50 Songs About Death & Losing Someone To Help You Cope With Grief

By Samantha Maffucci — Written on Oct 18, 2021

Photo: getty

The pain of dealing with the loss of someone can be harsh, and your emotions can overpower anything that you have ever felt before.

Typically, when we hear the “loss of someone,” we think of death. But we lose people more often than we think. Breakups, divorce, ending of friendships, and fighting and parting ways with the people we love are all forms of loss.

Have you ever experienced these feelings from losing someone? It's still painful to even think about, but in life we have to face all types of challenges — highs and lows that will help us develop and grow as people.

Music is something that brings us all together, soothing the heart and mind when something tragic is going on. Music is the key ingredient to ensure we can get through anything if we play the right song to uplift us.

We've compiled a list of the most relatable songs about grief, death, and losing someone. See if you resonate with any of these, and use them as a way to bring some comfort to your grieving heart.

50 Songs About Death and Losing Someone to Help You Cope With the Grief of Missing Them

1. “Tears In Heaven” by Eric Clapton

Clapton wrote this song after the death of his son, Conor, who fell out of a hotel window when he was four years old. It's a reminder that the loss of a child is something you never quite get over.

"Would you hold my hand / If I saw you in heaven?

Would you help me stand / If I saw you in heaven?

I'll find my way through night and day / 'Cause I know I just can't stay here in heaven"

2. “I'll Be Missing You” by P. Diddy ft. Faith Evans & 112

This song came out shortly after the passing of The Notorious B.I.G. Recorded by his good friends, Biggie's memory lives on through his loved ones.

"It's kinda hard with you not around (yeah) / Know you in heaven smilin' down

Watchin' us while we pray for you / Every day we pray for you

'Til the day we meet again / In my heart is where I'll keep you friend

Memories give me the strength I need (uh-huh) to proceed / Strength I need to believe"

3. “My Heart Will Go On” by Celine Dion

While this song became a hit after being the main song in "Titanic," it offers a bittersweet sadness in knowing that a loved one isn't really gone — they are always in your heart.

"You're here, there's nothing I fear / And I know that my heart will go on

We'll stay forever this way / You are safe in my heart and

My heart will go on and on"

4. “Wake Me Up When September Ends” by Green Day

Lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong wrote this song about his father, who passed away when Armstrong was only 10 years old.

"Summer has come and passed / The innocent can never last

Wake me up when September ends

Like my father's come to pass / Twenty years has gone so fast

Wake me up when September ends"

5. “Fire and Rain” by James Taylor

James Taylor's heartbreaking song is his genuine reaction to the death of a dear friend, as well as his own struggles with drug addiction and fame.

"Won't you look down upon me, Jesus / You've got to help me make a stand

You've just got to see me through another day / My body's aching and my time is at hand

And I won't make it any other way"

6. “Hurt” by Johnny Cash

Originally recorded by the band Nine Inch Nails, Cash covered this song in 2002. It deals with themes of addiction, depression, and self-harm.

"What have I become / My sweetest friend?

Everyone I know / Goes away in the end"

7. “Angel” by Sarah McLachlan

Famously known for being the background song on ASPCA commercials, "Angel" was actually written in memory of Jonathan Melvoin, the Smashing Pumpkins' touring keyboard player, who passed away from a heroin overdose.

"I need some distraction / Oh beautiful release

Memories seep from my veins / Let me be empty

Oh and weightless and maybe / I'll find some peace tonight"

8. "If I Had Only Known" by Reba McEntire

It's normal to feel grief after losing a friend, especially when all those "what if?" moments come to mind. In death, we realize just how fragile life is.

"If I had only known / I'd never hear your voice again

I'd memorize each thing you ever said / And on those lonely nights

I could think of them once more / Keep your words alive inside my head

If I had only known / I'd never hear your voice again"

9. “Only the Good Die Young” by Billy Joel

The lyrics themselves are a reminder that life is much too short for some, though the true inspiration for the song was a woman Joel had a crush on in high school.

"Well, they showed you a statue, told you to pray / They built you a temple and locked you away

Aw, but they never told you the price that you pay / For things that you might have done

Only the good die young"

10. “Beloved” by Mumford & Sons

Singer Marcus Mumford wrote this song about watching his grandmother pass away while at her bedside.

Said Mumford of the music video, "Everyone knows loss in one way or another. This song is about that. But there's wildness and beauty in it as well, and a deep honoring, that became the beginnings of this song that we worked up called, 'Beloved.'"

"And time, is not on our side / But I'll pretend that it's alright

She says the Lord has a plan / But admits it's pretty hard to understand

Before you leave / You must know you are beloved

And before you leave / Remember I was with you"

11. “Dream On” by Aerosmith

Some songs deal with grief and death on this list, but "Dream On" by Aerosmith is about longing to become somebody, and all the negative things you have to put up with to get there. Because sacrificing can come with its own form of mourning.

