Funeral songs
Choosing the music is one of the first things a funeral home will ask about, and one of the hardest. These lists start from what families actually choose, according to published funeral data, and let you narrow them down by country, part of the service, faith, style and the decade the person loved.
Short answer
In the UK, SunLife’s 2026 report found Abide with Me has overtaken My Way as the most played funeral song. Other perennial choices include Time to Say Goodbye, Somewhere Over the Rainbow, You’ll Never Walk Alone and Wind Beneath My Wings. In the US, where no comparable chart is published, hymns such as Amazing Grace remain common choices. Most services have three moments for music: entrance, reflection and exit.
Music for each part of the service
- EntranceAs the coffin or family comes in. Calm and dignified; often classical or a hymn tune.
- HymnSung by everyone. Choose a tune most guests know.
- ReflectionA moment to remember, often with photos on screen. The song that sounds most like them.
- Slideshow / tribute filmUnder the tribute film: 1–2 songs of 3–4 minutes each.
- CommittalThe final farewell, as curtains close or the coffin is lowered. Quiet and short.
- ExitAs everyone leaves. Often more uplifting: a favorite, even a funny one.
- Wake / receptionAt the gathering afterwards: the songs they danced to.
Find songs
Every song links to an official recording we checked on YouTube or Spotify. Filters are saved in the address bar, so you can send a list to family.
114 songs
Time to Say Goodbye (Con te partirò)
Andrea Bocelli & Sarah Brightman · Francesco Sartori / Lucio Quarantotto · 1996 · 4:05
My Way
Frank Sinatra · 1969 · 4:35
Somewhere Over the Rainbow
Eva Cassidy · Harold Arlen / Yip Harburg · 1998 · 4:50
Supermarket Flowers
Ed Sheeran · 2017 · 3:41
Wind Beneath My Wings
Bette Midler · Jeff Silbar / Larry Henley · 1988 · 4:53
You Raise Me Up
Josh Groban · Rolf Løvland / Brendan Graham · 2003 · 4:50
Everybody Hurts
R.E.M. · 1992 · 5:20
My Heart Will Go On
Celine Dion · James Horner / Will Jennings · 1997 · 4:40
I Will Always Love You
Whitney Houston · Dolly Parton · 1992 · 4:32
Over the Rainbow
Judy Garland · Harold Arlen / Yip Harburg · 1939 · 2:45
Somewhere Over the Rainbow / What a Wonderful World
Israel Kamakawiwo'ole · 1993 · 5:07
Highway to Hell
AC/DC · 1979 · 3:28
Another One Bites the Dust
Queen · 1980 · 3:35
Ring of Fire
Johnny Cash · June Carter / Merle Kilgore · 1963 · 2:37
Stairway to Heaven
Led Zeppelin · 1971 · 8:02
Take Me Home, Country Roads
John Denver · 1971 · 3:10
I Will Always Love You
Dolly Parton · 1974 · 2:55
The Gambler
Kenny Rogers · Don Schlitz · 1978 · 3:33
Islands in the Stream
Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers · Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb · 1983 · 4:10
Ave Maria (Schubert)
Franz Schubert (various performers) · Franz Schubert · 1825 · 5:00
Adagio for Strings
Samuel Barber (orchestral) · Samuel Barber · 1936 · 8:00
Dance With My Father
Luther Vandross · 2003 · 4:25
One Sweet Day
Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men · 1995 · 4:42
I Miss You
Beyoncé · Frank Ocean / Shea Taylor · 2011 · 3:00
Unforgettable
Natalie Cole & Nat King Cole · Irving Gordon · 1991 · 3:30
Unforgettable
Nat King Cole · Irving Gordon · 1951 · 2:35
It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday
Boyz II Men · Freddie Perren / Christine Yarian · 1991 · 2:50
Sweet Caroline
Neil Diamond · 1969 · 3:23
Amazing Grace
Traditional hymn · John Newton (words, 1779) · 1972 · 3:20
Amazing Grace
