Lyr Req: What can I sing at a wedding? / songs

Subject: Lyr Req: What can I sing at a wedding ?
From: John_Carrington
Date: 29 Jul 11 - 03:38 AM

I've been asked to sing at a wedding. The first thing that springs to mind is the wedding song but it's not a folky audience and they're unlikely to 'get it'

Has anybody got any better suggestion for love songs to sing unaccompanied at a wedding ?

John Carrington

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: What can I sing at a wedding ?
From: DrugCrazed
Date: 29 Jul 11 - 03:40 AM

Cider With Rosie perhaps? Though I imagine that works better with an accompaniment.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: What can I sing at a wedding ?
From: GUEST,Mark Bluemel
Date: 29 Jul 11 - 04:51 AM

A Stitch In Time?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: What can I sing at a wedding ?
From: Bernard
Date: 29 Jul 11 - 05:47 AM

Well, there's always the rather cheesy song called 'The Wedding' from the 1960s... Julie Rogers, as I recall, was the singist...

'Yooooo by my siiiiide, that's how I seeeeeeee us!'

Here it is!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: What can I sing at a wedding ?
From: Bernard
Date: 29 Jul 11 - 06:22 AM

Then there's "Gettin' Wed" as sung by the late Harry Boardman - quite amusing, but appropriate.

Thread

It didn't make it to the Deep Lancashire CD compilation (which is really some tracks from Deep Lancashire and some from Owdham Edge), nor did most of Harry's tracks for some reason. However, if you PM your email address, I can send you an MP3 from the original vinyl...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: What can I sing at a wedding ?
From: Midchuck
Date: 29 Jul 11 - 07:28 AM

When I've sung at weddings in recent years, it has tended to be middle-aged or older people who've been through it before but are trying again anyway.

Two songs I like for those:

Buffy St.-Marie's "Sometimes When I Get to Thinking."

Linda Thompson's "No Telling," as adapted by Tom Russell on the "Indians Cowboys Horses Dogs" album.

Peter

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: What can I sing at a wedding ?
From: GUEST,Chris B (Born Again Scouser)
Date: 29 Jul 11 - 10:39 AM

'When You Were Sweet Sixteen' by the Fureys. 'Don't Get Married Girls' by Leon Rossellson.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: What can I sing at a wedding ?
From: paul vaughan
Date: 29 Jul 11 - 10:59 AM

I've been asked to sing "Me And You" by Kenny Chesney at my stepdaughter's wedding. It's a bit cheesy but I think would work well unaccompanied. Have a look at the youtube link as maybe some of the songs in the suggestions may be suitable.

Me And You

Good Luck!
Paul

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: What can I sing at a wedding ?
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Jul 11 - 11:41 AM

Keys of Canterbury is a lovely song, especially if you can get someone to do it with you as a duet.


Good luck.
K/van

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: What can I sing at a wedding ?
From: Gorgeous Gary
Date: 29 Jul 11 - 08:37 PM

We used Louis Armstrong's "What A Wonderful World" as our first dance.

-- Gary

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: What can I sing at a wedding ?
From: Crowhugger
Date: 29 Jul 11 - 10:19 PM

There must be endless options! Some years ago I sang "Did You Know" from Don McLean's 1974 albums, Homeless Brother; I'm not sure who wrote it. It was a great song for the couple who had been through some trouble and found their way past it. Can't find a youtube link. I did learn while looking that his name is trademarked, so is 'American Pie.'

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: What can I sing at a wedding ?
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Jul 11 - 01:21 PM

"I'll Never get Out of This World Alive" Hank Sr.
"Old Rock Pile"   Flatt and Scruggs
"Free From the Chain Gang Now." Jimmie Rogers

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: What can I sing at a wedding ?
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 30 Jul 11 - 02:42 PM

Call and the answer
Paul Stookey's very pretty wedding song
Follow me by John Denver

Subject: Lyr Add: ROSE OF MY HEART (from Johnny Cash)
From: Arkie
Date: 30 Jul 11 - 03:22 PM

Rose of My Heart, written by Hugh Moffatt is one of the prettiest love songs I know of....

Johnny Cash on YouTube

ROSE OF MY HEART
Words and music by Hugh Moffatt
As recorded by Johnny Cash on "American V: A Hundred Highways" (2006)

We're the best partners this world's ever seen,
Together we're close as can be.
But sometimes it's hard to find time in between,
To tell you what you mean to me.

You are the rose of my heart.
You are the love of my life.
A flower not faded nor falling apart,
If you're tired, rest your head on my arm,
Rose of my heart.

