# Top 10 Funeral Songs? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 5, 2006, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-funeral-songs/375353 "2006-10-05T03:50:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![cantara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6f9a4e/32.png) [@cantara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cantara)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2006, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-funeral-songs/375353/21 "2006-10-05T19:28:23Z")
My wifes grandmother surprised us at her granddads funeral. She had asked us if it was allowed to choose a pop song that he just loved listening to. We said ‘Of course. The funeral is about him, so go ahead.’ We didn’t know what the song was, but Nana said that he loved her voice and loved listening to it. We weren’t familiar with it at the time, so it didn’t really make any difference to us. Everybody gathers in the funeral home and we walk in after to whole room is filled with relatives and friends. As they start the funeral, the music swells up, “ **Time to say goodbye** ” by Sarah Brightman (solo version). Knocked us flat. My wife still cannot listen to it 9 years later. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2006, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-funeral-songs/375353/22 "2006-10-05T19:41:23Z")
I’ve seen\*\* Free Bird\*\* used at a funeral, sorta. It was the funeral of my friend/mentor/former boss a couple of months ago. She was a huge Skynyrd fan, so her son blasted it at the gravesite after the more tradfitional service ended. It will also be played at my funeral, if anybody cares what my wishes would be. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2006, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-funeral-songs/375353/23 "2006-10-05T19:44:28Z")
[QUOTE=ddgryphon] When they say “Every Breath You Take” is there any chance they’re talking about the Sean Combs tribute song to Biggie Smalls based on “Every Breath You Take?” [/QUOTE] Wouldn’t the respondents have said “I’ll Be Missing You” if that was the case? I’m sure they mean the original. ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2006, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-funeral-songs/375353/24 "2006-10-05T20:08:01Z")
[QUOTE=BunnyTVS] \*Knock three times - whoever it was [/QUOTE] [Tony Orlando and Dawn.](http://www.guntheranderson.com/v/data/knockthr.htm) My nomination: [_Mary Jane’s Last Dance_](http://www.seeklyrics.com/lyrics/Tom-Petty/Mary-Jane-s-Last-Dance.html) by Tom Petty ([video here)](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlcLzw4thHg) ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2006, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-funeral-songs/375353/25 "2006-10-05T22:30:41Z")
I guess these people have never been to a Southern black funeral. “Precious Lord” is a requirement. ---
**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:** [October 6, 2006, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-funeral-songs/375353/26 "2006-10-06T01:51:02Z")
I can’t believe nobody’s mentioned “Spirit in the Sky”. When I die, I want my survivors to play “Time of your Life (Good Riddance)” by Green Day at my funeral. 😃 Speaking of unusual funeral music, I once attended a memorial service, at the end of which the organist played “Can’t Help Fallin’ In Love”. Turns out the deceased was an Elvis Presley fan. ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2006, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-funeral-songs/375353/27 "2006-10-06T02:26:44Z")
I want them to play “Prop Me Up Beside The Jukebox If I Die” by Joe Diffie at my funeral. ---
**Author:** ![zoogirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b9bd4f/32.png) [@zoogirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoogirl)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2006, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-funeral-songs/375353/28 "2006-10-06T03:31:35Z")
Oh, I’m having Spirit In The Sky! It’s even already in my instructions and my pastor knows about it! It’s gotta be LOUD too. I mean full blast and rockin’! I’d like to be buried and I already know what I want played as they lower me in. “Killer”, by Alice Cooper, specifically the last few minutes of repetitive instrumentals. When they get to the last bit, the “thunk!” trapdoor sound effect, they can let the coffin drop! The mourners laughing their asses off will be the one’s that recognize the song and where it’s from. Anyone plays “Wonderful World”, I’ll haunt 'em. Seriously. ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2006, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-funeral-songs/375353/29 "2006-10-06T04:19:49Z")
[QUOTE=flodnak] Wot? No “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life”? _Heathens._ [/QUOTE] You stole my idea! You must die! :mad: (I’ll make sure to put the song on at the funeral, don’t worry. ;)) ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2006, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-funeral-songs/375353/30 "2006-10-06T04:39:43Z")
[QUOTE=Hamadryad] Almost all of those make my stomach turn. For one thing I hate this song with passion unspeakable. Well, that’s the only thing, really. Remake = OMG TEH VOMIT!!!11! For no apparent reason, this song fills me with HATE and RAGE. I like that zombie angle. Eat a dick. [/QUOTE] Somebody is off her meds. ---
