Somewhere Over The Rainbow/What A Wonderful World by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole
and for some reason, I’m reminded of the funeral scene in My Own Private Idaho where all the street kids are singing the deceased’s name
Eulogy by Tool.
“He had a lot to say, he had a lot of nothing to say, we’ll miss him.”
(I just) died in your arms tonight
Live and let die
Killing Me Softly
Don’t fear the reaper
But I, personally hate that song. If I have a spirit, it would not allow that song to be played at my funeral.
The bottles are done
We’ve killed each one
The table is full and overflowed
And the corner sign says it’s closing time
So I’ll say farewell and be down the road…
‘Restless Farewell’ - Bob Dylan
Weird ASL makes some good albums, but you really have to see him in concert to understand the lyrics.
Some have mentioned the funeral march, which somehow is missing from the original list. Me, I’m gonna have the Imperial March at my funeral.
At a cremation it’s just gotta be “Great Balls of Fire”
I really like “Great Gig in the Sky” from Dark Side of the Moon.
Besides, it will be familiar to everybody, but nobody will be able to think of the name of it. It will drive 'em crazy.
Which remind me. “Still Crazy After All These Years” is not bad either.
At my father’s funeral we sang “Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee” (from Beethoven’s Ninth. It was just right.
If I heard that song at a funeral today, I’d crack up. (“I feel the need for more cowbell!”) I’d feel terribly embarrassed, but if this funeral was in the USA, there’s a real possibility the giggles would be contagious.
[Question: are Britons aware of the cowbell humor on and off the web in the wake of the “Saturday Night Live” skit? Do you have any networks carrying SNL?]
For me, it’d be “Love is Stronger Than Death” by The The, even though it’s a religious song and I’m atheist. It’s just that terrific, in every way.
The cowbell bit is lame. That song is funny because of The Stöned Age.
I mean, it’s a love song and it doesn’t even have the word poon tang in it.
Why Don’t We Do It In The Road - The Beatles… isn’t it the perfect song for any occasion?
Nitpick: Good Riddance (Time of your Life). We sung it recently for graduation. That was when I started bawling.
Not quite; she replaced her own cereal with crack cocaine.
Personally, I’ll gladly have someone play a parody that makes everyone giggle. Anything by Weird Al is in! Hell, play a polka, what do I care? I’m dead.
My bad. :o
I told my mom about the original article and she requested that we play “Memory” from Cats at her funeral. She also said that under no circumstances are we to play “Amor Eterno,” a Mexican song written by Juan Gabriel (about his late mother, I think). If she can’t stand it while she’s alive, she doesn’t want it played once she’s passed - hopefully not for a long time.
OMG…listening to the melody and the slide-show video, and imagining that at a funeral…It breaks your heart.
When my grandmother and my grandfather were cremated (some 20 years apart) the company did it and mailed the box of ashes to the family. Nobody who knew them was actually present AT THE CREMATION (and …um… EW!!! Who would want to be!?)
For me, I want “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life” and “Dead Man’s Party” played at my funeral. Not sure what else, but those two for sure.
As far as great funeral music goes that I don’t necessarily want at MY funeral, the funeral music for Queen Mary is amazing. It was used in the movie A Clockwork Orange.
I went to a funeral for a good friend last summer - died at 29 years old. had been confined to a wheelchair for most of his life (muscular dystrophy). In spite of all that, he had a marvellous zest for life and a driving spirit to do things that seemed impossible. He and his family faced every challenge by asking, why not?
At his request, the funeral opened with Trooper: “We’re Here for a Good Time (not a long time)”, played nice and loud.
All-time best funeral song, bar none - Ave Maria, sung well.
I’ve never thought of which songs I’d like played at my funeral. “She’s Gone” by Hall and Oates wouldn’t be a bad choice - appropriate title, and I’m a huge fan of Darryl Hall’s voice.