# Funeral music, hymns and readings

> Most UK funerals include three pieces of music (for entering, reflection and leaving), one or two hymns at a religious service, and one or two readings. Popular choices include "The Lord's My Shepherd", "Abide with Me", "My Way" and Psalm 23. Some faiths, including Islam, don't use music at funerals, so always check.

Source: https://funeralfinder.org/uk/guides/funeral-music-hymns-and-readings/ — updated 2026-09-25 — FuneralFinder

Music and words shape the whole feeling of a funeral. This guide lists popular hymns, songs, classical pieces and readings to help you choose, explains the customs of different faiths, and covers the practical points families often miss.

## Key points

- A typical service has **three pieces of music**: entrance, reflection and exit.
- Religious services usually add **one or two hymns** and **one or two readings**.
- **Check with the minister or celebrant** before choosing, as some churches have rules about secular music.
- **Muslim funerals don't include music**, and other faiths have their own traditions.
- **Give exact versions** (song, artist and recording) to the funeral director early.
- **Livestreams** may not be able to include every track because of licensing.

## Where music and readings fit

| Moment | Typical choice |
|---|---|
| Entrance (coffin brought in) | A calm, meaningful piece, often instrumental or a favourite song |
| Hymn(s) | One after the welcome, one before the committal |
| Reading(s) | Bible reading, poem or prose, read by the minister, family or friend |
| Reflection | A song played while people think about the person, sometimes with photos |
| Committal | Quiet music as the curtains close or the coffin is lowered |
| Exit | Something uplifting or characterful as people leave |

## Popular funeral hymns

- **"The Lord's My Shepherd"** – Psalm 23, usually sung to the tune *Crimond*
- **"Abide with Me"** – a traditional favourite, often chosen by football fans
- **"Amazing Grace"** – also often played on the bagpipes
- **"How Great Thou Art"**
- **"Make Me a Channel of Your Peace"** – based on the prayer attributed to St Francis
- **"The Day Thou Gavest, Lord, Is Ended"**
- **"Be Still, My Soul"** – sung to Sibelius's *Finlandia*
- **"Morning Has Broken"**
- **"Lord of All Hopefulness"**
- **"All Things Bright and Beautiful"**
- **"Dear Lord and Father of Mankind"**
- **"Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer"** – to the Welsh tune *Cwm Rhondda*
- **"Great Is Thy Faithfulness"**
- **"In Christ Alone"** – a modern favourite
- **"Be Thou My Vision"** – an Irish hymn
- **"Jerusalem"** and **"I Vow to Thee, My Country"** – popular, but some ministers prefer other choices, so check

**Catholic favourites** include "Ave Maria", "Be Not Afraid", "On Eagle's Wings", "Here I Am, Lord" and "Soul of My Saviour".

**Gospel and homegoing favourites** include "It Is Well with My Soul", "Blessed Assurance", "Precious Lord, Take My Hand" and "When the Saints Go Marching In".

**Regional traditions:** in Wales, "Calon Lân" and "Cwm Rhondda" are much loved. In Scotland, the metrical Psalm 23 to *Crimond* is a classic, and a piper may play "Flowers of the Forest".

## Popular funeral songs

| Song | Artist | Mood |
|---|---|---|
| "My Way" | Frank Sinatra | Proud, a life lived on their terms |
| "Time to Say Goodbye" | Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman | Grand, emotional |
| "Wind Beneath My Wings" | Bette Midler | Grateful |
| "Angels" | Robbie Williams | Comforting |
| "Over the Rainbow" | Eva Cassidy, or Israel Kamakawiwo'ole | Gentle, hopeful |
| "Supermarket Flowers" | Ed Sheeran | Tender, for a mum |
| "Tears in Heaven" | Eric Clapton | Reflective |
| "You Raise Me Up" | Westlife | Uplifting |
| "Somewhere Only We Know" | Keane | Nostalgic |
| "What a Wonderful World" | Louis Armstrong | Warm, positive |
| "Unforgettable" | Nat King Cole | Loving |
| "Hallelujah" | Leonard Cohen, or Jeff Buckley | Reflective |
| "Bridge Over Troubled Water" | Simon and Garfunkel | Supportive |
| "Fields of Gold" | Eva Cassidy | Wistful |
| "Dance with My Father" | Luther Vandross | For a dad |
| "Let It Be" | The Beatles | Calm acceptance |
| "See You Again" | Wiz Khalifa featuring Charlie Puth | For a younger person or friend |
| "You'll Never Walk Alone" | Gerry and the Pacemakers | Solidarity, football |
| "Sailing" | Rod Stewart | Farewell |
| "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" | Monty Python | Light-hearted exit |
| "Spirit in the Sky" | Norman Greenbaum | Upbeat exit |

