It’s probably going to have to be “Take This Job and Shove It”. I’m sure I’ll still be working and I’d hate to leave without quiting. If I win the lottery or something maybe “Driftwood” by the Moody Blues or “Diamonds & Rust” by Joan Baez.
Oh and I want to add A Whiter Shade of Pale by Procol harem
Thunderkiss '69 by the White Zombies.
The Navy Hymn.
“Forgotten Years” - Midnight Oil
Barber’s Adagio for strings
“In Paridisum” from the Faure requiem
“In My Life” - The Beatles
Lakme flower duet (can never remember what the actual name of it is)
“In the depths of the Temple” from the Pearl Fishers.
It amuses me to think they’ll play Terry Jacks’ Season’s in the Sun
We had joy, we had fun,
we had seasons in the sun;
But the cops had the guns,
and they shot us in the buns…
Hmm, I’ve never really thought about this before. 1980s Dylan, I think. Maybe “Every Grain of Sand” or “Dark Eyes” or “Ring them Bells.”
Not that it’ll happen, since nobody knows this and funerals in my family tend to be very sedate, Catholic, and proper, and in any case I will probably have changed my mind long before I plan on dying.
Dead by They Might Be Giants
The Spiraling Shape by They Might Be Giants
Put Your Hand Inside the Puppet Head by They Might Be Giants
Ana Ng by They Might Be Giants
Birdhouse in Your Soul by… um… some band. I can’t remember who.
All survivors are invited to make suggestions and bring tapes. Funerals are for those who haven’t died, after all, so I’d feel funny trying to exert too much control. If my survivors decide to forego They Might Be Giants and just put on something tasteful—you know, like a Rick Wakeman album—I’d have no problem. Have fun, survivors!
At my uncle’s recent memorial service, my mentally handicapped aunt and my mom sang “This is My Story.” Then we ALL sang “Puff the Magic Dragon” and the first verse from the Navy Hymn. Some of his friends put together a video montage with “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” (his favorite Stones song) and, I believe, “We’ll Meet Again.” At the end of the service, they played the Stones again. And I blew his conch shell, Bocephus. My other uncle also sang a song that I was not familiar with, and my mom sang another gospel tune. Very eclectic mix.
I’ll also go with Dead by They Might Be Giants
I also want Lookin’ Out My Back Door by CCR
I’d request some 1920s-style “death songs.”
One - Metallica
I Wanna Be Sedated - The Ramones
It’s the End of the World As We Know It (and I Feel Fine) - R.E.M.
Girls Just Wanna Have Fun - Cyndi Lauper
If my best friends are alive & in attendance, Brown Eyed Girl - Van Morrison (I almost typed JimMorrison!)
Perhaps some Rancid, some Joan Osborne, some Depeche Mode, etc.
Restless and alone
A weary soul has traveled home
What am I to do
In a world without you
I don’t want to believe
I turned around and you’re gone
All the sweet memories
Of loving you for so long
Sometimes it’s hard
Most times I cry
But God holds this heart of mine
He feels the pain inside
Broken and undone
You were the one we counted on
You taught us how to say
I love you
Then you showed us how to pray
I don’t want to believe
I turned around and you’re gone
All of the sweet memories
Of loving you for so long
Sometimes it’s hard
Most times I cry
But God holds this heart of mine
And He heals the pain I hide
Sometimes it’s hard
Most times I cry
But God knows this heart of mine
He feels the pain inside
–Unglued-by Michael Tait
Joyful Joyful We Adore Thee
Hallelujah (Handel)
and to be a little bit perverse Joy Unspeakable
She Goes On by Crowded House. A little sad, but mostly comforting.
Plus, it’s only appropriate Neil Finn have something to do at my funeral, one way or another.
Avarie, by “This is My Story”, do you mean “Blessed Assurance”? (Chorus- “This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior All the day long.”)
Oooh, I remembered another. Shawn Na Na - The Princess and the Pony. (with the awesome line:Shake your ass around my casket)
O Fortuna from Carmina Burana.
My Weakness by Moby.
Orinocco Flow and Shepard Moons by Enya.
Saturn, Bringer of Old Age from The Planets.
If I didn’t Care by the Ink Spots
I Can’t Stop Loving You by Ray Charles
I’m a Sci-Fi geek and my ten-year-old nephew is a bagpiper, so I’d have him play “Amazing Grace,” just like Scotty did at the end of “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.”
Just Shoot Me Out a Torpedo Hole,
Patty