# what song do you want played at your funeral? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 27, 2001, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-do-you-want-played-at-your-funeral/59650 "2001-03-27T05:56:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![SteveinSpain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@SteveinSpain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveinSpain)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2001, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-do-you-want-played-at-your-funeral/59650/21 "2001-03-27T14:28:07Z")
“Don’t Forget Me” by Harry Nilsson, sung by Marianne Faithfull please. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2001, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-do-you-want-played-at-your-funeral/59650/22 "2001-03-27T14:39:29Z")
I think it depends on how I would die, and who would still be alive at the time. For example, if I was to die of old age with my wife and/or children still alive, I’d want “Dream a Little Dream of Me” by Mama Cass to be played. If I die heroically, I’d want “Nessun Dorma” with Pavarotti singing or “Con Te Partiro” with Bocelli singing. If I die for someone that I love, then I’d once again want “Con Te Partiro” or maybe “Never Tear Us Apart” by INXS, or even “Love is Stronger Than Death” by The The. That reminds me, I probably should write this down somewhere, just in case… ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2001, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-do-you-want-played-at-your-funeral/59650/23 "2001-03-27T14:44:19Z")
My answer (and many others, too) are [here.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=42862) ---
**Author:** ![Dev\_Null](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/46a35a/32.png) [@Dev\_Null](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dev_Null)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2001, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-do-you-want-played-at-your-funeral/59650/24 "2001-03-27T14:50:36Z")
Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World” – the Eva Cassidy version ---
**Author:** ![jesuslynch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e99b99/32.png) [@jesuslynch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jesuslynch)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2001, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-do-you-want-played-at-your-funeral/59650/25 "2001-03-27T15:25:19Z")
The closing theme to the _Lawrence Welk Show_. ---
**Author:** ![Oblio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/c4cdca/32.png) [@Oblio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oblio)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2001, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-do-you-want-played-at-your-funeral/59650/26 "2001-03-27T15:43:26Z")
Ripple - Grateful Dead ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2001, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-do-you-want-played-at-your-funeral/59650/27 "2001-03-27T16:00:45Z")
A local radio celebrity here was once asked, “What do you want played at your funeral?” After thinking about it for a second or two, his reply was, “Volleyball, I think.” ---
**Author:** ![Hometownboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5e9695/32.png) [@Hometownboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hometownboy)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2001, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-do-you-want-played-at-your-funeral/59650/28 "2001-03-27T16:47:29Z")
\*\*Warning - Potential Maudlin Material \*\* When my wife died (far, far too early at 47) in 1996, I honored her (Catholic-raised) mom’s request for “Ave Maria” and her (Baptist-raised) dad’s for “In the Garden”. My choice was “Softly As I Leave You,” by the \*\*We Five \*\*, best known for their “You Were On My Mind” hit. It’s a soft, lovely rendition: “After all the years I can’t bear the tears to fall…” It was both appropriate and comforting, a sadness and a release. And for incidental music, rather than hokey, syrupy organ music, I had a tape of Bach with various artists, which drew thanks from several of the relatives. On the program I had printed the words to \*\*Right Down the Line \*\* by Gerry Rafferty. [sub]You know I need your love, you got that hold over me As long as I got your love, you know that I’ll never leave When I wanted you to share my life, I had no doubt in my mind And it’s been you, woman, right down the line. I know how much I lean on you, only you can see The changes that I’ve been through have left their mark on me You’ve been as constant as the Northern Star, the brightest light that shines It’s been you, woman, right down the line. I just wanna say this is my way Of telling you everything I could never say before Yeah this is my way of telling you that everyday I’m loving you (so much more) ‘Cause you believed in me through my darkest night Put something better inside of me, you brought me into the light Threw away all those crazy dreams, I put them all behind And it was you, woman, right down the line. [/sub] ++++++++++++++++ As for me, there is the strong temptation to go with the Stones’ \*\* You Can’t Always Get What You Want \*\*, but then all of my generation would think about the opening of The Big Chill. Then there’s Linda Ronstadt’s \*\* Blue Train \*\* with its "Ghost in a hurry to fade " line, but that seems to be about the aftermath of a lost love. If the survivors are feeling in a particularly puckish mood, I might suggest they pick Dylan’s \*\* A Simple Twist of Fate \*\* Also Jim Croce’s \*\* Time in a Bottle \*\* with its poignant “never seems to be enough time” line might be appropriate. Hmmm, seems like much more thought is needed. ---
