SONG OF FAREWELL (In Paradisum)
Words and Music by Ernest Sands (b.1949)

CHORUS
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.

The Lord is my light and my help;
It is he who protects me from harm.
The Lord is the strength of my days;
Before whom should I tremble with fear?

There is one thing I ask of the Lord;
That He grant me my heartfelt desire.
To dwell in the courts of our God
Every day of my life in His presence.

O Lord, hear my voice when I cry,
Have mercy on me and give answer.
Do not cast me away in your anger,
For you are the God of my help.

I am sure I shall see the Lord's goodness;
I shall dwell in the land of the living.
Hope in God, stand firm and take heart,
Place all your trust in the Lord.

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I suppose this is a terrible thing to say and I'll burn in hell for saying it, but my previous parish had a dictatorial Catholic school principal who was not very well-liked. When she resigned to explore other ventures, the school children chose to sing "Song of Farewell" to her. I asked a faculty member if anybody had known this was a funeral song. She said, "Yes, but nobody did anything to try to stop it." It's a much happier school without her.
Good song, though.