> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://evaheldmemorials.com/blog/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # What are the best non-religious funeral songs? Practical etiquette and support - URL: https://evaheldmemorials.com/blog/best-non-religious-funeral-songs/ - Published: 2026-09-28T02:20:51.000Z - Updated: 2026-09-28T02:20:51.000Z - Description: A practical, secular and compassionate guide to choosing non-religious funeral songs, checking lyrics, timing music and handling etiquette across Australia, the UK and the US. - Author: Evaheld Team - Tags: Memorial Writing, Poems & Sympathy What are the best non-religious funeral songs? Practical etiquette and support starts with choosing music that honours the person’s character, relationships and favourite sounds without forcing religious language onto mourners who may not share it. The best non-religious funeral songs are usually personal before they are popular: they fit the person, the moment in the service and the emotional needs of the people gathered. For a secular funeral, memorial or celebration of life, strong choices often include Louis Armstrong’s What a Wonderful World, Frank Sinatra’s My Way, Israel Kamakawiwoole’s Somewhere Over the Rainbow, Fleetwood Mac’s Songbird, The Beatles’ Here Comes the Sun, Eva Cassidy’s Fields of Gold, Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman’s Time to Say Goodbye, Coldplay’s Fix You, Green Day’s Good Riddance (Time of Your Life), Bette Midler’s Wind Beneath My Wings, Ed Sheeran’s Supermarket Flowers, Sarah McLachlan’s I Will Remember You, Vera Lynn’s We’ll Meet Again if the family accepts its implied reunion language, and carefully chosen instrumental pieces such as Barber’s Adagio for Strings or Debussy’s Clair de Lune. Some songs commonly called secular still contain spiritual or afterlife language, so read every lyric before committing. A good selection does more than avoid hymns. It gives the ceremony shape. Arrival music settles people, reflective music gives grief somewhere to land, and departure music helps the room move from stillness into the next part of the day. If the funeral is also being shared online, families often pair the service music with [funeral details and livestream options](https://evaheldmemorials.com/blog/adding-funeral-details-to-memorial-pages/) so remote mourners know when to join, where to send tributes and how to follow the tone of the farewell. ## What makes a funeral song genuinely non-religious? A non-religious funeral song does not have to be anti-religious. It simply avoids making theological claims that do not belong to the person being remembered. The safest secular themes are love, gratitude, memory, friendship, home, nature, courage, humour, work, music, travel, ordinary habits and the legacy a person leaves in other people’s lives. Humanist ceremonies are a useful model because they focus on the person’s one life, relationships and story. [Humanists UK’s funeral guidance](https://humanists.uk/ceremonies/old-non-religious-funerals/) explains that a humanist funeral is led by a celebrant rather than a religious official and often includes non-religious music, readings and reflection. In Australia, the same principle is common in secular ceremonies: the farewell is built around the person rather than a fixed religious script, and [Humanists UK’s ceremony structure examples](https://humanists.uk/ceremonies/non-religious-funerals/example/) show how music can frame the welcome, reflection, committal and final farewell. That does not mean every song with a spiritual word is automatically wrong. Hallelujah, Tears in Heaven, Angels, You Raise Me Up and We’ll Meet Again can be deeply meaningful to some secular families and unsuitable for others. The practical test is not whether the internet calls the song non-religious; it is whether the lyrics match the person’s beliefs, the family’s boundaries and the ceremony’s tone. If a lyric about heaven, angels or prayer would make close family feel misrepresented, choose an instrumental version or another song. When the wider service is secular, music sits naturally beside [secular farewell planning](https://evaheldmemorials.com/blog/non-religious-funeral-service-crafting-a-secular-farewell-that-resonates/), because songs, readings, eulogies and rituals need to work together. A song that is beautiful in isolation can feel confusing if it contradicts the words spoken immediately before or after it. ## The best non-religious funeral songs by mood and service moment The most useful way to choose is by service moment, not by popularity. Arrival music should be warm but not overwhelming. Reflection music can carry