No religious funeral - suggestions for something to sing

[islandgirl]

Hoping for some good ideas. My dad's funeral is next week, and it will be a non religious ceremony which is all new to me, as I am so used to singing hymns. We have chosen some music to be played but I think it will help for us all to get up and sing something, as opposed to just sitting listening all the time. I have got Blowing in the wind and Somewhere over the rainbow so far, but they don't feel right. We are going out to Mack the Knife which I think would make him laugh!!!

I can't believe I'm going to say this but, here goes. What about that Celine Dion one "I'm everything I am because you loved me." It always strikes me as a really sad song to sing at a funeral. Makes me cry.

Mack the Knife would be BRILLIANT!

So sorry to hear about your Dad, just found these online:
Imagine - John Lennon

Wind Beneath My Wings - Bette Midler

My Way - Frank Sinatra

My Heart Will Go On - Celine Dion

Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong

The Power Of Love - Jennifer Rush

I Will Always Love You - Whitney Houston

Somewhere Over The Rainbow - Eva Cassidy

Fields Of Gold - Eva Cassidy

Bridge Over Troubled Water - Simon & Garfunkel

He Aint HeavyHe's My Brother - The Hollies,

Yesterday - Matt Monro

Albatross - Fleetwood Mac

Smile - Nat King Cole

Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye - Ella Fitzgerald

Whatever Will Be, Will Be - Doris Day

Memories - Barbra Streisand

You're More Than A Number In My Little Red Book - The Drifters

Never Can Say Goodbye - Gloria Gaynor

Stairway To Heaven - Led Zeppelin

I love the idea of singing Wonderful World!
At my friends funeral we lsitened to High by The Lighthouse Family, if I remember correctlythey were very fitting lyrics.

hi, i went to one not so long ago which was a 'humanist funeral'. it for an old lady who had specifically requested a none religious theme.

she was in a coffin that was made from woven wicker.(eco friendly) we all stood around it drinking champaigne (at her request!) then it was carried into the crematorium by her family. the service had no hymns sung it was just friends and family getting up to tell funny stories of funny incidents involving her. by the end of the 20 min service we were all crying with laughter. the rolling stones singing 'i cant get no satisfaction' (was her fave band back in the day) was finally played before we all left and went back to her house for a celebration of her life. It was by far the best funeral that i have ever been to and one that i can definitely recommend.

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a great rousing number for everyone to sing (although it does have a religious tone to it) is a rocking/feel good number called 'happy days'.

mack the knife sounds good, was it a fave of his? any other suitable favourites?

my friend aged 22 died in a car crash a year ago and had a humanist ceremony. the song in the middle of the ceremony was 'hey ya' and his parents told us we all had to dance. was great remembering him dancing to the same song and really was to do with remembering him

sorry to hear of the death of your Dad.
my husband died in june, the songs he chose for his non religious service were songbird and somewhere over the rainbow, we had solisbury hill to walk in and out to.

At FILs funeral we sang Unforgettable by Nat King Cole, it was perfect for us.
Best wishes for this week, its such a hard thing to do.

Sorry to hear your news. How about Je ne regrette rien? Good luck x

I think what would be lovely is if people can be invited to talk about their feelings and memories of your dad. My MIL died a couple of years ago, and I still rather regret that only my SIL (not her daughter btw) spoke, and she and my MIL had lots of clashes, so it wasn't that warm. I really wanted to say how lovely she was, and how she made anyone who joined her family feel as if they were in the heart of her family. I am not sure about singing at a funeral.

I think celine dion.(i am every thing i am because you loved me)would be very fitting.IT would be a great tribute to your dad as he moulded you in to the person you are.We had this at a furneral of a very dearly loved person and although its a sad song it was telling her how much she helped me in my life and lots of others who her life touched.SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS xx

We are holding a non-religious funeral for my 20 year old son and will be singing Morning has Broken. It's good for the congregation to be able to get up and sing instead of sitting listening for the whole service. We have chosen poems, written a eulogy, his younger brother has composed a poem to be read out and we will be walking in and leaving to music that had special significance for him. I hope everything goes well and you can get some comfort from the service for your father. x

What's that song about fathers arms, Luther vandross or something like that?

Our beautiful son died when 13 years old he had many problems. We are atheists and had a Humanist Funeral and chose 3 pieces which meant something to him when alive.
1 Blowing in the wind (Bob Dylan) at last he was free.
2 Beautiful Boy (John Lennon) self explanatory
3 Stand up for you rights (Bob Marley) all his life we or he had to fight for his life.
So sorry about your Dear Dad you willk now what is right for him. Take careX

I started out with nothing & I've Still got most of it left", "The Dead song" Seasick Steve.

We had Jonny Be Goode, Always wear Sunscreen and C'mon baby light my fire for my uncle. (cremation)
Everyone handjived to Jonny be goode.

"Time to Say Goodbye" (I love every version except Katherine Jenkins)
The Paul Potts version (BGT winner) makes my neck skin prickle.

Keep Me in Your Heart by Warren Zevon. It's a great song and not a cliche.

Sorry for your loss.

"Softly As I Leave You" (loads of people have sung it, like Matt Monro and Elvis). I sang it at a funeral with my choir recently, and some of the lyrics were really lovely. It was just upbeat enough too. Perhaps no good if you've never heard it though. Here are the lyrics:

Softly, I will leave you softly
For my heart would break if you should wake and see me go
So I leave you softly, long before you miss me
Long before your arms beg me to stay
For one more hour or one more day
After all the years, I can't bear the tears to fall
So, softly as I leave you there

Softly, long before you kiss me
long before your arms can beg me stay
For one more hour or one more day
After all the years, I can't bear the tears to fall
So, softly as I leave you there
As I leave I you there
As I leave I you there

Do you know someone who could sing a song for you? People join in hymns but I wonder if they would find a non hymn song more awkward? There is a beautiful version of Somewhere over the Rainbow by a Hawaiian singer - very wistful - will try to post a link

Oh just realised how old this thread is, sorry OP