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Music for my funeral, I'm forward planning!

(99 Posts)
Lilylaundry Fri 18-Mar-22 13:08:08

Does anyone know of any suitable pieces of music which can be played at my funeral? I most certain want Sailing By but haven't found another two pieces. I just love Annie's song by James Golway (spelling??) but I'm not an Annie. I have heard some classical pieces which are soothing and beautiful to hear but never caught their names.

Shinamae Sat 19-Mar-22 15:40:22

I’m having a simple cremation so there will be no service and no music BUT if I were to have a funeral song it would be “wish me luck as you wave me goodbye”…?

Santana Sat 19-Mar-22 15:28:44

tiredoldwoman

I would like Samba Pa Ti by Santana , Mike Oldfields version of Tarrega's Recuerdos de la Alhambra and Snow Patrol's Chasing Cars . Maybe Cockney Rebel's Come up and see me Make me Smile ?

I'm with you on the Santana tiredoldwoman, maybe Moonflower.
I've always joked about Stairway to Heaven, but having been to quite a few upsetting funerals, humour doesn't seem appropriate.
I like Satisfy my Soul by Paul Carrick.

Witzend Sat 19-Mar-22 15:28:10

A friend of ours had a G&S number - IIRC ‘With Cat-Like Tread’ played loudly as the coffin was brought in - needless to say he was a G&S fan.
It was a very lovely, very old church and until then the atmosphere had been sombre, but that put a smile on everyone’s face, as I’m sure he would have wished - he was a very smiley, jolly chap.

grandtanteJE65 Sat 19-Mar-22 15:11:47

If you wish a church funeral, ask the advice of the organist at the church, as a minister or priest is entitled to veto anything too worldly. The organist will know what the present incumbent feels about the matter, and even if both the organist and the priest predecease you, or go somewhere else, they are unlikely to have suggested something wildly unsuitable.

Otherwise go down to your local library and get someone to help you find some of the pieces of music suggsted here, either online or on tape or cd, so you can listen to them and make your choice.

My father who was quite unmusical requested J.S. Bach's organ prelude over "Jesus, joy of man's desiring" both for my mother's and his own funerals. I suggested and he approved adding the Scottish metrical version of the 23rd psalm "The Lord is my shepherd" sung to the tune of "Crimond" and "Abide by me" as she had been fond of both, although going on my own preferences I would have preferred the Scottish metrical version of Psalm 121 "I to the hills will lift mine eyes, from whence doth come mine aid".

If you are not planning a religious ceremony I suggest you ask some of the younger members of your family whether there is any piece of music they especially associate with you, then you might want to chose that, on the asssumption that they will be present.

A good friend of mine whose service was in no way religious, had asked for a recording of Edith Piaf singing "Je ne regrette rien" as he liked both her voice and the sentiment.

Georgesgran Sat 19-Mar-22 14:51:13

My BF chose that Kinks track for her step-son. I’ve been to funerals with Simply the Best by Tina Tuner and Take That’s Rule the World - which I didn’t realise had such appropriate words for the occasion.

sharon103 Sat 19-Mar-22 14:48:47

I agree with Calendargirl. "Going Home" by Sissel. is beautiful. We had that for my brother's funeral at the very end of the service
Also "If we never meet again" by Elvis Presley.

Chocolatelovinggran Sat 19-Mar-22 14:44:14

Yep, pop songs in church are just fine. My Mum's coffin left to Thank you for the Days, by The Kinks. I wanted to give thanks and this did it for me.

dolphindaisy Sat 19-Mar-22 13:59:09

My DH loves westerns and says he wants the music from The Magnificent Seven, the bit where they ride down the hill after delivering the coffin to the cemetery.

Germanshepherdsmum Sat 19-Mar-22 13:53:43

That was to LadyLeftField.

Germanshepherdsmum Sat 19-Mar-22 13:53:10

Thanks!

Georgesgran Sat 19-Mar-22 13:53:07

Time in a Bottle by Jim Croce for me and Scott Mckenzie’s San Francisco. My DDS chose Dance with My Father for my DH’s funeral.
I picked Nimrod for my own Dad.

Ladyleftfieldlover Sat 19-Mar-22 13:42:36

Germanshepherdsmum

Are the people who want ‘pop songs’ played planning to have a service in a crematorium? I couldn’t imagine that kind of music in a church.