the emotional weight. Closing music can be gentle, uplifting or unmistakably personal. A wake playlist can be broader and more relaxed than the formal ceremony. For gentle arrival music, consider What a Wonderful World, Fields of Gold, Songbird, Here Comes the Sun, Moon River, Somewhere Over the Rainbow, Your Song, or an acoustic version of a song the person loved. These pieces work because they create recognition without demanding immediate tears. They suit the time when people are finding seats, greeting relatives and trying to steady themselves. For reflection after the eulogy, families often choose songs that hold absence directly: I Will Remember You, Fix You, The Scientist, To Build a Home, Supermarket Flowers, Slipping Through My Fingers, Time After Time, Landslide, Bridge Over Troubled Water or The Book of Love. These choices are more exposed, so they need careful placement. Use them when people have permission simply to listen. For departure, the tone can shift. My Way suits someone independent and self-defined. Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) works when the family wants gratitude rather than solemnity. Don’t Stop Me Now, Always Look on the Bright Side of Life or Another One Bites the Dust may be exactly right for a person with a mischievous sense of humour, but only if close family agree. A funeral can include humour without becoming careless. Instrumental choices are often the best answer when lyrics divide people. Clair de Lune, Gymnopedie No. 1, Spiegel im Spiegel, Adagio for Strings, a solo guitar arrangement of a favourite song, a piano version of Here Comes the Sun or a string version of a rock song can feel secular, dignified and personal at once. Families preserving recordings, voice notes or playlists later may also want [video and music on a memorial](https://evaheldmemorials.com/blog/adding-videos-and-music-to-memorials/), especially when the song choices explain something important about the person. ## How to choose without second-guessing everything Start with the person, then the room, then the rules. Ask what they actually listened to, not what sounds funeral-like. A song from the car, kitchen, workshop, garden, football club, choir, dance floor or long commute may be more honest than a polished memorial standard. If they left written wishes, follow them unless there is a serious practical reason not to. Then ask what the room can hold. A raw song may be right for a small adult gathering and too much for a large service with children. A comic song may be right at the wake and too abrupt during the committal. A love song may be perfect for a spouse and awkward if it overlooks other central relationships. A country song, rap track, opera aria or punk song is not automatically inappropriate; the question is whether it helps people recognise the person. Finally, check the practical rules. In Australia, funeral providers may rely on sector licensing for some uses, but the details matter. [OneMusic Australia’s funeral directors licence terms](https://onemusic.com.au/licences/onemusic-australia-licence-terms-and-conditions-funeral-directors) describe licensed rights and restrictions for funeral service providers, while [APRA AMCOS music licensing information](https://www.apraamcos.com.au/music-licences/select-a-licence) explains that OneMusic brings APRA AMCOS and PPCA licensing together for public music use. In the United Kingdom, [GOV.UK’s music licence guidance](https://www.gov.uk/licence-to-play-live-or-recorded-music) says organisations usually need permission to play live or recorded music in public. In the United States, [NFDA’s music and livestreaming guidance](https://www.nfda.org/your-business/business-resources/music-livestreaming/) distinguishes performance licences from livestreaming and synchronisation issues. These licensing differences are why families should not assume that Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube or a personal download automatically covers a funeral chapel, livestream or tribute video. Ask the funeral director, crematorium, venue, celebrant or livestream provider what is covered. If you are making a photo montage to keep or publish, be especially careful: recording a commercial song into a video may require different rights from simply playing the song in the room. ## Australian, UK and US differences families should know The emotional etiquette is similar across Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States: choose music that reflects the person, warn speakers and close family about any intense or unusual song, and check timing with the funeral director. The legal and administrative setting differs. In