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16 Songs About Loss to Help You Grieve

songs about loss
17 Songs about loss. Image by Kulli Kittus on Unsplash.

Last updated on April 19th, 2023 at 08:52 pm

Losing someone is one of the most difficult parts of life. If you have recently lost someone, then you may be looking for songs about loss to cope with how you feel.  

Dealing with loss is never easy, and it will take time for you to heal. Whether you are dealing with a miscarriage or the death of a sibling, music is here to help you through.

While songs about loss won’t take your pain away, they can help you feel less alone. They can also give you unique ways to remember the person in your life who has died. Either way, grab a comfy blanket and get ready to cry to these songs about loss.

1. “I Will Always Love You” by Dolly Parton

Songs about loss span all genres and all cultures, and there is no better way to start off our list than with one of the most award-winning songs of all time, “I Will Always Love You” by Dolly Parton (although it has been covered by Whitney Houston and many other artists).

In this song, Dolly sings about how she will always love someone, even if she loses them from her life. The reality is that true love really doesn’t end, which this song reiterates.

Coping with grief can be tough, but remember you will always love your loved one, even if they have passed on to the next life.

Related: How Did Whitney Houston Die? The Complete Tragic Story

2. “Against All Odds” by Phil Collins

Phil Collins has so many heartbreaking songs about loss that it’s tough to pick just one. But our favorite has to be “Against All Odds,” which discusses the empty space left behind when someone leaves but can be comforting when you are dealing with losing a family member.

3. “Ain’t No Sunshine” by Bill Withers

When thinking of songs about loss, “Ain’t No Sunshine” by Bill Withers had to come to mind. While this song is technically about someone leaving for short periods of time, it has many of the same emotions you may feel after a permanent loss of a parent or family member.

4. “Still Here” by Natasha Bedingfield

After someone dies or leaves, they are never truly gone. Rather, they continue to live on in your heart. This is exactly what this heartbreaking melody by Natasha Bedingfield is about.

Allowing yourself reminders of the one you lost can help you to cope with grief and life after your loved one has passed away.

5. “Gone Are the Days” by Kygo and James Gillespie

You are never quite prepared to lose someone you love, and this catchy pop song by Kygo embodies that feeling, talking about how you “don’t know how to carry on” without someone you thought you would grow old with.

Moving forward is going to be hard, we didn’t say it would be easy, so crank this tune when you need a little inspiration to keep you going.

6. “Far From Heaven” by Evanescence

When you go through the loss of someone you love, heaven couldn’t be any further from Earth. Amy Lee, the lead singer of Evanescence, knows how you feel, as she lost her sister at a young age, emotions which she clearly puts into this sad power ballad.

Evanescence in particular has many songs about loss that may suit the mood you are looking for. Check out “My Immortal” as well as “Going Under” and “Lithium.”

7. “Hold Me Like You Used To” by Zoe Wees

Whether you lost a romantic partner, or a parent or friend, the grieving process is going to be difficult.

Zoe puts her heartbreak into words when she sings about never truly being ready for a loss—a feeling you will definitely be able to relate to.

This song is especially powerful if you are dealing with a parent who is in Hospice care. It can be difficult to see someone you love die, and this can lead to anticipatory grief.

Remembering how your loved one used to be, and the amazing life they lived before this moment, can help you to better prepare for letting go.

8. “Hurt” by Christina Aguilera

No one gets to escape the pain of loss in this life, not even the beautiful Christina Aguilera.

In her song “Hurt,” she sings about the regret she feels from growing apart from her father before his death. Now she wishes she would have fixed it, but it’s too late, and that’s something she has to live with.

9. “Since U Been Gone” by Kelly Clarkson

Songs about loss aren’t just about death, and sometimes the end of a relationship can feel like the other person died.

Kelly Clarkson sings about this in her song “Since U Been Gone,” which can be listened to whether a loved one has died or simply left.

10. “Who Knew” by Pink

On the topic of losses due to the ending of a relationship, Pink’s heartfelt tune about feeling so certain about a person, only to discover the truth a few years later, can also be listened to at the loss of a relationship or the death of a loved one.

11. “Daniel” by Elton John

Elton John is one of the best singers of all time, and he has faced more than a few losses over the years. “Daniel” is a song about a soldier who returns home but can’t fit into his old life anymore. As a result, he mourns the loss of a simpler life.

This song is frequently misunderstood, but it helps to reiterate the point that you can feel the stages of grief for various reasons, not just when you know someone who died.

Related: 30 Interesting Facts About Elton John

12. “If I Could Turn Back the Hands of Time” by R. Kelly

Although R. Kelly has been effectively canceled due to serious allegations, this particular song about loss really does mirror what you feel after someone dies. He talks about turning back the hands of time, which is something we all wish we had the power to do when it comes to complicated grief.

13. “Somebody That I Used to Know” by Gotye

“Somebody That I Used to Know” is technically about how you feel about an ex-partner after a breakup, but it still can hit home when you are reeling over a loss. Plus, the music video is a hoot to watch while you are learning to cope.

14. “In Loving Memory” by Alter Bridge

Surviving after someone you loved dies can be emotionally draining. Alter Bridge was a band that was popular in the early 00s, and during that time they wrote many songs about this type of loss.

Our pick for this list is “In Loving Memory,” which is about being unable to believe someone is gone, something everyone can relate to in grief.

15. “In the Wee Small Hours of The Morning” by Frank Sinatra

Frank Sinatra, famous for his song “My Way,” is known for his emotional light rock ballads.

This song, like many others on this list, is about the end of a relationship, but it’s got many good lines and a slow rhythm that will appeal to you when you are coping with a loss—whether it’s the death of a pet or maybe a divorce.

Related: The 11 Best Frank Sinatra Songs of All Time

16. “Here Without You” By 3 Doors Down

Whether you are experiencing sorrow due to a deceased family member or mourning the loss of a life you could have had with someone, “Here Without You” is the perfect song to help you as you are going through the grief process.

It discusses the difficulty of being somewhere without the person you love, but don’t worry because it also reminds you that the person you love can still be with you in your dreams. Don’t be embarrassed if you start crying to this song.

If you are struggling with grief after losing a loved one, know that you aren’t alone and that the healing process takes time. It will get better, and someday, maybe a long way down the road, you will feel better.

If you find yourself feeling dangerously depressed, don’t be afraid to seek support in the form of a grief counselor who can help you come to terms, whether you are facing the death of a spouse, or feeling numb because of the loss of another important person in your life. There are also many support groups that can help you mourn the loss properly and teach you how to move on.  

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Written by Hope Davis

Long-time music lover Hope became a full-time writer in 2020 after being laid off from her regular job due to COVID-19. She now spends her time traveling the world to see her favorite bands while writing about them!

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