Grieving a death of any kind is never easy. It’s especially difficult to grieve a loved one who is gone too soon. If one of your loved ones died from suicide, it can be hard to cope. Finding the right support is key, and many use music as a way to express themselves. With many popular songs about death, these can be a source of comfort.
Jump ahead to these sections:
- Songs About Losing a Friend to Suicide
- Songs About Losing a Family Member to Suicide
- Songs About Losing a Partner or Spouse to Suicide
- Songs About Dealing With Grief After Losing a Loved One to Suicide
Whether you’re planning a playlist for a funeral slideshow, memorial, or just yourself, you’re never alone. Music helps us express the feelings that aren’t always easy to put into words. Many musicians before you have stood in the same footsteps. They understand how you feel, and they put these experiences into songs.
In this guide, we’ll explore sad songs about losing a loved one to suicide. While there is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to grief, it’s easy to find comfort in these familiar tunes. Which songs speak to you the most?
Songs About Losing a Friend to Suicide
Dealing with the aftermath of losing a friend to suicide is no easy feat. You might feel isolated and disconnected, struggling to identify if you could have done something. In reality, you need to take care of yourself in the coming days and months.
1. “Hey Jude” by The Beatles
Written about helping a child through a parent’s divorce, “Hey Jude” is an anthem for hope and courage. It’s normal to feel pain from time to time, but you don’t have to “carry the world upon your shoulders.” In other words, be kind to yourself.
2. “O-o-h Child” by The Five Stairsteps
Though this song is upbeat, it can be just what you need after losing a close friend to suicide. As the song says, “Someday, we’ll walk in the rays of the beautiful sun.” Ultimately, it’s about looking for better days ahead. Things might seem impossible now, but there is still hope.
3. “Stand by Me” by Ben E. King
Is there anything more important than standing by the ones you love? Your friend might be gone, but he or she is always there in spirit. There’s nothing to fear because you’ll always stand together.
4. “When I’m Gone” by Eminem
This Eminem song is about thinking of your family in your final moments. Though the narrator knows his time will come, he wants his friends and family to not mourn his loss. He wants them to know he’ll always be with them.
5. “Sign of the Times” by Harry Styles
Harry Styles' song “Sign of the Times” is written from the perspective of a mother learning she’s going to die as she gives birth to her child. Though distraught, she tells the child to go forth and do the best that they can. In time, “we can meet again somewhere far away from here.”
6. “All Apologies” by Nirvana
Often seen as Kurt Cobain’s final goodbye, “All Apologies” is about the changes we go through in life. At his very end, Cobain wished to find somewhere peaceful in the sun where he could fully be himself.
Songs About Losing a Family Member to Suicide
If you lost a family member to suicide, it’s normal to feel a mix of emotions. This is difficult, and it’s hard to come to terms with the way your life has changed forever. This grief is normal, but you’re not alone.
7. “Everybody Hurts” by R.E.M.
A truer statement has never been said: Everybody hurts. Your loved one was in pain, but they’ve found peace. It’s normal to experience your own pain, but you can still hold onto the best times.
8. “How to Save a Life” by The Fray
Though not about losing a loved one to suicide, this song still deals with the grief of an unexpected loss. It’s impossible to write a guide to saving someone’s life, and sometimes things are out of your control.
9. “Lullaby” by Billy Joel
Billy Joel’s music always has a somber, meaningful tone. His “Lullaby” is the perfect tribute to anyone who’s no longer here. Our troubles can wait for another day. Now it’s time to rest.
10. “Hide and Seek” by Imogen Heap
Melodic and memorable, “Hide and Seek” is a story about feeling lost in the chaos of life. Though some people might act with good intentions, it could still hurt others. It’s up to you to make your own peace.
11. “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right” by Bob Dylan
Written about a lover leaving to study abroad, sometimes people come in and out of your life. This is normal, and it can be devastating. Still, you need to do what’s best for you and never “think twice” about what could have been.
