Funeral songs must be sensitively chosen – but often, you will want something uplifting to remember a loved one by. Here are some of the best-loved songs for funerals <\/p>
We were interested to read the 2023 Funeral Song Chart by leading UK funeral provider, Co-op Funeralcare.<\/p>\n
The annual survey is based on data and insights from Co-op\u2019s own funeral directors. The 2023 survey draws on some 93,000 funerals in the year leading up to its publication, so it\u2019s a fairly reliable sample size.<\/p>\n
Based on this data, Co-op Funeralcare compiled a series of charts for best funeral songs in various different musical genres. For example, the most popular classical songs for funerals include \u2018Nimrod<\/strong><\/a>\u2018 from Elgar\u2019s Enigma Variations<\/em><\/a><\/strong>, Clair de Lune<\/em> by Debussy<\/strong><\/a>, and The Lark Ascending<\/strong><\/em><\/a> by Vaughan Williams<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 some of which we included in our article on best classical music for funerals<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n But here are the ten most popular songs for funerals, across all genres:<\/p>\n Vancouver twins Danni and Lizzy wrote their hit \u2018Dancing in the Sky\u2019 in remembrance of a close friend who had recently passed away. The song\u2019s lyrics carry the message that the friend is still being thought of, loved and missed, and speculate on what it\u2019s like up in heaven for them.<\/p>\n \u2018Abide with Me<\/strong><\/a>\u2018 is an enduringly popular hymn<\/strong><\/a> at funerals. Indeed, it features in our own list of the best funeral hymns<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n The words, by Anglican minister Henry Francis Lyte (1793-1847), are typically sung to \u2018Eventide\u2019, the well known tune by William Henry Monk (1823-89). It is believed \u2013 though not certain \u2013 that Lyte wrote his hymn in anticipation of his own impending end and it was sung for the first time at his funeral. \u2018Abide with Me\u2019 has also been used as a pre-match hymn at FA Cup Finals since 1927.<\/p>\n Hymn writer and poet Cecil Frances Alexander (also responsible for the carol\u00a0\u2018Once in Royal David\u2019s City<\/a>\u2018\u00a0<\/strong>and the Passiontide hymn \u2018There is a green hill far away<\/a><\/strong>\u2018) wrote the lyrics for the hymn All Things Bright and Beautiful<\/strong><\/a> in around 1848.<\/p>\n The hymn\u2019s second line, \u2018All creatures great and small\u2018,<\/em> is famously used as the name of the popular television series about vet James Herriot.<\/p>\n Interestingly, the hymn is most commonly sung to a tune composed by William Henry Monk, who also provided the tune for \u2018Abide with Me\u2019 above.<\/p>\n This profoundly moving song was written by the prolific songwriting duo Rodgers and Hammerstein for their 1945 musical Carousel<\/em>.<\/p>\nBest funeral songs<\/h2>\n
10. \u2018Dancing in the Sky\u2019 by Danni & Lizzy<\/h3>\n
9. \u2018Abide with Me\u2019 by Henry Francis Lyte and William Henry Monk<\/h3>\n
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8. \u2018All Things Bright and Beautiful\u2019 by Cecil Frances Alexander and William Henry Monk<\/h3>\n
7. \u2018You\u2019ll Never Walk Alone\u2019\u00a0 by Rodgers and Hammerstein<\/h3>\n