What's Your Funeral Song?


How in the world does one come up with their funeral song beforehand? Would it be traditional such as “Amazing Grace,” or something epic like “I Did It My Way?”

I was at a funeral once where they played a song written and sang by the man who passed away. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house because the song he wrote was from his heart and his soul. It encapsulated his entire life in that one song. There really was no need to say anymore. It was as if he left a message to his three children in that song, how to live life, what his advice was...

Do you have a song like that one? One song that encompasses all of your being—your entire life—your message to others upon passing? One that could be the only thing said at your funeral?

There’s some songs like “Refugee” by Tom Petty and “Gypsy” by Fleetwood Mac that have elements of me, and one that is very much me is “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” by Bobby McFerrin. Still, only one song seems to have both the most beautiful lyrics I’ve ever read and also poignantly showing how I feel about life and living and my advice. That song is “Drive” by Incubus. (Now, be sure and leave a comment to tell me what your song is, I would love to hear them) Here's the video and the lyrics:



“Drive” by Incubus (lyrics below)

Sometimes, I feel the fear of uncertainty stinging clear
And I can't help but ask myself how much I let the fear
Take the wheel and steer
It's driven me before
And it seems to have a vague, haunting mass appeal
But lately I'm beginning to find that I
Should be the one behind the wheel

Whatever tomorrow brings, I'll be there
With open arms and open eyes yeah

Whatever tomorrow brings, I'll be there
I'll be there

So if I decide to waiver my chance to be one of the hive
Will I choose water over wine and hold my own and drive?
It's driven me before
And it seems to be the way that everyone else gets around
But lately I'm beginning to find that
When I drive myself my light is found

Whatever tomorrow brings, I'll be there
With open arms and open eyes yeah

Whatever tomorrow brings, I'll be there
I'll be there

Would you choose water over wine
Hold the wheel and drive

Whatever tomorrow brings, I'll be there
With open arms and open eyes yeah

Whatever tomorrow brings, I'll be there
I'll be there

Comments

  1. i intend to go out with a bang, with something as lively as the beer barrel polka ;) lol

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

    ReplyDelete
  2. LaughingWolf;
    I like that--just leave them a little smile. I thought about a Weird Al song or something just cause I never leave a room without making someone laugh, but heck if it's my last message...I guess I should say something (now, if I can just get my son to agree to a viking funeral--set the boat afire and cast me off into the water)...

    ReplyDelete
  3. Jeez, I have a feeling whatever I thought would be a good song, I know my family would make the choice,and that kinda sucks !
    Now sense I am nerdy like that, I would probably go for this song.
    Kiss - A World Without Heroes
    Have a link ,and feel free to suffer thru a song....LOL !
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7ofrdBdJRM

    ReplyDelete
  4. Max;
    I admit, when it comes to my send-off, they have to follow my rules. It's my last party and I'm leaving the room in my own style!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I would need a whole set, but I'll go with this for now...

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

    ReplyDelete
  6. viking sendoff works well for me, i intend to be cremated anyway...

    what i told my kids was: leave my ashes in a bag by the door to spread on the icy sidewalk as the need arose, at least i'd be of some use after death if not in life; funny thing, they all said NO! lol

    ReplyDelete
  7. Pangs;
    You are ever an interesting puzzle to me... a real mystery. I will figure you out one of these days. Some people are easy reads, others are more complex. Getting a universal picture of you--very hard, but a very specific picture--not so hard. I am going to take a wild interpretation that you are as weirdly complex as I am, not easy to pigeon hole; all over the board in your interests. I have to say--that was the most lovely song and the lyrics are so beautiful. Very smart choice! I would sing along!

    ReplyDelete
  8. LaughingWolf; I think there is a better send off for you--mummification... I hear there's a company in Colorado that offers it. In fact, now that I think of it, I might do a post on the odd options for burials nowadays. Thanks for the inspiration and, no, don't let them spread you on the sidewalk. I'd rather have you sprinkled over a crowd from a helicopter during a really awesome concert!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I'd like to have Voltaire's Hell in a Handbasket playing at my funeral. ;-)

    I want to be planted in a burlap sack under a tree in a forest. I'd like to be a dead trendsetter. Hopefully it would stop people from cutting down trees since you can move a graveyard and you can cut down a tree, but if the tree's roots are entangled with your bones, it makes it very difficult to do either.