**Author:** ![riserius1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7ab992/32.png) [@riserius1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/riserius1)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2001, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-do-you-want-played-at-your-funeral/59650/29 "2001-03-27T18:37:27Z")
Gotta go with “Astral Weeks” by Van Morrison. The arrangement, the lyrics, everything is just too cool. I love the part where he says, “I ain’t nothin’ but a stranger in this world”. That pretty much sums up how I feel most of the time. Also, the ending refrain of “In another time, in another place” is very hopeful sounding. Chris W ---
**Author:** ![ElwoodCuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/edb3f5/32.png) [@ElwoodCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElwoodCuse)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2001, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-do-you-want-played-at-your-funeral/59650/30 "2001-03-27T20:00:27Z")
“Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life” from Monty Python’s Life of Brian. I think they sung this at Graham Chapman’s funeral too. ---
**Author:** ![Kvallulf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@Kvallulf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kvallulf)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2001, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-do-you-want-played-at-your-funeral/59650/31 "2001-03-27T21:30:32Z")
First, the procession carry my body will be accompanied by The Imperial March. When I am placed in my ship, Song to Hall up high. After, the ship is set aflame, and drifiting on the tide, Then they will play My way of course. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Zero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@Saint\_Zero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Zero)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2001, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-do-you-want-played-at-your-funeral/59650/32 "2001-03-27T22:31:13Z")
We played “Amazing Grace” at my best friends. Bagpipes, naturally. I think I’ll go with that as well. And Tocatta and Fugue in D Minor. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Arden\_Ranger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b487fb/32.png) [@Arden\_Ranger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arden_Ranger)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2001, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-do-you-want-played-at-your-funeral/59650/33 "2001-03-27T22:54:18Z")
**Saint Zero** stole my music! In addition to those, I also want “Forever” by Queen. ---
**Author:** ![DeskMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f14d63/32.png) [@DeskMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeskMonkey)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2001, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-do-you-want-played-at-your-funeral/59650/34 "2001-03-27T23:03:25Z")
“Happy Phantom” by Tori Amos. It puts a nice spin on the Big Sleep. ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2001, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-do-you-want-played-at-your-funeral/59650/35 "2001-03-28T01:22:45Z")
My choice is still _Prop Me Up Beside the Jukebox if I Die_. ---
**Author:** ![Gunslinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gunslinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gunslinger)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2001, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-do-you-want-played-at-your-funeral/59650/36 "2001-03-28T01:40:12Z")
**Hell’s Bells** **Friends in Low Places** ---
**Author:** ![DigitalMuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecccb3/32.png) [@DigitalMuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalMuse)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2001, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-do-you-want-played-at-your-funeral/59650/37 "2001-03-28T02:32:23Z")
November Rain by Guns and Roses Lovesong by The Cure What’s This Life For by Creed Eulogy by Tool Marianne by Tori Amos ---
**Author:** ![hardygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a3d4f5/32.png) [@hardygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hardygrrl)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2001, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-do-you-want-played-at-your-funeral/59650/38 "2001-03-28T02:51:41Z")
Lake of Fire…Nirvana Unplugged or Oh Me…same artist/album ---
**Author:** ![Mysphyt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dbc845/32.png) [@Mysphyt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mysphyt)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2001, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-do-you-want-played-at-your-funeral/59650/39 "2001-03-28T04:13:29Z")
I’m personally partial to “Ding, Dong, the Witch is Dead,” from the Wizard of Oz. ---
**Author:** ![Joyfulgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f04885/32.png) [@Joyfulgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joyfulgirl)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2001, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-do-you-want-played-at-your-funeral/59650/40 "2001-03-28T04:24:45Z")
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