When sorrow holds you in its arms of clay,
It's raindrops that fall from your eyes.
Your smile is the sun come to earth for a day.
You brighten my blackest of skies.

You are the rose of my heart,
You are the love of my life.
A flower not faded nor falling apart,
If you're cool, let my love make you warm,
Rose of my heart.

So hard times or easy times, what do I care?
There's nothing I'd change if I could.
The tears and the laughter are things that we share.
Your hand in mine makes it good.

You are the rose of my heart.
You are the love of my life.
A flower not fading nor falling apart,
If you're cool, let my love make you warm,
Rose of my heart.

You are the rose of my heart.
You are the love of my life.
A flower not faded nor falling apart,
If you're cool, let my love make you warm,
Rose of my heart.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: What can I sing at a wedding ?
From: Crowhugger
Date: 30 Jul 11 - 04:35 PM

When singing Denver's Follow Me, the meaning will take on more feel of the shared-adventure (instead of the rather outdated and tyrannical "I set the sails, you're along for the ride") when the last line of the chorus is sung as, Take my hand and I will follow too.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: What can I sing at a wedding ?
From: melodeonboy
Date: 30 Jul 11 - 04:41 PM

At the Savoy Family Band gig I went to last night, they played a song called "J'ai Fait Un Grand Erreur" (I made a big mistake). They said they often get asked to play it at weddings!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: What can I sing at a wedding ?
From: GUEST,Reno
Date: 30 Jul 11 - 06:36 PM

See the John Denver video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nc_LyxO3Ncg

Sing one verse and chorus solo to set the tone. Then walk close to or into the audience and ask them to join with you in singing this tribute to the couple. Arrange for two or three cohorts in the audience to back you up. Result: Everyone participates in and blesses this marriage. (Consider handing out copies of the lyrics if needed.)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: What can I sing at a wedding ?
From: Charles Biada
Date: 30 Jul 11 - 07:48 PM

Lord Thomas and Fair Annie.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: What can I sing at a wedding ?
From: Genie
Date: 30 Jul 11 - 08:47 PM

OK, here are some suggestions from pop, country, folk, art song, etc.:

To Each His Own

Tom Paxton's "Home To Me Is Anywhere You Are" (You can hear it on YouTube)

Could I Have This Dance For The Rest Of My Life

Tom Paxton's "Outward Bound"

At Last

Drink To Me Only With Thine Eyes

Can't Help Falling In Love With You

Irving Berlin's "Always"

Longer (Dan Fogelberg)

Endless Love

Me And You (Kenny Chesney)

When You Say Nothing At All

That's The Way Love Goes (Lefty Frissell)

Unforgettable

True Love (from "High Society)

Just The Way You Are (Billy Joel)

I Could Not Ask For More (Edwin McCain)

From This Moment On (Shania Twain)

Born To Be With You (Everly Brothers)

Melody Of Love (Four Tops, I think - from the '50s)

Ebb Tide

How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)

Ring Of Fire

I Walk The Line

When A Man Loves A Woman

Love Will Keep Us Together (Captain & Tenille)

Lay You Down (Conway Twitty)

Years From Now (Don Williams)

Lay Down Beside Me (Don Williams)

Wonderful Tonight (Eric Clapton)

(I'd Be Me) Just Lovin' You (The O'Kanes)

Crazy Little Thing Called Love (Queen)

Crazy Love (Van Morrison)

Just You And I (Eddie Rabbit and Crystal Gayle)

Because You Loved Me (Celine Dion)

Can You Feel The Love Tonight? (from "The Lion King")

Thank God I Found You (Mariah Carey)

In Spite Of Ourselves (John Prine)

You Are The Sunshine Of My Life

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: What can I sing at a wedding ?
From: Bernard
Date: 30 Jul 11 - 09:20 PM

Mary Chapin-Carpenter 'Not Too Much To Ask'...

A very eloquent song, yet very concise...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: What can I sing at a wedding ?
From: Genie
Date: 30 Jul 11 - 09:22 PM

You can find a list of "Wedding Songs" from a lot of different decades HERE.

A lof of the songs they list as "wedding songs" seem ridiculous to me for the wedding itself, though I could see a band playing them at the reception and party as dance music. But there are also some really good love songs on the list, and you can see the lyrics by clicking beside the title. You can also hear excerpts from the songs.