    Of course, the stupid laws probably wouldn't let me, so in that case, I wouldn't mind if I was cremated and my ashes mixed with plaster to make a statue for my family. Hopefully they'd go with something fantastical rather than humdrum.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Candace;
    I like the way you think!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I always tell everyone to play Dont Fear the Reaper by Blue Oyster Cult if I pass :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. I want to be cremated but I would like to have a memorial service outside, at night with only twinkle lights in the trees to illuminate it. Maybe a small bonfire and I want lots of alcohol being served. I want them to first play the song "Imagine" by John Lennon maybe to a slideshow type of thing.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GAHFrLAxzM
    After that, I want my family and friends to each take a turn to talk about a memory of me with them. After everyone has spoken, I want them to raise their glasses and send me off with a blessing and then they should all start having cocktails and partying to "Dead Man's Party" by Oingo Boingo
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iypUpv9xelg&feature=related

    ReplyDelete
  13. Cindi;
    Either you're very good off the cuff or you've really thought about this. I really want laughter, music, dancing, and fun for mine cause that's the way I am. I'm a party person. I guess, maybe in one of those symbolic ways, they should leave my empty shoes on the dance floor...

    ReplyDelete
  14. Nope, off the cuff... because I just realized I have forgotten one of my favorite songs!
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1bFr2SWP1I
    You have to watch this one...He has since passed away, makes me want to cry...
    (Somewhere over the Rainbow)
    SO! I think I need to sit down and write this all out and give it to my middle niece(the organized one! LOL!)

    ReplyDelete
  15. Cindi;
    Yup, I wrote my stuff down including who I DIDN'T want to get my things. I know what song you're talking about, the Hawaiian man "Over the Rainbow"? I think that is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. Whenever I see it, I get all full of joy inside as if the world is the greatest place and we are all one. I've never felt that before in any situation, even 9-11 or other times when we felt like we were joined as one. He wasn't here long, but what he left...

    ReplyDelete
  16. I don't have a "funeral song" so much as I have my "final quote" that I plan on whispering as my final breath leaves my mouth....

    So imagine I'm on my death bed and one of my loved ones is holding my hands. I take my final breath and as I slowly release it I whisper "Avenge my death". Talk about confusing my loved ones and sending them on the fruitless quest to uncover the "real" cause of my death!! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  17. Scott;
    You're a pleasantly sick boy--I love it!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Well, I initially thought "Alive" by Pearl Jam or "Porcelain" by Moby... but then I realize that "She Bangs" sung by William Hung says it all best...

    ReplyDelete
  19. Dr. Heckle
    You simply must do--and be sure that William Hung isn't booked--he is a popular guy!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Interesting you should ask this as I think about it often. I'd say "The End" by The Doors, "In My Time of Dying" by Led Zeppelin and maybe "Interstate Love Song" by Stone Temple Pilots just b/c I like it. I don't want to leave anyone with a "smile" or a "warm-fuzzy" condition. If I could find a song to serve as a final boot in the ass as I go it'd be pure magic.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Catchy song but not something with the kind of snap I'm looking for in my final middle finger to the world.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Autumn- As always, you are prolific. You've done, what, four posts in the time it took me to come up with an answer of this one?...lol In any event, I'm a big music buff, and I kept trying to think of something somewhat serious, but not too somber, and of course with a sardonic wink, but not TOO flippant, yadda yadda blah blah. Anyway, the line "Wherever I am you'll always be/More than just a memory" was stuck in my head, because it's so flexible. Anyway, I'll go with "If I Ever Leave This World Alive" by Flogging Molly. Decided to go with a live video shot from the crowd rather than the "official" take:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdR9Ti0ojVk

    The lyrics aren't anything too deep, but they seem like a good send out:

    If I ever leave this world alive
    I'll thank for all the things you did in my life
    If I ever leave this world alive
    I'll come back down and sit beside your
    feet tonight
    Wherever I am you'll always be
    More than just a memory
    If I ever leave this world alive

    If I ever leave this world alive
    I'll take on all the sadness
    That I left behind
    If I ever leave this world alive
    The madness that you feel will soon subside
    So in a word don't shed a tear
    I'll be here when it all gets weird
    If I ever leave this world alive

    So when in doubt just call my name
    Just before you go insane
    If I ever leave this world
    Hey I may never leave this world
    But if I ever leave this world alive

    She says I'm okay; I'm alright,
    Though you have gone from my life
    You said that it would,
    Now everything should be all right

    She says I'm okay; I'm alright,
    Though you have gone from my life
    You said that it would,
    Now everything should be all right
    Yeah should be alright

    ReplyDelete
  23. Bleaux Leaux;
    That's it, buddy! You captured the perfect song. I love Flogging Molly. I always wanted bagpipes at my funeral. Damn, I'd love a viking funeral with the boat afire and bagpipes playing, sun setting over the water and flames rising up in the coming night sky--there you go--the ultimate funeral. I just love those lyrics--you sold me on that one!

    ReplyDelete
  24. "Do You Realize" by the Flaming Lips, of course.

    You realize the sun doesn't go down
    It's just an illusion caused by the world spinning round.

    ReplyDelete
  25. blazmosis;
    That is bloody gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Ummmm Dragula by Rob Zombie :P

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment