Funeral Songs for Grandpa

Meaningful Music to Honor Your Grandfather

A grandfather's music can become part of the soundtrack of a family. 

Maybe Grandpa always had the radio playing in the garage. Maybe he loved old country music, big-band standards, gospel, classical music, or the songs he and Grandma danced to when they were young.

Perhaps he played the piano, guitar, harmonica, or another instrument himself.

Or maybe there was simply one artist everyone associated with him because he played those records over and over again.

When you're choosing funeral songs for Grandpa, those memories are a wonderful place to begin.

You don't necessarily need the song that sounds most appropriate for a funeral.

You need the music that helps everyone in the room remember him.

Start With the Music Grandpa Actually Loved

Before searching through lists of funeral songs for a grandfather, think about what Grandpa listened to when he was alive.

What music was playing in his house?

What did he listen to in the car?

Did he have records, CDs, tapes, sheet music, or playlists?

Was there an artist he particularly loved?

Ask other family members what they remember too.

Grandchildren may remember Grandpa singing a particular song. His children may remember the records he played when they were growing up. Grandma may know the song they danced to when they were dating or newly married.

Those memories can lead you to music far more personal than anything on a generic funeral-song list.

If Grandpa loved Johnny Cash, play Johnny Cash.

If he loved Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Elvis, Willie Nelson, or Glenn Miller, start there.

If he spent Sunday mornings listening to hymns, those hymns may belong in his service.

The most meaningful funeral music doesn't always mention death or heaven.

Sometimes it simply makes everyone think:

That's Grandpa.

Classic Songs to Remember Grandpa

Certain songs work especially well when remembering a grandfather because they speak about love, memory, gratitude, and the passage of time.

“What a Wonderful World” — Louis Armstrong
This gentle classic can be especially beautiful for a grandfather who appreciated life's simple pleasures or taught his family to notice what was good around them.

“In My Life” — The Beatles
A reflective song about people and places remembered with love. It works beautifully during a slideshow filled with photographs from across Grandpa's life.

“Unforgettable” — Nat King Cole
Elegant and timeless, particularly fitting for a grandfather who loved the standards of his generation.

“My Way” — Frank Sinatra
A strong choice for a grandfather who was independent, determined, or famously did things his own way.

“Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World” — Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
Soft and peaceful, this version can create a lovely atmosphere during a memorial slideshow or quiet moment of remembrance.

The right classic may also come directly from Grandpa's generation. A song he loved when he was 20 years old can bring back an entire chapter of his life.

Country Funeral Songs for Grandpa

Country music has a wonderful tradition of storytelling, family, faith, home, and remembering where we came from. For a grandfather who loved country music, it offers many meaningful choices.

“Go Rest High on That Mountain” — Vince Gill
One of the best-known country funeral songs, particularly meaningful for families whose faith is part of the service.

“Remember When” — Alan Jackson
A beautiful choice for remembering a long life, marriage, family, children, and the years that pass together.

“Grandpa (Tell Me 'Bout the Good Old Days)” — The Judds
Although not written specifically as a funeral song, its themes of family, values, and a grandchild looking to Grandpa for wisdom can make it especially poignant.

“The Dance” — Garth Brooks
A moving reflection on being grateful for something beautiful even when knowing how painful its ending would be.

“Daddy's Hands” — Holly Dunn
Although written about a father, this can also resonate strongly with grandchildren remembering a grandfather whose hands worked, provided, repaired, built, or cared for the family.

“I Drive Your Truck” — Lee Brice
For some families, this song's connection between grief and the familiar belongings of someone who died may feel particularly close to home.

Don't choose country music simply because it appears on a funeral list, though.

If Grandpa had a favorite George Strait, Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, or Hank Williams song, that may be the one everyone most needs to hear.

Funeral Hymns and Religious Songs for Grandpa

For a grandfather whose faith shaped his life, hymns can carry memories that go far beyond the words of the song.

Perhaps you remember standing beside Grandpa in church while he sang.

Maybe he had a favorite hymn.

Perhaps there was a sacred song he requested himself.

Some traditional possibilities include:

“Amazing Grace”
Familiar across generations and centered on grace, faith, and redemption.

“How Great Thou Art”
A powerful hymn that can be especially meaningful for someone who loved nature or felt close to God outdoors.

“It Is Well with My Soul”
A deeply reflective hymn about maintaining faith through sorrow.

“Be Still, My Soul”
Gentle and comforting, particularly during a quiet portion of the service.

“On Eagle's Wings”
A familiar Christian funeral choice centered on God's protection and care.

But again, Grandpa's own faith tradition should guide you.

A hymn he loved is almost always more meaningful than one chosen simply because it is commonly used at funerals.

Songs About Grandfathers and Grandchildren

The relationship between a grandfather and grandchild has its own kind of tenderness.

Grandpa may have been the keeper of stories.

The person who taught you to fish, drive, garden, fix something, build something, or get away with something Mom and Dad probably wouldn't have approved of.

He may have told the same stories repeatedly.

And one day you realize you would give anything to hear one of them again.

Songs that speak directly to generations, grandparents, family, or memories can be especially meaningful when grandchildren are choosing the music.

“Grandpa (Tell Me 'Bout the Good Old Days)” — The Judds is perhaps the most obvious example.

