# Your funeral song **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 4, 2015, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-funeral-song/711827 "2015-02-04T18:59:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2015, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-funeral-song/711827/81 "2015-02-07T03:00:14Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > I’ve got you _so_ beat. > > “Amazing Grace,” sure, but with the wealth of tunes in ballad meter (8.6.8.6), it would be a shame to settle for just one. > > First two verses: to the tune of the “Leave It To Beaver” theme. > Second two verses: to the tune of “Pop Goes the Weasel.” > Last verse: to the tune of the “Gilligan’s Island” theme. > > My survivors will be talking about that one for as long as they survive. 😃 Sung to “The Yellow Rose of Texas” > [@](#): > > Because I could not stop for Death – > He kindly stopped for me – > The Carriage held but just Ourselves – > And Immortality. > > We slowly drove – He knew no haste > And I had put away > My labor and my leisure too, > For His Civility – > > We passed the School, where Children strove > At Recess – in the Ring – > We passed the Fields of Gazing Grain – > We passed the Setting Sun – > > Or rather – He passed us – > The Dews drew quivering and chill – > For only Gossamer, my Gown – > My Tippet – only Tulle – > > We paused before a House that seemed > A Swelling of the Ground – > The Roof was scarcely visible – > The Cornice – in the Ground – > > Since then – ‘tis Centuries – and yet > Feels shorter than the Day > I first surmised the Horses’ Heads > Were toward Eternity – ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2015, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-funeral-song/711827/82 "2015-02-07T03:24:28Z")
> [@Haldurson](#): > > As a first stab at trying to come up with a funeral song for myself, I came up with this one. It’s mostly because I think the song is beautiful. It’s more about life than about death, but I think that’s a good thing. > [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RHTb-WE4zo](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RHTb-WE4zo) Great choice. Actually anything from Van the Man would be ok with me. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2015, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-funeral-song/711827/83 "2015-02-07T04:11:40Z")
Amazing Grace also sounds great to the tune of “Puff the Magic Dragon” and “It Came Upon the Midnight Clear” And O Little Town of Bethlehem’s words also get a major boost from the “House of the Rising Sun” tune. But I’ll never forgive the Doper who first pointed out to me that most of Tolkien’s songs and poetry work to “Camptown Races.” Far o’er the misty mountains old, - Doo Dah! Doo Dah!!! To dungeons deep and caverns cold, - Ooooh, Doo Dah day!!! ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2015, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-funeral-song/711827/84 "2015-02-07T04:43:44Z")
> [@HyacinthBucket](#): > > **Going Home** , the end theme from _Local Hero_ > > Simply a perfect piece of music. I love this one too. Beautiful. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2015, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-funeral-song/711827/85 "2015-02-07T05:17:21Z")
I don’t want a funeral; I think they’re obscene. I want my organs harvested and the rest of my body used for science, and then cremated. So there won’t be any ceremony with music, but I’d like those who loved me to listen to this in memoriam: "The Far Shore" by The Seekers. Judith Durham has the most amazing voice ever! ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalent13](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Ambivalent13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalent13)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2015, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-funeral-song/711827/86 "2015-02-07T05:20:46Z")
Nice to Know You by Incubus ---
**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:** [February 7, 2015, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-funeral-song/711827/87 "2015-02-07T05:49:18Z")
[The Blue Gates of Death](https://video.search.yahoo.com/video/play;_ylt=A0LEVirlpdVU7dkAqzAnnIlQ;_ylu=X3oDMTBsa3ZzMnBvBHNlYwNzYwRjb2xvA2JmMQR2dGlkAw--?p=blue+gates+of+death+current+93+youtube&tnr=21&vid=BCF0E6A53F040E3F6C82BCF0E6A53F040E3F6C82&l=514&turl=http%3A%2F%2Fts3.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DUN.608042626541554002%26pid%3D15.1&sigi=11rce47ld&rurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DXrgge3uplCM&sigr=11bbqidg9&tt=b&tit=The+Blue+Gates+Of+Death+%28Before+And+Beyond+Them%29-+Current+93&sigt=11stftkh8&back=https%3A%2F%2Fsearch.yahoo.com%2Fyhs%2Fsearch%3Fp%3Dblue%2Bgates%2Bof%2Bdeath%2Bcurrent%2B93%2Byoutube%26hsimp%3Dyhs-001%26hspart%3Dmozilla%26ei%3DUTF-8&sigb=13idh78bs&hspart=mozilla&hsimp=yhs-001) by Current 93 ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2015, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-funeral-song/711827/88 "2015-02-07T06:17:39Z")
Since I’ll be cremated,\* Light My Fire\* or\* Disco Inferno\*. Maybe _Don’t Fear The Reaper_ as people leave the ceremony. ---
**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:** [February 7, 2015, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-funeral-song/711827/89 "2015-02-07T07:01:46Z")
> [@don\_t\_ask](#): > > Maybe _Don’t Fear The Reaper_ as people leave the ceremony. Try [this version](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ck4kyZQkSKs&list=RDck4kyZQkSKs&index=1) by Unto Ashes. Perfect funeral music. ---
**Author:** ![TheOleHomestead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc29f/32.png) [@TheOleHomestead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheOleHomestead)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2015, 10:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-funeral-song/711827/90 "2015-02-07T10:50:23Z")
A Waltz in A (closing theme to Saturday Night Live) ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2015, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-funeral-song/711827/91 "2015-02-07T16:02:32Z")