Traditional pieces such as **"Danny Boy"**, **"The Parting Glass"** and **"Auld Lang Syne"** are also popular, especially at Irish and Scottish funerals.

## Classical and instrumental music

- **"Nimrod"** from the *Enigma Variations* – Edward Elgar
- **Adagio for Strings** – Samuel Barber
- **"Pie Jesu"** – Gabriel Fauré, or Andrew Lloyd Webber
- **"In Paradisum"** from the *Requiem* – Gabriel Fauré
- **"Ave Maria"** – Franz Schubert, or Bach–Gounod
- **"Lacrimosa"** from the *Requiem* – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
- **Canon in D** – Johann Pachelbel
- **"Air on the G String"** – Johann Sebastian Bach
- **"Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring"** – Johann Sebastian Bach
- **"The Lark Ascending"** – Ralph Vaughan Williams
- **"Clair de lune"** – Claude Debussy
- **Gymnopédie No. 1** – Erik Satie
- **"Spiegel im Spiegel"** – Arvo Pärt

## Bible readings

| Reference | Theme |
|---|---|
| Psalm 23 | The Lord as shepherd: comfort and guidance |
| Psalm 121 | God watching over us |
| Ecclesiastes 3:1–8 | A time for everything |
| Isaiah 40:28–31 | Strength renewed |
| Lamentations 3:22–26 | God's faithfulness in sorrow |
| Wisdom 3:1–9 | The souls of the just (in Catholic Bibles) |
| Matthew 5:1–12 | The Beatitudes, including a blessing for those who mourn |
| Matthew 11:28–30 | Rest for the weary |
| John 11:21–27 | Jesus as the resurrection and the life |
| John 14:1–6 | A place prepared in the Father's house |
| Romans 8:31–39 | Nothing can separate us from God's love |
| 1 Corinthians 13 | The nature of love |
| 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 | Hope for those who have died |
| Revelation 21:1–5 | No more death or mourning |

At a Catholic funeral Mass the readings come from Scripture. A non-biblical reading can't replace them but may fit as a reflection or within the words of remembrance.

## Classic poems (public domain)

- **"Crossing the Bar"** – Alfred, Lord Tennyson
- **"Remember"** – Christina Rossetti
- **"Death Is Nothing at All"** – Henry Scott Holland (from a sermon)
- **"Death, Be Not Proud"** – John Donne
- **"Requiem"** – Robert Louis Stevenson
- **"Fear No More the Heat o' the Sun"** – William Shakespeare, from *Cymbeline*
- **"Because I Could Not Stop for Death"** – Emily Dickinson
- **"Afterwards"** – Thomas Hardy
- **"On Death"**, from *The Prophet* – Kahlil Gibran
- **"For the Fallen"** – Laurence Binyon, often read for veterans
- **"High Flight"** – John Gillespie Magee, often chosen for pilots
- **"The Lake Isle of Innisfree"** – W. B. Yeats

## Modern and non-religious readings

These are popular at humanist and civil funerals. Most are **in copyright**, so they can be read aloud, but check before printing them in full.

- **"Funeral Blues"** – W. H. Auden
- **"Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep"** – usually attributed to Mary Elizabeth Frye
- **"She Is Gone (He Is Gone)"** – David Harkins
- **"When Great Trees Fall"** – Maya Angelou
- **"If I Should Go Before the Rest of You"** – Joyce Grenfell
- **"When Death Comes"** – Mary Oliver
- **"An Arundel Tomb"** – Philip Larkin
- **"Everything Is Going to Be All Right"** – Derek Mahon
- **"And Death Shall Have No Dominion"** – Dylan Thomas (out of copyright in the UK since 2024, as he died in 1953)
- **"The Life That I Have"** – Leo Marks

A letter, a favourite recipe, a passage from the person's favourite book or something they wrote themselves can be just as powerful.