From what I understand, you can have any music you like in a church. I used to work as the Vicar’s Secretary years ago. Quite a few people asked for ‘Always look on the Bright Side of Life’ from Monty Python. The vicar was happy to oblige.

Germanshepherdsmum Sat 19-Mar-22 13:27:50

Are the people who want ‘pop songs’ played planning to have a service in a crematorium? I couldn’t imagine that kind of music in a church.

Blondiescot Sat 19-Mar-22 12:46:00

Chestnut

Some seriously weird choices here. If they played 'Fairy Tale of New York' I would have to leave. Have a thought for the people listening.

Why? It's not about you - it's about the person you are there to remember. Why should it not be about the music they loved?
And I love Sarnia's choice of Firestarter!

Jane43 Sat 19-Mar-22 11:30:10

My dear friend had Amazing Grace by Elvis and Fields Of Gold by Eva Cassidy.

Sarnia Sat 19-Mar-22 11:23:25

As a Prodigy fan and planning to be cremated I have asked for 'Firestarter'. Seems apt.

Witzend Sat 19-Mar-22 08:05:04

Pythagoras

My mother organised the music for her funeral too, 25 years ago now. On the list was Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring which none of us (her children) thought we knew, until we heard it and recognised it. It's by Bach:

youtu.be/wEJruV9SPao

That was a favourite of my mother’s - we played it at her funeral, too.

Soroptimum, if you can find a suitable recording, they’ll have it played for you, won’t they? We did that with my niece’s Panis Angelicus - just asked them to play track 8 on the CD.

Chardy Sat 19-Mar-22 07:02:51

Lilylaundry

Does anyone know of any suitable pieces of music which can be played at my funeral? I most certain want Sailing By but haven't found another two pieces. I just love Annie's song by James Golway (spelling??) but I'm not an Annie. I have heard some classical pieces which are soothing and beautiful to hear but never caught their names.

But Lily, John Denver doesn't mention the name Annie in the song, it's just in the title. It's a song about love. Go for it.

Froglady Sat 19-Mar-22 06:58:46

I'm going to have Hymn to the Fallen (or it might be Prayer to the Fallen) by John Williams in the Saving Private Ryan film - I think it's a beautiful piece of music, and I'll probably have something from Karl Jenkins' music The Armed Man.
I wanted to end the funeral with something Yorkshire and humorous but couldn't find anything other than On Ilka Moor Baht 'At but that's about 12 verses long and I would want it all so that's out. The one humorous piece of music I do really like is Narcissus by Joyce Grenfell and Norman Wisdom - this never fails to have me laughing away at it. I wanted some music that would send people out with a smile on their face rather than looking all gloomy.

Calendargirl Sat 19-Mar-22 06:49:59

Chestnut

Some seriously weird choices here. If they played 'Fairy Tale of New York' I would have to leave. Have a thought for the people listening.

Why would you have to leave?

If they played a hymn you didn’t like, would you walk out as well for that?

It’s a few minutes of music, not an entire concert.

?

EilaRose Sat 19-Mar-22 02:18:47

As I always knew, and often reminded, that I was not good enough for my adoptive parents, my choice had always been 'The only disappointment in the family was me' by Slim Dusty but both of them died some years back so it no longer holds the same meaning.

So now I've chosen 'I am Woman' by Helen Reddy at full volume. They both disliked the song anyway, particularly my narcissistic, abusive, adoptive father...think it hit a nerve with him, hahaha!!

MissAdventure Sat 19-Mar-22 01:03:25

Always look on the bright side of life was played at a funeral I went to. smile

harrigran Sat 19-Mar-22 00:47:50

I would have a Queen number too,' Tie your mother down' grin

harrigran Sat 19-Mar-22 00:45:44

We took DH into the crematorium to Freddie Mercury singing My melancholy blues, Queen had been a big part of our lives and DD won search for a star with that number. The piece for contemplation was Liebestraum played by Lang Lang and to finish we had Nat King Cole singing Autumn leaves, DH loved his voice.

Candelle Sat 19-Mar-22 00:35:01

My uncle rather surprised the congregation at his crematorium funeral some fifty years ago as he had asked for 'Colonel Bogey' to play him out.

In those days it was completely unexpected and his housekeeper burst into tears at the shock.