20 songs for the grieving heart

Music has carried me through the most intense and agonizing moments of my life. Sometimes all I wanted was silence in the early days of grief, but as time passed, I leaned into the melodies that brought back memories with my daughter, and new sounds that spoke to my tender heart.

Music gave me room to grieve, to remember, to imagine, to heal.

These songs have spoken to my heart in many different ways. Some are old, some are newer. I hope you find rest in them and let the lyrics whisper to those uncovered places in your heart.

Music is magic and it can unlock our sorrow like nothing else. Sometimes the best cure for a grief wave is letting our hearts dip deep into the sadness.

1. A Case of You: k.d Lang
2. Nobody’s Crying: Patty Griffin
3. Fourth of July: Sufjan Stevens
4. One Way: Rose Cousins
5. Heavenfaced: The National
6. I’ll Let You Go: Jessica Allossery
7. Welcome Home: Joy Williams
8. Guiding Light: Foy Vance
9. I Know You By Heart: Eva Cassidy
10. Heaven: Craig Cardiff
11. Death With Dignity: Sufjan Stevens
12. Mark’s Song: Eastmountainsouth
13. Your Love Remains: The Brilliance
14. You Cannot Lose my Love: Sara Groves
15. Forever With You: Nathan Roberts
16. How Do You Keep Love Alive: Ryan Adams & The Cardinals
17. Not Alone: Patty Griffin
18. Annabelle: Gillian Welch
19. All Is Not Lost: The Brilliance
20. Orange Sky: Alexi Murdoch

You can find the playlist on Spotify.