Australia, consumer protections and pricing transparency matter when music is part of a broader funeral arrangement. The [ACCC funeral services overview](https://www.accc.gov.au/consumers/specific-products-and-activities/funeral-services) encourages consumers to compare costs and understand funeral service inclusions. If a provider charges for a celebrant, livestream, recorded tribute or music handling, ask what is included and whether any licensing or production fee is separate. In the UK, the funeral itself is arranged through the family, executor or funeral director, and [GOV.UK’s funeral arrangement guidance](https://www.gov.uk/after-a-death/arrange-the-funeral) sets out the practical step of arranging the funeral after a death. Crematoria and venues often have established music systems and catalogues, but families should still provide exact track names, artist names and versions in good time. A live singer may need a rehearsal slot, microphone check and backup plan. In the United States, the Federal Trade Commission’s Funeral Rule affects how funeral providers disclose prices and options. [FTC guidance on complying with the Funeral Rule](https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/resources/complying-funeral-rule) explains price-list duties for funeral providers. For music, the key family question is usually not the FTC rule itself but whether the funeral home has the right music performance and webcasting licences for the service format. Across all three markets, grief support should sit beside ceremony planning. The [NHS guidance on grief after bereavement](https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/feelings-symptoms-behaviours/feelings-and-symptoms/grief-bereavement-loss/) notes that grief can affect people in different ways and that support is available when coping becomes difficult. Music can help some mourners feel connected, but it can also trigger intense reactions. That is not a failure of the song; it is a reason to choose with care. ## A practical shortlist of secular song ideas For a life fully lived: What a Wonderful World, My Way, The Best, Beautiful Day, Forever Young, Heroes, Lovely Day, These Are the Days, Days by The Kinks, and Good Riddance (Time of Your Life). These work when the service is centred on gratitude, resilience or a distinctive life story. For a parent or grandparent: You’ve Got a Friend, Wind Beneath My Wings, Teach Your Children, In My Life, Slipping Through My Fingers, The Living Years, Father and Son, Dance With My Father, and You Are the Sunshine of My Life. Check lyrics closely, because some parent songs assume a particular family structure or relationship. For a partner: Songbird, Your Song, The Book of Love, Make You Feel My Love, At Last, I Will Always Love You, Wonderful Tonight, Time After Time, Unforgettable and First Time Ever I Saw Your Face. Romantic songs can be powerful, but in a family service they should not erase the person’s other roles. For a friend, sibling or younger adult: See You Again, I’ll Be Missing You, Fix You, The Scientist, Chasing Cars, There You’ll Be, Stand By Me, Lean on Me, Blackbird and Heroes. If the death was sudden or traumatic, avoid songs that intensify guilt, blame or unanswered questions unless the closest family specifically wants that emotional honesty. For a nature lover: Fields of Gold, Wildflowers, Blackbird, Here Comes the Sun, Big Yellow Taxi, Morning Has Broken if the family accepts its hymn associations, River, Both Sides Now and instrumental folk or acoustic guitar. These choices can also suit green burial, garden services and outdoor gatherings. For someone who loved classical or wordless music: Nimrod from Elgar’s Enigma Variations, Adagio for Strings, Clair de Lune, The Lark Ascending, Pavane, Gymnopedie No. 1, Spiegel im Spiegel, a favourite film score or a chamber arrangement of a popular song. Wordless music is useful when a family wants solemnity without doctrinal language. For Australian services, families sometimes include artists such as Olivia Newton-John, INXS, Crowded House, Paul Kelly, Archie Roach, Missy Higgins or Nick Cave where the connection is personal and the lyrics fit. For UK services, Queen, The Beatles, David Bowie, Fleetwood Mac, Elton John, Adele or Vera Lynn may carry strong intergenerational recognition. For US services, Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong, Bill Withers, Carole King, Tom Petty, Prince, Dolly Parton, Simon & Garfunkel and country, soul or gospel-influenced secular songs often appear, depending on the person’s life and community. ## How many songs should a non-religious funeral include? Most ceremonies need three main pieces: arrival, reflection