Funeral songs have comforted family members ever since biblical times. The Christian songs shared below offer each classic and modern versions that proceed to supply peace, reflection, and joy, even centuries later.
A friend of my husband planned his own celebration of life, giving special thought to the funeral songs after his options for cancer treatments ended. He requested two songs for the service. One was slow, melodic, and filled with heavenly hope. The other revealed his lightheartedness. Lighthearted because he was confident of his destination. I believe his hope was to place smiles on the faces of his family members when the song “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” by The Rolling Stones played as his casket rolled down the aisle. While that song wouldn’t be my alternative, it proves the purpose that funerals reflect an individual’s life and desires.
“Give sorrow words. The grief that doesn’t speak whispers the o’re-fraught heart, and bids it break.” — William Shakespeare, Macbeth
5 Classic Christian Funeral Songs
“Truth put to music stays with us. It’s why we still sing the powerful lyrics of hymns written centuries ago. Speculation and questioning about theology will come and go, but truth stays.” — Collin Hansen, The Gospel Coalition
1. Amazing Grace
John Newton not only ran from Christ for much of his life, but he also tried to discourage others from their faith before his conversion. During this same time, he experienced several near-death situations, which might later influence these lyrics in Amazing Grace:
Through many dangers, toils, and snares
I even have already come
Tis grace that brought me secure so far
And grace will lead me home
Those harrowing experiences looked as if it would draw him closer to the concept of God’s providential care, but he would return to his unbelief. His first step toward Christianity, nevertheless, happened on a ship when God miraculously spared his life once more. The combination of this realization, his admittance to feeling helpless, and recalling words from Thomas a Kempis’ Imitation of Christ, all played an element within the lyrics “the hour I first believed”, and more importantly, his salvation. Although John Newton penned the poem Amazing Grace in 1772, it will be 60 years before it was set to music.
2. I’ll Fly Away
Albert Brumley wrote this glorious hymn in 1929. Its upbeat melody and hope-filled words a few land where joy shall never end make it one of the beloved hymns ever recorded.
3. It Is Well with My Soul
As with lots of probably the most moving songs, the origin of this hymn was birthed from great loss in Horatio Spafford’s life. He lost his only son to Scarlet Fever and 4 young daughters in a shipwreck. It is believed that the lyrics “When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, thou has taught me to say, It is well, it’s well with my soul” were written while traveling over the precise place where his daughters’ ship sank.
4. What a Day that Will Be
Jim Hill was a shoe salesman, but music was his old flame. He led the choir in his church, sang in a quartet, and recorded many gospel songs. The inspiration for this well-loved hymn was his mother-in-law, who at a young age, had a “debilitating” stroke. One day, while driving home from work, he gave thought to Revelation 21:4, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will likely be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He meditated on the wonderful day that soon awaited his mother-in-law and wrote the lyrics to What a Day That Will Be on a chunk of cardboard when he got home. Jim had the chance to sing it for her before her death.
What a Day That Will Be – Guy Penrod, David Phelps Live on Bill Gloria Gaither from guy-penrod on GodTube.
5. Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
It’s believed that Wallace Willis, a freed slave, wrote this song to have fun the Underground Railway after the Civil War. The song is steeped in history and is believed to have been a slave song. But it’s also had its share of controversy through the years. The Nazis put this song on an “undesired and harmful” song list, and in 2020, Black Lives Matter attempted to have it banned from being sung during England’s rugby games. The wealthy metaphoric lyrics lend themselves to the concept of a chariot being a method of escape. Some feel it’s an escape from the fallen world to heaven, while others imagine the unique meaning leans more toward escaping for one’s freedom. Either way, it’s a song that’s been sung at quite a few funerals, offering the joyous hope that’s ours as believers.
Polly Copsey and Jeff Sheri Easter – Swing Low, Sweet Chariot (Live) from jeff-sheri-easter on GodTube.
5 Modern Christian Funeral Songs
“The death of a member of Christ’s body is a call to God’s people. It is a call to come back together, to assemble, to recollect, and to be sent forth with renewed faith-despite the seeming tragedy of death.”— John Allyn Melloh
1. In Christ Alone
Songwriters Stuart Townend and Keith Getty set out to jot down a song concerning the attributes of God and the facility of the gospel through the atoning work of Christ. One of the preferred videos for this song is sung by a young woman, Christina Grimmie, who was shot and killed by a fan soon after it was recorded, making her soulful rendition especially moving.
2. Jesus Promised Me a Home Over There
The lyricist for this hymn is Warryn Campbell however it gained popularity when Grammy award-winning singer Jennifer Hudson recorded it. The lyrics remind listeners of Jesus’ words in John 14:2: “In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it weren’t so, I’d have told you; for I am going to organize a spot for you.”
3. I Can Only Imagine
Granted, this song by MercyMe could have been overplayed by radio stations for years after its release, however it’s hard to dispute the attractive imagery and luxury the lyrics proceed to bring to family members navigating their grief.
MercyMe – I Can Only Imagine from mercymemusic on GodTube.
4. Because He Lives
Together, Bill and Gloria Gaither have written lots of of songs. While expecting their third child, the world’s turmoil created quite a lot of anxiety for the couple. By the time the child was born, God had filled them with unspeakable peace, reminding them that because He lives, they’ll trust and rest in His sovereignty.
Bill & Gloria Gaither -Because He Lives [Live] from bill-and-gloria-gaither on GodTube.
5. Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)
Producers of the film Amazing Grace (2007) approached Chris Tomlin to see if he’d be willing to lend his musical talent to the film. While considering the offer, he read more concerning the background of John Newton, the songwriter of the unique hymn, particularly because it related to slavery. After reading how his conversion radically modified his views on the topic, Chris wrote the lyrics for the movie. While his new edition of the song Amazing Grace was written for the movie, many Christians embraced it of their churches.
A Final Thought on Funerals
“Nothing could make up for the absence of somebody whom we love, and it will be improper to try to search out a substitute; we must simply hold out and see it through. That sounds very hard at first, but at the identical time, it’s an excellent consolation, for the gap, so long as it stays unfilled, preserves the bond between us.” — Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Letters and Papers from Prison
Further Reading:
The Top 10 Hymns (and How They Were Inspired)
10 Inspirational Hymns of Praise
10 Hymns about Freedom You Can Sing Today
Photo Credit: Getty Images/Kayla James
Source: https://www.christianity.com/wiki/christian-life/christian-funeral-songs.html
