Grief Guide
How to include a memorial song in a funeral program
How to list a memorial song in a funeral program in 2026: placement, wording, print deadlines, and how to credit a custom song correctly.
A memorial song belongs in the funeral program the same way a hymn or reading does: listed by title under a music heading, and credited as a custom composition when it's original. The detail most families miss isn't the song itself, it's the print deadline. The title has to be locked in before the funeral home sends the program to the printer, and that cutoff usually lands sooner than anyone expects during an already overwhelming week.
- A memorial song in a funeral program is listed by title under a Music or Order of Service heading, credited as a custom piece when it's original.
- The song title needs to be confirmed before the program goes to print, not just before the service itself.
- Prelude, processional, interlude, and recessional are the four common placements, and each fits a different moment in the service.
- A custom memorial song works at any of these placements because it's written specifically for the person being remembered.
Why this matters
A funeral program is one of the few things guests carry home. Long after the flowers fade, that folded piece of paper sits in a drawer or a bible, and the song listed on it becomes part of how someone is remembered.
Getting the placement and the wording right in 2026 isn't about following a strict rule. Most funeral homes are flexible about format, they just need the final details early enough to print. Requesting a custom song for this moment is one of the more common reasons families request a custom memorial song online rather than trying to pick something already written.
How to include a memorial song in a funeral program
The process is short, but the order matters because printing has a hard deadline that the service itself doesn't.
- Pick where the song plays. Prelude, processional, an interlude between readings, or recessional. This decision drives how it's worded in the program.
- Give the funeral director the final title. If it's a custom piece, tell them exactly how it should be credited, including who it was written for.
- List it in the printed program under a "Music" or "Order of Service" section, next to any hymns or readings.
- Add one line of context if there's room. Who chose the song or why it was chosen matters more to guests than the title alone.
- Confirm the title before the print deadline. Funeral homes rarely offer a second print run once the program is at the printer.
A program that lists a song by title tells guests what to expect. A program that adds one line about why it was chosen tells them what to feel.
Where to place the song in the funeral program
The placement changes the tone of the moment, and it changes how the program should describe it.
| Placement | When it plays | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Prelude | As guests arrive and are seated | Setting a quiet tone before anyone speaks |
| Processional | As the casket or urn enters | A solemn, formal arrival moment |
| Interlude / Reflection | Between readings or after the eulogy | A quiet pause tied to a specific memory |
| Recessional | As guests exit the service | Closing on a personal, less formal note |
Families who write custom lyrics often build the song around a story from the eulogy itself, which is one reason turning a eulogy into a memorial song works well for a reflection or recessional placement. The song and the spoken tribute end up echoing each other instead of feeling like two separate parts of the service.
Listing a custom song in the program text
The wording doesn't need to be formal. A simple two-line entry under the music section is enough:
Music "[Song Title]" - an original song written for [Name]'s memory
If the family wants to say more, one added sentence works better than a paragraph. Something like "written from stories shared by his children" tells guests exactly why the song exists without turning the program into an essay.
A custom memorial song from RememberMe is written specifically for this kind of moment, so it fits naturally into any of the four placements above without needing to be edited down or reworked for time.
Have a custom song ready in time to print
Share the memory, get a professionally produced song built for the service.
Why the format varies from family to family
There's no single correct way to list a memorial song, and the differences usually come down to a handful of practical factors:
- The funeral home's own program template. Some templates have a dedicated music line, others require the family to add it manually.
- Religious versus secular service structure. A liturgical service may place hymns and the memorial song separately, with different formatting for each.
- Whether the song plays live or recorded. A recorded custom song is usually just listed by title, while a live performance often credits the performer too.
- How many pages the program has. A single-page program leaves little room for context lines, a booklet-style program has more space.
- Family preference for detail versus brevity. Some families want the story behind the song printed, others prefer just the title.
- Denomination-specific customs around introducing original or secular music during certain parts of a religious service.
Do funeral programs need artist credit for a custom song?
No, a custom memorial song doesn't need artist credit the way a commercial song does. It's usually listed as "an original song written for [Name]" rather than crediting a performer, since the point is the dedication, not the artist.
Can you list a memorial song that isn't on Spotify or Apple Music?
Yes, a memorial song that only exists as a private file still belongs in the program the same way. Streaming availability has nothing to do with whether a song can be printed and played at a service in 2026.
Should the song title go on the front cover or inside the program?
The song title almost always goes inside the program under the music or order of service section, not on the front cover. The cover is typically reserved for the person's name, dates, and a photo.
FAQ
What section of the funeral program lists the music?
The music goes under a "Music," "Selections," or "Order of Service" heading, usually listed in the sequence it plays during the service.
Is it okay to include an original custom song in a religious funeral program?
Yes, most religious services allow an original song, though some denominations reserve certain moments in the liturgy for hymns only. Checking with the officiant ahead of time avoids surprises.
How do you credit a memorial song that was custom written?
List it as an original song written for the person being remembered rather than crediting a commercial artist. A short line noting who requested it is optional but common.
Can a memorial song replace a hymn in the program?
In most non-liturgical or celebration of life services, yes. In a strict religious ceremony, the song is more often added alongside required hymns rather than replacing one.
What if the song isn't finished before the program is printed?
List the placeholder "Music by [Name]" or leave the line blank and hand out a printed insert later, since most funeral homes can't accommodate a second full print run.
Does a memorial song need to be listed by both title and artist?
No, a custom or original memorial song only needs a title. Commercial songs already released to the public are the ones typically listed with both title and artist.
Can the same program note be used for a graveside service and a later celebration of life?
Yes, the same short credit line works for both, since the wording describes the song and its dedication rather than the specific event.
One last thing
Most programs stop at the song title. The ones people remember add a single sentence about why the song exists, whose voice inspired it, what story it came from, what moment it was written for. That one line usually gets read aloud more than the title itself, quietly, by whoever picks the program back up months later.
Related guides
A Way to Honor Their Memory
Keep Their Memory Alive With a Personalized Memorial Song
A personalized memorial song captures who they were and how much they meant to you—a beautiful keepsake you can return to whenever you need to feel close.
Create a Memorial Song