Songs About Losing a Best Friend
A song list · 14 songs · updated October 2026
Some friends you lose at a funeral, and some you lose to a fight you can't even remember the reason for. Most songs here were written by musicians after a friend died, often someone from their own band. Two of mine are on it too, marked ZN Rock, and one of those is about the other kind of loss. Every song has a line on the story behind it and a link to play it.
All Those Years Ago · George Harrison
Harrison rewrote the words as a tribute after John Lennon was killed in 1980. Ringo Starr plays drums, Paul and Linda McCartney sing backing vocals, and it spent three weeks at No. 2 in the US.
Say Hello 2 Heaven · Temple of the Dog
Chris Cornell wrote it for Andrew Wood, his former roommate and the singer of Mother Love Bone, who died of an overdose in 1990. Temple of the Dog was the one-off band of friends that grew out of that loss.
Nine Years In · ZN RockZN Rock
A twenty-year friendship ended over something said at a birthday, then nine years of silence. He has a wife and two kids now, and the song leaves you with one plain instruction: call them while they'll stay.
Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of · U2
From All That You Can't Leave Behind (2000). Bono wrote it after his friend Michael Hutchence of INXS died in 1997, as the row between mates he never got to have.
One More Light · Linkin Park
The title track of the 2017 album, written after a friend of the band from their record label died of cancer. Chester Bennington died two months after its release, and it became the band's goodbye to him as well.
I Keep Saying I'll Be Happy When · ZN RockZN Rock
A man you came up with dies before his time, and from the back row at the service you notice nobody mentions anything he made, only his Sundays and the way he stayed. You go home and stop putting your life off.
So Far Away · Avenged Sevenfold
From Nightmare (2010). Synyster Gates started it for his grandfather, and it became the band's song for their drummer and best friend Jimmy "The Rev" Sullivan, who died in December 2009.
Black Gives Way to Blue · Alice in Chains
The title track that closes the band's 2009 album, Jerry Cantrell's goodbye to singer Layne Staley, who died in 2002. Elton John plays the piano.
No-One but You (Only the Good Die Young) · Queen
Recorded in 1997, six years after Freddie Mercury died, and written by Brian May for Freddie and everyone who goes too soon. It was the last thing John Deacon recorded with the band.
Let Me In · R.E.M.
From Monster (1994). Michael Stipe wrote it right after his friend Kurt Cobain died, as a plea to him, and Mike Mills plays it on one of Cobain's guitars, a gift to the band from Courtney Love.
The Needle and the Damage Done · Neil Young
From Harvest (1972). Young wrote it about friends lost to heroin, among them Crazy Horse guitarist Danny Whitten, who died later that same year.
Back in Black · AC/DC
The title track of the album the band made months after singer Bon Scott died in 1980, with Brian Johnson stepping in. The all-black cover was a sign of mourning, and the song is a send-off loud enough for him.
Shine On You Crazy Diamond · Pink Floyd
From Wish You Were Here (1975), written for Syd Barrett, the friend who started the band and then slipped away from it. During the sessions he walked into Abbey Road so changed that at first nobody recognised him.
Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny) · Elton John
From Jump Up! (1982), with words by Bernie Taupin. Lennon and Elton were close friends, and Lennon's last big concert appearance was a guest spot at Elton's 1974 Madison Square Garden show. The song pictures him as a gardener and the garden he left empty.
Play the whole list
Questions
What are some songs about losing a best friend?
All Those Years Ago by George Harrison, Say Hello 2 Heaven by Temple of the Dog, Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of by U2 and One More Light by Linkin Park were all written after a friend died. Nine Years In by ZN Rock is about losing one while you're both still alive.
Which rock songs were written for a bandmate who died?
Back in Black by AC/DC for Bon Scott, Black Gives Way to Blue by Alice in Chains for Layne Staley, So Far Away by Avenged Sevenfold for The Rev and No-One but You by Queen for Freddie Mercury.
Is there a song about losing a friend over a fight?
Nine Years In by ZN Rock: nine years of silence over something said at a birthday, and a reminder to call them while they'll still stay.
If losing someone has put you somewhere dark: in the US you can call or text 988, day or night.
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