Country music lovers find special comfort at a funeral or memorial in the touching tones and sensitive sweet words of western funeral service music. Funerals services and memorial ceremonies are a healing time when people have a chance to say goodbye to those about whom they care, process their feelings, and make peace with the departing of a special person. To many mourners, the right music is a custom that can help with all these bereavement issues and more.
Feature sweet country music songs in the memorial services of those who found great pleasure in the honesty and love found in country music tunes, such as a father, grandfather, mother, or some other loved one. All of these songs can be downloaded at a small cost on iTunes or other music download sites or purchased on country music albums at stores.
Sweet Country Songs for a Child's Funeral Service
As tragic as a child's early departing is, lovely and sweet music at the memorial can help comfort loved ones and give family and friends time for reflection and closure. Here are some country music ideas for a young person's funeral service.
- You Raise Me Up - An absolutely beautiful song, performed by Josh Groban. (Sample lyrics - ("You raise up so I can stand on mountains, you raise me up to walk on stormy seas, I am strong when I am on your shoulders, you raise me up to more than can be.")
- I Will Take You Home - performed by the Grateful Dead. From the point of view of a father for a daughter. (Sample lyrics - Your daddy’s here and never will forget you, I will take you home. I will take you home. Gonna carry you back home In my arms. I will take you home.)
- Tears in Heaven: - performed by Eric Clapton (Sample lyrics - "Would you hold my hand if I saw you in heaven? Would you help me stand if I saw you in heaven? I'll find my way through night and day, 'Cause I know I just can't stay here in heaven.") A little blues-oriented, this very special song is sung with acoustic accompaniment and is very touching as it was written after the death of Eric Clapton's own young son.
- Angels among Us (Vocal Remix) - performed by Alabama (Sample lyrics - "Oh I believe there are angels among us, Sent down to us from somewhere up above They come to you and me in our darkest hours, To show us how to live, to teach us how to give, To guide us with the light of love")
- Godspeed (Sweet Dreams) - performed by the Dixie Chicks. This is a gorgeous, soft country song; touching for the loss of a son. (Sample lyrics - "Godspeed, little man, Sweet dreams, little man, Oh my love will fly to you each night on angels wings Godspeed, Sweet dreams")
Country Music for a Lady or Woman's Memorial Ceremony
- I Am Weary (Let Me Rest) - performed by The Cox Family (Sample lyrics - "Seems the light is swiftly fading, Brighter scenes they do now show, I am standing by the river, Angels wait to take me home")
- Will There Be Any Stars in My Crown - (traditional) performed by The Cox Family. (Sample lyrics - "I am thinking today of that beautiful land I shall reach when the sun goeth down; When through wonderful grace by my Savior I stand, Will there be any stars in my crown?")
- Holes in the Floor of Heaven - performed by Steve Wariner (Sample lyrics - "And sometimes when I'm lonely, I remember she can see, There's holes in the floor of heaven and she's watchin' over you and me.")
- Many of the children's songs above will work nicely for women as well.
Country Western Funeral Service Songs for a Man, Young Man, Grandfather
- Ships Of Heaven - performed by Blackhawk (Sample lyrics - "Don't cry for me when I'm gone, Keep the faith and be strong, 'Cause through it all I've been blessed...")
- I Don't Want to Miss a Thing - performed by Mark Chesnutt (Sample lyrics - "I just wanna hold you close, Feel your heart so close to mine, And just stay here in this moment, For all the rest of time.")
- Before My Time: performed by Johnny Cash (Sample lyrics - "And there was some old song that said I love you 'til I die, Before my time, Before my time.")
Special Song for the Death of a Soldier or Member of the Military
- Song for the Dead - performed by Randy Newman. A tribute to a fallen serviceman joins music & memories.
Other Country Style Memorial Songs To Play at any Funeral Service
- In the Sweet By and By - (Sample lyrics - "There's a land that is fairer than day, And by faith we can see it apart, For the father waits over the way, To prepare us a dwelling place there")
- Instrumentals of favorite songs
- Country gospel songs and favorite hymns help with bereavement
Ideas for Personalizing Music at a Funeral Service
- Keep in mind the departed person. Who were their favorite artists and songs?
- For older folks and seniors, older country classics may be most appropriate.
- Consider listing songs and perhaps lyrics in the printed service program.
Most of these songs are available for download online, in music stores, or in sheet music form for a keyboardist, musician, choir or soloist singer.
Related articles include Country Funeral Music Ideas for an Older Man, Uplifting Sensitive Funeral Music, and Uplifting Christian Funeral Music.
Also see Uplifting and Funeral Music and Songs on Squidoo and Funeral Planning and Flowers.
The author hopes these suggestions for touching music will help bring peace and ease to those who have lost a loved one. Deepest sympathy and wishes for fading pain replaced by happy memories.
Note: Please also see reader comments below for more music selections.
Reference Sources
Lyrics from lyrics007
Tears in Heaven: written by Eric Clapton and Will Jennings; performed by Eric Clapton (Eric Clapton Unplugged, 1992 Reprise Records)
Eric Clapton personal reference from Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition
Some song ideas from heavenlywhitedoves website
Janienne Jennrich - Janienne Jennrich, Topic Editor for Kids & Teen Parties and for Hair, is an award-winning freelance writer & webmaster.
