamakawiwo'oleUkulele and a soft voice. Peaceful and hopeful.
43Time to Say GoodbyeAndrea BocelliWith Sarah Brightman. Grand, emotional and a clear ending.
44Into the WestAnnie Lennox · 2003From The Return of the King. A gentle song about a final journey.
45Wish You Were HerePink Floyd · 1975Missing someone, played on acoustic guitar.
46Let It BeThe Beatles · 1970Words of comfort in a hard time. Familiar to almost everyone.
47Knockin' on Heaven's DoorBob Dylan · 1973Short, simple and resigned in a gentle way.

What songs are good for a celebration of life?

Good celebration of life songs are upbeat favourites like Here Comes the Sun by The Beatles, Three Little Birds by Bob Marley & The Wailers and Don’t Stop Me Now by Queen. The gathering remembers the person as they were, so if they loved it, it belongs.

48Three Little BirdsBob Marley & The WailersReassurance that things will be all right. Easy, sunny reggae.
49Here Comes the SunThe Beatles · 1969Light after a long winter. Lifts a room without feeling out of place.
50Free BirdLynyrd Skynyrd · 1973For the free spirit. The album version runs about nine minutes; plan for it.
51Don't Stop Me NowQueenFor someone who lived at full speed.
52Always Look on the Bright Side of LifeMonty PythonFor the person who would want everyone laughing. The film version has one crude line, so listen first.
53Spirit in the SkyNorman Greenbaum · 1969Fuzz-guitar gospel-rock about going home. Upbeat and unexpected.
54Take Me Home, Country RoadsJohn Denver · 1971For someone who loved home, the outdoors, or a good sing-along.
55Live Like You Were DyingTim McGraw · 2004About living fully once you know time is short.
56Fly Me to the MoonFrank Sinatra · 1964Swing for the grandparent who loved the big bands.
57Sweet CarolineNeil Diamond · 1969If they loved a sing-along, let everyone join in.
58Simple ManLynyrd Skynyrd · 1973A parent’s advice to be kind and true. Popular for fathers and sons.

How do you choose music for a funeral?

Choose funeral music by starting with what the person actually played, then check the venue’s rules and sound system before the day. These steps make the day go more smoothly:

Start with the person. Look at what they actually played: their record shelf, their car’s CD player, their phone. A song they loved means more than the most popular funeral song.
Check with the officiant or venue first. Some churches ask for sacred music during the service and allow other songs only before or after. Funeral homes are usually more flexible.
Ask about the sound system. Find out whether they play CDs, take a USB stick or connect a phone, and who presses play. Bring a backup copy and test it if you can.
Write down the order. Give whoever runs the music a numbered list with the moment each song is for.
Mind the length. Some favourites run long (the album Free Bird is about nine minutes). Fade it, choose a shorter version, or save it for the gathering afterwards.

A memorial CD for the family

A memorial CD of the songs from the service, or of the music the person loved, is a keepsake people return to. Relatives who couldn’t travel can hear what was played, and older family members can play it on the stereo they already own.

One CD holds about 80 minutes, or 18 to 22 songs. Our guide to how many songs fit on a CD explains the limits.
Our free CD case template prints a jewel case insert with the song list, and you can add a photo for the cover.
Burn it as an audio CD so it plays in any car or home stereo. Our guide to making a mix CD covers the burning and the order.

If it would help to hand this part to someone else, we can burn a memorial CD from your playlist, with a photo of your loved one as the cover.

If you’re putting together songs for a parent, our lists of songs for mom and songs for dad each include memorial picks.

Questions people ask

What are the most popular funeral songs?

Some of the most requested funeral songs are Amazing Grace, How Great Thou Art, Hallelujah, Bridge Over Troubled Water, My Way, Wind Beneath My Wings, Supermarket Flowers, Tears in Heaven and What a Wonderful World. The right choice is usually a song the person loved.

What songs are good for a celebration of life?

A celebration of life can be lighter: Here Comes the Sun, Three Little Birds, Don't Stop Me Now, Take Me Home, Country Roads, Free Bird or whatever the person played loudest. Upbeat songs they loved often say more than a sad song they never listened to.

How many songs do you need for a funeral?

A funeral usually needs three to six songs: one or two as people arrive, one or two during the service, one for the slideshow or tribute and one as people leave. A slideshow of 100 photos at about seven seconds each runs roughly 12 minutes, or three to four songs.

Can you play non-religious songs at a funeral?

Non-religious songs can often be played at a funeral, but rules vary. Some churches only allow hymns or sacred music during the service itself, while funeral homes and celebrations of life are usually flexible. Ask the officiant or venue before you plan the music.

What format should funeral music be in?

Funeral music should be in a format the venue's sound system plays, so ask first. Many still have a CD player, some take a USB stick or a phone on an aux cable. An audio CD is the safest backup because it needs no internet, app or login, and test it on their system beforehand if you can.

What is a memorial CD?

A memorial CD is a disc of the music played at the service, or the songs the person loved, given to family and friends as a keepsake. It often has a photo on the cover and the song list inside.