Upbeat Funeral Hymns

In times of sorrow, music can profoundly uplift spirits and celebrate life, even in the face of grief. Upbeat funeral hymns can uniquely honour a loved one's life, focusing on joy, hope and the eternal afterlife promised in the Christian faith.

These funeral hymns help shift the tone of a funeral from one of mourning to one of celebration, reflecting the personality and beliefs of the deceased who lived life with optimism and faith.

Choosing Upbeat Hymns for a Funeral

Selecting upbeat hymns for a funeral can help celebrate the deceased's life and legacy in a way that resonates with their joyful and hopeful spirit. If you cannot do it yourself, let your funeral director help you pick out the hymns. 

Here are ten hymns that are especially fitting for creating a celebratory and hopeful atmosphere at a funeral:

1. "When the Saints Go Marching In"

Often used in New Orleans jazz funerals, this hymn is a jubilant celebration of the hope of joining the saints in heaven, reflecting a triumphant entry into the afterlife.

Lyric: "Oh, when the saints go marching in, oh, when the saints go marching in; Lord, I want to be in that number, when the saints go marching in."

2. "Morning Has Broken"

This hymn celebrates each day's new beginnings and serves as a metaphor for the resurrection and the new life promised in heaven. 

Lyric: "Morning has broken like the first morning; Blackbird has spoken like the first bird."

3. "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee"

Set to the music of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, this hymn exuberantly praises God's glory reflected in nature and life, perfect for uplifting the spirits of mourners.

Lyric: "Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee, God of glory, Lord of love; Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee, opening to the sun above."

4. "I'll Fly Away"

With its roots in American gospel music, this hymn offers a lively hope of flying away to a place free of earthly troubles. The lyrics of this hymn can be used on a funeral invitation or as a funeral quote. 

Lyric: "I'll fly away, oh glory, I'll fly away; when I die, Hallelujah, by and by, I'll fly away."

5. "Oh Happy Day"

This gospel hymn focuses on the transformative joy of finding salvation and is a vibrant celebration of spiritual rebirth. When someone dies, it can be hard to understand the reality and to handle all the feelings that arise. The lyrics might be a bit too upbeat but can in the long run be a help. 

Lyric: "Oh happy day (oh happy day), oh happy day (oh happy day); When Jesus washed (when Jesus washed) my sins away (my sins away)."

6. "All Things Bright and Beautiful"

This hymn praises the beauty of creation, reminding us of the wonderful life the deceased lived and the beauty they found in the world.

Lyric: "All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small, all things wise and wonderful, the Lord God made them all."

7. "Here I Am, Lord"

It is an affirming declaration of service to God and His calling, offering a message of commitment that can be particularly resonant as a tribute to a life well-lived.

Lyric: "Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord? I have heard you calling in the night."

8. "Sing with All the Saints in Glory"

Based on Beethoven's "Ode to Joy," this hymn celebrates the resurrection and the joyous life to come, making it a hopeful and uplifting choice.

Lyric: "Sing with all the saints in glory, sing the resurrection song! Death and sorrow, earth's dark story, to the former days belong."

9. "This Little Light of Mine"

It is a simple and cheerful tune that encourages everyone to let their light shine, just as the deceased did throughout their life.

Lyric: "This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine. Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine."

10. "You Raise Me Up"

Although more contemporary, this song is inspirational and speaks to the strength we find in faith and in the support of loved ones, appropriate for remembering someone who uplifted others.

Lyric: "You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains; You raise me up to walk on stormy seas."