My Life Flows On (a/k/a How Can I Keep from Singing?) ---
**Author:** ![Sefton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Sefton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sefton)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2015, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-funeral-song/711827/92 "2015-02-07T16:30:43Z")
Something ridiculously inappropriate like [Every Breath You Take](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMOGaugKpzs) or [Yackety Sax](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnHmskwqCCQ). ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2015, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-funeral-song/711827/93 "2015-02-07T16:49:56Z")
Styx’s [Come Sail Away](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5MAg_yWsq8). ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2015, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-funeral-song/711827/94 "2015-02-07T18:04:35Z")
I probably won’t have music playing as I go into the ground. But if I did I’d choose _A Mighty Fortress is Our God._ _Let goods and kindred go This mortal life also The body they may kill God’s truth abideth still The kingdom’s ours forever._ ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2015, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-funeral-song/711827/95 "2015-02-08T04:13:04Z")
My Mom asked that In Paradisum be sung at hers. “May the angels lead you into paradise; may the martyrs come to welcome you and take you to the holy city, the new and eternal Jerusalem. May choirs of angels welcome you and lead you to the bosom of Abraham; and where Lazarus is poor no longer may you find eternal rest.” ---
**Author:** ![CatastrophicFailure](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@CatastrophicFailure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CatastrophicFailure)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2015, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-funeral-song/711827/96 "2015-02-08T04:27:34Z")
I think Dylan’s Mississippi would be good for me, especially this verse: > [@](#): > > Well my ship’s been split to splinters and it’s sinkin’ fast > I’m drownin’ in the poison, got no future, got no past > But my heart is not weary, it’s light and it’s free > I’ve got nothin’ but affection for all those who’ve sailed with me ---
**Author:** ![dada2fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ccd318/32.png) [@dada2fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dada2fish)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2015, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-funeral-song/711827/97 "2015-02-08T06:57:55Z")
I don’t know what song(s) I prefer be played at my service, if there is one, but I just wanted to mention some of the songs I’ve heard during services for people I’ve lost along the way. My sister, who died at age 32 requested Sunset by Roxy Music and Love Is the Answer by England Dan & John Ford Coley, among others during her funeral service. My friend Jeff, who died a few years back in his late 40’s, had Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd played during a DVD presentation and The The’s Uncertain Smile, which played during the clips of happy/funny moments of his life. Plus it was one of his favorite songs. My cousins asked me to put together some music for the service of my favorite aunt. She was a big Rod Stewart fan, so I added his song “Sailing” into the mix. My friend Alicia just died this past year and Van Morrison’s Into The Mystic set the mood beautifully for her service. She would’ve loved it. ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2015, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-funeral-song/711827/98 "2015-02-08T07:47:41Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > Amazing Grace also sounds great to the tune of “Puff the Magic Dragon” and “It Came Upon the Midnight Clear” > > And O Little Town of Bethlehem’s words also get a major boost from the “House of the Rising Sun” tune. > > But I’ll never forgive the Doper who first pointed out to me that most of Tolkien’s songs and poetry work to “Camptown Races.” > > Far o’er the misty mountains old, - Doo Dah! Doo Dah!!! > To dungeons deep and caverns cold, - Ooooh, Doo Dah day!!! Oh, Gil-Galad was an Elven King, doo-dah, doo-dah! Of him the harpers sadly sing, oh doo-dah day! ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2015, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-funeral-song/711827/99 "2015-02-08T07:57:42Z")
And for my funeral, The Replacements with [Left of the Dial](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J004aQUKbO4): > [@](#): > > And if I don’t see you > In a long long while > I’ll try to find you > Left of the dial Even when I’m not around, you can still look for me in the music. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2015, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-funeral-song/711827/100 "2015-02-08T08:29:43Z")
John Mellencamp’s [_Longest Days_](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8tXKfZssms&list=RDN8tXKfZssms#t=65), off his excellent album _Life, Death, Love And Freedom_ would provide some food for thought for those attending. Seems like once upon a time ago I was where I was supposed to be My vision was true and my heart was too There was no end to what I could dream I walked like a hero into the setting sun Everyone called out my name Death to me was just a mystery I was too busy raising up Cain But nothing lasts forever Your best efforts don’t always pay Sometimes you get sick And don’t get better That’s when life is short Even in its longest days [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-funeral-song/711827.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-funeral-song/711827.md?page=6)