Songs for a celebration of life

Sinatra's signature song, a proud look back over a whole life. One of the most requested funeral songs in Britain, often for a dad.

Bette Midler's song of thanks from the film Beaches, for the one who held the family up. Often chosen for a mother or a partner.

Louis Armstrong's slow, warm song of thanks for everyday life. It suits a grandparent, or the close of a service.

Tina Turner's proud, upbeat hit, often called Simply the Best. One of the songs most chosen at British funerals, and fitting to walk out to.

A cheerful old gospel song full of hope for heaven. Many families play it at the end, as everyone walks out together.

Cecil Frances Alexander wrote it for children in 1848. A bright hymn for someone who loved their garden, the countryside or their animals.

The cheerful, whistled closing song of Monty Python's Life of Brian, with one crude line. A light exit for someone with a dry sense of humor.

A cheerful rock song about going to heaven, with a famous fuzz guitar. Often chosen to end a service on a lighter note.

George Harrison wrote it on a sunny spring day in a friend's garden. A hopeful, gentle way to end a celebration of life.

Fanny Crosby, blind from infancy, wrote the words in 1873. A cheerful old hymn for someone whose faith made them glad.

Sydney Carter set his words to the Shaker tune Simple Gifts in 1963. A lively hymn to walk out to, for someone who loved life.

An Easter hymn sung to a tune from Handel's Judas Maccabaeus. Often chosen to end a service on a note of hope as the coffin leaves.

An 18th-century German hymn of praise, long sung at the end of Mass in Catholic parishes. A strong choice for the recessional.

William Walsham How's hymn from 1864, sung to Vaughan Williams's tune Sine Nomine. A stately hymn for the opening procession.

A 2019 worship song of thanks from Bethel Music, also sung by CeCe Winans. Families pick it to honor a long life of faith.

Tramaine Hawkins led it on Walter Hawkins' 1975 album Love Alive. A joyful homegoing song still sung at many Black church funerals.

Andraé Crouch's bright 1976 gospel song about the joy of heaven. A glad way to close a homegoing service.

The New Orleans jazz funeral favorite, played as the band leads everyone out. Lively and warm, for a celebration of life.

Ray Boltz wrote it for Pastor Appreciation Day at his church, and it won a Dove Award. For someone who spent their life serving others.

Phil Wickham and Brian Johnson's 2018 Easter song of new life. It gives a Christian funeral a hopeful close.

Phil Wickham's 2021 hymn about heaven, starting softly and rising to a full chorus. It works well as the last song of a service.

The Edwin Hawkins Singers' joyful gospel hit from the late 1960s. A happy, hand-clapping way to end a celebration of life.

A man gets hard news from his doctor and starts living fully with the time he has. For a dad, or anyone who made the most of every day.

Alan Jackson looks back over a long marriage and the life a couple built. For a husband or wife, or grandparents married for decades.

Alan Jackson's tribute to his late father, built on memories of an old boat and a pickup. For a dad who taught by doing.

The whole life of a hardworking country man, from his boyhood on the farm to his last days. For a dad or grandpa who lived simply.

Willie Nelson's cheerful song about life on the road. A light way to end a celebration of life for someone who loved to travel.

The cowboy goodbye that closed Roy Rogers and Dale Evans' show for years. Fond and light, for the end of a service.

Kenny Rogers tells of a card player sharing his advice on a train. For a dad or grandpa who loved cards and a good story.

Johnny Cash remembers a poor family that sang together at home, and a brother now gone. Lively, for a mom or dad who loved to sing.

Bill Withers' simple soul song about friends who hold each other up. Warm for a friend or neighbor who was always ready to help.

Lynyrd Skynyrd's long ballad about a man who has to move on, ending in a famous guitar solo. A send-off for a free spirit.

Bob Marley's easygoing song of reassurance. It brings a gentle lift to a celebration of life.

Sinatra's swinging love song with Count Basie's band. A light, happy choice for someone who loved to dance.

A bright thank-you to a loyal friend, known to many as the theme of The Golden Girls. Fits a best friend's celebration of life.

ABBA's gentle thank-you for a life full of songs. For someone who loved to sing, and a warm way to end a service.

A joyful Motown duet about love that never gives up. Upbeat for a celebration of life, for a spouse or a close friend.

Bill Withers' easy, sunny soul song. It brings warmth to a celebration of life and suits someone who lit up a room.

Mary Hopkin's 1968 hit, produced by Paul McCartney, looks back on youth and old friends. For a friend or grandparent who loved to reminisce.

Bob Seger's lively tribute to the music he grew up on, famous from the film Risky Business. An upbeat exit for a dad who loved rock and roll.

Randy Newman's cheerful song from Toy Story. For a friend or a child, played to bring a smile at a celebration of life.

The closing duet from Dirty Dancing. Upbeat, for celebrating a life well lived, or as the music to walk out to.

Kool & the Gang's party song, a joyful way to end a celebration of life and send someone off with a smile.

A gentle, nostalgic Queen song from the last album released in Freddie Mercury's lifetime. It suits photos of happy years.

From The Greatest Showman, a rousing song for someone who lived as themselves; it entered Britain's top ten funeral songs in 2021.

Maroon 5 wrote it after the death of their manager; a calm, warm song for remembering good times with a friend or family.

Ryan Tedder wrote it for his young son, about living each day fully; it suits the close of a celebration of life.

An upbeat Avicii song with a folk feel, about the bond between siblings; chosen to celebrate a brother or sister.

Bruno Mars' gentle ukulele song about friendship; a warm pick for a best friend, a brother or a sister.

Pharrell Williams' cheerful song from Despicable Me 2; a light note to walk out to at a celebration of life.

An upbeat Avicii song built around a father's advice to his child; played for dads and young people who loved life.

Avicii's mix of folk guitar and dance beat; families choose it to celebrate a young life with some energy.

An old Irish and Scottish farewell once sung at the end of a night with friends, now often the last song at a funeral.

Puccini's tenor aria from Turandot, made famous by Pavarotti. It builds to a big finish, a strong way to end a service.

Mark Knopfler's guitar theme from the film Local Hero, a common choice at British funerals to walk out to.