What Song for Your Funeral?

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: Pistachio
Date: 27 Jul 10 - 01:03 PM

For those in Peril on the Sea - (like my Dad did) and The Farewell Shanty - It's time to go now....Haul away for Heaven... and know that I'll be crying, leaving such a wonderful bundle of friends to harmonise without me.
I know there's another song I've already asked Grace notes to sing - but that request was at 4am a while back and I'm not sure which song we'd just shared.

May all those who go before go peacefully.

Hazel.x

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: ClaireBear
Date: 27 Jul 10 - 01:40 PM

Second for Dave Carter's "When I Go" -- simply the best.

Then my own "Rowing Song" because ... well, just because. (Thanks again for recording that, Amos).

And finally, to bring up the mood for the party after, Michael Martin Murphey's "Dancing in the Meadow" (here's a YouTube of someone singing it).

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: John on the Sunset Coast
Date: 27 Jul 10 - 03:22 PM

As I expect to be cremated--though not anytime soon, I hope--I think it would be appropriate to hear Dicky Lee's, "Ashes of Love" in medley with "Blowin' in the Wind".

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: Bobert
Date: 27 Jul 10 - 07:37 PM

Little known song done by a little known band called the Barefoot Servants... Anyway, they wrote a wonderful song about dieing' entitled "Meet Me on the Southside of the Sky"... Yeah, play that one 'er...

...trad song "I'll Fly Away"...

Either one will be just fine as long as ya'll don't start rehersin' too soon...

B~

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: Bugsy
Date: 27 Jul 10 - 08:08 PM

Still the same songs as in the last thread.
Fred Small's "Everything Possible",Which I think is a great song for both entering and exiting the human race, and this one that I think just about sums it all up.

WE BOTH HAD A VERY GOOD TIME
(Derek Brimstone)

How mamy miles have we wandered side by side
laughing and talking, sometimes we even crie
well the long long road has ended to baby dry your eyes
come here let me kiss you, you know I'm going to miss you
and we both had a very good time


how many bar rooms, how many cities and towns
how many faces - how many sights and sounds
and how many places did you hear me sing my songs
Well laughing or grieving we broke about even
and we both had a very good time


well remember all the good times, forget all about the bad
you know I really really really loved you - i gave you all I had
didn't I always tell you some day this time would come
well I'm sorry my dear, but now that it's here
we both had a very good time


This ain't no time for sadness, It ain't no time for tears,
For happiness just fades away, then it disappears,
You've got many more years than I have - that's why I set you free
So be glad that you met me and baby don't forget me
And we both had a very good time.


So then how many miles, have we wandered side by side,
Laughing and talking, sometimes we even cried.
But the long long road has ended, so baby dry your eyes.
Come here let me kiss you, you know I'm gonna miss you,
And we both had a very good time - I mean
We both had a very good time


Cheers

Bugsy

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: Phil Cooper
Date: 27 Jul 10 - 09:31 PM

Plus Dave Carter's song, September Sea!

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: Dave Roberts
Date: 28 Jul 10 - 03:28 PM

'Bird On A Wire' by Leonard Cohen

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: RWilhelm
Date: 28 Jul 10 - 05:03 PM

Me too: 'Bird on a Wire'

also Leiber and Stoler's 'Is That All There Is'

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: Big Ballad Singer
Date: 28 Jul 10 - 05:23 PM

"Prayer Of St. Francis" by John Michael Talbot

Not for me... I will already be gone.

It's for those still here, to perhaps motivate them
to live as though their place in this world and what
they do with it really, deeply matters.

Regards,

BBS

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: GUEST,Seonaid
Date: 28 Jul 10 - 06:24 PM

If you can find it, Evelyne Beers' "Time Passes" is my favorite.
My two second picks are "Fiddler's Green" and "Parting Glass."
Knowing my friends, they'll be singing "Look at the Coffin" (aka "Bloody Well Dead") at my wake, so I might as well request it.
But to go out on an up note, nothing beats "Saints Go Marching In"!

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: Peace
Date: 28 Jul 10 - 06:36 PM

`Amazing Grace` by the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards.`

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: Clontarf83
Date: 28 Jul 10 - 10:41 PM

If it be Your Will--Lenny Cohen

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: GUEST,I Don't Know
Date: 29 Jul 10 - 04:25 AM

I would like quiet unusual songs: A Travellers Lullaby by Kenny Speirs, In memory of my mother by Jackie Leven, Feathers falling from angels by Colvinquarmby, Bury me standing by Oysterband, Sand & Water sung by the late John Wright & Walk by me by Stained Glass.

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: GUEST,Neil D
Date: 29 Jul 10 - 11:35 AM

"Keep Me in Your Heart"
          by
The late, great Waren Zevon

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: Peter the Squeezer
Date: 29 Jul 10 - 05:39 PM

Obituaries are not supposed to make you laugh!

