Non-Religious Funeral Songs to Honour a Loved One
"Explore meaningful non-religious funeral songs for entrance, reflection, photo tributes and closing moments, with practical advice for choosing the right music."
Non-religious funeral songs can express love, gratitude, sadness and remembrance without relying on hymns, prayers or statements of faith.
The most meaningful choice is not necessarily the saddest or most traditional song. It may be a favourite recording, a piece connected to an important memory or music that captures the person’s humour, character and approach to life.
A non-religious funeral can include quiet instrumental music, contemporary songs, timeless classics or uplifting tracks that feel more like a celebration than a formal farewell. What matters most is that the music feels authentic to the person being honoured.
Why Music Matters at a Funeral
Music can communicate emotions that are difficult to express through spoken words.
A carefully selected song may:
Reflect the person’s personality and values
Bring shared memories back to the surface
Create space for quiet reflection
Support photographs or a visual tribute
Help transition between different parts of the service
Give mourners a moment to pause after a eulogy
End the farewell with warmth, dignity or hope
For families who do not follow a particular religion, secular music can help the service remain personal and inclusive without introducing beliefs the deceased did not hold.
What Makes a Good Non-Religious Funeral Song?
There is no universal definition of an appropriate funeral song.
A suitable choice usually has at least one meaningful connection:
The person loved the artist or recording
The lyrics reflect their life or relationships
The song recalls a shared memory
Its mood suits the intended part of the service
It expresses a message the family wants to communicate
It sounds like something the person would have chosen
A funeral song does not have to mention death. Songs about friendship, love, home, resilience, nature, family or a life lived independently can be equally powerful.
Timeless Non-Religious Funeral Songs
These widely recognised songs can work well for reflective moments, arrival music or the close of a service.
1. What a Wonderful World — Louis Armstrong
Gentle and appreciative, this song focuses on the beauty found in everyday life. It can suit a person remembered for optimism, kindness or enjoying simple moments.
2. My Way — Frank Sinatra
Often selected for someone independent, determined or unmistakably themselves. Its confident tone makes it particularly suitable for celebrating a strong personality.
3. Unforgettable — Nat King Cole
A warm choice for honouring a relationship or someone whose presence continues through memories.
4. The Wind Beneath My Wings — Bette Midler
This song can acknowledge someone whose quiet support, encouragement or sacrifice helped others throughout life.
5. In My Life — The Beatles
Reflective without being overwhelmingly sombre, it connects memories of people and places with lasting love.
6. Over the Rainbow — Israel Kamakawiwoʻole
This gentle version combines familiarity with a peaceful, intimate sound. It can suit an arrival, reflection or final farewell.
7. Fields of Gold — Eva Cassidy
The soft arrangement and imagery create a calm atmosphere for remembering a shared life and treasured moments.
8. Songbird — Fleetwood Mac
A simple and tender expression of love that can work well during a quiet tribute or photo presentation.
Reflective Funeral Songs About Love and Loss
Some families want music that directly acknowledges grief and the pain of saying goodbye.
9. Tears in Heaven — Eric Clapton
Written from personal loss, this is a deeply emotional selection. Families should consider whether its intensity will feel comforting or too difficult on the day.
10. Supermarket Flowers — Ed Sheeran
This song addresses the death of a mother from a family perspective. It may resonate strongly after maternal loss but should be reviewed carefully because of its specific context.
11. The Living Years — Mike + The Mechanics
A thoughtful selection about unresolved conversations and the importance of expressing feelings while people are alive.
12. Dance with My Father — Luther Vandross
A personal choice for remembering a father and the security, love and family memories associated with him.
13. Wish You Were Here — Pink Floyd
Often selected when absence feels central to the family’s grief. Its familiar sound may also connect strongly with the deceased person’s generation or musical taste.
14. See You Again — Wiz Khalifa featuring Charlie Puth
A contemporary choice centred on friendship, separation and continuing connection. Check whether the original or an edited version is most suitable for the service.
15. Goodbye’s the Saddest Word — Céline Dion
A direct and emotional farewell, particularly associated with the relationship between a mother and child.
16. One Sweet Day — Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men
This song expresses grief, love and the hope of continued emotional connection. Although some listeners may interpret parts spiritually, it is not structured as a traditional hymn.
