🎵 Songs That Got Us Through: Grief, Heaven, and Hope from the '90s to Today
Cortesia OxfordShare
From R&B to Country to Rap—These Tracks Helped Us Cry, Heal, and Celebrate a Life Well Lived
Whether you’ve lost someone recently or still feel the ache of someone gone years ago, music can say what your heart struggles to put into words. Across genres, artists have always turned pain into poetry—writing songs that speak to heaven, the afterlife, and the rawness of grief.
At Heavenly Farewells, we know funerals and healing deserve more than a generic playlist. That’s why we put together this time-spanning, genre-hopping list of songs that truly hit when you're dealing with loss.
💿 R&B: Soulful Soundtracks of Sorrow & Love
1. “It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday” – Boyz II Men (1991)
Forever iconic. The a cappella harmony, the pain, the peace—it’s timeless.
✅ Perfect for: Slideshow, final viewing, or memorial video
🔗 Watch on YouTube
2. “Dance With My Father” – Luther Vandross (2003)
A tribute to dads who’ve passed. Brings tears instantly.
✅ Perfect for: Father’s eulogy or wake reflections
🔗 Listen here
3. “One Sweet Day” – Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men (1995)
A duet between grieving hearts and angelic hope.
✅ Perfect for: Heaven-themed tributes or slideshows
🔗 Play here
4. “Missing You” – Brandy, Tamia, Gladys Knight, Chaka Khan (1996)
From the Set It Off soundtrack, this is a powerhouse of soul and sorrow.
✅ Perfect for: Tributes for women, sisters, or best friends
🔗 Watch here
5. “Heaven” – Beyoncé (2013)
An emotional, stripped-down ballad about loss and eternal love.
✅ Perfect for: Quiet reflection or memorial video
🔗 Listen here
🤠 Country: Raw Emotion + Real-Life Stories
6. “Go Rest High on That Mountain” – Vince Gill (1995)
Country gospel done right. Soul-stirring and angelic.
✅ Perfect for: Church services and final goodbyes
🔗 Watch here
7. “If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away” – Justin Moore (2011)
Reminiscing on lost loved ones with heartfelt imagery.
✅ Perfect for: Slideshows or family tribute montages
🔗 Play here
8. “There You’ll Be” – Faith Hill (2001)
From the Pearl Harbor soundtrack—love that lasts into eternity.
✅ Perfect for: Romantic or partner-based tributes
🔗 Listen here
9. “Angels Among Us” – Alabama (1993)
Comforting message of faith, hope, and divine presence.
✅ Perfect for: Faith-based funerals or angel-themed services
🔗 Watch here
🎤 Rap/Hip-Hop: Pain, Legacy & Eternal Love
10. “Life Goes On” – 2Pac (1996)
Raw grief and street brotherhood. Feels like a prayer.
✅ Perfect for: Young lives lost too soon, memorial slideshows
🔗 Watch here
11. “I’ll Be Missing You” – Puff Daddy, Faith Evans & 112 (1997)
A tribute to Biggie Smalls that became a global grief anthem.
✅ Perfect for: Tributes to lost friends, siblings, or partners
🔗 Watch here
12. “See You Again” – Wiz Khalifa ft. Charlie Puth (2015)
From Furious 7, became one of the most-streamed funeral songs in the world.
✅ Perfect for: All-ages tributes, memorial events, car processions
🔗 Watch here
13. “Letter to My Son” – Don Trip (2012)
Raw, vulnerable, and painfully real. Especially for grieving fathers.
✅ Perfect for: Intimate reflection or personal loss tributes
🔗 Listen here
🧘🏾♀️ What These Songs Teach Us About Grief
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R&B gives us permission to cry and reminisce
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Country reminds us that heaven is close and love never ends
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Rap turns pain into poetry and legacy into power
Each genre hits a different emotional note—but together, they help us move through the fog.
✨ Use This Playlist in Your Funeral Planning
Whether you’re planning a celebration of life, building a slideshow, or journaling through loss, these songs belong in your toolbox.
🕯️ Add these to your Peaceful Playlist
🖤 Use them in your funeral program (we’ve got templates)
🎧 Link them to your Planning Peace workbook
🎵 Create a custom QR code playlist for the funeral service
💐 Planning a Beautiful Goodbye? Let Heavenly Farewells Help.
From templates to tribute videos, journals to playlists, Heavenly Farewells is here to help you plan with peace, creativity, and faith.
👉 Shop funeral templates, grief guides, and planning tools now
👉 Download the Planning Peace workbook
👉 Grab your copy of “Last Minute, First Time: A Funeral Checklist”