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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

What are your funeral songs?

211 replies

RainbowZebraWarrior · 11/09/2024 18:48

Appreciate it's a bit of a morbid question, but an important one (I feel) nonetheless. My family have always been quite pragmatic and have wills, but also a document entitled 'in the event of my death' My Mum keeps a copy of hers in her mobile phone case.

I think it's a last opportunity to tell people who you are / how you feel / what music you loved. Apart from that, it's also an opportunity to leave some potential comforting 'words'

My sister died young - aged only 29 - of complications from a heart issue related to her Downs Syndrome. At her funeral she had Alone by Heart and Lily The Pink played. She alos had the theme from Heartbeat. For a short time afterwards I couldn't listen to the former, but now it makes me smile. Lily The Pink made us all smile, as did Heartbeat as it was what made her smile too.

Anyway, mine are:

Stop Crying Your Heart Out by Oasis, and
White Lies by Stereophonics (I love them, amd this is my favourite song of theirs)

Apologies to anyone recently bereaved. I hope this isn't upsetting.

OP posts:
MasterShardlake · 11/09/2024 19:57

Van Morrison Into the Mystic

Lactarius · 11/09/2024 19:57

Lament of the Highborn & Rains of Castermere - had both of these for my teenage son's funeral

Adagio for Strings - had this at my stillborn son's funeral

March of Cambreadth - everyone needs bagpipes even if I'm not Scottish

NooNakedJacuzziness · 11/09/2024 19:59

The Rainbow Connection sung by Kermit (seriously, it's a lovely song!)

Ahwig · 11/09/2024 19:59

I'm on the top of the world looking down on creation the carpenters

Thatsajokeright · 11/09/2024 20:00

Greenday - Time of your life

Happyhippy99 · 11/09/2024 20:00

Pink Floyd, Any colour you like. Played this at my db’s funeral and despite it having no words, it summed up his beautiful life.

Thingsthatgo · 11/09/2024 20:00

There she goes by The La's

AutumnFullMoon · 11/09/2024 20:00

I've planned for direct crem and no service, but I've always said since my teens my funeral song/song to remember me by would be Seize the Day by Avenged Sevenfold

MinervaMcGonagallsCat · 11/09/2024 20:01

I think funerals are for those who are left behind.

My family can play whatever they chose.

Jins · 11/09/2024 20:01

Love like blood - Killing Joke
Uprising - Muse
Dazzle - Siouxsie and the Banshees
Calon Lân - Cerys Matthews.

If there isn’t enough time for 4 then I’d prefer them to drop the eulogy.

GaryLurcher19 · 11/09/2024 20:02

I read this as 'What are your fungal songs?'

So, in answer :

Badger Badger... 🤣

LatteLady · 11/09/2024 20:02

Paul Robeson, singing Joe Hill, it's played at Union Funerals.

The Weavers singing Irene, Goodnight Irene and the Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem singing, The Parting Glass. And, for the bit going through the curtains, Barwick Green, played by Bellowhead... have listened since before Jenny dahling got knocked up by Roger, so 60+ yrs.

Although, I think few would beat my Auntie Berna who had Paddy McGinty's Goat as her exit music... she was known as Nanny Goat to her grandchildren and was buried in a felt coffin...

RainbowZebraWarrior · 11/09/2024 20:03

sterli2323 · 11/09/2024 19:51

I was only joking -Rod Stewart - kids can choose the rest

Fabulous choice!

OP posts:
mitogoshi · 11/09/2024 20:03

In paradism by Faure

Changeyourfuckingcar · 11/09/2024 20:04

If I Ever Leave This World Alive by Flogging Molly, because it’s beautiful and I love the general sentiment, and 5 Leaf Clover by Luke Combs, because my life is wonderful despite many trials and tribulations as a child/youngster and I have much to be thankful for. I should probably tell my husband those.
I always used to say Landslide by The Chicks and Wherever You Will Go by The Calling.

Ethelswith · 11/09/2024 20:05

I want to have Karl Jenkins' Dies Irae

Maybe a couple of traditional hymns

Then it's a toss up between The Promenade from Mussorgsky's Pictures At An Exhibition, The Pogue's Sally Maclennan (bits of this I love as a funeral song, or perhaps better for a wake, but some of the lyrics don't hit the right note) or Highway to Hell by AD/DC (or perhaps Back In Black?)

RainbowZebraWarrior · 11/09/2024 20:06

MinervaMcGonagallsCat · 11/09/2024 20:01

I think funerals are for those who are left behind.

