65 Best Songs About Death To Grieve To - Music Grotto (2024)

Death is one of the most challenging things we go through in life, so it’s natural to turn to music to try to ease the pain of losing someone. There have been several tracks over the years that have dealt with the topic of death, grief, love, loss, and moving on, and we’re going to tell you the 65 best songs about death to grieve to below, so keep reading to find out what tracks made our list.

1. Tears in Heaven – Eric Clapton

First up is Tears In Heaven by Eric Clapton from his 1992 album Rush. This song was tragically written about his four-year-old son, Conor, who had fallen out of a 53rd-floor apartment window and passed away. The track was such a tear-jerking tribute that it went to number one on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart and two on the Billboard Hot 100.

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2. Wish You Were Here– Pink Floyd

Rock group Pink Floyd talked about loss with the song Wish You Were Here. This track comes from their 1975 album of the same name. While there has been debate about who this song was written for, most people consider this to be their tribute to former bandmate Syd Barrett. It’s thought of as one of their best tracks and still is a staple on radio stations.

3. Candle In The Wind – Elton John

The original version of Candle In The Wind by Elton John is on our list because this song is a tribute to Marilyn Monroe, who tragically passed away after an overdose. In the track, he praises her, whose real name is Norma Jean, and talks about how wonderful she was even though the press and Hollywood harassed her and just talked about her as a sex icon.

4. (Don’t Fear) The Reaper – Blue Oyster Cult

Next up is Blue Oyster Cult with (Don’t Fear) The Reaper from their 1976 album Agents Of Fortune. This tells us we all will die and it’s just a part of life so we shouldn’t be afraid of it. Ranked as one of the best rock songs, it quickly became one of their signature tracks and has been parodied famously on several movies and television shows, including Saturday Night Live in the More Cowbell episode.

5. Last Kiss – J. Frank Wilson and The Cavaliers

Frank Wilson And The Cavaliers had a smash hit with Last Kiss, which was popularized once again after Pearl Jam covered it. In the lyrics, the guy is on a date with his girl when he has a car accident while trying to avoid a broken-down vehicle. They both end up unconscious, and he wakes up seeing her still out and believes she died, so he is talking about how good he will have to be to see her when he leaves this world. It made it to number two on the Billboard Hot 100.

6. Everybody Hurts – R.E.M.

R.E.M. is on our list with Everybody Hurts, which is from their 1992 album Automatic For The People. This song is all about letting you know everybody hurts, and we all go through loss and grief, so don’t think you’re alone. There is also mention of hope for the future with the words “hold on” repeated throughout.

7. See You Again – Wiz Khalifa Feat. Charlie Puth

Next is Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth with their hit collaboration See You Again, which is found on the Fast And Furious 7 soundtrack. When you hear this song, you’ll realize it’s all about Paul Walker, but it can be about anyone since it’s all about meeting the person on the other side and them always being with you regardless.

8. Jeremy – Pearl Jam

Grunge legends Pearl Jam talked about the suicide of a young boy in the hit song Jeremy, which was released in 1991 on the acclaimed album Ten. The track was written about a little boy named Jeremy who killed himself in front of his classmates, and it’s written from the perspective of the boy. This song is one of those tracks that is haunting and deals with not only suicide but also the death of a child and classmate.

9. One Sweet Day – Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men

Pop star Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men collaborated for One Sweet Day, which is a song from her 1995 album Daydream. The track went to number one on the Billboard Hot 100, Adult Top 40, Mainstream Top 40, and Adult Contemporary charts. This song is all about knowing their loved ones are looking down on them from heaven and how one day they’ll meet again.

10. Angel – Sarah McLachlan

A song you’ve probably seen in animal abuse commercials is next, which is Angel by Sarah McLachlan. This track is all about the pain of death and how the ones we love are watching us from above as angels.

11. marjorie – Taylor Swift

The track marjorie makes the list. It’s by Taylor Swift and is her tribute to her grandmother who passed away, Marjorie Finlay. She talks about how she wished she had more time with her and knew her better.

12. I Miss My Friend – Darryl Worley

Darryl Worley had a hit with I Miss My Friend, which is about losing a friend and how painful it is to reflect on the memories of the two of them hanging out.

13. Gone Too Soon – Daughtry

Country star Daughtry is next with Gone Too Soon, which is a song about losing a child and the child not even having time on Earth to experience the joys of life.

14. Tell Me I Was Dreaming – Travis Tritt

Another hit country song that deals with death is by Travis Tritt called Tell Me I Was Dreaming. This track is about a man who lost his pregnant wife in a tragic accident, but the baby survived, and he’s trying to accept her death while raising their child.

15. Say Hello 2 Heaven – Temple of the Dog

Grunge supergroup Temple Of The Dog had a hit with Say Hello 2 Heaven, which dealt with the death of Mother Love Bone lead singer Andrew Wood. This song is all about missing him and talking about not wanting to write this track and how sad it is that there’s so much Chris Cornell and Wood won’t be able to do together, and the only thing he can tell the latter is to say hello to heaven.

16. I’ll Be Missing You – P. Diddy Feat. Faith EvansAnd 112

Next up is I’ll Be Missing You by P. Diddy and Faith Evans. This song was written as a tribute to The Notorious B.I.G., and P. Diddy talks about how much he will miss him and is praying for him in the afterlife.

17. Slipping Away – Avril Lavigne

Punk rocker Avril Lavigne is on our list with Slipping Away, which is all about her grandfather who passed away. It’s a song that delves into how when someone we love dies, life seems to never get back to “normal” and there is always something missing.

18. American Pie – Don McLean

One of the most iconic songs on the list is American Pie by Don McLean. The track goes into detail about some of the most beloved legends that we’ve lost through the years and what their life and death meant to us personally and society.

19. Let It Be – The Beatles

The Beatles had a massive hit with the song Let It Be, which is all about accepting death and letting the grieving process happen because the only way to cope with death is to accept it and find the peace to move on with our lives.

20. My Heart Will Go On – Celine Dion

From the 1997 movie Titanic came the song My Heart Will Go On by Celine Dion. This track deals with the loss of a significant other or loved one and knowing that they are always in our hearts no matter how old we are or where we go in life.

21. See You Again – Carrie Underwood

Country artist Carrie Underwood talks about death in the tune See You Again, and it’s a comforting song. In the lyrics, she talks about how we internally carry the memories and love of our deceased with us at all times until the time we see them again.

22. Who Knew – P!nk

P!nk makes the list with Who Knew, and it’s all about how she and a friend used to do drugs when they were teenagers together. Sadly, this friend died of an overdose, and P!nk found her—the singer was only 14 at the time of her death. It’s a song reflecting on their drug past and how hopefully they will be friends again in the afterlife.

23. Spirit In The Sky – Norman Greenbaum

On the list next is the catchy tune Spirit In The Sky by Norman Greenbaum, which is all about how we have to face our own mortality and what heaven might be like when we get up there.

24. When I Get To Heaven – John Prine

John Prine makes our list with the song When I Get To Heaven, which is a track where he talks about what heaven is going to be like when he gets there. Sometimes, imagining how wonderful heaven is going to be helps us deal with the fact we’re all going to die one day.

25. Ronan – Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift makes the list again with Ronan, which is all about a little boy who died in 2011 from a childhood cancer known as neuroblastoma. She was inspired to write this song when she found Maya Thompson’s blog detailing the illness of her three-year-old son, and the singer donated all of the proceeds from the track to a cancer charity.

26. Fire and Rain – James Taylor

James Taylor had a hit when he released Fire And Rain, which goes into detail about how we never thought the last time we saw someone would be the last time. There are feelings of wishing we had more time with them but also of determination we will make it through the terrible loss we just experienced.

27. Concrete Angel – Martina McBride

Country star Martina McBride sang about the death of a child when she released the song, Concrete Angel. This track is beautiful and talks about the little girl who left this world way before her time.

28. Gone Too Soon – Michael Jackson

Next up is the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, with the hit Gone Too Soon, which is one of his more emotional songs about how someone left this world too soon and how much we love and miss them.

29. Keep Me In Your Heart – Warren Zevon

Keep Me In Your Heart by Warren Zevon is on the list, and it’s a short ballad that goes into hoping we’re in the hearts of those we love and hope we are remembered by them when we die.

30. Coldest Winter – Kanye West

Kanye West released the song Coldest Winter, which is an emotional track where he talks about all of the memories he has in his heart of someone significant in his life who passed away.

