The Grateful Dead’s “To Lay Me Down”
Borodin’s Requiem. He composed it as a joke. The melody is the Russian version of “Chopsticks”.
There Was A Time from The Gondoliers, by Gilbert and Sullivan. The prettiest song they ever wrote.
I’m with FriarTed: Old and Wise is my choice also.
I want some Motorhead, Iron Maiden, Virgin Steele, Savatage and maybe some Golden Earring. I thought about putting together a CD of stuff incase I die young, maybe I should. But in NO way do I want the crap they play.
I’m with FriarTed: Old and Wise is my choice also.
NinjaChick, Can I add your selections to my list? Cept for Soul Asylum, even though I like those local boys.
“Rainbow Connection” – the Kermit the Frog version.
“Dear God” – XTC
“Forever Young” – Alphaville
“Brown Eyed Girl” – Van Morrison
“Country Roads” – John Denver
“At my funeral” Crash Test Dummies
I need bagpipes too. So something traditional followed by the Drop Kick Murphys would suffice.
For me, two things, and Barb knows what they are, but it would be helpful if Dopers who are personal friends were to remind her of them, because I’m sure she’ll fall apart.
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The Strife Is Over, the Battle Done. Combines the sorrow and grief of a death with the hope of the Resurrection in a poignant way: Alleluias in a minor key.
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Can You Feel the Love Tonight. If I have to explain this one, I should go back to playing spider solitaire instead of posting!
“Bat Out of Hell” by Meatloaf
“Sweet Child of Mine” by Guns & Roses
“I Am A Rock” by Simon & Garfunkle.
“Atlantic City” and “Human Touch” by Bruce Springsteen.
heh, funeral?!
Alexander’s Ragtime Band
I Wanna be Sedated What kind of service would it be without Joey Ramone?
Gabba gabba Hey!
That song would wake the dead!
(they’d want to dance!)
The same answer as the wedding thread of course!
Ice Ice Baby!
When my old man died two years ago, I played “Box of Rain” on the church’s pipe organ as an intrada to the memorial service. Since Phil Lesh wrote it back in 1969 after HIS father died, I thought it was appropriate, and my siblings agreed to it.
I really don’t want a funeral, or a memorial either, but I’ve always been fond of the final movement of Gustav Mahler’s Ninth Symphony, which depicts Death as Lover.
The first movement of Haydn’s “passion” symphony.
It is an almost hellishly dark piece that would suit the occasion fine.
- “Kineret”- Written by Rachel (I like the Orfa Hava version)
- “Wind Up” - Jethro Tull
- “Amsterdam” - Guster
- “Battle” - Gladiator Soundtrack
- Something with either Scottish or Irish bagpipes (there is a difference, actually)
- “Crazy Game of Poker” - OAR
- “La Deploration de la Mort de Johanes Ockeghem” - Josquin Desprez
- Kaddish. 'nuff said.
No funeral. Just a gatherin’.
*Now the Day Is Over
Simple Gifts* – I love this little piece, but it is kind of a joke for me. I’m a packrat.
*Aire on an Irish Tune from County Derry (Note what I didn’t call it.)
Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana (never could spell it)
The Humming Chorus* from Madame Butterfly
Waltz for Sonya (I wrote it for my Danish mor.)
*Shall We Gather at the River
Happy Trails
Great Gig in the Sky* from DSOTM
Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee (from Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony
Then end with pieces that my grandchildren like.
(Hey, I’m sixty and I’m really getting into this…)
Metallica - Nothing Else Matters
Jerry Cantrell - Gone
Stevie Ray Vaughan - The Sky is Crying & Little Wing
Forgot to mention:
I’ve always joked about this, but I think it would be cool:
Alice in Chains - Man in the Box
Zebra, wow our funerals may sound alike!
I would add by the Beatles, In My Life and for a good laugh, I’m only sleeping.
I wanted this song to be playing when they lower my coffin, but then I remembered I want a ship-burning Viking funeral (legality issues be damned), so they can play it when they set the boat on fire: the Spike Jones version of “Holiday for Strings.” What better song for a funeral than one with tuned cowbells and maniacal laughter forming the melody?