You might think that listening to sad music when you are sad would make you feel worse, but it can actually be a source of comfort and help us regulate our emotions (according to a 2014 study). It can feel good to have a music inspired cry as we listen to lyrics we can relate to and feel the music tug at our heartstrings and evoke powerful emotions.
Listening to sad songs can also connect to more positive experiences like nostalgia, imagination, empathy, peacefulness and kindness.
Whether music is helpful can depend on where we are in our grief. In the early days grief, it may feel too painful to listen, so it’s important to judge what feels helpful or not. Hopefully as time goes on music can become a source of solace and connection. Many parents and other family members have also found it consoling to write poems, lyrics, and music based on their own loss experiences.
Music is very personal so it can be good to create your own playlist, but we have a few suggestions. You can listen to the playlist in full here, or check out individual songs from the list below. Also, do not hesitate to let us know your go-to songs.
Listen to the playlist in full
Individual songs
Mari’s Lullaby
Winter Bear – Coby Grant
Tell Me About the Stars
The Last Lullaby
Soaring Through Skies
Where You Are (Goodnight)
Tears in Heaven – Eric Clapton
I Will Carry You – Selah
Three – Andy Verey
Still Your Mother – Harper Grae
Climbing Clouds – Jetty Rae
Angel – Sarah McLachlan
Gone Too Soon – Daughtry
Precious Child
Not As We – Alanis Morissette
Someone’s Watching Over Me – Hilary Duff
Can’t Cry Hard Enough – Williams Brothers
A Place Nearby – Lene Marlin
Slipped Away – Avril Lavigne
A Mother’s Prayer – Céline Dion
Stars – Grace Potter And The Nocturnals
Something’s Not Right – Lily Allen
Golden Slumbers – Ben Folds
Wintersong – Sarah McLachlan
Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel) – Billy Joel
Photograph – Ed Sheeran
Birthday Cake – Dylan Conrique
In the Stars – Benson Boone
Autumn Leaves – Paolo Nutini
New Year – LAYLA
Wake Me Up When September Ends – Green Day
Hold On To Memories – Disturbed
The Girl That Never Was – James Blunt
