Resource

Funeral songs for mum

Picking a song for your mum's funeral is one of the hardest small decisions you'll ever make. The list below covers what families in the UK choose most often, gentle classics, a few modern ballads, traditional hymns, and a couple of surprises. Pick one she loved, or one that describes how she made you feel.

• Wind Beneath My Wings, Bette Midler

  The most-chosen funeral song for mothers in the UK. About someone who held everyone up quietly.

• Mama, Spice Girls

  Lifts a celebration of life. Best for a mum who was full of fun.

• In My Life, The Beatles

  Short, honest, and easy to listen to without falling apart.

• Songbird, Eva Cassidy

  If your mum sang around the house, or hummed while she cooked.

• What a Wonderful World, Louis Armstrong

  The most-requested celebration-of-life song. Works as the closing piece.

• Three Little Birds, Bob Marley

  For a mum who told you everything would be alright, and was usually right.

• Supermarket Flowers, Ed Sheeran

  Modern, gentle, and explicitly about losing a mum or grandmother.

• Mother of Mine, Neil Reid

  Older generation classic. Devastating in the best way.

• You'll Never Walk Alone, Gerry & the Pacemakers

  For a mum who held the whole family together.

• Time to Say Goodbye, Sarah Brightman & Andrea Bocelli

  If she loved classical music or opera.

• Bring Him Home, Les Misérables

  If she loved theatre. Works as a solo reflection piece.

• Dancing Queen, ABBA

  Yes, really. For a mum who never stopped moving.

• The Rose, Bette Midler

  Quieter than Wind Beneath My Wings. Good as an entrance piece.

• Somewhere Over the Rainbow, Israel Kamakawiwoʻole

  Soft, hopeful, never heavy.

• I'll Stand By You, The Pretenders

  For a mum who showed up, every time.

• Fields of Gold, Eva Cassidy

  If she loved the countryside or her garden.

• You Are My Sunshine, Traditional

  If she sang it to you as a child. Don't underestimate this one.

• Smile, Nat King Cole

  Closing-out song. Lifts the room as people leave.

• How Great Thou Art, Traditional hymn

  For a mum of faith. Easy for a congregation to sing.

• Abide With Me, Traditional hymn

  The classic English funeral hymn, almost every older generation knows it.

• The Lord's My Shepherd (Crimond), Traditional hymn

  Psalm 23. Familiar and quietly comforting.

• Morning Has Broken, Cat Stevens

  Lighter than most hymns. Good for a celebration of life.

• Make Me a Channel of Your Peace, Traditional

  The prayer of St Francis. Gentle, hopeful.

• Tears in Heaven, Eric Clapton

  If she lost someone before you. A quiet acknowledgement.

• A bespoke memorial song, Harmonic Farewell

  When no famous song quite captures who she was. Written from your words about her, her name, her phrases, the little things only your family knows.