and departure. A fourth song can work for a photo tribute, candle lighting, flower placement or committal. More than that can be beautiful in a longer celebration of life, but in a 30 to 45 minute chapel service too many songs can crowd out the eulogy and the silence people need. A simple order might be: five minutes of arrival music as people enter, a welcome, a life story, a reading, the main eulogy, one reflective song, shorter tributes, a symbolic gesture, final words and departure music. If people are also contributing stories, photos or written memories afterwards, [invite relatives and friends into the memorial process](https://evaheldmemorials.com/faq/can-i-invite-family-and-friends-to-help-build-the-memorial) so the ceremony does not have to carry every memory on one day. Live music can feel intimate, especially with a solo singer, pianist, guitarist, violinist or small ensemble. Recorded music gives the exact version the person loved. Neither is superior. Live music needs rehearsal, sheet music, amplification and emotional resilience from the performer. Recorded music needs the correct track, a tested device, enough volume, no advertisements and a backup file. Always provide exact versions: a live acoustic cover, radio edit, orchestral arrangement and album recording can feel like completely different songs. ## Common mistakes to avoid The first mistake is choosing from a generic list without listening all the way through. A song can begin gently and later include a lyric about heaven, revenge, addiction, romantic betrayal or despair. Read the full lyrics, hear the full track and imagine the exact moment it will play. The second mistake is using a song because it sounds impressive rather than because it belongs to the person. Funerals are not auditions for taste. If the person loved a simple pop song, that may be the truest choice. If they loved a strange, funny or unfashionable track, it may be right at the wake or as guests leave. The third mistake is ignoring close-family consent. If a song belongs to a painful relationship, a difficult final illness or a private memory, ask before including it publicly. A funeral song can comfort one mourner and wound another. Where there is disagreement, an instrumental version or a different placement may help. The fourth mistake is treating the ceremony as the only place for music. Some songs are too long, too raw or too private for the service but perfect for a wake playlist, a family drive, a memorial slideshow at home or an online tribute. Families can combine music with [memorial tribute writing](https://evaheldmemorials.com/blog/how-to-write-a-memorial-tribute/) so the story behind a chosen song is not lost. The fifth mistake is forgetting accessibility. Mourners with hearing loss need clear volume, not simply louder music. Remote guests need audio tested in the livestream. Older relatives may need printed song titles. Children may need a quiet explanation of why music can make adults cry. People with sensory sensitivity may need warning if a track begins suddenly or becomes very loud. ## How music supports grief without pretending to fix it Music is not a cure for grief. It can, however, make feeling possible when words are too precise or too hard. It gives mourners a shared sound, a pause in the ceremony and a way to remember the person through something ordinary and recognisable. Clinical and hospice settings recognise that music can support emotional, cognitive, social and spiritual needs. [Mayo Clinic Health System’s music therapy information](https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/music-therapy) describes music therapy as using live or recorded music with therapeutic techniques to support patients and caregivers near the end of life. A funeral is not therapy, but the same insight matters: music affects people bodily as well as intellectually. Because grief varies, build in support around the music. Tell speakers when a song will play. Let immediate family decide whether they want to sit, stand, approach the coffin, hold hands or remain still. After the service, make space for people who need quiet rather than conversation. If a song keeps bringing grief back sharply weeks later, encourage support rather than avoidance. Evaheld’s [grief support healing](https://evaheldmemorials.com/blog/grief-support-healing/) information can sit alongside ceremony choices when families need practical help after the day itself. When close relatives disagree about a song, try to separate values from volume. The [American Humanist Association’s Ten Commitments](https://americanhumanistcenterforeducation.org/ten-commitments/) offer a values-based way