# What song or songs do you want played at your funeral? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [November 26, 2021, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-or-songs-do-you-want-played-at-your-funeral/954993 "2021-11-26T22:24:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![CaptMurdock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/captmurdock/32/11736_2.png) [@CaptMurdock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptMurdock)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2021, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-or-songs-do-you-want-played-at-your-funeral/954993/41 "2021-11-30T23:44:22Z")
From _Monty Python’s The Life of Brian:_ **Always Look On The Bright Side of Life.** ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2021, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-or-songs-do-you-want-played-at-your-funeral/954993/42 "2021-12-01T03:55:52Z")
_ **What Wondrous Love Is This** _ nails that hope that not only is there an afterlife, but it’s cool. Full of music. It’s old, “a spiritual from the early 1800s”, hmmm, maybe I’ll just have someone play the last verse, which proclaims: _And when from death I’m free I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on,_ _. . and when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on._ _And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing and joyful be,_ _. . and through eternity I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on._ _. . . . . . . . . . . . . And through eternity… I’ll sing on._ Plus, if my funeral is in our church, an added bonus is that it’ll be in the program as **Hymn** # **666**. _nyah ha ha …_ This is a beautiful roots-y version (with pennywhistle, yet): [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/oVNktRGU3As/maxresdefault.jpg "What Wondrous Love Is This // Living Room Session") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVNktRGU3As) [(or here’s just the last verse…)](https://youtu.be/oVNktRGU3As?t=151) ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2021, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-or-songs-do-you-want-played-at-your-funeral/954993/43 "2021-12-01T16:44:55Z")
My recessional; some of the lyrics need modification: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/fAjkokafomM/maxresdefault.jpg "The Flesh Failures (Let the Sunshine In)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAjkokafomM) The rest is silence. ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2021, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-or-songs-do-you-want-played-at-your-funeral/954993/44 "2021-12-01T16:59:34Z")
I listed these songs in my will. 1. Blue Oyster Cult, (Don’t Fear) the Reaper. Agents of Fortune album. 2. Temple of the Dog, Say Hello to Heaven. Temple of the Dog album. 3. Alice in Chains, Over Now. Alice in Chains album. 4. The Hollies, He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother. He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother album. 5. Pink Floyd, One of These Days. From the Pulse DVD. 6. Led Zeppelin, Battle of Evermore. Led Zeppelin IV 7. Deep Purple, Smoke on the Water. Made in Japan album. A CD with these songs in included. ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2021, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-or-songs-do-you-want-played-at-your-funeral/954993/45 "2021-12-01T17:37:00Z")
[![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/SWyy7Huc6KA/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AH-BIAC4AOKAgwIABABGGUgRShBMA8=&rs=AOn4CLAwhoCjyDABGjLAx-6gnBJM_VsvsA "Elton John - Empty Garden (Official Music Video)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWyy7Huc6KA) ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2021, 8:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-or-songs-do-you-want-played-at-your-funeral/954993/46 "2021-12-19T08:32:18Z")
Huh, I didn’t know a young Martin Scorcese was with them (third from right). Actually second from left might be looking a bit Phil Collins-y for my liking. (albeit with odd gold-prospector 'stache) > [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > Suppose I should seek out something by the Beatles now. If I’d been a woman and had the name Julia, I’d have had a nice, hand-picked, melancholy number all ready to go. “Eleanor Rigby”? “Good Night”? “Tomorrow Never Knows”? > [@Chronos](#): > > I don’t care what songs specifically, but there’s got to be bagpipes. 'Tisn’t a proper funeral without bagpipes. I’d be cool with those absolutely wretched abominations\* only on the strict condition that these three songs must be played: “Which Way You Goin, Billy?” “Do Yo Know the Way To San Jose?” “Total Eclipse of the Heart” \*My Scots-obsessed (and Rangers’ fan) brother of mine would have his fists on his hips on that one.) ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2021, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-or-songs-do-you-want-played-at-your-funeral/954993/47 "2021-12-19T09:24:11Z")