31. If Tomorrow Never Comes – Garth Brooks

Country legend Garth Brooks talked about death in the track If Tomorrow Never Come, and this 1989 hit made it to 84 on the Billboard US Country Songs chart. It’s all about wishing and hoping those closest to us know how much we love them and cherish them in our lives.

32. One More Day – Diamond Rio

Diamond Rio had a hit with One More Day, and this 2011 song is all about wishing we had one more day with the one who passed away and had more time to tell them how much we love them.

33. Fly – Celine Dion

Celine Dion once again makes the list with Fly, and this 1996 tune is about losing a child and how they will be flying with the angels and won’t have to deal with the horrible realities we face here on Earth.

34. Here Without You – 3 Doors Down

Rock band 3 Doors Down is on our list and one of their signature songs that deals with death and loss is Here Without You. This tune is about feeling lonely when someone we love dies and how they are still a part of us in our dreams.

35. We’ll Meet Again – Vera Lynn

Next up is Vera Lynn with We’ll Meet Again, which is comforting and hopeful as it details the joy felt when we think about reuniting with our departed loved ones in the afterlife.

36. Goodbye – Cage The Elephant

The rock group Cage The Elephant makes our list with Goodbye, and this song from 2019 talks about the finality of death and how we wish we had more time to say and do things with the person who just passed away.

37. To Where You Are – Josh Groban

Josh Groban had a hit with the song To Where You Are, which was released in 2001 and talks about the heartbreak of losing his fiance and the unimaginable pain that goes with losing your significant other.

38. Helena – My Chemical Romance

The rock group My Chemical Romance is next with Helena, which was released in 2004. It’s a heavier rock song that went to number 33 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was featured in the movie House Of Wax. If you want an edgier track that details feeling pain from the death of someone you love, then this is perfect to listen to.

39. Yesterday – The Beatles

The Beatles are on the list once again with the song Yesterday, which deals with the grief and loss of losing our loved one and how it’s hard to move on without them there with you.

40. Gone Too Soon – Simple Plan

The band Simple Plan had a successful song when they released Gone Too Soon, which is a tune that talks about those feelings of disbelief when we’ve lost someone in our lives before we thought it was their time. Unexpected deaths are often the hardest to get over.

41. Dance With My Father – Luther Vandross

Luther Vandross had a hit with Dance With My Father, which is all about losing a father and the pain that comes with a parent dying. It’s something we’ll all have to go through in our lives.

42. Little Bonnie – Drive-By Truckers

Next up is Drive-By Truckers with Little Bonnie, which is a song that details losing a child, and this is a pain unimaginable to most people. The emotion in this track is relatable to anyone who has unfortunately felt this loss.

43. Save A Place For Me – Matthew West

Matthew West is next up with the song Save A Place For Me, and it’s all about feeling hopeful that one day we’ll see our loved ones again in the afterlife and being grateful for the time we got to spend with the person here on Earth.

44. I Grieve – Peter Gabriel

Coming from the City Of Angels movie soundtrack is Peter Gabriel with I Grieve, which is all about experiencing heartache and pain over someone that you love dying. You can relate to this song if you’ve had one of those gut-wrenching deaths in your life that just tears you apart.

45. Dog Years – Maggie Rogers

Maggie Rogers is next with the song Dog Years, and in the track, we are reminded that even when our loved ones have passed away, they are always with us in our hearts and we shouldn’t forget all the wonderful memories we have of the departed.

46. Wave Goodbye – Chris Cornell

Grunge rocker Chris Cornell makes our list with Wave Goodbye, which is a tribute song to Jeff Buckley. He talks about how much he is missing him and how much he means to him.

47. Don’t Take The Girl – Tim McGraw

Country star Tim McGraw had a massive hit when he released Don’t Take The Girl, which is all about a boy and a girl who are friends when they are young and they grow up together, eventually becoming boyfriend and girlfriend. When bad things happen, such as them getting robbed as they are walking down the street, the guy wants nothing else except for the girl to be okay and is willing to do anything he can to keep her safe.

48. Fade To Black – Metallica

Metal band Metallica is next with Fade To Black, which came out in 1984 on the album Ride The Lightning. The lyrics of this song mention feeling empty when someone we love dies and how it can be hard to go on because nothing is the same anymore.

