Grief Songs: How Music Helps Us Process Loss
Grief isn’t always logical, and although talking about your experience is SO important – sometimes, we need more than words.
That’s where music comes in.
Whether you’re mourning a loved one, trying to move through a difficult feeling or a challenge that life threw your way, or just feel stuck—music can offer you a way in, around, or through.
In this post, I want to share how I personally use grief songs in my own healing work, and why music can be such a powerful tool for processing loss.
Why Music Feels So Cathartic When You’re Grieving
Music has been a tool and technique for honoring important moments for as long as humans have existed. When we are trying to get out of our logical thinking and tap into the more right brain, creative ability to be with something, music can be such an important tool.
Music has the capacity to both meet us in our feelings where we are, but also amplify sensations and emotions, express them, and even divert them. It can change the mood, and it can also meet us in the moment right where we are.
We have control over what we play, and thus we can adjust, amplify, or soften how we feel.
It’s also something that allows us to tap in, feel, and process—without words. It activates our beingness.
And also! It’s time limited. We can put a song on and it has a beginning and an end. We can use this length to contain the experience we are going to have and to plan out the amount of space we want to dedicate for it.
How I Personally Use Music for Grief and Emotional Processing
I like to use music as a container. So, I choose a set number of songs with different ranges.
First, something with a beat—to drop me into just being and feeling and moving.
Then, something that helps me access anger and rage (which, for me, is often my gateway to deeper grief and sadness).
Then, some sad songs—to tap into some tenderness and longing.
And finally, something sweet and uplifting to close it out.
I let myself drop in for the length of this playlist in whatever way. Just dancing, walking, journaling, looking at pictures, clearing out a loved one’s house, doing something hard or heartbreaking—whatever I am doing.
Then I give myself permission: when the songs are over, I zip it back up. I acknowledge and honor what arose. And I transition back into my day.
Over time, I’ve helped my nervous system trust in my ability to open a grieving experience, have it for a bit of time, and then close it back up until next time.
My Favorite Grief Songs & Playlists
Here are a few grief playlists and songs I personally return to again and again:
🎵 My Grief Playlist (Spotify):
Listen here
A curated list of songs that help me move through all the layers of grief—sadness, longing, release, tenderness, and eventually, calm.
🎧 Mourning Mix by Random Rab (SoundCloud):
Listen here
This one is a more ambient full set, but so grounding. Perfect for processing emotions without lyrics over an extended period of time.
Looking for grief support?
Join me for grief counseling, ceremony creation, group sessions, online resources and a podcast, and more ways to stay connected to yourself and your support system throughout your healing journey.
You can visit my website to learn more.
With love,
Randi Hall
Grief Support Specialist and LMFT