Guide
Funeral music
Music is what most people remember from a funeral. The right piece lets the whole room feel the same thing at the same time. This is the simple version of how to choose it.
How many pieces of music do you need?
A typical UK funeral has three pieces:
- Entrance music, as people come in and the coffin is brought into the chapel.
- A reflection piece, played during a quiet moment or a slideshow.
- Exit music, as the coffin leaves and people return outside.
A celebration of life often adds one or two more. Most crematoria allow up to four pieces.
Entrance music
Choose something gentle that won't ask too much of anyone in the first minute. Common UK choices: Somewhere Over the Rainbow (Israel Kamakawiwo'ole), What a Wonderful World (Louis Armstrong), Time to Say Goodbye (Sarah Brightman and Andrea Bocelli), or a quiet hymn like Abide With Me.
Reflection
The reflection piece is the moment people cry. It works best with strong vocals or a piece that builds slowly. Wind Beneath My Wings (Bette Midler), Tears in Heaven (Eric Clapton), Supermarket Flowers (Ed Sheeran), or Angel (Sarah McLachlan) are the most- requested pieces in the UK.
Exit music
Exit music can lift the room. Something they loved, or something that says who they were. My Way (Frank Sinatra), Angels (Robbie Williams), You'll Never Walk Alone, or a song from a film or musical they kept on repeat.
Hymns vs modern songs
A hymn is usually the best choice if you want the congregation to sing together, or if the service is in a church. A modern song is better for a recorded reflection piece or for an exit. Many UK families now choose one hymn and two modern pieces. See our funeral hymns list and our 40 modern funeral songs.
When no existing song fits
Sometimes a famous song almost works but the chorus is wrong, or the voice doesn't sound like them, or it was someone else's song first. A bespoke memorial song uses their name, their phrases, their story. It only ever belongs to your family. We deliver in 48 hours.