Memorial Service Songs (nonreligious)

Memorial Service Song Ideas -Not for Mass-

(in the process of adding lyrics and links for all songs listed in the form)

For some more religious songs click: Religious Funeral Song Options

Bridge Over Troubled Water (Simon and Garfunkel)

When you’re weary, Feeling small
When tears are in your eyes, I’ll dry them all
I’m on your side, Oh, when times get rough
And friends just can’t be found

Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down

When you’re down and out; When you’re on the street
When evening falls so hard, I will comfort you
I’ll take your part Oh, when darkness comes
And pain is all around

Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down

Sail on silver girl Sail on by
Your time has come to shine
All your dreams are on their way
See how they shine
Oh, if you need a friend, I’m sailing right behind

Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind

Listen

Wind Beneath My Wings (Bette Midler)

It must have been cold there in my shadow,
to never have sunlight on your face.
You were content to let me shine, that’s your way.
You always walked a step behind.

So I was the one with all the glory,
while you were the one with all the strength.
A beautiful face without a name for so long.
A beautiful smile to hide the pain.

Did you ever know that you’re my hero,
and everything I would like to be?
I can fly higher than an eagle,
’cause you are the wind beneath my wings.

It might have appeared to go unnoticed,
but I’ve got it all here in my heart.
I want you to know I know the truth, of course I know it.
I would be nothing without you.

Did you ever know that you’re my hero?
You’re everything I wish I could be.
I could fly higher than an eagle,
’cause you are the wind beneath my wings.

Did I ever tell you you’re my hero?
You’re everything, everything I wish I could be.
Oh, and I, I could fly higher than an eagle,
’cause you are the wind beneath my wings,
’cause you are the wind beneath my wings.

Oh, the wind beneath my wings.
You, you, you, you are the wind beneath my wings.
Fly, fly, fly away. You let me fly so high.
Oh, you, you, you, the wind beneath my wings.
Oh, you, you, you, the wind beneath my wings.

Fly, fly, fly high against the sky,
so high I almost touch the sky.
Thank you, thank you,
thank God for you, the wind beneath my wings.

Listen

In My Life (The Beatles)

There are places I’ll remember
All my life though some have changed
Some forever, not for better
Some have gone and some remain

All these places have their moments
With lovers and friends I still can recall
Some are dead and some are living
In my life I’ve loved them all

But of all these friends and lovers
There is no one compares with you
And these memories lose their meaning
When I think of love as something new

Though I know I’ll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I’ll often stop and think about them
In my life, I love you more

Though I know I’ll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I’ll often stop and think about them
In my life I love you more
In my life I love you more

Listen

The Old Man (Phil Coulter)

The tears have all been shed now; we’ve said our last good-bye.
His soul’s been blessed, he’s laid to rest; and it’s now I feel alone.

He was more than just my father; my teacher, my best friend.
And He’ll still be heard in the tunes we shared; when we play them on our own.

And I never will forget him, for he made me what I am.
Though he may be gone, memories linger on,
And I miss him… The Old Man

As a boy he’d take me walking by mountain, field, and stream,
And he’d show me things not known to kings, and secret between him and me.

Like the colors of the pheasant, as he rises in the dawn,
Or how to fish or make a wish beside a fairy tree.

And I never will forget him, for he made me what I am.
Though he may be gone, memories linger on; and I miss him… The Old Man

I thought he’d live forever; He seemed so big and strong,
But the minutes fly and the years roll by, for a father and a son.

And suddenly when it happened; there was so much left unsaid,
No second chance to tell him thanks, for everything he’d done.

And I never will forget him, for he made me what I am,
Though he may be gone, Memories Linger On,
God I miss him… The Old Man

Listen

Amazing Grace (John Newton)
Amazing grace! How sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch; like me!*
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed!

The Lord hath promised good to me,
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures.

When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we first begun.

(*alternate words: “that saved and set me free”)

Listen

When I get Where I’m Going (Teren/Rutherford)

When I get where I’m going on the far side of the sky
The first thing that I’m gonna do Is spread my wings and fly
I’m gonna land beside a lion, and run my fingers through his mane
Or I might find out what it’s like, to ride a drop of rain

Yeah, when I get where I’m going well, there’ll be only happy tears
I will shed the sins and struggles I have carried all these years
And I’ll leave my heart wide open; I will love and have no fear
Yeah, when I get where I’m going, don’t cry for me down here.

I’m gonna walk with my grandaddy and he’ll match me step for step
And I’ll tell him how I’ve missed him every minute since he left
And then I’ll hug his neck and when I’m returning from so far away.

So much pain and so much darkness In this world we stumble through
All these questions I can’t answer And so much work to do
But when I get where I’m going and I see my Maker’s face
I’ll stand forever in the light of His amazing grace.

