Heaven is one of the most common themes in music; songs about heaven span across all music genres and eras.
And every artist has their own vision of heaven and what it means to them.
Therefore, we made a versatile playlist of the best songs about heaven.
From Tom Waits and The Cure to Lana Del Rey and Halsey.
We want to remind you of some familiar tunes as well as show you songs about heaven you might not have heard before.
20 Songs About Heaven
1. Emeli Sande – “Heaven”
Emeli Sande’s debut solo single is hands down one of the best songs about heaven.
It’s powerful, uplifting, and melancholic at the same time.
And it tells a story of our internal battles. Or it explores the connection between trying to be a good person and going to heaven. That’s for you to decide.
“Oh heaven, oh heaven
I wake with good intentions
But the day, it always lasts too long.”
2. Tom Waits – “Little Trip To Heaven”
Is there a more romantic song about heaven than “Little Trip To Heaven”?
Probably not.
After all, Tom Waits is one of our greatest songwriters, and this song is one of the proofs.
“Feel like I’m in heaven when you’re with me
Know that I’m in heaven when you smile
Though we’re stuck here on the ground, I got something that I’ve found
And it’s you.”
3. Bob Dylan – “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door”
This is arguably one of the most popular songs about heaven.
It’s also one of Dylan’s best performances.
And many artists recorded a memorable cover version. Guns n’ Roses, Roger Water, Eric Clapton… Just to name a few.
Well, one thing is for sure: “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door” is a timeless classic.
“Mama, take this badge off of me
I can’t use it anymore
It’s gettin’ dark, too dark to see
I feel I’m knockin’ on heaven’s door.”
4. Bryan Adams – “Heaven”
Bryan Adams recorded one of the most famous rock songs about heaven as well.
In essence, “Heaven” is a power ballad about love. And when you feel pure love, you can create your own heaven with another person.
The song was reportedly inspired by the Journey’s song “Faithfully.”
“Yeah love is all that I need
And I found it there in your heart
It isn’t too hard to see
We’re in heaven.”
5. Beyoncé – “Heaven”
Beyoncé’s “Heaven” is dedicated to everyone who passed away too soon.
Many believe it’s about the miscarriage she experienced before having her first daughter.
Nevertheless, it’s a melancholic song, but it also feels very soothing and healing.
It’s arguably one of the most sentimental pop songs about going to heaven.
“I fought for you
The hardest, it made me the strongest
So tell me your secrets
I just can’t stand to see you leaving.”
6. Bruno Mars – “Locked Out Of Heaven”
Another catchy pop song about heaven is “Locked Out Of Heaven” by Bruno Mars.
This memorable hit from 2012 is a good example of how musicians often refer to heaven in music.
In a lot of songs about heaven, heaven is a feeling. It’s a perfect world we enter with the person we love. It’s paradise.
“‘Cause you make me feel like
I’ve been locked out of heaven
For too long, for too long.”
7. Meat Loaf – “Heaven Can Wait”
On January 22nd, the world lost a rock singer Michael Lee Aday known as Meat Loaf.
He sold more than 100 million records, won a Grammy Award, and most importantly won the hearts of people around the world.
And one of his best ballads is actually a song about heaven.
In “Heaven Can Wait”, he’s already found paradise with someone he loves.
“Heaven can wait
And all I’ve got is time until the end of time
I won’t look back
I won’t look back
Let the altars shine.”
8. The Cure – “Just Like Heaven”
Essentially, “Just Like Heaven” is a familiar, feel-good song about heaven in a form of love.
Released in 1987, it’s one of the band’s most iconic songs, and it’s still one of their most beloved hits.
“You
Soft and lonely
You
Lost and lonely
You
Just like heaven.”
9. Depeche Mode – “Heaven”
When it comes to rock songs about heaven, Depeche Mode definitely comes to mind, even though “Heaven” isn’t one of their typical songs.
The song feels almost hypnotic and spiritual, but the lyrics seem to refer to heaven as a place that’s down here, among us.
As Dave Gahan revealed in one of the interviews, it’s about enjoying what we have.
“I dissolve in trust
I will sing with joy
I will end up dust
I’m in heaven.”
10. Lana Del Rey – “Video Games”
The harps at the beginning of Lana Del Rey’s “Video Games” make it sound like music from heaven.
It’s a captivating, dreamy tune full of romance and nostalgia.
And it’s one of Lana’s signature songs; nothing sounds more like Lana than “Video Games.”