My family can play whatever they chose.

Yes, I think this was partly my point. I remember choosing my Nanna's song (who died in the month of August) I chose Silent Night as I'd talked to her at length about her life and knew she had it played at her wedding on Christmas Eve before her husband to be went off to war. The rest of my family didn't have a clue why I chose it.

OP posts:
Callipygion · 11/09/2024 20:07

ShaunaSadeki · 11/09/2024 19:33

The Detectorists theme by Johnny Flynn and She Bangs the Drums by The Stone Roses for me

I love that Detectorists music, I might pinch that!
I was thinking of Eulogy by Frank Turner
Light my Fire by the Doors
& Spirit in the Sky, by Norman Greenbaum.

viktoria · 11/09/2024 20:07

GoofyGoldie · 11/09/2024 19:11

Dancing in the Sky - Dani & Lizi
..for coming in.
Sign of the Times - Harry Styles ...to reflect on my life
Thank you for loving Me - Bon Jovi... as the curtains close.
Green Green Grass - George Ezra. ... on everyone's way out.

My funeral is mostly all planned as I have Stage 4 cancer. I've even written my eulogy, although I expect my family to add to it when they speak to the celebrant.

Lovely choices

You sound like a great person

workingmumuk · 11/09/2024 20:07

I'm having 'Melodies of Life' - a song from a PlayStation game called Final Fantasy IX. I realise that most people won't know it, but it's a song that I've loved since my teens, and then sang to my daughter as a bedtime lullaby.

The lyrics are just so beautiful.

I've copied them below 👇

Alone for a while I've been searching through the dark,
For traces of the love you left inside my lonely heart.
To weave by picking up the pieces that remain.
Melodies of Life - Love's lost refrain.

Our paths they did cross, though I cannot say just why,
We met, we laughed, we held on fast, and then we said goodbye,
And who'll hear the echoes of stories never told?
Let them ring out loud till they unfold.

In my dearest memories, I see you reaching out to me.
Though you're gone, I still believe that you can call out my name.
A voice from the past, joining yours and mine.
Adding up the layers of harmony.
And so it goes, on and on.
Melodies of life.
To the sky beyond the flying birds - forever and beyond.

So far and away, see the bird as it flies by,
Gliding through the shadows of the clouds up in the sky,
I've laid my memories and dreams upon those wings.
Leave them now and see what tommorow brings.
In your dearest memories, do you remember loving me?
Was it fate that brought us close and now leaves me behind?
A voice from the past, joining yours and mine.
Adding up the layers of harmony.
And so it goes, on and on.
Melodies of life.
To the sky beyond the flying birds - forever and beyond.

If I should leave this lonely world behind.
Your voice will still remember our melody.
Now I know we'll carry on.
Melodies of Life.
Come circle round and grow deep in our hearts, as long as we
remember.

I think it's really pretty and tells everyone how fondly I remember them, even if I'm gone. And that they can still remember me too 💛

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 11/09/2024 20:08

The Laughing Policeman

I'm not a policeman, nor will I be laughing (perhaps a grimace) but hopefully it will make a few people smile. 😂😂

Ethelswith · 11/09/2024 20:08

Oh, and the best I heard of was a rather posh Air Marshall (ie head of RAF) who as the crem curtains closed and his mortal remains rolled off to the flames, had as his recessional "Those Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines"

RainbowZebraWarrior · 11/09/2024 20:08

Happyhippy99 · 11/09/2024 20:00

Pink Floyd, Any colour you like. Played this at my db’s funeral and despite it having no words, it summed up his beautiful life.

How beautiful. My Dad loves Pink Floyd. The obvious choices are Wish You Were Here or Brick in The Wall (because he played them endlessly in the car) but this is a great choice. You've also just reminded me of Albatross by Fleetwood Mac which is also instrumental.

OP posts:
mitogoshi · 11/09/2024 20:09

For the hymns, How great thou art and Be still for the presence of the Lord, in music jesu joy of mans desiring by Bach. If my DDs were willing, they can sing the sop/alto duet of the Goodall version of the 23rd psalm (vicar of dibley)

AKAanothername · 11/09/2024 20:12

PussInBin20 · 11/09/2024 19:48

I always thought “Wake me up before you go go” as I was a massive Wham! fan but maybe I need a more subtle George Michael song lol.

'As' George Michael and Mary J Blige version, used it for my DH's funeral and planing on having it at mine. Quite upbeat and lovely words.