The Asshole Song by Denis Leary, as has been mentioned before. (Did you know Dennis is sinneD backwards?)This is the tune that got me kicked off public radio; should be done as the recessional.
Dark Eyes by Dylan (Franseth cover); Water Over Stone by Tabor. I assume if I go first I’ll have a wonderful send-off.
Crazy Crazy Angel by Snopek at the wake. & don’t skimp on the single malt!
Here Comes The Flood - Peter Gabriel
-Always thought this would make a touching “funeral song.”
Time To Say Goodbye - Andrea Bochelli
-Same as above.
The End - The Doors
-I would say the line: “Father? Yes Son? I want to…” precludes this one, but the title is appropriate.
Talk To Ya Later - The Tubes
-A positive upbeat sentiment, if you don’t listen to the lyrics TO closely.
Monkey Gone To Heaven - The Pixies
-Never been to clear as to what the lyrics of this song actually mean; but I take it as a view on evolution vs. creationism.
Dear God - XTC
-Will I still be an athiest after I die?
Nowhere Man - The Beatles
-If you can’t laugh at yourself…
Me And Julio Down By The Schoolyard - Paul Simon
-A good friend of mine insists he wants this played at his funeral, so I thought I’d include it.
And Finally,
The Theme From The Rockford Files
-To leave people scratching their heads.
the water is wide – don’t know who does it, it is on the 30something soundtrack
wildflowers – by tom petty
and third I haven’t decided on, heard yet, or something.
usually they allow only 3 songs during the funeral.
“Nobody’s Fault but Mine” Led Zeppelin
or maybe “Time” by Floyd
“Die Valkerye” (sic)Wagner
Elton John
Oh my! :eek:
I am not a fan of Britney (nor most of what passes for ‘pop culture’), but please tell me this is not the title of the song. Or are you paraphrasing here? Or is this an opinion of Britney?
I don’t especially want a funeral (hell, I’ll be dead!). However, I’ve told my husband that if he and/or the kid’s want one, I don’t object so long as they stay within certain parameters.
“[Bad times] come and they pass, so let us be happy now.” said Tottie.
“Without Birdie?” asked Mr. Plantagent, his voice trembling.
“Birdie would be happy. She couldn’t help it.” said Tottie.
And Birdie’s bright tinkling music went on in the doll’s house and, on her hat that still hung in the hall, and on her feather broom, and on her bird and on her parasol, the colors and the pattern were still bright.
*I was standing by my window
On a cold and cloudy day,
When I saw the hearse come rollin’
For to take my mother away.
Chorus:
Will the circle be unbroken?
By and by Lord, by and by,
There’s a better home a-waitin’
In the sky Lord, in the sky.
I said to the undertaker,
“Undertaker, please drive slow,
For this body you are haulin’
Lord, I hate to see her go.”
Chorus:
Well I followed close behind her,
Tried to hold up and be brave,
But I could not hide my sorrow
When they laid her in the grave
Chorus:
I went back home, my home was lonesome,
missed my mother – she was gone.
All my brothers and sisters crying
in our home so sad and alone.
Chorus:
We sang the songs of childhood,
hymns of faith that made us strong,
Ones that our mother had taught us,
hear the angels sing along
Chorus: *
Of course, I don’t believe that “there’s a better home awaiting…” But, my husband and kids do believe it. I think the song is beautiful and comforting to believers and off-beat enough to seem appropriate for me. Also, it was my grandmother’s favorite. There wasn’t a dry eye at her funeral, either.
6) I’m also hoping for a motorcycle escort. Unless all our friends are too old to ride by that time!
I have actually thought about this and discussed it with friends after going to a funeral where my best friend was honored by playing some of his favorite Doors and Beatle tracks.
My choice would have to be Karmina Burana by Karl Orff (if you don’t know what it is, don’t worry, you’ve heard it a million times in movies. Oliver Stone used it in The Doors for example, when Jim was dancing naked with the “witch”).
