Farewell and goodbye songs in Western music: A roundup of perfect BGM for farewell parties
There are many occasions in life when we send off people who have been important to us—graduations, leaving a company, and more.
If you’ve been put in charge of organizing a farewell party, you might be struggling with booking the venue or planning the program.
If you’re going to do it, you probably want to send them off with stylish background music.
For those people, this article introduces recommended English-language farewell songs!
Whether it’s for graduation or a friend moving away from your hometown, we’ve gathered a wide variety of farewell songs that suit many situations, across different eras and genres—so you’re sure to find the perfect BGM for you.
Be sure to use it as a reference!
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- Western songs about saying “goodbye” — perfect for bereavement or a departed lover
- Ranking of Western farewell songs [2025]
- Western graduation song ranking [2025]
- [2025] Moving Western songs that touch the heart: A roundup of recommended masterpieces
- Graduation songs in Western music with great lyrics—heartfelt, beautiful messages.
- Tear-jerking graduation songs in Western music. Classic tracks for graduation season and recommended popular songs.
- [Western Music Edition] Cool Free BGM
- A Western pop 'congratulations' song. A celebratory song.
- [2025 Edition] Classic Western Songs with Great Lyrics: Beautiful Messages That Touch the Heart
- The Beatles’ Graduation Songs, Entrance Ceremony Songs, and Popular Tracks Ranking [2025]
Western farewell and goodbye songs: A roundup of perfect BGM for farewell parties (11–20)
We’re All In This Together (From “High School Musical”)High School Musical Cast
Some of you may be wracking your brains over what song to play at the start of a farewell party.
In that case, We’re All In This Together (From “High School Musical”) is a great choice that’s sure to liven up the room.
It’s a song from the teen movie High School Musical, performed by the main characters in a celebratory scene at the end.
The lyrics feel like a tribute to everyone’s hard work so far.
You could even incorporate it into a performance with some choreography.
Wish You The BestLewis Capaldi
Lewis Capaldi is a singer-songwriter who truly resonates with the heart.
Hailing from Scotland, his work here is a gem of a ballad released in May 2023.
With a wistful voice, it portrays the complex emotions that follow a breakup.
The true feelings hidden behind the phrase “wish you the best” shake the listener to their core.
Included on the album “Broken By Desire To Be Heavenly Sent,” the song reached No.
1 on the UK Singles Chart.
It’s also perfect as background music for a farewell gathering.
Highly recommended for anyone facing a goodbye to someone important and feeling a swirl of mixed emotions.
It’s My LifeBon Jovi
The signature song of the American rock band Bon Jovi powerfully appeals to the importance of living true to yourself.
Its universal message—“My life is my own”—resonates across generations.
Featured on the album Crush, released in June 2000, the track has remained a long-running hit since its release.
In July 2021, the official music video surpassed 1 billion views on YouTube.
It’s recommended listening when you need courage to face difficulties or want to fire yourself up.
Story of My LifeOne Direction
The heartwarming ballad by UK-born One Direction is a gem that weaves a story of life.
Blending acoustic sounds with moving lyrics, it portrays bonds and memories with loved ones.
Released in October 2013 and included on the album Midnight Memories, the song became a global hit, topping the singles charts in Ireland and New Zealand, and was also used in Japan as the theme for an NTT Docomo commercial.
Cherished by many as a song that resonates deeply—especially during seasons of farewells and graduations—it continues to be loved.
Long LiveTaylor Swift
A farewell party isn’t just about the sadness of parting; it’s also a time to look back on the journey so far and celebrate it.
With that in mind, I recommend “Long Live.” It’s a song Taylor Swift wrote with high school life as its theme.
The lyrics reflect on the hardships overcome and the beautiful memories made.
Each episode is portrayed with fantastical metaphors, so I think it’s a song you can listen to while overlaying it with memories beyond just high school.
How Do I Say GoodbyeDean Lewis
Dean Lewis’s “How Do I Say Goodbye” is a song that stays beside you in the moment of saying farewell, gently embracing the weight of parting.
Its lyrics, conveying the turmoil of a sudden goodbye and the struggle to express your feelings, resonate deeply.
The tender, compassionate melody offers the courage to look forward even as you linger in memories.
It is truly fitting for a farewell, a sound that sincerely accompanies the listener’s heart, and will surely be embraced by many.
When choosing a song for someone important, there may be nothing better than this.
Western farewell/goodbye songs: A roundup of perfect BGM for farewell parties (21–30)
You’ll Be In My HeartPhil Collins
Phil Collins, a progressive rock musician and former member of Genesis, was hugely active both during his time with the band and in his solo career.
“You’ll Be In My Heart” is the theme song for the Disney film Tarzan, for which Phil Collins composed all of the music.