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Country Funeral Songs as Memorial Service Music

Country Western Song Ideas with Uplifting, Touching & Loving Lyrics

Jan 19, 2008 Janienne Jennrich

When planning for a country music funeral, loved ones may include modern country music, older traditional western songs or hymns. Here are choices for a loving service.

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.

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.

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

The copyright of the article Country Funeral Songs as Memorial Service Music in Country Music is owned by Janienne Jennrich. Permission to republish Country Funeral Songs as Memorial Service Music in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
Angel Statue, Photo by Andrew Beierle, SXC.hu Angel Statue
Western Wheels, Photo by Kilian Stoffel, SXC.hu/ Western Wheels
Funeral Service Country Music, Photo by Pam Roth Funeral Service Country Music
Johnny Cash Photo, Google Images Johnny Cash Photo
Memorial Flowers Photo, Craig Jewell Memorial Flowers Photo
 
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Comments

Sep 22, 2008 4:35 PM
Guest :
I chose Holes in the Floor of Heaven for my grandmother's funeral in November 1987. Steve Wariner and Glenn Campbell did a great job on that.
Sep 22, 2008 7:48 PM
Guest :
The best country song I know for a woman's funeral is "Holes in the floor of Heaven by Steve Wariner and I believe Collin Raye also sings it.
Nov 26, 2008 8:21 AM
Guest :
I'm not sure how Garth Brook's "The Dance" could not be near the top of the list.
Apr 17, 2009 8:07 AM
Guest :
I heard the end of a song on the radio that would be great for a funeral. I didn't ever hear the name of it. But some of the words were Don't Worry About Me. Any thought on what it could be? It's not Marty Robbins song.
Apr 22, 2009 7:22 PM
Janienne Jennrich :
From the article author:
Don't Worry About Me - you might be thinking of a Gloria Lynne song by that name. Written by Rube Bloom & Ted Koehler. EMI Publishing. Part of the words go...

Don't worry 'bout me
I'll get along
Forget about me
Just be happy my love

Does that sound like it? Hope this helps.
Aug 24, 2009 5:04 AM
Guest :
Could be Alan Jackson's "Sissy's Song"?

"She flew up to Heaven on the wings of angels
By the clouds and stars and passed where no one sees
And she walks with Jesus and her loved ones waiting
And I know she's smiling saying
Don't worry 'bout me."
Sep 22, 2009 2:43 PM
Guest :
We played a song for my MIL at her funeral and for the life of me I cant remember what the name was.... it was a female singer like Martina or Sara Evans, and it talked about how mom was a hero.... Anybody have any ideas? Not "Somebody's hero" either
Jan 14, 2010 5:40 PM
Guest :
i think this article is wonderful ive always wanted 2 become a singer im studing rite now
Jan 27, 2010 3:25 PM
Guest :
Somebody's Hero is by Jaime O'Neal
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