## Faith customs at a glance

| Faith | Music and readings |
|---|---|
| **Muslim** | No music. Quran recitation, *duas* (prayers) and *Salat al-Janazah*. |
| **Jewish** | Usually no instrumental music at traditional services. Psalms (often Psalm 23), the memorial prayer *El Malei Rachamim* and the mourner's *Kaddish*. |
| **Sikh** | *Kirtan* (hymns from the Guru Granth Sahib), with *Kirtan Sohila* and the *Ardas* prayer at the cremation. |
| **Hindu** | *Bhajans* (devotional songs), mantras and readings such as the Bhagavad Gita, often led by a priest or family. |
| **Buddhist** | Chanting of sutras or verses, periods of silence, and readings such as the *Dhammapada*. |
| **Catholic** | Hymns and sacred music during Mass. Secular songs often fit best at the vigil or reception. |
| **Orthodox Christian** | Unaccompanied chant. The service ends with "Memory Eternal". |
| **Quaker** | Silence, with spoken ministry from those present. Usually no music. |
| **Humanist and non-religious** | Any music, poetry or prose that reflects the person. |

Explore more in our [faith guides](/faiths/).

## Practical tips

- **Give exact details.** Tell the funeral director the song title, artist and preferably a link to the exact recording.
- **Time it.** Choose which section of a long track to play, and check it fits the time slot.
- **Live music:** church organists, soloists, pipers, brass players and string players usually charge a fee.
- **Printing words:** hymns and poems in copyright may need a licence or permission to print. See our [order of service guide](/uk/guides/order-of-service/).
- **Livestreams:** ask whether all your tracks can be included.

## Next steps

- Write a tribute with our [eulogy guide](/uk/guides/how-to-write-a-eulogy/) or [eulogy writer tool](/tools/eulogy-writer/).
- Lay out your choices in an [order of service](/uk/guides/order-of-service/).
- Find a [funeral director near you](/uk/funeral-directors-near-me/) to help plan the service.

## Frequently asked questions

### How many songs do you have at a funeral?

Usually three: one as the coffin comes in, one for reflection in the middle, and one as people leave. At a church service, one or two hymns are added. Crematorium time slots can be tight, so check timings with your funeral director.

### Can you play pop songs at a church funeral?

It depends on the church and minister. Many are happy to play a favourite song as people enter or leave. Others, including many Catholic parishes, prefer sacred music during the service and suggest secular songs at the vigil, committal or wake.

### Can I print the words of a poem or hymn in the order of service?

Public domain texts, such as older hymns and poems, can be printed freely. Many modern hymns, songs and poems are in copyright. Churches often hold a licence that covers hymn words, and for modern poems you may need the publisher's permission. Your funeral director or minister can advise.

### Can the funeral be livestreamed with our chosen music?

Usually, but not always. Some tracks can be played in the room but not included in a livestream or recording because of licensing. Ask the crematorium or funeral director when you choose your music.

### What music is played at a Muslim funeral?

None. Muslim funerals are simple and don't include music. Instead there may be recitation from the Quran and prayers (duas), and the funeral prayer, Salat al-Janazah.

## Sources

- [Liturgy Office – Order of Christian Funerals: General Introduction](https://www.liturgyoffice.org.uk/Resources/OCF/OCF-Intro.pdf)
- [Liturgy Office – Funerals: Choosing the Readings](https://www.liturgyoffice.org.uk/Resources/OCF/ChoosingReadings.shtml)
- [Liturgy Office – Catholic Funerals: A Guide](https://www.liturgyoffice.org.uk/Resources/OCF/FuneralsGuide.pdf)
- [Humanists UK – Humanist funerals and memorials](https://humanists.uk/ceremonies/non-religious-funerals/)