Listen

What a Wonderful World (Louis Armstrong)

I see trees of green Red roses too
I see them bloom For me and you
And I think to myself What a wonderful world

I see skies of blue And clouds of white
The bright blessed day The dark sacred night
And I think to myself What a wonderful world

The colors of the rainbow So pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces Of people going by
I see friends shaking handsSaying, “How do you do?”
They’re really saying “I love you”

I hear babies cry I watch them grow
They’ll learn much more Than I’ll never know
And I think to myself What a wonderful world

Yes, I think to myself What a wonderful world
Oh yeah

Listen

You’ll Never Walk Alone (Gerry & The Pacemakers)

When you walk through a storm
Hold your head up high
And don’t be afraid of the dark

At the end of a storm There’s a golden sky
And the sweet silver song of a lark

Walk on through the wind Walk on through the rain
Though your dreams be tossed and blown

Walk on, walk on With hope in your heart
And you’ll never walk alone
You’ll never walk alone

Listen

MORNING HAS BROKEN (Eleanor Farjeon)
Morning has broken, Like the first morning,
Blackbird has spoken, Like the first bird.
Praise for the singing! Praise for the morning!
Praise for them, springing Fresh from the Word!

Sweet the rain’s new fall. Sunlit from Heaven,
Like the first dewfall On the first grass.
Praise for the sweetness Of the wet garden,
Sprung in completeness Where his feet pass.

Mine is the sunlight, Mine is the morning,
Born of the one light Eden saw play.
Praise with elation, Praise every morning,
God’s re-creation Of the new day!

Listen

Smile (Nat King Cole)

Smile, though your heart is aching
Smile, even though it’s breaking
When there are clouds in the sky
You’ll get by…

If you smile
Through your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You’ll see the sun come shining through for you

Light up your face with gladness
Hide every trace of sadness
Although a tear may be ever so near

That’s the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what’s the use of crying
You’ll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just smile

Listen

Memories (Maroon 5)

Refrain: Here’s to the ones that we got
Cheers to the wish you were here, but you’re not
‘Cause the drinks bring back all the memories
Of everything we’ve been through
Toast to the ones here today; Toast to the ones that we lost on the way
‘Cause the drinks bring back all the memories
And the memories bring back, memories bring back you

There’s a time that I remember, when I did not know no pain
When I believed in forever, and everything would stay the same
Now my heart feel like December when somebody say your name
‘Cause I can’t reach out to call you, but I know I will one day, yeah
Everybody hurts sometimes; Everybody hurts someday,
But everything gon’ be alright; Go and raise a glass and say, ayy
(Refrain)

There’s a time that I remember when I never felt so lost
When I felt all of the hatred was too powerful to stop
Now my heart feel like an ember and it’s lighting up the dark
I’ll carry these torches for ya that you know I’ll never drop, yeah
Everybody hurts sometimes; Everybody hurts someday,
But everything gon’ be alright; Go and raise a glass and say, ayy
(Refrain)

Listen

Gold and Silver Days (Phil Coulter)

As I sit here by the fireside; I’m turning back the years.
I can hear my mother singing in the morning
As she scrubbed our shining faces and then packed us off to school.
All too soon those days were over without warning.

[Chorus]: So sing me the songs of our gold and silver days,
Days filled with innocence and light. Not a penny to our name,
We were happy just the same In our gold and silver days.

In the parlour on a Friday night, My father took the floor.
I can hear us join together in the chorus,
Singing “Just a Song at Twilight”And “The Moon behind the Hill”.
Now those voices are all silenced, gone before us.
[Chorus]

We gathered at the Daisy Field, on Sunday afternoon,
And we danced to Johnny Quigley and the Royal.
Through the years we all were scattered, but our friends were good and true,
Always there when they were needed, always loyal.
[Chorus]

Listen

I will Remember You (Sarah McLachlan)

I will remember you Will you remember me?
Don’t let your life pass you by Weep not for the memories

Remember the good times that we had?
I let them slip away from us when things got bad
How clearly I first saw you smilin’ in the sun
Wanna feel your warmth upon me, I wanna be the one

I will remember you Will you remember me?
Don’t let your life pass you by Weep not for the memories

I’m so tired but I can’t sleep
Standin’ on the edge of something much too deep
It’s funny how we feel so much but we cannot say a word
We are screaming inside, but we can’t be heard

But I will remember you Will you remember me?
Don’t let your life pass you by Weep not for the memories

I’m so afraid to love you, but more afraid to lose
Clinging to a past that doesn’t let me choose
Once there was a darkness, deep and endless night
You gave me everything you had, oh you gave me light

And I will remember you Will you remember me?
Don’t let your life pass you by Weep not for the memories

Listen

Time To Say Goodbye (Sartori/Peterson /Quarantotto)

Italian Lyrics

Listen

To go back to Funeral Service Selections click: https://massbooklets.com/selections-for-service/

Memorial Service Song Ideas -Not for Mass-

Still Adding Lyrics and Links to Songs