"Every time when I look in the mirror / All these lines on my face getting clearer

The past is gone / It went by, like dusk to dawn

Isn't that the way / Everybody's got the dues in life to pay"

12. "Dance with My Father" by Luther Vandross

Vandross wrote this song about his father, thinking and reminiscing about their memories together in his youth. Vandross' father passed away when he was seven years old.

"If I could get another chance / Another walk

Another dance with him / I'd play a song that would never ever end

How I'd love love love / To dance with my father again"

13. “See You Again” by Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth

The loss of a friend to tragedy is almost unbearable. And this song, in particular, was written as a tribute to the late actor Paul Walker, as well as a friend of Puth who died in a motorcycle accident.

"It's been a long day without you, my friend / And I'll tell you all about it when I see you again

We've come a long way from where we began / Oh, I'll tell you all about it when I see you again

When I see you again"

14. “One More Day” by Diamond Rio

If you could have one more day with a loved one, what would you do? Diamond Rio sings about this feeling, and how one day is never enough.

"One more day, one more time / One more sunset, maybe I'd be satisfied

But then again, I know what it would do / Leave me wishing still for one more day with you

One more day"

15. "Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground" by Willie Nelson

Nelson has hinted that this song is about his ex-wife, but at live performances, dedicates it to his son, Billy, who died in 1991.

"I knew someday that you would fly away / For love's the greatest healer to be found

So leave me if you need to, I will still remember / Angel flying too close to the ground"

16. “(I Just) Died in Your Arms Tonight” by Cutting Crew

Many of us know just how painful heartache is, and losing the one you love to a breakup. Or, in this song's case, it's about the pain of only have one night of passion with the object of your affection.

"Is there any just cause for feelin' like this?

On the surface, I'm a name on a list

I try to be discreet, but then blow it again

I've lost and found, it's my final mistake

She's loving by proxy, no give and all take

'Cause I've been thrilled to fantasy one too many times"

17. “Last Kiss” by Pearl Jam

Allegedly, "Last Kiss" was written about all the devastation and accidents Wayne Cochran, the band's drummer, had seen in his hometown. Cochran later dedicated the song to two 16-year-old girls who died in a car accident.

"Oh, where oh where can my baby be? The Lord took her away from me

She's gone to heaven, so I got to be good / So I can see my baby when I leave this world"

18. “Joanne” by Lady Gaga

Joanne was Lady Gaga's aunt who passed away at 19 years old from lupus, complicated by a sexual assault. The song deals with her father's grief at losing his sister.

"Take my hand, stay Joanne / Heaven's not ready for you

Every part of my aching heart / Needs you more than the angels do"

19. "There You'll Be" by Faith Hill

No matter what, after you lose someone you truly love, they never actually leave you. In your heart and dreams is where they remain forever.

"In my dreams, I'll always see you soar above the sky / In my heart, there will always be a place for you, for all my life

I'll keep a part of you with me / And everywhere I am, there you'll be

And everywhere I am, there you'll be"

20. "In My Life (I Love You More)" by The Beatles

Arguably one of the most beautifully written Beatles songs, it's an autobiographical look into John Lennon's life, and the loss of his friends and family.

"But of all these friends and lovers / There is no one compares with you

And these memories lose their meaning / When I think of love as something new

Though I know I'll never lose affection / For people and things that went before

I know I'll often stop and think about them / In my life, I'll love you more"

21. “Driving Nails in My Coffin” by Ernest Tubb

After a breakup, especially one you didn't see coming, the pain of being without your partner manifests into sadness and despair. It may even feel like you, yourself, are dying.

"Now ever since the day / That we've parted

I've been so sad and so blue / I'm always thinking of you love

And I just can't quit / Drinking that old booze

I'm just drivin' nails in my coffin"

22. "Together Again" by Janet Jackson

Inspired by the loss of a friend to AIDS, as well as a letter from a fan about the death of his father, Jackson added an upbeat tempo to quite a sad song.

"Dream about us together again / What I want, us together again, baby

I know we'll be together again, 'cause

Everywhere I go / Every smile I see

I know you are there / Smilin' back at me

Dancin' in moonlight / I know you are free

'Cause I can see your star / Shinin' down on me"

23. "Nothing Compares 2 U" by Sinead O’Connor

Written by the late, great Prince, "Nothing Compares 2 U" remains one of the greatest love songs; in this case, about being unable to find a love as great as the one with your ex-lover.

"Since you been gone I can do whatever I want / I can see whomever I choose

I can eat my dinner in a fancy restaurant / But nothing / I said nothing can take away these blues

'Cause nothing compares / Nothing compares to you"

24. "Ain't No Sunshine" by Bill Withers

What is your life like without your partner, the one you love most? That is what is so thought-provoking about this wonderful son.