> [@CaptMurdock](#): > > From _Monty Python’s The Life of Brian:_ > > **Always Look On The Bright Side of Life.** You stole my answer. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2021, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-or-songs-do-you-want-played-at-your-funeral/954993/48 "2021-12-19T12:53:31Z")
> [@Mortimus](#): > > “Pop Goes the Weasel” Yeah! Closed casket with the organist slowly playing “Pop Goes the Weasel”. Just to give my friends & family anxiety over whether I‘m going to spring out of that box. Heh. I want my funeral held at midnight during a violent electrical storm. I want people to feel terrified. I want the honor guard to use live ammo. I want the prayer card to have the poem “Invictus”. I want everyone to have to watch while they throw my corpse into the incinerator while this song plays: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/f2YW18yhGio/maxresdefault.jpg "Grim Reaper-See You In Hell [HQ and LYRICS]") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2YW18yhGio) But alas, when I tell my wife and kids of my wishes all I get is “Peter/Dad, we are NOT doing that!” Curses, foiled again! ---
**Author:** ![Crane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crane/32/3495_2.png) [@Crane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crane)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2021, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-or-songs-do-you-want-played-at-your-funeral/954993/49 "2021-12-19T13:40:20Z")
Just a family memorial Au fond du temple saint Farewell to Stromness ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2021, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-or-songs-do-you-want-played-at-your-funeral/954993/50 "2021-12-19T14:14:31Z")
I’ve always said that I wanted Prince played at my funeral (Sexy MF)- [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/bfHsF6FKgb4/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AH-BIAC4AOKAgwIABABGGUgTihFMA8=&rs=AOn4CLA789MmrSqCkqQ9KoStFXZ0D0A8VQ "Prince & The New Power Generation - Sexy M. F. (Official Music Video)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfHsF6FKgb4) But in actuality I’d probably pick Talking Heads (Road To Nowhere)- [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/LQiOA7euaYA/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AH-BIAC4AOKAgwIABABGC8gYChlMA8=&rs=AOn4CLDupMX8oGVhOMB1TGwXuYmDYCznUQ "Talking Heads - Road to Nowhere (Official Video)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQiOA7euaYA) ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2021, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-or-songs-do-you-want-played-at-your-funeral/954993/51 "2021-12-19T14:20:34Z")
Also sprach Zarathustra: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Szdziw4tI9o/maxresdefault.jpg "Strauss: Also sprach Zarathustra / Dudamel · Berliner Philharmoniker") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Szdziw4tI9o) ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2021, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-or-songs-do-you-want-played-at-your-funeral/954993/52 "2021-12-19T15:07:34Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > But alas, when I tell my wife and kids of my wishes all I get is “Peter/Dad, we are NOT doing that!” Curses, foiled again! I was out drinking with our pastor one night, and I told him some of my ideas for my funeral. He laughed, kept saying “Damn, that’d be great!”… then just shook his head and said “You do realize that you’ll be gone, and I’m going to do exactly what your wife and kids decide.” So my last curses will be foiled again. ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2021, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-or-songs-do-you-want-played-at-your-funeral/954993/53 "2021-12-20T14:27:56Z")
On a related note, this went viral: > **[A son's brutally honest yet loving obituary went viral after calling out his...](https://www.yahoo.com/news/sons-brutally-honest-yet-loving-114819335.html)** > > "A more disrespectful, trash-reading, talking and watching woman in NC, FL or TX was not to be found," Andy Corren wrote of his mother, Renay Corren. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2021, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-or-songs-do-you-want-played-at-your-funeral/954993/54 "2021-12-20T14:33:24Z")
Wow. We won’t be able to top that! ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2021, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-or-songs-do-you-want-played-at-your-funeral/954993/55 "2021-12-20T16:58:02Z")
I’d like the young people at my funeral to feel welcome, so I’ve specified that whatever song is Number One one the charts for 2097 be played. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2021, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-or-songs-do-you-want-played-at-your-funeral/954993/56 "2021-12-23T01:36:04Z")
Dung Beetle, it might be hard to top that one, but try this one. It’s loving and hilarious, written by the deceaseds’ daughter [https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/sunherald/name/harry-stamps-obituary?id=7744317](https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/sunherald/name/harry-stamps-obituary?id=7744317) ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2021, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-or-songs-do-you-want-played-at-your-funeral/954993/57 "2021-12-23T01:42:23Z")
