Funeral songs for Dad
Updated
For a father's funeral, families most often choose "Dance with My Father" (Luther Vandross) for a song about missing him, "My Way" (Frank Sinatra) for a dad who lived life on his own terms, "The Living Years" (Mike + The Mechanics) for things left unsaid, and "Go Rest High on That Mountain" (Vince Gill) for a country fan.
Songs about fathers
| Song | Artist | Year | Why it fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dance with My Father | Luther Vandross | 2003 | A son's memory of his father; one of the most moving songs about losing a dad. |
| The Living Years | Mike + The Mechanics | 1988 | About the conversations we wish we'd had while there was time. |
| Father and Son | Cat Stevens | 1970 | A conversation between generations; fits a dad who gave a lot of advice. |
| Daddy's Hands | Holly Dunn | 1986 | A daughter remembering her father's hands, both gentle and hard-working. |
| He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother | The Hollies | 1969 | About carrying each other; often chosen for dads who looked after everyone. |
For a dad who loved the classics
| Song | Artist | Year | Why it fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| My Way | Frank Sinatra | 1969 | Among the most-requested funeral songs, for a man who did things his way. |
| Fly Me to the Moon | Frank Sinatra | 1964 | Upbeat and classy, for a dad who loved the Rat Pack era. |
| What a Wonderful World | Louis Armstrong | 1967 | Gratitude for a good life. |
| Danny Boy | Traditional (lyrics by Frederic Weatherly) | 1913 | A traditional farewell, especially for families with Irish roots. |
| Bring Him Home | Les Misérables (original London cast) | 1985 | A prayer for someone to be at peace; powerful for a musical-theatre fan. |
Country and rock
| Song | Artist | Year | Why it fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Go Rest High on That Mountain | Vince Gill | 1994 | Written after the deaths of a friend and of his brother; a country funeral standard. |
| The Dance | Garth Brooks | 1989 | Glad for the time you had, even knowing how it ended. |
| If Tomorrow Never Comes | Garth Brooks | 1989 | About making sure the people you love know it. |
| Knockin' on Heaven's Door | Bob Dylan | 1973 | Simple and well loved; suits a dad with a rock or folk record collection. |
| Wish You Were Here | Pink Floyd | 1975 | For a Pink Floyd fan; a song about absence. |
| Simple Man | Lynyrd Skynyrd | 1973 | Advice about living simply and honestly; a favorite for a straightforward dad. |
| Free Bird | Lynyrd Skynyrd | 1973 | Often played to close a service for a rock fan; it's long, so plan for a fade. |
| Tears in Heaven | Eric Clapton | 1992 | Written after a family loss; quiet and reflective. |
Hymns and anthems
| Song | Artist | Year | Why it fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abide with Me | Traditional hymn | 1847 | A steady, familiar hymn; also sung at the FA Cup final, for a football fan. |
| You'll Never Walk Alone | Gerry and the Pacemakers | 1963 | A comfort song and, for Liverpool fans, an anthem. |
| Bridge Over Troubled Water | Simon & Garfunkel | 1970 | For the dad who was always there when things got hard. |
| I Can Only Imagine | MercyMe | 1999 | A contemporary Christian song about what heaven might be like. |
| Amazing Grace | Traditional hymn | 1779 | The most familiar funeral hymn. |
| Hallelujah | Jeff Buckley | 1994 | Often chosen for reflection; check the verses first. |
How to choose
Think about what he'd have put on in the car. A song he actually played will mean more to the people who knew him than a perfect funeral standard.
Long rock songs ("Free Bird", "Stairway to Heaven") are fine for leaving the service; ask the venue to fade them out at the right moment.
Football and team anthems are increasingly common, especially as the closing song. Check with the venue first.
A song in their own words
Some families create an original tribute song from their memories, with his's name in it, to play at the service. You read the lyrics and hear a preview before deciding.
Create a tribute songQuestions
What is a good song for a dad's funeral?
"Dance with My Father" and "My Way" are two of the most common, with "Go Rest High on That Mountain" for country fans and hymns like "Abide with Me" for traditional services.
Can you play rock music at a funeral?
Yes. Many families close the service with the person's favorite band. Ask the venue about volume and length.
What song do you play at the end of a funeral?
Something that sounds like him: often an upbeat favorite, like "My Way" or a band he loved, so people leave remembering his life.
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.