“You Can Close Your Eyes” by James Taylor

If you’re looking for a thoughtful, beautiful song to play at a memorial service or funeral, consider playing “You Can Close Your Eyes” by James Taylor. Taylor is a five-time Grammy Award winner, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. This particular song is often described as a lullaby, and it certainly has a sense of peace and calm about it. While it might not be exclusively about the end of life, the message in “You Can Close Your Eyes” is still one of hope and healing.

“Well the sun is surely sinking down
But the moon is slowly rising
And this old world must still be spinning ’round
And I still love you

So close your eyes
You can close your eyes, it’s all right
I don’t know no love songs
And I can’t sing the blues anymore
But I can sing this song
And you can sing this song
When I’m gone…”

Watch his performance below.