10 Songs For Grief Playlist

Over the past four years, I have lost both of my parents, my identity as a caregiver, and my daily routine. One of the ways that I coped with my loss was through music. I found comfort in listening to songs that resonated with my feelings.

The lyrics helped express the painful memories locked deep inside me and music become a source of healing me its soothing melodies, quietly my racing thoughts.

At times, I would put music on that reminded me of my parents. At first, I would cry in disbelief that I would never listen to this song with them again. However, I recognized that I could still enjoy that music on my own.

Not all of my playlist is heartbreaking. Some of the tunes I listen to are filled with hope, reminding me that it's ok to smiling again. Through the melodies, I experience a rush of positive feelings that help erasing the sadness that I often felt deep in my soul.

Below is my playlist for grief

1. Dean Lewis - How Do I Say Goodbye ‘22

I stumbled upon this song after I lost my Mom. Dean had written this song after he lost his Dad to cancer. His lyrics were spot on with my feelings, “How do you say goodbye to someone I knew my whole damn life” A tearjerker song, but it helped me listen to someone who felt what I felt.

2. Eric Clapton- Tears In Heaven

Eric Clapton wrote this for the loss of his son. It’s heartbreakingly beautiful with his soothing voice, and peaceful beats.

The lyrics:

“I must be strong

And carry on

'Cause I know I don't belong

Here in heaven”

A reminder that this is the time to stay strong and keep going.

3. Two Another - Start over

This soulful melody deepens into the introspective and emotional journey of grief processing. I found some of the lyrics really tapped into my feelings of vulnerability and the struggle to move forward, even when the flashbacks of my memories with my parents kept happening.

4. Sigrid - Home To You

I found that this song gutted me because my parents were “home” to me, and this song is about coming home for safety and love. And yet, it’s a song that even though my parents are no longer here, the bonds we had can still exist from heaven. It’s a beautiful song, and Sigrid’s tender voice is a balm to a broken heart.

5. Wildes- Circles

I love the powerful buildup of this song, which dives into feelings of the cycle of grief—raw, mess—and then intensifies. The balance between Wilde's vulnerable voice and trying to find that strength landed for me. The lyrics emphasized the feelings of loss and the struggle to break free. The emotions of grief are endless, and I feel like I'm going in circles. Yet, there is hope and light at the end of the tunnel. It’s a song that would definitely add to your playlist.

6. Gary Go - Speak

I must have listened to this song every time I drove to the hospital to visit my Mom. Talk about raw emotions. This song underscores the feeling of loss with the lyric ““I just want you to speak to me”, and the fragility of “But I got to live with me…Give it some time..Give yourself hope.”

When I no longer had my Mom mentally all there due to a stroke, I had to talk to myself about my deepest fears of her decline. I had shared everything with my Mom, and now, the time when I needed her the most, she wasn’t there. This haunting, beautiful song spoke to my sorrow and yearning to feel better and safe again.

7. The Offspring- Gone Away

This is a powerful grief song that expresses that despite the feeling of wanting to change, the unchangeable.

The lyrics:

“I can’t deal, its so unfair

And it feels, and it feels like

Heaven’s so far away

The world has grown cold”

My god, there are no words to express how that hits someone in the solar plec when they have suffered a loss. The heavy guitar and piano packs a punch of emotional sound that balances beautifully with this song's lyrics and dramatic flair.

8. M83- Wait

First, I need to point out this song's outstanding, dramatic, soaring melodies. There are not many lyrics to this song, but that is perfect because it gives the listener time to feel the feelings that need to come out. I found this song to be a soul-searching experience, with its rock energy and waves of emotional guitar.

9. Johnny Cash- Hurt

This song really makes you feel the pain that you are going through. Cash’s raw and emotional voice evoked all of the feelings that I went through as I watched my strong parents lose their battle with age.

The lyrics:

“Everyone I know goes away

In the end”

These lyrics landed for me as I realized that no matter how many medical interventions one can have, everyone will go away at the end. It’s a painful realization that hits you even though you know it will happen. The lyrics “I will let you down / I will make you hurt”

I wish that I handled it better with my parents. I masked my fear with anger at the doctors, the nurses, and sometimes with them. I wish I could go back in time, but I can’t. This song helped me cope with the fact that it happens, and as one faces the face, there will be loss.

10. Rob Thomas- Pieces

This song is about loss but finding perseverance through the loss. It’s a tender piano piece that gives hope that I had people around me who would help hold me up.

The Lyrics:

“Can you hold on to me

Run away, run away if you can’t speak”

The combination of introspective lyrics and an emotional melody makes this a soulful song for a grief playlist.

If you are going through a loss wither it’s a family member, friend, pet, home, job, career, identity, empty nester, relationship, marriage, consider giving music a try. There is something for everyone that can help soothe the pain that you are going through. It's okay to take a break from feeling the loss. Time to take care of you.

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If you or someone you know is going through grief, there is a help out there. Please reach out to a grief helpline or other support services. No one has to face grief alone.