But don't feel limited to songs specifically about grandfathers.

Think about the songs that belonged to your relationship.

Maybe Grandpa taught you to dance to an old swing record.

Maybe you watched baseball together and there was a song you always heard at the stadium.

Maybe every road trip began with the same artist.

That song may say more about your grandfather than a song containing the word Grandpa ever could.

Songs That Celebrate Grandpa's Life

Not every song at Grandpa's funeral needs to make everyone cry.

If your grandfather was funny, lively, adventurous, mischievous, or always the center of the family gathering, include some of that personality.

Perhaps he loved:

• Elvis Presley
• Frank Sinatra
• Johnny Cash
• Willie Nelson
• The Beach Boys
• The Beatles
• Motown
• Big-band music
• Jazz
• Gospel
• Classic rock
• Western music

Maybe Grandpa loved dancing.

Maybe he sang badly but enthusiastically.

Maybe he had one song he turned up every single time it came on.

Those songs belong in the celebration too.

A funeral or celebration of life is not only about the fact that Grandpa died.

It is about remembering what it was like when he was here.

Funeral Songs for Grandpa's Slideshow

A memorial slideshow gives you more freedom than almost any other part of the service.

You aren't limited to one song.

You can let the music move through Grandpa's life along with the photographs.

Perhaps the first pictures show him as a boy or young man. You might begin with music from his youth.

Then come photographs of marriage, children, work, family vacations, holidays, hobbies, and eventually grandchildren and perhaps great-grandchildren.

The music can change with those chapters.

A reflective song such as “In My Life” can work beautifully across photographs from many decades.

“What a Wonderful World” can accompany family photographs and ordinary happy moments.

“Remember When” may be especially moving for pictures of Grandpa and Grandma through the years.

Or forget the traditional memorial choices entirely and use his favorite song.

When the music and photographs belong to the same life, the slideshow becomes much more than a collection of pictures.

It becomes Grandpa's story.

Music While Family and Friends Are Gathering

Not every song needs to be featured during the formal service.

Music can also play quietly as people arrive.

This is a wonderful opportunity to use Grandpa's favorite artists and songs without having to narrow everything down to three or four selections.

Keep the volume low enough for conversation.

People will be greeting relatives they haven't seen in years, looking at photographs, hugging one another, and beginning to tell stories about Grandpa.

The music should sit gently underneath those conversations rather than compete with them.

You could create a playlist from Grandpa's generation, use instrumental versions of familiar songs, or simply gather 15 or 20 songs you know he enjoyed.

Someone may suddenly hear one and say:

“Oh, Grandpa loved this.”

And another story begins.

Music for Grandpa's Funeral Luncheon or Family Gathering

If the family will gather for a luncheon, dinner, or reception after the service, keep the music going.

Again, keep it soft.

The most important sound in that room may not be the music at all.

It may be people talking about Grandpa.

This is where family stories emerge.

Someone remembers the fishing trip.

Someone tells the story about Grandpa's old truck.

Someone remembers what he always ordered at the same restaurant.

A grandchild hears a story they've never heard before.

Let the music create warmth underneath those conversations.

As the gathering continues, you can gradually move toward more upbeat music if that feels right for your grandfather and your family.

Ask Grandpa's Family What They Remember

Choosing funeral music doesn't have to fall on one person.

Ask around.

“What song makes you think of Grandpa?”

The answers may surprise you.

One grandchild remembers a song from car rides.

Another remembers music playing while Grandpa worked in the garage.

His daughter remembers what he played on Sunday mornings.

His son remembers an album they listened to together.

Grandma remembers their song.

Suddenly, instead of trying to find funeral music, you're collecting pieces of Grandpa's life.

And that is exactly what the music should do.

When No Existing Song Tells Grandpa's Story

Sometimes the songs you find are beautiful but still don't quite feel personal enough.

That's understandable.

They were written about someone else's life.

A custom memorial song can tell Grandpa's actual story—his family, personality, favorite sayings, memories, values, hobbies, or the things everyone will remember about him.

It can be played during the service, used with the memorial slideshow, or kept as something the family can listen to for years afterward.

If you'd like something created specifically from your grandfather's story, OneSpecialSong creates personalized memorial songs using the memories and details families provide.

The Best Funeral Song for Grandpa Is the One That Brings Him Back

Years from now, you may hear one of the songs you chose for Grandpa's funeral when you aren't expecting it.

In a store.

On the radio.

At someone else's wedding.

Driving down the road.

And suddenly, there he is.

Maybe you remember his chair.

His laugh.

His hands.

His stories.

The way he called your name.

The way he slipped the grandchildren treats when their parents weren't looking.

The advice you didn't appreciate enough when you were younger.

The story he told so many times everyone could finish it for him.

That is what music can do.

So don't worry too much about finding the song that sounds most appropriate for a grandfather's funeral.

Find the song that sounds like your grandfather.

Maybe it is a hymn.

Maybe it is an old country song.

Maybe it is Sinatra.

Maybe it is a song he and Grandma danced to sixty years ago.

Maybe it is something nobody else would ever put on a list of funeral songs.

If everyone in the family hears the first few notes and immediately thinks of Grandpa, you found it.

Because the most meaningful funeral music doesn't simply remind us that someone died.

It reminds us how wonderfully, uniquely, and unmistakably he lived.