Introduction: When planning a funeral, choosing the right music can be emotionally difficult. When words are not enough, music can help express your message and set the tone for a memorial service. Music moves us by evoking many memories and emotions. It can foster a deep connection with anyone mourning the death of a loved one. However, finding the right songs to honor someone’s life can be challenging. So if you’re looking for modern Christian funeral songs to commemorate a loved one’s life, here are some of the best songs to consider.
Dancing in the Sky by Dani and Lizzy
“Dancing in the Sky” was written after the death of a close friend. The song expresses the sorrow of losing a loved one. It focuses on the hope that a loved one is at peace in heaven.
“I hope you're dancing in the sky
And I hope you're singing in the the angels' choir
And I hope the angels know what they have
I bet it's so nice up in heaven since you've arrived
Since you arrived”
“Scars in Heaven” offers comfort in knowing that the loved ones we’ve lost are in the arms of Jesus. It is a reminder that they are no longer suffering.
“The only scars in Heaven, thеy won't belong to me and you
There'll be no such thing as broken and all the old will be made new
And the thought that makes me smile now even as the tears fall down
Is that the only scars in Heaven are on the Hands that hold you now”
“Save a Place for Me” was inspired by Matthew West’s grandmother. It is a song about grief and the hope that we will be reunited with our loved ones again at home in heaven.
“You know I bet it feels good
To have the weight of this world
Off Your shoulders now
I'm dreaming of the day
When I'm finally there with You”
“Footprints in the Sand” is a song inspired by the inspirational poem of the same name. The song is about being there for someone during difficult times.
“I promise you, I'm always there
When your heart is filled with sorrow and despair
And I'll carry you when you need a friend
You'll find my footprints in the sand”
“Dancing with the Angels” is about coming to terms with grief. It offers comfort in the thought that our loved ones are in heaven dancing with angels.
“You had love for your family
Love for all people
Love for the Father, and Son
Your heart will be heard
In your unspoken words
Through generations to come”
“Heaven’s Garden” was written after songwriter Paul Kealy lost his father. After a close friend’s mother died, he teamed up with Kieran Brennan to rewrite and record the song. The song is a touching tribute to a mother.
“I’ve heard heaven has a garden
With angels singing on a cloudy band stand
Up in heaven in that garden
Won’t you take my mama there by the hand”
Inspired by her father’s death, Jenn Bostic became a singer-songwriter. Her song “Jealous of the Angels'' is about the unbearable grief of losing a loved one. Those they leave behind are jealous of the angels who now share heaven with the ones we’ve lost.
“There will be another angel
Around the throne tonight
Your love lives on inside of me,
And I will hold on tight
It's not my place to question,
Only God knows why
I'm just jealous of the angels
Around the throne tonight”
After experiencing the loss of a child, singer Donna Taggart released her beautiful rendition of “Jealous of the Angels”. Written by Jenn Bostic, the song is about being jealous of the angels that share heaven with our loved ones.
“You always made my troubles feel so small
And you were always there to catch me when I'd fall
In a world where heroes come and go
Well God just took the only one I know
So I'll hold you as close as I can
Longing for the day, when I see your face again
But until then”
Whether things are going great or you find yourself struggling, “Find the Light” is an uplifting song with an inspiring message. The message is that even in hard times, you’ll find the light to get you through.
“I wish upon you peace
I wish upon you grace
I wish for less of what you want
And more of what you need
I wish upon you an old life
With a heart that stays young
But most of all I wish upon you love”
“I Will Carry You” is about a mother’s/father’s grief over losing a child. The song offers some comfort in knowing that the child is part of God’s plan.
“I will carry you
While your heart beats here
Long beyond the empty cradle
Through the coming years
I will carry you
All your life
And I will praise the One Who's chosen Me
To carry you”
“Angel'' was originally written as a response to several drug related deaths within the music industry. Over the years, the song has gone on to be reinterpreted in different ways by those experiencing grief.
“In the arms of the angel
Fly away from here
From this dark, cold hotel room
And the endlessness that you fear
You are pulled from the wreckage
Of your silent reverie
You're in the arms of the angel
May you find some comfort here”
“When I’m Gone” is about needing validation that the ones who are left behind will be ok after the loss of a loved one. The song is about a dying wife that reassures her husband that he will be ok when she’s gone.
“The birds will make their joyful sounds
You wonder why the earth still moves
You wonder how you’ll carry on
But you’ll be okay on that first day when I’m gone”
“Heaven Was Needing a Hero” was written as a tribute to the first fallen female soldier. It is often used as a tribute song to all fallen soldiers.
“I guess Heaven was needing a hero
Somebody just like you
Brave enough to stand up
For what you believe
And follow it through
When I try to make it make sense in my mind
The only conclusion I come to
Is Heaven was needing a hero
Like you”
“I Will Rise” is a song for anyone that is experiencing the unbearable heartache of losing someone they love. It is a reminder of God’s gift of everlasting life.
“And I will rise when he calls my name
No more sorrow, no more pain
I will rise on eagles' wings
Before my god fall on my knees
And rise
I will rise”
“I Can Only Imagine” ponders what it might be like meeting Jesus in heaven for the first time. The song offers some comfort and peace in imagining what our loved ones might be experiencing in heaven.
“Surrounded by Your glory
What will my heart feel?
Will I dance for You, Jesus
Or in awe of You be still?”
“Heaven Song” reminds us that during times of sorrow the best is yet to come. It offers reassurance that there is a beautiful place that God has prepared for us.
“I want to run on greener pastures
I want to dance on higher hills
I want to drink from sweeter waters
In the misty morning chill
And my soul is getting restless
For the place where I belong
I can’t wait to join the angels and sing”
“You’re Beautiful” is inspired by the beauty of Jesus. It is about being mesmerized by his beauty everywhere on earth and when we arrive in heaven.
“Let's sing it out
When we arrive at eternity's shore
Where death is just a memory and tears are no more
We'll enter in as the wedding bells ring
Your bride will come together and we'll sing
You're beautiful
You're beautiful”
“The Garden” captures the pain and sorrow of loss. It is a moving song about having faith in God even though we may sometimes question his intentions.
“Faith is rising up like ivy reaching for the light
Hope is stirring deep inside me, making all things right
Love is lifting me from sorrow, catching every tear
Dispelling every lie and torment, crushing all my fears
You crush all my fears, You crush all my fears
With Your perfect love, oh, with Your perfect love”
“It is Not Death to Die” offers an inspiring message to anyone processing grief. The message is that death is not an ending but a beginning.
“It is not death to fling
Aside this earthly dust
And rise with strong and noble wing
To live among the just
It is not death to hear
The key unlock the door
That sets us free from mortal years
To praise You evermore”
