What Song Would You Want to Be Played at Your Funeral?
Please don't think I'm morbid in asking the question- It's on my mind after playing at a beautiful memorial service last week- I was asked to play "Two of Us" (the Beatles) and "Imagine" (John Lennon, of course!) and thought they were such great choices!
Ok, so assuming I die one day, and I guess inevitably I will, one song that comes to mind that I'd like played at my going away party is Eva Cassidy's version of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow".
Ok, so assuming I die one day, and I guess inevitably I will, one song that comes to mind that I'd like played at my going away party is Eva Cassidy's version of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow".
11 Comments:
At 7:57 PM, J Kendel Johnson said…
Not that I think about dying all the time, either, but for some time I have had several songs in mind that I've requested my loved ones to play at my funeral:
You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go, Bob Dylan
For A Dancer, Jackson Browne
Sweet Old World, Lucinda Williams
Don't know what happens when people die
Can't seem to grasp it, as hard as I try
It's like a song I can hear
Playing right in my ear
But I can't sing it
Still, I can't help listening
-- For A Dancer, Jackson Browne
There's a really great performance of this song on Jackson's "Solo Acoustic, Vol. 1" album.
At 10:18 PM, Janie said…
I Hope You Dance - LeeAnn Womack; I Am Woman - Helen Reddy; Let It Be A Dance - Ric Masten; Amazing Grace -The Blind Boys of Alabama; lots of Delbert McClinton and do wop from the 50s and 60s. If you haven't heard The Blind Boys version of Amazing Grace, you are really missing something.
At 12:10 AM, Anonymous said…
EASY ONE
Bright Eyes by Art Garfunkle
Was thr title track to the animated feature "Watership Down"
Perfect funeral song!
At 8:08 AM, julie said…
On the form I completed for our church for just this situation, I listed hymns and not popular music. The ones I listed are:
Sleep My Child (I cry every time I read the words);
The Gift of Love (arr. Hopson);
'Tis a Gift to Be Simple
There was a popular song in late 1994/early 1995 soon after my daughter was born called, "There are Angels Among Us" or something to that effect. I would like that one, too.
I want lots and lots of music at my funeral. I also want them to read the children's book Love You Forever.
At 9:58 AM, Sarah said…
Michael Murphy, Swans Against the Sun
Wild grace
Has its own place
Has its own face
Prone to flight...
Sky grown
wind blown wings flown
Over air blown
Back to night...
Flashing
Freely clashing
Love of chaos
Love of one
Bright storms
Rising free forms
Wild swans against the sun...
(that is part of it)
Also:
Beautiful Day, U2
Handel's, Messiah
(and probably lots more if I think about it some more!)
At 3:37 PM, Rrramone said…
Great question! There are so many. :-)
Love Train by the O'jays
Brand New Day from The Wiz
Somewhere over the rainbow by the big Hawaiian dude
The Rainbow Connection by Kermit the Frog
Georgia by Ray Charles
My Cherie Amour by Stevie Wonder
You're My Best Friend by Queen
I could go on... :-)
At 6:52 PM, Fiddle Hat said…
The tune I would want played at my funeral would be-
"Caoineadh Cu Chulain" (Lament)
It is the hauntingly beautiful uillean bagpipe solo played by Davey Splillane in the first Riverdance.
I never knew such an instrument existed until watching Riverdance.
It stopped me in my tracks. I've been facinated by the instrument and the music ever since. That tune is a benchmark for laments.
At 11:03 PM, kimmarla said…
I hope it's not too late to answer this one - "Remember Me as a Sunny Day." It looks like it was by Diana Ross. Ok - it's more about a break up than a death, but I do like the thought!
At 11:09 PM, John R. said…
Classic guitar pieces/arrangements played by someone who knew me.
"Ave Maria" by Bach-Gounod, arr Tarrega
"Prelude, Fugue, and Allegro, BWV 998", J. S. Bach
"Lejania" by Payet
"Cantarell" by Boyd and
"Recuerdos de la Alhambra" by Tarrega
At 10:20 AM, alittle said…
That is a tough one to think about...probobly I would have a medley of tunes ranging from the Beatles to Rufus to The Carpenters to the Pretenders to U2...I am sure that the angels in the heavens would sing some love songs...elaine
At 12:29 PM, Julie said…
I always love that Louis Armstrong version of What A Wonderful World. I think the world holds so much beauty. I'm not afraid of dying, but I'm happy to be living and seeing so much beauty every day. I live in Seattle, and I'd likely have a different perspective if I lived in Dallas. Being in the natural beauty colors my view of people, ideas, events... For me, the beauty of life on Earth derives from the beauty of the Earth itself. I can look @ nature and understand a lot about how to navigate through life.
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