Songs for Father's funeral: goodbye music for a beloved dad
Choosing music for a funeral service can be tricky. Hear 8 hand-picked options for the funeral of a father.
Funerals of all kinds often feature music. If you're tasked with choosing the music for the funeral of your father, you might find it difficult to make a decision.
Often, people find it difficult because they worry they'll make the wrong decision. Perhaps the tone will be off or there'll be someone at the funeral who disapproves.
Here at Akshardham Funeral Directors, we believe there's no right or wrong way to arrange a funeral. What matters is honouring the life of the person who died in whatever way feels right.
The same goes for music. As long as the lyric is appropriate to the person who died, you should be on safe ground.
Even so, planning for a funeral is a difficult time, and you may be looking for guidance. For this reason, we've put together this list of eight songs that can help you say goodbye to Dad.
1. "My Old Man" by Ian Dury and the Blockheads
English singer-songwriter Ian Dury is known for his wit. In this song, he combines that famous wit with a touching tribute to his father.
It describes his father's jobs and his personality: "My old man was fairly handsome, he smoked too many cigs / Lived in one room in Victoria, he was tidy in his digs."It ends with a bittersweet verse about his father dying "before we'd done much talking":
All the while we thought about each other
All the best, mate, from your son
2. "Live Forever" by Oasis
This stirring anthem by Oasis describes a bond between two people that could well be the bond between a father and his child:
I think you're the same as me
We see things they'll never see
You and I are gonna live forever
At once melancholy and anthemic, this is a song that could be a moving tribute to a father at his funeral.
3. "Wake Me Up When September Ends" by Green Day
This rock ballad by American band Green Day was inspired by the death of the singer's father. It begins with a gentle acoustic guitar and builds to a rock anthem with the chorus:
Summer has come and passed
The innocent can never last
Wake me up when September ends
4. "Bridge Over Troubled Water" by Roberta Flack
"Bridge Over Troubled Water" was originally recorded by folk duo Simon & Garfunkel. This moving performance by Roberta Flack is highly suitable for the funeral of a father.
It could be the voice of the father consoling the child: "I'm on your side when times get rough". Or it could be the voice of the children remembering the love they bore the father:
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Flack's version is reflective, gentle and beautiful – all qualities you could be looking for in a song for your father's funeral.
5. "Father and Son" by Cat Stevens
This classic song by the folk singer-songwriter Cat Stevens (now Yusuf Islam) is a poignant dialogue between a father and son.
When singing as the father, Stevens adopts a deep voice and encourages the son to take his time and "think of everything you've got". As the son, he sings in a higher register about having to go away and find his own path in life.
The song expresses a relatable dynamic between a father and son that many find moving. Its lilting acoustic arrangement can help create a wistful, tender mood.
6. "Hero" by Mariah Carey
This inspirational power ballad by American singer Mariah Carey is about finding strength at a difficult time. Although on the surface it's about the hero you are, it could also be about the hero your father was:
So when you feel like hope is gone
Look inside you and be strong
And you'll finally see the truth
That a hero lies in you
Its passionate vocal, simple lyric and stirring chorus all make this an ideal choice for a funeral.
7. "Aria" from J.S. Bach's
Goldberg Variations
Bach's music is often described as "sublime", and a piece like the "Aria" from his Goldberg Variations makes it clear why.
It's a sweet, gentle and flowing piece for solo piano that's neither happy nor sad. This could be a suitable choice for a funeral if you want to create a mood of reflection rather than sorrow.
There are many, many versions to choose from. We've gone for this performance by Igor Levit.
8. "Wish You Were Here" by Pink Floyd
This classic track by the rock band Pink Floyd is a song about love and loss:
How I wish, how I wish you were here
We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl
Year after year…
The song begins with one guitar, another joins in, then the singer sings a verse. Only then does the full band kick in. In other words, the song takes its time – a quality that could be just right for a funeral.
AFD is a team of independent funeral directors based in London. We provide a compassionate, listening ear to our clients at all stages of the funeral planning process. Do you need our help because a person has died? Please call whenever you're ready on 020 8355 7876 – our lines are open 24/7.