Uplifting Celebration-of-Life Songs
Not every funeral needs to remain quiet and sombre throughout.
For someone joyful, humorous, energetic or adventurous, uplifting music may feel more faithful to the life being celebrated.
17. Here Comes the Sun — The Beatles
Gentle, familiar and hopeful, this can provide a warm transition at the close of a service.
18. Forever Young — Rod Stewart
A meaningful choice for expressing hopes, affection and the lasting image of someone as they are remembered.
19. Simply the Best — Tina Turner
Warm, confident and affectionate, this can suit someone admired for their energy, loyalty or larger-than-life character.
20. You Are the Sunshine of My Life — Stevie Wonder
A loving selection for a spouse, partner, parent or another person who brought happiness and warmth to family life.
21. Beautiful Day — U2
This can suit a celebration-of-life service focused on gratitude and embracing the time shared with the deceased.
22. Don’t Stop Me Now — Queen
An unconventional but joyful choice for someone energetic, humorous and known for enjoying life fully. The family should confirm that its pace suits the desired moment.
23. Walking on Sunshine — Katrina and the Waves
Bright and celebratory, this may suit a closing montage or informal memorial for someone remembered for optimism and fun.
24. I Lived — OneRepublic
A contemporary song about experience, courage and living fully. It can support a positive life-story tribute.
Australian Songs for a Personal Farewell
Australian music may add a sense of home, identity and familiarity to a local funeral.
25. Tenterfield Saddler — Peter Allen
A reflective story about family, generations and Australian life. It may be especially meaningful where the song connects with the person’s background or memories.
26. True Blue — John Williamson
A recognisably Australian choice for someone remembered for loyalty, authenticity and connection to community or country.
27. Throw Your Arms Around Me — Hunters & Collectors
An intimate song about closeness and love. It can suit a partner’s tribute or a quiet reflection moment.
28. Never Tear Us Apart — INXS
A strong choice for expressing enduring connection between partners or close family members.
29. Flame Trees — Cold Chisel
Reflective and nostalgic, this song may resonate with someone strongly connected to their hometown, youth or Australian identity.
30. Into My Arms — Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
Its restrained arrangement can create a powerful reflective moment. However, the lyrics contain direct references to God and angels, even though they express personal doubt. Families seeking a strictly non-religious service should review the full lyrics before choosing it.
Instrumental Music for a Non-Religious Funeral
Instrumental pieces can provide reflection without introducing lyrical, religious or interpretive concerns.
Suitable choices may include:
Clair de Lune — Claude Debussy
Gymnopédie No. 1 — Erik Satie
Canon in D — Johann Pachelbel
Nimrod from Enigma Variations — Edward Elgar
Comptine d’un autre été — Yann Tiersen
Nuvole Bianche — Ludovico Einaudi
River Flows in You — Yiruma
An instrumental arrangement of the person’s favourite song
Instrumental music can work particularly well:
Before the service begins
During a candle-lighting or quiet ritual
Beneath a period of reflection
During signing or placement of memorial items
As guests leave
Is Hallelujah a Non-Religious Funeral Song?
Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah is frequently requested at funerals, but it should not automatically be described as non-religious.
The song contains biblical characters and religious imagery alongside themes of love, conflict and emotional vulnerability. Different recordings may also include different verses.
For a strictly secular funeral, families may prefer:
An instrumental arrangement
A different song with fewer religious associations
A carefully reviewed performance that suits the person’s values
The title alone should not determine whether the song fits the service. Listen to the complete version that will actually be played.
Choosing Songs for Different Parts of the Funeral
Different moments in the service can support different moods.
Arrival and Entrance Music
Arrival music usually establishes the atmosphere while guests enter and take their seats.
Suitable choices may feel:
Calm
Familiar
Warm
Reflective
Welcoming rather than overwhelmingly emotional
Possible selections include:
What a Wonderful World
Fields of Gold
Songbird
Clair de Lune
An instrumental version of a favourite song
Music After the Eulogy
A song after the eulogy gives mourners time to absorb the stories and memories that have been shared.
Songs such as these may suit that moment:
In My Life
Unforgettable
The Wind Beneath My Wings
The Living Years
Dance with My Father
Families preparing the spoken tribute may also find our guide to the purpose of a eulogy helpful.