A couple that I missed earlier are:

The Way You Love Me (Faith Hill)
Thank You For Loving Me (Bon Jovi)
Amazed (Lonestar)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: What can I sing at a wedding ?
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 30 Jul 11 - 10:07 PM

If I needed you
Love can build a bridge
did I say Eres Tu

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: What can I sing at a wedding ?
From: PHJim
Date: 31 Jul 11 - 02:20 AM

My wife, brother and I did John's Waltz To The Miller by Tony Trischka at my other brother's wedding.
Guy Clark's Like A Coat From The Cold is another good one.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: What can I sing at a wedding ?
From: PHJim
Date: 31 Jul 11 - 02:36 AM

Here's Dede Wyland's version of John's Waltz... She wrote the lyrics and Tony wrote the tune.
http://www.we7.com/song/Dede-Wyland/Johns-Waltz-To-The-Miller?m=0
I can't find a link to Guy singing Like A Coat From The Cold, but lots of other folks sing it on youtube.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: What can I sing at a wedding ?
From: PHJim
Date: 31 Jul 11 - 02:38 AM

John's Waltz To The Miller

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: What can I sing at a wedding ?
From: breezy
Date: 31 Jul 11 - 03:51 PM

anything with the first person 'I' or 'me' or 'us' is not appropriate , unless you are trying to break up the couple and cop off with the bride !

A song that is about 'Them'    and   'Love'

'Love and Marriage' would be O K if the attendees are of a certain intelligence level but not my choice

The obvious option would possibly be A Mac's 'The Rose'

But I do have another song that was written specifically for such an occasion that is not so widely known. Written by a well known and respected Canadian singer-writer. OK there's a clue for you

Can anyone work out which song I am alluding to?

Its a cracker, I know , cos I have used it, its not long , but highly relevant to the situation.

Answers please, no prizes just the satisfaction of having discovered my suggested song.

good luck

genie, go rub yourself

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: What can I sing at a wedding ?
From: PHJim
Date: 31 Jul 11 - 04:13 PM

Breezy, Is it Having My Baby by Paul Anka?

Subject: Lyr Add: JUST IN CASE (Todd Snider)
From: PHJim
Date: 31 Jul 11 - 04:17 PM

I guess you;re a little too late to sing this on the wedding day; Todd Snider's Just In Case, a love song for the twenty-first century:

You oughta know by now this love of mine is real
Honey words just can't describe the way I feel
And even though we just met
I'm so glad the date is set
And years from now I would bet
We'd be together still

But just in case
Just in case
This morning I went by my lawyer's place
I didn't think you would mind
Here Honey sign this dotted line
What's yours is yours
And what is mine will always be mine
Just in case

Well you know I can't love you enough
But I also can't afford to lose half of my stuff
There's no doubt in my mind
These ties that we're about to bind
Will hold us both together any time it gets too tough

But just in case
Just in case
This morning I went by my lawyer's place
I didn't think you would mind
Here Dumplin' sign this dotted line
What's yours is yours
And what is mine will always be mine
Just in case

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: What can I sing at a wedding ?
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 31 Jul 11 - 06:05 PM

Someone earlier suggested 'The Call and the Answer' which I thought was a great suggestion... here it is sung by Dave Fletcher.... and accompanied by Bill Whaley... it sounds good unaccompanied of course. The Call and the Answer.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: What can I sing at a wedding ?
From: Genie
Date: 01 Aug 11 - 01:36 AM

Breezy,

I totally disagree that ALL songs with "I" in the title or lyrics are inappropriate -- and a lot of people over the years have used "I Love You Truly," "(I'll Be Loving You) Always," "How Do I Love Thee?," "Longer," "(I'd Be Me) Just Loving You," and many other love songs written from the first person singular perspective as wedding songs.

No need for personal attack, in any case, but I disagree with your categorical ruling out of all such songs, and in any case, I was just offering a number of possibilities, not making recommendations.

Peace,

Genie

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: What can I sing at a wedding ?
From: breezy
Date: 01 Aug 11 - 06:28 AM

Oh O K then genie, I concede,



like heck

Phjim . no . but do try again

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: What can I sing at a wedding ?
From: John_Carrington
Date: 01 Aug 11 - 06:29 AM

Wow, I went to Warwick FF at he weekend (brilliant), come back and I've got 30 responses. It'll take me a while to work my way through these but thank you all so much

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: What can I sing at a wedding ?
From: GUEST,Eoín O'Buadhaigh
Date: 01 Aug 11 - 07:28 AM

If it's Trad/folk ballad you intend to sing:
Top of the Mountain (Bonny Blue Eyed Lassie)
Trip O'er the Mountain
Two that I have ang at weddings.
DON'T sing 'The Red Haired Man's Wife!'
I did and found out later that it is a curse ballad
and should never even be uttered near a wedding.
(Thank God they are boyh still together)

Eoín

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: What can I sing at a wedding ?
From: Genie
Date: 01 Aug 11 - 11:49 AM

Breezy, just curious. What do the bride and groom say at the altar when asked "Do you, ___, take ____ to be your lawful wedded wife/husband ... ?"