But that’s only the beginning. I want to be crimated inside a Gothic, middle ages type, Church. When the song reaches it’s high-point I want my gasoline-soaked carcass to be set ablaze by a weird guy in a weird-guy-robe. Preferably the song would be performed by an actual choir and instruments.
This is not the really disturbing part though. The truly disturbing part is that I’m SERIOUS! I think this would be a fitting tribute to my dark, disturbed and evil life.
Please note, I’m not a Goth, just like the true Goth, middle age, kind of stuff. The creepiest things ever invented in my oppinion.
— Sicko Raven
p.s. if I can find that guy that spills whiskey on Edgar Allan Poe’s grave every year, I’d also like to hire him to do the same for me. Except it’d be pure acid.
I’m Only Sleeping The Beatles
I’m not sure about the others yet. However, I have many musician friends and would like them to play at my funeral/wake.
I’ve always said that I’d like to have this song played at my funeral. I love the song and I love to sleep and sleep is a wonderful death analogy (questionably tasteful condolence cards aside, Eve).
I want to be cremated but if there is need for an epitaph (on a plaque or something maybe) I’d like it to be: “Please don’t wake me. No don’t shake me. Leave me where I lay. I’m only sleeping…” from the above mentioned song.
I heard on NPR about some deceased actress (can’t remember her name) who had the following on her gravestone: “Go away. I’m sleeping.”
I want the lyrics to “Goodnight Irene” passed around to everybody at the wake- yes, I do want a wake.
After everyone present has had exactly one drink too many, I want an alcohol-hazed a capella rendition.
Oh, and how coud I forget,
“Thank You (Falletenme be mice elf again)” by Sly and the Family Stone. With maximum bass boost.
If you think I’m sexy
And you want my body
Come on sugar, let me know…
Hey, as long as we’re doing Floyd, I’d like Breathe.
How you live and how you fly
but only if you ride the tide
balanced on the biggest wave
race towards an early grave
A strong second for Fade To Black by Metallica.
And if I kill myself, I want Soundgarden’s Like Suicide played.
I’d like to have everyone singing along.
When the Roll is Called Up Yonder, I’ll Be There
When We All Get To Heaven
Amazing Grace (done uptempo and happy, not slow and sad)
Amazing Grace on bagpipes as people enter.
Notre Dame Fight Song as I’m carried out.
Pop Goes the Weasel as I’m being lowered in my hole.
And I expect a roast. I want friends to laugh and make fun of me. I want embarrassing pictures shown, I want dirty stories told. I want my best friend who’s a priest to do the service, and I want a shot of Jamison’s 1780 poured on my casket. I want my friend Rob to break out the Johnnie Walker Blue, and I want everyone to dance.
I really have no doubt that a great majority of these things will happen.
Not that it will make the slightest bit of difference to me at that point, but I think “Ashokan Farewell” from Ken Burns The Civil War would be kinda nice.
Hmmm… a laugh track maybe?
Anything from John Rutter’s Requiem or Dirt in the Ground by Tom Waits. You could also use Black Wings from the same album if you wanted to freak people out.
-LabRat
“Waiting on an Angel,” Ben Harper
“By Your Side,” Sade
“Don’t Let it Get You Down,” Annie Lennox, as everyone leaves.
I want to be cremated and have my ashes tossed somewhere beautiful, a park or by a river.
I went to visit my Grandma’s grave last week and walking over all those dead bodies just freaked me out. Especially the ones with the little ditch right beneath the grave, where the ground sinks in…Oh the horror!
Oh I forgot to add, I would want my favorite passage from my most beloved book read during the wake. The last two pages of “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn,” where Francie talks about the tree that was chopped down, burnt, and still struggled to reach the sky. I’m not going to type it all out, so go buy the book and read it yourself! 
“Where the Green Grass Grows” or “My Next 30 Years” would be good songs for a funeral. “Something in the Water” by Terri Clark for a water burial.
I want “Ob-La-Di” by the Beatles blaring really loud at my funeral. Because it’s such a good drinking song, I’d also have a bartender on hand ready to mix whatever alcoholic beverage anyone could think of. Everybody’s invited! I awnt my funeral to be one big morning til night party.