# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![veryfrank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/87869e/32.png) [@veryfrank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/veryfrank)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2022, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-or-songs-do-you-want-played-at-your-funeral/954993/61 "2022-02-04T19:41:33Z")
> [@CaptMurdock](#): > > Always Look On The Bright Side of Life. This is apparently one of the, if not THE, most requested pop song at British funerals. It’s a great choice. ---
**Author:** ![veryfrank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/87869e/32.png) [@veryfrank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/veryfrank)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2022, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-or-songs-do-you-want-played-at-your-funeral/954993/62 "2022-02-04T19:44:56Z")
I’m saving “Wish You Were Here” for my tombstone, but for the service itself I may take a page from the Andy Kaufman biopic and request “This Friendly World.” Or if enough of my goth friends are still around, I’ll request a singalong to the Nick Cave arrangement of “Death Is Not The End.” ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2022, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-or-songs-do-you-want-played-at-your-funeral/954993/63 "2022-02-04T19:51:30Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I don’t care what songs specifically, but there’s got to be bagpipes. 'Tisn’t a proper funeral without bagpipes. This, so much this. “Amazing Grace” for a start. ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2022, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-or-songs-do-you-want-played-at-your-funeral/954993/64 "2022-02-05T15:45:54Z")
> [@Temporary\_Name](#): > > 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? “_Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? [Well] it ain’t over now. . . 'Cause when the going gets tought, **the tough get going!** _” - John Blutarski, Animal House Tripler “_I’m not dead yet!_” - Monty Python ---
**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 5, 2022, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-or-songs-do-you-want-played-at-your-funeral/954993/65 "2022-02-05T23:47:54Z")
> [@Tripler](#): > > “ _Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? [Well] it ain’t over now. . . 'Cause when the going gets tought, **the tough get going!** _ ” - John Blutarski, Animal House > > Tripler > “ _I’m not dead yet!_ ” - Monty Python Thank you, that is a decent suggestion that might work. I cannot use many of my go to lines like: “You talkin’ to me?” or “I’m your huckleberry.” Anything that sounds confrontational would be counterproductive and hurt the feelings of any survivors. Although it is not quite a quote I thought about one that was often quoted years ago that would make any survivors chuckle: “Rewiring the den - 220, 221, whatever it takes” ~ Jack Butler and perhaps on the same card: “.38, .39, whatever it took.” ~Caroline Butler Maybe a few from Dr. Rumack: “I am serious . . . and please don’t call me Shirley.” “You can tell me, I am a doctor” “Steak or Fish? Oh yes, I remember- I had the lasagna.” One that I really want to put in is a card that says: “Smokey, my friend, you are entering a world of pain.” ~Walter Sobchak “I am perfectly calm, Dude . . . . calmer than you are” ~Also Walter Sobchak (A different very stable genius from The United States) I was really hoping for some words of wisdom, life philosophies that I could interject with an occasional bit of comic relief. Like the line from **It’s A Wonderful Life** where the angel says: “No one is a failure who has friends.” (I have actually said that about two others during their funeral so I cannot very well use it for myself too.) There must be a thousand lines I know well that explain the human condition or a significant part of it, but by damn, I cannot think of a single one. For all this time contemplating it, the only line that comes close to meeting the requirement is one I hate: "Life is like a box . . . " (Could not even bring myself to quote the whole thing.) That however, made me think of one that would be true, AND funny: “… I’m not sure where I’ll be then Doc, but I probably won’t smell too good.” ~ (again) Dr. Rumack ---
**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 23, 2022, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-or-songs-do-you-want-played-at-your-funeral/954993/66 "2022-02-23T01:26:15Z")
Wow did I have to scroll to find this thread (turns out I had killed with a stupid hijack). I remembered one song that always brings a tear to my eye: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/lUmF7zsSNrA/maxresdefault.jpg "Chris LeDoux - Bang A Drum ft. Jon Bon Jovi") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUmF7zsSNrA) I know I want it as part of the loop playing during the wake after the funeral. I wonder if I can find a place to stick it into the funeral service too? I have more than a few older, mildly obscure, secular tunes that would be a good choice for a postlude as folks meander out of the service-- but I am not sure they would fit into a liturgical event otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2022, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-or-songs-do-you-want-played-at-your-funeral/954993/67 "2022-02-24T05:24:02Z")
For me, two from Alan Parsons: “Old and Wise” and “As Lights Fall.” ---
**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:** [February 24, 2022, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-or-songs-do-you-want-played-at-your-funeral/954993/68 "2022-02-24T14:33:05Z")
Great choices! I’m still dithering. ---