"Wonder this time where she's gone / Wonder if she's gone to stay

Ain't no sunshine when she's gone / And this house just ain't no home

Anytime she goes away"

25. "What Hurts the Most" by Rascal Flatts

Beautifully recorded by multiple artists, "What Hurts the Most" is about a lost love, lamenting on the life two lovers could have had if their relationship didn't end.

"What hurts the most was being so close / And havin' so much to say

And watchin' you walk away / And never knowin' what could've been

And not seein' that lovin' you / Is what I was trying to do"

26. "Someone Like You" by Adele

Not all relationships end amicably, but it takes a big person to wish your ex well. And in this globally successful hit, Adele expresses her sorrow with her stunning vocals and lyrics.

"Never mind, I'll find someone like you / I wish nothing but the best for you, too

'Don't forget me,' I beg / I remember you said, 'Sometimes it lasts in love, but sometimes it hurts instead'"

27. "I Can Dream About You" by Hall & Oates

Recorded as a cover song, the narrator talks about how they only feel at peace when they are asleep, as the object of their love appears in their dreams.

"No more timing each tear that falls from my eyes / I'm not hiding the remedy to cure this old heart of mine

I can dream about you / If I can't hold you tonight

I can dream about you / You know how to hold me just right"

28. "Yesterday" by The Beatles

"Yesterday" is about the loss of a relationship, ending in a breakup. Overcome with nostalgia, McCartney's vocals show the pain of longing to be together again.

"Why she had to go, I don't know / She wouldn't say

I said something wrong / Now I long for yesterday

Yesterday / Love was such an easy game to play

Now I need a place to hide away / Oh, I believe in yesterday"

29. "Hello Darlin’" by Conway Twitty

After ending a relationship, you may, by some twist of fate, run into your ex years later. In this song, the narrator reveals that he regrets letting his ex-love go, and that he will always wait for her.

"What I'm tryin' to say is / I love you and I miss you

And I'm so sorry / That I did you wrong

Look up darlin' / Let me kiss you

Just for old time's sake / Let me hold you in my arms

One more time"

30. "A Picture Of Me (Without You)" by George Jones

Imagine what life would be like if you didn't have the one you love by your side. Just as the song describes, life would be incomplete.

"Can you picture Heaven with no angels singing / Or a quiet Sunday morning with no church bells ringing

If you've watched as the heart of a child's breaks in two / Then you've seen a picture of me without you"

31. "Only One" by Kanye West

Co-written with Paul McCartney, West's song is a tribute to his daughter, North, from the viewpoint of his mother, Donda West, who passed away in 2007.

"'Cause every road that leads to heaven's right inside you / So I can say

Hello my only one, just like the mornin' sun / You'll keep on risin' 'til the sky knows your name

Hello my only one, remember who you are / No you're not perfect but you're not your mistakes"

32. "Better Together" by Jack Johnson

Being separated from your partner — physically or emotionally — can leave you heartbroken. Especially when it's your other half, you aren't happy until you're together again.

"And all of these moments / Just might find their way into my dreams tonight

But I know that they'll be gone / When the morning light sings

Or brings new things / For tomorrow night you see

That they'll be gone too / Too many things I have to do"

33. "It Must Have Been Love" by Roxette

We all have regrets, but what if your chance to be with the love of your life has passed? It's a lonely experience, and all you can really do is hold on to the memories together.

"Lay a whisper on my pillow / Leave the winter on the ground

I wake up lonely, this air of silence / In the bedroom and all around

Touch me now / I close my eyes

And dream away"

34. "Just a Dream" by Carrie Underwood

In one of the saddest music videos, Underwood's tearjerker song is about a young woman about to marry her lover, who is a soldier, at their wedding, only for it to actually be his funeral.

"Baby, why'd you leave me, why'd you have to go / I was counting on forever, now I'll never know

I can't even breathe / It's like I'm looking from a distance,

Standing in the background / Everybody's saying, he's not coming home now,

This can't be happening to me / This is just a dream"

35. "Who You'd Be Today" by Kenny Chesney

A song about someone dying too young, Chesney's lyrics describe the agony of wondering what things would be like if they had the chance to live.

"It ain't fair you died too young / Like a story that had just begun

But death tore the pages all away / God knows how I miss you

All the hell that I've been through / Just knowing no one could take your place

Sometimes I wonder who you'd be today"

36. "How Can I Help You Say Goodbye" by Patty Loveless

Loss comes in many forms, and this song explores the pain in moving away from a friend, going through a divorce, and losing a parent.

"Mama whispered softly time will ease your pain / Life's about changing nothing ever stays the same

And she said how can I help you to say goodbye it's okay to hurt and it's okay to cry / Come let me hold you and I will try how can I help you to say goodbye"

37. "To Where You Are" by Josh Groban

While we can't be with our lost loved ones, we can still feel their energy around us. And it can give us hope to hang on to those memories full of love.