Photo Tribute or Memorial Slideshow
A slideshow song should complement the photographs without overpowering them.
Consider:
The number and pace of photographs
The track’s length
Whether the mood changes dramatically
Whether the lyrics conflict with any images
Whether one song or a short sequence is needed
For specialised recommendations, see our guide to 25 memorial slideshow songs.
Closing and Exit Music
The final song often becomes one of the strongest memories of the service.
It may be:
A confident final statement
A gentle farewell
An uplifting celebration
The deceased person’s unmistakable favourite
Something that encourages guests to smile through their sadness
Possible closing choices include:
My Way
Here Comes the Sun
Simply the Best
Forever Young
True Blue
Don’t Stop Me Now
How Many Songs Does a Funeral Need?
There is no compulsory number.
Many services use three or four principal pieces:
Music while guests arrive or the coffin enters
A song after the eulogy or during reflection
Music for a slideshow or visual tribute
A closing song as the coffin leaves or guests depart
Background music may also be played before and after the formal service.
The exact number depends on:
Service duration
Venue requirements
Whether there is a slideshow
The number of readings and eulogies
Whether music is live or recorded
The family’s preferences
A clear funeral program can help position each song naturally within the service.
Questions to Ask Before Confirming a Song
Before finalising a selection, listen to the exact recording from beginning to end.
Consider:
Did the person genuinely like this song?
Does it reflect their personality or relationships?
Are the lyrics appropriate for everyone attending?
Does it contain religious references?
Does it include explicit or potentially distressing language?
Is there a particular family association that could cause discomfort?
Is the track the right length?
Will the original, acoustic, instrumental or live version work best?
Does the venue have a reliable copy in the correct format?
Will the service be recorded or livestreamed?
Checking these details can prevent an unexpected verse, technical problem or unsuitable version during the service.
Live Music or Recorded Music?
Both can create a meaningful farewell.
Live Music
Live music may:
Feel intimate and personal
Allow the arrangement to be adapted
Support a singer or musician connected to the family
Create a unique moment for those attending
Families should consider rehearsal time, performer confidence, acoustics and the emotional difficulty of performing during a funeral.
Recorded Music
Recorded music may:
Preserve the exact version the person loved
Offer consistent sound and timing
Be easier to coordinate with slideshows
Provide access to a wider range of artists
Reduce performance pressure on family and friends
The best option is the one that supports the service reliably and reflects the person authentically.
Music, Funeral Videos and Copyright
Playing music during a funeral, copying a track into a slideshow, recording the service and publishing a video online are different uses under copyright rules.
OneMusic Australia advises that most music used during the funeral service itself does not require separate permission. However, funeral providers may need appropriate licence coverage when creating music compilations, memorial presentations, recordings or copies for families. OneMusic Australia
Additional permission may be required when copyrighted music is:
Added permanently to a memorial video
Included in a recorded service
Livestreamed
Uploaded publicly
Shared on social media
Distributed in copies after the funeral
Families should ask the funeral director, venue, videographer or livestream provider what their licence covers. A paid streaming subscription does not automatically grant permission for every public, copied or online use.
There Is No Single “Correct” Funeral Song
A funeral song does not need to be solemn, traditional or familiar to everyone attending.
For one person, the right selection may be a gentle ballad. For another, it may be rock, jazz, country, classical music or a song that makes everyone smile because it captures their humour perfectly.
The most meaningful question is not, “Is this a normal funeral song?”
It is:
“Does this song help us remember the person as they truly were?”
A respectful choice is one made thoughtfully, with attention to the person’s wishes, the lyrics and the emotional experience of those closest to them.
How Black Tulip Funerals Can Help
Black Tulip Funerals can help families plan where and how music will be used within a farewell.
Our funeral team can assist with:
Structuring music throughout the service
Coordinating entrance, reflection and closing tracks
Preparing music for a visual tribute
Confirming venue playback requirements
Coordinating with a celebrant or live musician
Testing audio before the service
Incorporating personal songs into a meaningful funeral program
Music can be incorporated into options including:
Viewing & Cremation for families wanting private time and a personal musical farewell
Attending Service Cremation for a structured service with music, eulogies and tributes
No Service Cremation followed by a separately organised memorial or celebration of life