Hank Williams may not be the first entertainer that leaps to your mind when you hear the phrase “funeral songs.” Still, we’ve found 20 songs that you might consider for your own end-of-life plan or your loved one’s services.
Jump ahead to these sections:
- Hank Williams Songs for a Parent’s Funeral
- Hank Williams Songs for a Sibling's Funeral
- Uplifting Hank Williams Songs for a Funeral
- Sad Hank Williams Songs for a Funeral
We tried to include many of Hank Williams’ popular songs on our list, but many of them are about infidelity and not appropriate. Instead, we included songs that celebrate relationships and fun-loving personalities. We also included some Christian gospel songs that Williams recorded or wrote.
Hank Williams Songs for a Parent’s Funeral
Many people choose funeral songs for their dad or mom based on the music they enjoyed listening to when they were young. If your parents enjoyed Hank Williams, here are some pieces that you might consider playing in the background during the visitation.
1. “Baby We’re Really in Love” from Honky Tonkin’
Are you looking for a happy-sounding song that celebrates the love of your parents? Consider this one by Hank Williams. It includes a line that will make everyone smile:
“‘I’m nutty as a fruitcake
When you’re not in my arms.”
2. “Hey Good Lookin’” from Memorial Album
Couples who dated in the early 1950s may have danced to Hank Williams’ “Hey Good Lookin.’” If this reminds either your mom or dad of their early days with their significant other, consider playing this sweet song to bring back happy memories. This song will undoubtedly bring a smile to the faces of everyone.
3. “When God Comes Gathers His Jewels” from I Saw the Light
This is one of the most appropriate songs to use for a funeral on the list. It tells the story of a person who lost their spouse. It’s bittersweet and includes the chorus:
“When God comes and gathers his jewels
All his treasures of diamonds and gold
You’ll meet her up there in heaven so fair
When God comes and gathers his jewels.”
4. “Dear Brother”
This poignant song tells the story of a person telling their brother about the death of his mother. It begins:
“Dear Brother, Mama left us this morning
Death’s angels took her away
She’s gone to meet Daddy up there in heaven
But we’ll meet again some day.”
5. “Mother is Gone”
The speaker reads these words on a cemetery headstone, which makes him reflect on the death of his own mother.
Hank Williams Songs for a Sibling’s Funeral
While we didn’t find any specific songs about the death of a sibling, we did find some that would be appropriate, especially if your sibling was a Hank Williams fan.
6. “Honky Tonk Blues” from Moanin’ the Blues
This is certainly not a typical funeral song. However, if “Honky Tonk Blues” was a favorite of your brother or sister, you might want to play it at their funeral. The song tells the story of a man who regrets his behavior during the late nights he spends in a bar. One line reads:
“I’m gonna tuck my worries underneath my arm
And scat right back to my pappy’s farm.”
7. “I Saw the Light” from Hank Williams Sings
Hank Williams recorded this classic gospel song. This would be an appropriate funeral song for a Christian, especially one who struggled before accepting God.
It includes the chorus:
“I saw the light. I saw the light
No more darkness, no more night
Now I’m so happy, no sorrow in sight
Praise the Lord. I saw the light.”
Uplifting Hank Williams Songs for a Funeral
Are you looking for a country music song for a funeral? There are a lot of options to consider. Here are some happy or uplifting songs about having fun or looking forward to heaven.
8. “Settin’ the Woods on Fire”
Was your loved one known for having a carefree spirit and fun attitude? Celebrate this zest for life by playing “Settin’ the Woods on Fire.” It includes the stanza:
“We’ll take in all the honky tonks
Tonight we’re having fun
We’ll show the folks a brand new dance
That never has been done.”
9. “On the Bayou”
If your loved one was from the South or enjoyed Cajun culture, you might consider celebrating the lighter side of life by playing “On the Bayou” at the funeral.
10. “Howlin’ at the Moon”
Like the other two on the list, this song celebrates love. It’s upbeat and not a typical funeral song. It describes a man’s nonsensical behavior after meeting the love of his life:
“You got me chasin’ rabbits, spittin’ out teeth
And a-howlin’ at the moon.”
11. “I’ll Fly Away” from The Unreleased Recordings
Like many country artists of his time, Hank Williams also recorded a version of “I’ll Fly Away.” This song always makes the list of the best funeral songs of all time.
12. “A Home in Heaven”
The chorus of this song says:
“Are you building a home in heaven
To live in when this life is o’er
Will you move to that beautiful city
And live with Christ ever more.”
Sad Hank Williams Songs for a Funeral
Hank Williams performed many sad songs, but not many would be typically chosen for a funeral. Here are some that might work for your loved one’s funeral. Make sure you read the lyrics carefully before making a decision.
13. “Lovesick Blues” from Moanin’ the Blues
This is certainly not a typical funeral song. It describes the heartbreak associated with a dissolved relationship. However, if you or your deceased loved one was a Hank Williams’ fan, you might consider playing it in the background at the visitation or using it in the funeral slideshow.
The blues the speaker feels in this song is described in this way:
“Since my baby said goodbye
Lord, I don’t know what I’ll do
All I do is sit and sigh.”
14. “Weary Blues From Waitin’”
Most of the blues that Hank Williams feels are the result of a “cheatin’ heart.” However, the reason for his sadness in “Weary Blues From Waitin’” is a bit more nebulous. Because of this, it might make an appropriate funeral song.
It includes the stanza:
“The snow falls ’round my window
But it can’t chill my heart
God knows it died the day you left
My dream world fell apart.”
15. “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” from Moanin’ the Blues
The saddest of sad songs, “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry,” may not be about death. It is, however, about loneliness that often follows the loss of a loved one. Carefully consider the reaction you might get from using this as a funeral song.
16. “Six More Miles to the Graveyard” from Hank Williams Sings
This song is about someone headed to the cemetery following the death of a loved one. It includes the lines:
“Left her in that lonely church yard,
Left my darlin’ alone,
Now I’m sad, my heart is cryin’,
As I wander through life alone.”
This song is undoubtedly about the death of a loved one. Should you use it as a funeral song? That is up to you.
17. “Wealth Won’t Save Your Soul” from Hank Williams Sings
Hank Williams wrote and recorded this song based on the gospel songs he grew up with in Alabama. It doesn’t have a typical funeral song message, but it does provide a lesson to those who listen.
18. “Message to My Mother”
A dying man who lived a troubled life shouts out from his deathbed:
“Take this message to my mother
It will fill her heart with joy
Tell her that I’ve met my Savior
God has saved her wandering boy.”
19. “Ready to Go Home”
This song celebrates leaving this Earth for Heaven at the end of this life. It was released posthumously and included the lines:
“When He says come unto Me, will your soul be clean and free
Then will you be ready to go home.”
20. “Last Night I Dreamed of Heaven”
The speaker in this song sees his mom in his dream about Heaven, and says, “It filled my heart with joy.”
What Song Do You Want to be Played at Your Funeral?
When creating a funeral plan, some people select the method of disposition and choose a burial spot. Other people feel inclined to go into details. If you’re a person who has particular tastes, you might want to include the funeral music, flowers, and even pallbearers in your plan.