Celebration of life songs
Updated
For a celebration of life, families choose songs that lift the room: "Here Comes the Sun" (The Beatles), "Three Little Birds" (Bob Marley & the Wailers), "I Hope You Dance" (Lee Ann Womack) and "Forever Young" (Rod Stewart) are among the most popular, with "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" for someone with a sense of humour.
Uplifting and hopeful
| Song | Artist | Year | Why it fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Here Comes the Sun | The Beatles | 1969 | Light after a dark time; easy for everyone to enjoy. |
| Three Little Birds | Bob Marley & the Wailers | 1977 | "Don't worry" in song form. |
| I Hope You Dance | Lee Ann Womack | 2000 | Advice to live fully, as they did. |
| Forever Young | Rod Stewart | 1988 | A blessing for the people left behind. |
| Over the Rainbow / What a Wonderful World | Israel Kamakawiwo'ole | 1993 | Gentle and hopeful; works for any age. |
| What a Wonderful World | Louis Armstrong | 1967 | Gratitude for life's small joys. |
| You've Got a Friend | Carole King | 1971 | For someone who was always there for their friends. |
| Lean on Me | Bill Withers | 1972 | About community and support; people often sing along. |
| Stand by Me | Ben E. King | 1961 | Loyalty and love, and a tune everyone knows. |
Celebrating a big personality
| Song | Artist | Year | Why it fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Always Look on the Bright Side of Life | Monty Python | 1979 | A UK favorite for someone who would want people laughing. |
| Don't Stop Believin' | Journey | 1981 | A singalong for someone who never gave up. |
| Sweet Caroline | Neil Diamond | 1969 | Gets the whole room singing; great for the gathering after. |
| Celebration | Kool & the Gang | 1980 | Literally a celebration; best at the party afterwards. |
| My Way | Frank Sinatra | 1969 | For someone who lived life on their own terms. |
| Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) | Green Day | 1997 | Bittersweet and grateful; popular for younger people too. |
Reflective, but warm
| Song | Artist | Year | Why it fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| In My Life | The Beatles | 1965 | Remembering people and places with love. |
| Let It Be | The Beatles | 1970 | Acceptance and comfort. |
| Fix You | Coldplay | 2005 | Builds from quiet to hopeful; good for a slideshow. |
| See You Again | Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth | 2015 | A modern tribute about friendship and meeting again. |
| Unforgettable | Nat King Cole | 1951 | Timeless and warm. |
| The Parting Glass | Traditional (Irish/Scottish) | Trad. | A traditional toast of farewell, often sung at Irish wakes. |
| Smile | Nat King Cole | 1954 | Encouragement to smile through it; a lovely closing song. |
How to choose
A celebration of life is usually less formal than a funeral, so the music can be too. Many families build a playlist for the gathering and save one or two meaningful songs for a quiet moment.
Ask friends and family for one song each that reminds them of the person; it makes a playlist that sounds like their life.
A song in their own words
Some families create an original tribute song from their memories, with their's name in it, to play at the service. You read the lyrics and hear a preview before deciding.
Create a tribute songQuestions
What songs are good for a celebration of life?
Uplifting songs like "Here Comes the Sun", "Three Little Birds", "I Hope You Dance" and "Forever Young", plus the person's own favorites.
Is it OK to play happy songs at a memorial?
Yes. A celebration of life is meant to remember the joy in someone's life, and upbeat songs are common, especially at the gathering afterwards.
Sources
Song titles, artists and years are taken from the artists' published discographies and the songs' Wikipedia pages. Hymn years are when the text or tune was first published. Spotted a mistake? Email hello@bestsonggift.com and we'll fix it.