The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #21554   Message #1523756
Posted By: Amos
18-Jul-05 - 08:31 PM
Thread Name: Funeral Tunes, songs that heal
Subject: RE: Funeral Tunes, songs that heal
I would recommend perhaopps an abridged version of "Abide With Me", one of the most beautiful of religous songs:

Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord with me abide.
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.

Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day;
Earth's joys grow dim; its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see;
O Thou who changest not, abide with me.

Not a brief glance I beg, a passing word;
But as Thou dwell'st with Thy disciples, Lord,
Familiar, condescending, patient, free.
Come not to sojourn, but abide with me.

Come not in terrors, as the King of kings,
But kind and good, with healing in Thy wings,
Tears for all woes, a heart for every plea—
Come, Friend of sinners, and thus bide with me.

Thou on my head in early youth didst smile;
And, though rebellious and perverse meanwhile,
Thou hast not left me, oft as I left Thee,
On to the close, O Lord, abide with me.

I need Thy presence every passing hour.
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter's power?
Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.

I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless;
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness.
Where is death's sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.

Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes;
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies.
Heaven's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.



For my own mother, I sang at her funeral "I SIngs BEcause I'se Happy", and one of her favorite pieces "Finnegan's Wake". But I was busting up pretty bad and left a whole verse out of the latter. No-one seemed to mind, though. I think weeping over the loss of your mother will not be held against you, quite the contrary.

Keep breathing, pal. This is a rough passage. My sympathy goes with you.

Amos