**Author:** ![peccavi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peccavi/32/388_2.png) [@peccavi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peccavi)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2022, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-or-songs-do-you-want-played-at-your-funeral/954993/69 "2022-02-25T02:59:50Z")
> [@Paul\_was\_in\_Saudi](#): > > [Why Me?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IY9tpfnb_8) an old song by Johnny Cash. I know I’m old when I react to the notion that a Kris Kristofferson song is “an old song”. If it was good enough for George Jones, it’s probably good enough for me. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/l11oCvBxnQ0/hqdefault.jpg "Vince Gill and Patty Loveless Perform "Go Rest High On That Mountain" at George Jones' Funeral") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l11oCvBxnQ0) ---
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2022, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-or-songs-do-you-want-played-at-your-funeral/954993/70 "2022-02-25T05:18:15Z")
“You Can’t Always Get What You Want” is my choice (inspired by the opening of The Big Chill): [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/artAn3vNKfE/maxresdefault.jpg "The Big Chill (1983) - Funeral Procession Scene (1/10) | Movieclips") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=artAn3vNKfE) ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2022, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-or-songs-do-you-want-played-at-your-funeral/954993/71 "2022-02-25T05:29:46Z")
[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/tPaKWihFs_Q/hqdefault.jpg "Harry Belafonte and The Muppets - Earth Song (short version)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPaKWihFs_Q) Not just song, that specific version, Muppets and all. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2022, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-or-songs-do-you-want-played-at-your-funeral/954993/72 "2022-02-25T05:36:01Z")
> [@racer72](#): > > A CD with these songs in included. You better get busy upgradin’ or get busy diein’! ---
**Author:** ![Amanda1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ec9cab/32.png) [@Amanda1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amanda1)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2022, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-or-songs-do-you-want-played-at-your-funeral/954993/73 "2022-02-25T06:01:21Z")
On Angels Wings See you again - Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth Ava Maria ---
**Author:** ![darazusa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@darazusa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/darazusa)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2022, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-or-songs-do-you-want-played-at-your-funeral/954993/74 "2022-02-25T06:02:29Z")
“love shack” i think. then, i’m gonna rickroll them. ---
**Author:** ![nelliebly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nelliebly/32/5422_2.png) [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2022, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-or-songs-do-you-want-played-at-your-funeral/954993/75 "2022-02-25T06:14:00Z")
“Crystal Blue Persuasion” by Tommy James and this one: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/dzNvk80XY9s/maxresdefault.jpg "Sleeping At Last - "Saturn" (Official Music Video)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzNvk80XY9s) It has a very long instrumental section, but the lyrics that follow (a couple minutes in) are why I want it. It’s kind of a link with my parents and, I hope, my kids. ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2022, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-or-songs-do-you-want-played-at-your-funeral/954993/76 "2022-02-26T03:24:30Z")
The theme song of my life, **Everything Is Broken**. A Dylan song originally but I like the KWS version. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ZXgtKUpu4Sw/hqdefault.jpg "Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band - Everything is Broken") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXgtKUpu4Sw) ---
**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:** [March 5, 2022, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-or-songs-do-you-want-played-at-your-funeral/954993/77 "2022-03-05T19:12:23Z")
Seeing what a fan I am, find it hard to believe this is new to me. (One of the comments is “Want this played at my funeral.”) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/EblcARJBgww/maxresdefault.jpg "Tim Minchin - If This Plane Goes Down (Lyric Video)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EblcARJBgww) ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2022, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-or-songs-do-you-want-played-at-your-funeral/954993/78 "2022-03-05T21:11:43Z")
As you push off from the shore Won’t you turn your head once more And make your peace with everyone For those who choose to stay Will live just one more day To do the things they should have done ---
**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:** [March 5, 2022, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-or-songs-do-you-want-played-at-your-funeral/954993/79 "2022-03-05T22:32:00Z")
Either Sid’s version of “My Way” or E.M.'s “Two Tickets to Paradise” ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2022, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-or-songs-do-you-want-played-at-your-funeral/954993/80 "2022-03-06T06:41:21Z")
[![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/nfRjVymBtLE/hqdefault.jpg "Antony & The Johnsons /-/ Knockin' on Heaven's Door ...") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfRjVymBtLE) Knockin on Heaven’s Door – Antony and the Johnsons Batwings – Coil [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/XbrTxOlRC3s/hqdefault.jpg "Coil - Batwings (A Limnal Hymn)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbrTxOlRC3s) ++++( [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/ncIFRhOQ4vQ/hqdefault.jpg "Current 93 - Time Tryeth Truth") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncIFRhOQ4vQ) Time Tryeth Truth. – Current 93 +++++ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-or-songs-do-you-want-played-at-your-funeral/954993.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-song-or-songs-do-you-want-played-at-your-funeral/954993.md?page=5)