For parents, the number one thing that they’re concerned about is the well-being of their child. They’re willing to sacrifice their own dreams and goals for the sake of the happiness of their children if it seems necessary. And losing them is something that they never even consider.
But sometimes, life happens and you could be left without your child by your side. It’s perhaps the worst thing that can happen to a parent, and moving on from such a loss can seem outright impossible.
Music can be a way of processing the feelings that you’re bottling up inside. We’ve put together a list of some songs about losing a child to help you get over your loss. Creating a playlist can serve as a distraction while also helping you process your feelings in the long run.
When creating a playlist consisting of songs about losing a child, it’s important to keep in mind that the song selections that we’re recommending are just that. If there are songs that are personally significant to you or to your child, then you should definitely include them as well.
It can be hard to pick out a playlist when you’re mourning the loss of your child, so we’ve picked out a list of 18 heartbreaking songs about losing a child to help you in the process of grieving your loss.
1) Tears In Heaven (Eric Clapton)
This ballad by Clapton was written following the death of his 4-year-old son, Conor. While capturing the pain of losing a child, Clapton is hopeful about seeing his son again in heaven.
2) I’ll Be Missing You (Puff Daddy)
A timeless ode to everlasting friendship, this song reminisces about the good times we had with our friends and loved ones.
3) If I Die Young (The Band Perry)
The death of younger ones is always painful due to their often unexpected nature. This song is about being grateful for living their best albeit for a short while.
4) Somewhere Over The Rainbow (Israel Kamakawiwoʻole)
There’s a certain magical charm to this song that brings a smile to anyone’s face when they hear it. Perhaps it’s Israel’s singing, perhaps it’s the simple ukelele, or maybe it’s the beautiful lyrics. But what’s certain is that this song will remind you that it’s not all doom and gloom. It never is.
5) Live Forever (Oasis)
This is a song that reminds us that our loved ones never truly leave us, for they live on through our memories of them.
6) You’ll Never Walk Alone (Judy Garland)
A song about having your loved ones by your side, even when it might seem like they’re not, Garland sings that whatever happens in life, you’ll never walk alone.
7) What A Wonderful World (Louis Armstrong)
Another classic and uplifting song, What A Wonderful World never fails to give you the hope that you would require following the death of a loved one. For all its flaws, humanity still has a way of redeeming itself. And that is the wonderful world that Armstrong is singing about.
8) Isn’t She Lovely
A timeless classic, Isn’t She Lovely is the father-daughter song to beat all father-daughter songs. There is no song more perfect than this to celebrate the memory of your daughter and how much she meant to you.
9) You Will Always Be My Son (Anthem Lights)
Children grow up very fast, and it’s one of the most beautiful things that you experience as a parent. As the title suggests You Will Always Be My Son is a song about no matter how grown-up your son gets, they will always be your little boy.
10) Small Bump (Ed Sheeran)
Awaiting the birth of your child is one of the most exciting things someone goes through as a parent. You make plans, you have hopes for your child, and you can’t wait to welcome them into this world. Sheeran’s song ends in a twist when it is revealed that the child was stillborn.
11) Hallelujah (Jeff Buckley)
Originally sung by Leonard Cohen, it is Buckley’s melancholic rendition of the song that truly conveys the sadness buried in the lyrics. Accompanied by a single electric guitar, you can feel Buckley’s pain as he sings the song. You hope that your child is finally at peace.
12) Lullabye (Billy Joel)
While lullabies are usually associated with songs about babies, Lullabye was written by Joel as a lullaby for his 7-year-old daughter Alexa Ray in response to her question, “Where do we go when we die?” An innocent song that re-affirms that we’re left in peace after death.
13) See You Again (Charlie Puth)
Released as a tribute to the late Paul Walker, See You Again is a song about hope. The hope of seeing each other again despite parting ways right now.
14) You’ll Never Walk Alone (Judy Garland)
A song about having your loved ones by your side, even when it might seem like they’re not, Garland sings that whatever happens in life, you’ll never walk alone.
15) Gone Too Soon (Daughtry)
When you lose a child, you’re also losing all of the things you’d envisioned for them. Your children are a part of your hopes and dreams, and the pain of losing a child before they could fulfil their own dreams can be hard to accept.
16) I Will Always Love You (Whitney Houston)
The love that a parent has for their children is immeasurable A timeless classic, I Will Always Love You is yet another song about the eternal nature of love, and how love transcends everything.
17) Beautiful Boy (John Lennon)
Life is unexpected, and no matter how much you plan ahead, life has a tendency to throw a curveball at times. Missing out on your child’s life is something no one expects, and it’s one of the cruelest twists of fate a person can go through
18) Sleep Tight (Celine Dion)
Written following the death of her niece, Sleep Tight is Dion’s way of finding peace through the song. It’s a hopeful song that details her niece’s journey to heaven.
Funerals can be somber affairs, and it should be noted that creating a playlist and playing it is done in accordance with the deceased’s wishes from when they were alive. Now that you’ve got an idea on songs about losing a child, maybe you could take a look at the Top 30 Funeral Songs of All Time for a more comprehensive guide on creating a general playlist.