Some years ago, I was reading an obituary of a cinema organist who had recently passed away.

Back in the days when the organist came up on the lift during the interval, with his back to the audience, every organist had his own signature tune - the idea being that the audience could tell who was playing by which tune they played.

It has become a tradition that when one of these old timers passes on, as the coffin is disappearing, somebody will get on the crematorium chapel organ, and play the dear departed organist's signature tune. A bit theatrical, but a cinema organist is a theatrical profession, after all.

The obituary read as follows -

"The funeral service, attended by family and friends,was held at Malvern crematorium. At the committal, the organist played Arthur's signature tune - Smoke Gets in Your Eyes".

And everywhere else too, I suppose.

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: Jayto
Date: 29 Jul 10 - 05:54 PM

Sgt MacKenzie

Lay me down in the cold cold ground
Where before many more have gone
Lay me down in the cold cold ground
Where before many more have gone

When they come I will stand my ground
Stand my ground I'll not be afraid

Thoughts of home take away my fear
Sweat and blood hide my veil of tears

Once a year say a prayer for me
Close your eyes and remember me

Lay me down in the cold cold ground
Where before many more have gone
Lay me down in the cold cold ground
Where before many more have gone
Where before many more have gone

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: GUEST,Kit Griffiths
Date: 30 Jul 10 - 07:11 AM

Haven't quite decided on the song yet, but for my epitaph, it's got to be laughing Lenny-

I was handsome, I was strong,
I knew the words to every song.
Did my singing please you?
"No, the words you sang were wrong...."

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: Desi C
Date: 25 Aug 10 - 08:15 AM

I felt after reading your post, I want a invite to your funeral, I really would. As for me I had pretty much the same thoughts as yourself after a musical visit to my home town of Kilkenny last September, and I was inspired to write m own song to 'pass on' by, It's called Singing In Kilkenny. By chance when back in Kilkenny this july the new Mayor heard me singing it and has adopted it for his term of office, so I want to be dispatched to that and I guess it's a way of leaving something of MY otherwise wasted life behind, here's the first verse

They'll be singing in Kilkenny when it's time for me to go
Sweet songs in my memory, in tones soft and low
Songs of dear old Ireland, and rebels so long ago
They'll be singing in Kilkenny when I go

(c) Desi C 20009 all rights reserved

I'd also suggest
No Regrets
Sing As We Go
Going Underground
A Daisy A Day
Desi C xx

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: buddhuu
Date: 25 Aug 10 - 09:04 AM

'The Parting Glass'





...or Motorhead's 'Killed by Death'

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: stevi
Date: 25 Aug 10 - 11:14 AM

That's life by Frank Sinatra. Riding high in April shot down in May! I just pick myself up and get back in the race. That's how I would like to be remembered.



Steve

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 28 Nov 10 - 10:18 PM

I'd like this version of the traditional Catholic funeral hymn, In Paradisum. It's called "Song of Farewell," composed by Ernest Sands:

May the choirs of angels come to greet you.
May they speed you to paradise.
May the Lord enfold you in his mercy.
May you find eternal life.

I'm helping a friend plan a funeral for his wife just now, and I suggested this one.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 29 Nov 10 - 01:33 AM

I'd probably ask for 2 these day Bloody Well Dead

and my favourite of all hymns which is I Heard The Voice Of Jesus Say

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: andrew e
Date: 29 Nov 10 - 02:12 AM

Henry Purcell

Thou Knowest Lord The Secrets Of Our Hearts.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pf_84OQgZSg

I'm not "religious" but just love this style of sacred music.

We sing this one in a choir I direct.

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: GUEST,Guest - Lin
Date: 29 Nov 10 - 02:19 AM

"Dust In The Wind" by the band Kansas

"Song of the Wandering Angeus" - Donovan

"Be Not Too Hard" sung by Joan Baez (written by Donovan)

"Sand and Foam" - Donovan

"Unfinished Life" - Kate Wolf

"Song of the Candle" - Stan Rogers

"Fhir a Bhata" sung by Sandy Denny

Probably not enough time for all these songs at a funeral but in my life these are some of my very favourite songs and my favourite artists. Well...the group Kansas is not a favourite group but have always loved that one song of theirs.

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: GUEST,Billy Weeks
Date: 20 Jun 14 - 01:16 AM

Easy Street

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: GUEST,LK867
Date: 20 Jun 14 - 02:29 AM

Frédéric Chopin's Piano Sonata No. 2 in B-flat minor, Op. 35, popularly known as The Funeral March.