LeAnn Rimes · John Newton (words) · 1997 · 3:30
Spirit in the Sky
Norman Greenbaum · 1969 · 4:00
Make Me a Channel of Your Peace
Traditional hymn · Sebastian Temple (Prayer of St Francis) · 1967 · 3:30
Great Is Thy Faithfulness
Traditional hymn · William M. Runyan / Thomas Chisholm · 1923 · 3:40
The Old Rugged Cross
Traditional hymn · George Bennard · 1912 · 3:20
For the Beauty of the Earth
Traditional hymn · F. S. Pierpoint / Conrad Kocher (tune Dix) · 1864 · 3:00
Be Still, My Soul (Finlandia)
Traditional hymn · Jean Sibelius (tune Finlandia) / Katharina von Schlegel · 1899 · 3:20
How Great Thou Art
Elvis Presley · Carl Boberg / Stuart K. Hine · 1967 · 3:00
It Is Well With My Soul
Traditional hymn · Philip Bliss / Horatio Spafford · 1876 · 4:00
Precious Lord, Take My Hand
Mahalia Jackson · Thomas A. Dorsey · 1956 · 3:40
I'll Fly Away
Alison Krauss & Gillian Welch · Albert E. Brumley · 2000 · 3:56
Going Home (Largo from New World Symphony)
Traditional (Dvořák) · Antonín Dvořák / William Arms Fisher · 1922 · 4:00
Softly and Tenderly Jesus Is Calling
Traditional hymn · Will L. Thompson · 1880 · 3:20
In the Garden
Alan Jackson · C. Austin Miles · 2006 · 3:00
On Eagle's Wings
Traditional hymn · Michael Joncas · 1979 · 4:20
Be Not Afraid
Traditional hymn · Bob Dufford SJ · 1975 · 4:00
Here I Am, Lord
Traditional hymn · Dan Schutte · 1981 · 4:00
Panis Angelicus
Traditional (César Franck) · César Franck · 1872 · 4:00
Pie Jesu (Requiem)
Sarah Brightman · Andrew Lloyd Webber · 1985 · 4:00
Canon in D
Johann Pachelbel (orchestral) · Johann Pachelbel · 1680 · 5:00
Air on the G String
J. S. Bach (orchestral) · Johann Sebastian Bach · 1730 · 5:00
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring
J. S. Bach (choral/orchestral) · Johann Sebastian Bach · 1723 · 3:20
Clair de Lune
Claude Debussy (piano) · Claude Debussy · 1905 · 5:00
Taps
U.S. military bugle call · Daniel Butterfield (attrib.) · 1862 · 1:00
Danny Boy
Traditional (Irish air) · Frederic Weatherly (words) / Londonderry Air · 1913 · 3:20
Imagine
John Lennon · 1971 · 3:03
Tears in Heaven
Eric Clapton · Eric Clapton / Will Jennings · 1992 · 4:32
Bridge Over Troubled Water
Simon & Garfunkel · Paul Simon · 1970 · 4:55
I Can Only Imagine
MercyMe · Bart Millard · 2001 · 4:08
When I Get Where I'm Going
Brad Paisley feat. Dolly Parton · 2006 · 4:36
Go Rest High on That Mountain
Vince Gill · 1995 · 5:00
Hallelujah
Leonard Cohen · 1984 · 4:40
Hallelujah
Jeff Buckley · Leonard Cohen · 1994 · 6:54
What a Wonderful World
Louis Armstrong · Bob Thiele / George David Weiss · 1967 · 2:20
Angel
Sarah McLachlan · 1997 · 4:30
I Will Remember You
Sarah McLachlan · 1995 · 4:30
Candle in the Wind
Elton John · Elton John / Bernie Taupin · 1973 · 3:50
Goodbye My Lover
James Blunt · 2004 · 4:18
The Rose
Bette Midler · Amanda McBroom · 1979 · 3:35
I'll Be Missing You
Puff Daddy & Faith Evans feat. 112 · 1997 · 5:03
See You Again
Wiz Khalifa feat. Charlie Puth · 2015 · 3:50
Cigarette Daydreams
Cage the Elephant · 2013 · 3:28
Mr Loverman
Ricky Montgomery · 2016 · 3:50
My Immortal
Evanescence · 2003 · 4:24
Knockin' on Heaven's Door
Bob Dylan · 1973 · 2:30
Fire and Rain
James Taylor · 1970 · 3:20
Wish You Were Here
Pink Floyd · 1975 · 5:34
Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)
Green Day · 1997 · 2:34
Forever Young
Alphaville · 1984 · 3:46
The Way We Were
Barbra Streisand · Marvin Hamlisch · 1973 · 3:30
Nothing Compares 2 U
Sinéad O'Connor · Prince · 1990 · 4:40
There You'll Be
Faith Hill · Diane Warren · 2001 · 3:42
Time After Time
Cyndi Lauper · 1984 · 4:00
Turn! Turn! Turn!