49. Into The Light – In This Moment

In This Moment had a hit with Into The Light, and this tune is about the person we love dying who was in a lot of pain and being grateful that the pain is gone and they are free. There is also sorrow felt, which is normal to feel when our loved one dies.

50. One More Light – Linkin Park

Next is Linkin Park with One More Light, which came out in 2017 on the album of the same name. The song is about caring whether or not someone dies and letting them know their death is going to have an impact on us.

51. Even In Death – Evanescence

Evanescence is next with Even In Death, which is about how our loved ones are still around us even in death because we can still feel their presence. It’s a lovely song, and Amy Lee’s voice is so pure and sincere in this track.

52. Sunshine on My Shoulders – John Denver

The legend John Denver talked about dying in the song Sunshine On My Shoulders, which came out in 1971 on Poems, Prayers & Promises. The track is all about feeling the sunshine and having the thought that it was our loved ones looking down on us from heaven.

53. Hurt – Christina Aguilera

Christina Aguilera is on our list with her song Hurt from 2006, which is about the death of her father. She talks about how she wishes she had the opportunity to spend time with him and how she had to accept his death and begin grieving the loss.

54. Gone Away – The Offspring

Rock band The Offspring makes our list with Gone Away, which came out in 1997 on the album Ixnay On The Hombre. Dexter Holland, the lead singer of the band wrote this song about his girlfriend who had died in a car wreck, and it deals with missing her and how things haven’t been the same since she’d gone away.

55. See You On The Other Side – Ozzy Osbourne

Metal icon Ozzy Osbourne released a song dealing with death on the album Ozzmosis in 1995 called See You On The Other Side. This tune goes into detail about dying and the huge loss of that person leaving this Earth. However, it has a hopeful side too because it mentions how one day you’ll be reunited with the people who have passed away.

56. In Loving Memory – Alter Bridge

In Loving Memory by Alter Bridge was released in 2004 on One Day Remains, and it makes the list because it’s all about promising to remember the person in life who has passed away.

57. Angel – The Corrs

The Corrs are next with Angel, which was written in 2004 and released on Borrowed Heaven. It is written about and dedicated to Jean Corr, their mother, and it’s a tribute song about how they want to be just like their dearly departed mom.

58. Trouble – Cat Stevens

Cat Stevens had a hit with Trouble, which was released in 1970 on the album Mona Bone Jakon. It’s a song he wrote when he was going through his near-death medical situations, which included tuberculosis and a collapsed lung. When you listen to the lyrics, you can hear how much he’s wishing for death because his medical issues are too much for him. If you’ve known someone with a medical issue that’s serious, then you may understand where he’s coming from when he pleads for death.

59. Adam’s Song – Blink-182

Next is the punk band Blink-182 with Adam’s Song, which came out on the 1999 record Enema Of the State. It’s all about feeling alone and depressed and thinking about death through committing suicide.

60. Long December – Counting Crows

The rock group Counting Crows is on the list with Long December, which came out in 1996 on the album Recovering The Satellite. It’s all about how having a long month can help you grieve and benefit you in getting over a loss.

61. There Will Be A Day – Jeremy Camp

Jeremy Camp is on our list with the song There Will Be A Day, which was released in 2008 on the album Speaking Louder Than Before. The track went to number one on the Billboard Hot Christian Songs chart and is all about how one day all of our pain goes away when we reach the place of eternal rest.

62. Live And Die – The Avett Brothers

Next is Live And Die by The Avett Brothers, which was released in 2012 on the album The Carpenter. In this song, we are reminded that death is something we all have to go through, and even though we’re all different, it’s one of the bonding experiences that is just a part of life.

63. Dancing In The Sky – Dani and Lizzy

Dani and Lizzy are on our list with Dancing In The Sky, which was released in 2016 on the album Work Of Heart. This song asks questions about someone dying who has been in pain and hoping that their pain is gone when they pass away.

64. The Prayer – Kid Cudi

Kid Cudi is on the list with The Prayer, which is all about thinking of his own death and hoping for something on the other side. It’s one of the more introspective and hopeful songs about death on this list.

65. King of Sorrow – Sade

Lastly, we wanted to talk about Sade with the song King Of Sorrow from the 2001 album Lovers Rock. This track is all about how hard it is moving on when someone dies, and how even though everything else around you is the same, it feels like it’s all wrong.

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