# Songs at your funeral **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 8, 2010, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-at-your-funeral/559859 "2010-11-08T02:40:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2010, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-at-your-funeral/559859/21 "2010-11-09T03:24:41Z")
_In A Gadda Da Vida_, Iron Butterfly _Tall Cool Woman In A Black Dress_, The Hollies _My Sharona_, The Knack _Beethoven’s 9th Symphony_ _Suite: Judy Blue Eyes_, CSN&Y No funeral, though. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2010, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-at-your-funeral/559859/22 "2010-11-09T03:31:26Z")
Siegfried’s Funeral [March.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrZXEky58Js) ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2010, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-at-your-funeral/559859/23 "2010-11-09T03:33:03Z")
What else could it be? [“The Great Gig in the Sky” - Pink Floyd](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAydj4OJnwQ) ---
**Author:** ![Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superfluous_Parentheses)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2010, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-at-your-funeral/559859/24 "2010-11-09T03:38:26Z")
Want: Erbarme dich, mein gott - JS Bach (in [some good version](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucg7l1g8G4g), even though I’m a life-long atheist) Something good by Tom Waits. Maybe [the part you throw away](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmSMKxcFdOs) - not sure which song exactly. Andre Manuel’s [De Kraaien](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NL3eR6LWnNU) - basically a hedonist’s/viking funeral song (lyrics in the description of that youtube link). And maybe [Drinkebroer](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cABcZRK7BLg) - a love song on the brotherhood of drunks and brothers. [Jake Thackray - ‘Molly Metcalfe’](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiXINuf5nbI) - just watch the video. And maybe [‘The Hair of the Widow of Bridlington’](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geDSL19TXDI) if I ever leave a widow. ---
**Author:** ![Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superfluous_Parentheses)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2010, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-at-your-funeral/559859/25 "2010-11-09T03:46:58Z")
Oh, and set me on fire please. No burial for me. ---
**Author:** ![Walker\_in\_Eternity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/46a35a/32.png) [@Walker\_in\_Eternity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walker_in_Eternity)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2010, 9:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-at-your-funeral/559859/26 "2010-11-09T09:16:37Z")
> [@moejoe](#): > > All You Need is Love, and maybe some early AC/DC I often think that “Highway to Hell” would be an amusing song to be cremated to. Plus it would shock some of those left behind. As an atheist I really don’t care what happens to my body after I’m dead and as I don’t believe in an afterlife I just want my funeral to be as amusing as possible. ---
**Author:** ![Tinkertoy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f19dbf/32.png) [@Tinkertoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tinkertoy)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2010, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-at-your-funeral/559859/27 "2010-11-09T10:25:32Z")
[I’m going home](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1Xn-DWHuuM) from the Rocky Horror Picture Show. [Let it be](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdMBdYVWvKw) the Beatles ---
**Author:** ![Lucky\_13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucky_13/32/13209_2.png) [@Lucky\_13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucky_13)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2010, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-at-your-funeral/559859/28 "2010-11-09T10:34:36Z")
This thread seems to come up every few months, doesn’t it? So, just like last time, I still want _China Roses_ by Enya. ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2010, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-at-your-funeral/559859/29 "2010-11-09T13:07:13Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > _Amazing Grace_–on bagpipes. For me, that’s a **HELL NO!** Especially if I die in the line of duty as a fireman/EMT, where it’s almost required in a LOD funeral. _Amazing Grace_ offends my Lutheran sensibilities, and bagpipes piss me off just on general principles. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2010, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-at-your-funeral/559859/30 "2010-11-09T14:25:36Z")
_Why Me?_ by Johnny Cash, from the American IV CD, I think. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2010, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-at-your-funeral/559859/31 "2010-11-09T14:35:32Z")
> [@VunderBob](#): > > For me, that’s a **HELL NO!** Especially if I die in the line of duty as a fireman/EMT, where it’s almost required in a LOD funeral. _Amazing Grace_ offends my Lutheran sensibilities, and bagpipes piss me off just on general principles. Mrs SteveMB threatens to come back to haunt me if I allow _Amazing Grace_ to be played at her funeral. ---