The Byrds · Pete Seeger (Ecclesiastes 3) · 1965 · 3:50
Heroes
David Bowie · 1977 · 6:10
Free Bird
Lynyrd Skynyrd · 1973 · 9:08
Keep Me in Your Heart
Warren Zevon · 2003 · 3:27
To Where You Are
Josh Groban · 2001 · 3:50
Calling All Angels
Train · 2003 · 4:00
Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy)
John Lennon · 1980 · 4:04
Endless Love
Diana Ross & Lionel Richie · 1981 · 4:26
I'll Be Seeing You
Billie Holiday · Sammy Fain / Irving Kahal · 1944 · 3:20
(Don't Fear) The Reaper
Blue Öyster Cult · 1976 · 5:08
Who You'd Be Today
Kenny Chesney · 2005 · 4:10
Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel)
Billy Joel · 1993 · 3:35
Creep
Radiohead · 1992 · 3:58
Moonlight Serenade
Glenn Miller · 1939 · 3:20
Smile
Nat King Cole · Charlie Chaplin · 1954 · 2:50
Can't Help Falling in Love
Elvis Presley · 1961 · 3:00
Unchained Melody
The Righteous Brothers · Alex North / Hy Zaret · 1965 · 3:36
Stand By Me
Ben E. King · 1961 · 3:00
In My Life
The Beatles · 1965 · 2:27
Let It Be
The Beatles · 1970 · 4:03
Here Comes the Sun
The Beatles · George Harrison · 1969 · 3:05
Landslide
Fleetwood Mac · Stevie Nicks · 1975 · 3:19
Your Song
Elton John · Elton John / Bernie Taupin · 1970 · 4:01
One
U2 · 1991 · 4:36
Fix You
Coldplay · 2005 · 4:55
A Thousand Years
Christina Perri · 2011 · 4:45
Hurt
Johnny Cash · Trent Reznor · 2002 · 3:38
Drive (For Daddy Gene)
Alan Jackson · 2002 · 4:00
Snowbird
Anne Murray · Gene MacLellan · 1970 · 2:10
If You Could Read My Mind
Gordon Lightfoot · 1970 · 3:50
YouTubeEditor’s pickThe Parting Glass
The High Kings · Traditional · 2008 · 3:20
El Malei Rachamim
Traditional Jewish chant (cantor) · Traditional liturgy · 1900 · 3:00
Most played, by published source
UK: most requested at funerals — Co-op Funeralcare 2025 (90,000+ funerals)
- Time to Say Goodbye (Con te partirò) — Andrea Bocelli & Sarah Brightman
- My Way — Frank Sinatra
- Somewhere Over the Rainbow — Eva Cassidy
- You'll Never Walk Alone — Gerry and the Pacemakers
- The Best — Tina Turner
- Supermarket Flowers — Ed Sheeran
- Wind Beneath My Wings — Bette Midler
- Abide With Me — Traditional hymn
- We'll Meet Again — Vera Lynn
- You Raise Me Up — Westlife
Source: Co-op Funeralcare (Co-operative Group press release)
UK: most played, according to funeral directors — SunLife Cost of Dying 2026
- Abide With Me — Traditional hymn
- Amazing Grace — Traditional hymn
- My Way — Frank Sinatra
- All Things Bright and Beautiful — Traditional hymn
- The Lord's My Shepherd (Crimond) — Traditional hymn
- Angels — Robbie Williams
- Goodbye's (The Saddest Word) — Celine Dion
- Over the Rainbow — Judy Garland
- You'll Never Walk Alone — Gerry and the Pacemakers
- Jerusalem — Traditional hymn
Source: SunLife
UK: what people want at their own funeral — SunLife Cost of Dying 2026
- My Way — Frank Sinatra
- Angels — Robbie Williams
- Jerusalem — Traditional hymn
- Abide With Me — Traditional hymn
- You'll Never Walk Alone — Gerry and the Pacemakers
- Always Look on the Bright Side of Life — Monty Python (Eric Idle)
- Amazing Grace — Traditional hymn
- Time to Say Goodbye (Con te partirò) — Andrea Bocelli & Sarah Brightman
- Wind Beneath My Wings — Bette Midler
- Spirit in the Sky — Norman Greenbaum
Source: SunLife
UK: top hymns — Co-op Funeralcare 2025
- Abide With Me — Traditional hymn
- All Things Bright and Beautiful — Traditional hymn
- The Lord's My Shepherd (Crimond) — Traditional hymn
- Morning Has Broken — Cat Stevens (Yusuf)
- Amazing Grace — Traditional hymn
Source: Co-op Funeralcare (Co-operative Group press release)
UK: top classical pieces — Co-op Funeralcare 2025
- Time to Say Goodbye (Con te partirò) — Andrea Bocelli & Sarah Brightman
