The Last of Us soundtrack includes songs by Avril Lavigne, Dido and Depeche Mode. This info article contains composer and music supervisor details for Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann’s HBO Max series. Visit the Soundtracks of Television section for more Vague Visages music guides.

The Last of Us stars Pedro Pascal as Joel, a traumatized Texan who survives a pandemic. Bella Ramsey co-stars as Ellie, a child soldier who is immune to a deadly virus. The storyline follows Joel and his brother (Gabriel Luna as Tommy) as they team up with a female survivor named Tess (Anna Torv). Composers David Fleming (Hillbilly Elegy) and Gustavo Santaolalla (Narcos: Mexico) scored the HBO series; music supervisors Ian Broucek (In Treatment) and Evyen Klean (House of the Dragon) selected the featured needle-drops. Here’s every song in The Last of Us, an adaptation of the Naughty Dog video game.

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The Last of Us Soundtrack: Every Song in Season 1, Episode 1 “When You’re Lost in the Darkness”

• “Tomorrow” by Avril Lavigne (00:06): Sarah (Nico Parker) wakes up during a 2003 sequence. The Last of Us soundtrack song plays as she cooks breakfast. Joel walks down a staircase and speaks with his daughter.
• “White Flag” by Dido (00:07): Joel inquires about Sarah’s homework. The music accompanies a transition sequence. Joel and Sarah have breakfast together.
• “I Can’t Believe You’re Back” by Jad Mhanna, Roy Abdallah & Carole Aoun Team (00:11): Sarah enters a pawn shop. The Last of Us soundtrack song plays from a speaker system. Sarah pays for a watch repair.
• “Never Let Me Down” by Depeche Mode (01:20:00): A radio turns on at an empty home. Joel and company approach a damaged building. The Last of Us music scores the episode’s final moments and end credits.

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The Last of Us Soundtrack: Every Song in Season 1, Episode 2 “Infected”

• No Featured Songs

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The Last of Us Soundtrack: Every Song in Season 1, Episode 3 “Long, Long Time”

• “I’m Coming Home to Stay” by Fleetwood Mac (00:18): The Last of Us soundtrack song scores a montage sequence. Bill (Nick Offerman) works outdoors and breaks into a store. He also breaks into a natural gas plant.
• “White Room” by Cream (00:22): Bill enjoys a meal. The music continues during a transition scene. Bill works at home.
• “Long Long Time” by Linda Ronstadt (00:30): Frank (Murray Bartlett) plays a piano. Bill asks him to stop and then performs the same song. The music is featured again at 01:14:00.
• “Chains of Love” by Erasure (01:11:00): Joel and Ellie enter Bill’s surveillance room. The Last of Us music plays from a speaker system. Joel explains Bill’s playlist plan.

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The Last of Us Soundtrack: Every Song in Season 1, Episode 4 “Please Hold to My Hand”

• “Alone and Forsaken” by Hank Williams & The Drifting Cowboys (00:07): Joel travels with Ellie in a car. They listen to the country tune. Ellie teases Joel about a nudie magazine.

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The Last of Us Soundtrack: Every Song in Season 1, Episode 5 “Endure and Survive”

• “Fuel to Fire” by Agnes Obel (00:58): Joel walks with Ellie. The Last of Us soundtrack song scores the end credits.

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The Last of Us Soundtrack: Every Song in Season 1, Episode 6 “Kin”

• “Never Let Me Down Again” by Jessica Mazin (00:58): Ellie looks after an injured Joel. A horse waits on a railroad track. The Last of Us soundtrack song scores the episode’s final moments and end credits.

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The Last of Us Soundtrack: Every Song in Season 1, Episode 7 “Left Behind”

• “All or None” by Pearl Jam (00:04): The Last of Us soundtrack song scores a gym sequence. Ellie runs and carries a Walkman.  She clashes with a young woman.
• “Take on Me” by a-ha (00:23): Ellie hangs out with Riley (Storm Reid). The Last of Us music plays during a mall sequence. Ellie rides an escalator.
• “I Got You Babe” by Etta James (00:46): Riley plays a song. She dances during a mall sequence. Ellie and Riley wear masks.

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The Last of Us Soundtrack: Every Song in Season 1, Episode 8 “When We Are in Need”

• No Featured Songs

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The Last of Us Soundtrack: Every Song in Season 1, Episode 9 “Look for the Light”

• “The Sun Always Shines on T.V.” by A-ha (00:10): Marlene enters a building during a flashback sequence. Anna (Ashley Johnson) sings The Last of Us soundtrack song.

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The Last of Us Soundtrack: Every Song in Season 2, Episode 1 “Future Days”

• “Love Buzz” by Nirvana (00:29): A scene at the Miller home begins. The Last of Us soundtrack song plays from a speaker system. Ellie cleans a gun.
• “Little Sadie” by Crooked Still (00:52): Ellie finishes a conversation with Joel. The Last of Us music continues during a transition sequence. Ellie attends a 2029 New Year’s Eve party.
• “Ecstasy” by Crooked Still (00:54): A New Year’s Eve sequence continues. Ellie dances with Dina (Isabela Merced). The characters kiss.

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The Last of Us Soundtrack: Every Song in Season 2, Episode 2 “Through the Valley”

• “Through the Valley” by Ashley Johnson & Chris Rondinella (00:54): Abby (Kaitlyn Dever) kills Joel. Ellie, Dina and Jesse (Young Mazino) travel with the corpse through snow. The Last of Us soundtrack song scores the episode’s final moments.

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The Last of Us airs weekly on HBO Max. New episodes premiere every Sunday through March 25, 2025. This article about the The Last of Us soundtrack will be updated as the series progresses.

Q.V. Hough (@QVHough) is Vague Visages’ founding editor.