**Author:** ![ThisSpaceForRent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thisspaceforrent/32/345_2.png) [@ThisSpaceForRent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisSpaceForRent)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2006, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-funeral-songs/375353/31 "2006-10-06T05:21:29Z")
Black peter…Ripple and Broke down palace, all by the Grateful dead (even the band name is fitting and for those that know the tunes the lyrics are MORE than relevant) echoing Sympathy for the Devil Elton Johns Feunral for a Friend (off of yello brick road) is also on my list tsfr ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2006, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-funeral-songs/375353/32 "2006-10-06T10:45:43Z")
I think mine will be "Hard to say I’m Sorry " by Chicago. A few will understand 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2006, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-funeral-songs/375353/33 "2006-10-06T12:41:29Z")
I’m going out with “Seasons of Love” from Rent. ---
**Author:** ![buns3000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c89c15/32.png) [@buns3000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buns3000)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2006, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-funeral-songs/375353/34 "2006-10-06T15:01:33Z")
“Farewell My Friend” off Dennis Wilson’s solo album would be good. Apparently, it was played at his own funeral to much wailing. Otherwise, there’s always “Man In The Box” by Alice In Chains. ---
**Author:** ![Kizarvexius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/da6949/32.png) [@Kizarvexius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kizarvexius)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2006, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-funeral-songs/375353/35 "2006-10-06T18:08:21Z")
[QUOTE=Nightsong] 5 - “Pie Jesu” - Requiem [/QUOTE] Well, at least _that_ song actually _is_ for a funeral. Though I’ve heard it played at a baptism before. In a Catholic church. Where, theoretically, _somebody_ might have been in a position to provide them with a translation of the text: > [@](#): > > “Merciful Jesus, who takes away the sins of the world, grant them eternal rest.” Personally, I’d like to have a performance of Borodin’s _Requiem_ at my funeral, though the piece is so obscure as to be impossible to find. It was the product of a musical game that Borodin and his composer friends used to play – pick a well-known folk tune, and transform it into something spectacular. So Borodin picked what was essentually the Russian version of “Chopsticks” and arranged it as a funeral dirge. And quite a lovely one, too. Nobody will get the joke apart from two or three of my closest friends. But I hope it makes them smile. ---
**Author:** ![aclubs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e68b1a/32.png) [@aclubs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aclubs)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2006, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-funeral-songs/375353/36 "2006-10-06T18:40:23Z")
Chopin’s “Piano Sonata No. 2 in B flat Minor - Movement 3” It’s the famous “Funeral March,” which is only the most recognizable funeral song in history, methinks. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2006, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-funeral-songs/375353/37 "2006-10-06T18:44:52Z")
What about “At Your Funeral” by Saves the Day? Unfortunately, like others, it’s somewhat celebratory rather than mournful, although it does mention “requiem”. “And at your funeral, I will sing the requiem…” ---
**Author:** ![ddgryphon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8c91f0/32.png) [@ddgryphon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ddgryphon)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2006, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-funeral-songs/375353/38 "2006-10-06T19:07:26Z")
How about “Funeral for a Friend” by Elton John? Faure’s Requiem is on my must play at my funeral list. ---
**Author:** ![usar\_jag](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f0a364/32.png) [@usar\_jag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usar_jag)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2006, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-funeral-songs/375353/39 "2006-10-06T19:32:35Z")
What? No love for “Amazing Grace”? I’m either having a piper play that off on the hillside, or having the Dropkick Murphy’s version scare the crap out ouf the guests… ---
**Author:** ![naotalbah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7c8e57/32.png) [@naotalbah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naotalbah)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2006, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-funeral-songs/375353/40 "2006-10-06T19:45:34Z")
Sarah McLaughlin’s “Full of Grace” and Michelle Branch’s “Goodbye To You” for me. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-funeral-songs/375353.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/top-10-funeral-songs/375353.md?page=3)