- Nimrod (Enigma Variations) — Edward Elgar (orchestral)
- Ave Maria (Schubert) — Franz Schubert (various performers)
- Nessun Dorma — Luciano Pavarotti
- Adagio for Strings — Samuel Barber (orchestral)
Source: Co-op Funeralcare (Co-operative Group press release)
Australia: most added to funeral playlists on Spotify — Legal & General, 2023
- Cigarette Daydreams — Cage the Elephant
- See You Again — Wiz Khalifa feat. Charlie Puth
- Mr Loverman — Ricky Montgomery
- Supermarket Flowers — Ed Sheeran
- Hallelujah — Jeff Buckley
- I Can Only Imagine — MercyMe
- Take Me Home, Country Roads — John Denver
- Creep — Radiohead
- Amazing Grace — LeAnn Rimes
- I'll See You Again — Westlife
Source: Legal & General (via MyTributes / Australian Community Media)
Australia: most played at Centennial Park, Adelaide — 2008 (oldest data here)
- My Way — Frank Sinatra
- What a Wonderful World — Louis Armstrong
- Time to Say Goodbye (Con te partirò) — Andrea Bocelli & Sarah Brightman
- Unforgettable — Nat King Cole
- Wind Beneath My Wings — Bette Midler
- Amazing Grace — Traditional hymn
- We'll Meet Again — Vera Lynn
- Over the Rainbow — Judy Garland
- Abide With Me — Traditional hymn
- Danny Boy — Traditional (Irish air)
Faith and non-religious services
Humanist and non-religious: Humanist and non-religious funerals often include non-religious music and readings, with time for reflection (Humanists UK). There are no rules about which songs you can use: choose the ones that sound like the person. Filter by “Non-religious” to see secular choices.
Jewish: Traditional Jewish funerals usually have no music. Orthodox and most Conservative communities discourage it; Reform communities may allow music, but not from Christian liturgy (Rabbi Michael Samuel). The memorial prayer El Malei Rachamim is chanted at the service (My Jewish Learning), and psalms such as Psalm 23 are read. A slideshow with music may fit better at a separate memorial gathering — ask the rabbi.
Muslim: Music is not part of an Islamic funeral: the Janazah is a short prayer led by an imam, with no speeches or music (King's College London). That is why this list has no songs for Muslim funerals. A quiet photo tribute without music, or recitation chosen by the family, is more fitting.
Songs for a slideshow or tribute film
One song carries about 40 photos at 5 seconds each; two contrasting songs make a 6–8 minute tribute. See how many photos for a funeral slideshow and the best songs for a funeral slideshow. Playing a recording at the service is generally covered by venue licences; putting it into a video you share online is not — see music rules.
Our rule of thumb (there is no published standard): build a tribute film around one to three songs of 3–4 minutes. At about 5 seconds per photo, one 4-minute song carries roughly 45 photos. For a slideshow inside a 30–45 minute crematorium service, one song is usually enough. Song lengths are shown in the list.
Questions people ask
What is the most played song at funerals?
In the UK, Abide with Me, which overtook My Way in SunLife’s 2026 Cost of Dying report. My Way remains the top choice of people planning their own funeral.
What song is played when the coffin leaves?
Families often choose something uplifting for the exit, such as You’ll Never Walk Alone, Always Look on the Bright Side of Life or What a Wonderful World. The committal itself usually has a quieter piece.
Can I play a pop song at a church funeral?
Many churches allow it at the entrance or exit, but rules vary, especially at a Catholic funeral Mass. Ask the minister or priest early; crematoria and celebrants are usually flexible.
How many songs do I need for a funeral?