“You Will Remember Me” by Meg Davis https://www.youtube.com/embed/UOJnRQOj6Ug?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque&list=OLAK5uy_mGwTv6dd_9M5orYah0ZKaLo5OxL8KwcP8 ---
**Author:** ![Temporary\_Name](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8c91f0/32.png) [@Temporary\_Name](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Temporary_Name)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2022, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-or-songs-do-you-want-played-at-your-funeral/954993/58 "2022-02-04T13:36:57Z")
I do not think anyone has mentioned Bob Hope’s theme song, **Thanks for the Memories**. I think it would be ideal for a soundtrack to be played at the catered meal after my actual memorial service. (\*) I have pulled a bunch of songs from this thread and some others for a playlist that is not the official service. I would like to add some movie clips or movie quotes as bumper material between some of the songs. Unfortunately, I have not been able to think of a single clip or quote to use- I think I am too close to the matter and cannot focus. I was thinking of the speech John Wayne gives to Bruce Dern in **The Cowboys** , but it is a bit too self aggrandizing. There are endless Sam Jackson quotes that might fit my personality, but again too arrogant for the setting. I am also sure there are some funny lines from movies like **Airplane** or **Caddyshack** that would be ideal, but they are just out of reach. The one quote I was able to conjure is from **The Big Lebowski** _“The Dude Abides” ~ Jeffery Lebowski_ Does anyone have suggestions of short movie clips, or even quotes that can be made into slides between songs? (Also, please note that I have arranged a very traditional service in the traditional family church with traditional hymns, scripture readings, and the prayer of St Francis that will be fairly interchangeable with most of the other services they have done and will ever do for the comfort of that community. The meal across the way in the hall is intended to be a bit less formal.) (\*) For my mother’s viewing and for the luncheon after her funeral, the place asked for about a hundred still photos of her through the ages. They used a little over half of them to make a slideshow with pastoral music played over it. It was very appropriate for her life and her generation. Something different can be done, I assume, for a guy like me using individual tracks interspersed with meaningful movie clips. ---
**Author:** ![Temporary\_Name](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8c91f0/32.png) [@Temporary\_Name](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Temporary_Name)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2022, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-or-songs-do-you-want-played-at-your-funeral/954993/59 "2022-02-04T19:02:44Z")
Hate to be the guy who replies to his own post, but . . . One that might be really funny in a church fellowship hall where beverages are there for the taking would be the famous clip from **Glengarry Glen Ross**"…Put that down! Coffee is for closers . . . " That might be funny if someone like an old female saint was pouring herself a cup at the moment the clip played. Of course it would have to be bleeped or edited very carefully to pass muster under the watchful eye of the local Pastor. I recalled overnight that in the Hughes film **The Breakfast Club** there was a card with lyrics from a David Bowie song at the beginning of the film. That is probably where I got the idea and a model for the type of quotes I am looking for. Another line that could be funny and might not offend [this would have to be a card with the lines written on the screen] would be: “Did I break your concentration? (pause) Well allow me to retort.” ~ Jules Winnfield because the proper church goers would not get the reference - - but everyone else would. Any other suggestions? I would still like to get a John Wayne quote in there but not the one where he says he has had all these ailments over the years, but on his worst day he was still better than Bruce Dern. I already have a reputation as being condescending and I don’t see any wisdom in reinforcing that view. ---
**Author:** ![sunstone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunstone/32/3372_2.png) [@sunstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sunstone)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2022, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-or-songs-do-you-want-played-at-your-funeral/954993/60 "2022-02-04T19:09:04Z")
Fruitcakes by Jimmy Buffett. I also want to be wearing shorts, sandals, and a flowered shirt when they come to take my donated body. No funeral for me. Hopefully there will be a get together later where puns are encouraged along with other fun things. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-or-songs-do-you-want-played-at-your-funeral/954993.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-or-songs-do-you-want-played-at-your-funeral/954993.md?page=4)