“I tell you all the time
Heaven is a place on earth with you
Tell me all the things you wanna do
I heard that you like the bad girls
Honey, is that true?”
11. MARINA – “Handmade Heaven”
In her song “Handmade Heaven”, released in 2019, Marina Diamandis sings about the beauty of nature.
But the song is also about the sadness that comes because of being separated from nature. It’s like a dream about a better world, and that’s what her heaven lyrics refer to.
As she wrote in one of her Tweets, “Handmade Heaven” is an imagined paradise.
“But in this handmade heaven, I come alive
Bluebirds forever colour the sky
In this handmade heaven, we forget the time
‘Cause birds of a feather fly together.”
12. Tom Odell – “Streets Of Heaven”
Tom Odell wrote one of the sad songs about heaven.
In fact, “Streets Of Heaven” is one of his most delicate and heartbreaking songs; it’s about a school shooting.
The lyrics are based on a news article about a shooting in the USA.
“Another shot, wasted life
Another friend to walk beside
I know it hurts, but wipe your eyes
And we’ll sing until the old men cry.”
13. Brian Eno – “The Big Ship”
Brian Eno’s “The Big Ship” is featured in “The Lovely Bones”, Peter Jackon’s movie about a girl named Susie who enters a place between Heaven and Earth.
From there, she watches her family and tries to accept her own death.
And “The Big Ship” fits the atmosphere of the movie perfectly.
In a way, it feels like some kind of a spiritual journey.
14. Talking Heads – “Heaven”
In their unique (and quite sarcastic) approach to the concept of heaven, Talking Heads warn: “Heaven is a place where nothing ever happens.”
Well, the question is real: would living forever actually be a reward?
“When this kiss is over, it will start again
It will not be any different, it will be exactly the same
It’s hard to imagine that nothing at all
Could be so exciting, could be this much fun.”
15. Brad Paisley and Dolly Parton – “When I Get Where I’m Going”
If you’re looking for country songs about heaven, we have a perfect song for you.
In “When I Get Where I’m Going”, Brad Paisley sings about all the things he’s going to do when he gets to heaven.
He’s going to fly, shed the sins, walk with his grandfather… Sounds like a good plan.
“When I get where I’m going
On the far side of the sky
The first thing that I’m gonna do
Is spread my wings and fly.”
16. Kane Brown – “Heaven”
“Everybody’s talkin’ about heaven like they just can’t wait to go
Sayin’ how it’s gonna be so good, so beautiful
Lyin’ next to you, in this bed with you, I ain’t convinced.”
For Kane Brown, heaven can be found right here on Earth, next to the person you care about.
He released “Heaven” on his debut studio album in 2016.
17. Hurts – “Some Kind Of Heaven”
Hurts’ 2015 track is one of the upbeat heaven songs.
And just like in the previous song, the narrator found heaven in another person.
It seems like that’s the definition of heaven for many artists: it’s a place of love, safety, and happiness.
“You’re some kind of heaven
That’s all that I need
I found it in you.”
18. Halsey – “Heaven In Hiding”
“Heaven In Hiding” is another energetic heaven-themed song.
However, Halsey sings about a different kind of heaven. Hidden heaven, and probably a hidden love.
“Heaven In Hiding” can mean different things, but the narrative of the song is based on the characters of Halsey’s concept album “Hopeless Fountain Kingdom.”
“I can put on a show, I can put on a show
Don’t you see what you’re finding?
This is heaven in hiding.”
19. Charlotte Gainsbourg – “Heaven Can Wait”
At first, “Heaven Can Wait” sounds like a nice, “regular” pop song.
But considering Charlotte Gainsbourg’s artistic approach to music, the song can probably be interpreted in different ways.
Nonetheless, it’s an interesting, catchy tune that deserves more attention.
“Heaven can wait
And hell’s too far to go
Somewhere between what you need
And you know.”
20. Led Zeppelin – “Stairway To Heaven”
In a way, the beginning of “Stairway To Heaven” really sounds like music from heaven.
In our opinion, it’s a musical masterpiece that never gets old or overplayed.
Therefore, it’s a perfect ending to our today’s playlist.
“And as we wind on down the road
Our shadows taller than our soul
There walks a lady we all know
Who shines white light and wants to show
How everything still turns to gold.”
Final Thoughts
As you can see, there are many great songs about heaven.
And there are many ways to imagine it.
Heaven in music can represent a spiritual place, a person, or a state of mind. It’s everything you want it to be.
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