**Author:** ![mo50](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@mo50](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mo50)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2010, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-at-your-funeral/559859/32 "2010-11-09T15:01:49Z")
The Parting Glass-Clancy Brothers Somewhere Over the Rainbow-That Hawaiian (SP?) guy’s great ukulele version Into the Mystic-Van Morrison (thanks for the reminder whoever mentioned this first) Carefree Highway- Gordon Lightfoot Good Riddance-Greenday 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2010, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-at-your-funeral/559859/33 "2010-11-09T17:12:07Z")
> [@mo50](#): > > The Parting Glass-Clancy Brothers What, no Finnegan’s Wake? ---
**Author:** ![mo50](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@mo50](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mo50)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2010, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-at-your-funeral/559859/34 "2010-11-09T19:07:08Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > What, no Finnegan’s Wake? Knew I forgot one! :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2010, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-at-your-funeral/559859/35 "2010-11-09T19:15:31Z")
John Milton Cage’s _4’33"_, followed by P.D.Q. Bach’s _Concerto for Horn and Hardart_ and Yankovic’s _Albuquerque_. ---
**Author:** ![Apollyon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/apollyon/32/4238_2.png) [@Apollyon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apollyon)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2010, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-at-your-funeral/559859/36 "2010-11-09T21:26:36Z")
> [@Superfluous\_Parentheses](#): > > Oh, and set me on fire please. No burial for me. As in cremated? Or like in a boat along with prized possessions, pushed out to sea? 'Cos I think the latter would be really cool. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2010, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-at-your-funeral/559859/37 "2010-11-09T21:52:27Z")
> [@Apollyon](#): > > As in cremated? Or like in a boat along with prized possessions, pushed out to sea? 'Cos I think the latter would be really cool. 🆒 It only sounds cool. What really happens is that they overload the boat and not even Thor can move it on account of wrenching his back the previous night during some _Mourning my dead little brother_ sex with Sif, so they have to call a giantess to shove it off, and she drives up in a chariot pulled by huge wolves whose reins are snakes, just to be a bitch, and Thor, embarassed at being shown up by a chick when said giantess succeeds where he failed, murders an innocent dwarf in anger. Do you really want that to happen at your funeral? ---
**Author:** ![ItsInTheCards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/bb73d2/32.png) [@ItsInTheCards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ItsInTheCards)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2010, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-at-your-funeral/559859/38 "2010-11-09T22:05:51Z")
Ian Moore’s _Time of Dying_ and _Today_. It is in my will that if he is available, I would like him hired to play it live. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2010, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-at-your-funeral/559859/39 "2010-11-09T22:09:47Z")
Play what’cha want at mine – I generally honor the passing of a friend with _[Whistles The Wind](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwSkLvVwf6o)_. ---
**Author:** ![Tethered\_Kite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a5b964/32.png) [@Tethered\_Kite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tethered_Kite)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2010, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-at-your-funeral/559859/40 "2010-11-09T22:11:24Z")
I never planned to have music at my funeral. Certainly not that pretentious “How Great Thou Art” that seems to be the all-purpose song around here. I figured that if anyone wanted music they’d bring their own and it would be some mighty fine boogie getdown stuff. So, I thought maybe everybody could just go out to the creek seven miles out of town and hang out on the bluffs, maybe do a little wading and tell a few stories about me. Or badmouth me a bit. I’m sure some of them must want to by now. But ever since I heard Neko Case’s cover of Harry Nielssen’s “Don’t Forget About Me” on the radio this weekend I’ve been singing this quirky little tune. Seems a fitting farewell to me. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/hCWhkP6ccZs/hqdefault.jpg "Neko Case - Don't Forget Me") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCWhkP6ccZs) Thing is, as awesome as that orchestra of six pianos is, I doubt anyone would want to drag them out to the wilds. But this song will work just as well with a mandolin or guitar. ETA: I nearly fell off my chair at a wake held for an old friend, Indian, VietNam vet, who died an alcoholic and crackhead. He left behind five wives and a mess of kids, some who’d never met him. Sad, sad, sad. The music started so quietly I couldn’t hear it and then there was Bobby Zimmerman singing "Saving Grace. Perfect! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-at-your-funeral/559859.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/songs-at-your-funeral/559859.md?page=3)