23 Best Reflection Songs For Funerals

Making funeral arrangements for someone you care about can be difficult. When choosing the right music for the funeral, it can be hard to narrow down the songs that fit the remembrance of your loved ones perfectly.

We've chosen some of the best reflection songs for funerals to help make your choice of music a little easier. I hope you find some that fit your needs.

1. Wind Beneath My Wings by Bette Midler

Song Year: 1988

When you think of an ultimate song to pay tribute to a loved one who you admired and looked up to, Bette Midler got it right with “Wind Beneath My Wings.” This song focuses on the admiration one has for another person and how they wish nothing but to model their life after that close person who is their hero.

2. Come Away With Me by Norah Jones

Song Year: 2002

“Come Away With Me” can be open to interpretation and has several meanings. For use as one of the reflections songs for funerals, it can be meant as the loved one's memory remaining with you and being carried with you throughout your life.

In addition, they will walk with you and be by your side to guide you and protect you as a guardian angel.

3. Goodbye's the Saddest Word by Celine Dion

Song Year: 2001

When looking for a reflection song, especially for use during a mother's funeral, Celine Dion has created a fantastic song. This song not only talks about all the great things her mother did but talks about saying goodbye is hard.

Goodbye is the saddest word we will ever say to those we love, and Celine expresses this so beautifully and well-written in her song.

While this song was written for her mother, it can be used for a funeral for any mother figure, whether a mom, step-mom, grandmother, or even someone who played a mother role with no blood relation in your own life.

4. Angel by Sarah McLachlan

Song Year: 1998

Although the story behind “Angel” was created due to the drug overdose of a friend of Sarah McLachlan's, the song is also open to interpretation. It can also be a metaphor for any hard time we overcome in life, even if it doesn't turn out exactly how we hoped, or for the death of a loved one that we feel was taken too soon and has now left their struggles in the arms of an angel.

5. Knockin' on Heaven's Door by Bob Dylan

Song Year: 1991

This song was initially written to remember the teachers and children killed in the Dunblane school massacre. Even though its original meaning represents this tragedy, it's a well-known song for its use during the grief period of the passing of a loved one.

When a loved one passes away, we always think of what it is like in heaven. It's a touching song to listen to while envisioning our loved one knocking on heaven's door and waiting to get into their forever home.

6. Bitter Sweet Symphony by The Verve

Song Year:1997

This song is perfect for a funeral as it talks about the bittersweet moments in life, including those happy moments and the ones that are considered tragic. Throughout life, we can feel like there is no purpose or meaning as we go through the day-to-day motions, but when tragedy happens, we realize what life is all about, and we try to change to enjoy every moment we can. The same can be said as we deal with losing a loved one.

7. I'll See You Again by Westlife

Song Year: 2009

“I'll See You Again” is a song about missing your loved one. Even though the despair and grief, this song portrays a message of hope with the lyrics expressing that one day you will see your loved one again. Even though right now may be a hard time, you can look forward to being reunited one day.

8. How Am I Supposed To Live Without You by Michael Bolton

Song Year: 1983

A great song choice for a funeral as it talks about the shock of the news of someone leaving and then going through the cycle of grief. When we lose a loved one, we don't know how we will go on or what the future will look like.

“How Am I Supposed To Live Without You” beautifully displays these feelings most people are internally feeling and helps to put their feelings to words. This R&B song has a beautiful sound and is calm and soothing to listen to, which works great for a funeral service.

9. Can You Feel the Love Tonight by Elton John

Song Year: 1994

“Can You Feel the Love Tonight” is a song that makes you feel good even in a challenging situation. The song is all about love and how love prevails even in trying situations, which is true when you're dealing with the death of a loved one.

Even though that person may be gone and the day may be hard, your love for that person will prevail and carry you through the circumstances.

There are many different variations of the song, from piano-only versions to recorded versions with a plethora of instruments which make it easy to find the best version to honor your loved one.

10. A Million Love Songs by Take That

Song Year: 1992

A true love song and tribute to your loved one. The song talks about the love deeply felt for an individual and how that love was lost. How the love is lost is open to interpretation, but it can beautifully represent the loss of a loved one. The song continues about how the singer wishes he could get the love back and how he will continue to love through the years.

11. Angels by Robbie Wiliams

Song Year: 1997

When people pass, we often like to think of them as becoming an angel. “Angels” by Robbie Williams portrays these thoughts perfectly. It starts by going through the motions of being sad and feeling like you lost the person you love to think about them now, being your angel and being by your side every step of the way.

12. Time To Say Goodbye by Sarah Brightman and Andrea Bocelli

Song Year: 1995

Originally written and sung in Italian, this beautiful pop song offers you a soothing sound to feel through your soul. The song comes in its original Italian version, but there's also an English version you can find.

The song talks about someone seemingly far away but finding them in the things we can go through in life that give us light – the moon and the sun. It describes the deep pain of the loss of that individual beside them, the feelings of darkness and loneliness, and how they search for peace.