Funeral Songs & Music
Music helps to reflect and commemorate a person's life. There's no set genre, era or tone that's "right" for a funeral, hymns, pop, classical and even theme tunes all have their place. What matters most is that the music means something to the family, and to the person who's died.
The three main music moments in a funeral service
Most services build around three natural points for music. Knowing what each one's is for can make choosing easier.
Entrance music
Played as guests arrive and the coffin enters, entrance music sets the tone for the whole service. Families often choose something the person loved, or something dignified and slower-paced. Around three to four minutes is typical, enough time for everyone to be seated and settled.
Reflection music
This plays during a quiet moment in the service, often just after the eulogy. It's usually instrumental or gentle, giving everyone a moment to sit with their thoughts. Length depends on the service, but two to five minutes is common.
Exit music
As the coffin leaves, or as the family walks out, exit music is often the note people leave on. Many families choose something more uplifting here, a favourite song, or something that celebrates the person's life. Some choose something light, or even a little humorous.
Choosing music for the service
There's no formula for getting this right, but a few starting points tend to help:
- Start with what the person loved, or what reminds the family most strongly of them. The song doesn't need to be about death, loss or goodbye to be the right choice.
- Think about who's attending. What feels right to older relatives may not be what the children in the family would choose, and vice versa. There's often room for more than one song across the service.
- Don't feel you need symbolism. A song that simply meant something to the person, a favourite from the radio, a song from their wedding, a tune they always sang along to, is often more meaningful than something chosen purely for its lyrics.
- Ask for help if you're unsure. Funeral directors and crematorium staff hear thousands of services between them and can suggest what tends to work for a particular kind of service or venue.
Hymns and traditional religious music
Hymns remain a popular choice for faith-based services. Abide With Me currently tops our hymns chart, with All Things Bright and Beautiful, The Lord Is My Shepherd, Morning Has Broken and Amazing Grace rounding out the top five. Most crematoria provide an organist, and some can be booked for an additional fee.
Classical and instrumental
Pieces like Elgar's Nimrod, Pachelbel's Canon and Allegri's Miserere work particularly well for reflection moments. Because they're instrumental, there's no need to include lyrics in the order of service, which can simplify the printing.
Modern songs
Modern songs increasingly feature as both entrance and exit choices. Frank Sinatra's My Way, Tina Turner's The Best (often known as Simply the Best), Ed Sheeran's Supermarket Flowers and Bette Midler's Wind Beneath My Wings all appear consistently in our charts, alongside newer entries as families choose songs the person loved, even unconventional ones.
Music that reflects hobbies or interests
Theme tunes, regional anthems and songs tied to a profession or pastime are increasingly common. Our sports chart alone includes You'll Never Walk Alone for Liverpool FC fans, the Match of the Day theme, Z Cars for Everton supporters, the BBC's cricket and Formula 1 themes, and the Channel 4 horse racing theme, a reminder that a funeral song can celebrate exactly what someone loved doing on a Saturday afternoon.
Live music
Bagpipes, soloists, choirs and brass bands can add a deeply personal touch, though availability depends on the venue. It's worth speaking to your funeral director early, as live music often needs venue approval and time to coordinate.
Practical things families wish they'd known
- File format matters. Most UK crematoria use digital systems such as Wesley Media or Obitus. Share your chosen tracks with your funeral director in advance rather than turning up with a USB stick or a phone on the day.
- Playing music at a funeral doesn't usually cost extra or need special permission. UK crematoria and funeral venues are covered by a PPL and PRS for Music waiver for live and recorded music played during the service itself, so you're free to choose commercially released music without arranging a separate licence. If the service is being recorded or livestreamed, different rules can apply, so it's worth flagging this to your funeral director if that's part of your plans.
- Length matters. Music plays in a fixed slot during the service, so a long track can run past the moment it was meant to accompany. Ask about trimmed or edited versions if timing's tight.
- Specify the version. Some songs, like Hallelujah, have many well-known recordings (Leonard Cohen, Jeff Buckley, Alexandra Burke and various choir versions, to name a few). Let your funeral director know exactly which version and artist you mean.
- Ask for a soundcheck. Most crematoria will do one before the service if you request it. It's worth doing if sound quality matters to you.
- Confirm the file's loaded in advance. For music that means a lot, ask your funeral director to confirm it's ready the day before, not on the morning of the service.
- Plan carefully if mixing live and recorded music. Gaps and overlaps between the two are noticeable, so it helps to talk cues through with whoever's running the sound.
A few things are worth thinking through before you choose:
- Songs with a very strong personal association for one particular person, "Dad's favourite song," for instance, can land differently for whoever that association belongs to most closely. It's worth a family conversation before deciding.
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- Songs about death or loss can feel more intense in the moment than expected. Some families choose them deliberately and find them fitting; others prefer something gentler.
- Songs from a film or TV moment with strong cultural associations can work beautifully, or land unexpectedly, it really does depend on the family and the song.
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- Choosing nothing for the reflection moment is entirely fine. Silence has its own place in a service, but a few unfilled minutes can feel longer than expected. A short instrumental piece often helps if you're unsure.
Music at crematoria and churches
What most crematoria provide
- Digital music systems with access to most commercially available recordings
- An organist, sometimes for an additional fee
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- Speakers and PA equipment
- Increasingly, livestreaming support so music plays correctly for those joining remotely
What churches usually provide
- An organ and organist, usually included
- Often a choir on request
- Some restrictions on secular or modern music, so it's worth checking with the minister in advance
Funeral Music Questions
Time to Say Goodbye by Sarah Brightman and Andrea Bocelli tops our 2025 UK-wide funeral music chart, based on a survey of our funeral homes covering more than 90,000 funerals.
Entrance music tends to work best when it's dignified and not too fast-paced, giving guests time to settle and the coffin to be brought in. Many families choose something the person loved, or a piece of instrumental or classical music.
Exit music is often more uplifting than entrance music, such as a favourite upbeat song, or something that celebrates the person's life and personality. Some families choose something light-hearted here, and that's entirely their choice.
Most services include two to three pieces of music, typically for the entrance, a reflection moment, and the exit, though there's no set rule and some families choose more or fewer.
In practice, yes. UK crematoria and funeral venues are covered by a music licensing waiver for services, so commercially released music can be played without extra permission. Churches may have their own guidance on secular music, so it's worth checking with the minister.
No, and many families choose not to, simply listing the song title and artist is the more common approach. If you do want to print lyrics, it's worth checking with your funeral director first.
Yes, many crematoria welcome bagpipers, soloists, choirs and other live performers, though it's best to confirm with the venue and your funeral director in good time.
No. Music is entirely optional. Some families choose silence, particularly for reflection, and that's just as valid a choice as any song.