What’s Your Funeral Song? – Songs for Funerals (My Funeral Song)
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What’s your funeral song? – Songs for funerals chosen by the living
We’re all going to die.
Now don’t start panicking, I’m not delivering a prophecy, I don't mean to scare you, and I don’t mean right this moment. But one of the few things you can be sure of about life, is that sooner or later, it’s going to end.
It might sound morbid, and I don’t quite remember how it came up, but at several times in the past friends and I have discussed exactly which song it is that we the deceased would choose to have played at our funeral, our funeral song of choice, and the last song we’ll ever get to choose.
There are popular funeral songs doing the circuit, modern day classics that get played over and over as widows weep and children cry, as big men struggle to hold back tears and priests chant last rites to the sombre tune of, whatever.
You have to assume that these popular ‘favorites’ were not chosen by the deceased, but are ‘stock’ choices chosen by those left behind in a bid to set the tone. Songs like ‘Candle in the wind’ by Elton John and ‘My heart will go on’ by Celin Dion from the Titanic soundtrack. I don’t know about you, but if somebody tries to lay my body down to the Titanic movie soundtrack I’ll be coming back from the dead to slap them upside the head.
It’s important to choose your own funeral song.
Other currently popular songs for funerals include:
Always Look on the Bright Side of Life- Eric Idle
Angels - Robbie Williams
Bittersweet Symphony - The Verve
Don't Fear the Reaper - Blue Oyster Cult
Don't Worry Be Happy - Bobby McFerrin
Everybody Hurts - R.E.M
Gone Too Soon - Michael Jackson
Goodbye My Lover - James Blunt
Imagine - John Lennon
Mad World - Gary Jules
My Way - Frank Sinatra
There are many ways you could handle the selection of your funeral song, the most obvious of which is to choose a song that was in some way meaningful to you whilst you were alive, a song that touched you in some way, or a song that you feel in some way sums up the overall meaning of your previous existence.
You could choose a song to give your mourners one final laugh, after all it’s a party in your honor, and the fact that your not invited shouldn’t necessarily put a dampener on proceedings.
You could choose a song that was special to you and a loved one, an ‘our song’ kind of moment, shared for one last time.
Or if you were so inclined you could choose a song that demonstrated just how miserable and alone you’d felt in your final days, that hinted at how nobody at the funeral had been there for you, dealing one final blow from beyond the grave.
To name but a few.
Funeral Songs Poll
Do you have a special song that you'd like played at your funeral?
See results without votingMy Funeral Song - Air (Le Voyage De Pénélope)
So my friends and I have chosen our funeral songs, and then re-chosen again, but as I’ve forgotten theirs in the years that have passed since we played that game no doubt they’ve forgotten mine also, which is why I’m going to record it here, and encourage them to do the same.
And if you have absolutely no wish whatsoever to be buried or burnt to the tune of ‘Bridge over troubled waters’ by Simon and Garfunkel than feel free to post yours in the comments section below also, and send the link to a good friend who’ll know what to do when the time comes.
If you don’t already have your funeral song all picked out, then take a little time now to think about it, choose wisely, because it’ll be your final influence on this world, and a strong part of the final memory, that once was you.
And in case you were wondering what my choice was, it’s 'Le Voyage De Pénélope' by Air (play video), stoke up the fires boys, I’m coming home.
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Songs for Funerals - Comments:
Mrvoodoo - I'd like the Muppet Show theme tune. But I just have this feeling that it's not going to happen. Probably will stick me with something bloody mournful. I'd also like the vicar (or whatever) to lead the way after sucking on helium. I'm doubtful that's going to happen either.
Still - I can die in hope :)
I am going to have a whole CD burned and ready!!! All my favorite meaningfull/mad/sad/our songs will be on it, I cant possably pick just one song. There's gonna be a hugeass bon fire and everybody has to drink whiskey!!!! And I swear, if people try to play Celine or Elton....there WILL be hauntings!!
I agree totally with you ,it's good talk about these things.
My song is 'Antony and the johnsons' singing Leonard Cohen's ''If it be your will''.....it's on youtube ,absolute magic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MDlMdu2gjw
Bat Out of Hell works for me.
If there is a service, I'd like a parade to the service with a sad song like the St. James Infirmary Blues, and a meringue band leading the way back from the service to some kind of celebration with lots of food and dancing. But I won't be here, so suit yourselves.
Holy Cow! Where'd you lot spring from, lol.
