# What music should be played at your funeral/wake? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 14, 2010, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-music-should-be-played-at-your-funeral-wake/546672 "2010-07-14T16:18:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Sam\_A.Robrin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sam_a.robrin/32/14497_2.png) [@Sam\_A.Robrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_A.Robrin)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2010, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-music-should-be-played-at-your-funeral-wake/546672/21 "2010-07-14T20:25:54Z")
“The Merry-go-round Broke Down”–better known as the Loony Tunes theme. Th-Th-Th-That’s all, folks! ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2010, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-music-should-be-played-at-your-funeral-wake/546672/22 "2010-07-14T20:43:49Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > _[Love Actually](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0314331/)_ featured the best movie scene with a song being played at a funeral. [The Big Chill](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0085244/) beats it. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2010, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-music-should-be-played-at-your-funeral-wake/546672/23 "2010-07-14T21:16:32Z")
During my open casket viewing, with plenty of felt pen drawings of penises on my smiling face, Andrew W.K.'s “Ready to Die” should be playing. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/YlBnJ0egT_4/hqdefault.jpg "Ready To Die - Andrew WK ((with Lyrics))") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlBnJ0egT_4) Then as my casket is being lowered into the ground it should be “It’s Time to Party” by Andrew W.K. [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJ6c91nlEAo) ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2010, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-music-should-be-played-at-your-funeral-wake/546672/24 "2010-07-14T21:20:13Z")
Three musts: Moody Blues “Nights in White Satin” Alan Parsons Project “Old and Wise” Hymn “It is Well with My Soul” Optional: Annie Lennox “Into the West” (from LORT:ROTK) During the Wake/Prelude- “Magic Fire Music” from Wagner’s WALKURE or SIEGFRIED’s Rhine Journey Hymn “How Great Thou Art” ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2010, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-music-should-be-played-at-your-funeral-wake/546672/25 "2010-07-14T21:24:41Z")
If I’ve led a fairly ordinary life, then They Might Be Giants “Older” would be a fun choice. Sort of an alternative/rock version of the classic epitaph “As you are now, so once was I / As I am now, so shall you be / so bow your head and pray for me.” 😃 If I attain any power or importance before I kick, though, then I’m all for dialing the bombast up to 11. Hold the memorial service in the National Cathedral, complete with Mozart’s Requiem Mass, Du Tvoy Blagiy, Barber’s Adagio, whatever. If I’ve earned it, then let all present know that a _man_ passed here! ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2010, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-music-should-be-played-at-your-funeral-wake/546672/26 "2010-07-14T21:25:19Z")
**Amazing Grace** –on bagpipes. A shout out to my Celtic ancestors. **Behind Blue Eyes** –because I know what it’s like to be the Bad Man. **Free Bird** –which really should be aka _Oak’s Anthem_. **Immigrant Song** –because I really hope I make Valhalla. My soul, if I have one, is that of a Warrior. **Dixie** –slow, mournful version. Some won’t get it, or will construe it in ways unintended. Fuck em. Those that knew me will understand. Those that didn’t shouldn’t be at the funeral anyway. ---
**Author:** ![MostlyClueless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@MostlyClueless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MostlyClueless)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2010, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-music-should-be-played-at-your-funeral-wake/546672/27 "2010-07-14T21:53:08Z")
[Funeral](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJWzOfi0dvg#t=1m30s) [Cremation](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xJW7foStBY#t=0m25s) What I’d really like to be played is [‘Everybody returns home’](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGSHYceumZ4) from the ‘Blue submarine no. 6’ soundtrack. The anime itself isn’t something I’m particularly attached to, but the music is beautiful. ---
**Author:** ![Made\_in\_Macau](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eada6e/32.png) [@Made\_in\_Macau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Made_in_Macau)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2010, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-music-should-be-played-at-your-funeral-wake/546672/28 "2010-07-14T21:59:40Z")
I have said this for years and recently had it transcribed into my will; - the only music to be played at my funeral is what I consider to be the quintessential pop song - ‘Wake Me Up Before You Go Go’ by Wham. It’s also a funny title for a funeral. MiM ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2010, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-music-should-be-played-at-your-funeral-wake/546672/29 "2010-07-14T22:17:34Z")
"Fill my boots … up with sand Put a stiff drink in my haaaaaand… Prop me up beside the juke box when I die!" My taxidermist friend may have some legal issues to hurdle. ---