Subject: Lyr Add: BEI HENNEF (D. H. Lawrence)
From: breezy
Date: 01 Aug 11 - 01:23 PM

Cant remember Genie but its along the lines of I something

In response to the song by Phil Colclough. 'Call and answer' which I quite like, prefering The Walley Fletcher, draw back yer bow version, ahead of Denaan bread one, something about it seemed familiar

read on


BEI HENNEF

The little river twittering in the twilight,
The wan, wondering look of the pale sky,
This is almost bliss.

And everything shut up and gone to sleep,
All the troubles and anxieties and pain
Gone under the twilight.

Only the twilight now, and the soft "Sh!" of the river
That will last for ever.

And at last I know my love for you is here;
I can see it all, it is whole like the twilight,
It is large, so large, I could not see it before,
Because of the little lights and flickers and interruptions,
Troubles, anxieties and pains.

You are the call and I am the answer,
You are the wish, and I the fulfilment,
You are the night, and I the day.
What else - it is perfect enough.
It is perfectly complete,
You and I,
What more--?

Strange, how we suffer in spite of this.


D. H. Lawrence

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: What can I sing at a wedding ?
From: GUEST,Jaze
Date: 02 Aug 11 - 12:34 PM

Grow Old Along With Me. Written, I believe, by John Lennon, and sung beautifully by Mary Chapin Carpenter

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: What can I sing at a wedding ?
From: Genie
Date: 02 Aug 11 - 03:15 PM

You can find the lyrics and a link to a YouTube of "Years From Now" (Cochran/Cook) in the forum HERE

There are several other songs, some newer, with that title, but the Cochran/Cook song, which was recorded by Dr. Hook and by Don Williams, is probably more suitable for most weddings.

Genie

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: What can I sing at a wedding ?
From: GUEST,Guest - Cindy
Date: 02 Aug 11 - 03:15 PM

Linda Rondstadt's,

"You're no good, you're no good, baby you're no good."

JUST KIDDING :-)))))))

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: What can I sing at a wedding ?
From: GUEST,Guest Zeph
Date: 02 Aug 11 - 04:51 PM

There are a couple of Kate Wolf songs, "Give Yourself to Love"(nice) and "Two Way Waltz" (realistic)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: What can I sing at a wedding ?
From: Cats
Date: 03 Aug 11 - 03:50 AM

Searching For Lambs. Works beautifully and I have sung it at both folkie and non folkie weddings

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: What can I sing at a wedding ?
From: GUEST,shantyjohn
Date: 03 Aug 11 - 04:08 AM

Henry's Orchard recently sang at a wedding, we did Brian Bedford's 'I'll Sail No More' and 'Bonnet and Shawl'(Dave Webber?). They seemed to go down well, but they are quite folkey.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: What can I sing at a wedding ?
From: GUEST,Chris B (Born Again Scouser)
Date: 03 Aug 11 - 08:39 AM

I'd like to second Bernard's suggestion of 'Not Too Much Too Ask' by Mary Chapin Carpenter. Mrs BAS and myself had it as our first dance at our wedding. Just watch out for the bridesmaids giggling when she gets to the line 'I may not be the first, but say I'll be the last'....

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: What can I sing at a wedding ?
From: GUEST,Chris B (Born Again Scouser)
Date: 03 Aug 11 - 08:41 AM

...not that they did at our wedding, of course (ducking).

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: What can I sing at a wedding ?
From: Genie
Date: 03 Aug 11 - 01:09 PM

Yes, Kate Wolf actually composed "Give Yourself To Love" in a couple hours for some friends' wedding, and it's a very popular one. (I personally think it's not one of her best poetic works, but the fact that she threw it together in a hurry may have something to do with that.)

"Two-Way Waltz" is, I think, one of the best songs I've ever heard for a wedding--although some of the lyrics in the first two verses seem to be describing the personalities and relationship of a particular couple, so they may not really fit some other brides and grooms.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: What can I sing at a wedding ?
From: Genie
Date: 03 Aug 11 - 01:11 PM

Well, when my brother got married a few years ago, he and his groomsmen entered the sanctuary to a recorded clip from "Wild Thing!"