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: Dennis the Elder
Date: 20 Jun 14 - 05:39 AM

Keith Marsden's "Funeral Song" seems most apt for my funeral, however I have a lot of work to do first to make it realistic.
If I look very tiered if you see me, you will know I have started on my task.

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: GUEST,eldergirl
Date: 20 Jun 14 - 06:14 AM

Where the Lion Stands, by Pete Ryder.
Always, by Note for a Child. Lady of the North, by Gene Clark.
And any of the songs we've sung as friends together, how about Rollin' Up, Rollin' Down? :-) x el

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: GUEST,donmeixner
Date: 20 Jun 14 - 07:21 AM

Ill Be Seeing You.

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: Black belt caterpillar wrestler
Date: 20 Jun 14 - 08:24 AM

I have always thought that "The Duke of Marlborough's Fanfare" from "Alright Jack" by "Home Service" is the perfect piece for the coffin to pass through the curtains at a cremation. As for songs, we'll if you believe in reincarnation how about "Embryo" from "Pink Floyd"!

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: GUEST,phil cooper on spouse's laptop
Date: 20 Jun 14 - 08:27 AM

I saw this thread refreshed. I had an older brother pass away in 2011. Susan and I helped pick out songs to sing for a memorial. It turns out I got to sing a lot of songs I wouldn't mind being sung at my memorial. We did wind up singing Dave Carter's When I Go, also his song Gentle Soldier of my Soul. I found Chris Smithers' song Lay the Old Man Down. We also got the four members of the Bittersweet Christmas Band to sing David Francey's Saints and Sinners. The service was more musical than many, as you might suppose. It also didn't necessarily please some of my fundamentalist relatives. However my brother was agnostic and his daughter wanted a memorial that was true to who her dad was.

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 20 Jun 14 - 08:57 AM

Well the time did come for my Dad, whom I mentioned up the thread in Sept 09: he left us on Christmas Day 2010. And we did have "Crossing the Bar" as the coffin was taken from the church. It was beautiful.

Since then, I got asked to sing at a funeral, Dave Webber's "Parting Song". The first I knew of that little plan was at the door of the crematorium, when the bereaved lady's daughter asked if her mother had said anything to me about singing! She hadn't! We had sung it in a song workshop the week before, and I had known it for a lot longer. The words had been printed in the order of service, and the minister had been told I would be singing it. So, as I stepped up to the front with knees quaking, I was about to ask the organist for a start note, when he started playing it (fortunately in a singable key!). I thanked him afterwards and asked how he knew it as it's not a very well-known song up here in Scotland. "Oh, I just looked it up on Youtube this morning"! Seat of the pants stuff!

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: voyager
Date: 20 Jun 14 - 11:22 AM

I'll be singing this one -

Dying Crapshooter Blues - Willie McTell

Eight crapshooters to be my pallbearers
Let 'em be veiled down in black
I want nine men going to the graveyard, buddy
I want eight men coming back

I want a gang of gamblers gathered 'round my coffin-side
Crooked card printed on my hearse
My life has been a doggone curse

Well, well, well, well
Send poker players to the graveyard, buddy
Dig my grave with the ace of spades
I want twelve polices in my funeral march
High sheriff playin' blackjack, lead the parade

I want the judge and solic'ter who jailed me fourty times
Put a pair of dice in my shoes, what else
Let a deck of cards be my tombstone, buddy
I got the dying crapshooter blues

Sixteen real good crapshooters
Sixteen bootleggers to sing a song
I want sixteen racket men gamblin'
Couple tend bar while I'm rollin' along
Read more at http://www.songlyrics.com/moriarty/the-dying-crapshooter-blues-lyrics/#idJYQGY20FGGgXjT.99

let the mourners find their own tune.

voyager

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: PHJim
Date: 20 Jun 14 - 12:02 PM

My brother Dave sang us this song Bob Dylan'sMake You Feel My Love for his own funeral. We found it among his tapes and decided it was just the thing.
I have sung "My Buddy" and Todd Snider's "I Feel Like Missing You Today" at funerals, but I have trouble thinking of a song for my funeral...maybe Tommy Thompson's "I've Got Plans".

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: LadyJean
Date: 20 Jun 14 - 11:32 PM

"I Keep So Busy Praising My Jesus" I like to give people a laugh.

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: GUEST,Janelle
Date: 20 Jun 14 - 11:45 PM

"Dust in the Wind" by Kansas

"All we are is dust in the wind."

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: Guy Wolff
Date: 20 Jun 14 - 11:50 PM

I love both of these but I would also like anything from Orlando Gibins . My wife is early music so thats more likely .

These are both so good

Oh Come Angle Band

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_M65lcDk6o

After the Sunrise ..


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3p1-yI6ZOqs&feature=kp

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: J-boy
Date: 21 Jun 14 - 01:49 AM

John Cage's 4'33".