to think about empathy, responsibility and service to others, which can help families ask whether a choice is kind, truthful and fair to the person being remembered. ## How to record the meaning of the songs for the future A funeral song often becomes part of family memory. Years later, people may remember not only the eulogy but the exact moment a song began. That is why it helps to record why each piece was chosen: who suggested it, what it meant to the person, where they played it, and why it belonged in the ceremony. For public figures, music often becomes shorthand for a larger life. The [Leonard Cohen](https://evaheldmemorials.com/m/leonard-cohen) memorial shows how songs and poetry can shape a remembered voice across generations. The [Olivia Newton-John](https://evaheldmemorials.com/m/olivia-newton-john) memorial reflects a life many people associate with warmth, performance and public generosity. The [Tina Turner](https://evaheldmemorials.com/m/tina-turner) memorial shows how a performer’s sound can carry courage, energy and reinvention for people who never met her. For families, the same principle is smaller but just as important. Note the three ceremony songs in the order of service. Add a sentence to the memorial page: “We chose Songbird because Mum played it every Sunday morning.” Save the playlist privately if copyright rules allow. Invite relatives to add memories connected to the music, especially people who knew the person in different decades. If guests want to leave stories after hearing the songs, [leave tributes and condolences on a memorial](https://evaheldmemorials.com/faq/can-people-leave-tributes-and-condolences-on-a-memorial) can become a gentle continuation of the farewell. Music also works well with a broader tribute. A photograph table, favourite recipe, garden flowers, sports scarf, handwritten note or recorded voice message can make the chosen songs feel grounded in real life. Families planning a less formal farewell may find [celebration of life planning ideas](https://evaheldmemorials.com/blog/celebration-of-life-ideas/) useful, particularly when the person wanted warmth, colour or humour rather than a traditional service. If the memorial will remain online, think about privacy. A public page may suit a well-known community member; a private page may suit a family who wants control over guest access and comments. Music memories can be intimate, and [private versus public online memorials](https://evaheldmemorials.com/blog/private-vs-public-online-memorials/) should be considered before sharing personal stories, videos or recordings. ## A simple decision framework Use this five-question framework before finalising the music. First, does the song sound like the person? Second, do the lyrics fit their beliefs and relationships? Third, does the song suit its exact moment in the service? Fourth, have the closest family members heard and approved it? Fifth, has the venue confirmed the format, timing, sound system and licensing position? If a song passes all five, it is probably suitable even if it is not a traditional funeral song. If it fails one, adjust the version, placement or context. If it fails several, keep it for private listening and choose something steadier for the ceremony. Families who are building the whole farewell from the beginning may also need [creating an online memorial step by step](https://evaheldmemorials.com/blog/how-to-create-an-online-memorial/), because the music, eulogy, photographs, service details and guest tributes often become one connected remembrance process. The final test is simple: when people hear the song, will they feel closer to the person being remembered? If yes, the choice is doing its work. If you would like one calm place to hold the story, song notes, service details and guest memories together, Evaheld Memorials can help families begin with [best non-religious funeral songs](https://evaheldmemorials.com/create) as part of a thoughtful memorial. [![best non-religious funeral songs: Secular funeral song list beside a candle and framed photograph](https://evaheldmemorials.com/blog/content/images/2026/09/best-non-religious-funeral-songs-1.webp)](https://evaheldmemorials.com/blog/non-religious-funeral-service-crafting-a-secular-farewell-that-resonates/) [![Music shaping arrival reflection and departure at a farewell](https://evaheldmemorials.com/blog/content/images/2026/09/best-non-religious-funeral-songs-2.webp)](https://evaheldmemorials.com/blog/adding-videos-and-music-to-memorials/) [![Family preserving funeral song memories in a memorial tribute](https://evaheldmemorials.com/blog/content/images/2026/09/best-non-religious-funeral-songs-3.webp)](https://evaheldmemorials.com/faq/can-people-leave-tributes-and-condolences-on-a-memorial) ## FAQs ### What are the best non-religious funeral songs? Practical etiquette and support The best choices are personal, lyric-checked and suited to the service moment; families planning [secular farewell planning](https://evaheldmemorials.com/blog/non-religious-funeral-service-crafting-a-secular-farewell-that-resonates/) should also compare the tone with [Humanists UK’s funeral guidance](https://humanists.uk/ceremonies/old-non-religious-funerals/) before finalising music. ### How many songs do you need for a non-religious funeral? Most services need arrival, reflection and departure music, while families using [funeral details and livestream options](https://evaheldmemorials.com/blog/adding-funeral-details-to-memorial-pages/) should also confirm timings against [GOV.UK’s funeral arrangement guidance](https://www.gov.uk/after-a-death/arrange-the-funeral). ### Can a funeral song mention heaven and still be non-religious? It depends on the family’s boundaries, because a song may feel culturally familiar rather than doctrinal; when in doubt, pair the choice with [private versus public online memorials](https://evaheldmemorials.com/blog/private-vs-public-online-memorials/) thinking and check the wording against [Humanists UK’s ceremony structure examples](https://humanists.uk/ceremonies/non-religious-funerals/example/). ### Are funny songs acceptable at a secular funeral? Funny songs can be appropriate when they reflect the person and close family agree, especially alongside [celebration of life planning ideas](https://evaheldmemorials.com/blog/celebration-of-life-ideas/), but the costs and inclusions should still be clear under the [ACCC funeral services overview](https://www.accc.gov.au/consumers/specific-products-and-activities/funeral-services). ### Can we use Spotify or YouTube at the funeral? You should ask the venue or funeral director because personal streaming accounts may not cover public or business use; families preserving [video and music on a memorial](https://evaheldmemorials.com/blog/adding-videos-and-music-to-memorials/) should also read [NFDA’s music and livestreaming guidance](https://www.nfda.org/your-business/business-resources/music-livestreaming/). ### What is a good non-religious song for a parent? Good parent choices often include In My Life, You’ve Got a Friend, Wind Beneath My Wings or Slipping Through My Fingers, and families can preserve the reasons through [memorial tribute writing](https://evaheldmemorials.com/blog/how-to-write-a-memorial-tribute/) while remembering that the [NHS guidance on grief after bereavement](https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/feelings-symptoms-behaviours/feelings-and-symptoms/grief-bereavement-loss/) recognises different grief responses. ### Should we choose live or recorded funeral music? Recorded music gives the exact version loved by the person, while live music can feel intimate; if relatives are involved, [invite relatives and friends into the memorial process](https://evaheldmemorials.com/faq/can-i-invite-family-and-friends-to-help-build-the-memorial) and check public-use questions through [GOV.UK’s music licence guidance](https://www.gov.uk/licence-to-play-live-or-recorded-music). ### Can music be used in a funeral livestream? Often it can, but livestreaming may require different permissions from in-room performance, so families sharing memories through [leave tributes and condolences on a memorial](https://evaheldmemorials.com/faq/can-people-leave-tributes-and-condolences-on-a-memorial) should also consider [OneMusic Australia’s funeral directors licence terms](https://onemusic.com.au/licences/onemusic-australia-licence-terms-and-conditions-funeral-directors). ### What if family members disagree about the song? Use the closest-family boundary as the deciding factor and consider an instrumental or wake-only placement, then support the decision with [grief support healing](https://evaheldmemorials.com/blog/grief-support-healing/) and the values-based lens in [the American Humanist Association’s Ten Commitments](https://americanhumanistcenterforeducation.org/ten-commitments/). ### How do we keep the song choices meaningful after the funeral? Record why each piece was chosen, save the order of service and invite memories, using [creating an online memorial step by step](https://evaheldmemorials.com/blog/how-to-create-an-online-memorial/) while recognising, as [Mayo Clinic Health System’s music therapy information](https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/music-therapy) notes, that music can support emotional and social needs.