Funeral music recommendations

[Trenchfriend]

Let´s see, if we get an interesting collection, here? Maybe some good inspirations?


We will play three songs on my Dad´s funeral on 27th May.

1st (at the beginning):

Second song is his favorite song "Tammy Wynette - Stand By Your Man"

Third is a modern cover of Udo Jürgens - "Immer wieder geht die Sonne auf" by Klee.

 

[Edward]

I've heard of all sorts being played at funerals over the years. At one time, the top two songs played at UK funerals were Whitney Houston's cover of Dolly Parton's I will always love you and Engelbert Humperdink's Please release me (the latter featuring the line "Please release me, let me go, for I don't love you any more." Almost as bizarre as the performer I once knew who was asked to play Outkast's Hey Ya - a song about a man in denial about being cheated on - for her friend to walk down the aisle to at the friend's wedding....). Then there was the sad English funeral of a young man who has committed suicide, at which his family, per his request, struggled through a communal rendition of My Way. DJ John Peel's coffin was carried out of the church at the close of his funeral to Derry's own Undertones - Teenage Kicks have been his favourite song of all time. My wife and her sister chose a classical guitar recording of Brahm's Lullaby for their father's funeral.

For myself there are so many songs that have meaning (plenty of those for my wake!), but paring it right down to just two, I think those would be:

Elvis' recording of either Amazing Grace or How Great Thou Art. There was always something wonderful about the way Elvis sang gospel - something he and Johnny Cash had in common. It did of course flatter the richness of both their voices, though I am certain that the fact they both were believers brought something to the performance that truly elevated it.

Tim Curry's performance of I'm going home, from Rocky Horror. Torn between the Original London Cast recording, the Roxy Production, and the film version, though probably the last one as I spent so, so many nights camping around in from of a cinema screen to that. That's the one I want them to press the button during. Of course I have a lot of affection for the show and film from which this number comes, but it's also a beautiful number in and of itself, and speaks of having left home for some time, now being ready to return with hope. I like that sentiment for my end.

 

[Turnip]

For me it would be

and

at this point.

 

[belfastboy]

At my Mother's memorial service we played a selection of songs sung by my choir at concerts that we had recorded. The selections were songs that were appropriate and one's she loved. The one I remember the most was Sinnead O'Connor's "In This Heart Lies For You".....true to the original, a cappela, 4 part harmony. Can't listen to it without tearing up.

 

[Frunobulax]

When my mother passed, I had one job: have "Amazing Grace" played on bagpipes at her funeral. She got it.

 

[tonyb]

Let it be known that when time comes for my memorial service, there shall be levity, lest my ghost haunt you for the remainder of your earthly existence.

I wish for the same song used for the recessional at my wedding, the Queen tune “Another One Bites the Dust.”

In lieu of, or as well as, use the Harry Nilsson song “I’d Rather be Dead,” and/or John Prine’s “Please Don’t Bury Me.”

EDIT: How could I have forgotten the great Louis Armstrong tune “I’ll Be Glad When You’re Dead, You Rascal You”?

 

[Hurricane Jack]

Going Home -- Mary Fahl

First I ever heard this was in the intro to Gods & Generals. McGavock Cemetery is such a reverent place, you feel it in your chest.

First I ever heard this was in the Ken Burns mini series on the Civil War. It's played in the background while the narrator reads the last letter written home to a soldier's soon to be widow.

 

[GHT]

​

Schubert: Ave Maria.
Whether played or sung, Schubert's ‘Ave Maria’ is the perfect piece of music for remembering a loved one. A musical adaptation of the traditional Roman Catholic prayer, Schubert’s tune is both calming and uplifting.

It has been performed by countless artists over the years – and after tenor Luigi Vena’s performance at John F. Kennedy’s funeral, it remains a beautiful choice of music for memorial services.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

Here's the version played in the background as the narrator reads the letter written by Major Sullivan Ballou to his soon to be widow.

 

[Bushman]

Depends on the mood. If I want sad, I'm going for:

If I'm feeling humorous...

 

[belfastboy]

Let it be known that when time comes for my memorial service, there shall be levity, lest my ghost haunt you for the remainder of your earthly existence.

I wish for the same song used for the recessional at my wedding, the Queen tune “Another One Bites the Dust.”

In lieu of, or as well as, use the Harry Nilsson song “I’d Rather be Dead,” and/or John Prine’s “Please Don’t Bury Me.”

EDIT: How could I have forgotten the great Louis Armstrong tune “I’ll Be Glad When You’re Dead, You Rascal You”?

On my headstone my wife wants engraved: "Gone To Glory - we think, we hope!"

 

[tonyb]

On my headstone my wife wants engraved: "Gone To Glory - we think, we hope!"

A New Yorker cartoon from many years back showed two elderly women standing by a grave stone. The caption read “I told him it wouldn’t kill him to be nice once in awhile. But I was wrong.”

 

[Turnip]

Going to be a burial at sea here, so no headstone permissible…

 

[belfastboy]

Going to be a burial at sea here, so no headstone permissible…

I have an inordinate fear of drowning so a burial at sea for me would be perhaps too ironic....but I guess it really wouldn't matter at that point.

 

[Zombie_61]

A New Yorker cartoon from many years back showed two elderly women standing by a grave stone. The caption read “I told him it wouldn’t kill him to be nice once in awhile. But I was wrong.”

That reminds me of the joke about the two older men standing on the first tee of the local golf course when a funeral procession begins to pass by. Seeing this, one of the men turns in the direction of the procession, holding his cap over his heart. After the last car passed, the man placed the cap back on his head, walked back to the tee, and teed off his first ball of the game. His friend commented, "That was a nice thing to do," to which he replied, "Well, I figured it was the least I could do. After all, I was married to her for 32 years."

 

[tonyb]

I’m hoping that our joking about funerals doesn’t further distress our German friend in his hour of sorrow. (I started it, so kick me first.) Condolences on your loss, Trenchfriend. I hope you find comfort in the memories.

It’s unlikely there is a person among us who has led such a charmed existence that s/he hasn’t lived through the loss of loved ones. Most of my favorite people are gone now. I’m thankful for the few who remain, and for the relationships I’ve built more recently. But I’m waaay too far down the road to build any new relationships that will last several decades.

I’ve come to believe that most people don’t “get over” such a loss so much as we get used to it. Sorrow is the price we pay for love on our lives. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

As Yogi put it, you gotta go to other peoples’ funerals or they won’t go to yours.

 

[Hurricane Jack]

“It doesn't matter how big a ranch you own or how many cows you brand, the size of your funeral is still gonna depend on the weather.” ; Harry S. Truman

 

[Zombie_61]

My body will be cremated after I die, so what do we think? "Ashes to Ashes" by David Bowie? "Hell" by Squirrel Nut Zippers? "Hot Hot Hot" by Buster Poindexter? Any other suggestions?

 

[Trenchfriend]

"Ashes to Ashes" by David Bowie?

Buddy, this is a good idea!! Even, if the person wasn´t a drug addict.

I just love the song, especially the ending. One of my Bowie favorites.

 

[Turnip]

My body will be cremated after I die, so what do we think? "Ashes to Ashes" by David Bowie? "Hell" by Squirrel Nut Zippers? "Hot Hot Hot" by Buster Poindexter? Any other suggestions?

As cremation is the compulsory procedure prior to a burial at sea here I’ll pick „The Roof Is On Fire“ by Rock Master Scott for me, taking the elevator down to the cellar.