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: AlbertsLion
Date: 21 Jun 14 - 02:32 AM

Let the Mystery Be - Iris DeMent, Trans Atlantic Session recording does it for me and Steve Earle's Pilgrim sung by friend Bob Fish.

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: GUEST,freespiritceol1
Date: 21 Jun 14 - 03:38 AM

Some say the devil is dead (and buried in
killarney).

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: SPB-Cooperator
Date: 24 Jun 20 - 05:29 AM

That is a very good question, and if I was to put this in my will it would cost me a fortune every time I change my mind.

I can think of three ways of looking at it:

(1) Do I want choices based on what I like - but unless I would be their in spirit to hear them for the last time that wouldn't achieve anything?

(2) Do a want to choose what 'the audience' would like to hear and dignified send off?

(3) Do I choose a song with a message beyond the grave? One that comes to mind is Tears and Pavan by Strawbs with the wonderful first line "Where are the tears, you should be crying right now?"

Definite no-no would be the over sentimental and stoic cliches.

If I was to make a choice about how I feel at the moment, it would probably be two Czech folk songs by Cechomor Mezi Horami (between the mountains) and Nepudem Domu (We aren't going home.... until the sun rises).

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: BobL
Date: 25 Jun 20 - 02:49 AM

I would like to have "All is Well" from the shape note tradition (either the version in Northern Harmony, or else Peter Amidon's arrangement of the Sacred Harp one), and/or the West Gallery hymn known as "The Shropshire Funaral (sic) Hymn". However, I've been unable to get to either type of gathering for so long that I'm probably now only a distant memory to most of the SH and WG regulars, and the choir at my parish church aren't all happy with anything out of the ordinary. I may have to settle for whatever New Moon Morris can come up with (I have asked that they attend in full kit BTW).

But in any case, unless I outlive the present pandemic - which I suspect will continue for years yet, whatever science may discover and politics like to pretend - I fear it's likely to be a short private service.

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: The Sandman
Date: 25 Jun 20 - 02:54 AM

spb coop, i thought you would choose old maui

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: Senoufou
Date: 25 Jun 20 - 03:50 AM

I would like them to play Enya singing 'Na Laetha Geal M'Oige'.
(From her album Watermark)
and Asha Bhosle singing 'Justajoo jis kee thee' (from the film Umrao Jaan)
They each translate into this:
'I never found what I was seeking, but in the search I learned much about the world. The promise of my youth was never fulfilled.'

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 25 Jun 20 - 04:13 AM

Leap Up And Down wave Your Knickers In The Air

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: SPB-Cooperator
Date: 25 Jun 20 - 06:35 AM

or maybe a very long Child ballad in original dialect.

Subject: Cearcall a' Chuain
From: Felipa
Date: 25 Jun 20 - 07:26 PM

Cearcall a' Chuain

When I'm Gone (Phil Ochs)
and I also like The Joys of Living by Ewan MacZColl, already mentioned in the discussion.

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: Donuel
Date: 25 Jun 20 - 07:35 PM

Daphne&Chloe and Ashokans farewell is long enough.
At my wedding it was Pictures at an Exhibition

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: Bill D
Date: 26 Jun 20 - 03:38 PM

well...this is about the 4th or 5th thread on the topic. Looking thru them I see that a certain number of us have already gone.

I'm gonna, for any memorial service/wake..(no funeral with coffin... maybe a few ashes in a wooden thing I made).. stick with the one I posted in 2001

Subject: Lyr Add: WHAT'S THE LIFE OF A MAN?
From: Bill D - PM
Date: 24 Feb 01 - 07:09 PM

WHAT'S THE LIFE OF A MAN


As I was a walking one morning at ease
A viewing the leaves as they fell from the trees
All in slow motion appearing to be
And those that had withered, they fell from the trees


What's the life of a man anymore than the leaves
A man has his season, so why should we grieve
Though all thru this life, we appear fine and gay
Like the leaves we will wither and soon fade away


If you'd seen the leaves just a few days ago
So beautiful and bright they all seemed to grow
A frost came upon them and withered them all
A storm came upon them and down they did fall


If you look in the churchyard, there you will see
Those that have passed like the leaves from the trees
When age and affliction upon us do fall
Like the leaves we must wither and down we must fall.


I also said in another thread that I don't intend to go.. but just have the wake for fun...

Subject: RE: What Song for Your Funeral?
From: JHW
Date: 26 Jun 20 - 03:53 PM

Year or two ago went to funeral of BW at a Crem. For exit music they played the man himself singing the Kielder Hunt. Lots of verses, I thought they'd fade it but they didn't and all the audience stayed until it finished. So I guess I'd let someone choose me singing something. Its really for the benefit of those attending. Won't matter to me by then. They might choose somebody else.