Funeral Songs

[WitchyPoo]

I want these three songs played in order. They are by Velvet Underground and, coincidentally, appear in this order on their self-titled album.

"Beginning To The See The Light"
"Jesus"
"I'm Set Free"

To me they are moving yet unsentimental. Hell, you can even dance to the first song.

[Brookie]

starskin said:

I'm a huge Stephen Foster fan, so I think I'd probably want one of his songs. I'm not sure which one, though. "Gentle Annie" seems kind of blatantly obvious (given that it's about a dead woman named Annie, and I'd be----a dead woman named Anne). Perhaps, "Ah, May the Red Rose Live Always". It's lyrically beautiful, plus it's got a gentle trochaic lilt that reminds me a lot of Scottish and Irish ballads. Susy Boggus did a gorgeous rendition on the "Beautiful Dreamer" cd.

Of course, there's always his famous "Camptown Races". You know, whichever they have handy.

I can see the throngs of people at your funeral, tapping their toes and singing "Doo Dah, Doo Dah". Touching.

**wipes away a tear**

[zivvie]

Or Bugs Bunny singing I Dream of Jeannie, She's a Light Brown Hare.

Taps has always bothered me. Since my dad was a big big big military bigshot, I knew it would be played at his funeral, and the song has always had that association for me. When he did pass, just over three years ago, he had the full military honors funeral at Arlington National Cemetery, and at the end of the service, the bugler did play Taps. But in that environment, it was appropriate, and the thing I had always been dreading finally happened, and it was fine.

There is something about Amazing Grace on bagpipes that is just so somber and so moving. Sara MacLachan's Angel is so sad and beautiful. Wow...this thread really makes you think!

[Deleted]

ripley said:

I really, really want "Into the West" by Annie Lennox to be played at my funeral.

OOOH! Me too!

My mom wants Whiter Shade of Pale played at hers.

[starskin]

I have this hilarious vision of my funeral where they can't find a CD player for my song, so they get a mix tape, and they think it's cued up correctly, but when they press play, something wildly inappropriate comes on. "The Entertainer" springs to mind. Oh how I'd laugh and laugh and laugh. If I weren't dead, that is.

Oh come on, it's funny. And I'm a total sick bastard.

ETA: If you think "Camptown Races" is a good choice, Brookie, you'd love "Don't Bet Money on the Shanghai" which is a great Stephen Foster song about cock fighting. That could work too!

I guess you could say I like dark humor.

[jenedreamer]

My grandfather's funeral was last October and my dad had been practicing and practicing "The Old Rugged Cross" (my grandfather's favorite hymn) to play on his trumpet at the burial site. However, what he didn't realize was the song he was practicing was "My Wild Irish Rose"...so after telling all of our family and everyone that he was going to play my grandfather's favorite song, then played the wrong song, he was mortified, but got over it pretty quickly and actually found it pretty funny. He's going to play the right song this time on the 1-year anniversary of his death.

As for my funeral songs...my best friend and I made a pact that if either one of us died we'd play "Stayin' Alive" by the Bee Gees at our funeral while being wheeled down the isle by a man in a white polyester suit. However I've decided on cremation so maybe my remains should be put in a disco ball and while everyone is dancing at the service the little spinning lights will remind them of me.

Yeah, I'm a weirdo. You don't even want to hear my dad's thoughts on his funeral service

[starskin]

jenedreamer said:

As for my funeral songs...my best friend and I made a pact that if either one of us died we'd play "Stayin' Alive" by the Bee Gees at our funeral while being wheeled down the isle by a man in a white polyester suit. However I've decided on cremation so maybe my remains should be put in a disco ball and while everyone is dancing at the service the little spinning lights will remind them of me.

Yeah, I'm a weirdo. You don't even want to hear my dad's thoughts on his funeral service

Now THAT is an awesome idea. *bows in your direction* I thought I was being pretty clever with "The Entertainer" and maybe some funeral attendants dressed as ragtime performers, but a discoball full of ashes totally trumps that.

And yes, please share your dad's thoughts!

ETA: It should also be said that I once asked for a Viking funeral. I still think that would be pretty awesome. And hey, I have a lot of Norwegian blood in my veins!

[jenedreamer]

starskin said:

And yes, please share your dad's thoughts!

Oookay...well, music-wise there would be lots of Elvis, but his big idea is to make his urn (as he'll be cremated as well) into a large hologram with his face on it, and when people move around it to pay their respects, his mouth would open and close and his eyes would move, absolutely freaking the hell out of everyone. Morbid, yes.

[fanatic]

I want one sad song before they bust out the dance party at my funeral. That song is Eels "It's a Motherfucker". Just cause that's how I want people to remember me...like, "Shit, she was cool. It's a motherfucker she's gone".

Though I've yet to die, I will keep it as a sentimental breakup song for now.

[marilynvanderbur]

Bless my sister for pointing out this thread to me! I am in awe and worship of so many of your ideas.

I like to think I have selected a unique funeral song ... I am a lifelong resident of the Seattle area and plan to be cremated and scattered over Puget Sound. A local icon, Ivar (the restauranteur) used to sing a song called "Acres of Clams." It's quite long, but the end stanza is so perfect to use at my scattering:

No longer the slave of ambition,
I laugh at the world and its shams
As I think of my pleasant condition,
Surrounded by acres of clams —
Surrounded by acres of cla-a-ams,
Surrounded by acres of clams,
As I think of my happy condition,
Surrounded by acres of clams!

ETA: I totally forgot about my avatar as I posted this ... hahahahaha!!!