Usually three to five: entrance, one or two hymns or reflection songs, and exit. A 30-minute crematorium slot rarely fits more.
Sources
- From Vera Lynn to Vengaboys: The UK's top funeral songs from the last 12 months revealed (2025 Funeral Music Chart) — Co-op Funeralcare (Co-operative Group press release), 2025-08-20 · Funeral directors and arrangers surveyed May-June 2025, based on 90,000+ funerals conducted in the previous 12 months
- The most popular funeral music in the UK (2023) — Golden Charter (reporting Co-op Funeralcare 2023 chart), 2023-07-27 · Co-op 2023 chart, ~93,000 UK funerals
- SunLife Cost of Dying Report 2026 - 'Top 10 songs played at funerals' (p.62-63) — SunLife, 2026-01 · Critical Research for SunLife: interviews with 100 UK funeral directors (May-July 2025) and 1,500 people who organised a funeral in the past four years (June-July 2025)
- SunLife Cost of Dying Report 2026 - 'Top 10 songs we want for our own funeral' — SunLife, 2026-01 · Same SunLife 2026 research (consumer preference list, not plays)
- What is the most popular Irish funeral song? — AA Ireland (AA Life Insurance), 2018-05-27 · Survey of 4,000+ Irish people (stated preference)
- Australia Reveals Its Favourite Funeral Songs — Centennial Park (Adelaide, SA) via Exclaim!, 2008-07-02 · Centennial Park (South Australia's largest cemetery/crematorium) service records; size not stated
- Popular Funeral Songs — Anton Brown Funerals (Brisbane), 2021-09-18 · Funeral director's list; no data basis stated
- Most popular funeral songs ranked by Spotify data — Legal & General (via MyTributes / Australian Community Media), 2023-10-24 · 300,000+ songs in public Spotify playlists titled e.g. 'funeral songs', 'mum's funeral' (2021 analysis by Legal & General)
- Top Funeral Songs (76 songs) — Legacy.com, 2019-04-10 · Editorial list by Kirk Fox; no data basis
- Funeral Songs — Dignity Memorial (SCI, US/Canada), undated (checked 2026-10-05) · Provider guidance; no data basis
- Funeral Songs Canada: 25 Picks & Planning Guide (2026) — Senior-plans.ca, 2026-06 · Editorial, based on funeral-home/celebrant observation; no survey
- How to create a playlist for an Irish funeral or wake: classics and modern choices — RIP.ie, 2025-12-17 · Editorial (Mairéad Neary)
- Funeral service step by step - popular hymn choices for funerals — Church of England, undated (checked 2026-10-05) · Official denominational guidance (17 adult hymns listed)
- Sacred Music Selections for Mass of Christian Burial — Church of the Holy Spirit (Roman Catholic parish, Stamford CT), undated (checked 2026-10-05) · Parish-approved funeral Mass music list
- El Maleh Rahamim — My Jewish Learning, undated (checked 2026-10-05) · Reference article
- Music & The Jewish Funeral — Rabbi Michael Samuel, 2012-05 · Rabbinic commentary
- Janazah prayers and funeral (student notice) — King's College London, undated (checked 2026-10-05) · Institutional explanation of the Janazah
- Humanist funerals — Humanists UK, undated (checked 2026-10-05) · Official guidance
- Magyar temetési zene lista — Temetkezési Vállalat (temetkezesivallalat.hu), undated (checked 2026-10-05) · Funeral company's curated list of 30 Hungarian songs; no play data
- Magyar zenék temetésre — Lapidaris, 2020-04-14 · Funeral/memorial company's curated list of 19 songs
- Zenék temetésre — Schäffer és Wagner Temetkezési Kft., undated (checked 2026-10-05) · Funeral company's list of 11 pieces
- Extrémtől a hagyományosig: milyen zene szól a temetéseken? — HVG, 2010-06-15 · Interviews with five Budapest cemetery managers (Rákospalota, Fiumei út, Farkasrét, Cinkota, Megyer)
- A temetési istentisztelet rendje — Magyarországi Református Egyház, 2007-03 · Official Reformed funeral liturgy
How we built these lists: “most played” rankings come only from the dated sources above. Songs without a source are marked as editor’s picks. Each listening link was checked against YouTube’s or Spotify’s public oEmbed service on the date shown in our data, and links we could not verify were dropped. We do not supply recordings; please use your own copies at the service.