Hey Dohn, Amazing grace is probably on a more traditional list to the ones I was checking out which featured more pop songs and the like, loving your choice, big Green Day fan here and that's one of my favorites, and fitting too, great funeral song, should you pop your clogs unexpectedly anytime soon I'll try to pass that on for you (though try not to make it anytime too soon). =)
Hey FD, that's certainly an original choice, and if everyones going to be sucking on helium as well than that's one funeral I'd like to attend (but again hopefully not anytime soon).
I love that song from the muppets that goes something like "Mana manuh, ba ba da da-duh, mana manuh" can we have that one as well? =)
Hey DM, sounds like you've got it all planned out perfectly, you did say you wanted lots of Celine Dion and Elton right? lol ;)
Bon Fires and whisky, there's no arguing with that. =)
Hey Itakins, I'd not heard of that dude before, but have just listened to it on Youtube and it's certainly a beautiful song. Quite an odd looking guy, but nothing wrong with that, I'm a pretty odd looking guy myself ;).
Hey Ralwus, that's the first song I ever bought on CD single when I was a wee lad, and one of my favorite pub jukebox songs, you get value for money from that one, great choice. =)
Hey Jess Killmenow, well I won't kill you just yet, but should the urge ever become uncontrollable, I'll leave a little note in your pocket with your funeral wishes on, sounds like it's gonna be a blast.
Hahaha, Thanks Ralwus, yep that's the one, that's got to be one of the catchiest funniest songs ever, it may go against FD's choice, but I'm sure she won't mind if we sneak this one on afterwards, and in fairness there won't really be much she can do about it anyway (not that I'm planning to off the frong or anything). =)
LOL, she will love it too. I remember this song from back before the Muppets ever came to be. Good choices on here too. Nice hub MV
Before the Muppets? Was it a genuine bona-fide song then? I thought it was made specifically for that sketch, lol.
Definitely some good choices, here's hoping none of us will be hearing them under these circumstances anytime soon. =)
He's a fantastic singer/songwriter...has a bit of a cult following,saw him live in Belfast this Summer,acquired taste ,his looks suit him tho'.If you get a chance listen to him and Boy George singing 'You are my sister'.Oh yes,also ''Hope there's someone to care for me when I die''
Now that's approriate?
Mrvoodoo - these guys were playing out with me. I was playing hide and peek and they found me :) And I love that song ralwus. I stuck it on a hub, I like it that much. Come now voodoo - anymore darkness up them dark sleevies? Hows about a coffin hub? I fancy mine being made in the shape of a flipflop :)
funeral song? People should not pay much attention to services performed after their death. Is there any song which can be sung at the time of birth of child?
cool hub. i have friends who think I am very morbid because I already have the songs I want played at my funeral picked out. And I've told my hubby if he don't play what i want, i'll come back and haunt him. He knows I will too. haha mine are more traditional tunes: Bridge Over Troubled Water, How Great Thou Art, and My Way (and I want the Elvis version of all them) But, after reading Frog's selection, I'm thinking I could also add the Pink Panther Theme, or possibly the theme from Jaws. Boy, oh boy have you got me going on a roll now, I'm sitting here a thinking of all kinds of silly s@*t I could have played. Ah, I'm having a good laugh right now, and I really needed it today. Thanks.
@Vizey You may sing any song you like at the birth of your child, I recommend anything by MotorHead. =)
Hey Love my yorkies, it sounds like you've got it all planned out, and join the gang, we don't think you're morbid here. =)
An Elvis funeral sounds like a great event, and the Pink panther theme tune mixed in will totally catch your attendees by surprise, lol, I like it, happy planning, but again, not to soon OK, some things are worth waiting for. =)
Is Dhon's song good riddance? You said Green Day, I bet it is. I had a friend...on the way home from her funeral, that came on the radio. It always makes me think of her now. If it is that song, its a pretty good choice. if not, ooops... :)
It is indeed, it's a great song, and very fitting. =)
dohn121 says:
4 months ago
Good idea for a hub, mrvoodoo! Another song that I didn't find here suprisingly enough is "Amazing Grace." That song is in every movie once someone dies to produce some cheap tears from the viewers! I liked that you mentioned this, by the way:
I don’t know about you, but if somebody tries to lay my body down to the Titanic movie soundtrack I’ll be coming back from the dead to slap them upside the head.
Good stuff, bro! As far as my funeral song of choice goes, I'll go with this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFgok5SceLw
Hope you like it!