**Author:** ![maplekiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@maplekiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maplekiwi)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2010, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-music-should-be-played-at-your-funeral-wake/546672/30 "2010-07-14T22:27:31Z")
I’ve only just started thinking about this, but I know i definitely want “Angel” by Sarah McLaughlin & Clair de Lune (sorry if these are spelt wrong) There will have to be some Joni Mitchell in there somewhere too. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2010, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-music-should-be-played-at-your-funeral-wake/546672/31 "2010-07-15T00:10:22Z")
My first thought: “Come Sail Away” by Styx. If I ever have kids, maybe “Growing Old” by Malcolm & Alwyn. > [@gaffa](#): > > My personal choice would probably be “The Morning Fog” from Kate Bush’s “The Ninth Wave” from her album “Hounds of Love”. Good choice. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2010, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-music-should-be-played-at-your-funeral-wake/546672/32 "2010-07-15T00:15:12Z")
“Fill the World with Love” (theme from **Goodbye, Mr. Chips** ) “To Sir With Love” by Lulu I’m a teacher. ---
**Author:** ![USCDiver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uscdiver/32/354_2.png) [@USCDiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/USCDiver)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2010, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-music-should-be-played-at-your-funeral-wake/546672/33 "2010-07-15T00:31:54Z")
I always thought it would be nice to play “Satisfied Mind”. I prefer the Jeff Buckley version, especially since it was the last song on his posthumously released double album. ---
**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:** [July 15, 2010, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-music-should-be-played-at-your-funeral-wake/546672/34 "2010-07-15T00:40:05Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > **Amazing Grace** –on bagpipes. A shout out to my Celtic ancestors. Seconded. (Even if not technically a Scottish hymn or music – but it sounds really good on pipes). This piece of music is a family tradition, and, with apologies to **racer72** , I’ll come back and haunt relatives if they _don’t_ have bagpipes play this at my funeral – despite being strongly agnostic personally. 🙂 And they’ve got to do the third verse: > [@](#): > > When we’ve been there ten thousand years, > Bright shining as the sun, > We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise, > Than when we first begun. No, not confused at all… why do you ask? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2010, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-music-should-be-played-at-your-funeral-wake/546672/35 "2010-07-15T01:08:36Z")
> [@cjepson](#): > > “Ripple” by Grateful Dead would be nice. That’s the one song I’ve made it clear I would like played for me… ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2010, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-music-should-be-played-at-your-funeral-wake/546672/36 "2010-07-15T01:14:31Z")
The _Dies Irae_ from Mozart’s **Requiem**. Wake everyone up. Wake me up if I’m not too dead. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Understander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3da27b/32.png) [@The\_Understander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Understander)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2010, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-music-should-be-played-at-your-funeral-wake/546672/37 "2010-07-15T01:19:00Z")
[![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6iT-lMgfAI) Followed immediately by [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6aRwky0W5Y&feature=related](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6aRwky0W5Y&feature=related) No crying at my funeral, or it’s the Jacob Marley special for you! And no three This Is Your Life Xmas ghosts to soften the blow, neither. ---
**Author:** ![bigdfrombigd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/df705f/32.png) [@bigdfrombigd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bigdfrombigd)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2010, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-music-should-be-played-at-your-funeral-wake/546672/38 "2010-07-15T02:11:22Z")
Originally Posted by Oakminster Amazing Grace–on bagpipes. A shout out to my Celtic ancestors. Bet your Celtic ancestors never heard this version! Lol! [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/JeFoS40l4wc/hqdefault.jpg "Omazing Grace : Crack Head Sings At a Funeral") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeFoS40l4wc) ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2010, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-music-should-be-played-at-your-funeral-wake/546672/39 "2010-07-15T04:41:25Z")
> [@Enfant Terrible](#): > > No crying at my funeral, or it’s the Jacob Marley special for you! And no three This Is Your Life Xmas ghosts to soften the blow, neither. I’ve personally made it known that if “Time of Your Life” or “I Will Remember You” is played at my funeral/wake, I will rise from the dead and attack the living. I’d do it, too. ---
**Author:** ![multimediac17](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/839c29/32.png) [@multimediac17](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/multimediac17)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2010, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-music-should-be-played-at-your-funeral-wake/546672/40 "2010-07-15T05:19:23Z")
‘Lifted’, the final track from Eurythmics’ final album, _Peace_. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-music-should-be-played-at-your-funeral-wake/546672.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-music-should-be-played-at-your-funeral-wake/546672.md?page=3)