12. “O My Heart” by Mother Mother
In “O My Heart,” the indie rock band compares its heart to many lifeless things. No matter how hard you try to throw your heart away, it will always come back to you. It might be painful sometimes, but it’s a part of you.
Songs About Losing a Partner or Spouse to Suicide
Losing a partner or spouse is like losing a part of yourself. Finding the pieces after the fallout settles can be the hardest part. These songs are a reminder that true love isn’t limited to a single lifetime.
13. “Always On My Mind” by Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley is the King of romance, and this song is one of his best. It’s about remembering a significant other even after they’re gone. Time might separate you two, but you’ll always be together.
14. “Yesterday” by The Beatles
Possibly one of the most beautiful songs ever written, The Beatles’ “Yesterday” is about believing in the beauty of the past. Though things will always change, we can reflect on what once was and look toward the future.
15. “Somewhere Only We Know” by Keane
This song is a dream of a place only lovers know. We all have these bonds we share, but it can be hard to stay connected when life gets in the way. When you’re afraid, find solace in that “somewhere only we know.”
16. “Fix You” by Coldplay
One of the most cry-worthy of Coldplay’s songs, this song is also a guide home through the dark. “When you feel so tired but you can’t sleep…lights will guide you home.” Ultimately, this song gives listeners permission to let their grief out.
17. “Saturn” by Sleeping at Last
Gravely beautiful, Sleeping at Last’s “Saturn” is an ode to lovers everywhere. This is a song about losing someone important. However, it’s also about recognizing that our souls are infinite. It goes, “How rare and beautiful it is to even exist?”
18. “Heroes” by David Bowie
What would you do if you could be together with your loved one for just one more day? Bowie’s song is all about the magic of togetherness. Though this love might be impossible, you can still be heroes just for one day.
Songs About Dealing With Grief After Losing a Loved One to Suicide
Finally, find comfort in the familiar tunes of these songs about dealing with grief after a loss. This is a universal, human experience. You aren’t the first to grieve someone special, and you won’t be the last. If you can focus on expressing yourself, you can find brighter days ahead.
19. “In My Life” by The Beatles
Cited as one of John Lennon’s best songs, “In My Life” is a song about memories and nostalgia. At the end of one’s life, we always look back on the memories of our friends and lovers. The song says it best, “In my life, I love you more.”
20. “Hallelujah” by Rufus Wainwright
A powerful song about strength, love, and sorrow, this is a song of contradictions. Though many of the references and symbols in this song point to religion and spiritual highs, the song is still a lament about lost love.
21. “I Walk the Line” by Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash is the first to admit that he’s often a fool in love. However, because he had the pleasure of loving this special someone, he continues to “walk the line” in love and life. This will never fade.
22. “Writer in the Dark” by Lorde
It’s through our darkest moments that we find our real strength. Sometimes, the best way to find comfort is through yourself. Though you continue to love those who come and go, you also know you’re going to be okay.
23. “Thirteen” by Big Star
A song about innocence and nostalgia, sometimes it’s easy to get lost in our simplest memories of an easier time. “Thirteen” is an ode to the child in all of us, and it connects us at our cores.
24. “Fourth of July” by Sufjan Stevens
Written about the death of his mother, Stevens finds comfort in the lyrics of “Fourth of July.” He poses endless questions that don’t have clear answers, letting their history tell its own story. At the very end, he recognizes that everyone will die eventually, but they shine bright with the time they have.
Healing Grief Through Music
Ultimately, grief is far from linear. Whether you’re coping with a parent’s suicide or a friend’s actions, it’s okay to let yourself experience the full extent of your grief. It might not look the same for you as it does for someone else, and that’s normal. Grief is a challenging thing, and it’s important to face yourself with compassion.
Music has been a part of the healing process since the dawn of civilization. Since there has been death, there has been music. Allow yourself to find comfort in these lyrics, recognizing that you’re never really alone.