Queen Elizabeth II's funeral featured traditional hymns like "The Day Thou Gavest" and "The Lord's My Shepherd," alongside bespoke pieces like Judith Weir's "Like as the heart" and James MacMillan's "Who Shall Separate Us?", with bagpipes playing "Sleep, Dearie, Sleep" as a poignant farewell from her personal piper. The music blended deeply personal choices, like the hymn from her wedding, with ceremonial anthems and classical works, reflecting her faith and royal tradition.
The coffin carrying Queen Elizabeth. That tune—"Sleep, Dearie, Sleep"—is the name of The Crown's final episode.
Here are ten Queen funeral songs, along with their significance and lyrics, that could be considered appropriate for such an occasion:
Good funeral goodbye songs vary from classic hymns to modern pop, often focusing on remembrance, love, and hope, with popular choices including Eric Clapton's "Tears in Heaven," Ed Sheeran's "Supermarket Flowers," Sarah Brightman & Andrea Bocelli's "Time to Say Goodbye," Louis Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World," Frank Sinatra's "My Way," and traditional hymns like "Amazing Grace," all offering comfort and reflecting different aspects of loss and legacy.
Communion Songs: One Bread One Body; Here I am Lord; I am the Bread of Life; Recessional: Precious Lord Take Me Home; How Great though Art; On Eagles Wings, Amazing Grace. If you have songs at the cemetery during burial you may pick some of his favorite Christian songs outside of the church.
Sad modern funeral songs
While there's no single "most popular" song, Frank Sinatra's "My Way" and traditional hymns like "Amazing Grace" consistently rank among the top choices, often joined by songs of love and loss such as Eric Clapton's "Tears in Heaven," Bette Midler's "Wind Beneath My Wings," and modern hits like Robbie Williams' "Angels", reflecting personal tributes and universal themes of remembrance, gratitude, and hope for peace.
Our top 10 sad songs about moving away
There's no single "most" comforting song, as it's subjective, but popular choices often cited for solace, peace, or support include "What a Wonderful World" (Louis Armstrong), "Bridge Over Troubled Water" (Simon & Garfunkel/Elvis), "Stand By Me" (Ben E. King), and "Let It Be" (The Beatles), with instrumental tracks like Marconi Union's "Weightless" scientifically noted for stress relief, while many find comfort in personal anthems like Coldplay's "Fix You" or Carole King's "You've Got a Friend".
Certain songs have stood the test of time, becoming evergreen choices for funerals. These include "Amazing Grace", "My Heart Will Go On" by Celine Dion, and "You'll Never Walk Alone" by Gerry and the Pacemakers.
"Mother Love" was the final song co-written by Mercury and May, and was also Mercury's last vocal performance.
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“Love of My Life”, “The Show Must Go On” and “I Was Born to Love You”... Some of the greatest Queen songs for funerals and all occasions for that matter.
Freddie Mercury's last words are reported differently depending on who is sharing, with his partner Jim Hutton recalling his final utterance as a request to go to the toilet ("Pee, pee!") while being helped, and friend Peter Freestone stating his last words to him were a simple, poignant "Thank you," possibly for his care or for their years together. Other final messages include his public farewell "I still love you" in the video for "These Are The Days Of Our Lives," and his wish for unfinished music to be released, notes the Facebook post with his companion Mary Austin.
Two hymns featured in this list. One was 'Praise, My Soul, The King of Heaven' mentioned above: the other was 'The Lord's My Shepherd'. The words of this beautiful hymn are believed to have been written by the 17th-century Puritan politician and author Francis Rous, based on Psalm 23.
Popular Beautiful Funeral Songs
Some popular choices include: “Ave Maria” by Schubert or Bach/Gounod: A timeless piece that conveys peace and reverence. “Canon in D” by Pachelbel: Known for its soothing and harmonious melody. “Nimrod” from Enigma Variations by Elgar: A powerful and moving orchestral piece.
There's no single "most heartbreaking song," as it's subjective, but often cited examples include Johnny Cash's "Hurt", Eric Clapton's "Tears in Heaven," written after his son's death, Sinead O'Connor's "Nothing Compares 2 U," and R.E.M.'s "Everybody Hurts," with other contenders like Taylor Swift's "All Too Well (10 Minute Version)" and Linkin Park's "One More Light" frequently appearing on lists. These songs resonate deeply due to themes of loss, grief, profound heartbreak, or devastating real-life stories.
Here are some of the most popular funeral songs:
My Way – Frank Sinatra. Angels – Robbie Williams. The Best – Tina Turner. Wind Beneath My Wings – Bette Midler.
1- One Sweet Day by Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men
It captures both the heartache of loss and the hope of reunion in the afterlife. The song's lyrics express the grief and longing of someone who has lost a loved one, and the desire to reunite with them in the future.
These songs can be either beautiful commemorations of someone's life or well-known classics:
The worldwide TV audience for the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales (1961-1997) on 6 September 1997 at Westminster Abbey, London, UK, was estimated at 2.5 billion.
Songs not to play at a funeral: inappropriate mood
Any song that implies you are pleased about the person's passing, such as Ray Charles' 'Hit the Road, Jack', 'Somebody that I Used to Know' by Gotye and 'Since U Been Gone' by Kelly Clarkson, should be avoided.
There's no single "number 1 saddest song" as it's subjective, but R.E.M.'s "Everybody Hurts" often tops polls due to its universal message of despair and solidarity, while other contenders include Sinéad O'Connor's "Nothing Compares 2 U", Eric Clapton's "Tears in Heaven", Jeff Buckley's "Hallelujah," and Nirvana's "Something in the Way," often cited for their deep emotional impact and poignant lyrics.
Time to Say Goodbye by Sarah Brightman and Andrea Bocelli
It's a searing classic, and it speaks to something we all have to face, saying goodbye. The beautiful operatic tones make this feel traditional and respectful, appropriate for any setting.